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    Handbrake on Macbook Air?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by thekingdavids, Jun 9, 2008.

  1. thekingdavids

    thekingdavids Notebook Consultant

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    Hi,

    I was wondering what the performance of handbrake would be on a Macbook Air.

    How much longer would it take to rip a movie using Handbrake on appleTV settings using a Macbook Air 1.8Ghz compared to a 2.6Ghz Macbook Pro?

    Thanks
     
  2. cashmonee

    cashmonee Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    I can say from experience, but it would likely be significantly longer. Remember the MBA is the slowest Mac out there, and with a slower processor and hard drive it would be at a big disadvantage using something like Handbrake.
     
  3. thekingdavids

    thekingdavids Notebook Consultant

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    The problem I have, is that I do A LOT of DVD ripping using handbrake.

    However, I also do a lot of travelling daily with my laptop and so am very attracted to the small lightweight macbook air!

    The choice is between a Macbook Air 1.8Ghz, 64SSD - 1300 pounds

    OR

    Macbook Pro 2.6Ghz, 7200rpm 200GB - 1300 pounds.

    So they are about the same price.

    Should I get the Macbook Air or Macbook Pro.
     
  4. cashmonee

    cashmonee Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    That is a tough one, but if you do a lot of DVD ripping you should also consider the drive size and the possibility of expanding that. Size/weight is really nice on the MBA, but it will not come anywhere close to MBP performance.
     
  5. thekingdavids

    thekingdavids Notebook Consultant

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    Drive size is not a problem, as I use external Hdds anyway.
     
  6. Raymond Luxury-Yacht

    Raymond Luxury-Yacht Notebook Consultant

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    On an MBA I imagine you'd also get some additional loss of performance using a remote disc.

    Or, if you choose to import a disc image to your MBA's harddrive and start the encoding thus, that's even-more-additional loss of time, and energy, and hdd-space for you.

    Because (just as a reminder), the MBA doesn't have an optical drive; who needs one anyway?
     
  7. blurb23

    blurb23 Notebook Consultant

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    I'd definitely say get the MBP. It's not that much bigger, but it's far far far more powerful.

    There's only about a 2 pound difference, aside from the obvious size difference. But if you absolutely need a 13.3" form factor, the MacBook is no slouch either.