MB AIR vs MB PRO

HI
would the air with an ssd and a 1.86ghz cpu offer performance comparable to the new mb pro's (4gb of stock ram edition)? Please consider that i will only be using mic office and mozilla, maybe itunes, but many windows will always be open...so nothing intensive and no graphics?
so based on my usage, will the pro and air be just as speedy, or will the air ever lag>
thanks

 

Of course the Macbook Pro would have better performance.

Take a look at the PCMark scores, and differences are obvious.

 

For what he is doing there will only be a small difference. Your answer is blunt and does not answer his question, it is more of a gamer's response.

Do you plan on hauling the notebook around constantly and is battery life a major issue?

 

benchmarks really don't mean anything at all in the real world. the best way to know is to go use them yourself.

I would imagine for your mentioned use the Air would be more than fine. but of course that is all up to you really.

 

what about getting a MacBook?

since you're only using office and mozilla, maybe itunes, but many windows will always be open...so nothing intensive and no graphics

 

^ Second that.

 

Notice how I quoted PCMark scores, which measures general speed, and not 3DMark scores, which measures 3D (who knew?) performance.

 

hi guys, thanks for the help.
i am sure the pro is significantly more powerful but as most of you pointed out, my question is whether for my intended usage the pro will seem faster than the air...the air would have an ssd.
the main thing that bothers me, is for the same money i could get nearly anything...whereas the air is limited...but i dont need a cd drive, or many usbs, i just want no lag doing office and web surfing, will the air give me this?
mobility isnt a huge deal, but i do like smaller laptops and may start bringing it with me...at least 4 hrs on batt would be nice.
how would it compare, for my intended usage, to the laptop in my signature, which is running vista 32 bit business edition, the air would be on osx mostly...
and i hate to say it, but the air is just cool_useless for most but a real design piece, if the performance for my use is upto par with the pro, i will get one.
is the new 1.86ghz air noticeably faster than the old one?
thanks

 

Just throwing it out there, I have Office 2007 for Mac running on my aluminum MacBook (2.4GHz) and there's a significant load time of around 7sec for Microsoft Word. On my PC the load is instantaneous. I'd assume with the Air it'd load even slower, though it may be compensated for if you get the SSD.

 

we have both in our home. Old macair and new Mac aluminium 2.4ghz.The work you will be doing ,air will be alright but if U go for macbook aluminium 2ghz or 2.4 ghz you will be spending comparatively less and will be getting more , Like more speed and more hard drive capacity and built in combo drive.Althought it will be bit heavire than macbook air but will be more sturdy and durable.Buildwise they both are identical and aluminium unibody. As you are impressed by the look of the macbook air so will not be disapointed by the macbook aluminium.

 

The new MacBook's have blown the Air's out of the water. If you compare them side-by-side, there only a slim cosmetic difference but a Major internal hardware difference.

 

I personally don't feel that the .20'' thinner and the 1.5lbs lighter than the .Macbook can compensate the performance difference.

 

you guys are right, i just saw the new pro, and its nearly the same as the air...might as well get that or something else.
thanks

 

MB Air == money down the drain.

Get MB Pro / MB instead if you are set on an Apple.

 

i personally would prefer MBA than MB due to its weight and portability

better screen too (please don't say no... )

1lb less is 1lb saved, i would do anything to preserve my broken back(literally )

 

I agree completely. I don't know why you're comparing the Macbook Air to the Pro. I mean clearly other than if you need something super tiny, the Pro is a lot better...and the Pro is not a large computer to begin with.

But the Macbook versus the Air...IMO there's no comparison. Side by side they're virtually the same size, but the Macbook has more connections, a DVD drive, and a faster CPU, and it's CHEAPER of all things. I think for most people the choice between those two is easy.

 

Even if the weight difference will not bother you, the screens between MB and MBA are worlds apart. The MBA has a much better screen, and while the new MBPs are good in terms of contrast etc, they are very glossy, much so then the MBA.
But besides Apple, did you think about the Sony Z? it has everything your SZ missed (not that it was much) and the best screen on earth in this size. I own both the MBA and the Sony Z and I'll keep both, but I'm not sure you wouldn't be served better with the Z. And Office has under Mac some glitches (though for basic use it's ok)

 

Maybe I can help. I just switched to a 1.86/SSD Macbook Air last Friday. I was coming from a VAIO SZ 650n/c, which I gave to my son as his 6 year old thinkpad bit the dust. I have a 1 year old iMac at home as my main computer but I wanted the Air strictly for portability. For my needs, web browsing, email and some data base management it is spectacular. A real pleasure to use and to carry. I find it much better than my Sony for wireless speeds, programs launch very quickly, and like all macs pretty easy to use.I thought Vista and all the bloatware I had to delete on the Sony both sucked. No more virus headaches either. I think the screens are comparable and I have a screen with no issues. The Air takes a lot of grief for what it isn't, I would rather focus on what it is meant to be. I used the remote disc to install Office 2008 and it worked flawlessly. I don't think in all the years I have owned laptops with disc drives I ever really used them all that often, so giving it up wasn't a big deal to me. It's hands down the best laptop I have ever worked with. Good luck with your decision.
JTMav

 

Other than being larger, I haven't seen what you're talking about with the Air versus the Pro in stores.

Windows doesn't have "virus headaches" if you use a tiny amount of common sense and a free antivirus program...and OS X is vulnerable to malware too.

But...why not just get a Macbook?