MB or MBA?

hey guys, m an undergraduate business student in london, n wanted to know if macbook is worth as a student laptop or macbook air? i want a laptop which will last for atleast 2-3 yrs. cash isnt a problem, coz ill buy borrow loan frm my uncle.
would the ports create problem for me in macbook air?(i mean it jus has 2 ports i guess, 1 usb and 1 sumother dun remember).i know ill need to buy a super drive wid it. n also regarding the 1.6ghz processor they provided in air(standard which m interested in, cant afford 1.8ghz), i mean rite now i use 1.6 as well in my fujitsu siemens. dun u thnk its slow in the world of 2.0 n above processors?

lemme know ur opinions......

 

I would think the build-in drive and faster CPU/ bigger HDD are good reasons to take a MB over a MBA.
And if money is no problem there is the 15" MBP with even more goodies like LED screen higher resolution and express card slot.
MBA looks great but offers to little IMO.

 

Thats what I'd pick too...the MBP offers much more, plus the MB isnt all that light.

 

Well first all he indicated he can't afford the 1.8 Ghz in the MBA so that means the MBP is out of the question cause once you place that upgrade in it the MBP and MBA are the same in price.

Personally since you'll be needing this computer for schooling go with the Macbook. The MBA is a great piece of technology but it's best not to use if it's your only computing machine.

I personally can live with an external CD\DVD drive because I never do recording. As for the USB device issue (1 connector) I never use an external keyboard or mouse and of course if I did it's bluetooth capable. The only purpose I have for the USB would be the Ethernet adapter. So really try to map out what components you'll need to use and how much space your student programs will take up and whether you can deal with 5.0lbs in your backpack opposed to 3.0lbs, in the end that's what will help you decide

Also on that note I do like entertainment, movies, music etc but I have a network setup with all my entertainment stored on a remote HDD which I can access Remotely. So in terms of watching tv shows, movies or listening to some tunes my primary machine does not get burdened with useless data. I haven't tryed accessing it yet from a remote location to see how long transfers take but i'll be testing it out in the next week or so.

 

If you're planning to use your machine for 2-3 years, then get the Macbook. Although you currently might not require an ethernet port or a built in CD/DVD drive or a Firewire port or more than 1 USB port, chances are you will sometime in those years.

 

Does it have to be an Apple?

I personally would not buy either, actually the MBP is the only Apple that is worth buying to me but I'm not sure if you need it...

Anyway, if you want other suggestions, fill out the FAQ in the "what to buy" section...

 

If I were you I'd get one of those 1499 macbook PRO deals.

 

Out of those two, I would reccomend the Macbook. However, you should REALLY check out the refurb section in the apple store. You can get a MBP cheaper than the MBA. And dont worry about the refurbs they are great condition (I speak with first hand knowledge).

 

If you can stretch to the MBP I really really think that would be the best option. The Macbook is a good machine but honestly the screen isn't even in the same ballpark as the MBP. When you consider the similar weight of both MB and MBP its harder to justify an MB if its gonna be your only notebook over 2-3 years. Try to look at it in terms of an investment not just a laptop. Also consider the backlit keyboard which is a godsend if your studying in low light conditions. The aluminum construction on the MBP is also gorgeous.

As for the Macbook Air I honestly don't rate it as a primary machine. The ports limitation would cripple me and many others. Even if you don't consider now that you need more ports you may in the future. As for the integrated battery it has to be the worst idea ever. Every battery degrades, thats a fact of life and laptop ownership. The idea that you will have to go to the expense of having it replaced professionally by Apple after the warranty (at your probable considerable expense and time), inability to carry a spare, reports of excessive recharge times which WILL effect your use of the laptop in 'on the road' situations, the fact some MBA owners have been experiencing serious overheating issue to the point that the processors shut down and the laptop freezes should make anyone question if they need the thinnest of thin laptops over more fully featured ones like the MBP. This overheating issue alone should beg the question whether an MBA would last 2-3 years before going pop. Dont be a guinea pig with tech, from experience it usually turns out badly.

Also please consider that as a student you should be able to avail of the Apple educational discounts to limit the cost of the purchase.

 

I think you're better off getting a MacBook then, its a more practical price. Especially with the MBA being the main machine, that's hard, considering its lack of ports and optical drive.

 

As has been mentioned, it seems like the MacBook is going to be better for you, since it's just generally a more powerful computer than the MBA. You didn't mention what exactly you'll be using the computer for, but if you want to do any gaming or other graphics-intensive activities, you should look into the refurbished MBPs (or any other way of getting the now slightly-older MBPs), since that will give you the ability to do 3D-intensive stuff.

 

well m not sure bout gaming,i mean i do play games everynow n then, but not a serious gamer type, but ill b surely using it for work processing n downloading n movies n stuff. i jus checked out the price of the basic MBP, its bout 1299 pounds, which i can afford. so which one should it be?.....MACBOOK OR MACBOOK PRO?

 

Well, if you can afford it, MBP...there's no real drawback to getting the MBP other than added little weight and size.

 

Sam, size and weight matter!

Lose the weight and inches and feel great!!

 

If you can afford the MBP, I'd get that - but I'd also check out the previous generation on bargain sites or eBay or the refurb listings, since the performance is quite close to the newer model and you'll save a few hundred dollars. If you live near an Apple store, go in and see which size you prefer, etc.

 

All I can tell you as a previous 1.8GHZ/80 model owner that if the mba is your one and only machine, do NOT buy the MBA. Its so under powered. I own a 2.16ghz core duo macbook and its wayyyy faster than the mba. Plus the mba's fan is freakin loud and it doesnt take much for it to rev up to 6000+ rpm and the bottom back of the mba gets hot as the mb. When I say it doesnt take much for the fan to rev up to 6000+ rpm is that just opening safari with 4-5 tabs and running itunes will make the mba rev up its high pitched brzzz annoying of a fan.

The mba just gets pushed to its limit just wayy too fast and takes forever for the mba's fan to come back down to 2000 rpm once you close whatever program that started the fan to rev. up. Took me 10 minutes for the fan to come down from 6000 rpm to 2000 after I closed every single app.

I would either wait for the mba rev. b or just buy the macbook now. Current macbooks perform on par as the current macbook pro (just integrated graphics that's an awesome deal), pretty much performs the same as the mbp. And in tests the mba performs poorer than the 1st gen macbook core duo~!

I was so glad to return the mba and get my money back and I seriously doubt there was anything wrong with it and the mba just performed as it should.

 

I'm gonna go ahead and repeat myself. Check out the refurb Macbook Pro's. You can get some really good deals.

 

Should I go and call Jenny Craig?

I thought the weight didn't show too much in this shot...

 

haha perhaps... I'll see within a month or so if I regret selling my MBP with 4Gb of ram beauty for the Air! Hope not but time will tell!