Macbook Pro or 11" Air?

Hey guys, I am coming here to see if any of you can speak to whether or not I should get a 2011 13" MBP or a 2012 11" MBA.

I already have a gaming desktop and a Thinkpad W520, but I want something that is a little more sleek and easier to use around campus.

The only reason I am considering the MBP is the ability to upgrade the HDD and the SSD, and of course the bigger screen.

I have been doing a lot of Web Designing lately, and although I won't be doing a lot on this notebook, I am not sure if I will kick myself for getting the smaller 11"/

What do you guys think?

Thank!

 

Both models are going to have a similar screen resolution. The MBA is 1366X768 while the MBP is 1280X800, so both are going to provide similar visual experiences in terms of web browsing, making documents, etc. However, the MBA is going to provide better everyday performance right out of the box. You won't have to upgrade to an SSD, it's CPU will be able to provide performance on par with the MBP (except when it comes to extreme use of a single CPU core as the MBP can over-clock better), and both are going to be graphically the same. The advantages of the MBP are, of course, easier aftermarket upgradability, the built-in optical drive, and longer battery life. However, if you are looking for something to just throw in a bag that will get the job done, I highly recommend going with the MBA. As I said, it will provide better all around experience out of the box without additional modification and it is more than adequate for surfing the internet, consuming media (even 1080p HD videos and flash content), making and editing documents, etc.

I do have to recommend that you take a look at the 2013 11" MBA though. It offers much better battery life (9 hours vs 5 hours) and comes with a 128GB SSD instead of a 64GB SSD in the baseline configuration. The added battery life is actually better with real world numbers. Many tests put the 2012 11" MBA right at 5-5.5 hours of real world usage while the 2013 model is getting over 10 hours (Apple's ratings for the 2013 11" and 13" models are very moderate). To me, the doubled battery life and storage is enough justification to spend a little extra on the 2013 11" MBA. That is, unless you're getting the 2012 11" MBA for $600. The 2013 11" MBA is $950 through Apple's educational site and Macmall.com. You can find it for $900 (new) if you have a Microcenter near you.

 

Okay, well it sounds like I am going to pick up an 11" air. Actually I do have one I'm looking at for $600, and it's basically brand new so it's a great deal.

The only other option I am considering is the 13" Air due to the fact that the resolution is higher so it would be easier to work on. I'll have to go check out the difference between the 13" and 11" at the Apple Store to see if the added weight is worth the larger and higher resolution screen.

Thanks for your help!

 

As someone that has had both, I would highly suggest the MBP. SSDs are cheap these days and throwing a 120GB into the computer shouldn't cost more than $80.

If you're going to be doing web design, you're going to want to go with an external monitor. Lower resolutions means you're going to have to scroll back and forth to create and edit designs.

 

Keep in mind that the 11 inch air has a 16:9 screen, making it a little cramped. It's a great little machine though.

 

Well the thing is, I already have a desktop and a Thinkpad W520, so I'm not sure if the extra weight is worth it.

 

If mobility is a priority, then I'd the the Air. The 13" MBP is nearly twice the weight of the Air. The 13" MBA is a very nice Ultrabook if you want to go that way. If you're open to PCs, you'll have some more good options as well.

 

The 13" MBA will have better battery life, larger display, higher resolution, and (when comparing the 2011 and 2012 models) comes with a higher capacity SSD in the baseline configuration. It is bigger than the 11" model by quite a bit. Back when I had my 13" MBA, my girlfriend could fit her 11" MBA inside of it with a good inch pretty much around the thing. It is still extremely portable and I carried one all through grad school when I actually had classes. However, since you are looking for a third machine, I would look more at the 11" model. You already have a big 15.6" notebook and a desktop that likely has an even bigger display. Since you already have two formidable options, I think it would be better to go with the 11" MBA since this won't even be your secondary machine, it will be your third. You won't be doing any serious work on it, the 11" MBA is fine for writing documents in Word (I did that with a 10" netbook with a 1336X768 display for my last year in undergrad), etc.

I would suggest going with the 13" MBA if this was going to be your primary notebook but it isn't. You are essentially looking for something that a tablet would fill, might as well get a notebook of that size that you can easily throw in a backpack.

 

+1 for the MBA. It's a very capable and highly compact secondary machine for what you described.

 

Since I saw this , I lost interest in the 13" MBP.

RAM is upgradable and it can fit an M.2. SSD as well as a standard SSD.

The 1080P screen uses an IPS panel and the laptop also has a dedicated GPU.

 

That's fine for a workstation but many people, including the OP, aren't looking for a primary workstation notebook. Not only that but HP isn't currently listing a price on their website. The 15" model starts at nearly $2000, the 14" version you linked to will likely start at (a minimum) the $1600 level. I would hope that is better than a 13" MBP with a starting price of $1200. You aren't comparing systems properly. A workstation should not be compared to a consumer level computer unless the OP is trying to conduct workstation related material on said consumer level notebook. They aren't though. If you fully read their post, you would see that they already have a gaming desktop and a 15" Thinkpad. They are looking for a third notebook, a lightweight model to carry on campus and use between classes for basic functionality. A workstation would be drastic overkill for their needs and it is not something they are looking for. That's like someone asking about a Chevy Cobalt for their 3 mile (total) commute to and from work with someone recommending a Shelby GT500 instead because it is a better car. Of course it is!

The OP isn't looking for a workstation and they already stated that they didn't want to spend much money. The HP workstation is going to be rightfully priced a lot higher than an 11" MBA, new or used.

 

I was suggesting the Zbook 14 since it's a unique hybrid and it's more upgradable than a MBP and of course it's more durable.

But yea , I guess it's overkill for web browsing and other basic tasks.

I'm wondering why the OP isn't considering a multimedia tablet instead since he just needs something for basic stuff.

 

A tablet would have been my consideration too but some people don't like tablets. One of my friends absolutely hates tablets yet everything she does with her notebook could be completed with ease on a tablet. Some people like the standard notebook form factor, others need a full fledged internet browser, etc. I'm all in favor of carrying a tablet around between classes and while on campus since they can complete the same basic tasks as PCs.

 

Personally I think of tablets vs laptops in terms of consumption vs production. If all you want to do is consume media (movies, music, web browsing, reading), iPad is great at that, and firing off a fee emails. But for me, if I'm planning to create anything beyond that, laptop simply is more enjoyable to work with. For taking notes, I'd be a laptop fan.

 

I take notes with a hybrid tablet + laptop.

My Fujitsu Lifebook T5010 works very well for writing and typing.

 

I actually prefer my iPad for note taking. Then again, I was in engineering classes. Trying to type out notes (with all those symbols) is an absolute pain in any word processor for any OS. I was always much more productive with an app called Notes Plus allowing me to write on my iPad's display while exporting the notes as PDF files through Dropbox. The stylus I have is thin enough for comfortable writing and the Notes Plus app is top notch. I tried taking notes with a notebook back in undergrad but it just didn't work out for me in my core classes, only my viewing a wider world ones (such as the few English, History, Anthropology, etc. classes I had to take).

 

I actually used my first T5010 to take notes when I was an undergrad EE student.

OneNote is an amazing program.

It was very easy for me to keep track of things and send notes to my friends as well.