MacBook pro or air?

[fmflex]

I am about to buy a MacBook. I don't know which to go with. I need help. Whichever one I get, it would be the base model. I have an iPhone 4 and an iPad 1 64gb wifi. I would use it for basic stuff like Internet and office type work. No high end graphics or anything like that. Might occasionally take it out of the house. Any likes dislikes that you guys have with either one ( one that you own and use). Also have kids. (is air fragile? Or will it be ok with kids) thanks.

 

[Fausty82]

I am about to buy a MacBook. I don't know which to go with. I need help. Whichever one I get, it would be the base model. I have an iPhone 4 and an iPad 1 64gb wifi. I would use it for basic stuff like Internet and office type work. No high end graphics or anything like that. Might occasionally take it out of the house. Any likes dislikes that you guys have with either one ( one that you own and use). Also have kids. (is air fragile? Or will it be ok with kids) thanks.

I have both... and use both. Obviously the Air is much more portable, but not "delicate" or "fragile" beyond normal care, in any way. It is not a rugged as the MacBook Pro, but with the SSD, there's no hard drive to damage by dropping it...

I have the 11" Air, at wish I had gone for the 13" only for the screen size... the 1440 x 900 would have made the Air almost perfect...

Here's a quick chart that lays out the spec differences... hope it helps.

 

[fmflex]

Is there any reason to have an optical drive? Isn't most Mac software downloadable like apps? Also Hank, if you could only have one, which one would you go with and why. Thanks.

 

[Caballera]

I have a MacBook Pro 13" (2011) with a 120GB SSD and love it. It does everything I need it to do. I got it for work, where I work, I work 5 days in an Office and the rest from home, so I wanted something portable. I would have gotten an MacBook Air (13") if they would have had Sandy bridge and i5 processors when I purchased my MacBook Pro, but they didn't, they only had the core2 duo which I didn't feel would be fast enough. The new MacBook Air is more then fast enough for what I do and is ultra portable.

 

[Fausty82]

Is there any reason to have an optical drive? Isn't most Mac software downloadable like apps? Also Hank, if you could only have one, which one would you go with and why. Thanks.

That's a tough one. I would have said MBP a while back because of the power - core i7 quad core, 8gb RAM, 750GB hard drive... but after using the MBA recently, I really like it. If the MBA had the 13" screen, that would be the winner for me. More portable. Better battery life. The new MBAs are sweet little machines... and they max out under $1700... the MBPs are more expensive.

 

[fmflex]

So Air it is. Going to the store today. Thanks for the info

 

[rdbecker]

I was going to suggest going Pro, but it looks like I'm too late!

 

[Fausty82]

So Air it is. Going to the store today. Thanks for the info

Happy to help... good luck!

 

[Ham Solo]

So Air it is. Going to the store today. Thanks for the info

Well.....did you get it? If so, what do you think of it?

 

[Fausty82]

Well.....did you get it? If so, what do you think of it?

I was wondering the same thing... maybe he's busy playing with his new laptop.

 

[Ham Solo]

I was wondering the same thing... maybe he's busy playing with his new laptop.

That's understandable, but it's been 12 hours since his last post.

 

[tombubi]

I would vote for a 13" low end pro.

 

[SurfinUSA]

I personally would go for the Pro (I know it's too late), but It seems like the Air would be a better fit for you. The main trade off is Size vs Power. I do love the backlit keyboard and now that is a feature of the new Air! I'll bet it's a great machine!