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Question

Need Advice on Best Macbook to get (2 options)

Nov 7, 2012 5:34AM PST

Hi everybody,

I am looking to finally get my first Mac and was looking at 2 models at Best Buy: 1) Apple - MacBook Air® - 13.3" Display - 4GB Memory - 256GB Flash Storage for $1455, or 2) Apple® - MacBook Pro - 13.3" Display - 8GB Memory - 750GB Hard Drive for $1455.

Looking at the specs, the Pro has more features (like more ports and the DVD drive) but is also heavier and I know that the Air models have been getting great reviews for their lightweight and portability, along with having Flash drivers. But nonetheless, it's still a hard decision to make and I hope that you can all help guide me as to what's the better option for somebody like me who is always on the go, working from various locations, but needs a laptop with some good balls under it.

Any advice that you can all provide is greatly appreciated. Thanks for the time and suggestions!!!

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
For me it's the MacBook Pro.
Nov 7, 2012 7:32AM PST

But I use my PC for software development and have some heavy requirements such as a Virtual Box system that is about 100GB in size so that would blow away that small SSD.

If you are not doing much with your laptop, and just need a travel machine, get the Air.
Bob

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I need a workhorse
Nov 7, 2012 8:41AM PST

Thanks for your response, Bob!

I do a lot of graphic editing for print and web, but with the expanded use of cloud storage and the accessibility of wifi, I wasn't sure how much I could compensate in the loss of storage from going from 750 GB to 256 GB (even though I know that is quite a bit of space, but with heavy graphics, that can be used up quickly).

Having said that, you still think Macbook Pro is the way to go?

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For me, clouds are dark.
Nov 7, 2012 8:46AM PST

The lack of speed has me using then for syncing what's in a project to my local HDD. For travel the Air gets my nod. For work the MacBook Pro.
Bob

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Macbook Pro it is!
Nov 7, 2012 8:50AM PST

Thanks again for the advice. I think I'm set on the Macbook Pro. I can't wait to go get it tonight!

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Answer
air is better than pro
Nov 10, 2012 5:05AM PST

i would go for macbook air, 256 gb is plenty of space, i have both macbook pro and air and i would take air over pro all the time. DVD drive will be out very soon from all laptops, once Cd drives are gone from no one will need DVD burners any more.

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Contrary to the thought that
Nov 10, 2012 8:08AM PST

"No one will need DVD burners any more" I would suggest that CD's and DVD's will be around for a long time yet and the ability to burn them and to be able to backup data to them will be needed until someone comes up with something better.
I still burn movies, that have been created in iMovie, to a DVD via iDVD.
Despite what Apple seems to think, not everyone has a massive data pipe at their house, or is even capable of having anything approaching broadband in the location that they live in.

Software still comes on DVD/CD, although it is possible to download a lot of it.

What happens to those games that require the DVD to be in the player in order for the game to run?

I want my Optical reader/burner and, should I end up with a Mac that does not have one, I guess I will just supply one of my own.

P

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Answer
MacBook Air
Dec 14, 2012 9:47AM PST

I personally would recommend the MacBook Air because of it's portability. If you really need a DVD/CD drive, you can get a SuperDrive ~$80. You can also get an external drive from another company. If you need more power, however, I would go with the MacBook Pro because of it's power. It is still portable, but it is just more of a pain to lug around.

Hope this helps,
ericlericl