Which computer to pick? Which did you get? Macbook pro or air

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
I've got the old (circa 2011) 13 inch pro. Wouldn't trade it for the world (except for an upgrade).

If carrying ease is a necessity for you, go with the air as it's extremely easy to transport. Make sure you get a good soft carrying case, though. These screens tend to crack easily; there's one on mine as I type this right now.
 
Macbook Air.

To me portability is everything. I have a high end windows laptop and I lugged that around campus for about a year. Summer after freshmen year I decided to buy an iPad and it is one of the best purchases I've ever made.

Basically my point is that nowadays computing power doesn't matter much at all. If you aren't a mechanical engineer needing to do high-end rendering in SolidWorks or some artist editing HD video why would you need something like the MB Pro Retina? The cost just doesn't justify buying that.

Stick with the Air, I think you'll be happy with that.
 
MBA is cool. Very light and if you bought the 8gb RAM, it's better. Apple mainly made this product for students (so I've heard).
 
New macbook air gets 12-13 hours of battery life (+1 intel for engineering haswell), and has probably the fastest hard drive read speeds of any commercial laptop, period. if I hadn't gotten the 15in retina just a few months ago, I'd be jumping all over that.
 
Got myself an air when they first came out. Wouldn't trade it for anything but a new air.
 
This thread is really making it easy for me to pick the air, even though I was leaning towards the retina.

PanRoasted said:
New macbook air gets 12-13 hours of battery life (+1 intel for engineering haswell), and has probably the fastest hard drive read speeds of any commercial laptop, period. if I hadn't gotten the 15in retina just a few months ago, I'd be jumping all over that.
Click to expand...

Is the screen not worth it?
 
...
 
Last edited:
If my school didn't require its students to get a specific laptop 😏, I would have jumped on the MBA bandwagon minutes after looking at the Keynote.
 
Macbook Air = much lighter, faster (not kidding, it's really faster), no DVD/CD drive

Macbook Pro = has DVD/CD drive

If in doubt, buy from Best Buy. I think they have a 30 day return policy. Double check to be sure. If so, you can use it for 30 days, don't damage it, keep the packaging, and return it. Then try out the other for under 30 days, and return it. Lastly, tell us which one you pick and why.
 
Totally didn't even think about it until the above poster said something. Macbook air = solid state drive = AMAZING. Instant on from sleep and like a 10 second boot up time.
 
Gauss44 said:
Macbook Air = much lighter, faster (not kidding, it's really faster), no DVD/CD drive

Macbook Pro = has DVD/CD drive

If in doubt, buy from Best Buy. I think they have a 30 day return policy. Double check to be sure. If so, you can use it for 30 days, don't damage it, keep the packaging, and return it. Then try out the other for under 30 days, and return it. Lastly, tell us which one you pick and why.
Click to expand...

The retina has a solid state as well and does not have an optical drive.
Buy the retina if you can. You'll appreciate that extra screen space on a 15". If you're looking between 13" retina and 13" air, definitely the air.

The retina MacBook Pro smokes the air in performance with 16 GB ram.
 
IgA said:
This thread is really making it easy for me to pick the air, even though I was leaning towards the retina.



Is the screen not worth it?
Click to expand...

The screen is very nice, yes, but after a while you kind of stop appreciating it. The things that really matter day to day are battery life, performance, portability. The 15 inch retina certainly delivers on all these counts (with the added bonus of the nicest screen I've ever used), but the new MBA is a much more cost-efficient option, when weighing these three things.

I wouldn't say the retina "smokes" the air in performance, coming from someone who has owned both machines, and anything past 8 gb ram is a complete waste (the 15 inch comes standard with 8) unless you are doing major movie/photo editing or illustration (or some other digital artistic endeavor). The amount of RAM is a poor indicator of a machine's power, in general. Your day to day performance is most affected first and foremost by hard drive speed, and then the architecture of your processor (clock speed is not that big of a factor tbh). The new air actually beats the 15inch retina by about 50% in hard drive read speed, and has an updated processor architecture. Of course, RAM is certainly a factor - if your RAM is at 2gb or below, you're going to run into problems regardless of anything else. That's not an issue for either of these machines.

If you REALLY want a beast of a machine, wait for the retina 15inch refresh. They'll undoubtedly be bringing in Haswell (the sole reason for the MBA's new battery life), the same PCIe interface that allows the MBA to achieve the huge hard drive read/write speeds, and probably some other incremental updates. I wouldn't be surprised if the refreshed 15inch retina boasted even better battery life and hard drive read/write speeds than the new MBA. You do have to consider that it will be almost double the price, but it will 100% be the nicest computer you can buy at that price range.

The reasons why I purchased the 15 inch retina (in order of importance) are A.) discrete graphics (I like to game), B.) best compromise of portability/power in the macbook family, C.) I do a lot of musical notation/recording/mixing on my laptop and I wanted the extra RAM/processing power, D.) the screen is really nice. You don't have to be a mechanical engineer/hard core digital artist to justify buying the 15 inch retina. I got mine for $1600 refurb on eBay, so the cost isn't exorbitant either.

PS: Whatever you do, do NOT get the 15 inch retina new right now. It's only a couple months for the new product cycle to start up, and that's when the Haswell update should be coming to the retina line. Paying $2k+ right now for a soon to be outdated machine would be tragic.
 
Last edited:
All these new Macbooks (and PC laptops as well) are a complete waste of money, unless you specifically have some use for them such as digital art or gaming that demands new hardware. For every day tasks like office, web browsing, e-mail, etc. a laptop from 2006 to 2008 works just as well as a laptop from 2013.

I have an early-2008 Macbook Pro, and the newer models edge it out in ways that won't make a difference to the average pre-med. Who cares if your Mountain Lion loads 5 to 10 seconds faster than mine? I haven't restarted my Pro in weeks. Get an older, used Air or Pro on E-bay from a reputable dealer.
 
My computer is my distraction. It is what I use to relax. Movies/games/internet bull****. Laptops are slow as **** and less effective for entertainment. When I study, it's with a pen and paper and away from computers. Laptops are therefore pointless for me. I built a mega desktop with triple monitors. Pain in the ass to move, but so worth it when it's set up.
 
Another vote for the MBA. I'll be replacing my 5 year old white MacBook with the Air for med school this fall. I plan on upgrading the processor to 1.7 GHz and ram to 8 GB, along with the standard 256 GB SSD.
 
Last edited:
The pro has been good enough for me (I have the older one from 2010). Its not that heavy and I personally like the fact that it feels a lot more sturdy. Even three years later I haven't noticed any major changes in performance.
 
I had the MBP and the Air...

For your use, I really think the Air would suffice.
For me, I had some issues with it. It was clunky when I started to use more task intensive programs or when I multitasked, and would reboot on me every week or so. Mind you, I use Photoshop and Lightroom for my work, use 3d histology/anatomy programs for my schoolwork, and I also use it for gaming on occasion, so my needs are obviously different.
The MBP is light in my opinion (and I have an older model), much lighter than any windows/linux laptop that I've had, but of course the Air automatically wins. However, it was SO light that I was afraid I'd snap it in half lol.

I'm a MBP lifer... have had mine since 2010 with no considerable performance issues. Its a workhorse, and will probably give me a few more years until I need to upgrade! Although the retinas definitely have my attention.
 
I bought an ultra book with a 13" hd display, weighs 15.5 oz and is less than an inch thick, 1.8 i core processor & 4 gigs of ram, 500gb hard drive, backlit keyboard and touch display for $400 not a bad deal- but it's a pc and uses windows 8 so it sucks- I wanted a Mac Book Pro- but couldn't afford it. But for basic computing it works. I don't game or do anything that intense.
 
I love my 13inch macbook pro. I would recommend the retina MBP for the ability to do upgrades on it. THe newest MB Airs are very nice too, however, with faster GPUs and CPUs than the current MBP Retina.
 
OP- given your stated needs, I would go with the air And invest in either a large HD display screen or compatible TV for at-home use. This way you have the benefits of the portability as well as a large quality display when using the comp at home (especially if streaming movies/tv).
 
...
 
Last edited:
Gauss44 said:
Macbook Air = much lighter, faster (not kidding, it's really faster), no DVD/CD drive

Macbook Pro = has DVD/CD drive

If in doubt, buy from Best Buy. I think they have a 30 day return policy. Double check to be sure. If so, you can use it for 30 days, don't damage it, keep the packaging, and return it. Then try out the other for under 30 days, and return it. Lastly, tell us which one you pick and why.
Click to expand...

For laptops I think it's 14 days with a 10% restocking fee... unless you buy it used/previously opened.
 
IgA said:
To me the air seems like an obvious better choice because its more affordable and will pretty much do what I want. I just don't want to be disappointed with not having the retina display and also, I'm using a 17 inch computer now (older MacBook Pro) and don't know if the jump to a 13 inch screen will be a mistake. But I'm sure the excitement of having the retina display wears off, it just seems awesome now because I don't have it.
Click to expand...
the Air does also have improved resolution over the standard 13" Pro, so there's that advantage.

When I was making this decision a couple of years ago, I went with a 15" Pro because I wanted to be able to upgrade my RAM/hard drive and wanted better resolution than the 13" Pro offered.
 
IgA said:
To me the air seems like an obvious better choice because its more affordable and will pretty much do what I want. I just don't want to be disappointed with not having the retina display and also, I'm using a 17 inch computer now (older MacBook Pro) and don't know if the jump to a 13 inch screen will be a mistake. But I'm sure the excitement of having the retina display wears off, it just seems awesome now because I don't have it.
Click to expand...

You could always get an external monitor, unless you feel like you need the extra 4" everywhere you go.
 
If money is not an issue, go with the Macbook Pro w/ Retina.

It is good compromise between the thinness of the air and the regular MBP performance. I currently have an air, and would pick the air again, but only due to the price difference.

EDIT: Also, to add to the above - don't overthink jumping from a 17 inch to a 13 inch. You'll adjust to it quickly and it won't bother you. I went from primarily using my desktop which has a 24 inch monitor to mostly my 13 inch MBA and it's really not a concern, especially since the OS has the thing that lets you easily switch between multiple virtual "monitors".
 
Think I am going for the air. It's more affordable and I'm happy it was just refreshed.
 
I have the 11" air and I with I had bought one with a bigger screen. Its obviously easy to carry around, but I doubt getting a bigger one would have made that big of a difference.

I like to do a split screen type of thing with my notes open on one side of the screen and a powerpoint or lecture recording on the other side, but I have to make everything so tiny to get it to fit on the 11". Otherwise, I love it because its fast and the battery lasts forever. My boyfriend even spilled a whole glass of wine on it and it lived.
 
15' MACBOOK PRO WITH RETINA

Trust me. You will love the light weight and large screen and will def not be disappointed!
 
IgA said:
Think I am going for the air. It's more affordable and I'm happy it was just refreshed.
Click to expand...

Good for you man! Even though I support the retina MacBook Pro, it's basically a nuclear power plant with more power than you'll need
 
I would totally go for the MBA is lighter and more portable like you want. The MBP is still a good amount of weight and takes up some space in your bags if that is also a problem that you wouldn't want.
 
go big or go home.

I mean the i5 will probably be more than you ever need, especially with a small SSD and no way to upgrade anything else. this clearly isn't going to be your powerhouse computing laptop.
 
The i5 is more than enough and 8GB of ram is overkill. Without dedicated graphics, I can't think of any task (or multiple tasks) that you would be doing on an MBA that requires that kind of computing power. Just buy the stock 256GB one and you'll be more than happy.
 
DAPI said:
The i5 is more than enough and 8GB of ram is overkill. Without dedicated graphics, I can't think of any task (or multiple tasks) that you would be doing on an MBA that requires that kind of computing power. Just buy the stock 256GB one and you'll be more than happy.
Click to expand...

Yea, I think I will go with the i5.
 
I am going to get a macbook pro. I was hoping that the "analysts" were right and the updated model would be announced earlier this month but that wasn't the case. I just hope it is released before august but I doubt it, sucks cause I've been waiting awhile and I don't want to spend all this $$$ on a new macbook when the update is right around the corner (supposedly)
 
chemsmith said:
I am going to get a macbook pro. I was hoping that the "analysts" were right and the updated model would be announced earlier this month but that wasn't the case. I just hope it is released before august but I doubt it, sucks cause I've been waiting awhile and I don't want to spend all this $$$ on a new macbook when the update is right around the corner (supposedly)
Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat. My thoughts are to keep using what I'm using right now (2010 15" MBP) and then switch to the 13" rMBP when it comes out. I bet it will come out when Mavericks comes out which should be "this fall"... so hopefully in September or early October.
 
chemsmith said:
I am going to get a macbook pro. I was hoping that the "analysts" were right and the updated model would be announced earlier this month but that wasn't the case. I just hope it is released before august but I doubt it, sucks cause I've been waiting awhile and I don't want to spend all this $$$ on a new macbook when the update is right around the corner (supposedly)
Click to expand...
there's always a bigger and better Macbook "just around the corner."

I bought an early-2011 15" MBP in December 2011 when they had already released the late 2011s and were about to release (supposedly) the Ivy Bridges. Turns out they didn't release the Ivy Bridges for a good while later and that early 2011 saved me a ton of money and is still a powerhouse.

Don't wait around for the next MBP. It's usually a disappointment and the one you can get a hold of now will be more than enough.
 
OP, I can already tell that you are going for Air, but as someone who used 13" Air last year and got 15" MBP retina in January this year, I would highly encourage you going to Apple store and see them for yourself before buying it right away.

Everyone has different preferences, and sometimes what people say to you might be not so bad or not so good when you actually see and test it firsthand. For example, the weight of 15" MBP retina, for me personally, was not as bad as what people said.


As for myself, I usually work with multiple windows/websites at the same time, and my Air started to make loud fan noise if I opened too many things at once. I didn't mind it at first, but after using it 3-4 years, it was more noticeable to me. I realized that I needed higher than 1.7 processor or just better performance laptop. I also needed more work space, so 15" screen seemed more appealing to me.

I was fine using it for word documents, powerpoint slides, and etc. However, after a while, it got slowed down and it was not as crisp as before. I used and handled it carefully everyday since it was my only laptop, but still after a while, the longevity of Air seemed to be not as long as Pro's (it's purely my thoughts and from what I heard, so it might be absolutely false). Portability was great as others pointed out, but after realizing that Air might not be good enough for the way I use laptops, I really wouldn't mind a little bit heavier laptop as long as it was more durable.

After trying out 15" MBP retina at a local Apple store, I said to myself this is it. After using retina for 6 months by now, I wouldn't want to go back to Air at all. Of course, fans can make noise sometimes, but it wasn't as loud as Air's, at least.

If you look into Amazon, you can probably get 15" MBP retina under $2000. Often times, many people post their MBP retina under "like new-used" and the descriptions say it's never been opened or factory sealed. That's how I saved $400-500. You don't have to always perceive MBP retina as "$2200+, overrated, heavy laptop that might not perform as good as the new Air coming up." I would wait, check out by yourself at a local Apple store, and see firsthand to what extent what you've heard so far from other people and various websites is true.
 
...
 
Last edited:
IgA said:
Thanks for that thoughtful post! If money was not an issue at all, I would go for the 15 inch macbook pro retina. I did go to the store and look at it and between the 13 inch air and 13 inch pro, I would have to go with the air. But the 15 inch retina does make it a different story. However, money is an issue right now for me (all these applications!). I just ordered the air for around 1200 bucks (with 8gb ram) and have someone interested in buying my 17 inch pro - making the official cost of the air only a few hundred bucks - very affordable. I figure that since I am living in NYC right now, and at least for the next year, portability is most important. If I get into med school and don't think the air is sufficient at that point, I will sell it and then splurge on the pro (which hopefully will have just been updated, because I wouldn't buy the pro right now even if I was set on that).

Did you have the first generation air (because you mention having it for 3-4 years)? This new one should be much more powerful than the original air so hopefully I won't run into the problems that you experienced.
Click to expand...



$1200 for air is very good deal. I think you can also replace some hard drives with better ones later, in case when things get slow down or don't work out, because retina cannot replace things inside after you purchase them.

Yes, I understand. Application costs are so high. I don't remember well now, but I think it was one of the first generation ones. The new one should be much better now hopefully, so I agree with your choice there.
 
skiier54 said:
retina is not worth the price. are you trying to watch hd movies on it? far more cost effective to just get an led tv with widi or usb input.
Click to expand...


OP already purchased the Air, so I wouldn't comment further about retina at this point.

However, yes, some websites say retina is not worth the price unless you do professional photoshop or graphic design work. I agree with you to some extent.

Like I said above, though, you can still get retina under $2000 so I wouldn't say it is not worth the price that easily. Some pre-med students are into serious photography and graphic work, so they might have different priorities from typical pre-meds'. I wouldn't say something is not worth the price without inquiring into someone's main purpose of its usage.


Edit: Never mind! I just realized that OP specifically said above it's for general stuff. My fault.
 
Last edited:
Slight thread-hijack: would I be able to get by with just a desktop and my iPad? I tried to stop lugging around my laptop in undergrad but then some of my classes decided to have all-Microsoft-Excel-based assignments, and my iPad sort of sat and gathered dust, since I needed the laptop on me at all times.

(If it matters, I currently have an iPad 2 but I'm going to a school that provides us with new iPads at orientation.)
 
just going to throw this in there.... go to macmall.com... they have some ridiculous discounts. I got a 600 dollar discount on my 13.3 rMBP 2.9Ghz, 256 GB, i7 (i got it for 1599.99) so OP DO NOT ORDER IT FROM THE APPLE SITE.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
  • Locked
Which one
Replies
7
Views
1K
sarcasmrules
S
P
Which Tie?
Replies
10
Views
953
WildWing
WildWing
Mr.Smile12
Did you get accepted? Tell SDN!
Replies
0
Views
901
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
X0001234
Which medical schools produce the most academic physicians?
Replies
2
Views
1K
LizzyM
LizzyM
Liam K
Hey everyone, which medical schools are known to be friendly toward applicants with reinvention or non-traditional backgrounds?
Replies
3
Views
659
LunaOri
LunaOri
Top