3 Mac choices. Opinions requested.

RimBlock · 30 Jan 2010 at 04:18

Hi,

I am looking at buying in to Apple products at bonus time in April and have come up with 3 options.

MBP 13" 2.53Ghz with 128GB SSD
MBA 2.13 with superdrive.
iPad (3G) & Mac Mini.

I will be keeping my PC at home and am looking for something portable.

Option 3 will give me, I hope, an ebook reader / portable media player for traveling around and a Mac for movies etc at home (I stream from my NAS to my XBox 360 atm).

Option 2 will not help with ebooks but looks great and will replace my EeePC

Option 1 same as option 2 but maybe with some extra photoshop / lightroom stuff.

Will the extra power of the MBP over the MBA really make a significant difference ?

Will the MBP 4GB over the MBA 2GB ram make a big difference ?

128GB SSD is fine as I have my media on a external drive already for my EeePC.

Option 1 & 2 are about the same price here, option 3 may be a bit cheaper depending on iPad local price.

Ideas, suggestions, relevant news (imminent hardware refresh due) etc very welcome.

Cheers
RB

"andy" · 30 Jan 2010 at 04:27

id go for the pro everytime. ipad just seems pointless too me and the macbook pros are very very nice

as for ram well id get the 2gb then upgrade it. or maybe not even need too since your planning on light use

and theres definetly a macbook prop update long overdue

bods · 30 Jan 2010 at 11:48

I'd go for the MBP too. No question. Use mine every day and 13" size is perfect. Get the Applecare too for 3 years piece of mind.

markiejt · 30 Jan 2010 at 13:09

mbp should be upgraded soon so will be a lot better and should same price as now

apeZ · 30 Jan 2010 at 14:16

On the subject of the MBP, if you look at the HE prices here: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18020062

Base 13" Macbook vs Base 13" Macbook Pro. You pay an extra £90 or so for -90GB storage space?!?! Doesn't make sense to me.

thewanted · 30 Jan 2010 at 14:19

apeZ said:
On the subject of the MBP, if you look at the HE prices here: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18020062

Base 13" Macbook vs Base 13" Macbook Pro. You pay an extra £90 or so for -90GB storage space?!?! Doesn't make sense to me.

The Pro also has Firewire. Can't remember the exact differences between the two.

Suffice to say though, aluminum > plastic.

RimBlock · 1 Feb 2010 at 08:44

Thanks for all the replies.

Looks like the MBP is the one to go for.

Cheers
RB

startrek2 · 1 Feb 2010 at 09:31

i use my iphone to ebooks and find it very easy i use stanza app simple lots of free online and easy to convert and get your own books on.. just a mention really nothing to add for you other reasons.