MBA 13" (2011 SB CPU) - 128GB or 13/15" MBP?

DefiantAsh

DefiantAsh

DefiantAsh

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So, as i have used windows forever and a day, i want to move into the Apple or Mac OS area, as i will be doing a lot of photoshop/editing and video creation during my stay at University.

After looking at the Macbook Pro's and contemplating whether to get the high end 13" Version with the Dual Core i7 Sandybridge and an upgrade to 8GB RAM, i have been swayed to get the 128GB SSD Macbook Air which is available. I will be eligible to the 15% Student Discount/HE Discount with Apple i assume, and i think its 15% which will give me the Macbook Air of my choice for £955. Where the Macbook Pro with Dual core i7 and 8GB RAM will come to around £1239 or so?.

However i have seen that its pretty easy to upgrade to 8GB RAM yourself buying a set of sticks from another retailer (compatible of course) and around £70 cheaper than the official upgrade.

I would love to get the base model of the 15" Macbook Pro which will have my budget stretched and will come in at just over £1300, and it does seem like a decent spec machine.

The one thing is will i see a considerable difference between the high end 13" MBA to the high-end 13" MBP? With no upgrades what so ever?
.........................

So i have basically narrowed it down to 2 options;

MBA 13" i5 Dual core with 4GB RAM and a 128GB SSD (saving me £300 instead of the 256GB SSD) which i can get some goodies like a magic mouse, the charger, apple wireless keyboard and a case etc.

OR

MBA 13/15" Base model with no add-ons and have my budget stretched?

Budget will be around £1200, with a possible stretch if its more than necessary.
.....................

After watching videos of the new MBA 13" with the 128GB SSD and the i5 it seems like the best all rounder, and with its iMovie and Final Cut Pro rendering capabilities it seems like my best choice, and for the price too :).

But just cant gather to myself which would be the better choice, as i will be getting a new gaming PC with windows for 3d model rendering and gaming for BF3 :D :cool:.

Also with the MBA or any Macbook's, what software to you get out of the box? iMovie, Final Cut Pro, Word applications etc? Or are they all programs or application i would have to pay a little extra to buy myself and install them?

Thanks, and apologies for the long read :) :rolleyes:
 
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You need to ask yourself what is more important, portability or power.
I would discount the 13" MBP straight away. The 13" Air has a better screen and is faster in real-world use due to the SSD.

So, it's between 15" MBP and 13" MBA.
If it's going to be your primary computer for image editing and video etc, I'd go with the 15" MBP and preferably with the 1680x1050 display if you can stretch to it. The ability to have more than 4GB RAM and a big HDD will be of massive importance as your image and video libraries grow.
If you have another desktop to use for the heavy lifting, get the MBA. I have a 13" MBA as my go-to machine for daily use. It's a superb device and capable of doing so much.

Software:

You get, iMovie, Garage Band, and iPhoto + the other junk from iLife. Word, FCP and anything else you will need to buy.
 
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Rilot said:
You need to ask yourself what is more important, portability or power.
I would discount the 13" MBP straight away. The 13" Air has a better screen and is faster in real-world use due to the SSD.

So, it's between 15" MBP and 13" MBA.
If it's going to be your primary computer for image editing and video etc, I'd go with the 15" MBP and preferably with the 1680x1050 display if you can stretch to it. The ability to have more than 4GB RAM and a big HDD will be of massive importance as your image and video libraries grow.
If you have another desktop to use for the heavy lifting, get the MBA. I have a 13" MBA as my go-to machine for daily use. It's a superb device and capable of doing so much.

Software:

You get, iMovie, Garage Band, and iPhoto + the other junk from iLife. Word, FCP and anything else you will need to buy.
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Thanks. As you've summed up already its out of them two choices.

The top end 15" MBP is a no-go, unless i waited until january and combined my money, but thats too much of a wait :).

I have my basic pc at the moment, but i suspect in my first year of university i won't be doing much work at all, such as video editing every day or even using photoshop, probably mostly theory and maybe some coding.

At the moment im dead set on getting the MBA i said in my original post, and i will be able to invest in some goodies and indeed some external storage for backing up all of my work.

I will see what my university say in terms of what work i will be expecting to do with year, most of it can be done at university, and with a sky drive from hotmail, plus online storage from dropbox, my portability is increased.

I think im set on the MBA for now, unless i can actually see more reasons to get the 15" MBP.

As for the included software, thats pretty good, and i would be getting the Mac Version of Office, and hopefully discounted as im a student, but i will see what and when i will getting things later this month.

Student finance should come through into my bank maybe October 1st :)
 
mrbell1984 said:
I purchased the 13" MBA i5 stock model with HE discount ;) Little dream machines tbh! Lovely resolution too and extremely speedy.
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ooo, you're from the north east too ;)

I start uni on the 26th of this month, so i expect or assume my money will be deposited into my account hopefully beginning of october, so in another 4 weeks i'll have it, or be waiting for it to be delivered :)
 
DefiantAsh said:
ooo, you're from the north east too ;)

I start uni on the 26th of this month, so i expect or assume my money will be deposited into my account hopefully beginning of october, so in another 4 weeks i'll have it, or be waiting for it to be delivered :)
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I'm not in education now. I still got the discount though. ;) Yep I am from the North East. Hello to all fellow Northesterners!

P.S You won't be disappointed with the new MBA.
 
mrbell1984 said:
I'm not in education now. I still got the discount though. ;) Yep I am from the North East. Hello to all fellow Northesterners!

P.S You won't be disappointed with the new MBA.
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;) Lol.

And i won't! Better not be either, giving up my gaming until january for this baby :)
 
mrbell1984 said:
Ah gamings for puffs. Be a business man so you can buy these shiny new toys. ;)
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:p

Trying to be more refined, and not sit in my chair all day playing games, i'll be sat editing images, making videos and then working on uni tasks. And then will be getting into airsoft next May so i will be recording and editing them for youtube :D

Next summer is going tob e fun, can't wait to get my MBA, want one now :(
 
DefiantAsh said:
:p

Trying to be more refined, and not sit in my chair all day playing games, i'll be sat editing images, making videos and then working on uni tasks. And then will be getting into airsoft next May so i will be recording and editing them for youtube :D

Next summer is going tob e fun, can't wait to get my MBA, want one now :(
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oh the joys of been a business man! Sitting in a chair all day isn't good for you.

Loads of people seem to be getting into video these days.
 
mrbell1984 said:
oh the joys of been a business man! Sitting in a chair all day isn't good for you.

Loads of people seem to be getting into video these days.
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I will just be starting getting into video properly, only did bits and pieces at college :).

Will be studying Creative Digital Media at university, hopefully help me get stuck into my 3d modelling/video creation ambition :). And maybe some web development on the side for my portfolio :p

May consider a Masters if possible, bag myself a decent degree and if i can, a phD will be astounding, and the first in my family, but thats in years to come :p
 
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