Topic: MacBook Pro or MacBook Air?

[Carol Anne]

Okay, fellow writers, not to stir up a "Mac vs PC" kind of discussion, but I'm in the market for a MacBook. I have an old 2008 MacBook that is not long for this world, and it's a shoppin' time!  But I'm kind of flummoxed. I love the idea of a MacBook Pro, but not sure if I really need all the bells and whistles. On the other hand, a MacBook Air seems to be highly recommended among writers, but the flimsiness of it scares me. I would be using it mainly for writing but with a little fooling around (making book trailers, powerpoints, that sort of thing)

I'd love to hear feedback on either of these machines! I'm a bit green, and easily overwhelmed! Thanks in advance.
 

[Anne Marie]

Love my Air!

[Danyelle]

I think it depends on what you want it for. I've had my Macbook Pro since Decemberish 2006 and it's still running great. I also use it as my desktop computer so I don't have to sit up to type.

However.

I'm saving up for a Macbook Air to take to conferences with me. The pro is a bit heavy (broke blood vessels on my shoulder from carting it around to one conference, but that could just be me because I bruise easily), so I'm looking for something a little lighter when I need portable.

(Also, for me, memory is a huge thing, which is why I went with the Pro--or would have if the Air had been around when I purchased my Mac.)

[AnneB]

Chiming in because I'm close to replacing my 2006 MacBook. I'm leaning toward the biggest MacBook Pro (not the fancy new one but the 17-inch one) as my main computer and then eventually getting an Air for travel.

From what I've learned so far, Air doesn't have DVD/CD drives or enough USB ports for my purposes and I remain somewhat suspicious of iCloud after the less-than-steller performance of dotMac/MobileMe.

I'm looking forward to this discussion!

[J.Ro]

Love my Pro. I've had it for a year and it's been a gem.

[Kurtis]

I've used both and as a writer I cannot tell you how much the Air is the right answer! It is light, and it stays cool, and if you really use it as a "lap-top" (as I do), you will so appreciate those two things in two months you'll wonder how you ever used the hot, heavy, clunky macbook pro. The Air is not as flimsy as it seems; I've dropped mine a couple of times and it is fine. It's a pain not to have the CD drive but otherwise it's awesome.

[macdibble]

Can you buy an external USB disc drive? I love my MacBook Pro which is still trucking along after 5 years just fine, but a friend and YA author just bought a Macbook Air because she hurt her shoulders carting her Pro around. The Air is so much lighter. She carts it everywhere in a teeny tiny bag without problems.

[Anne Marie]

My understanding is that yes, you can buy an external disc drive.

I haven't missed a disc drive at all--never once wished I had one--so much is available for download these days.  I also haven't missed the numerous USB ports because almost everything in our house is wireless.

Oh, and it's not "flimsy."  It's just thin.

[Rachel]

Can you buy an external USB disc drive?

Yep, I bought one, but I've used it once in the year I've had my 11" Air. You can also buy an external hard drive if you need more storage space, but I don't need much space since it's just a writing machine. I have some movies and a game on it for travel distractions, and I have writing files, and there's plenty of space for what I need. It fits in my purse and weighs about 2lbs. I love it.

I think if you'll be using it at home most of the time, either one is fine. I think if you plan to take it with you to conferences, school visits, coffee shops, etc. you'll appreciate how light the Air is, especially if you have any back or shoulder problems (I do!). Even the 13" weighs under 3lbs. But they don't feel flimsy, just tiny.

[Tabitha]

I've got an Air and I also bought an external USB cd drive. I've had it for about a year now, and I love it. I agree with Kurtis in that it's not as flimsy as it seems. It's light and sturdy and has everything I need for writing. It's easy to take with me for travel or just to a coffee shop for a few hours of writing. I rarely need the cd drive, so I don't miss it (and don't need to cart it around with me). But when I need it, I have it and it works great.

The MacBook Pro is a great machine, too, but I haven't needed any of the added bells and whistles for what I'm doing.

Good luck making a decision! The best part of this, though, is that you can't go wrong with either.

Tabitha

[Jaina]

I've got the Pro because it's my only computer and all, so I needed everything (including the power to watch DVDs when I wanted).  As the other say, it depends on what you're using it for, how much you'll be carrying it around, etc.  I carry the Pro a lot (back and forth to work) and it does feel a bit heavy, considering.

[mghiggins]

I bought the Pro because I use it mainly on my desktop. I need the bells and whistles for an external monitor, keyboard, and for powering PhotoShop. Since I only rarely carry it, the weight hasn't been a problem. Good luck with your decision!

[JJwrites]

I have one of each. The Air is my "work" computer -- no one else is allowed to touch it. (And yes, part of that is because it is so thin and seems a bit fragile.) The Pro is used by the whole family (including a 4 year old who is not exactly easy on the thing) and it travels A LOT. Our 2008 Pro just died a sudden death, but we replaced it with another Pro simply because the first one had taken so much abuse that we were amazed it lasted as long as it did.

[Andrea B]

Well, my hubby is a tech guy who does programming and such, so of course he's all about the computing power and sturdiness. He currently has a 2008 MacBook Pro, I think. He really needs a new one, but we're saving up. I think he said we'll both be getting MacBook Airs ASAP, once the money is saved.

His main concern with the Air is that you can't increase the RAM or change the hard-drive out (both of which I believe he's done to his current model) to keep it up-to-date for speed, reliability, and processing power. However, with the advent of the new Pros, they have gotten rid of that capability, so really the only thing different is no CD/DVD drive and a lot less weight with the Air. With an external CD/DVD drive you could certainly get around that.

That being said, I think the new Pro Retinas are also without a CD/DVD drive. So, I'd vote for an Air. It's a bit cheaper. If you're not doing heavy-hitting graphics or programming on your laptop, you probably won't even notice the difference.

[AdamV]

Just saw this in USA Today and wondered if you wrote in with your question: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/kimkomando/story/2012-08-03/tech-tips/56705374/1?loc=interstitialskip

[Carol Anne]

Whoooo boy, you guys make a convincing argument for the Air.  Thing is, I rarely cart my laptop around (although I love the IDEA of writing in coffee shops...) so my current 2008 Macbook has an external keyboard attached so my neck doesn't get wonky during long writing sessions.  Can I do the same thing with and Air and a Pro? 

Thanks so much for all the great advice. So much appreciated!

[Rachel]

Whoooo boy, you guys make a convincing argument for the Air.  Thing is, I rarely cart my laptop around (although I love the IDEA of writing in coffee shops...) so my current 2008 Macbook has an external keyboard attached so my neck doesn't get wonky during long writing sessions.  Can I do the same thing with and Air and a Pro? 

Thanks so much for all the great advice. So much appreciated!

Yep, you can still do that with no problems. My husband has a 13" Air, which he uses for his day job as a web programmer, and he uses both the Apple bluetooth keyboard (link) and the trackpad (link), with the actual laptop sitting up on a box to be at a comfortable height. (You can use a USB keyboard, too, depending on whether you need to plug in anything else. The benefit of the bluetooth devices is they don't take up one of the Air's 2 USB ports.)

[anita]

I bought myself a Pro to go to conferences and make presentations. I got the mid-size, because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to see the screen as I was speaking. It is heavy! I bought a rolling case for it, and it is rather cumbersome. However, it has been great, although I still do most of my writing on my 4+ year-old iMAC, which I LOVE!

I did buy my 7th grader a Mac Air in Jan, and he takes it back and forth to school. He has a case for it, and so far, so good. (knocking on wood) I guess if it can survive being taken back and forth to school by a middle schooler on a bus and train, it isn't too flimsy.

anita

[m_stiefvater]

I feel like you've gotten plenty of input here, but chiming in because I've had both a Pro and an Air within the last few years. I loved my Air for traveling - so light! And for most everything I would do on the road back then, it was great. Then I had a tour where I was asked to do videos along the way and . . . man, I really missed the processing power/ memory of my desktop. So I went with a Pro for the next computer. It is incredibly good at doing everything, but yes, those extra pounds do add up, even though it's far lighter than my first laptops!

I'd recommend the Air unless you're planning on doing a lot of Photoshop or video-editing.

[Carol Anne]

Thanks for all the great advice, everyone. Funny, as soon as I started thinking, "new laptop," my '08 Macbook began behaving itself very well. But I know it's just playing me at the moment - a shoppin' I will have to go. Still undecided, but selling a couple of paintings this month has made me a bit "pro" Pro, you know? The extra couple of pounds could be good for my biceps. Of course, I should take the cash and buy paint for the house (long overdue) but that doesn't seem like fun at all.

Thanks again!

[MysteryRobin]

Just wanted to say that while I have a PC, I have a little one that doesn't have a CD/DVD drive and I don't miss it. This is also my only computer. I stream my movies, and download all my software - just not a problem, really.

[ButterflyGirl]

My son just finished a three day video workshop at the Apple store, and my husband asked about a new Mac that's coming out soon. Not sure if it's in the category you're considering, just mentioning it. (Sorry, dh and son are gone for the rest of the day, wish I could tell you the model). The people at Apple are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. You can set an appointment just to talk about your needs/wants with one of their staff, no heavy sales pressure. 

[Carrie]

It may just be the new Retina-display Pros, but the latest model is supposedly thinner and lighter than previous ones. So if size/weight is a huge factor, the new Pro might still be a good choice. I agree with ButterflyGirl--the best way to figure out which one you want is to go to an Apple store and play with both.