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General Category => Forum Lobby => Topic started by: Ironman on February 04, 2015, 03:19:08 PM

Title: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: Ironman on February 04, 2015, 03:19:08 PM
Hi y'all! So my 2012 Macbook Pro bit the dust. It fell off the table and landed just so perfectly that it's beyond repair. I am now looking to replace it. I really like the look and feel of the 13" MacBook Air. My question is this:

Should I get a 13" Pro or Air? Either option will come with 8GB of RAM. I will be using it as a day to day laptop and also plan to run GNS3 and VMware Fusion with VIRL. My one gaming vice is Starcraft 2 and from what I am reading that game will do just fine. Any thoughts?
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: Seittit on February 04, 2015, 09:34:01 PM
I absolutely love my MB Air, can't recommend it more. That being said, any time I turn on a game (even WoW on low settings) I can hear and feel the fans kick in overdrive. If you plan on playing, or doing any intensive VM playing, I'd swing towards a Pro.


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Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: SofaKing on February 04, 2015, 11:38:01 PM
MSI GS60 ;)
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: Ironman on February 05, 2015, 09:56:45 AM
I really like the look and feel of the Air but the more I read on it the more I think I will be going with a Pro again. I really like the Retina Pro because its slimmer but it's too pricey IMO.
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: deanwebb on February 05, 2015, 10:08:19 AM
I use PCs. Gotta love that right-click.
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: Ironman on February 05, 2015, 10:18:37 AM
I have a Dell Laptop for work that I use daily but I just hate Windows with a passion. It is necessary for work but outside of that I can't stand it.
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: mmcgurty on February 05, 2015, 10:42:30 AM
I have a Mid-2012 Apple Macbook Pro Retina with a 2.6GHz i7, 16GB RAM, and a 256GB flash drive.  I am not sure I could ever go back to a Dell laptop again because this thing can do so much.  I would recommend the Macbook Pro because of all the extra ports you get.  I tend to use them all between a 30" Cinema display and Thunderbolt Ethernet adapter, it leaves me with the 1 USB3.0.   I use it for my USB to Serial Ports adapters and Time Machine backup drive.
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: LynK on February 05, 2015, 11:04:34 AM
I am actually in the process of selling my 2010 pro, and upgrading to the latest retina with a SSD. I am pretty excited.
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: icecream-guy on February 05, 2015, 11:23:00 AM
Quote from: Ironman on February 05, 2015, 09:56:45 AM
I really like the look and feel of the Air but the more I read on it the more I think I will be going with a Pro again. I really like the Retina Pro because its slimmer but it's too pricey IMO.

have you checked out the apple refurb store?
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: Ironman on February 05, 2015, 11:41:06 AM
Quote from: ristau5741 on February 05, 2015, 11:23:00 AM
Quote from: Ironman on February 05, 2015, 09:56:45 AM
I really like the look and feel of the Air but the more I read on it the more I think I will be going with a Pro again. I really like the Retina Pro because its slimmer but it's too pricey IMO.

have you checked out the apple refurb store?

Good thinking. . . .thanks!!
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: LynK on February 13, 2015, 12:35:11 PM
Quote from: Ironman on February 05, 2015, 11:41:06 AM
Quote from: ristau5741 on February 05, 2015, 11:23:00 AM
Quote from: Ironman on February 05, 2015, 09:56:45 AM
I really like the look and feel of the Air but the more I read on it the more I think I will be going with a Pro again. I really like the Retina Pro because its slimmer but it's too pricey IMO.

have you checked out the apple refurb store?

Good thinking. . . .thanks!!

Ironman,

what did you decide on? I am thinking about getting the new pro as well. I am still not certain if I should get the 2k or the 2.5k varient. Thoughts?
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: Ironman on February 13, 2015, 12:51:17 PM
Hey Lynk, still weighing my options. I am definitely leaning towards the Pro though. Trying to talk the wife/boss into the Pro Retina.
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: LynK on February 13, 2015, 12:53:26 PM
Quote from: Ironman on February 13, 2015, 12:51:17 PM
Hey Lynk, still weighing my options. I am definitely leaning towards the Pro though. Trying to talk the wife/boss into the Pro Retina.

which one? 13" or 15" which model?
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: Ironman on February 13, 2015, 12:54:52 PM
Quote from: LynK on February 13, 2015, 12:53:26 PM
Quote from: Ironman on February 13, 2015, 12:51:17 PM
Hey Lynk, still weighing my options. I am definitely leaning towards the Pro though. Trying to talk the wife/boss into the Pro Retina.

which one? 13" or 15" which model?

I would go with the 13', since that is what I had in the past. Good size for travel and everyday use IMO.
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: Ironman on February 19, 2015, 09:25:52 AM
Hey guys, so I am going to go with the Pro Retina after all. Looking to get your opinions on one more aspect though.

13" with 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM

OR

13" with 128GB SSD and 16GB RAM

Thoughts?
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: deanwebb on February 19, 2015, 09:27:24 AM
Why not 256GB SSD *and* 16GB RAM?
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: Ironman on February 19, 2015, 09:28:27 AM
Quote from: deanwebb on February 19, 2015, 09:27:24 AM
Why not 256GB SSD *and* 16GB RAM?

Looking at refurbs. I was leaning towards the 16GB of RAM because the SSD can be upgraded and the RAM cannot but 16GB might be overkill and the SSD's are pricey so it might be a waste to go that route.
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: Seittit on February 19, 2015, 10:04:18 AM
Always go with higher RAM, you can always iSCSI over more hard disk space
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: icecream-guy on February 19, 2015, 11:03:03 AM
lots of vids or music go for storage,   but more memory is always better,

if you could clearly fit into one of these categories
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/macbook-pro-retina-display-faq/macbook-pro-retina-display-13-how-to-upgrade-ssd-storage.html

get the 16G RAM and upgrade the SSD
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: Ironman on February 19, 2015, 11:31:29 AM
Thanks for the info!
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: mmcgurty on February 20, 2015, 08:18:12 AM
Go for the 16GB
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: Ironman on February 24, 2015, 01:51:09 PM
Got the 8GB RAM and 256GB HD, mainly because I use a program called Transmit to keep our family photo folder in sync with a NAS. I keep it on my macbook and its approaching 50GBs in size now. I have to clean it up but I like keeping it on my laptop because it makes the updates very easy IMO.
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: LynK on February 24, 2015, 02:35:17 PM
i just got my new 2K macbook pro 15". Boots up completely in 6 seconds (or less). I chose to get more RAM/less HDD because I have tons of flash drives...
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: Ironman on February 24, 2015, 02:42:18 PM
Quote from: LynK on February 24, 2015, 02:35:17 PM
i just got my new 2K macbook pro 15". Boots up completely in 6 seconds (or less). I chose to get more RAM/less HDD because I have tons of flash drives...

What did you get for RAM, 16? 6 seconds!!! My just came in the mail this morning so I haven't messed with it yet.
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: mmcgurty on February 24, 2015, 03:52:16 PM
If you need more storage space, check this out:

http://www.pny.eu/product/s-24-222/Accessories-for-Apple/StorEDGE-/

I have the 128GB version in my Apple 15" Macbook Pro Retina from Mid 2012.  Works great!  I got it for like $79.95 during a sale on Amazon once.
Title: Re: Macbook Pro or Air?
Post by: wintermute000 on March 06, 2015, 05:03:05 PM
too late I guess but I would always say: can you run a 8Gb / 4 vCPU VM on it. If no, pass..... VIRL requires 8Gb/4vCPU. lol

Well GNS3 IOU VM runs OK on my work i7-4600u (dual core) so at least you're covered there!