Buying a Mac: 13" notebook dilemma demystified

Question

A note before we begin: This tip answered a notebook question mistakenly posted in a desktop forum.  Before posting your question or issue, you might want to check out where you are using the nav bar at the top of any forum thread.  If searching for a particular family, enter its name as Apple would print it ("mac book" may give you all posts with "Mac" and "book", but "MacBook" will guide you to one of the three notebook forums).
Q: I'm considering purchasing a 13" MacBook Air or a 13" MacBook Pro.  Which one is right for me?
A: Let's make this easy at first: Both machines in question have the same core components, namely an Intel 6 series logic set and HD3000 IGP (integrated graphics processor).  Both share the same type of RAM--1333 MT/s DDR3.  So each moves data within itself equally as effectively as the other.  That's all the "geek" you need to know.
Both have a 13" display, a backlit keyboard, 2 USB ports, and a Thunderbolt multiport equipped; plus an SDXC slot for reading camera cards
The Air is thin and light, but it is also being positioned as a go-to notebook for the common man.  Its main advantages:
Weight (< 3 lb)
Thickness (< 1")
Hi-rez display (1440x900)
Energy efficient parts (SSD, low-voltage CPU)
Starts very quickly
The disadvantages:
Must be configured at purchase time (you can't upgrade later)
Low-voltage CPU slower than standard CPU (some apps may scoff at that, but nothing most folks will use does)
No optical disc drive (not a big negative if you don't use discs anyway)
Limited storage (128 GB by default, up to 512 GB)
Consequently, upgrades and accessoriess a fully configured Air more expensive
The 13" Pro embodies what the Air does not; it's a full-blown notebook with full trim, so you get:
SuperDrive DVD±RW
RAM up to 8 GB (MBA only gets 4 GB max)--and you can upgrade it any time.
Standard-voltage CPU (for overall muscle)
Upgradeable mechanical hard drive or SSD (up to 1 TB standard)
FireWire trasnfer port for storage and camera devices
But it's also heavier by two pounds and drops the display to 1280x800.
Do you value mobility? Or versatility? Since both have the same "heart," your answer  to my question will help you make a more informed choice.
Either way, you'll find a way to win.
Nate

Answer 1

I work for a school and we tend to have a very small budget. In recent months we have purchased 5 X 24" iMac's, 2 X MacMini's (one white and one aluminum), and 1 X 27" QuadCore iMac. They were all cheaper then the educational discount because they are all refurbished.
No problems so far.
They all looked brand new and the main reason that I like the idea of buying refurbished apple products is because I can still get applecare on them (which I did for all of the above computers). My thoughts are that I would rather buy refurbished sometimes because if there is a bug in the hardware it has probably been addressed.
If you can afford to get a MacBook its worth it. I am not sure about the exact specs on what you are comparing but from my experience the entry level MacBooks run similar speeds to the MacMinis and usually have similar specs. After all the MacMini is compact and running on similar hardware. I have used many laptops and Mac laptops are my favorite.
Message was edited by: Jemmyn