MacBook Pro or MacBook Air for college

Hi guys!
So this is the typical college question from a mac lover, do I get the air or the pro? Currently my major is undeclared, but I'm looking into engineering. At the moment I don't do a lot of work with video and photography, but I am hoping to get more into that stuff although it wouldn't be like getting a major or a minor in it. More like just fiddling around. I usually watch a lot of DVDs and I have a fairly large music library. I'm hoping to just use netflix and get rid of some old music next year but chances are that won't happen.
Currently I have just the regular old MacBook circa 2010. I like it, although it is soooooo slow now like it literally takes 10 minutes to open up safari for the first time after shutting it down, not the mention the screen has started to go awry (which is all my fault, don't step on your macs because it does not end well). I justt need an upgrade for next year.
I like that the air is light and has a super good battery, however I don't know if I like how slow it is. I like the pro because its faster, comes in a 15" and is just all around more powerful, however I don't like the battery life quite so much and I don't know if the size would be the much of a big deal. If anyone wants to suggest the 11" air, I'm just bonn stop you right here because that is not happening.
I'm kinda leaning toward the air, but every time I go to purchase it something inside me asks if that what I really want.
Alright so what are everybody's thought! Thank you!

I recommend you a Macbook Pro (preferably maxed out in the specs). I'm studying Mechanical Engineering and so far it has worked marvels for me. The Macbook pro is a little heavier than the MBA, however i feel that what you should really look for is performance and not merely things like weight (specially if its so little difference). As for the battery, I don't know in your college, but in my we have ALL around the campus TONS of power outlets, so that shouldn't matter. So yeah.. between MacBook Pro and MacBook aire definitively Macbook Pro

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What specs would make the perfect MacBook Air for college?

I've decided I'm going to get a MacBook Air for college, but I want to make sure it's the best possible for my four years as an undergraduate so I don't have to get a new one over this time period.
For the processor: how much of a speed difference will there be between the i5 and i7? I'm thinking the i7 will be a better choice, but I really don't know what the difference will be.
For RAM: 4gb should be plenty for four years, right? Right now I have a late 2008 aluminum MacBook with only 2gb of RAM and only recently did I notice it to start getting slow.
Storage: My biggest concern. Will 256gb last me four years? I will be bringing an external hard drive, but I plan on only really using that for Time Machine backups and storage for photos. Should I make the jump to 512gb?
Any help will be greatly appreciated!
-Nick

JasonFear wrote:
The $100 upgrade from 4GB to 8GB (personally) I think is a total no brainer. RAM is one of those things that you can never have enough of and whatever decision you make at time of purchase is the one you're stuck with for the life of the machine. I can't tell you how many times I've had a user with the 2GB model from the previous generation complain of sluggish performance over a lack of available RAM. If it was hundreds of dollars I could see but it's not, especially when you factor in the cost of the machine. Over the course of three years the RAM upgrade translates into $2.78/month and you'd be "future proofing" yourself.
As with previous generations, Apple only lets you upgrade from 256GB to 512GB if you buy the higher end model. Which means you're looking at $1999 for the 13" model with 512GB (4GB of RAM) and $1899 for the 11" model (4GB of RAM). Absolutely not worth it, unless you absolutely have to have 300-400GB of data available locally.
I came into the conversation to clear up wrong information. If there's one thing I've learned in my time posting, more points doesn't mean good information. The OP, who's new, had a question about buying decisions and was given bad information. You've never corrected someone when they wrong? Doubt it...
Regrettably, because this an open discussion forum, we're all free to respond to whoever and whenever. It's very possible that the OP may not know the technical differences between the various CPUs and thus would base his purchasing decision on your false information. Imagine his surprise when he's told that his i7 CPU is a dual core and not a quad core.
Seeing you've asked (so eloquently I might add), I'm happy to provide information on the CPUs.
The i5 in the 13" MacBook Air is an i5-3337U, the i7 is an i7-3667U. Both machines when benchmarked against one another in a PassMark CPU test scored as followed:
i5 - 2,652
i7 - 2,841
A difference of 189 points. You're a numbers guy, Kappy. So if real estate property #1 is worth $2,652,000 and real estate property #2 is worth 2,841,000 how much more is that property worth? It's sure not 25%.
My apologies to the OP for the divergent of your topic, but I think it's important when a frequent poster who's opinion is highly regarded but (other) members on here to be corrected when bad information is provided. I know I would expect the same correction if I recommended something incorrectly.

Macbook Pro or Macbook Air for college? (Science/Psych Major)

Hi, I'm a last year high school student that has had a Macbook Pro 13" (mid 2012 model) (2.5GHz Intel i5, 4GB) since the end of 2012. It's been getting kinda slow on me and I've been thinking of getting a newer Macbook at the end of the year for college next year.
I will definitely be majoring in a Science/Psychology sort of degree. It won't be a strongly mathematical, calculative degree that requires fancy software.
I'll most likely use it for:
- Taking notes in lectures
- Using Microsoft office programs
- Online research and doing homework
- Web browsing
- Social media (facebook, tumblr, pinterest etc.)
- Listening to music (Spotify)
- Skype occasionally
- Watching videos (Youtube, TV programs)
- Game i.e. League of Legends (maybe, I might just keep it on my MBP or abandon the game)
- iMovie / Final Cut Pro (maybe, if I keep editing simple videos that are around 3-8 minutes long)
I'm willing to have an external hard drive to hold any extra stuff.
Which laptop should I get? Macbook Pro did work efficiently with all of the uses above but it's gotten quite slow in terms of response time, loading, booting up etc. Should I get a Macbook Pro 13", Macbook Air 13" or maybe even the Macbook 12" (but that's a little less cost efficient). I'd like something light to carry and efficient.

If you're in any way serious about the video then the Pro.

Macbook Air for College?

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I do light/medium video/photo editing, a lot of multitasking, web surfing, etc. I like the idea of the AIr because it boots up so quickly and is much more convenient for work on the go. Has anyone experience noticable lag when video editing or photo editing with the MBA? Is there any reason for me to consider one of the Macbook Pros?

Even though I have a new iMac at work and a very good iMac at home, the 2011 MBA I got in December has become my workhorse and that includes using Photoshop CS 5 and iMovie. I briefly experimented with Final Cut and abandoned it, not because the computer couldn't handle it but because my project couldn't fit on the SSD and when I tried working from a USB drive I got some stuttering. This may not be an issue any longer with the new MBA having USB 3 ports (or if I were willing to remove a goodly bunch of media from my computer).

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I've been looking at the new 2013 13-inch MacBook Air for quite some time now. I'm a graphic designer, so I'll be looking to use Adobe CS6 (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Acrobat) and Aperture. Also of course, the general things such as Safari, Mail and iPhoto.
I have the new 27-inch iMac at home, which serves as my main machine. 3.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.6 GHz, 32GB RAM (8GB at the moment - upgrading soon), 1TB hard drive, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX with 1GB. I love it!
I absoloutely love the MacBook Air - it's a lovely design, so lightweight and the new 12 hour battery life is just epic!
If I were to get the MacBook Air, I would definite upgrade to these specs;
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- 8GB RAM
- 128GB Flash Storage (or possibly 256GB - bare in mind, I have a 1TB external hard drive).
So I guess the big question is... Will the new 2013 13-inch MacBook Air, with these specs, be sufficient for my needs?
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Welcome to Apple Support Communities
The problem of the MacBook Air is the GPU, and Adobe apps don't support the GPU of your MacBook officially because it's an integrated GPU.
Sincerely, if you want to use that type of applications, the only valid Mac is the 15-inch MacBook Pro. It includes a quad-core processor, 4 GB of RAM (with the possibility to add up to 16 GB), a 500 GB HDD (with possibilities for bigger HDDs and SSDs) and a NVIDIA GPU which will work with your applications without any problem. Also, you can modify the RAM and hard drive without voiding the warranty.
If you want to give the MacBook Air a try, buy it and see if your applications work properly. You have 14 days to return it if it doesn't work as you expected, but to be sure, go for the 15-inch MacBook Pro. The MacBook Air is designed for home tasks

Can I use macbook air for ios app development?

I would like to know if i can use macbook air for ios app development or macbook pro is only option?

Just to reinforce what shldr2thewheel says - be very sure what size memory you want if you get a Macbook Air. There is *no* way to change after purchase. My advice is to go for the 4GB option - especially if you want to do app development.
The internal storage (solid state drive) of the Air can be upgraded if required but it will probably be an expensive option. If you don't think the storage will be enough then maybe using a USB connected drive to hold non-essential files is an option.
As to deciding between the Air and Pro you are basically making a decision between portability (Air) and expandability/bigger screens (Pro). What is more important to you?
Mark

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So, come March, with the anticipated arrival of the long awaited and less-rumored iPad 3, I will probably be joining the throngs of people eager to get my hands on and fall in love with another Apple device. But wait! As I mull over the decision to purchase the iPad, I think to myself, hmmm, maybe I should go with the MacBook Air. I currently have a 21" iMac, which, despite recent Lion Wi-Fi problems, I love. What I'd like to do with the iPad is have the portability factor, mainly do a whole bunch of writing, and some photo editing, to the extent it allows. I will, most likely, get an external keyboard, and an accomodating case to create a laptop like environment. So, my question is which would be the better choice for writing, and also which will be the overall more enjoyable option. I know that typically the iPad is for consumption and the MBA for production, but I guess I'm looking to hear from people who use one or both, and what their experience with either of them is. Thanks.

Hi! I am new to Apple, but i love my White mac book that I had gotten used on ebay a couple months ago. I have actually recently, considered the same thing you were debating. Ipad or mac book air? I am not sure, I have a kindle fire which i feel is great for reading books, not really interested in reading a book on an ipad. I was thinking of a macbook air for on the go I am going to a new college in the fall and need access with me on the go...think its half the weight which is good. I want it to be thin...however i do like parts of the ipad, i like that its sleek and the cases they have are amazing. I am just not sure what to choose. What did you end up choosing? I am not going to want to buy a keyboard.... . Any extra thoughts and advice would be great.

I just got a macbook air for xmas- now i wont get texts on my iPhone. they go right to my laptop. how can i get the texts to go to BOTH devices?

My hubby just got me a macbook air for Xmas which is awesome. Set it up to be able to ichat on it as well as on my iphone. Only now i wont get texts on my iphone- ONLY on my laptop. How can i configure so that I can get texts on my computer AND my phone. NOT just one or the other? Please help!

Hi,
The Mac version will use your Apple ID as the first and only choice...
... Until you add the same Apple ID to Messages on the iPhone.
Once this is done it is best to Restart the app on the Mac.
This will then get at least one, possibly two pop up saying the iPhone in using the Apple ID and the iPhone Number.
Accepting these Pop ups will enable the iPhone as an ID to be used in the Receive At List.
It will also appear in the drop down at the bottom for "Start New Conversations from"
If you did not set iyt up like this then remove the apple ID from the iPhone in the Settings > Messages.
Place the iPhone in Airplane mode to break with the server.
Take it out of Airplane Mode and re-add the Apple ID in the Messages settings.
Then Restart the app on the Mac as above.
Having done this you can still turn Off the Apple ID on the iPhone (receive as the iPhone number only) or disable the iPhone Number on the Mac (receive Apple ID stuff only)
The Start New Conversations option on the Mac version means you could use the iPhone number so people don't get your email.
8:26 pm Thursday; December 26, 2013
 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

How do I put an external display to sleep when I am using my MacBook Air for presentation?

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I want to be able to sleep the external display and at the same time do things in the MacBook.( This feature is useful for me so that I can prepare some things and so that my audience will not see what I am about to show them.)
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I've been looking at the new 2013 13-inch MacBook Air for quite some time now. I'm a graphic designer, so I'll be looking to use Adobe CS6 (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Acrobat) and Aperture. Also of course, the general things such as Safari, Mail and iPhoto.
I have the new 27-inch iMac at home, which serves as my main machine. 3.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.6 GHz, 32GB RAM (8GB at the moment - upgrading soon), 1TB hard drive, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX with 1GB. I love it!
I absoloutely love the MacBook Air - it's a lovely design, so lightweight and the new 12 hour battery life is just epic!
If I were to get the MacBook Air, I would definite upgrade to these specs;
- 1.7GHz dual core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz (although I'm told the i7 will drain battery quicker, and isn't much faster?)
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB Flash Storage (or possibly 256GB - bare in mind, I have a 1TB external hard drive).
So I guess the big question is... Will the new 2013 13-inch MacBook Air, with these specs, be sufficient for my needs?
Thanks in advance!

Ah, thats too bad. It's really annoying. Any workaround to make the line less visible? (i.e. external monitor)

I received a MacBook Air for Xmas and would like to copy the contents from iTunes on the old computer to iTunes on the new mac. How can i do this?

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My dad got me a MacBook Air for my birthday but he used it a few times before he gave it to me. He doesnt remember the user password that he kept and now i cant download adobe flash player in it. Please help me!

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Reset Password using Recovery HD
OS X 10.7 Lion /10.8 Mountain Lion
Follow the instructions in the first and third boxes.
http://pondini.org/OSX/Password.html
Note
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https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1631

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MacBook Pro or MacBook Air for college

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