MBA or MBP? can't decide

I've been using a MBP 2.2 for 2 years now and want to get another mac but I can't decide. I've heard the MBA overheats a lot and no multitouch. The only thing attractive is the size.
New MBP has better battery life, don't know about the overheating issue.
any thoughts?

The MBA is lightweight, ultraportable and very sexy. That being said, it is not for everyone. The complaints that some have made regarding overheating can be due to several issues ranging from its small breathing holes positioned at the bottom and/or network issues. I have a first generation MBA (1.6 GHz early 2008), after a few months of heating and freezing, I learned most of this is due to user negligence. First of all, its form factor is so compact, and yet it is able to perform as well as any other notebook, assuming you know what things to avoid or what steps to take to ensure it can perform to the specifications.
The first thing I learned is that it is not a laptop, it is a notebook, the term laptop is the reason for most people's frustrations with the little guy. The fan vents are positioned under the machine so it needs to sit on a flat, ridgid surface. So if you want to use it on your lap avoid placing it over fabric. Use a ridgid surface, if you must use it in bed or on the couch, the simple solution is a laptop table or in my case, I use a small cutting board I purchased at walmart that fits perfectly under it.
The second thing that can cause overheating or sluggish responses is the wireless network you use. I use a Time Capsule which can be configured to use the 5MHz band and the 802.11n radio mode however, if you have more than one wireless machine in your network and one of them at least does not have the 802.11n but 802.11g (such as older macs, the iphone, etc.), your network will be downgraded to the slower radio mode. This cannot be avoided unless you have this year's new wave of airport extremes and time capsules, which have the ability to run in dual modes.
So if you take all of these things into consideration and accept the fact that this machine was built to work with the latest network technology and you can live with it sitting on a flat ridgid surface, there is no reason why you wouldn't love the machine. I have used it for over a year and do not see how I could ever part with it. This notebook is as small as I ever want to get and will be my favorite apple computer for a long time.

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Can't decide between MBA, MBP, or MBPR

I'm in my last year of college and have decided I need (want) a new MacBook. I have an older 15" MBP that only works when plugged in, a Dell Mini 9, and a 2010 iMac. Planning on selling the three and getting either a 13" MBA, 13" MBP or have considered splurging for the 15" MBPR. I've looked and looked and really don't know what would be best and be the best bang for my buck. This would be my only computer and I would want to keep it for several years at least. If I got the 13" MBP I would remove the disc drive and install a SSD to increase the speed but keep the storage of the HDD. I have a decent music collection (40+ GB), do some work with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop occasionally, but mostly do basic stuff like word, excel, web browsing etc, travel a decent amount, and would most likely get an extra display for more serious work while at home. I know this question gets asked a lot so I appreciate any responses for help.

Ordered (7/16/2012) the 2012 15.4" Macbook Pro (NON retina)
With:
2.6GHz i7 CPU
1GB GPU
HR Antiglare Wide Screen
750GB 7200 RPM HDD (installed Crucial M4 256GB SSD with a fresh install of Mountian Lion)
I really wanted the rMBP but just could not see the real value of the Retina display when the (HR) 1680 X1050 is really ideal for me. I also have the late 2011 Macbook Air that has 1440 X 900 resolution, it's not antiglare and not glossy either. I also have a 2006 Black Macbook with 1280 X 800 and it's not antiglare and not glossy. If the rMBP offered a antiglare display I'd probably still be deciding (took 3 weeks already).
The thoughts that keep me on the fence between the 15" rMBP and 15" MBP was "I need to buy the future and not invest in the past". For sure the rMBP is the future.
Since I made the decision Im glad I did (15" MBP Antiglare WS).
my Pros/Cons list
                         rMBP          MBP
Speed                   X                X     (tie, adding SSD) (Im getting 285 Write & 502 Read)
Expansion                              X     (increase RAM and HDD or SSD)
Weight                  X                      ( rMBP about a pound lighter, not impressed)
Generation                             X     (decided long ago to NOT buy 1st generation anything, if possible)
Repairability                           X     (replace battery on MBP and other parts, but not the rMBP, yet)
Resale                  X                       (not sure here but makes since, new beats old)
Antiglare                                X     (no contest)
Cost                     X                       (my configuration was about $320 more than the retina)
Ports                                      X     (FW800, Gigabit Ethernet, DVD/CD drive, have HDMI adaper)
Value                                     X     ( rMBP display would be a waste of money for me)
BTW, my GeekBenck score is 12096

Can't decided on glossy or matte for new/refurb MBP

I'm going to be getting either a previous generation new or refurb MBP. I can't decide on the matte or glossy screen though. I've got a white iMac(matte screen) that I really like and a PB G4 15" with a matte screen also that is getting dim.
I will mainly use the MBP for stuff like web surfing, email, photo editing, ect. Nothing high end.
I've never seen a MBP matte that is LED backlite. How does that compare to the white iMac screen?
thx
lenn

I will mainly use the MBP for stuff like web surfing, email, photo editing, ect. Nothing high end.
Indoors or outdoors? Reflections can be tolerated indoors. Outdoors, they will overwhelm the screen and tire your eyes. The glossy screen has a lot brighter colors, which can throw off your color perception, so many people dislike the glossies. However, Steve Jobs seems to think they're the wave of the future; let's wait till he's older and with failing eyesight and ask him then...
I've never seen a MBP matte that is LED backlite. How does that compare to the white iMac screen?
Brighter + instant illumination, no warmup period.

Macbook Pro vs. Macbook Air, I can't decide..

Alright so I am planning on bringing a new notebook into the family but I can't decide which one is actually right for me and my needs.
I am planning to use the laptop for the obvious reasons: Web browsing, school work (Microsoft Office), downloading photos, Music (iTunes) etc., however I also plan to run Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator on the machine and maybe some other music software such as Ableton.
The weight of the products don't matter to me however I am attracted to the thinner MBA for obvious reasons. I just want all my programs, web browsing etc. to run smoothly and I want it to last!
I understand the MBP has a better processor, and I am willing to spend the money if needed, however I don't want to spend all that money and not use the power that it can support.
I know the basics about the MBP and MBA however cannot decide which features best suit my needs.
Any feedback and/or experiences with the laptop welcome...

I am actually looking for feedback as well between the Air and the Pro.
I have an OLD Mac Mini that can no longer be upgraded and whose whirling beach ball is driving me nuts.
My geek son suggests I get a MBA for its speed and portability, and my ex suggests I get a MBP for its better processor. I mostly surf the web, but I also edit papers, some which include graphics and Power Point presentations.
Portability matters, so the lighter weight Air seems desirable, but is not critical. However, if I had portability, it might be nice not to be limited to my desktop, both at home and for travel.
My son says any upgrade at this point would be Major! But with the above discussion, I'd hate to invest in an Air and find in 2 months that a newer, better version is available and desirable. Plus, now your comments on heat is another factor to consider. Cost as well is a big factor.
Thanks for whatever additional feedback you can provide.

MBA vs MBP

Hi everyone. I'm wondering which one to buy MBA or MBP. The things i want to know for each -
1 How hot can they get?
2 How well they perform on heavy load ( photoshop, games, flash etc.) and compared to each other
3 Is there a big difference between 11" and 13" MBA? Or is it enough 11" or rather you should just add those 200 and get a better one?
I really like that air is light, probably wouldn't hurt when using it on my laps for hours.
That's pretty much it. Thanks in advance.

I had an MBP 13" 2008 and now have an MBA 11". I can't speak for the present MBP's, but I did notice that now and then my 2008 MBP would get warm under the left-hand side of the keys there. Never hot. Believe, me, I've had laptops that got too hot to use, and the MBP, while it got a little warm, was never, ever so bad.
So far, my little 11", doing all the things my MBP 13" used to do, hasn't gotten warm once. Betting that they improved on the current MBP's, I'd say you don't have to worry about heat unless you're really putting them to work. The aluminum bodies are remarkably cool and work very well.
The difference between 11" and 13" MBA is this:
(1) Obviously, smaller screen real estate. That's up to you. I have no problem with this, but some people want more room just to see things wider and/or have more windows open across a screen.
(2) Battery-- 11" gets 5 hours (six sometimes), 13" gets a whopping 10 hours. MBP 13" by the by, gets around 7 hours.
(3) SSD--11" max is 128G, 13" max is 256.
Just in case it matters to you:
* Backlit keyboard--only on MBP not on the AIrs (some people find this a deal breaker)
* Lock slot--only on the MBP not on the Airs. This is my one issue with the Airs. There is an odd sort of device on sale for them now by which one can lock them to the table, but no slot in the computer. Except in places I really trust, I never leave my little 11" out on a table. If I'm at a coffee place and need to get more coffee, I close it up and take it with me. it's just too easy for someone to snatch it. I am thinking of getting the new weird lock thing for it. My old MBP, however, had the slot and I could lock it to the table.
Here's some things to consider:
(1) MBA can't be upgraded. So whatever you get, that's what you get. If you get 2G RAM you're stuck with that, you can't make it 4G RAM--which is why the advice to go for 4G is a good one. With the MBP you can upgrade.
(2) Disk Drive--obviously, MBA doesn't have one, MBP does.
(3) MBA comes with SSD standard. MBP doesn't and if you want it you'll have to pay a lot more. But you can have it with the MBP if you want it. I gotta tell you, now that I've got it, I'm spoilt. I won't ever go back
In the end, the best way to decide is, I think, twofold. First, which is more important to you, power or portability. Because portability is where you get the real magic of the Airs. Their lightness (you'd be surprised at how much of a difference going down from almost 6 pounds to 2 or 3 makes), slimness, even the speed of getting them in and out of carrier bags is beyond compare. Power and storage is where the MBP excels. Second, if you haven't yet, you should go to a store and check both out. I'm a great believer in going for the computer that calls your name, that you fall in love with. If an MBA is what you fall in love with, you can make it work even if it doesn't have all you think you want.
Hope that helps!

Another MBA v MBP dilemma

So I'm trying to choose between a MBA and a MBP but just can't decide! Here is what I'll be doing:
- Everyday tasks (office, internet, music etc.)
- Films/streaming
- Possibly games such as minecraft
- Possibly programming
When I say possibly, I mean I may in the future but don't at the moment, so bear that in mind! I like the MBA a lot so if possible would prefer to get it. So a couple of questions:
Will the standard 13" MBA be able to handle all of the above? If not, would a customised MBA with 1.7GHz i7 and 8GB RAM handle it, or would it be better to just get one of the 13" MBP models?
Like I said, I'd prefer to MBA but would be happy to get a MBP if it meant it was more futureproof for my needs.
Thanks.

FUnny, I posted similar post right here:http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2650239&tstart=0
Yeah, it appears that MacBook Air have a smaller color gamut (AnadTech confirms: http://www.anandtech.com/show/3991/apples-2010-macbook-air-11-13inch-reviewed/5 )
Interestingly however it appears that it's brighter and have better contrast ratio than MacBook Pro.
I suppose it's bit of a trade off - colors for display resolution and energy consumption...

Can't Decide

I am torn between two computers. Either I will get the MacBook Pro 15 inch 2.16 Ghz with everything standard except 2 Gigs of Ram and 160 Gigs of storage.
Or I will get the MacPro with everything standard except 2 gigs of ram. Any help making this decision you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
I can't decide if I prefer the portability with less power, or more power with no portablility. Also I am about to be a freshman in college, so that might play a role in my decision. Again any help would be great.

I used a 12" Powerbook G4 for a good two years as my one and only machine and then did the same with my MacBook Pro for the first 6-months before I got my MacPro. I did some pretty heavy lifting designing dozens of magazines with both of them and while there were times I wished I had the latest, greatest desktop as well, portability is key - I'm able to have all of my files at my day gig, at home on the couch and anywhere I might meet my clients.
While I love having my MacPro at the ready, my MBP is still my main squeeze leaving the MacPro to only see action once in a while when I need the added muscle (3D rendering, big Photoshop work, etc.), so its far from earning its keep as far as dollars spent to productivity is concerned. Like my Powerbook before it, I haven't run into anything that I couldn't do on my MBP, it just takes a little more time here and there and when you get into video or even heavy Photoshop use, external FW drives become your friend for more scratch disk space.
Being that you are in school, I agree that the laptop would be the better option as you can take it to class, kill time in between and use it at home/work as well and you'll really get your money out of it - I wish I had a one when I was in school, but they were waaaay too pricey back then. Anyway, once you get out of school, you can build your dream tower, but the MacBook Pro should serve you well in your current situation.
MacBook Pro 15" 2.0GHz 2GB RAM / Mac Pro 3.0GHz 4GB RAM Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Suggestion-MBA or MBP

I'm looking into purchasing a MBA or MBP, and I need some advice on which will work better for my needs. I currently use a PC and I am ready for a change. I use Adobe, Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint frequently. I create and save many documents in word and Excel spreadsheets. With so many choices for apple notebooks I am unsure of the differences or which to get MBA or MBP. Please Help!
I currently have Ipad and Iphone 4s. We are slowly converting our household over to Apple products.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

it depends on ur use.
if u use ur laptop only for browsing, email, some work with work/excel/powerpoint etc, music and so on, then MBA is enough. actually its enough for most of us. MBA also comes with large SSDs, so u can check the storage before buying. and its more comfortable for carrying.
but if u r into heavy gaming, hardcore audio/video editing or need to run other special heavyload softweres, then u will need MBP.
but remember, some gaming, little of photo editing etc also runs smooth on MBA.

MBA or MBP

I am thinking of getting a Mac but I can't chose between the MBA or MBP..I need a optical drive but I already have a separate SuperDrive...Portability is a huge thing, same a disk space as I will download movies and stuff...any help would by appreciate

it depends on ur use.
if u use ur laptop only for browsing, email, some work with work/excel/powerpoint etc, music and so on, then MBA is enough. actually its enough for most of us. MBA also comes with large SSDs, so u can check the storage before buying. and its more comfortable for carrying.
but if u r into heavy gaming, hardcore audio/video editing or need to run other special heavyload softweres, then u will need MBP.
but remember, some gaming, little of photo editing etc also runs smooth on MBA.

MBA vs MBP: Should I buy?

I was hoping to get some opinions from some of you who have the Macbook Air.
Currently I have a Powerbook G4.. the second to last revision before the Intel switch: 1.67Ghz G4/1Gb RAM/160Gb HD/ATI 9700 w/128MB.
Here is my dilema: I am going to be buying a new Apple laptop as early as tomorrow 2/15. I was originally planning on buying a 15" Macbook Pro fully maxed out in every made to order configuration, but all my research has led me to believe that an update to that product line is imminent. I am the type of person that likes to have the best/most powerful thing for the sake of having it even when I may not use it to the limit of it's capabilities, but I am also very impatient and don't know if I can wait for the update whenever that may happen while my $$$ burns a hole in my pocket.
So, I began thinking about what I actually do with my PBG4.. I used to do music production and graphic design but not so much anymore. Mostly I watch movies and surf the net, I do convert movies and music quite often, but don't really utilize all the IO that I have (except S-video) I have been tempted by the Macbook Air, but I am wondering if I will regret giving up all the power and IO of a Powerbook or Macbook Pro.
I know if I get a Macbook Pro and they release an updated version shortly after my purchase I will be totally burned.. but I am wondering if I could live within the limitations of the Air?
Just interested in getting some opinions from those of you that have the Air or both MBA and MBP..
Many thanks,
James

Really, IMO, you should wait it out until the MBP is refreshed. If you absolutely cannot, then it's going to be a difficult decision on your part. When you break down the specifications, the MBA is really not "new" in the sense that it still uses the 65nm Merom microprocessor. This processor is set to be eventually phased out by the new Peryn, 45nm processors that were announced in late January. So if you go with an MBA today, you're almost dropping the cost of the baseline 15" MBP for a notebook that is essentially last year's technology. Not to mention that the RAM in the MBA is not upgradable, and the HD uses an outdated parallel ATA interface (ie slow).
Additionally, you need to really consider your needs in a notebook. If you still do music production and graphic design at all, then the MBA is probably going to be a huge disappointment. Remember that this thing wasn't meant to be a desktop replacement like the MBP. Apple's target consumer for the MBA is someone who needs a second or even third computer for situations where portability is a must, and is willing to sacrifice speed and power to get it.

Hi! I went to the new Apple new shop and I was looking for a dock station/ speakers for ipod. Why is not possible to listen the models not in exhibition?! How can I decide?! Just the design?! It's stupid!

Hi! I went to the new Apple new shop and I was looking for a dock station/ speakers for ipod. Why is not possible to listen the models not in exhibition?! How can I decide?! Just the design?! It's stupid!

Hi! I went to the new Apple new shop and I was looking for a dock station/ speakers for ipod. Why is not possible to listen the models not in exhibition?! How can I decide?! Just the design?! It's stupid!

MBP can no longer access a wired network

Just like week I could no longer access an academic wired campus network.
The IT department says they can see my MBP on the network, but the MPB no longer can access the network.
I can take the same MBP to another place of employment and gain access to their wired network.
As a caveat this same MBP can access the academic wireless network with no issues.
No thing has changed on the academci wired network since last week.
Thoughts?
Thank you,
Reed

Leopard sets your mac to avoid being a master browser so you don't see other shares in finder.
There are many ways around it but if you run a network with few machines and that is the only mac the fastest is to launch terminal as administrator and issue the following command:
sudo pico /etc/hosts
Add a line at the end with the IP address of your NAS, this is what I have in my hosts
192.168.0.100 Netdrive
Hit option X and save the file. Reboot the machine the NAS will come up immediately

My new MBP can't see my Time capsule

Hi
Thanks for any help with this :
I use my capsule about once every 2 weeks to back up the MBP.
Have a new MBP and wanted to back it up for the first time. The MBP is running 10.7.2.
It could see the Time Capsule originally but said it needed a firmware update as its an original 1TB capsiule:
I don't have the capsule connected to the internet directly because I just don't like the idea of that.
When you'd disconnect the MBP from the internet WiFi, to connect to the Capsule, the capsule would say it needed an update - HOWEVER when you'd connect back to the WiFi network then airport utility didn't see a capsule to see a need for the firmware update:
My questions are:
1) can you download the firmware manually.
2) can the USB slot be used for connecting to the computer ??? It seem not to be possible as nothing comes up on the computer when the two are connected
I tried other strategies like setting up the Capsule on the house WiFi - now the MBP can't see the Capsule at all at all, ----green light on, soft resets done, USB in the back.
The only thing I havn't tried yet is to get an Ethernet cable - years since I had one and lost. Guess I'll have to go out and get one
Thanks
Tom

partial solution - hold the reset button down for longer than one sec, held it down for 5-6 sec and this reset the connection info to default so the computer could see it again.
Getting the firmware onto it remained a larger problem.

Our iPhones can't find our wireless network, but our MBPs can?

Using AirPort Express. Me and my friend's MBP can connect to the wireless just fine, and we can see the wireless network name on our MBPs.
But when we use our iPhones, our wireless network is nowhere to be found, tried resetting to factory settings and restarting modem etc. Same problem happens to other devices i.e. other laptops, other phones, even Apple products, ONLY our MBPs can connect for some odd reason.
Any ideas on solving this? Thanks...

Done! I looked through some other threads and someone suggested resetting the entire AirPort with the reset button on the actual device instead of in AirPort Utility. Try that! Works completely fine now! Good luck

IMac or Macbook Pro Can not Decide Need Help

The iMac or Mac Pro I can't decide which is the best one to get and I need to get a
good answer before next Thursday. The 24" iMac with extreme Intel processor or Macbook Pro 17" with 2.6 Intel Processor. I'm into Graphic Design in the winter months and want something that doesn't crash when I'm designing websites with dreamweaver. I need to know from you professionals which is better. Also this will be my first MAC. Thanks for any help you can provide.

Newbie,
It really comes down to your desire for a fast Desktop, or a fast portable. Only you can decide whether or not you want to "go portable." Either one would suite your professional needs, and do so extremely well. And Macs simply don't just "crash" (not if they are working as they should). My well-over-1-year-old 17" Macbook Pro has never been shut down, and I rarely restart it. No crashes, no problems. I have seen my wife's 3-year-old iBook with an "uptime" of over 160 days (that's almost 6 months with no shutdown or restart!!!). Also no crashes, no problems.
The 24" iMac is simply... stunning. And, with the 2.8 Gig Core2Duo Extreme, it should really rock speed-wise. But, it would remain in one place. The benefits of the iMacs are (obviously) the larger displays, larger hard drive capacities, and sometimes better performance (as in the case of the 24" w/ Core2Duo Extreme).
On the other hand, there's a lot to be said about being portable. "Going portable" is potentially a complete paradigm shift, as far as how one works. My Macbook Pro goes with me almost all of the time, and I can use it for work or play at a moment's notice. I have a really nice dual-display setup at home, which has (sadly) never been used since I moved to a portable; I simply can't be bothered being tied to a single location to use a computer anymore.
In the end, the decision is yours. Either way, you'll be happy.
Scott

MBA or MBP? can't decide

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