Torn between buying either the New (Mid 2012) 13" Macbook Pro or the New (Mid 2012) 13" Macbook Air

Question

Which notebook do you think has more "life" in it?  Which will be the more outdated machine sooner i.e. which one do you think Apple will stop supporting and allowing you to update to the most current OS?  I'm going to get the base model of either and probably upgrade to the 8G of RAM since it's only $100 bucks more.
From my research thus far it seems to pan out like this:
Pro: More HD space, but slower hard drive.  Screen isn't as nice.  More powerful processor but I have read that performance is somehow equal to the Air (this is where I'm a little confused). 
Air: Less HD space, but the SSD makes the machine open apps and such faster.  Prettier screen.  Equal performance even though the processor is not as powerful (again ?????).  It's just cooler looking and perhaps Apple will be phasing out the base level Macbooks in favor of Airs in the future (just a guess).
I will mostly use the computer at home, but it's looking likely I'll be traveling for work soon.  Even then the notebook probably won't leave my extended stay.  I will mostly be using it for fun: web surfing, streaming movies to my xbox via Vuze (I usually delete movies/shows after 1 viewing), email, ect.  I don't do any photo or movie editing but I may mess around with Garageband a bit.  Any other words of wisdom on choosing between the two systems, or if for my needs you think I should go with something completely different, would be helpful as well  
Thanks so much for your help! - James

Answer 1

A year ago it would have been a 'no contest' situation in my mind. the MBP would bethe choice hands down.  Since you can get SSD replacements/upgrades from OWC (and probably others as well) the Air looks far more attractive.  SSD prices are going to fall quite rapidly and what might be a prohibitory expensive upgrade today will not be so in the near future.
I have come to accept (grudgingly) that the future of an internal DVD drive is limited, but the slim ones that Apple has available convinces me that is no longer such a big issue.  I do not subscribe to the argument that all downloads can always be done via the Internet.  No communications protocol is 100% perfect as is the hardware supporting it.
You are the final arbiter in this decision and I will not endorse one over the other.  Simply put, either one is a good choice from my perspective.
Ciao.