Why am i still attracted to the Air?

Question

So i currently have two laptops in my possession but can only afford to keep one of them (economy and all). They are:
MBP Classic 15" 2.6GHz/4GB RAM/200GB 7200 RPM HDD
MBA Rev A 1.8GHz/2GB RAM/64GB SSD
I got both laptops for roughly the same price (40% off discounts). Logically i should be keeping the MBP because its hella powerful and will handle Snow Leopard when it comes out i.e. future proof. However, i feel more 'comfortable' using the Air....its sooooo much lighter and easier to handle and surprisingly handles whatever i throw at it like a champ. I migrated my trimmed core data and have 20GB of space left on the SSD which is healthy.
The MBP however is lightening fast and blazes through anything but it gets HOT and uncomfortably so at times that i have to take it off my legs and let it cool for a while which i never have to do with the Air. Its also significantly heavier and bulkier and also there's the issue of the 8600GT but it does EVERYTHING and more
I am a student and ideally i'd like to be able to take my laptop to school whenever i want, which the Air would allow me to easily but with the pro i have to make sure i really need to take it with me before deciding to because its heavier to lug for extended periods
I dunno...do i keep the more practical and somewhat future poof maxed out pro and deal with the 8600GT risk or do i keep the 'sufficient' but with an uncertain future MBA
These macs will be my primary macs btw and if i keep the MBA then its likely i'll be forced to get another mac like an iMac to act as a main machine which the MBA supplements. But with the Pro i'm all set.
Please don't recommend the MacBooks...their screens are horrible (yes i owned one b4 selling it)

Answer 1

Hey,
I am in a similar predicament. Have an older Powerbook which still blazes through most stuff but I am tired of lugging the 15'' around.
I was about to pull the trigger on a new Macbook, but can't get over the reduced screen quality vis-a-vis my Powerbook (Pro quality). Wish they made a 13.3'' Pro, but I understand Apple's business model. Their high quality 13.3'' laptop is the Air. The strategy is that if you want portable you want ultra portable, the theory is that people who want portable don't also need Pro performance. I am assuming the market research shows that the majority of people who use their laptops as predominantly portable machines are using less intensive applications most of the time. The margins are better if you provide them with what they want (ultra-portable Air) without the extra horsepower. The only computer in recent history that met the ultra-portable and ultra-performance criteria was the 12'' Powerbook G4 - I assume this cannibalized some of the Apple's other laptop lines and, coupled with the market research Apple has decided that Professional's want bigger screens and so the 15'' and 17'' laptops should be the only ones in the Pro line. This makes some sense - if you are a filmmaker or photographer you are probably lugging a lot of equipment around anyway and have some sort of vehicle or assistant to help carry everything and you most likely want the larger screen to do your work. Unfortunately that leaves out those of us who want it all - top performance and portability, i.e. a 13.3'' New Macbook Pro. I highly doubt we will see this anytime soon - it would erode much of Apple's other sales as most people would opt for this and not need a new computer anytime soon. As well, they have a lot invested in the Air platform and want it to penetrate the corporate market so I wouldn't expect them to drop it anytime soon. A 13.3'' Macbook Pro would have to come in at the $1600-$1900 price range and would have smaller profit margins than the 15'' inch. Plus they do the market research and know their consumers - those of us that want the small Pro are probably a much smaller percentage of consumers. There a lot more people out there who are not used to the Pro quality laptop screens and don't use and apps beyond the OS X bundle. These people don't notice (or care about) the poorer screens on the Macbooks - they are happy and the computer suits their needs, thus Apple's best selling laptop also has the highest margins.
I would say go with the Air for now. Or sell both and by the newest top-of-the-line Air. It will most likely have no problem with Snow Leopard (and your current air may not as well - I am running OS 10.5.5 on my 5-year old Powerbook with no problem and they say one of the major improvements of Snow Leopard is that it will make the machines run more efficiently). As for the idea of a "primary" computer ask yourself what you do on your mac. If you are running Final Cut Pro and Aperture then stay with the Pro and deal with the size. If you are using regular apps you are A-OK with the Air. Resale on Macs has historically been very high compared to other machines - look at Ebay for comps - so I wouldn't worry about the "future proof" from the sense that you can always flip your mac and get the newest and fastest.
Keep your Air or sell both and trade up for a newer Air. Or, if you have enough money after selling both, get a new, slimmer, Pro which might be easier to carry around.
Message was edited by: davey32
Message was edited by: davey32