MacBook Pro vs MacBook Air – Which To Choose?
What a nice choice to have! You've decided that you next laptop will be a Mac the only question is do you prefer the Pro or the Air?
Well - sorry but its quite a complex question: MacBook Pro vs MacBook Air there are significance differences between these two lines of laptops - you need to first consider what your requirements are.
Will You Be Carrying Your MacBook Regularly?
As laptops have replaced desktops many of them actually don't get carrying around much. If you are carrying your Macbook around frequently then you really need to consider that smaller is better. MacBook Pros come in sizes up to 17" - but this is far too big if you need to take it to work or class every day.
If you regularly commute or travel with a Macbook consider the 11" Air or the 13" Pro or Air models.
MacBook Pro vs MacBook Air: Which is Best for Graphics
Well both ranges run Apple's famous OS X /Lion OS - but if you are working with graphic heavy packages then screen size is important. As the largest Macbook Air is a 13" you may want to conside a MBP instead. Or an external monitor (or two)
Also be aware that the MacBook Air does NOT come with an optical drive. Because the Air is so thin they do not ship with an optical drive. You can however buy an external drive and plug it in. For best performance though you may be better off considering the MacBook Pro range with their integrated DVD r/w drives.
Price Considerations: MacBook Air or MacBook Pro?
MacBook Airs cost more. This is just not because they win of the "cool factor". Its practical - because of their incredibly thinnest the drives are solid state rather than traditional hard drives which physically spin. Solid state drives are very robust and fast - but they are expensive. That's why you pay more money for less computing power and features in the MacBook Air compared to the equivalent Macbook Pro.
Whichever you decide on, a Macbook Pro or a Macbook Air are both very nice computers that will give you years of good service. However neither of them are cheap, so take your time and think about what you really need your Macbook for, and how you are going to use it.
This is a guest post from Lis Sowerbutts who writes on a wide variety of subjects at Wizzley.com and elsewhere.