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Somewhat related, I’m looking at getting my first MacBook for basic computer usage and iPhone programming. I’m trying to figure out what model to get but since
by jareds 13y ago
Somewhat related, I’m looking at getting my first MacBook for basic computer usage and iPhone programming. I’m trying to figure out what model to get but since I am totally blind the retina display is a non-factor and a larger screen is a negative due to reduced portability. I was planning on buying an 11.6 inch Air. With the price drop on the pro my choice is no longer so clear cut. For $1449 I can get an Air with 256 GB of storage, a 1.7 GHZ processor that boosts
up to 3.3 GHZ, and 8 gigs of ram for $1449. I can get a 13 inch
MacBook Pro with 256 GB of storage, a 2.4 GHZ processor that boosts up
to 2.9 GHZ and 8 GB of ram for $1499. Both machines claim 9 hours of
battery life. Will the extra speed on the duel core with the reduced turbo boost provide enough of a noticeable performance boost to make it worth the
Extra weight and size.
- altryne1 13y agoI'd say that if retina display isn't your thing, go for the best macbook air available. It's a killer machine with a staggering 12 hours of battery life and it weighs so little your back with thank you. In terms of performance, with the new mavericks optimizations and haswell proccessor you will barely make this machines fans work unless you compile xcode or encode video
- sn0v 13y agoHow often are you going to be carrying this around? If the answer is "not that much" then I'd say throw in the extra 50 for an rMBP.
- vondur 13y agoThat's a tough call. If this was going to be my only and everyday machine, I'd go for the 13" Pro with the Retina display. The processor is faster and I could live with the extra weight. If it's a secondary machine, I'd go for the Air for the portability and battery life.
- brown9-2 13y agoAfter having to lug my 15" Pro around as a carry-on in the airport when travelling once every 3 months, personally my next Macbook choice is going to be an Air.
- hackerboos 13y agoIf the Air had a retina screen I'd buy one tomorrow.
- kylec 13y agoThe 13" retina Pro is pretty darn small and light. It's only half a pound heavier and 0.03" thicker than the Air's thickest point.
- berntb 13y agoAny comments on the dual core processors of the 13" rMBP/Air compared to the 15" rMBP four core processor for Obj C etc development? (I am ambivalent if I want to do that kind of work. I love my iPad and want to develop for it, but the frameworks are a little too close to Java with the 30++ chars long names everywhere. :-( )
- kylec 13y agoI can't really comment on what Objective C development is like on it as I don't do any, but I think that the limiting factor on the 13" is the screen size and not the processing power. Xcode has a lot of panels, and the 13" rMBP is effectively 1280x800 in its "best for Retina" resolution. This can be increased to a virtual resolution of 1680x1050 that works pretty well, but is quite small on a 13" screen.
- berntb 13y agoThanks. I generally use external screens with a laptop anyway, as long as I don't sit in a coffee shop or something. (I did some work with my late-2008 13" Macbook. Yeah, 1280 is too little.) You did answer my specific question: I need a 15" rMBP (and/)or a setup with external screen(s) (i.e. not mobile). In 4-8 months, when I should have more time. (As an Emacs user it took me hours mostly watching lecture videos to learn how to use that damn IDE with the differing sets of windows and buttons.)
- deleted 13y ago