13" MacBook Air 2011 or 2012 Model

[weelzSA]

Hi all...

As the title reads I am in a predicament here. I am wanting to purchase a MacBook Air 13". The problem is I can get the 2011 version with 256GB SSD and 4gig Ram for cheaper than I can get the 2012 MacBook Air with 128GB SSD and 4gig RAM. My question is which should I go for? Obviously the double sized SSD in the 2011 version is appealing, but is it enough to loose on performance? Does anyone know how much better the faster Ivy Bridge CPU and Intel HD 4000 graphics are? Will I even see a huge difference between performance of the two models?

Is there anything else I should be looking at between the two models or is the CPU and graphics in the new model enough to convince me to go for the 2012 version?

Oh and both models are brand new too if that means anything.

Please any help will be really appreciated

[Cassady]

Cannot help, but will be watching replies with interest.

Kind of had the same in deciding btw a new MBP, or the previous model, significantly discounted. Your SSD dilemma does complicate things though. ..

Would you be looking at selling your MBA in a few years time? That might influence things a bit, no?

[weelzSA]

Yeah I saw your previous posts regarding your choice between the MBP or the MBA and finally went for the MBP. I too was going towards the MBP but between the two, I have seen the MBA keeps it's own quite well and the form of the MBA is just beautiful so thats where my problems lie. I have had the MBP before and really enjoyed it but am kind of leaning towards the MBA more. All I need to know is which one to go for - the 2011 model with 256GB SSD or the 2012 model with 128GB SSD and the updated specs???

Cannot help, but will be watching replies with interest.

Kind of had the same in deciding btw a new MBP, or the previous model, significantly discounted. Your SSD dilemma does complicate things though. ..

Would you be looking at selling your MBA in a few years time? That might influence things a bit, no?

[fighthall]

Well I had the same problem as you, but I was looking at the 11 inch MBA.

The read and write access of the 2012 versions of the SSD is faster, the graphics is better, so that means flash playback, and various other media will be smoother. There is usb 3, which means the if you have or want to get usb 3 in the future then you will have nice speeds!

When i did my research there was a review claiming percentage boost of about 30%, as well as the new intel is battery friendly which added another hour. Oh and with MBA, the SSD can be upgraded not the ram.

I got the newer 2012, even when they dropped the prices of the old one by 3k... I felt the 128gb was enough... what really sold me was usb 3.

[weelzSA]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I fully agree with what you are saying and which is why I am so tempted by the 2012 MBA still. Even tho the Pro has a better CPU, all the reviews I have seen is that the MBA still does quite well against the MBP and in most cases actually beats it (I'm sure with real CPU intensive tasks the MBP might edge over the MBA tho, but I don't see myself pushing it to that limit).

As you said regarding the SSD in the MBA being upgradable, that is also something playing in my head. Also the USB 3.0 is good, especially when you think about the money being spent, I suppose you will want to get the most up-to-date tech there is and down the line, if I want, I can spend a little cash and upgrade the SSD if need be (as I see there are companies already working on that for the 2012 MBA).

So all in all I am still heading towards the 2012 MBA as I think the graphics and speed improvements out-weigh the SSD size unless other forum members think different?

Well I had the same problem as you, but I was looking at the 11 inch MBA.

The read and write access of the 2012 versions of the SSD is faster, the graphics is better, so that means flash playback, and various other media will be smoother. There is usb 3, which means the if you have or want to get usb 3 in the future then you will have nice speeds!

When i did my research there was a review claiming percentage boost of about 30%, as well as the new intel is battery friendly which added another hour. Oh and with MBA, the SSD can be upgraded not the ram.

I got the newer 2012, even when they dropped the prices of the old one by 3k... I felt the 128gb was enough... what really sold me was usb 3.

[Synaesthesia]

Yes not to mention the SSD speed improvement.

[weelzSA]

So the best thing to do is to go for the 2012 version with all the speed and performance improvements?

Yes not to mention the SSD speed improvement.

[Synaesthesia]

It's ... yeah worth it. The 2011 model is also really good, and the extra size SSD makes it pretty much a toss-up. I'd lean towards the newer technology though.

[weelzSA]

Yeah thanks for the reply. I have decided to go with the latest 2012 model with 128GB SSD as I see OWC already have replacement SSD's for the 2012 MBA: SSD Upgrades (even tho they are quite expensive) I am sure in a few moths other companies will also bring out replacements and hopefully the prices will come down and if I see the storage isn't enough, it's good knowing that option is available to me for future updating.

It's ... yeah worth it. The 2011 model is also really good, and the extra size SSD makes it pretty much a toss-up. I'd lean towards the newer technology though.

[zakdoc89]

I've personally used both the 2011 and 2012 versions and without a doubt I would say take the 2012.. Much snappier on everyday tasks(browsing, document editing etc.) also it has USB 3.0... The only plus about the 2011 for you would be the larger drive, but with the multitude of flash drives and the ability for the 13'' to take an SD card.. I'd say it's not that much of a plus.. Also if you do end up going for the 2011 you'd definitely want to upgrade next year, while with the 2012 version you could get at least 2 years from it and the resale next year should you decide to sell would be much greater than the 2011 version..
Goodluck..... :thumbup:

[weelzSA]

I am terrible at making choices I have discovered... As now I think the correct thing to do is to go for a 13" MacBook Pro - only because of the better performance in high end tasks and the chance to upgrade in the future. I personally think that is the best option. Will probably end up removing the DVD Drive and replacing that with a 128 or 256GB SSD and replacing the HDD with a 1TB maybe and use that as the drive for all my music and bigger files and then install all my apps on the SSD.

But I know when I go down to buy it, I will see the Air again and then be confused all over - it's all about being strong!

[CPTBoy]

I suppose it all depends on what you need from the machine.

My last "upgrade" was the 2011 13" MacBook Air, replacing my then ageing 2008 15" MacBook Pro.

I do full time development and have a virtual machine open permanently running XP or Windows 7. I cannot bring this machine to it's knees and I am highly impressed.

I some music composing too with tools like ProTools , Renoise and Live and the machine also handles it like a champ. I however don't do any gaming / video production stuff on it.

Only gripe for me is the 128gb SSD drive, which is a tab bit small when having multiple VM's.

[weelzSA]

Yeah a few of my friends who do development to are more than happy with their MBA 13" and also say the machine just doesn't give in which is a good thing.

I doubt what I need it for will ever make it suffer - either the MBP or the MBA to be honest as I don't game (have an XBOX for that). I would mainly use it for website design, some light coding, Photoshop and image editing, some light video editing (very light too) and some music (production / mixing - but very lightly and just for fun) and then the normal web surfing, email and other work stuff.

See that's what is concerning to me is the space - I know I can keep all my music and pics on an external drive and when connected have access to all that, but its for when I am not at home. But then again I think to myself will I miss not having it?

I suppose it all depends on what you need from the machine.

My last "upgrade" was the 2011 13" MacBook Air, replacing my then ageing 2008 15" MacBook Pro.

I do full time development and have a virtual machine open permanently running XP or Windows 7. I cannot bring this machine to it's knees and I am highly impressed.

I some music composing too with tools like ProTools , Renoise and Live and the machine also handles it like a champ. I however don't do any gaming / video production stuff on it.

Only gripe for me is the 128gb SSD drive, which is a tab bit small when having multiple VM's.

[Cassady]

I am terrible at making choices I have discovered... As now I think the correct thing to do is to go for a 13" MacBook Pro - only because of the better performance in high end tasks and the chance to upgrade in the future. I personally think that is the best option. Will probably end up removing the DVD Drive and replacing that with a 128 or 256GB SSD and replacing the HDD with a 1TB maybe and use that as the drive for all my music and bigger files and then install all my apps on the SSD.

But I know when I go down to buy it, I will see the Air again and then be confused all over - it's all about being strong!

That last line, about knowing what the right call was, until you get to play on a MBA in-store again, which takes you back to square one - was me to a T. Drove me nuts.

Whereas I don't regret buying the MBP - I do occasionally find myself thinking "I still haven't used the optical drive" or "this is getting a bit heavy on my lap - a MBA would've worked a treat here" etc. etc.

Thing is - I'll probably go on thinking this from time to time, until that day comes when I upgrade as you are planning to. Massive spinny, and extra SSD, and extra RAM... Not that I need to now - but knowing that when I do, I'll arguably extend it's useful shelf life, even as a back-up computer that stores data - by many years potentially, makes me feel better. I think.

Or maybe I'm just looking for excuses to overcome buyer's remorse.

[Looney]

I also just bought the 2012 Macboob Air. Im loving it so far. Very impressed with the performance and the fact that it is so light and portable. I love it.

I am still getting used to the whole Mac OSX, coming from Windows 7.