MacBook Pro configuration

[Larry Wing]

I'm going to be replacing my 13" MacBook Pro 2011 with a 13" MacBook Pro with Retina but I'm not sure about some configuration settings and hope you experts can give me some advise.

 

Basically light app use. Accordance is the most used along with Libre Office, ACDSee Pro for Mac, email, web.

 

I want a 13" for portability and was thinking of the following configuration. Any thoughts?

 

i5 - 2.6ghz

256gb flash drive

8 gig memory. With Windows I would upgrade to the 16gig but I'm not sure about Macs. My old MacBook has 16gig memory. Suggestions?

I have VM Fusion installed running Windows 8.1.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Larry

Edited July 18, 2014 by Larry Wing

[Graham Buck]

What kind of time frame are you looking at for your transition?

 

The reason I ask is because for the kind of use you describe the Pro is overkill. Maybe the retina screen is a deal breaker for you? If you can wait until the end of the year or slightly later Apple should release a retina version of the Air which would be a perfect fit for you.

 

If the retina screen is negotiable, I would recommend giving the Air a spin. This is my primary machine:

 

 

I do everything from what you describe all the way to video editing/rendering. Is it perfect for that kind of work? No, but I don't do it frequently enough to justify a more powerful machine and the computer handles it well enough for me.

 

Plus, you'll save yourself a few hundred bucks on the Air over the Pro.

 

Anyway, those are my thoughts. Hope it's helpful.

Edited July 18, 2014 by Graham Buck

[Abram K-J]

Those Retina Airs are going to sell like hotcakes. Really, really expensive but delicious hotcakes.

[Julia Falling]

I've got an Air. I bought it last year right after they were updated. My laptop is my main machine, so I did upgrade processor, memory, and storage. I'm completely satisfied. My husband says his next laptop will also be an Air.

 

My main use is Accordance, but I do ProPresenter, word processing, a spreadsheet or two. The machine is more than adequate. The resolution on the current 13" Airs is the same as it was on my old non-retina MacBook Pro. Side by side, I was unable to distinguish between crispness in image or text between the 13" Airs and the 13" MBPs. Friends who just purchased an Air for their college-bound daughter were unable to detect any difference, either, so it's not just old eyes and cataracts. I'd buy the same machine, same configuration, again. I saved $300-400 over a similarly equipped 13" MBP. Here is the way my Air is configured.