Help me pick a new laptop!

lscamaro · 04-22-2015, 11:45 PM

I am in need of a new laptop extremely badly and am weighing my options. My two current options are between a 13" retina Macbook Pro with 8gb of ram and 256gb of storage or a 13" Macbook Air with 8gb of ram and 256gb of storage. The price difference between the two is only about $200 so this makes me want to go with the slightly more expensive Macbook Pro because of the faster processor. The only thing holding me back from going to go buy it tomorrow is the apparent issues of the retina coating peeling and the issue not being addressed very well by apple. Some seem to have luck having the screen replaced for free while others don't.

I know most are going to start hating on me because I'm only considering apple products but at this point, having been a user of windows forever, I HATE it now. Windows 8 might be the worst operating system I've ever used. I was considering the Dell XPS 13 but the computer is a lot smaller than I'm looking for and it just doesn't compare to an air which is priced similarly. If anyone has any other options, I'm all ears.

shibbs · 04-22-2015, 11:57 PM

Wait until Windows 10. It'll be worth it.

lscamaro · 04-22-2015, 11:58 PM

I don't know if I have any faith in Windows anymore. That's what they said after Vista, "wait for Windows 7" and it was a decent OS but it definitely had it's problems. Then 8 came along and ruined everything. Another thing that bothers me is the abysmal battery life Windows laptops get

rebelyell22 · 04-22-2015, 11:59 PM

get the highest specs you can get

lscamaro · 04-23-2015, 12:04 AM

That's about as high as I'm willing to go

rebelyell22 · 04-23-2015, 12:38 AM

Go with the MBP

lscamaro · 04-23-2015, 12:44 AM

Any reasons as to why?

rebelyell22 · 04-23-2015, 12:55 AM

Better graphic card, faster processor, and built in hdmi out. Only nod to the air is the size and battery life, neither of which are issues on the pro anyway.

lscamaro · 04-23-2015, 12:59 AM

Yea, this is why I'm looking at the pro but the retina screen issues scare me

mp51998 · 04-23-2015, 04:32 AM

I have had both the Air and the MBP. When it cam time to upgrade I went with another MBP. I have had it almost a year now and have had no issue with the screen. I got it just as the 8gb of RAM became available. The only reason to get the Air is if you travel a lot. I do but opted for the MBP this time. The weight difference is minor to me. Especially compared to the DEll brick that my work insist I have. Wish they'd let us pick our own laptops and reimburse.

snarky · 04-23-2015, 04:59 AM

I went Apple last year. Certainly not problem free but a thousand times better than PC. I bought the $999 13" MacBook Air. I love it. I didn't mothball the PC. I kept it for older storage files that I didn't want to transfer. When you go to the Apple store ( aka disneyland for nerds ) you can compare them side by side. That should help.

JamesMyBoy · 04-23-2015, 08:04 AM

Retina coating? Never heard of that... Retina display refers to the pixel density of the display, not any coating that may or may not be there. At any rate, I've never heard of any peeling problems, ever. I have both a 13" Air and a 15" MBP. I'd suggest the MBP due to more ports, faster processor and bigger HD. I loved the Air while traveling for work, but now that's done, so I gave it to my wife.

FenwickHockey65 · 04-23-2015, 08:24 AM

Hated my MacBook Pro. Gave it to my mom when I thankfully switched back to Windows.

Worst $1300 I ever spent.

Stingr69 · 04-23-2015, 09:26 AM

Have a Mac and a PC so I swing both ways.

When it was time to buy a new laptop, I went with a Lenovo running Windows 7 and specified a solid state hard drive. Love it! Super fast boot up and NO BLOATWARE!!!

Just something to consider.

-Mark.

04-22-2015, 11:45 PM	#1
lscamaro Drives: 2011 CGM Camaro LS A6 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 10,305	Help me pick a new laptop! I am in need of a new laptop extremely badly and am weighing my options. My two current options are between a 13" retina Macbook Pro with 8gb of ram and 256gb of storage or a 13" Macbook Air with 8gb of ram and 256gb of storage. The price difference between the two is only about $200 so this makes me want to go with the slightly more expensive Macbook Pro because of the faster processor. The only thing holding me back from going to go buy it tomorrow is the apparent issues of the retina coating peeling and the issue not being addressed very well by apple. Some seem to have luck having the screen replaced for free while others don't. I know most are going to start hating on me because I'm only considering apple products but at this point, having been a user of windows forever, I HATE it now. Windows 8 might be the worst operating system I've ever used. I was considering the Dell XPS 13 but the computer is a lot smaller than I'm looking for and it just doesn't compare to an air which is priced similarly. If anyone has any other options, I'm all ears. __________________ Click Picture for Build Thread

04-22-2015, 11:58 PM	#3
lscamaro Drives: 2011 CGM Camaro LS A6 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 10,305	I don't know if I have any faith in Windows anymore. That's what they said after Vista, "wait for Windows 7" and it was a decent OS but it definitely had it's problems. Then 8 came along and ruined everything. Another thing that bothers me is the abysmal battery life Windows laptops get __________________ Click Picture for Build Thread

04-22-2015, 11:59 PM	#4
rebelyell22 Drives: 2011 SIM 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Tupelo, MS Posts: 5,902	get the highest specs you can get __________________ 2011 2SS/RS built 8/24/10

04-23-2015, 12:04 AM	#5
lscamaro Drives: 2011 CGM Camaro LS A6 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 10,305	That's about as high as I'm willing to go __________________ Click Picture for Build Thread

04-23-2015, 12:38 AM	#6
rebelyell22 Drives: 2011 SIM 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Tupelo, MS Posts: 5,902	Go with the MBP __________________ 2011 2SS/RS built 8/24/10

04-23-2015, 12:44 AM	#7
lscamaro Drives: 2011 CGM Camaro LS A6 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 10,305	Any reasons as to why? __________________ Click Picture for Build Thread

04-23-2015, 12:55 AM	#8
rebelyell22 Drives: 2011 SIM 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Tupelo, MS Posts: 5,902	Better graphic card, faster processor, and built in hdmi out. Only nod to the air is the size and battery life, neither of which are issues on the pro anyway. __________________ 2011 2SS/RS built 8/24/10

04-23-2015, 12:59 AM	#9
lscamaro Drives: 2011 CGM Camaro LS A6 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 10,305	Yea, this is why I'm looking at the pro but the retina screen issues scare me __________________ Click Picture for Build Thread

04-23-2015, 04:32 AM	#10
mp51998 Drives: Black 2011 2SS/RS Join Date: May 2011 Location: S. Texas Posts: 1,817	I have had both the Air and the MBP. When it cam time to upgrade I went with another MBP. I have had it almost a year now and have had no issue with the screen. I got it just as the 8gb of RAM became available. The only reason to get the Air is if you travel a lot. I do but opted for the MBP this time. The weight difference is minor to me. Especially compared to the DEll brick that my work insist I have. Wish they'd let us pick our own laptops and reimburse.

04-23-2015, 04:59 AM	#11
snarky ultracrepidarianism Drives: '14 1SS/RS/1LE/NPP '18 Accord Sport Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: where folks drive like shit Posts: 1,297	I went Apple last year. Certainly not problem free but a thousand times better than PC. I bought the $999 13" MacBook Air. I love it. I didn't mothball the PC. I kept it for older storage files that I didn't want to transfer. When you go to the Apple store ( aka disneyland for nerds ) you can compare them side by side. That should help. __________________

04-23-2015, 08:04 AM	#12
JamesMyBoy Drives: 2014 2SS/RS Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Eastern Nebraska Posts: 465	Retina coating? Never heard of that... Retina display refers to the pixel density of the display, not any coating that may or may not be there. At any rate, I've never heard of any peeling problems, ever. I have both a 13" Air and a 15" MBP. I'd suggest the MBP due to more ports, faster processor and bigger HD. I loved the Air while traveling for work, but now that's done, so I gave it to my wife. __________________

04-23-2015, 08:24 AM	#13
FenwickHockey65 General Motors Aficionado Drives: 2023 GMC Canyon, 2023 Expedition Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 37,375 View My Garage	Hated my MacBook Pro. Gave it to my mom when I thankfully switched back to Windows. Worst $1300 I ever spent. __________________ 2023 GMC Canyon Elevation 2023 Ford Expedition SSV (State-Issued)

04-23-2015, 09:26 AM	#14
Stingr69 '69 Owned Since '79 Drives: '69 Z/28 LeMans Blue w/White Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: LR AR Posts: 1,848 View My Garage	Have a Mac and a PC so I swing both ways. When it was time to buy a new laptop, I went with a Lenovo running Windows 7 and specified a solid state hard drive. Love it! Super fast boot up and NO BLOATWARE!!! Just something to consider. -Mark.