Macbook Air versus Pro - Thoughts?

[SynixMan]

Pro all the way. Don't know if the Pro still has an ExpressCard slot (an external PCI-Express x1 expansion slot for notebooks) since the introduction of Thunderbolt, but you certainly won't get it with Air.

Allows you to add an eSATA II, eSATAp II (Power over External Serial ATA), or possibly even an eSATA 6 Gb/s ExpressCard and hook up an external hard drive directly (or up to 5 simultaneously via an eSATA II Port Multiplier Hub), bypassing USB 2.0 and get nearly 2x the speed of USB 2.0 (with even SATA I) since TA is the native interface on most hard drives and all consumer hard drives.

Also the Pro will have a better GPU (Graphics Processor) than an Air. I'd get a current Mac Mini before I ever get an Air,

Plus the Air will screw you on the availability of other expansion ports.

Get an Air only of you are looking for a notebook alternative to an iPad.

I think you're underplaying the role of Thunderbolt as an expansion port. All MacBooks (air and pro) have it, and it obviates the need for eSata. One can use thunderbolt for all kinds of expansion when the need it, and maintain portability when it's important.

 

[FlyingOnFumes]

Referring to both ExpressCard as well as Thunderbolt.

ExpressCard is a mobile PCIe x1. Thunderbolt is PCIe and DisplayPort multiplexed on same connector.

While I've seen an ExpressCard
to Thunderbolt adapter, I've only a seen an ExpressCard eSATA or eSATAp adapter, not one for Thunderbolt yet.

But Thunderbolt is cool, they make an external box that lets you use 3 full size PCI-Express expansion cards via Thunderbolt, which actually allows even the Mac Mini to be a viable alternative to even a Mac Pro, let alone MacBook Pro.

 

[FlyingOnFumes]

I think you're underplaying the role of Thunderbolt as an expansion port. All MacBooks (air and pro) have it, and it obviates the need for eSata. One can use thunderbolt for all kinds of expansion when the need it, and maintain portability when it's important.

Update: Didn't know that Air had Thunderbolt.

Given that it does... that makes it more viable option.

eSATA is not obviated, the native interface on all hard drives (including external) is still Serial ATA... anything else is a bridge. Having a Thunderbolt bridge to a SATA hard drive in an enclosure is functionally and otherwise equivalent to having an eSATA ExpressCard in an ExpressCard slot though... both involve bridging SATA to PCI-Express and are faster than High-Speed USB (2.0) and have less latency than even SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) despite the fact that at 5 Gb/s, USB 3.0 has more bandwidth than SATA II 3 Gb/s because of the USB to SATA bridging.

I also take back saying that I haven't found a Thunderbolt to eSATA bridge... just found one here by Lacie:

www.lacie.com/us/products/product.htm?id=10574

 

[snake020]

 

[robav8r]

eSATA is not obviated, the native interface on all hard drives (including external) is still Serial ATA... anything else is a bridge. Having a Thunderbolt bridge to a SATA hard drive in an enclosure is functionally and otherwise equivalent to having an eSATA ExpressCard in an ExpressCard slot though... both involve bridging SATA to PCI-Express and are faster than High-Speed USB (2.0) and have less latency than even SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) despite the fact that at 5 Gb/s, USB 3.0 has more bandwidth than SATA II 3 Gb/s because of the USB to SATA bridging.

Dude, am I wrong for not knowing a damn thing you just said above ? I just want to surf a little porn and send an email or two occasionally. All, of course, with private browsing enabled

 

[Pags]

Since I got my iPad I really only use my laptop as an external drive for my iPad. My only regret is that I didn't get the iPad with the largest amount of memory. The iPad is far more transportable and easier to interact with. But most of my computer use these days is surfing the net, reading some books on the boat, and face timing from Starbucks in third world countries. Anything that requires an actual keyboard and mouse I just do on the ships computers. Trying to transport stuff back and forth from the boats computers to my laptop is just too much of a hassle.

 

[robav8r]

Continuing the discussion . . . what's the groups consensus on MS Office for Mac 2011 (with Outlook), vice staying with the iWork suite ???

 

[FlyingOnFumes]

Dude, am I wrong for not knowing a damn thing you just said above ?

Nope, not at all. Was mainly addressing what Synix astutely pointed out. I didn't know that they added Thunderbolt to the Air... which reduces some of the most glaring limitations of the Air becasue with Thunderbolt, it's your gateway to anything else you want to add. But you'll still have a limited number of ports and less storage space because it's using an SSD (Solid State [Storage] Device) vs. a mechnical hard drive.

I just want to surf a little porn and send an email or two occasionally. All, of course, with private browsing enabled

Then an iPad is good enough for that. If you are going to get an external display though, I recommend 3D and a Touch Pad for the enhanced viewing and "interactive" experience.

eSATA via ExpressCard or Thunderbolt will only allow you to save more of that porno externally onto your external hard drives and retrieve them quickly than ever could with USB and possibly even play multiple porno clips in HD simultaneously without any slowdown....

BTW, I had a typo ...

since TA is the native interface on most hard drives and all consumer hard drives.

"TA" was supposed read "Serial ATA" (or "SATA")... pitfalls of typing on an iPhone.

Also, if you ever had the desire to connect up to 5 drives simultaneously via eSATA, this is an example of what will allow you do it from a single eSATA connection– an eSATA II Port Multiplier Hub: www.cooldrives.com/index.php/sahub5muussi.html or www.addonics.com/products/ad5esapm-e.php

It's like a USB hub, but it's strictly for eSATA and MUCH faster.

or

 

[Pags]

Continuing the discussion . . . what's the groups consensus on MS Office for Mac 2011 (with Outlook), vice staying with the iWork suite ???

I have pages on the iPad and ms office on my MacBook. I didn't have a choice for the iPad and I got ms office through NMCI so the price couldn't be beat. I haven't had any issues moving documents between the two programs, but I don't do a lot of graphic design and, like the rest of the DOD, I use my modern technology to replicate a typewriter by only using the courier font.

 

[Brett327]

Since I got my iPad I really only use my laptop as an external drive for my iPad. My only regret is that I didn't get the iPad with the largest amount of memory. The iPad is far more transportable and easier to interact with. But most of my computer use these days is surfing the net, reading some books on the boat, and face timing from Starbucks in third world countries. Anything that requires an actual keyboard and mouse I just do on the ships computers. Trying to transport stuff back and forth from the boats computers to my laptop is just too much of a hassle.

+1

I've said this before, but the iPad has totally changed the way I travel. I haven't really used my laptop since I got the iPad. I will say that I would still cruise with both, but that's because I edit a lot of video and the iPad won't run the platforms I use, nor is it particularly suited for high end NLE. FWIW, I got a keyboard for the iPad, thinking I would use it when I write during road trips, but it's usually too cumbersome and I just leave it at home.

 

[FlyingOnFumes]

Continuing the discussion . . . what's the groups consensus on MS Office for Mac 2011 (with Outlook), vice staying with the iWork suite ???

Office is still the "gold standard" of sorts... especially if interoperating with others, but reality is Microsoft has essentially switched over to adopting an open standarized version of a competitor to Office from the former Sun Microsystems called "OpenOffice". In terms of Office for Windows, Office 2012 will be the 1st version of it that is apparently fully compliant with it (2010 for Windows would have been, but the standard was not fully set yet).

You can get OpenOffice for free, and for the most part, it's pretty good... but it may be missing some features (incomplete user interface) that Microsoft has (or Microsoft will implement them better). OpenOffice is partly the reason Microsoft has switched over to the XML file formats (.docx for Word Documents, .xlsx. for Excel Spreadsheets, .pptx for PowerPoint Presentations) from the previous .doc, .xls. and .ppt file extensions as they move toward a more standarized format (something Microsoft is generally NOT known for).

As far as iWork... the main advantage of iWork, from what I gather, is that if you're using an iPad etc.. it's also available for that, whereas MS Office is not. I'm sure for 90% of things either one will be fine, but if you will be working / collaborating with other Office users and wanted to be "safe", then Office is the way to go.

If I were a die hard Mac user and have the space (and $$$), i'd probably get both for grins and stick with whichever I find myself using more as far as future versions. But that's just overkill me speaking.

 

[phrogpilot73]

...from the former Sun Microsystems called "OpenOffice".

I don't understand exactly what you're saying about "former Sun Microsystems". It's confusing - call a spade a spade. Sun Microsystems was purchased by Oracle, who continued to develop OpenOffice. Oracle recently donated OpenOffice to Apache, who continues to develop/maintain OpenOffice.

You can get OpenOffice for free, and for the most part, it's pretty good... but it may be missing some features (incomplete user interface) that Microsoft has (or Microsoft will implement them better).

You should try LibreOffice. It's a split from Open Office, as the developers of LibreOffice were concerned about what would happen to OpenOffice when Oracle took the reins. It's a better product at this point in its life than OpenOffice. More actively maintained/upgraded and better feature set. There's also NeoOffice which started with the OpenOffice source (gotta love open source!), and developed it strictly for the Mac (before OpenOffice and LibreOffic supported Mac).

 

[e6bflyer]

I use MS Office for the Mac that I obtained via NMCI, it works fine, no issues. I am able to port files around from PC to Mac with no problems. The interface is easy to use. I personally haven't had the need to look anywhere else for a "better" alternative. I think I am about to download Pages for the iPad, just because there is no really good alternative and I find myself pretty much traveling only with my iPad these days.

 

[FlyingOnFumes]

I don't understand exactly what you're saying about "former Sun Microsystems". It's confusing - call a spade a spade. Sun Microsystems was purchased by Oracle, who continued to develop OpenOffice.

For the same reason I refuse to call the F/A-18 a "Boeing F/A-18" ("McAir" built it). Oracle may have bought it, but it was actually Sun that created it... originally as Star Office, which became OpenOffice. Oracle has their own product.. Oracle database. The SPARC workstation, Solaris, Star Office (and the derived OpenOffice), and Java were all Sun Microsystems products.​

Oracle recently donated OpenOffice to Apache, who continues to develop/maintain OpenOffice.

I had forgotten about that. I wasn't sure if Oracle still retained control over OpenOffice... which is even more why I simply said "from the former Sun Microsystems" because that I knew for a fact that Sun was original the creator of it.​

I agree with everything else you said though about LibreOffice and NeoOffice... good gouge.

 

[phrogpilot73]

Oracle may have bought it, but it was actually Sun that created it... originally as Star Office, which became OpenOffice.

Actually, if you want to be technically accurate - StarDivision (a German company) are the ones that created it in 1984. Sun Microsystems bought StarDivision in 1999.