Macbook Air or Macbook Pro?

[Cisco_Pug]

I have just gotten a whole new rig (Sony A6700 with 16-50mm lens, Nauticam Housing, Backscatter Hybrid strobes, Macro wet lenses, and Nauticam WWL-C lens. Now I'm on the hunt for a laptop for editing. This is all new to me... as I previously used a SeaLife Micro 3.0 and did no editing.

I have been a lifelong Windows user but am really leaning toward a Mac. It's a MacBook Air realistic for photo editing with occasional short videos? Or do I need to go with a MacBook Pro?

 

[Brant Emery]

What's wrong with Windows?

 

[Cisco_Pug]

Nothing, I've just heard Apple is better for doing creative content like this. And price wise for the specs needed, Apple is a much better deal.

 

[Wibble]

What's wrong with Windows?

Aside from bloat, unreliability, confusing interfaces, viruses, security…

Macs are just better


I’ve a few MacBook Pros and find them to be very good. Not used a MacBook Air for a long time. Their new Apple chip is very fast and probably reduces the differentiation between the “pro” and “air”. Generally the Pros give better specs, particularly the graphics cards, RAM, etc. With all systems using the M3 or M4 processors, this is less of the case.

A keen photographer friend has updated to a MacBook Pro and uses an external high-speed SSD using the fast thunderbolt connection and finds this as quick as the on-board SSD; just a lot cheaper!

 

[Nemrod]

I have a 2012.5 MacBook Pro 15 that is still a strong running computer. But I also now have a MacBook Air 15 and I love it. But, I am not an intense LightRoom and Photoshop editer like some are nor do I give a flying flip about video, so take this all with a grain of skeptisism. My new Air does everything the old Pro did and does it faster. Spec an Air up and shell out the $ and it should do for most people. Heavy work, you probably still need a strong desktop with a huge drive. Oh, did I mention I am also not a computer geek. I Mac.

 

[Tracy]

It depends on just how much editing you plan to do. The air and pro can be optioned the same. the pro has much better cooling. If you plan to do a LOT of heavy editing and working, you will want the pro. The air will slow itself down to maintain processor temperature. The pro does as well, but it will stay cooler longer.

 

[ReadyDiverOne]

I have a MacBook Pro which is awesome but with the new chips I think an Air would be great. The key is to get as much RAM as you can afford, I would think at least 16gbs or more.

 

[Cisco_Pug]

Thank you everyone! I appreciate all of your personal input. It's still a tough decision though!

 

[Searcaigh]

I use a MacBook Air for travel and a MacBook Pro for home use whilst photo editing, which is mainly slightly tweaking photos in PS Elements and adding a signature.

 

[Searcaigh]

Oh and just to add, you can tweak photos (jpegs) using Mac's photo editing software too, which is handy.