Apple MacBook Pro MGXA2LL/A 15-Inch Laptop with Retina Display (2.2 GHz Intel Core i7 Processor, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB HDD)

Retina Display The 15‑inch model has over 5 million pixels so you can retouch your photos or edit a home movie in HD and experience an astounding level of clarity. Text is razor sharp, too, so even everyday things like browsing the web and revising a document are better than ever. It's a display worthy of world's most advanced notebook. Intel Core i7 Fourth-generation Intel Core i7 processors help you power through the most complicated technical computing tasks. Integrated Iris Pro Graphics and advanced NVIDIA graphics give you tons of pixel-driving horsepower. State-of-the-art I/O like Thunderbolt 2 gives you high-performance expansion unprecedented in a notebook. And at the center of it all is an entirely flash-based architecture that makes everything you do incredibly fast and responsive. Specs like these define a whole new standard for notebook computing. Lightweight MacBook Pro packs a lot of power into not a lot of space. Apple designers and engineers reconsidered each detail of every internal component to maximize performance and minimize size. As a result, these notebooks are the thinnest, lightest, and highest-performance MacBook Pro models ever made Tech Specs Display: 15.4-inch (diagonal) 2880x1800 LED-backlit display with IPS technology Processor: 2.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.4GHz) & 6MB shared L3 cache Storage: 256GB PCIe-based flash storage Memory: 16GB DDR3 SDRam Graphics: Intel Iris Pro Graphics and automatic graphics switching Webcam: 720p FaceTime HD camera Wi‑Fi: 802.11ac Wi‑Fi wireless networking IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology Audio: Stereo speakers, Dual microphones & Headphone port OS: Mavericks X Height: 0.71 inch (1.8 cm) Width: 14.13 inches (35.89 cm) Depth: 9.73 inches (24.71 cm) Weight: 4.46 pounds (2.02 kg) Inside The Box MacBook Pro with Retina display MagSafe 2 Power Adapter AC.


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SAMPLE CUSTOMER REVIEW'S

1) Just totally and utterly beautiful - I'm coming to this Macbook Pro 13inch Retina laptop from a 2010 model Macbook Air that I absolutely adored for nearly 4 years. The Air was so light and portable that I reluctantly gave it up, but concerns of weight vanished once I got my hands on this beauty. Yes, it's slightly heavier, but only slightly. What I like most of all is how the body isn't tapered from back to front like the Air. It's a solid piece of symmetrical aluminum, and it just feels so well built.

One of the reasons I eventually gave up and sold my Air in favor of this was the Retina screen. I've never seen one on the Macbooks, so I bought this sight unseen, but I had a vague idea of how it might look because I also own a retina iPad Mini and that screen is lovely. The screen on the mini is out-done by the amazing screen on this Macbook. I can't believe how good it is. And what's more, this Macbook only cost 100 dollars more than the latest Air. Why would anyone not pay the difference for this screen? It's totally night and day between the Air's screen and this one. The Air is by no means terrible, but it cant compete with this.

The audio is also a nice surprise on the Macbook with Retina. It was good on my Air, but it's far better on the Retina. There's no speaker grills either, so I assume they're below the keyboard. Regardless they sound amazing, albeit low on bass.

My Air didnt have a backlit keyboard, so this was a nice surprise. No more hunting and hoping at night in bed. Another nice addition I didnt have before was HDMI-out. Now I can simply connect my Macbook to my HDTV and play Hulu on my TV. No reason to pay for Hulu Plus. On my other computer it wouldnt allow Hulu to output to TV, but its not being blocked on the Macbook for some reason. I wont complain.

Anyway, I'd list some dislikes, but I don't have any. The keyboard and trackpad are Apple's usual brilliant keyboard and trackpad. They're unmatched.

If you're on the fence about getting one, just go for it. I'm one of those people that easily get buyer's remorse, but I have none of that with this laptop. So good.

By Redmond Jackson on August 15, 2014

Apple MacBook Air MD761LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)

The Apple 13.3 In. 1.3 GHz 256Gb MacBook Air Notebook Computer is an ultra light weight notebook computer. The system is defined by its unibody aluminum enclosure. At its thickest point the computer is only 0.68 inches -- it tapers down to 0.11 In. at its thinnest. The system has 256GB of flash storage instead of old-fashioned hard drive. That gives impressive battery life -- up to 9 hours of web browsing and 30 days of standby time. The MacBook Air is housed in an aluminum unibody enclosure, which is as strong as it is light made from a solid block of aluminum; the housing is stronger than those found on laptops built via traditional means. The 16:9 display features a native resolution of 1440 x 900. It features a glossy finish and LED backlight technology for enhanced image quality and energy efficiency. Netbooks typically feature less-than-full-size keyboards, cramped trackpads, and low-powered CPUs. This computer features a standard-size backlit chiclet keyboard. It also has a large multi-touch glass trackpad, giving you full control over your computer -- without sacrificing ergonomics. The computer is powered by a dual-core 4th-gen, low-voltage Haswell 1.3GHz Intel Core i5 processor and has 4GB of onboard 1600MHz LPDDR3 RAM. Graphics are provided by integrated Intel HD Graphics 5000. The computer features all the amenities you expect on a Mac -- a FaceTime HD webcam, dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi(also compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0 and built-in stereo speakers. The computer is powered by a dual-core 4th-gen, low-voltage Haswell 1.3GHz Intel Core i5 processor and has 4GB of onboard 1600MHz LPDDR3 RAM. Graphics are provided by integrated Intel HD Graphics 5000. The computer features all the amenities you expect on a Mac -- a FaceTime HD webcam, dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi(also compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0 and built-in stereo speakers.

• Up to 12 Hours of Battery Life, OS X Mavericks.
• 1.3 GHz Dual-Core 4th-Gen Intel Core i5 Processor (Turbo Boost up to 2.6 GHz ).
• 13-Inch LED-backlit Display; 1440x900 Resolution; Intel HD Graphics 5000
• 802.11ac Wi-Fi.
• 256 GB Flash Storage, 4 GB 1600 MHz LPDDR3 Memory.

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SAMPLE CUSTOMER REVIEW'S

1) Wow this thing is amazing - So first I will say I am coming from a MacBook air 11' mid 2011 with 2GB ram and 64GB harddrive. This one I got has 4GB of ram and 128GB harddrive. I use this laptop mainly for browsing the internet and some programming. Now that you have a little background Ill give a quick review.

From the get go this laptop is MUCH faster then my previous Macbook air. When you open the lid you are ready to go that second. On the old one I would have to wait a little for it to load and if I left chrome up and clicked on it right away then I would get the loading wheel. I havent seen this do it once. That could be because of the harddrive being so much faster.

When I opened the box the laptop was already charged to 91% so im trying to kill it. Well I was on it ALL NIGHT last night and now its the morning and its only at 60%. That battery life is amazing and let me honest thats what we ask for in a laptop.

If you are up in the air about this laptop(no pun intended). I would say give it a go. You could even buy it from the Apple store and if you dont like it just return it.

If you are replacing an older Macbook air and have one thats because the mid 2012 then I would say get it but if you have the mid 2012 I dont know if I would suggest spending the money unless you really want battery. I hope this helps anyone trying to purchase this laptop.

I am not an Apple fan boy. My desktop is a custom build Window machine so I know both worlds. Please if you have any questions just comment and I will be happy to try things for you or just answer questions.

I am a Computer Engineer so im use to testing things so feel free to ask.
(This is my first review)

By Ekallas on June 19, 2013

Apple MacBook Air 13.3-Inch Laptop MD760LL/B, 1.4 GHz Intel i5 Dual Core Processor

Apple MacBook Air MD760LL/B 13.3-Inch Laptop (NEWEST VERSION).

• 1.4 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz) with 3MB shared L3 cache.
• 4 GB of 1600 MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory, 128 GB PCIe-based flash storage.
• 13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display; Intel HD Graphics 5000.
• OS X Mavericks; Up to 12 hours of battery life.
• 802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless networking (802.11a/b/g/n compatible); Bluetooth 4.0.

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SAMPLE CUSTOMER REVIEW'S

1) From Windows 8.1 to OS X Yosemite - I have played with the idea of purchasing a Mac for the last year and I finally bit the bullet (and am happy of it.) I've gone through multiple PC's since last year with my most recent one being a Surface Pro 3. While I do love the Surface Pro 3, I didn't use it as a tablet as nearly as much as I thought I would so I wanted to go back to a laptop, but this time it was a Macbook Air.

The reason I didn't previously purchase a Mac was because I was worried about switching to a new operating system. My OS experience has been limited to Windows products. I didn't want to purchase a Mac and have to learn how to work it/not like this new OS layout.

I've had the Macbook Air for less than a week and it's absolutely fantastic. This worry about switching to a new OS had no basis and Apple's OS X is incredibly intuitive. It's not at all difficult to learn and I got it down on the first night. It's a little bit different having a dashboard like interface, but certainly one I prefer. The 4 GBs of RAM is plenty for any computing task I need to do and the 128 GB HD is plenty big. If you need extra storage, you can always use the SD Card Slot (I currently use a 64GB SD Card for my movies so they don't take up space on my HD.)

As for actual usability, I have had zero problems. Perhaps I would had a few years ago, but now anything that is available for PC is also available for Macs. I absolutely love being able to send iMessage/SMS from my computer and I didn't realize how convenient it would be until I could do it. The keyboard types incredibly nice and alongside being backlit, the keys are spaced out wonderfully (opposed to the Surface Pro 3 TypeCover I had.) The touchpad responds great and it has multiple different touch features (swiping and so forth.) The Macbook Air is incredibly light (hint the name) and it's already traveled with me to work. It has sufficient ports, the ThunderBolt/DisplayPort works great for an external monitor, and is an all around fantastic computer. If you're worried about switching to OS X from Windows 7/8 don't worry about it, it is an easy transition and you'll love your new OS.

By Taylor on February 14, 2015

Apple MacBook Pro ME293LL/A 15.4-Inch Laptop with Retina Display (OLD VERSION)

With fourth-generation Intel Core processors, the latest graphics, and faster flash storage, the incredibly advanced 15.4-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display moves even further ahead in performance and battery life. Measuring a mere 0.71 inches and weighing only 4.46 pounds, the MacBook Pro sets a new standard in performance and portability for pro users. The world's highest resolution notebook display with over 5 million pixels - 3 million more than an HD television--the MacBook Pro with Retina display has such a high pixel density that the human eye cannot distinguish individual pixels from a normal viewing distance. This version of the 15.4-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display (model ME293LL/A) features a 2.0 GHz Core i7 quad-core processor, 256 GB of flash storage, and 8 GB of onboard RAM. It's powered by OS X Mavericks, the world's most advanced operating system and built to bring out the best in your Mac. And the MacBook Pro comes pre-loaded with the latest version of the iLife software suite (iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand) as well as the iWork productivity suite (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote). The MacBook Pro also includes both a high-speed Thunderbolt port and two USB 3 ports, enabling you to easily connect to external displays and a wide variety of high performance peripherals. With up to 60 percent faster PCIe-based flash storage compared to the previous generation and new 802.11ac Wi-Fi for up to 3x faster wireless, the new MacBook Pro is quicker and more responsive than ever. You'll also get up to 8 hours of battery life while on the go.



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SAMPLE CUSTOMER REVIEW'S

1) Desktop power in an unbelievably small/light package - I've been using macs for about ten years. I'm a bit on the technical side, but primarily I use my Macbook for e-mail, web browsing, word processing, photo editing, and some video editing. I also run Windows occasionally, as a virtual machine, using VMWare Fusion (like parallels). So far, this Macbook Pro (MBP) does everything I need it to do and I haven't met a limitation yet.

The good:
* Battery life is amazing at 8 hours.
* Display is incredible, pictures look like paintings on the screen. Using the Retina "more space" option, you get tons of real estate for running multiple apps. You can set up your display how you want, more space, larger text, or in between. Great options.
* i7 CPU and 8GB Memory gives you desktop power.
* Thin design, and very light considering the power inside.
* 802.11ac - the fastest wireless available if you have a router that supports it, like this: Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station (ME918LL/A)

Display concerns:
Some users have had bad experiences with the displays on this generation of macbook pro retinas - bad color representation or discoloration in small areas of the display. This should't be a problem anymore, it was only discovered among the newer units when this generation was introduced. Apple used both LG and Samsung to manufacture their Retina displays. It appears from research that the LG displays have had more problems. Again, probably not a concern any longer.

Some things you should definitely know:
* The memory and solid state drive are not intended to be upgraded. The memory is soldered to the main board and cannot be altered. When you order, think long term, will I need more memory or disk space in the future?
* There is no ethernet jack (RJ-45). If you want ethernet, you need to buy an adapter, like this Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter. Apple did this because the RJ-45 ethernet jacks are huge, and it was preventing them from making the MacBooks thinner.
* There is no CD/DVD drive. Apple has moved away from supporting optical drives. Like the ethernet jack, the DVD/CD was a huge obstacle in making the frame on these systems smaller. If you want an Apple branded CD/DVD, you will need this Apple USB Superdrive. Keep in mind these won't support blu-ray discs, so if you want that, you'll need to buy another brand that supports blu-ray.
* On power management: If you want 8 hours of battery life, you need to let the OS manage all settings for you. If you start playing with the display brightness, display sleep time, etc, you won't get 8 hours.

Bonuses:
These systems now come with a nice bundle of Apple software for free.
* OS X Mavericks is the latest release of their operating system. It is free for any supported Mac.
* GarageBand, iMovie, and iPhoto, which used to be included in iLife, are now free to download and upgrade.
* The iWork suite: Pages, Numbers and Keynote are now free for new macs.

Remember to always check the Buyer's Guide at macrumors.com before purchasing a mac. There you will learn of any upcoming upgrades/releases that you might want to wait on before spending the cash on a new mac.

Update:
As someone said below, the SSD can be upgraded/replaced if you purchase a kit. A kit is necessary since Apple uses a proprietary SATA connector and special tools are required due to the type of screws present. Also, it isn't a standard 2.5" SSD, it is much different. Apple did not intend these drives to be upgraded or replaced by consumers. In addition, you need to modify system files in order to enable TRIM support, which is not enabled on non-OEM drives from Apple. If you're good with that, then go ahead and consider an upgrade later. If not, you'll need to plan ahead and "lock in" now with your purchase. Good luck!

By J. Pappan TOP 500 REVIEWER on November 11, 2013

Apple MacBook Pro MD102LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)

The Apple MD102LL/A 13.3" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer is a powerful notebook computer with an innovative aluminum unibody design. It is loaded with advanced power management features and an integrated battery, which work together to provide up to 7 hours of wireless web browsing.You may notice an unfamiliar logo next to one of the ports on the left side of the system. This is Thunderbolt, a high-speed interface that can move data at an amazing 10 Gbps, which is double that of USB 3.0. The MacBook Pro has dual USB 3.0 ports as well. The Thunderbolt port also doubles as a display output because it shares the same physical form factor as a Mini DisplayPort. You can daisy-chain up to six devices, so you'll be able to connect high-speed external storage and an external Apple LED Cinema display via the same port.The computer's 13.3" (33.8 cm) display features LED backlight technology and a glossy finish. Its 1280 x 800 native resolution gives you ample screen space to work with. You'll be able to output to an external display at up to 2560 x 1600 via Thunderbolt. Any Mini DisplayPort-compatible display will plug in without the need of an adapter. If you have a display with DVI, VGA or HDMI input, you'll only need to purchase an adapter cable (i.e., HDMI-to-Mini DisplayPort) for connection.You'll be able to communicate with friends and family thanks to built-in support for FaceTime chat. The computer's FaceTime HD camera supports 720p HD video chat via ..

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SAMPLE CUSTOMER REVIEW'S

1) macbook air 13inch vs macbook pro 13inch - this review is about my personal honest experience, i am not a computer wizard.

like most of you, i had a hard time thinking which one to buy, an air or a pro. what i did is purchased the two and see which one will better suit my needs and send back the one that I won't like. so I went at my local best buy and did so. after using both products for 14days, here are my thoughts.

the macbook air looks very beautiful on the outside. it's so thin and light and can be used anywhere like a tablet. to sum things up, the MB air is more of a fashion statement than a work horse. is it faster than a pro? yes only by 10-15secs during start up. the audio quality sounds thin but loud. the pro has a deeper sound. air has higher resolution but the fonts are small. what I hate about it is the screen display color. macbook pro by far has more vivid colors and if you love to watch netflix and hd videos like me, the pro is a better choice. i like the design of the air but i'm sorry to say that it is more like a toy than a real life laptop. if you have a main computer, the air is a very good addition but if you only need an all in one computer like me to take with you, store data, watch videos, do picture and video editing and plan to use for a very long time, then the macbook pro is a better choice and for me is more sturdy. one reviewer says that the air has better screen display but I don't agree with that because i am an amateur photographer and im pretty sure i know which has the better display. in the long run you will be needing that dvd drive, the storage and ram that you can customize, the ethernet and ports that are already built in and most of all the screen display. the macbook pro still looks stunningly beautiful and is a more capable laptop. even the keyboard is better to type on. the air is super light weight but the pro still is light. we still need to use our muscles sometimes. battery life are identical 5-6 hrs.

I got more from my money on the pro and it is a better choice for me that's why I kept it and sent the air back for a refund. again this is just my personal honest opinion.

By intrimitido on March 15, 2013

Apple MacBook Pro MD101LL/A 13.3-inch Laptop (2.5Ghz, 4GB RAM, 500GB HD) (Certified Refurbished)

The Apple MacBook Pro features Intel's new third-generation Core architecture for a boost in processor and memory speeds. New next-generation graphics deliver performance levels that are up to 60 percent faster than before. And high-speed Thunderbolt I/O lets you transfer data at rates up to 10 GBps. The MacBook Pro is a great computer that just got even greater. macbook pro 13 front The 13.3-inch MacBook Pro (view larger). As with previous models, the MacBook Pro features a precision unibody enclosure crafted from a single block of aluminum, creating a thin and light mobile computing workhorse (less than 1 inch thin and just 4.5 pounds) that's also highly durable. It includes a 13.3-inch, LED-backlit glass display as well as a glass trackpad that doesn't include a button (for larger tracking area) that features Apple's Multi-Touch technology. You'll also get up to 7 hours of battery life while on the go. The MacBook Pro also now includes both a high-speed Thunderbolt port and two USB 3 ports, enabling you to easily connect to external displays and a wide variety of high performance peripherals. This version of the 13.3-inch MacBook Pro (model MD101LL/A) features a 2.5 GHz Core i5 dual-core processor, 500 GB hard drive, and 4 GB of installed RAM. Other features include an 8x SuperDrive, ultra-fast Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, an SDXC card slot, and a FireWire 800 port (see full specifications below).


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1) Works great. Super value -- and I think a better ... - Refurbished product is virtually new. Works great. Super value -- and I think a better product -- than the current generation of Macbook Pro devices. Greater flexibility and more user control. If that is important to you, something like this is a better purchase than a current device.

By Leonard A. Distaso on August 17, 2015

Apple MacBook Air MJVG2LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (256 GB) NEWEST VERSION

Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel Core i5 Dual-Core 5th-Gen Broadwell.
Cache: L3: 3 MB.
Memory: Type: 1600 MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM - Installed: 4 GB.
Graphics Card: Type: Integrated - Installed: Intel HD Graphics 6000.

Display
Type: Widescreen.
Size: 13.3".
Backlight: LED.
Aspect Ratio: 16:9.
Finish: Glossy.
Native Resolution: 1440 x 900.

Storage
Hard Drive: Installed: 256GB - Type: PCIe-Based Flash.
Optical Drive: None.

Input/Output Connectors
Ports: 2x USB 3.0 (A) - 1x Thunderbolt 2.
Display: 1x Mini DisplayPort via Thunderbolt port.
Audio: Integrated Stereo Speakers - Dual Array Microphones - 1x 1/8" (3.5 mm) Headphone Output.
Flash Media Slot: 1x SD - 1x SDHC - 1x SDXC.

Communications
Network: None.
Wi-Fi: 802.11ac.
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.0.
Webcam: Yes.

General
Operating System: Mac OS X Yosemite .
Keyboard: Keys: 78 - Type: Standard Notebook Keyboard - Features: Backlight.
Pointing Device: TouchPad with Double-Tap, Drag, Four-Finger Swipe, Inertial Scrolling, Multi-Touch Control, Pinch, Rotate, Three-Finger Swipe.
Battery: Built-In Lithium-Polymer Providing up to 12 Hours per Charge (54 Wh).
Power Requirements: AC: 100-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz - Consumption: 45 W.
Dimensions (WxHxD): 12.8 x 0.6 x 8.9" / 32.5 x 1.5 x 22.6 cm.
Weight: 2.96 lb / 1.34 kg.

Includes:
Power Plug.
AC Wall Plug.
Power Cord.

• 1.6 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 2.7 GHz) with 3 MB shared L3 cache.
• 4 GB of 1600 MHz LPDDR3 RAM; 256 GB PCIe-based flash storage.
• 13.3-Inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Glossy Widescreen Display, 1440 x 900 resolution.
• Intel HD Graphics 6000.
• OS X Yosemite, Up to 12 Hours of Battery Life.

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1) LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE! - Picked up a 11" 256GB at the Apple Store only because Amazon only carried the 128GB in the 11". Would have rather picked it up here as it was a few dollars cheaper and triple points on my Amazon Card on purchases here.

My only prior mac experience was a 2012 Mac Mini which I adored and sold it for what I paid for it a 6 months later when I thought new models were coming out. By the time they did, my money plans had changed. Bought another windows machine, that was HP junk. But I'm back on track and mac till the day I die.

I'm not a fanboy. If it sucked, I'd say it sucks. However I am a great lover of every apple product I've ever owned. Countless iPods, a few iPhones, Apple TV, etc... It all words like it should. Well designed, well built, easy and FUN to use.

I have some cheapskate relatives that look at apple as overpriced. However, my opinion is, Apple products are an investment. Use a windows laptop 3 years and if it even runs right (good luck) you can't get $100 for it. Meanwhile every apple product I've ever sold to upgrade brought me 3/4+ of the original purchase price. Most of the apple products I've had cost me 30cents to 1.00 a day the whole time I owned them. Life's short people... You owe it to yourself to enrich your life any way you can.

Last week I wanted to rip 5 new CDs I had bought on my HP "craptop". I swear I spent all freakin afternoon and the frustration was unreal. I know what I'm doing, I've ripped countless thousands of discs over the years and I made up my mind that day it was time to fork out the money.

Even though I had forgotten most of what I knew about my old mac, I plugged in the SuperDrive and did nothing more. Had 3 new CDs to rip and spent 4 minutes average to rip them. Burnt a couple others, equally as fast. I was actually disappointed that it didn't take longer because this thing is FUN to play with. Call me crazy, but I like FUN as opposed to FRUSTRATION.

Full disclosure, I'm a 46 YR old male who probably has below avg computer skills for my age. I have a few buddies who are BIGTIME computer nerds and they like Android and Windows machines because they know how to make them work well (sometimes) and I think they prefer them because they can show off their skill. They don't like Apple stuff because a person of even below avg intelligence could teach their self how to use an Apple product as good as any computer expert could. Personally I'm fine with whatever floats their boat and to each their own. For me, I'll stick with the well built, easy and fun to use toys that have high resale value because I'll always want to own what Apple comes out with next.

I'm trying to think if something negative to say about this spring 2015 MacBook Air or Apple in general but I'm at a loss. Can't really complain about any aspect of it.

My wife used it and it rocked her world and she won't give it back. So I'm gonna mess with it some more and decide if I want the exact same for me, the 13" or wait till April 10 for the new Macbook 12"

I spent about 2 whole days comparing every tiny aspect of the current spring 2015 lineup and here's my thoughts... They are all fantastic but for me, the Pro is overkill in every way. I don't need the extra size or weight and I don't like that it is the last year before that model sees a complete design overhaul which is due 2016.

As far as the Spring 2015 Air 11 & 13 vs the 12" new macbook April 10, 2015 release:

Laptop Options

11" AIR 128/4GB = 899
(I needed larger SSD)

11" AIR 256/4GB = 1099
(What I purchased for my wife)

11" AIR 256/8BG = 1199
(Double RAM $100)

13" AIR 128/4GB = 999
(I needed larger SSD)

13" AIR 256/4GB = 1199
(Larger screen, 10:9 screen ratio, card reader, faster flash memory, but heavier)

13" AIR 256/8GB = 1299
(Larger screen, 10:9, card reader, faster flash memory, double RAM, but heavier)

12" MACBOOK 256/8GB = 1299
(Larger screen, retina display, 10:9, double ram, faster flash, better keyboard, better keyboard lighting, lighter, thinner, usb-C port, newest trackpad, color choice)

Cons for new macbook compared to 11" MacBook Air.

only 1 port
No glow apple
Adapters
Less powerful processor
1st gen possible issues
Downgraded FaceTime cam.
No MagSafe
Only 1 port
$200 more than my config.

Pros over my 11" air

Retina display
Thinner, smaller, lighter
Newest trackpad
New key mechanism
LED behind each key
8GB memory over 4GB
16:10 ratio screen
3 color choices

A few other thoughts... If you google it, you will find people on forums who have had eye problems they believe from using the apple retina displays on the 13" MacBook Pro as well as other Apple products with Retina displays. This worries me because I have an eye disease, eye pain, and already compromised vision (not from retina though). It's quite a few people actually but I'm sure a small percentage of users overall. If I try the new macbook April 10 I will be very conscious of that during the 14 day apple return period (and as of this moment I do not know Apples policy on returning MacBooks but Apple Store and BestBuy is 14 days). Something I just wanted to throw out there if you think the display hurts your eyes. The AIR does not have a retina display and that was a big consideration when I bought it. BUT it is a beautiful display in it's own right. Makes my HP look like a screen door over the display.

Another thought, my above list is incomplete because I didn't need over the base processors. I couldn't afford the 512GB SSD which Id loved to have. Keep in mind everyone has different needs. I have a 2500+ CD collection as I'm a music lover. I didn't want to fool with an external hard drive, the 256GB is the biggest I could afford. I will rip a lot of my CDs in "iTunes plus AAC" because:

- I can get 10 full albums per GB
- the quality is well beyond good enough for casual listening on even above avg equipment.
- I like to keep lots of albums sync'd to my iphone for use in the car, and when Im on the treadmill.
- and lastly because I like to stream albums and playlist to my Yamaha A/V receiver and it can't do apple lossless.
- I will however keep a few hundred CDs of the best sound quality I own on the MacBook Air in Apple Lossless (like 4 albums per GB) so that when I connect my external USB AMP/DAC and HD598 headphones I can have the best possible SQ.

As far as the amount of memory (RAM) to choose in the Air series, you have 4GB standard with $100 upgrade to 8GB which likely you would have to buy through the apple store because Amazon only carries certain configurations. I researched this for HOURS and HOURS. Most people in the know strongly believe 4GB is all you need. And mine does run smooth as butter. If you run several memory intensive programs at one time you could be better with 8GB but honestly at that point you really need the MacBook Pro so upgrading the Air to 4GB is a complete waste of money even if you have a future proofing mentality it's just not needed. But if you need 8GB to sleep at night it's cheap enough at $100. Do no memory is not upgradable as it is soldered in. So get what you need at purchase. I had debated the future proofing aspect but if anything future operating systems are handling memory much better, not worse. If you are gonna do hardcore video editing your better off with the pro. 95% of users will see absolutely no benefit to the 8GB for everyday tasks, and certainly not for casual use of web surfing, email etc..

A lot of people are absolutely fine with the base model of the MacBook Air and will be extremely impressed with how powerful and slick this thing is. If you need more SSD space, use external memory options or pay the premium for Apples upgraded configs. As of 2015 the 13" AIR has 2x faster SSD than the 11" but they are all blazing fast compared to a spinning hard drive.

11" vs 13"

Let me save you a few hours of research. Everytime it has come up on various forums 50% love the 11" 50% love the 13" and quite a few own/owned both and love both. It will not be helpful to search it. They are both small they are both light. 13" is $100 higher in every configuration and has a 16:10 screen as opposed to 16:9 on the 11". The 13 has a SDXC card reader and 2x faster SSD other than that... The 11" has 135ppi (pixels per inch) and the 13" has 128ppi) I have viewed both side by side and if the 11"is better it is slight to the point you will never know. IIRC, the 13" has 12 hour battery as opposed to 9 for the 11". If you would use it on an airplane tray often or value SMALL and light over all else, go with the 11". The 13" is heavier but it's in no way heavy. The difference between the 13" MacBook Air and the new April 10 macbook is 1lb almost exactly and the 11" air is in between but closer to the new macbook in weight. Apple has all the specs on their site, but their comparison chart is lacking even compared to what I listed above. I compiled that from many sources. It's in no way definitive, but it really helped me decide.

I didn't personally want to save $100 by buying last years model, but if money's tight you have that option. New for 2015 is the 2x faster memory for the 13" and both got a 5th gen processor and upgraded to the 6000 graghics vs 5300. In the real world I heard this mean a slight boost in efficiency and shading detail on the graphics (in other words not a big deal from last year for the avg guy).

Excuse the typos, I typed all this on my iphone via diabetic index finger! I really hope this saves someone some hours of research. I hope you are able to buy one and I hope you enjoy it!

By speedythecat on March 18, 2015