MacBook vs.MacBook Pro

The main difference between the MacBook vs. MacBook Pro is the MacBook is made of polycarbonate and is colored white whereas the Pro is made of aluminum.

The Macbook is the "basic" version of their laptops, because it is best for you if you like to do basic functions on a computer like surfing the web, loading pictures, saving videos. The MacBook Air is a much thinner and lighter model.

The white MacBook has a better Wi-Fi range than the aluminum model owing to the fact that aluminum often blocks Wi-Fi signals.

A Macbook Pro is their most powerful notebooks yet. Apple intends these computers to have powerful capabilities, with many more applications, storage, speed, etc. These computers are best for graphics design, video editing & compressing, music creating & editing, etc.

The MacBook Pro has a generally higher spec - includes FireWire port, SD card slot etc. and has a backlit keyboard which are not included with the MacBook.

Here is a comparison chart for the MacBook 13 inch models.

MACBOOK AIR 13” vs MACBOOK PRO 13” COMPARISON CHART

	MacBook Pro 13”	MacBook Air 13”
General Features
Screen Size	13.3”	13.3"
Weight (Approx Lbs.)	4.5	2.96
Battery Life (Approx. Hrs)	Up to 7 hours	Up to 7 hours
Processor Type	2.3GHz Intel  i5 Core Dual 2.7GHz Intel  i7 Core Dual	1.7GHz Intel i5 Core
Graphics	Intel HD 3000 with 384MB	Intel HD 3000 with 384MB
Warranty	90 days	90 days
Memory RAM (GB)	4GB     supports  8GB	4GB of 1333MHz
L3 cache	3MB shared    4MB shared	3MB shared
Hard Drive Size (GB)	320MB  &  500MB	SD card slot
Operating System	MacOSX Lion	Mac OS X Lion
Communication
Webcam	ü	ü
Microphone	ü	ü
Bluetooth	ü	ü
Ethernet LAN	ü	ü
Wi-Fi	ü	ü

The MacBook Air's lightness and thinness the MacBook Pro still offers a valuable alternative.

The MacBook Pros include a range of optical drives. Multiple ports abound including an ExpressCard slot, FireWire, Ethernet, multiple USB ports, audio input, and optical audio output.

Also the MacBook Pro ship with faster processors of the 2.0GHz to 2.4GHz compared with the Air's 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo or, a 1.8GHz chip. The Air is limited by heat and space issues.

Space and heat issues also limit the MacBook Air's storage options. Because the laptop is so thin, it appears that only single-platter, 1.8-inch hard drives-the same type found in the 80GB iPod classic-fit. These drives are also slower than a typical laptop drive, at 4200rpm compared to 5400rpm, and are ATA rather than the now-common SATA. The only alternative here, performance-wise, is the optional 64GB solid-state drive, although the high prices for such drives add US$999 to your tab.

Finally, the MacBook Air you actually pay more for smaller size. Even though it isn't as full-featured as the MacBook, it costs $300 to $700 more than Apple's consumer-level notebook, and for only $200 more you can get a much more capable-but larger and heavier-Mac Book Pro.

Latest MacBook Reviews

The MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro are Apples best laptops so far,this is why the MacBooks have become one of the most popular laptops now available, so I have rated and reviewed the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro and detailed some of the differences for you, to help you find the right Macbook laptop for your needs.

MacBook Air

The MacBook Air has an 11.6" 1.6 GHz Intel Core i5 dual-core processor, 128 GB of flash memory storage, 4 GB of RAM, and an Intel HD Graphics 3000 integrated graphics processor.


The MacBook Air 13.3" size screen, 1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 128 GB of flash memory storage, 2 GB of RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor, an SD card slot, and up to 7 hours of battery life.


If you want to use your laptop for travel, go with the Macbook air. Check out my complete MacBook Air Review

MacBook Pro

 The MacBook Pro, on the other hand, has a 13", 15" or 17" screen, 2.2 GHz or faster processor, up to a 160 Gig hard drive, 2 Gig of Memory, an 8x double-layer drive, and an NVIDA GeForce 8600M GT graphics card with 256 MB SDRAM.


The cheapest model is a 13 inch laptop at over $1100. It's portable, sleek and very fast (the dual core processor is great). The 15 and 17 inch models have the new quadcore processors, which are even faster (they can do four things at once).
If you want a full feature PC, in laptop shape, go for the Macbook Pro. You'll be able to do photo-editing real quick and that sort of thing.


Check out the complete MacBook Pro Review

MacBook have some great accessories that maybe of interest to you, the Magic mouse is fantastic, no more cords, finally this is a quality mouse Apple have bought out here. Check out some of the other amazing MacBook Accessories now available.

The MacBook Docking Station will incorporate your MacBook computer into your home theatre system or desktop setup so you can get te best media centre set up around.

MacBook Accessories

The MacBook accessories have a great range of bright colors and extemely useful accessories.
I would definetly recommend the apple magic mouse, and a magsafe adapter so you can charge your computer on the go, and a good neoprene sleeve is a must have for any laptop that travels, and maybe a nice messenger bag.



Apple Magic Mouse

Magic Mouse

The Magic Mouse is the first Apple mouse in probably twenty years that lives up to the elegance of the products it will be connected to.

The entire mouse is touch sensitive, and surprisingly it actually works without many 'false' reads. The mouse is smart enough to detect finger movement for scrolling even when my palm is resting on the device.

A 'momentum' setting in the software driver gives your Mac the same type of scrolling behavior as the iPhone. Fast flicks of the finger scroll faster, while slower movements give finer control. It gets a little flaky when a scrollable form is embedded on a webpage, but these are things that can get worked out with future driver releases. Best of all most of the mouse behavior works in virtual environments like VMWare and Parallels.

Magic Mouse also has a very satisfying mechanical clicking system. Like the trackpad on the new Macbooks, it just feels right. Right clicking is available, but it must be configured first in the control panel.

Caselogic PAS-213 13-Inch Macbook Neoprene Sleeve (Black)

Neoprene Sleeve

After finally getting my new 13" MacBook, I wanted to be sure it was protected in a backpack, suitcase, wherever.
 Looked around and found this little bargain...the same thing at the Apple Store was three times the price.
I've used it now for nearly 5 months and can strongly recommend it. The outside zip compartment is perfect for the EHD, cords, etc. and there's an inside slot for flash drives.
 After reading other reviews, I have no complaint about the zipper or anything else. It's just perfect for me. I've travelled with it and feel secure that my data and investment are safe.
I'm very satisfied with this product , it is the perfect fit.

IVEA Macbook keyboard Silicone skin cover for New Macbook

These come standard when you buy your MacBook, but there are a variety of colors to choose from, so you may want to change to a Aqua Blue a Hot Pink.

• 100% Brand New cover
• Protects against Dust, Spills, Key wear and more
• Easy to install & Washable
• Extra slim silicone skin, made it easier for typing.

MacBook Docking Station

So if you want to incorporate your MacBook computer into a desktop setup or your home theater system, so you get the best features of a laptop, desktop and media center PC all from one computer , then a MacBook docking station is the way to go.

 Henge Dock model is designed for a specific type of MacBook computer.Included with each dock are a full complement of custom USB, Ethernet, Audio cables and in some models Firewire cables, designed to work with the Henge Dock system.



Docking Station for the 15-inch MacBook Pro

This dock works absolutely perfectly. It does take some fiddling to get it right (be sure to read the instructions carefully), however once everything is in place my macbook pro slides in with ease and connects to all the components instantly.

I use it to connect my monitor, ethernet cable, speakers, and a usb hub connecting a keyboard, mouse, webcam, iPhone connector, wireless headset, and flash drive. In seconds I can go from a portable laptop to a desktop with all components connected.

Henge Dock Docking Station for 13" MacBook Pro

 

Henge Dock Docking Station for 13" MacBook Pro

The Henge Dock refurbbed docking station is truly fantastic. I have had my Henge for 2 weeks now. I just followed the directions in the bag, plugged my cabled in where they needed to go, tightened up the locking screws, and then BAM! Popped my computer into the doc, and like magic, my display popped up on my flat screen TV.

I was able to use my wireless keyboard and mouse to essentially have a 55" monitor to my laptop computer. I was able to watch my movies, navigate the internet, and do everything I could do with my laptop, but with a much larger display and better audio!

 

Henge Docks has created the first truly comprehensive docking station solution for Apple's line of notebook computers.

The MacBook Pro Review

There are 3 models of MacBookPro, the 13 inch that starts at US 999, then the 15 inch that starts at $1300 and finally the 17 inch that starts at $2258, I jave researched and reviewed these 3 models of MacBook Pro to help you make the right choice of laptop for you.

                                 Here are the features of each MacBook Pro

Apple MacBook Pro MC700LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop

• 2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
• 320 GB Hard Drive, 8x DVD/CD SuperDrive, 4 GB DDR3 RAM, Precision aluminum unibody
• 13.3 inch LED-backlit display, 1280-by-800 resolution
• Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 384MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
• High Speed Thunderbolt Port, FaceTime HD Camera, Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard

Apple MacBook Pro MC721LL/A 15.4-Inch Laptop

• 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 processor
• 320 GB Hard Drive, 8x DVD/CD SuperDrive, 4GB DDR3 RAM
• 15.4 inch LED-backlit display, 1440-by-900 resolution
• Intel HD Graphics and NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with automatic graphics
• switching and 256 MB dedicated graphics memory
• Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard Operating System

Apple MacBook Pro MC725LL/A 17-Inch Laptop

• 2.53GHz Intel Core i5
• 500 GB Hard Drive, 8x DVD/CD SuperDrive, 4GB DDR3 RAM
• 17 inch LED-backlit display, 1920-by-1200 resolution
• Intel HD Graphics and NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with automatic graphics
• switching and 512 MB dedicated graphics memory
• Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard Operating System

But the MacBook Pro has the option of the standard i5 chip or for an additional $300 you could get the i7 chip. If you are a heavy user based on using high-end graphics or video software then you will definitely would recommend the difference i7 version.

The MacBook Pro is a great place to start. The computer is a breeze to use and has all the apple programs, iTunes, iMovie, iPhoto already loaded. The best part of the computer is screen. The clarity of the computer screen is superb.

The only negative I have found so far is the price, it's around $1100, but you get what you pay for and with the Apple MacBook that is quality.

The cheapest model is a 13 inch laptop at over $1100. It's portable, sleek and very fast (the dual core processor is great). The 15 and 17 inch models have the new quad core processors, which are even faster (they can do four things at once).

If you want a full feature PC, in laptop shape, go for the MacBook Pro. You'll be able to do photo-editing real quick and that sort of thing.

The Macbook Air Review

There are 2 sizes  in the Macbook Air Series and I have reviewed  and compared the new 11.6 inch version against the 13.3 inch for you to help you choose the right Macbook for you.

MacBook Air

Extremely fast CPU
 The MBA 11" comes with a Sandy Bridge 1.6 gHz dual-core Core i5 CPU (or a 1.8 gHz dual-core i7 directly from Apple). Despite rumors to the contrary, the Turbo Boost and hyper threading capabilities were NOT turned off in the Core i5 CPUs. Geekbench benchmarks show extraordinary speed increases.

The previous generation MBA 11" 1.4 gHz Core 2 Duo produced 2024 on Geekbench, while the 2011 MBA 11" now produced 5040 for a 149% increase. This speed even rivals the 2010 MacBook Pro 17" which scored 5423! (The 2011 MacBook Air 13" uses a slightly faster 1.7 gHz dual core i5 which scored 5860.)

Extraordinarily small
The MBA 11" measures 11.8 x 7.56 x 0.68 inches, while the MBA 13" is 12.8 x 8.94 x 0.68 inches. This means that the 11" is "only" 1 inch shorter and "only" 1.3 inches less deep, but in reality, when you hold up both machines, the MBA 11" feels like a completely different machine. My wife uses a 2011 MacBook Pro 13" which has a similar footprint to the MBA 13". The MacBook Air 13" still felt too much like a laptop, albeit an extraordinarily thin and light one.

Extraordinarily light

The MBA 11" weighs 2.38 pounds (while the MBA 13" weighs 2.96 pounds and an iPad 2 weighs 1.35 pounds) I actually sometimes hold the MBA like an iPad while reading in bed because it's so light. If you are seeking just a light, portable laptop, then the weight of the MBA 11" or 13" would be great, but if you (like me) are seeking a truly mobile device, then even fractions of a pound matter. The MBA 11" weighs less and is consequently the better choice, but as amazingly light as it is, even lighter would be better. Its doubtful that a mobile device will ever exist that would be considered too light.

High-speed Thunderbolt

(i.e. Lightpeak) port offering bidirectional 10 gigabits/s throughput - Thunderbolt technology is far more revolutionary than USB 3.0 or eSATA. Thunderbolt is NOT limited to the use of a storage device. An external LCD can be attached. Although I use the MBA 11" as my mobile device, it may be acceptable as a primary computer if one attaches an external LCD display and a high-speed Thunderbolt drive. Supposedly an external Thunderbolt hard drive would be nearly as fast as an internal hard drive.

Everything is solid state

This MBA feels more like a true "mobile" device since it is fully solid state with its solid state drive. I am far less worried about damaging this versus other laptops I've owned in the past.

Added Features

Extremely fast cold starts and shutdowns thanks to the solid state drive and OS X.
Great, full-size keyboard AND keyboard backlighting is back again! While this may seem like a minor point, the previous generation Core 2 Duo Airs did not have the backlighting.
Tremendous, typical Apple build quality. The MBA feels like a piece of solid precision crafted machinery.
Same great glass trackpad with even more gestures in OS X Lion to be used.
Comes with the new Mac OS X Lion (which I won't discuss, but it will allow for apps to use a full-screen mode which is of benefit to MBA 11" owners).
 Extraordinary aesthetics - I can't express adequately in words how beautiful this machine looks.



But every computer is not perfect and here are some of the disadvantages I have found.
Apple's battery life ratings have become much more stringent in the past few years are much closer to real world usage. What was even more important for me than screen size, was battery life in trying to decide between the Macbook Air 11" ( upto 5 hours) and 13"( upto 7 hours).

 There is no Secure Digital memory card slot on the 11" Macbook Air, although there is one in the larger 13" size.

MACBOOK AIR REVIEWS

The latest version of Macbook Air has just been recently released and I wanted to let you know about the features between the two great light weight laptops, so I have done a comparison chart to help you choose the right laptop for you.

There is the 11 inch MacBook Air with 64GB or 128GB of storage for roughly US$999 and $1199 and there is the 13.3 inch MacBook Air with 128GB or 256GB of storage for roughly US$1299 and $1599

MACBOOK AIR LAPTOPS COMPARISON CHART

	Mac Book Air MC969ll /A 11.6.	Macbook Air ML7965LL/ A 13.3
General Features
Screen Size	11.6"	13.3"
Weight (Approx Lbs.)	2.38	2.96
Battery Life (Approx. Hrs)	Up to 5 hours	Up to 7 hours
Processor Type	1.6GHz Intel Core Dual	1.7GHz Intel Core i5
CPU Speed (Min GHz)	1.8	1.8
CPU Speed (Max GHz)	1.8	1.8
Installed RAM (GB)	64GB    &   128GB	128GB & 356GB
RAM Capacity (GB)	2           or   4    1333MHz	4 of 1333MHz
Hard Drive Size (GB)	256MB  &   384MB	384
Operating System	MacOSX Lion	Mac OS X Lion
Communication
Webcam	ü	ü
Microphone	ü	ü
Bluetooth	ü	ü
Ethernet LAN	ü	ü
Wi-Fi	ü	ü