Ableton Forum

Hi i got the option of choosing between a macbook pro 13 Non retina and Macbook air 13....i'm really confused which one to choose.
Macbook pro 13 has higher clock speed but the macbook air 13 has flash storage. I really love flash storage but i dont want to sacrifice clock speed for that. I am ableton live 9 user but when i get a macbook i am planning to use logic pro x as a alternative DAW. PLz help me choose which macbook between this two will be the best for music production.

Macbook Pro 13 (non retina) mid 2012 Specs -

Processor
2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz) with 3MB L3 cache
Memory
4GB of 1600MHz DDR3 memory
Storage
500GB 5400-rpm hard drive
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 4000
Ports
FireWire 800 port (up to 800 Mbps)
Two USB 3 ports (up to 5 Gbps)
Thunderbolt port (up to 10 Gbps)

Macbook Air 13 -

Processor
1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz) with 3MB shared L3 cache
Memory
4GB of 1600MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory
Storage
128GB PCIe-based flash storage
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 5000
Ports
Two USB 3 ports (up to 5 Gbps)
Thunderbolt port (up to 10 Gbps)

Keep in mind on the MBAs you will be stuck with the HD size and RAM amount. No upgrading. For music production IMO 4GB of RAM and 128GB drive isn’t going to be enough. I haven’t had a MBP for a while but I assume you can still upgrade the RAM and HD and most likely you can do it yourself and with cheaper third party options than what Apple will sell you.

beats me wrote:Keep in mind on the MBAs you will be stuck with the HD size and RAM amount. No upgrading. For music production IMO 4GB of RAM and 128GB drive isn’t going to be enough. I haven’t had a MBP for a while but I assume you can still upgrade the RAM and HD and most likely you can do it yourself and with cheaper third party options than what Apple will sell you.

No longer posible to upgrade RAM, its soldered.

login wrote:

beats me wrote:Keep in mind on the MBAs you will be stuck with the HD size and RAM amount. No upgrading. For music production IMO 4GB of RAM and 128GB drive isn’t going to be enough. I haven’t had a MBP for a while but I assume you can still upgrade the RAM and HD and most likely you can do it yourself and with cheaper third party options than what Apple will sell you.

No longer posible to upgrade RAM, its soldered.

Well that sucks.

Was it possible on the mid 2012 model? That's what the OP might get.

beats me wrote:

login wrote:

beats me wrote:Keep in mind on the MBAs you will be stuck with the HD size and RAM amount. No upgrading. For music production IMO 4GB of RAM and 128GB drive isn’t going to be enough. I haven’t had a MBP for a while but I assume you can still upgrade the RAM and HD and most likely you can do it yourself and with cheaper third party options than what Apple will sell you.

No longer posible to upgrade RAM, its soldered.

Well that sucks.

Was it possible on the mid 2012 model? That's what the OP might get.

But i think the macbook pro can still be upgraded with an SSD

It looks like you still can upgrade RAM on the MBP in question: https://www.ifixit.com/Device/MacBook_P ... y_Mid_2012

I'd definitly go with the MBP, upgrade RAM and put in an SSD.

It is easy to upgrade both RAM (up to 16Gb) and HDD on this MBP model. Can get a kit and replace DVD with second SSD or HDD

You can upgrade RAM on the non-retina. I have a brand new non-retina with 4gb and will be upgrading soon (I thought the limit was 8gb though? Unless it meant 2x8). Does the job but plenty of beachball action at the moment. Not enough for an upgrade to be necessary, but enough to want to. Apparently Macs use more RAM in general. Go for the Pro.

whj wrote:You can upgrade RAM on the non-retina. I have a brand new non-retina with 4gb and will be upgrading soon (I thought the limit was 8gb though? Unless it meant 2x8).

Get 16 Gb (2x8), it makes lots of difference, 4 Gb is not enough for any post Snow Leopard OS.