These differences, as well as configuration differences, are summarized below:
| |||
Processor: | P8600 | I5-2415M, I7-2620M | SU9400, SL9400 |
Speed: | 2.4 GHz | 2.3, 2.7 GHz | 1.4, 1.86 GHz |
L2 Cache: | 3 MB | 3, 4 MB | 3, 6 MB |
Std. RAM: | 2 GB | 4 GB | 2 GB |
Max. RAM: | 8 GB* | 16 GB* | 4 GB** |
RAM Type: | PC3-8500 DDR3 | PC3-10600 DDR3 | Soldered** |
Int. Graphics: | GeForce 320M | HD Graphics 3000 | GeForce 320M |
VRAM: | 256 MB† | 384 MB† | 256 MB† |
Display Size: | 13.3" | 13.3" | 11.6, 13.3" |
Resolution: | 1280x800 | 1280x800 | 1366x768, 1440x900 |
Ext. Display: | 2560x1600 | 2560x1600 | 2560x1600 |
Int. Storage: | 250 GB | 320, 500 GB | 64, 128, 256 GB |
Optical Drive: | 8X DL | 8X DL | External Only |
USB 2.0: | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Firewire 800: | No | 1 | No |
Ethernet: | Gigabit | Gigabit | 10/100Base-T (Opt) |
Audio Out: | Optical/Digital | Optical/Digital | Analog |
Display Port: | Mini DisplayPort | Thunderbolt | Mini DisplayPort |
SD Card Slot: | No | Yes | No, Yes |
Backlit KB: | No | Yes | No |
Trackpad: | 4-Finger Inertial | 4-Finger Inertial | 4-Finger Inertial |
Remote (IR): | No | Yes | No |
Battery Life: | 7 Hours†† | 7 Hours†† | 5, 7 Hours†† |
Dimensions: | 1.08 x 13.00 x 9.12 | 0.95 x 12.78 x 8.94 | .11-.68 x 11.8 x 7.56 |
Weight: | 4.7 lbs (2.13 kg) | 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg) | 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg) |
Order No: | MC516LL/A | MC700LL/A | MC505LL/A§ |
Original Price: | US$999 | US$1199, US$1499 | US$999-US$1599§ |
* Officially, the White "Mid-2010" MacBook model supports 4 GB of RAM, but third-parties have confirmed that it actually is capable of supporting 8 GB. Likewise, the "Early 2011" MacBook Pro officially supports 8 GB of RAM, but it actually is capable of supporting 16 GB.
** Either MacBook Air model can be upgraded to 4 GB of RAM at the time of purchase. This RAM is soldered in place and cannot be upgraded after purchase.
† All of these systems have a graphics processor that shares the system memory.
†† Battery life as estimated by Apple in a "wireless web" test.
§ The 11-Inch MacBook Air is available with 64 GB of flash storage (MC505LL/A) for US$999 and 128 GB of flash storage (MC506LL/A) for US$1199. The 13-Inch MacBook Air is available with 128 GB of flash storage (MC503LL/A) for US$1299 and 256 GB of flash storage (MC504LL/A) for US$1599.
So, which is right for me?
Ultimately, as noted earlier, deciding between an "Early 2011" MacBook Pro, "Late 2010" MacBook Air or a "Mid-2010" MacBook may be difficult (or at least deciding between the MacBook Pro or MacBook Air models may be difficult).
However, the decision is easiest if you decide what criteria is most important to you. If performance and/or expansion are most important, a MacBook Pro is the best choice.
If expansion is not important -- you have no interest in upgrading the RAM or internal storage -- and you do not do demanding memory-intensive tasks while on the go (high-end video editing, for example) a MacBook Air could be ideal if you also do not care about having an internal optical drive, a Firewire port or a Thunderbolt bolt. In general, the 11-Inch display -- although high-resolution for its physical size -- still is rather limiting and most who do more than basic multitasking likely would prefer a 13-Inch model as the difference between the two MacBook Air models in size and weight is unlikely to be enough to be critical for most. The 13-Inch model also is noticeably faster, has better battery life and the SD card slot could be useful as well. Those who value the highest resolution display in the smallest possible notebook more than performance also should consider the 13-Inch MacBook Air over the MacBook Pro.
For those who only do simple tasks on the go -- word processing, e-mail, web browsing, listening to music, and basic photo editing, for example -- or who are looking for a small portable notebook to complement a desktop Mac, the 11-Inch model could be perfect. If price is important, then the 11-Inch model is less expensive as well (although the White MacBook is the same price).
Only those on the tightest of budgets -- to whom an internal optical drive and expansion are important, but performance and connectivity are not -- or those who really love the color white should consider the aging entry-level MacBook.