Which is right for me? 3 macbook 2010 - 2011

These differences, as well as configuration differences, are summarized below:

 

	MacBook Mid-2010	MacBook Pro Early 2011	MacBook Air Late 2010
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 .11-.68 x 12.8 x 8.94
Weight:	4.7 lbs (2.13 kg)	4.5 lbs (2.04 kg)	2.3 lbs (1.06 kg) 2.9 lbs (1.32 kg)
Order No:	MC516LL/A	MC700LL/A MC724LL/A	MC505LL/A§ MC503LL/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.