Looking at laptops

[DrMacintosh]

Hello, so I have been looking at laptops to get because well, I would like a more mobile computer experience than my iPhone/iPad and I certainly cant take my desktop with me. I'm 17, so obviously a student in HS. My current most demanding tasks are working to be certified in Adobe programs such as Photoshop, Premier, InDesign, and Illustrator. 

 

I'll keep it real, I like Apple, I think they make a good OS and a solid laptop.....well....until recently.....I have recently started paying for monthly iCloud storage and this has brought my iOS devices and my PC closer together than they have ever been, but if I were to get a MacBook......the laptop and iOS devices would be inseparable. I recently Jailbroke my phone allowing me to have a personal wifi hotspot (shhh. Don't tell my carrier). I am also aware that Macs can run Windows natively through bootcamp, which alone presents a Mac as being a more versatile computer than a similarly specced Windows laptop. 

 

Anyway, I would really like a MacBook, and I am thinking of the "new" MacBook Air 

https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook-13-3-Inch-Laptop-Capitan/dp/B015WXL0C6/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1486946702&sr=1-2&keywords=MacBook+Air 

or 

https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook-MMGG2LL-13-3-Inch-Version/dp/B01I19M3KG/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1486948983&sr=1-3&keywords=MacBook+Air

 

I figure I'll use an one of those SD card adapters to expand my storage although it has been awhile since I have used MacOS and I do not remember if MacOS lets you install programs outside of its main drive.

 

Going back to the whole point of this post, are there any other 13" laptops with similar build quality and specs that are equal or better to this machine?

 

My goal is thin and light with good battery life and a GPU that is at least as good as the MacBook Airs Intel HD 6000. (I have my home desktop for gaming) What games I would play are like Star Trek Online and World of Warships which are entirely playable at 768p with a mix of low and medium on Intel HD 4600 graphics of this old Toshiba Satellite that I have from my Mom. These games have Mac wrappers and if all else fails I'll install Windows or just not play them on the machine. I have plenty of time waster Mac titles on Steam. 

 

Thanks! 

 

[xdeathshot20]

4 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

Hello, so I have been looking at laptops to get because well, I would like a more mobile computer experience than my iPhone/iPad and I certainly cant take my desktop with me. I'm 17, so obviously a student in HS. My current most demanding tasks are working to be certified in Adobe programs such as Photoshop, Premier, InDesign, and Illustrator. 

 

I'll keep it real, I like Apple, I think they make a good OS and a solid laptop.....well....until recently.....I have recently started paying for monthly iCloud storage and this has brought my iOS devices and my PC closer together than they have ever been, but if I were to get a MacBook......the laptop and iOS devices would be inseparable. I recently Jailbroke my phone allowing me to have a personal wifi hotspot (shhh. Don't tell my carrier). I am also aware that Macs can run Windows natively through bootcamp, which alone presents a Mac as being a more versatile computer than a similarly specced Windows laptop. 

 

Anyway, I would really like a MacBook, and I am thinking of the "new" MacBook Air 

https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook-13-3-Inch-Laptop-Capitan/dp/B015WXL0C6/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1486946702&sr=1-2&keywords=MacBook+Air 

 

I figure I'll use an one of those SD card adapters to expand my storage although it has been awhile since I have used MacOS and I do not remember if MacOS lets you install programs outside of its main drive.

 

Going back to the whole point of this post, are there any other 13" laptops with similar build quality and specs that are equal or better to this machine?

 

My goal is thin and light with good battery life and a GPU that is at least as good as the MacBook Airs Intel HD 6000. (I have my home desktop for gaming) What games I would play are like Star Trek Online and World of Warships which are entirely playable at 768p with a mix of low and medium on Intel HD 4600 graphics of this old Toshiba Satellite that I have from my Mom. These games have Mac wrappers and if all else fails I'll install Windows or just not play them on the machine. I have plenty of time waster Mac titles on Steam. 

 

Thanks! 

 

look at either the hp spectre x360 (the new one linus reviewd it) yoga 910 or if your willing to get a 15 inch look at the new 15 inch hp specre x360. amazing machine with really good preformance

[DrMacintosh]

1 minute ago, xdeathshot20 said:

look at either the hp spectre x360 (the new one linus reviewd it) yoga 910 or if your willing to get a 15 inch look at the new 15 inch hp specre x360. amazing machine with really good preformance

15" is larger than I want. I would like my laptops to actually be laptops  

[xdeathshot20]

2 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

15" is larger than I want. I would like my laptops to actually be laptops  

only reason why im saying is because i work for bestbuy and we just got in the new 15" spectre and its amazing

[DrMacintosh]

1 minute ago, xdeathshot20 said:

only reason why im saying is because i work for bestbuy and we just got in the new 15" spectre and its amazing

tbh I have never been able to stomach the whole "2in1" designs now. From what I can see, those machines are similarly priced and have better displays (most everything has a better screen than a MBA) better CPUs I guess, and more storage but for about $100+ over that MacBook Air.

 

Its a hard decision. Also I dont know much about those other laptops battery life.  

 

 

[Pendragon]

pick up an x260. got literally 12 hours of on use battery. better built, better service, cheaper parts. basically just better.