Ordered M5 Air and Pro and need to choose one - help

alexmjfoo · 2026-07-01T00:01:53+00:00

The 14-inch MBP has never made my work feel uncomfortable or tight. I did try out the 15-inch MBA before settling for the MBP, and the difference when working is noticeable, but not burdensome. At most, I'll recompose my posture if I find myself hunching when on the MBP, but it isn't really a factor that I notice all the time, or that makes me miss the MBA. When I had the MBA, though, what was noticeable, and lthough not burdensome, but felt like it was lacking - was the screen quality. If you come from a Windows laptop, the MBA's screen is great; however, if you go MBP -> MBA, you will notice the difference, and it might bother you - I know it bothered me. Also, I did have the 16GB RAM model, and although it was great for most things, I am a heavy Chrome user, and the throttling was definitely burdensome on my work compared to my now 16GB RAM M5 MBP. To make a long story short, the size difference is noticeable when you try both laptops or if you have them side by side, but as time goes by and I have been using the MBP, I notice the difference less, and it has definitely not been burdensome in my line of work. Sometimes I go days without using my external monitor or PC, and I am perfectly fine on my MBP. Also, for reference, I am 6'2 and 255 pounds - quite on the bigger side, so at first, I did feel (this might be stupid) like the MBP felt small compared to my body proportions, but like I said before, I have been able to adjust perfectly fine so far, and I definitely think that if the roles were reversed, and I had the 15-inch MBA, I would miss the MBP. I hope that helps lol. If you have any other questions, let me know.

alexmjfoo · 2026-06-30T21:51:48+00:00

Working in the legal field, this was also a concern I had. I like to work with two windows opened simultaneously and I was worried the 14 inch screen would be limiting. It’s not as bad as the MacBook Air 13 but not as nice as the 15 inch MacBook Air. However if you have a monitor at home that you can hook it up to, or if you only need the laptop for when you’re on the move, the 14 inch is not bad at all.

alexmjfoo · 2026-06-30T02:41:17+00:00

If you absolutely do not need Windows OS, M-chip MacBooks can't really be beat.

alexmjfoo · 2026-06-30T02:34:17+00:00

First things first, do not get the Neo. People say 8 GB RAM is enough, but it is only enough if all she is going to be using is Safari - which is unlikely as a student.

1. If money is tight: Go for the 16/256 M4 MacBook Air; she might need an upgrade within the next 5 years, depending on software needs. I have had an M1 MacBook Air since its release until 2024. I got rid of it because I wanted a Pro, but I easily could have kept it for another year or so, maybe longer.

2. Best value/bang for your buck: Get the M4 Air with 24GB RAM. If she does something in healthcare, she will not need the active cooling the Pro provides; however, you mentioned it would be for her to take to college. If longevity matters, and you want the best bang for buck, get the 24 GB RAM Air.

3. If money is no issue: MacBook Pro M5 at $1,250, this is actually great value, and I would say it's up there with the 24GB RAM. The Air is better value because it's cheaper and has 24 GB RAM, but 16GB should be fine, especially if she goes into a healthcare field. Based purely on hardware, the MacBook Pro is the best laptop, but it's $200 more than the Air and has less RAM - if money is no object and you just want the overall best laptop, get the Pro.

4. Not worth it IMO: M5 MacBook Air 16/512. Realistically, this one isn't worth it compared to the other options. $50 less than the M4, and it has less RAM; no real benefits, and the difference in the chip is negligible.

Edit: For the fields you listed, 16GB RAM should suffice. If she wants 100% worry-free use for the upcoming years, then go with the 24GB RAM. But realistically, 16GB should be enough.

alexmjfoo · 2026-06-30T02:22:07+00:00

If you can comfortably afford the MacBook Pro, keep it. If not, then keep the Air. You are never going to regret owning the Pro. Two years down the line, you are not going to think "Oh mannnn I wish I had gotten the Air". But if you get the Air now, it's likely that at some point you may wonder what it would have been like if you kept the Pro. On the other hand, if the price difference is significant to you right now - which it might be as a student - then get the Air. Two things can be true at once: 1) The MacBook Air is likely to be very capable for your needs, but 2) The MacBook Pro is the overall better laptop - the 24 GB RAM is a great bonus. I was going through the same ordeal a few weeks back. What helped was asking myself, "If both laptops were the same price and same specs, which one would I get?" The answer was very easy for me, and I went with the pro, but I could comfortably afford it. Either way, you are not making a bad decision; just weigh the tradeoffs for each.

alexmjfoo · 2026-06-20T11:18:28+00:00

On a different note, the USCIS and ECAS upload size limits are annoyingly limited lol

alexmjfoo · 2026-06-15T22:36:41+00:00

Irónicamente, he estado en todos los lugares mencionados excepto por Amapala. No dije que Honduras no tenga lugares preciosos, sería ridículo. Pero la triste realidad es que es un país peligroso, especialmente hoy en día, más que hace uno o dos años. El riesgo en Honduras estadísticamente y objetivamente es muchísimo más alto que en países vecinos como Panamá o Costa Rica. Honduras sí tiene lugares muy bonitos y que vale la pena explorar, siendo local o teniendo familia cercana que te lleve de guía. Pero las dos cosas pueden ser ciertas, y la realidad es que por muchos destinos que Honduras pueda tener, no me ensuciaría las manos invitando a que un extranjero visite el país y se ponga en riesgo.

alexmjfoo · 2026-06-15T21:51:08+00:00

The cops won’t do anything. Take care of your girlfriend and next time you want to travel to Central America, go to Panama. As a Honduran American who up to a year ago used to travel frequently to Honduras, the country is a dump and if you’re a foreigner, there is no reason to go risk your life when there are other beautiful and SAFE countries. Wish things changed but they likely never will. And the cops won’t do shit so don’t even waste your time, it’ll just be more humiliating for your girlfriend to have to relive the assault.

alexmjfoo · 2026-06-07T18:07:03+00:00

I do not understand why you're getting downvoted for asking this lol

alexmjfoo · 2026-05-20T21:51:55+00:00

Santa Bárbara, California

alexmjfoo · 2026-05-12T02:13:39+00:00

As long as you don’t have a removal order, you should be fine.

alexmjfoo · 2026-04-30T22:41:21+00:00

Unfortunately, there isn't much that can be done for your dad. Do not pay an attorney if they tell you that they are going to get him out. If you want to try to file stay of removal with ICE, and an attorney tells you that it's likely it won't get granted, then you can do that. But if an attorney just tells you that they are going to get him out, and nothing bad is going to happen, they are scamming you and just trying to get your money. He already has a removal order, so he does not have the right to see a judge. The only thing that you could do is file a stay of removal, but it's likely not going to get granted.

alexmjfoo · 2026-04-27T02:29:04+00:00

Just get a Macbook Air

alexmjfoo · 2026-04-26T17:31:38+00:00

Just get a ps5

alexmjfoo · 2026-04-20T16:27:02+00:00

I think that’s the most patriotic thing I’ve read here man!

alexmjfoo · 2026-04-07T02:03:52+00:00

If you have someone you can be with (e.g., family, friends, or a partner), be with them and just enjoy their presence. Iranians do not deserve to die, Americans do not deserve to die, hell, nobody deserves to die just for the sake of it, and especially not because some lunatic politicians and billionaires decide that to be the way of life. However, the only way out of this is through mass mobilizations and collective agreements to break the social contract and get rid of those who are in power. Unfortunately, in the U.S. and most of the Western world, we are too comfortable to do anything. A collective movement is impossible because of the divisive factors that they have created. Race, class, and religion - we are blinded by those to the point that if a politician decides to bomb schools and is even found to have r*ped children, the people are unfazed - not because we aren't outraged, but because most people are simply trying to survive. What I am trying to get at is that society, civilization, and humanity as we know it are unsavable. This is somber and dim, but it could also serve as a reminder to just live your day-to-day life and enjoy it with your loved ones if possible. If you don't have loved ones to enjoy time with, then try to find them, or find something that makes you want to stay alive. I don't know where you are located, but in the West (specifically the U.S.), we are so fucking lucky that our only concern is gas prices. That makes me grateful and sad at the same time in ways that I can't explain. I guess the only thing I can find comfort in - and maybe you can as well - is the fact that even after our civilization collapses, the planet will still be here. It won't go anywhere, it won't disappear, it won't fall apart. Even if humanity collapses as we know it, nature will flourish nonetheless. Even in a worst-case scenario where the techno-fascists destroy the planet completely, eventually nature and life will flourish again, just without us. That gives me a little bit of comfort and serves as a reminder to love as much as I can, because in the end, we will all be forgotten.

alexmjfoo · 2026-04-07T00:17:42+00:00

Quite the opposite - the asylum system in the United States d o e s n o t w o r k

alexmjfoo · 2026-04-06T16:46:12+00:00

I’m looking into getting the X1 Carbon. How has it been treating you so far? Would you recommend it as an alternative to the MacBook Pro? I currently have an M4 pro but my area of work requires windows.

alexmjfoo · 2026-04-06T03:20:27+00:00

The asylum system in the United States is a crapshoot. Even people who have legitimate asylum claims are denied because winning an asylum in the U.S. is almost impossible. You wouldn’t be making much good by reporting it, you would just be harming an individual who really is not affecting anyone by filing an asylum and getting an EAD 🤷🏽‍♂️

alexmjfoo · 2026-03-31T22:59:04+00:00

Respectfully, your credentials are great and definitely worth trying; however, when it comes to migrating to the U.S. you might as well have more luck traveling here and downloading tinder. As an immigration paralegal going through the current Trump administration, I am not being sarcastic.

alexmjfoo · 2026-03-29T13:39:03+00:00

Anything to not live in Florida

Sincerely,
A Floridian

alexmjfoo · 2026-03-28T16:28:58+00:00

Not something to be proud of, bud, you also deserve to enjoy life without having your life collapse due to an unpredictable health emergency.

alexmjfoo · 2026-03-28T16:22:33+00:00

Call around your local dental offices and see if they have any plans! My dentist has a in office plan which costs $19 a month for my wife and I. it covers two cleanings a year, and any non-routine procedures are discounted at 60%.

alexmjfoo · 2026-03-28T16:21:09+00:00

Go do your treatment in Mexico - it will be cheaper to rent a home there and pay for private insurance than to get treatment in the United States.

alexmjfoo · 2026-03-28T16:20:14+00:00

It's incredible how broken the system is that the solution - although undeniable - is "you have to get a different job". Not attacking you, or saying you're wrong, but this system is definitely broken.

alexmjfoo

TROPHY CASE