Laptop computer for biglaw: MacBook Air v. MacBook Forum

[VulcanVulcanVulcan]

(I trust I'm posting this in the right forum.)

I'm working at a biglaw firm that will reimburse me for a laptop that I buy. I'm deciding between two different Apple models:

(1) 12-inch MacBook, http://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/macbook

(2) 13-inch MacBook Air, http://www.apple.com/macbook-air/

The MacBook is a little cheaper and lighter, and I like the smaller screen. But it's significantly underpowered relative to the MBA.

Do any current biglaw associates have thoughts on this? My guess is that I won't need the extra speed and processing power of the MBA, as it's not like I'll be photoshopping briefs in biglaw, but I am curious whether the slower processer of the MacBook will be an issue.

[Johann]

get the macbook. new macbook is thinner and lighter and more processing power than MBA. shits legit. plus its better and more expensive and you arent the one buying it.

[Desert Fox]

[Mack.Hambleton]

new macbooks have a great display, macbook airs have a multiple years outdated display (below 1080p).

Processing power is about the same.

[crit_racer]

Do the MacBook. It is a bit more powerful which, while you're not doing heavy duty cad or graphic design work, still comes in handy when redlining, etc. I just upgraded to the new MacBook and have noticed it is significantly better at redlines (which for some reason seem to stall some comps). Full disclosure, I know nothing about comps and am speaking strictly from personal experience

[curepure]

MacBook Pro w retina is def better but you'll more likely to get a thinkpad from your firm anyway, Citrix runs pretty slow on my mbpr

[Leonardo DiCaprio]

get the next MB don't get the current one. the shit has no vents. when it overheats your already shitty processor will get throttled like a motherfucker. the air is more powerful but it has a shitty display thats unacceptable in 2015.

[BrazilBandit]

Get the Dell XPS 13 and be amazed...

[Desert Fox]

[chuckbass]

Honestly, I love the docking stations that thinkpads have.

Just wondering as to Macs and docking stations at work: do most firms allow you to use a Mac at work or are they usually all PCs?

[smaug]

Get the Dell XPS 13 and be amazed...

I own one. I don't know that I'd recommend it for work. Citrix seems to run a touch better on my older MacBook Pro. I think it's screen resolution that causes issues, though. On an external display it works very very well.

[Desert Fox]

[anonnymouse]

Everyone I know just gets assigned a laptop (almost always a thinkpad) and get remote software that they can use at home (Citrix) for their own personal computer. Citrix runs on window and mac.

But citrix fucking blows.

I've heard some firms let you buy whatever you want, but it seems pretty rare. Configuring everyone's email, network drives, document systems, and other licensed hardware seems impossible on that sort of system.

I'm surprised any firm does it.

Why do you use Citrix from home if you get assigned a laptop? Why not just VPN w/laptop from home? Then you don't have to deal with shitty Citrix.

[Jchance]

MacBook Pro w retina is def better but you'll more likely to get a thinkpad from your firm anyway

+1

[John_Luther1989]

A decent number of firms are switching from giving people thinkpads they dock at work to paying for personal computers people citrix in from at home. Another one of those client-driven data security things.

[dixiecupdrinking]

Have you checked that your firm is 100% on board with macs? seens odd to me (but I have a firm supplied windows laptop that I dock during the day so maybe i am in a totally different position)

[Desert Fox]

[5ky]

Everyone I know just gets assigned a laptop (almost always a thinkpad) and get remote software that they can use at home (Citrix) for their own personal computer. Citrix runs on window and mac.

But citrix fucking blows.

I've heard some firms let you buy whatever you want, but it seems pretty rare. Configuring everyone's email, network drives, document systems, and other licensed hardware seems impossible on that sort of system.

I'm surprised any firm does it.

Why do you use Citrix from home if you get assigned a laptop? Why not just VPN w/laptop from home? Then you don't have to deal with shitty Citrix.

Its just an option if you didnt bring your work one home.

Though our VPN is made by citrix and it blows.

damn, that sucks. our VPN is actually faster than our network. not sure why, but less clutter or something. my citrix works like a charm on my macbook air as well.

and yeah, citrix allows you to not lug your laptop home every day in case you need to do work. VPN > citrix, so if i know ill have work ill usually bring my laptop back, but i can use citrix for other stuff

[Anonymous User]

My biggest issue when using citrix on a MacBook was that I couldn't get it to work with dual screens (could use on laptop or monitor, but not both) . After getting used to a dual monitor setup at the office there was nothing worse than going home and being stuck with just one. I'm not sure if citrix has upgraded in the six months since I left my last firm, but that is a deal breaker for me. I ended up buying another desktop to use at home and every time I turned it on I would curse myself for the wasted money.

As a side note, my current firm gave me a thinkpad to dock at work and take home at night and the vpn is so much better than being stuck with citrix (like being able to work without an Internet connection). If I could do it again this would be a specific question I asked during job interviews and probably a deciding factor between similarly situated firms. Shows how much I hated citrix, but I guess others will swear by it.

[Old Gregg]

dont buy an apple. youll have to citrix in and itll be stupid. i know it seems tolerable, but when ur redlining 20 agreements at 1am and just want to go sleep, the lag of citrix (and lack of stability) will make you sleep at 2am instead of 130am, and that 30 mins of sleep is precious.

when u get more senior, u can get a mac at home and maybe, depending on ur firm's security, port ur exchange email to outlook and have ur secretary/junior associates pull and manage docs on ur firm's DM system and do redlines.

[lawbeahs]

I have a question about how the technology reimbursement works. Does the firm generally supply you with a laptop, or provide a reimbursement for a new laptop? Also, when does this usually happen and how much is allowed for a new laptop?

Thanks!

[Old Gregg]

I have a question about how the technology reimbursement works. Does the firm generally supply you with a laptop, or provide a reimbursement for a new laptop? Also, when does this usually happen and how much is allowed for a new laptop?

Thanks!

varies from firm to firm. difficult to make generalizations.

[haus]

The screen on the new MacBook is nice. But you should try out the keyboard to make sure that you are OK with the shorter throws. Also, stop and think about what type wired accessories you might want to use, as the only external port in the MacBook is a USB C.

For most users, I suspect that the MacBook Air is still the better option.

[Old Gregg]

new macbook is great. id wait for hte fast processors to come downstream before trying to use it as an enterprise system, though.

also, again, dont get a fucking mac for firm work if you're a junior associate. if you do, i reserve the right to laugh at you when you regret it.

this is coming from a person who had a god damn mac pro as his home computer for gaming and work shit whenever it came up. not pleasant. processing speed has no impact here after a certain point. it's just how shitty your internet connection is, the lag btw u and the citrix/vmware server, etc.

believe me, when every single click and keyboard stroke has a very, very, very slight latency to it, you'll notice it and itll frustrate you in the long run.

if at all possible, just get a windows computer and VPN it