Need Help Deciding MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro with Retina Display

hello,

i'm trying *figure out route take.*

situation:

*need new computer due mine being *antiquated desktop. i'm coming from:

2005 dell dimension e510 desktop
purchased: 10/10/05
price: $1,074

microsoft windows xp media center edition version 2002 (service pack 3)

* 3.0ghz single core intel (r) pentium
* *1gb 400mhz ddr2 sdram *4x256mb
* 250gb serial ata drive (7200rpm) (replaced 3/06/07)
* 180gb serial ata drive (7200rpm) (original)
*'ata radeon x300 se 128mb memory
* 17" viewable e173fp flat panel display*

originally, going go 27" imac. *but due new living circumstances living in 2 states new jersey , florida throughout year laptop more practical.*

machine choose primary computer. ipad (3rd generation) has been portable computer. *so since accepted best computer needs macbook vs imac need figure out get.*

i'm deciding between high end 13" macbook air vs *low end *15"macbook pro retina display. *

im being drawn these 2 machines due how light . i'm having difficulty deciding best suited me
*
configurations i'm looking @ are:

2012 13" macbook air
price:*$2,016.37

os x mountain lion

* 2.0ghz intel dual-core core i7, turbo boost 3.2ghz
* 8gb 1600mhz ddr3l sdram
* 256gb flash storage
* intel hd graphics 4000
* apple usb superdrive*
* applecare protection plan macbook air / 13" macbook pro - auto-enroll

2012 15" macbook pro retina display
price: 2,664.79

os x mountain lion

* 2.3ghz quad-core intel core i7, turbo boost 3.3ghz
* 16gb 1600mhz ddr3l sdram
* 256gb flash storage
* intel hd graphics 4000
* nvidia geforce gt 650m 1gb of gddr5 memory
* apple usb superdrive*
* applecare protection plan macbook air / 13" macbook *pro - auto-enroll

major draws macbook air are:
price
extreme light weight
extreme thinness.*

drawbacks macbook air are:*
dual core processor vs quad core processor
lack of independent graphics card
smaller display (remember i'm coming 17" monitor , ideally wanted 27" imac. )

major draws macbook pro retina display are:
weight
quad core processor
graphics card
power machine has , may me in long run needs in computer increase
retina display ( spoiled ipad (3rd generation) , iphone 4s)

drawbacks macbook pro retina display are:
price difference

in reality though, air enough me primary computer other ipad (3rd generation) , iphone 4s? thewiser choice due price?

i'm paying $650 *for:
retina display
quad core processor
independent graphics
8gb ram

please help!!!

 

well important question is, going computer?

basic email, web surfing, occasional photo , video editing?

 

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