To get a true picture of the performance differences, I took snapshots of CPU and memory usage of Mac Pro and of MacBook Air while the computers where producing the movie discussed in my previous blog entry.

The picture above shows the CPU usage of my Mac Pro, and the picture below that of my MacBook Air.

During the production of the movie, MacBook Air was typically using about 90% of its processor's capability while Mac Pro was using only about 25%.

Memory usage is also interesting.

The picture above shows the memory usage of Mac Pro during the movie production and the picture below that of my MacBook Air.

While the performance difference in this particular task, movie production with iMovie, was significant, the real difference lies in the fact that Mac Pro can perform several heavy tasks like that at the same time while MacBook Air must put all its resources into this one task only in order to perform it in a satisfactory fashion.

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