Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Need new mbp TODAY which one?

A

Acevesx

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 15, 2008
218
28
Hi all,
Looking to get a new mbp as my 2011 is taking a dump.

My main uses are photoshop and Lightroom followed by Microsoft office and Safari.

Will I be ok with the 2.6 13" with 256gb flash storage or should I go with the 2.8 with 512gb flash storage?

Last option which I will only do if folks think it's the best way to go is the base 15" 2.2 with 256 gb flash storage or the non 5k base 27" iMac... I am completely flexible between desktop and laptop

Looking to purchase today your help is much appreciated!
 
JoelTheSuperior

JoelTheSuperior

macrumors 6502
Feb 10, 2014
406
443
Honestly the 13" would be absolutely fine however you may want the 15" just because of the larger screen, which may be beneficial if you use the MacBook in the standard "best for Retina" mode.

With that said, you have a good variety of scaling options available on the new MacBooks so the 13" with one of the other display modes selected may work very well for you.
 
C

cjmillsnun

macrumors 68020
Aug 28, 2009
2,399
48
The 15" has an advantage in that it is quad core (13" is dual core) and it has 16GB ram (13" has 8)
 
Meister

Meister

Suspended
Oct 10, 2013
5,456
4,310
I am not sure why you are even considering a macbook if you could as well get an iMac.
 
P

Pjrufus

macrumors 6502
Sep 20, 2014
278
15
For work in Photoshop & Lightroom, I want the largest, highest-res screen I can afford. If you have a decent display already, or can add one, you might consider the 13" for portability options, and dock it to a display, (I use a Thunderbolt and love it,) but I see above that someone said 8 GB of ram in the 13? I'd want more.

I have a 15" MBP, and on the few occasions I left the house with it, the size wasn't a problem for me, but many prefer the 13".

I'd say first thing is to decide which is more important, portability and option to dock to a display, or, a desktop 2 for 1 iMac. Then figure out the best config. for the way you want to go.
 
Last edited:
GoCubsGo

GoCubsGo

macrumors Nehalem
Feb 19, 2005
35,741
153
For your needs the 13" will serve you fine but the 15" will be better with quad core and Iris Pro. Bottom line is only you know your budget and clearly you must buy now, as you say. Can I ask why you're tossing aside a 2011 machine? I still roll with a 2008 Mac Pro and a 2009 Mac Mini. I run Aperture, Photoshop, and the standard crap on my Mac Pro and just basic junk and HTPC stuff on my mini. Not saying you shouldn't buy new but the 2011 seems like it has met the end of life prematurely.
 
C

cjmillsnun

macrumors 68020
Aug 28, 2009
2,399
48
GoCubsGo said:
For your needs the 13" will serve you fine but the 15" will be better with quad core and Iris Pro. Bottom line is only you know your budget and clearly you must buy now, as you say. Can I ask why you're tossing aside a 2011 machine? I still roll with a 2008 Mac Pro and a 2009 Mac Mini. I run Aperture, Photoshop, and the standard crap on my Mac Pro and just basic junk and HTPC stuff on my mini. Not saying you shouldn't buy new but the 2011 seems like it has met the end of life prematurely.
Click to expand...

Radeongate I suspect.
 
A

Acevesx

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 15, 2008
218
28
Hi all appreciate all of your responses.

#1 - current MBP no longer operating due to yep you guessed it cjmillsnun, Radeongate.

#2 - I really am flexible in desktop via laptop. I already have a 24" Dell display for docking purposes with my current mbp and would use this for the new MBP
BUT is the BASE imac a better machine than either 13" or the base 15" MBP?

#3 - the reason I was debating between the 13 and 15 is not because of screen size but wanted folks opinions on performance. I am flexible in the screen size department as well :)

----------

oh yea and if I go with the imac I wouldn't be able to go fusion drive (getting at best buy for 18 month financing portion of purchase) :( just the base 1tb hard drive so that kinda swayed me towards an MBP as well...
 
Meister

Meister

Suspended
Oct 10, 2013
5,456
4,310
Acevesx said:
Hi all appreciate all of your responses.

#1 - current MBP no longer operating due to yep you guessed it cjmillsnun, Radeongate.

#2 - I really am flexible in desktop via laptop. I already have a 24" Dell display for docking purposes with my current mbp and would use this for the new MBP
BUT is the BASE imac a better machine than either 13" or the base 15" MBP?

#3 - the reason I was debating between the 13 and 15 is not because of screen size but wanted folks opinions on performance. I am flexible in the screen size department as well :)
----------

oh yea and if I go with the imac I wouldn't be able to go fusion drive (getting at best buy for 18 month financing portion of purchase) :( just the base 1tb hard drive so that kinda swayed me towards an MBP as well...
Click to expand...
The screen of the iMac is gorgeous. No comparison to dell.
But: If you already have a screen get the 2012 mac mini quadcore. Stick in an ssd and 16gb ram. Cheaper and as powerfull for your usage. Enjoy :)
 
A

Acevesx

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 15, 2008
218
28
if I go iMac, is fusion drive a must? These can't be upgraded after the fact from what I understand correct.
 
Meister

Meister

Suspended
Oct 10, 2013
5,456
4,310
Acevesx said:
if I go iMac, is fusion drive a must? These can't be upgraded after the fact from what I understand correct.
Click to expand...
The harddrives in the imacs can be upgraded, but it's rather complicated.
If you are happy with your screen I strongly suggest a mac mini with ssd.
That will save you a lot of money.
 
A

Acevesx

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 15, 2008
218
28
Screen is pretty crappy dell 24" monitor, gets the job done but then I think it defeats the purpose of the retina display on the macbook pro...

Man I am really torn now between the 15" MBP base and base 27" imac. eventually I would update the ram on either to 16gb
 
P

Pjrufus

macrumors 6502
Sep 20, 2014
278
15
Are you ordering online or going to a store? Seeing each in person, may help you decide.
 
A

Acevesx

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 15, 2008
218
28
I'll be going into the store...I'm leaning towards the 15" mbp with 256gb of flash storage and 16gb of ram, it's 1899 at Best Buy right now...
 
G

GuitarDTO

macrumors 6502a
Feb 16, 2011
687
110
Is this my twin? Christ its eerie how similar our situations are. My 2011 just kicked it as well, in fact I used the exact same words in my thread, it "took a dump". I am getting it repaired for $329, but am still debating upgrading. If you are a photographer as well, I'd go with the 15". The retina screen really does look amazing with photos. I also would suspect the SSD drives would be great for editing in Lightroom.

As a side note, I wonder what will become of all this 2011 Radeongate. Its quite clear most owners with that laptop are going to deal with this at some point. Are there even people willing to buy the things used at this point?
 
F

fiveainone

macrumors 6502a
Sep 16, 2011
761
76
Acevesx said:
Screen is pretty crappy dell 24" monitor, gets the job done but then I think it defeats the purpose of the retina display on the macbook pro...

Man I am really torn now between the 15" MBP base and base 27" imac. eventually I would update the ram on either to 16gb
Click to expand...

I'm using 15" rMBP for lightroom, and the size is just enough to do edits. I can't imagine working 13", so you'll definitely continue using your dell for display if go 13". Then if you're on the dell, then it would be far inferior to a 15" retina once you see how gorgeous the pictures look on retina. I do wish for a larger screen like the iMac, but I prefer the hires display of the 15" retina. But if you're considering non-retina 15", I would go with the iMac..
 
A

Acevesx

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 15, 2008
218
28
currently posting from the base 15" rMBP. Will take her for heavy test drive over the next few days...
 
L

luked14

macrumors 6502
Aug 1, 2010
387
58
Congrats on your new rMBP! You can always upgrade your flash storage in the future if you need to. There aren't any third party PCIe SSDs out yet, but hopefully there will be soon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom