I'm currently using a base 2014 11" MBA, primarily for Xcode and iOS development and then just for general web browsing otherwise when I'm on the sofa. No video or photo editing.
I dock it to two external monitors when I'm at my desk, using one DisplayPort and one USB->Displayport adaptor. This works - but the refresh rate of the USB monitor drives me insane. I was aware it would just be a hack, but thought I'd cope better.
The MBA also struggles with Xcode, notably with autocomplete and Storyboards. The latter is horrendous. Have no problem with compile times.
I absolutely love the rMB but this doesn't solve the first problem - though I could replace one of the external monitors with a stand for the rMB and have two monitors that way. As much as I'd like one, I'm aware that it's probably not the best fit for iOS development - would love to hear from people who are using it with Xcode. Perhaps the increased RAM makes it cope better. Love the idea of a single port to dock to a monitor + power + USB. If it was a TB3 USB C port I'd be more likely to jump...
I've been looking at Mac Mini's so that I could use that as my main desktop, and then pick up a second gen rMB next update for general browsing/movies/minor Xcode edits. This means I need not worry about the power of the rMB.
Struggling with whether to go 2012 (nearly 3 years old?! and still the same money?!) or the 2014 Mini. Will only go for an SSD, and at least 8GB RAM. Advantage of the 2012 is that I can do both those myself, but I'm hesitant when they're so old. I'd buy a rMB and keep the Mac Mini I already have. So if I go 2012 with SSD/16GB, it'll be old old. Whereas if I go 2014, I don't want to spend loads of money to find it immediately outdated, given it's already a year into cycle.
Alternatively I pick up a rMBP 13, and use that to tide me over until next year. This means I've still got a laptop, but two mini Displayports for docking. Still the faff of having to plug all (okay, 3) cables in, and weight/size is bigger than my MBA for couch/travel. I don't really want anything bigger than the 11" MBA, hence liking the rMB, but needs must! Would likely sell later to fund a redesigned rMBP, updated rMB, or updated Mac Mini. If any of those things arrive.
I guess advantage of a retina display is I can use it to run the simulator without scaling.
So:
Mac Mini + rMB vs rMBP; 2012 or 2014 Mac Mini. Thoughts?
Anyone using the current rMB for iOS dev? Anyone using Sketch 3?
After writing this, am swayed towards a s/h rMBP 13 to sell next Q1 for rMB with Skylake, but that doesn't solve the laptop + dock vs. more powerful desktop + laptop problem.
(P.S. always waiting for the next best thing, you'll always be waiting. I know. I'm still waiting. Am I trying to talk myself into a rMB? Yes. Should I? No.)
I dock it to two external monitors when I'm at my desk, using one DisplayPort and one USB->Displayport adaptor. This works - but the refresh rate of the USB monitor drives me insane. I was aware it would just be a hack, but thought I'd cope better.
The MBA also struggles with Xcode, notably with autocomplete and Storyboards. The latter is horrendous. Have no problem with compile times.
I absolutely love the rMB but this doesn't solve the first problem - though I could replace one of the external monitors with a stand for the rMB and have two monitors that way. As much as I'd like one, I'm aware that it's probably not the best fit for iOS development - would love to hear from people who are using it with Xcode. Perhaps the increased RAM makes it cope better. Love the idea of a single port to dock to a monitor + power + USB. If it was a TB3 USB C port I'd be more likely to jump...
I've been looking at Mac Mini's so that I could use that as my main desktop, and then pick up a second gen rMB next update for general browsing/movies/minor Xcode edits. This means I need not worry about the power of the rMB.
Struggling with whether to go 2012 (nearly 3 years old?! and still the same money?!) or the 2014 Mini. Will only go for an SSD, and at least 8GB RAM. Advantage of the 2012 is that I can do both those myself, but I'm hesitant when they're so old. I'd buy a rMB and keep the Mac Mini I already have. So if I go 2012 with SSD/16GB, it'll be old old. Whereas if I go 2014, I don't want to spend loads of money to find it immediately outdated, given it's already a year into cycle.
Alternatively I pick up a rMBP 13, and use that to tide me over until next year. This means I've still got a laptop, but two mini Displayports for docking. Still the faff of having to plug all (okay, 3) cables in, and weight/size is bigger than my MBA for couch/travel. I don't really want anything bigger than the 11" MBA, hence liking the rMB, but needs must! Would likely sell later to fund a redesigned rMBP, updated rMB, or updated Mac Mini. If any of those things arrive.
I guess advantage of a retina display is I can use it to run the simulator without scaling.
So:
Mac Mini + rMB vs rMBP; 2012 or 2014 Mac Mini. Thoughts?
Anyone using the current rMB for iOS dev? Anyone using Sketch 3?
After writing this, am swayed towards a s/h rMBP 13 to sell next Q1 for rMB with Skylake, but that doesn't solve the laptop + dock vs. more powerful desktop + laptop problem.
(P.S. always waiting for the next best thing, you'll always be waiting. I know. I'm still waiting. Am I trying to talk myself into a rMB? Yes. Should I? No.)
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