1.2GHz, 16GB, 256GB or the 1.3Ghz, 16GB, 256/512GB?

[tagumcity]

I’m going with the 16gb of ram, m3, and 256gb. As stated it’s a good balance to the price.

 

[csurfr]

I'm curious. . . do any of you use the 2017 MacBook for any kind of web development (vs code, brackets, etc)? I'm curious how it runs. I'm thinking of returning my 2017 15" 2.9/16/512/4g Radeon for something that might turn out to be a more reliable machine. The only things I'll do with it are essentially the above programs and typing code (html/css/php/javascript). MAYBE illustrator on the go (albeit VERY minor, just moving around some layers and such for clients on site). I don't run any VMs, and have a 5k iMac @ home that can do the heavy lifting if needed. . .

I'd appreciate whatever you can all tell me! I only have until next Friday to make a decision.

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

Quite a few years ago I learned my lesson about buying a machine with limited amount of storage. It was fine for a while until I kept adding more and more to my iTunes library and that really started to become problematic. I had already put some folders and files on the external drives I had then, but did not want to put my iTunes library anywhere than on my computer's internal drive. Eventually I sold that machine and purchased one with 512 GB and have continued to do so ever since, and also once the Samsung T series of external SSDs became available, I began using them and that has made a difference as well.

Given the choice between increasing RAM or increasing storage capacity, I would go with increasing the RAM, as the storage capacity can always and easily be supplemented by external drives, either SSD or HDD.

ABSOLUTELY! The same with me on my last 256GB MacBook - only 90GB used for photos, business, documents, apps etc BUT 150GB used for my iTunes library - that's 30GB of music, only 5-10 iTunes films actually downloaded but a whole load of short surfing videos & blogs from YouTube/Vimeo.
I love downloading and keeping everything on my MacBook - 512GB has been great but I'd of gone for the 1TB if it was available as an option.
Thanks guys for the 8GB/16GB talk - seems like going with 16GB is a great idea!

 

[EugW]

512 GB storage is insufficient for me for my primary machine. However, my MacBook is not my primary machine.

I have 1 TB SSD storage in my iMac, and 256 GB SSD storage in my MacBook. Works well for me.

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

512 GB storage is insufficient for me for my primary machine. However, my MacBook is not my primary machine.

I have 1 TB SSD storage in my iMac, and 256 GB SSD storage in my MacBook. Works well for me.

That's awesome and very nice Eug The MacBook is my primary machine and i'd love a 1TB option Only so that I can keep iTunes films downloaded on it. Maybe that's not necessary.
Anyway, thank you over the last year for your 16GB of RAM advice & thoughts - it's been a real eye opener and i'll go for it, it Apple bring out a new 12" design next year. I sincerely hope that they keep 12" form factor size as to me, it's truly perfect. And I see a lot of people loving them.

MacBook 12" and iPhone SE seem to get a lot of love from their owners on this site!

 

[Mike Boreham]

512 GB storage is insufficient for me for my primary machine. However, my MacBook is not my primary machine.

I have 1 TB SSD storage in my iMac, and 256 GB SSD storage in my MacBook. Works well for me.

We all have different needs and I am the other way round, as I suspect many others are.

My iMac has a 256GB SSD, and my MacBook is 512GB. I don't mind using externals for the iMac, but I don't want externals hanging off the MacBook while I show photos or movies to relatives etc. In general I try to avoid connecting externals to a laptop while away from base if possible

I have strapped a couple of Samsung T5 SSDs to the back of my iMac, so I think of them and use them as permanently connected internal partitions. So I sort of have a 2TB SSD iMac