12" MacBook or 13" MacBook Pro 2017

[Abs_p]

To be honest, I am torn between both 12 and 13. I think the 12 would be nice, but I think the 13 would be nice as well. Pretty even really. If I get a 13 i'd prob splurge another 400 and get TB+16gb ram when a deal came out just because I wouldnt want the base model of the pro. As long as I get 5-6 years out of either i'd be happy. The pro should last longer due to specs alone but how bad are the fans on the MBP 13 with touchbar? I read there are two of them. Could be annoying.

Til I get hands on both of them I really cant say, whatever better deal comes along i'll prob snag up first. Yeah but deals will come along. I only use this laptop on my bed. I just move it from nightstand to my bed. So not sure how much the fan will run being on my comforter. I surf web while laying in bed at night/banking/facebook/macrumors etc.

Thank you for your replies. I am just a torn manchild on how to spend my money lol never owned a macbook and now torn between two awesome models. Deals will hit when new models released for sure. Also slightly hesitant about the new keyboard, keep reading people having them break unfortunately.

To be really honest, you dont need a $1000-1300 macbook if you are just planning on doing that.

 

[Legionnaire]

To be really honest, you dont need a $1000-1300 macbook if you are just planning on doing that.

You are completely right. Thats why I want to buy on a sale or refurbed.
I've had my chromebook 5-6 years.. just want a macbook, so I can be fully ingrained in the ecosystem. I want macOS and to be able to answer my imessages on pc, and all that jazz. If the macbook last half as good as my chromebook did i wont be let down. (this thing is like a 2950u processor with 2gb ram and 16gb ssd) but I still want a 256gb as a safety net.

The speakers on the MBP 13 at the store sounded awmazing. Do the macbook 12 speakers sound as good?

 

[Bart Kela]

Your usage case does not call for a MacBook Pro. In fact, everything you do can be accomplished very easily on a four-year old MacBook Air. Your usage case is quite mundane.

If you're loaded with cash, sure, go ahead and buy some swanky MacBook Pro.

The MacBook 12" speakers are passable, but nothing particularly noteworthy. If you want good audio from a MacBook buy a pair of decent headphones for $80-100.

 

[Moi Ici]

You are completely right. Thats why I want to buy on a sale or refurbed.
I've had my chromebook 5-6 years.. just want a macbook, so I can be fully ingrained in the ecosystem. I want macOS and to be able to answer my imessages on pc, and all that jazz. If the macbook last half as good as my chromebook did i wont be let down. (this thing is like a 2950u processor with 2gb ram and 16gb ssd) but I still want a 256gb as a safety net.

The speakers on the MBP 13 at the store sounded awmazing. Do the macbook 12 speakers sound as good?

I find the original MacBook (2015) speakers really quite good.
I’ve just ordered today from B&H, a returned 2017 MacBook i7 16GB 1.4/512GB for $1576, compared to $1949 new. No tax as I’m outside NY/NJ. I’m happy with that. Was thinking of going all out next year on a specked out 15” pro, but I really like the MacBook despite or because of its diminutive size. I’m hoping it’ll be quite a bit faster with the 16GB memory and processor. Not expecting blazing but a significant bump.

 

[Legionnaire]

I find the original MacBook (2015) speakers really quite good.
I’ve just ordered today from B&H, a returned 2017 MacBook i7 16GB 1.4/512GB for $1576, compared to $1949 new. No tax as I’m outside NY/NJ. I’m happy with that. Was thinking of going all out next year on a specked out 15” pro, but I really like the MacBook despite or because of its diminutive size. I’m hoping it’ll be quite a bit faster with the 16GB memory and processor. Not expecting blazing but a significant bump.

I' think I want a macbook pro 13 non touch bar 16/256gb. It should be fine for on my blanket since I dont do too intensive of task, I want the extra screen estate and power If I ever needed it.

Will the fan be blazing for regular web browsing etc?

 

[Moi Ici]

I' think I want a macbook pro 13 non touch bar 16/256gb. It should be fine for on my blanket since I dont do too intensive of task, I want the extra screen estate and power If I ever needed it.

Will the fan be blazing for regular web browsing etc?

Shouldn’t imagine so if it’s just mostly used for light tasks.

 

[Abs_p]

I' think I want a macbook pro 13 non touch bar 16/256gb. It should be fine for on my blanket since I dont do too intensive of task, I want the extra screen estate and power If I ever needed it.

Will the fan be blazing for regular web browsing etc?

Why spend so much for web browsing?

 

[Elise]

I'm going the other way. I have a 2015 retina MacBook but I will pass it onto my son who needs a laptop and I'll buy the base 2017 nTB MacBook pro for myself that's all I need really. My usage isn't that remarkable either, but I do game now and again. The rMB is great though, the portability is amazing and I love the keyboard.

 

[Dave245]

How would the 12” work for someone who edits videos? I have an iMac which I’ll be updating at some point. My main use case at the moment is as follows:

web browsing - 5 tabs open max
Video editing - mainly short 5-10 minute videos for YouTube
Word processing - I’m a writer so I do a LOT of typing on a daily basis
Multi tasking - videos playing while typing

I’ve been going back and forward between the 12” MacBook and the 13” MacBook Pro for a while now and I still can’t make up my mind. I’ve seen both in the Apple store and the 13” looks cool with the Touch Bar and the 12” MacBook looks very portable but not sure it will be able to edit my videos, plus it’s very close to my 12” iPad Pro.

 

[adam1080]

Well, I gotta say... my new MacBook is way faster and more powerful than I expected.

I haven't done much video editing yet, but with my GoPro and ski season starting up, I should be trying some soon. (have messed around with some 4k@60fps and was impressed with performance.)

Everything else I have thrown at it has been handled like a champ. Was onsite with a customer reviewing some process flow and documentation and was lightning fast. Was running a 1080p TV as an extended display with 8-10 word docs open, 3 excel sheets, maybe 10 safari tabs, google file stream, outlook, slack, xmind(which seems to be a power hungry monster..) and switching between multiple desktops and I'm sure some more.

While speed was never once an issue, my battery was sucked dry faster than I have seen so far with this machine. I feel like Xmind and Google File Share were some of the big culprits, plus the dongle driving the second display. Battery went from around 97% to 48% in about 3-ish hours, which seems twice as quick as I have seen so far. The week prior I used it multiple days for about 8-9 hour days and still had between 40-50% left each day.

I do have the 2017 1.4Ghz i7(yes I know... m7), with 16GB of RAM, so while other's testing seems to say that is a nominal difference from the base model, I can't say which works better. I'm guessing the RAM plays a bigger role in the volume of multitasking, but this thing is amazing.

I thought about the Pro, but didn't need a full-time, one quiver laptop. I got the MacBook cause of the portability, and also because I have an XPS 15 as backup and an iMac also. I don't see myself traveling much with my Dell anymore however. The MacBook is that good.

 

[GreenPea]

I have been reading and watching comparisons between the two for awhile. It seems like every time I make up my mind about one, I read something that sways me back to the other side! Argh!

I need a laptop because I travel about 4-5 times a year and definitely have to have my computer when I do.
I am a teacher and could definitely see myself bringing my laptop to school although I usually make do just fine with my iPad and the big clunky Windows laptop issued by the school that stays in my classroom. I walk to work so portability is somewhat of an issue, although I don't think either of these are particularly big or heavy.

At home I do basic things - Facebook, internet browsing, e-mail, etc. I will also use it for school work (Google Classroom and Drive, my grade book, lesson planning etc). Nothing particularly intensive I think, although I am known for keeping a lot of tabs open at one time especially when I am lesson planning.

I went to Best Buy and played with both. I ended up selecting the MacBook Pro 13" with 256GB storage. The Best Buy associate told me to try it out and if I wanted to I can come back and exchange for the 12" MacBook. The return period is extended to January so no rush right now, but I'd like to decide.

I know it sounds like a bad reason but I REALLY like the form factor of the 12" MacBook. It's so small and cute lol. I am seriously considering doing the switch but will I take a hit on performance given the above things that I do? I would hate to take back the Pro and switch to the MacBook just to then go back and have to switch again. They might stop letting me shop there if I do that lol.

Has anyone switched from the pro to the MacBook and are happy with their decision? Will it age well? The reviews I have read said it flies through most tasks, but will it still do that 2 years from now? I don't want to have to buy another laptop next year.

Any advice or stories are appreciated. Thanks!

Nicole

Here is one vote for the Macbook. I just sold my macbook Pro and am getting the Macbook.