13” MacBook Pro

[Timmy D]

hello. I am about to purchase a 13” MacBook Pro with touchbar. My question is should I purchase a base model 2018 13” with quad core or a base model 2017 with dual but 16gb of RAM?
[doublepost=1536813905][/doublepost]I’ll will Mostly be using it to write

 

[Ma2k5]

2018 for the improved keyboard alone.

 

[1096bimu]

You should get a 2017 model without Touch Bar

 

[Ma2k5]

You should get a 2017 model without Touch Bar

Has both the old processor and the old keyboard, for what is a very high price comparative to the 2018 touch-bar models. Ironically I had that an nTB MacBook Pro only to return it due to keyboard issues.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"I’ll will Mostly be using it to write"

8gb of RAM will be "all that you need".

As others have mentioned, you can pick up the 2017 13" (non-touchbar) MBPro for less $$$$.
It has the older keyboard, but that keyboard is now covered by a FOUR YEAR replacement program. And... if the keyboard needs replacement, you automatically get a new battery along with it.

 

[Ma2k5]

OP wrote:
"I’ll will Mostly be using it to write"

8gb of RAM will be "all that you need".

As others have mentioned, you can pick up the 2017 13" (non-touchbar) MBPro for less $$$$.
It has the older keyboard, but that keyboard is now covered by a FOUR YEAR replacement program. And... if the keyboard needs replacement, you automatically get a new battery along with it.

Sure you are covered by the replacement programme, but if you look at other peoples experience with that, it isn't great. Some users have had to do it several times too.

Besides, a 256GB nTB is too expensive for what it is now compared to a 256GB TB 8th gen, especially with potentially a new model coming around next month with the newer 8th gen CPU's.

 

[Howard2k]

If you have to buy today, I'd get the 2018.

I would not buy the nTB today, or the 2017.

If you can wait for a few weeks to see if the newer 13" falls out of the trees, I would do that.

 

[Smeaton1724]

Sure you are covered by the replacement programme, but if you look at other peoples experience with that, it isn't great. Some users have had to do it several times too.

Besides, a 256GB nTB is too expensive for what it is now compared to a 256GB TB 8th gen, especially with potentially a new model coming around next month with the newer 8th gen CPU's.

Could go the refurbished route and save? As an example the difference in UK pricing between an 8th Gen Quad Core is £1749 versus £1229 for a 7th Gen Dual Core. Both have 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD. 16GB RAM ones appear online most days.

 

[Ma2k5]

Could go the refurbished route and save? As an example the difference in UK pricing between an 8th Gen Quad Core is £1749 versus £1229 for a 7th Gen Dual Core. Both have 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD. 16GB RAM ones appear online most days.

I don't know if comparing brand new price vs refurbished is fair as refurbished is marked down 15%. Also there is nothing to suggest what the OP's priority/budget is. Personally, after experiencing the horror the keyboard is, I wouldn't have considered it at £1229 brand new, let alone refurbished.

The best option is likely to be the rumoured new MacBook Air in my opinion, it is just a question of when it lands.

 

[sosumi99]

If you can wait for a few weeks to see if the newer 13" falls out of the trees, I would do that.

This. I make my living writing, and the 12 inch MacBook is ideal (except for the awful keyboard). I don't think you need the performance of a MBP in any form, so I'd wait for the rumored new 13" Air/MB successor.