'16/M3 and iPad Pro OR M5 and monitor

[davidmeta]

Hi all

I think I know the answer to this question, but just to confirm... With edu discount in the UK I can buy the base M3 rMB and an 9" iPad Pro 128 for just over £1400

For similar money I can get the M5 base and a decent external monitor, plus the hub to connect the iPad to, as well as USB drives etc. with a bit of cash left over from 1400 (total would be around £1350)

I think I'm gonna go with the former of these two options for the following reasons, do you agree?:

- iPad Pro can be used as external monitor using Duet, which I already own. This will also allow a dual screen format on the go, which cannot be achieved with an external monitor
- The extra storage on the iPad compensates for the lower 256gb on the M3 and I can make do with 256 + 128 in the former combo
- I can hook up soft synths (I own many) using the pro to the rMB with a larger screen than on my current retina iPad mini
- I love the idea of buying the Apple pencil once I can afford it in a month or so
- From what I've read here and elsewhere, I do not think the m5 is noticeably more powerful than the m3. Power hungry software is Ableton and Affinity Photo, which I think will be fine.

Hubs and Apple pencil can be bought at a later date, once I can afford them...

Thanks for reading

 

[SSD-GUY]

I honestly think, as this sounds like it is going to be your main rig, that you should go for at least a 13" rMBP.

Try and hold out till WWDC this June; Apple may be releasing lighter macbook pros which as we know, are already similarly priced to the rMB.

 

[KaliPaige]

In real world usage scenarios, you'd be hard pressed to notice the difference between the m3 and m5/m7. It's a very capable little processor even on the lower end.

It sounds like you're much more fascinated by the idea of having an iPad Pro, in which case I say go for it. A portable monitor sounds much more useful, especially if you can do so wirelessly which would keep that USB-C port free for peripherals.

 

[davidmeta]

I honestly think, as this sounds like it is going to be your main rig, that you should go for at least a 13" rMBP.

Try and hold out till WWDC this June; Apple may be releasing lighter macbook pros which as we know, are already similarly priced to the rMB.

I've been considering that, but even a current 13" MBA is significantly heavier and bigger than the rMacbook. The latter can be taken anywhere, most of the time - that aspect to it is very appealing = photography editing on the fly, much more often + music creation on the fly, much more often....
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In real world usage scenarios, you'd be hard pressed to notice the difference between the m3 and m5/m7. It's a very capable little processor even on the lower end.

It sounds like you're much more fascinated by the idea of having an iPad Pro, in which case I say go for it. A portable monitor sounds much more useful, especially if you can do so wirelessly which would keep that USB-C port free for peripherals.

Well Duet works via the lightening cable (at least I think that's correct; regardless, it will be the most stable connection). That can be achieved with a simple USB-C to A converter, about £8 on Amazon... Yes like the iPad Pro, it is immensely powerful too, played about with it in the AStore and it flies for creative software/games etc.