2018 15" MBP Purchase - Need your Help

[Evolvme07]

Hello Everyone,

I'm a new user on this forum. I decided to buy my first ever Apple Macbook Pro & switch from Windows PC. I would be using this Macbook for my daily uses. I will also be doing some light photo editing with Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC (not daily work) and some occasionally videos too. I'm just a photography enthusiast who loves to take pictures but not paid professional yet. I planned to keep this MBP for next 4-5 yrs.

I decided to get the 2018 15" Macbook Pro base model (i7 2.2/16GB/256GB/555X) and manage the storage outside using an external SSD.

1. Is the 15" MBP base model good enough for my needs ? Will i loose anything if i choose the base-model?
2. Do you think the 256GB storage is very less storage & will run out of space ?
3. Is the 15" MBP mid-model ((i7 2.6/16GB/512GB/560X) a better choice for performance because of better CPU, graphics card & higher storage?
4. Is it worth the extra $400 for the upgrade?

Thanks in advance for your time. I appreciate your help.

 

[Pimptastic]

I nearly bought the base model last week, then decided that i would upgrade the SSD to 512. I then realised it wasn't much more of a cost step to go for the top level configuration which already includes the 512 drive.

It is a lot of money though, but i plan on keeping this MacBook for 5+ years (ive just upgrade from a 2010 17" MacBook which i have had for 8 years).

If your planning on keeping it for a long period of time, i'd go for the max your budget will allow.

 

[Ploki]

I'd spend 600$ more and get either 1TB SSD or 512GB SSD + 32GB RAM.

Either way, the internal SSD is very fast, you will be hard pressed to find external storage as fast as the internal SSD is.

 

[LogicalApex]

The base model should be more than enough to meet the needs you described (though you'll know the intricate details of your needs more than I). The upgraded base model includes upgraded storage, graphics, and CPU. If you don't need all three of those you can likely come out cheaper bumping up one of those if you need to versus all three as a group.

I'm a fan of only buying how much tech you need today and not trying to buy for many many years in the future. Next years tech will always be faster and cheaper so might as well upgrade when you need to increase in performance.

I have the upgraded base, but you can see from the forums that there are a lot of discussions on the standard base being a better overall buy. You end up with a quieter machine with less throttling and long battery life.

 

[Ploki]

The upgraded base model includes upgraded RAM, graphics, and CPU.

No, RAM is still 16GB. Has more SSD tho.

Price of upgrades is the same if you do a BTO on the base model, you only basically get 2.6GHz for 100$.

 

[LogicalApex]

No, RAM is still 16GB. Has more SSD tho.

Price of upgrades is the same if you do a BTO on the base model, you only basically get 2.6GHz for 100$.

Yes, you're right thanks! Been a month or so since I shopped for mine so my aging mind (not that I'm old...) mixed up the 13" and 15" models when it comes to RAM in the standard base. Corrected it to storage as it should have been.

 

[Evolvme07]

The base model should be more than enough to meet the needs you described (though you'll know the intricate details of your needs more than I). The upgraded base model includes upgraded storage, graphics, and CPU. If you don't need all three of those you can likely come out cheaper bumping up one of those if you need to versus all three as a group.

I'm a fan of only buying how much tech you need today and not trying to buy for many many years in the future. Next years tech will always be faster and cheaper so might as well upgrade when you need to increase in performance.

I have the upgraded base, but you can see from the forums that there are a lot of discussions on the standard base being a better overall buy. You end up with a quieter machine with less throttling and long battery life.

Yes.. People here in this forum have mentioned that the base model with i7 2.2 runs quieter. Hence i decided to save some money to go base-model. The only downside of this which I'm thinking is the 256GB storage.
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I'd spend 600$ more and get either 1TB SSD or 512GB SSD + 32GB RAM.

Either way, the internal SSD is very fast, you will be hard pressed to find external storage as fast as the internal SSD is.

Thanks for your reply. while its the best upgrade what you suggested but its getting expensive. I was planning to keep my budget below $2500. I was thinking of putting the money saved going base model towards getting the apple care+ for the MBP. I can stretch my budget and go for the mid-model i7 2.6/16GB/512GB/560X if that's the overall best configuration for an additional $400 more.
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I nearly bought the base model last week, then decided that i would upgrade the SSD to 512. I then realised it wasn't much more of a cost step to go for the top level configuration which already includes the 512 drive.

It is a lot of money though, but i plan on keeping this MacBook for 5+ years (ive just upgrade from a 2010 17" MacBook which i have had for 8 years).

If your planning on keeping it for a long period of time, i'd go for the max your budget will allow.

Yes I agree with your points. I'm having the same thoughts as you pointed out.