2018 MBP 15 Inch To Use As My Only Computer

[beeinformed]

Hi,

I currently have the 2016 13 inch NTB notebook and a 2012 27 inch IMac computer. I am considering purchasing a 2018 MBP 15 inch base model to use as my only computer because of the added screen space (compared to the 13 inch model) + the beautiful retina screen (haven’t used my 27 inch Imac for a while as I have a serious glare issue from an eye disorder) & the CPU power.

Does anyone use the 15 inch MBP as your only computer? Thanks!

 

[MBAir2010]

if you purchase a brand spanking new macbook pro 2018, if you could go to n actual apple store to test drive your brand spanking new macbook pro at their facility to make sure the computer is not a lemon. spend least abhor there, IF something goes wrong with that brand spanking new macbook pro, someone can witness the wrongness and proceed accordingly.

my macbook air was my only computer from 2010 to 2014 and primary used every day

 

[poorcody]

Sure, I do, a lot of people do... nice thing with the latest Pro's is you can hook-up all the external stuff you want without much limitation thanks to the four TB-3 ports. And the new six-cores really outperforms most iMacs now anyway.

 

[Sterkenburg]

Yes, I do and despite some design quirks I think it’s the perfect solution for me. Great balance between power and portability, allows me to be mobile while retaining the option to dock it when the situation calls for desktop peripherals. The expandability given by the four TB3 ports is great once you learn how to exploit it.

Performance-wise, the only (relatively) weak part is the dGPU, but I have no use for an AMD card more powerful than the 560X on a laptop. As for the rest, with a 6-core CPU, 32GB of RAM and the fastest SSD on the market there isn’t much more I could ask for.

 

[maflynn]

Does anyone use the 15 inch MBP as your only computer? Thanks!

I do, I have it hooked up to an old Apple Cinema Display. I also have an iMac, which is a fine machine, but its transitioning over to a family computer and the MBP will be my sole machine.

 

[MBAir2010]

Dexter Morgan had the same macbook for 8 seasons, and he never turned the thing off once!
besides the work computer, that was all he used.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I use iMacs at the office and house along with iPads for the Internet. My laptop is mainly to use as a backup for the company. With that said, if I could only have one device it would be the 15" MBP.

 

[dannyar]

I sold my 2014 imac 5k and purchased a 15"mbp to replace it as my main machine and portable work laptop. It was the best move for me since the 15" will outperform the imac and instead of spending money on a cheaper laptop for work I took the funds from the imac sale and used it to make the MBP my all encompassing device to take care of home and work and remove the need to own 2 devices. I have a 32" LG 4k monitor at home that I dock to when needed.

 

[littlepud]

I have been using a 15” MBP as a desktop replacement for the last 5 years and it’s great.

Even though I rarely leave the house with it, being able to take the machine from the desk to the couch to the bedroom is great.

For expandability, definitely get a TB3 dock (especially one than can provide 90W charging such as the Elgato or Belkin ones) and use an external monitor / keyboard.

 

[SBruv]

I sold my 2015 27" iMac and 2016 MBP to pay for the 13" 2018 MBP (and LG Ultrafine 4K) that's now my only computer. No regrets so far!

 

[cdcastillo]

I use a 13" MBP as my sole machine. I have used a 12" or 13" mac laptop as my only computer since at least 2001, and in only in the last 5-6 years have used it docked with an external monitor.

I do not need anything else.

 

[Saturn1217]

I think this is fairly common. I know all the engineers where I work use 15" MacBook Pros as our sole work computers (mostly web dev and some machine learning work). I hook mine up to 2 monitors when I am at the office and use either alone or with external monitors at home. I would never work from 2 computers (laptop/desktop) unless I had no other choice to be honest.

 

[beeinformed]

Thanks everyone for your great advice and feedback!

I would also appreciate some suggestions for an inexpensive monitor & docking device.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[ficktjuv]

Yes I have the 2018 15" (2.6) as my main. Although I have a windows desktop for gaming but that does not count since I use the Mac for productive tasks .
For me it's perfect. But I'm thinking of getting a external monitor about 24" just to get more space when working with large spreadsheets and stuff but for now then 15 fulfills all my purposes.

 

[AppleHaterLover]

Yes. In my experience, using a laptop as your desktop gets on your nerves.

Laptops on a table work occasionally for meetings, airports, working from home etc. Daily stuff requires a keyboard, mouse and separate display.

 

[Clix Pix]

Although not my sole machine, my 2015 15" MBP has been serving me very well as my primary workhorse for the past three years. She rests on a stand with a BT external keyboard and a BT mouse that work with her; I have not felt the need in the past to get an external monitor as well, but that may change as time goes on. In any event, the plan is that I am going to eventually be replacing her with a 2018 15" MBP which I expect will continue to serve in the same role......

 

[SDColorado]

My wife uses a 15” MBP with wireless keyboard and mouse as her sole computer.

I am selling off a 2013 13”, 2011 17” and 2015 iMac and going with a 15” MBP and external monitor solution.

 

[IngerMan]

Since 2007 I have had 2 iMacs and 5 Apple laptops. Always having desktop and laptop. I thought of going laptop only with an area setup for external monitor, maybe a few years down the road because the current cost of selling a 2015 iMac would equal the cost of new 4K monitor setup. Also I am not sure how inviting it would be sitting at the kitchen table or recliner and decide I need to go to the other room for more relestate and setup the laptop there. The difference is I have to take the laptop with me plug it in start up and remove and bring it back. VS walk to the other room hit the key on the keyboard and begin, finish walk back to the recliner.

The current eco system iCloud for laptop and desktop is seamless. Its like they are one in the same.

Doesn't mean I wont go there, Just not for a while. Not as long as that 2015 iMac keeps producing.

 

[yukari]

Since 2006 I've used only one laptop (at a time) as the only computer. I don't see a need for a desktop as I can easily hook up a monitor for every day use and take the laptop with me when I am traveling. It also avoids having to download the needed documents on to a laptop as it is the only one that I use.