I currently have the i7 2.6/560X/512GB model. I have no experience using pocket SSDs but they seem like a good way to extend the capacity without paying Apple's stupid upgrade prices. The cheaper i7 should also mean less thermal throttling as well!
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2018 MBP 15 vs Dell XPS 15
- Thread starter Evolvme07
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I currently have the i7 2.6/560X/512GB model. I have no experience using pocket SSDs but they seem like a good way to extend the capacity without paying Apple's stupid upgrade prices. The cheaper i7 should also mean less thermal throttling as well!
That T5 will do well. I have purchased one after giving my T3 to my wife along with my 2016 MBP. Either model is very nice.
I had to jump through a little hoop to get the Samsung Software to launch on connect and see the drive though. I had to add the Samsung App under accessibility and reboot. Works as I wanted it to now
Yeah T5 seems to be popular choice for the external storage. Good idea to use the samsung software.
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I was checking out the same 2018 MBP mid model (i7 2.6/16gb/512/560x ) but it costs $400 more. I was thinking if i go MBP route than i put that money towards the apple care+ at the expense of lesser storage (256GB). I'm reading many post mentioning the base 2.2 runs quite and cooler than the 2.6 model.
AppleCare is definitely worth it in my opinion, especially if you rely on your machine quite significantly. One could argue that it's not as good as Dell's in-home repairs that you would get if you got a Precision, but these on-site services have often been subpar; Dell seem to send faulty parts pretty often (the technicians themselves are usually very knowledgeable, so it's not their fault).
I agree with you. I have all other apple products at home for all my devices i have taken apple care and its worth it.
I have the T3, and its been excellent, so I can only imagine the T5 being just as good.
Base model with a 512GB SSD. I needed more storage for windows and VM but the 512 is too small for my Lightroom library, so I have the T3
Well, I do have a XPS 15 9550 and a 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar. Prior to that, I had a 15-inch retina MacBook Pro.
What can I say? It really depends on what you really want. The MacBook Pro is a superior machine in terms of build quality. It has the quality details that you only notice after using for a while. Every MacBook I had was the best laptop I had up to that point. And after I bought the Dell, coming from the retina MacBook Pro, I regretted the decision in the first weeks, before getting used to it. A Mac is really great.
While the 4K screen on the Dell is gorgeous, the higher resolution does not make much difference. 2880x1800 is already a lot of pixels for this screen size. The screen on the MacBook Pro is brighter, has better color reproduction, and reflects less light (the Dell screen is annoying in this respect). I prefer the screen on the Mac, even though both are great.
Have in mind that the screen ratio on the MacBook Pro is 16:10 and the one in the Dell is 16:9. In 15-inch screens, I tend to prefer 16:9 as there is already good vertical space (on 13-inch screens I prefer 16:10). But this is a matter of personal preference.
There is a touch screen on the Dell and I barely use it. The Touch Bar on the Mac is also pretty useless, and it only serves the purpose of reducing battery life.
Sound is good on both, but the MacBook Pro is better.
I prefer the keyboard on the MacBook Pro and never had a problem with it. It feels rock solid. I had a problem in the Dell keyboard as some keys register two strokes. This repeat character keyboard is a recurring problem on the Dell, but it gets less attention than all the hype around problems on the Mac.
The trackpad on the MacBook Pro is better. The one in the Dell is good, but the trackpad on a Mac is just perfect.
The quality of materials on the Mac is really impressive. The Dell is good, but the Mac is really on another league.
And the Mac is thinner and lighter than the Dell, easier to carry around.
As for battery life, I cannot really say as both will be of a different generation with different components.
The MacBook Pro offers only USB-c ports, which is very annoying, since nothing uses those things and you have to keep carrying dongles around.
The Dell is certainly cheaper and offer better specs for the price.
By the way, if you want to run Windows alongside macOS (which would be wise since you are coming from Windows), you should choose at least a model with 512GB SSD if you buy a Mac. It is expensive, but required to accommodate two operating systems in one machine.
Remember, however, that user experience running Windows on a Mac is an inferior one. The trackpad works poorly and you would be better off with a mouse. The Dell machine is a better choice if you want to run Windows.
My advice: if you want to use macOS, or both macOS and Windows, and have the cash, buy a MacBook Pro, not the base option, but beef it up. It is an amazing machine.
If you don’t want to spend a lot, perhaps you should buy the Dell. If you are not sure if you would like macOS or not, perhaps you could buy a Mac Mini or something less expensive before forking more than USD 2,500 on a laptop.
I looked at the XPS yesterday and I personally did not like it. I like the ratio on the MBP better for the screen. I agree with all the other things you said about the differences. I was looking at one that was $2000 - I did not think it was worth it. I would rather have a MBP. I am waiting to see if there is going to be a new iMac....
Well, about the screen ratio, that is a matter of personal preference, as I said. I like the 16:10 screen ratio for smaller screens, but I think 16:9 fits very well on a 15.6-inch screen because I like to work with two applications opened side-by-side, so I appreciate the additional horizontal space.
But first you have to decide if you really want a Mac. If you really want to give the Mac a try, I would suggest you buy the Mac, but, as I said, with a 512 GB SSD at least to run Windows as well (you will regret getting less storage if you intend to run Windows alongside macOS, trust me).
If you want Windows but you like the build quality of a MacBook Pro, give others a try. The trackpad in the MacBook Pro is really bad for using Windows. Other models offer a better experience under Windows. I think the Surface Book is a great laptop, with very good materials, a great 3:2 screen (if you like having more vertical space), a great keyboard, and one of the best trackpads I have seen on Windows. I see only two problems in it. The screen does not seem to be that firm, as it is detachable. And the second is the price, it is expensive. Other than that, take a look at the HP Spectre, and the Samsung Series 9. Those are two fine pieces of hardware, and the unibody construction makes them look better than the XPS 15.
I don't know if I will want to run Windows - I really do NOT like windows. I have used linux a few times over the years - if I could have successfully used Photoshop in Linux, I would do it in a heartbeat and never look back. I don't play a lot of games on the computer. I am having fun with some that I got for my iphone recently.
I did check out several other high end windows laptops and really did not care for any that I saw and tried out in person. I had a really bad experience on a Surface.... It is why I have an iPad Pro now...
I did check out several other high end windows laptops and really did not care for any that I saw and tried out in person. I had a really bad experience on a Surface.... It is why I have an iPad Pro now...
I don't know if I will want to run Windows - I really do NOT like windows. I have used linux a few times over the years - if I could have successfully used Photoshop in Linux, I would do it in a heartbeat and never look back. I don't play a lot of games on the computer. I am having fun with some that I got for my iphone recently.
I did check out several other high end windows laptops and really did not care for any that I saw and tried out in person. I had a really bad experience on a Surface.... It is why I have an iPad Pro now...
If you do not like Windows, and do not need Windows, you may try something else, which could be a MacBook Pro. It is indeed a very nice laptop, but you have to be aware that macOS is great and very ergonomic to use, but not for everyone. Depending on the software you need to run, you may be better with Windows even not liking it.
If all you need is Photoshop and you don't play games, then a Mac may suit you. If you use a lot of Microsoft Office, there is a version available for the Mac, but the Windows version is way better. For browsing the Internet, it just does not matter, both should be fine (with a few differences; I do not think Netflix will run at 4K on a Mac, for instance).
Of the Windows laptops, it is really hard to find anything good. You should focus on the high-end if you wish something that can be compared to a Mac. The Surface that I mentioned was the Surface Book, which is a detachable laptop, and very different from the Surface Pro.
But if you are willing to give up Windows, then try a Mac.
I am giving a Macbook Pro a try - I thought I was getting a 2015, but it is a very slow 2008. Thankfully I can return it. I used it a bit today - but it was running hot and slow with a few browser windows open in Safari.
I did find myself wanting to touch the screen. But it was also hard to see on my desk tray. It is easier to type at this height, but harder to see the screen etc.
One of my instincts (options) is to use 2 Ipad Pro 12.9’s as my computer. I have the 2015 and want to get the new one. Then I could use them like I use the computer. With Adobe talking about releasing a full version of Photoshop next year for the iPad.... But since I can’t buy the iPad yet.... I need to find something. I gave my son my Asus desktop last night - he said it worked so much better for his games....
I did find myself wanting to touch the screen. But it was also hard to see on my desk tray. It is easier to type at this height, but harder to see the screen etc.
One of my instincts (options) is to use 2 Ipad Pro 12.9’s as my computer. I have the 2015 and want to get the new one. Then I could use them like I use the computer. With Adobe talking about releasing a full version of Photoshop next year for the iPad.... But since I can’t buy the iPad yet.... I need to find something. I gave my son my Asus desktop last night - he said it worked so much better for his games....
I am giving a Macbook Pro a try - I thought I was getting a 2015, but it is a very slow 2008. Thankfully I can return it. I used it a bit today - but it was running hot and slow with a few browser windows open in Safari.
I did find myself wanting to touch the screen. But it was also hard to see on my desk tray. It is easier to type at this height, but harder to see the screen etc.
One of my instincts (options) is to use 2 Ipad Pro 12.9’s as my computer. I have the 2015 and want to get the new one. Then I could use them like I use the computer. With Adobe talking about releasing a full version of Photoshop next year for the iPad.... But since I can’t buy the iPad yet.... I need to find something. I gave my son my Asus desktop last night - he said it worked so much better for his games....
A 2008 MacBook Pro is a 10-year old laptop. Which model did you get? Depending on the model, you can still use it.
I still have a 2008 white MacBook, with a Core 2 Duo processor. I put 4GB of RAM, and an SSD, and it runs at acceptable speed. The fans make a lot of noise, the screen is not good for today’s standards, and the trackpad does not work with touch, but the keyboard is still top-notch. But anyway it cannot run the most up-to-date modern web browsers, so even navigating the Internet is complicated. I am glad it works, though.
Anyway, if you plan to use it, check which version of macOS it runs. And put more RAM and an SSD to get some decent speeds.
I will speak for myself, but I could never have an iPad as my computer, not even the larger one. The keyboard is OK, although not great. The main problem is the lack of a pointing device. You get your fingers, and the Apple Pencil can do a lot, but they both lack the precision and the convenience of a mouse (or a trackpad). And the iPad support for multitasking is still crappy, despite the latest advancements.
This 2008 does have 8gb Ram and a 1TB Hybrid drive. It has El Capitan OSX. I am using Safari - what came on the computer. I have not downloaded anything. Since it was $600 including shipping - not worth what I got. Especially since it is running extremely slow and gets hot easily.
Which specific model did you get? 13”? 15”? Which processor? Dedicated graphics card?
MacBooks never shipped with a hybrid drive. If yours have one, then it was upgraded at some point.