Advice for Light User: 2018 Macbook Pro 15"

[Robdmb]

Hi,

Looking to assist someone purchase a 2018 Macbook Pro 15". They like the size of the 15" so want to stick with that model. The person is a light user, Microsoft Office, Internet, email, youtube/videos, maybe some casual picture browsing. Plan is to keep the computer for 5 years or so. Will upgrade to 512GB SSD regardless of which model is purchased.

With that in mind, does it make sense to purchase the base model 2.2GHZ and upgrade to the 512 SSD or does it just make sense to get the middle model 2.6GHZ which comes with 512 SSD standard and also a bit nicer graphics card? Seems like since the SSD is already upgraded may just make sense to go with middle model.

Lastly, I'm sure 16GB ram is probably fine but if the plan is to keep it for 5 years is there any utility to upgrading to 32GB or is it completely overkill for a light user.

Thanks.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Hi,

Looking to assist someone purchase a 2018 Macbook Pro 15". They like the size of the 15" so want to stick with that model. The person is a light user, Microsoft Office, Internet, email, youtube/videos, maybe some casual picture browsing. Plan is to keep the computer for 5 years or so. Will upgrade to 512GB SSD regardless of which model is purchased.

With that in mind, does it make sense to purchase the base model 2.2GHZ and upgrade to the 512 SSD or does it just make sense to get the middle model 2.6GHZ which comes with 512 SSD standard and also a bit nicer graphics card? Seems like since the SSD is already upgraded may just make sense to go with middle model.

Lastly, I'm sure 16GB ram is probably fine but if the plan is to keep it for 5 years is there any utility to upgrading to 32GB or is it completely overkill for a light user.

Thanks.

I went for the 2.6 16 512 model and am very happy. You never know what you may be doing in a few years so if you have the extra money . . . .

 

[Fishrrman]

They must be a "light user" with money, that's for sure.

There's no reason to get more than the base model with an upgraded drive.

That will do fine.

 

[Vazza]

Hi,

Looking to assist someone purchase a 2018 Macbook Pro 15". They like the size of the 15" so want to stick with that model. The person is a light user, Microsoft Office, Internet, email, youtube/videos, maybe some casual picture browsing. Plan is to keep the computer for 5 years or so. Will upgrade to 512GB SSD regardless of which model is purchased.

With that in mind, does it make sense to purchase the base model 2.2GHZ and upgrade to the 512 SSD or does it just make sense to get the middle model 2.6GHZ which comes with 512 SSD standard and also a bit nicer graphics card? Seems like since the SSD is already upgraded may just make sense to go with middle model.

Lastly, I'm sure 16GB ram is probably fine but if the plan is to keep it for 5 years is there any utility to upgrading to 32GB or is it completely overkill for a light user.

Thanks.

Just advise them to get the base and upgrade the SSD. None of the things they do even really need a MBP and I suspect they won’t in the future either (apologies if I’m being presumptuous)...as for RAM, 16GB is overkill as it is so 32GB is unnecessary.

Apple through their upgrade pricing, want people to rationalise getting the next spec up as it appears to be only a “little more” but it’s a bit of a fallacy imo as they’ll probably never use that extra power and won’t get the majority of the extra cost sunk into the laptop back if they ever decide to sell. The 560x is not even that great a card compared to what the equivalent Windows laptops have so unless you need that power now for specific applications, then it’s already kind of old hat and not particularly future proof. @DannEboE and @Thysanoptera have compared their laptops, which are both the base spec but one has the 560x and found that although there’s a 17-24% increase in graphics performance when doing benchmarks...that’s at the cost of a 22% hotter laptop. I’d suggest reading around the numerous threads on here about the 15” MBP options before making your own mind up though
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I went for the 2.6 16 512 model and am very happy. You never know what you may be doing in a few years so if you have the extra money . . . .

OP’s friend could have a big change of career I suppose

 

[jerryk]

I went with the 16gb memory/512 gb drive. It came per-configured with the 560 GPU. I don't do much graphics, but prefer not having a BTO system which can take longer to replace/repair in case of failure.

 

[Sterkenburg]

With that in mind, does it make sense to purchase the base model 2.2GHZ and upgrade to the 512 SSD or does it just make sense to get the middle model 2.6GHZ which comes with 512 SSD standard and also a bit nicer graphics card? Seems like since the SSD is already upgraded may just make sense to go with middle model.

Lastly, I'm sure 16GB ram is probably fine but if the plan is to keep it for 5 years is there any utility to upgrading to 32GB or is it completely overkill for a light user.
Thanks.

Stick with the base model. Even that configuration is already total overkill for the described usage, but Apple doesn't sell any mid or low-end 15" laptop, so if your friend wants that form factor the base 15" is the only sensible choice. The only reason I see to take the middle model would be to get a stock configuration instead of a BTO, but it's very hard to justify the price for a light user.

As for the RAM, 16 GB is not "probably fine", it is already twice as much as what he'd need. The only effect of a 32GB upgrade would be flushing another $400 down the drain.

 

[maflynn]

does it make sense to purchase the base model 2.2GHZ and upgrade to the 512 SSD or does it just make sense to get the middle model 2.6GHZ which comes with 512 SSD standard and also a bit nicer graphics card?

I use LR and own the 2.2, though I did upgrade the storage to 512. I opted to stick with the base model, instead of going to the mid-tier.

My thinking (especially with my experience with using a coffee lake based Razer laptop), that the 2.2 with the 550X may actually run cooler then the mid-tier and and that's been the case. Why spend more money when the usage does not require it?

 

[Mr. Dee]

I can understand users needs; they really just want a larger display MacBook Pro, unfortunately they don't offer one.

There is a market for a 15 inch MBP with discrete graphics, touch bar and maybe 16 GBs of RAM. I think it would be a popular seller within a price range of about $1500.

 

[Sterkenburg]

There is a market for a 15 inch MBP with discrete graphics, touch bar and maybe 16 GBs of RAM. I think it would be a popular seller within a price range of about $1500.

I agree, there's definitely a market for a laptop like that (I think you meant integrated graphics, possibly with the same CPU as the 13"), but Apple doesn't want to introduce one. The percentage of users who need the specs of the current 15" is, frankly speaking, small, and a base model like that would definitely cannibalize the sales of the higher-end configs. They clearly intend to keep the 15" a very premium option, so that if you are sold on the screen size you have no choice but to upgrade.

 

[deeddawg]

As for the RAM, 16 GB is not "probably fine", it is already twice as much as what he'd need. The only effect of a 32GB upgrade would be flushing another $400 down the drain.

Yes, 8GB RAM is just fine for "light use" even including a bit of Lightroom usage. Speaking from experience with my RMB12. 16GB is overkill though certainly provides some headroom in case the usage changes.

32GB RAM would be a complete waste of money for that person.

 

[jerryk]

Yes, 8GB RAM is just fine for "light use" even including a bit of Lightroom usage. Speaking from experience with my RMB12. 16GB is overkill though certainly provides some headroom in case the usage changes.

I think many 15" user use them for development and other tasks. After all they are standard issues at most companies in the Silicon Valley. And for those users 8GB would never cut it, or at least be acceptable

But, not matter what, I am sure Apple has done extensive research on the configurations that sell well and generate decent profit margins.

 

[deeddawg]

I think many 15" user use them for development and other tasks. After all they are standard issues at most companies in the Silicon Valley. And for those users 8GB would never cut it, or at least be acceptable

But, not matter what, I am sure Apple has done extensive research on the configurations that sell well and generate decent profit margins.

Yes... but I wasn't suggesting Apple should have an 8GB RAM option on the MBP15 so I'm not following.

I was simply illustrating that even 16GB RAM is plenty (if not overkill) for "light use" and to emphasize how much of a waste of money a 32GB upgrade would be for that particular user. In fact pretty much everything about the MBP15 is overkill for someone just doing basic web/office/email tasks. That's not the market Apple's targeting with that system though, as you mention. I'd really be inclined to suggest they find a used 2014/2015 model if the 15" screen size is the main thing they desire.

 

[Mr. Dee]

I agree, there's definitely a market for a laptop like that (I think you meant integrated graphics, possibly with the same CPU as the 13"), but Apple doesn't want to introduce one. The percentage of users who need the specs of the current 15" is, frankly speaking, small, and a base model like that would definitely cannibalize the sales of the higher-end configs. They clearly intend to keep the 15" a very premium option, so that if you are sold on the screen size you have no choice but to upgrade.

Yes, thats what I meant, my mind is so stuck on discrete graphics I don't think out my reply properly. I also mean 8 GBs on the RAM too, not 16 GBs. Not everyone needs 16 GBs if its purely a machine for web browser, word processor, email, light video editing. You just want a bigger nicer machine.