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What you use your MacBook Pro is the main determinant whether it's a good buy for you

im looking at it from a value standpoint.

If there was a line graph, where would value and price intersect? (obviously hypothetically speaking)
 
For me it is more a function of disk space needed than CPU/GPU. I always want 512GB or more, so would go with the model with that and consider the CPU/GPU upgrade a bonus.

Remember to the only to upgrade the system with a credit card, so choose wisely.
 
It very much depends on your use for it. My use (in terms of software I run) consists mostly of a memory-heavy IDE (runs on the JVM), somewhere between 1 and 10 VMs, a bunch of Terminal tabs, and a handful of Safari tabs.

I needed a "stop-gap" solution when my ageing MBP17 started eating fans at a rate of 2 a year, about a month or 6 weeks before the 2018 event where the Mac mini was released (I was expecting an updated iMac, and planned to get one).

So I bought an off-the-shelf base unit (6-core i7, 16GB, 256GB), knowing it would be my primary driver for a short time, and then later would become a "spare" (if the desktop is unusable due to fault/upgrades/etc) and "travel" machine.

In this scenario I already knew that I'd be using an external SSD (so I can take my work from the desktop to the laptop with zero fuss) so the space was not a huge issue for me.

If it was my daily use machine, I'd definitely have maxed out the RAM and probably upgraded storage to 512GB.
 
It is a pretty big jump from the base to the new 8 core. That’s why I am thinking the base is the better value unless you need the 512gb.
 
im looking at it from a value standpoint.

If there was a line graph, where would value and price intersect? (obviously hypothetically speaking)

I think the 15" is probably the best value MBP.

As others have said, its maybe a bit light on disk and you might not want a 15" screen.
 
I have the base 2019 15" model

6core/2.6/16/256

Great computer. Bit heavy and big to lug around tbh. But that 15" screen is the trade off, and I really like the bigger screen.

Don't feel like I need an external monitor. This is kind of like my "desktop" AND my laptop both all in one, if you know what I mean.
 
im looking at it from a value standpoint.

If there was a line graph, where would value and price intersect? (obviously hypothetically speaking)
Well it’s a bad value if u don’t use the horse power.

So without giving ur use case it’s a pointless question
 
Well it’s a bad value if u don’t use the horse power.

So without giving ur use case it’s a pointless question

unless you need a bigger screen. I don't use the horse power but the screen makes it worth it tbh bc I am enjoying the more screen real estate
 
unless you need a bigger screen. I don't use the horse power but the screen makes it worth it tbh bc I am enjoying the more screen real estate
Yes u r right. I was replying to the question of upgrading the CPU GPU.
I need a 14” MB :)
 
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