Best Mac for me

[FlyingHighNow]

Newb here.

I'm looking to get a new MacBook Pro. I would be coming from a 2010 15" MacBook Pro (500 GB HDD, 4 GB RAM, CD drive). My daily uses include Safari web browsing, videos, pictures, iTunes synching with iPhone X, Music streaming on Apple Music and Youtube, Netflix. The occasional use includes Microsoft Office: Word, Excel and Powerpoint. Possible future use includes GoPro video. As you can see my current set-up, I tend to hold onto my MacBook Pro for a long time and wish to continue that trend (5-8 years).

I checked out the MacBook Pros at the Apple Store, yet, I am still stumped on what MacBook Pro I would like to get.

Will I miss the 15" screen estate if I moved to a 13" MacBook Pro?
Is the 2015 15" the best value for my uses? Or
Is the latest and greatest the best value for my uses?
Is the new keyboard difficult to get used to?
Despite my current set-up beach balling and slowing down whenever it wants, something better coming in 2018 and better to wait?

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

If you're not desperate for a new machine right now then by all means wait. Newer one's will probably come out in 2018, newer still in 2019 etc...

For your use literally anything would do the job, even an Air. So just get whichever one you want really. Moving from a 15" to a 13" will be noticeable at first, but you won't notice it after a few weeks of use. Keyboard took me 3 minutes to get used to, now I can't type on the old mushy ones (You will hear plenty of opposite though, that's a can of worms).

The 2015 15" would be ample for you, so it all just depends on what you want to spend. Do you like the new one's? If so then get one, if you're hesitant then get a 2015. Apple make a lot of different laptops at different spec points for different users, if you don't need the newest but prefer the older design then get a 2015 for instance.

 

[mvtm]

From what i've read, you certainly don't have the need to get a 15". I'd say go for the 13" it will offer portability, anything you would need of the 15" less the dedicated graphics GPU. I may even recommend you a Macbook 12"....if you are willing to downside that much screen real state.

Overall, despite all the available options i think a 2017 13" MBP would be the best for you because it provides more value than the 12", it will "future proof" better than the road, has recently been updated unlike the 12" that could have a TB redesign in few years to come and it's just a better cohesive package between power and portability. Really if you don't plan running intensive applications i would stay away from the 15".

And i'm saying this as a person who will buy a 15" but it is because i need those 4GB GPU to even try to run apps like Flame, Nuke or Maya. So i have no choice, if i could get a dedicated graphics on the 13" i would go for that one. The 13" MBP model is also the most popular and as this you may find better discounts. With 1,500-1,800 you can get a nice 13" MBP that would last you a bit.

I would go with the higher processor i can afford, up 8GB ram to 16. And consider only 256 or 512GB. If you get the 256GB i think i would set aside some cash to buy a Samsung T5 SSD as an external drive. I use around 128GB storage because i don't like to keep much data on my pc's but 256GB may be just and cramped for some. But either storage, would be a nice choice if you are sure about how your storage needs will be.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Newb here.

I'm looking to get a new MacBook Pro. I would be coming from a 2010 15" MacBook Pro (500 GB HDD, 4 GB RAM, CD drive). My daily uses include Safari web browsing, videos, pictures, iTunes synching with iPhone X, Music streaming on Apple Music and Youtube, Netflix. The occasional use includes Microsoft Office: Word, Excel and Powerpoint. Possible future use includes GoPro video. As you can see my current set-up, I tend to hold onto my MacBook Pro for a long time and wish to continue that trend (5-8 years).

I checked out the MacBook Pros at the Apple Store, yet, I am still stumped on what MacBook Pro I would like to get.

Will I miss the 15" screen estate if I moved to a 13" MacBook Pro?
Is the 2015 15" the best value for my uses? Or
Is the latest and greatest the best value for my uses?
Is the new keyboard difficult to get used to?
Despite my current set-up beach balling and slowing down whenever it wants, something better coming in 2018 and better to wait?

Well if its beach balling and slowing that is bothering you, its probably a dying hard drive, you could just open up that old 2010 and throw in an ssd and it'll probably give you a couple more years of service. If you are going 4K Go pro that machine will struggle but it should do okay with 1080p go pro editing.

 

[Macalicious2011]

The best thing is to have a through deliberation about how much video editing you will do in the future and how important portability is for you.

If you use the laptop on the go e.g cafes and meetings to meetings then the 13th inch will go.
If you rarely take the laptop out of the house then go 15 and enjoy the larger screen size and spec bump.

While deciding I echo what @Samuelsan2001 recommendation to get an SSD. It will breath new life into your existing laptop while you wait to see what next year's models offer.

 

[Fishrrman]

Put an SSD into the 2010 MacBook.
Don't wait...DO THIS!

It will revive the computer and make it much faster.

Cheap and easy to do -- USE THE RIGHT TOOLS.
Go to ifixit.com to see what's involved.

DON'T waste your money on "the fastest" SSD -- ANY one will due (the 2010 MBPro has a slower SATA bus, and ALL SSD's will "run the same").
I'd suggest a Sandisk Plus or Crucial.

 

[MacInTO]

Put an SSD into the 2010 MacBook.
Don't wait...DO THIS!

It will revive the computer and make it much faster.

Cheap and easy to do -- USE THE RIGHT TOOLS.
Go to ifixit.com to see what's involved.

DON'T waste your money on "the fastest" SSD -- ANY one will due (the 2010 MBPro has a slower SATA bus, and ALL SSD's will "run the same").
I'd suggest a Sandisk Plus or Crucial.

+1 on this advice.

I'm currently using a 2012 15" cMBP with a 1TB SSD installed. I do everything that you do plus use aperture and photoshop and it is more than fast enough.

 

[FlyingHighNow]

How does silver look on the new MacBook Pros? Is it the same as the past MacBook Pros? I have only seen Space Grey.

 

[edenwaith]

Newb here.

1. Will I miss the 15" screen estate if I moved to a 13" MacBook Pro?
2. Is the 2015 15" the best value for my uses? Or
3. Is the latest and greatest the best value for my uses?
4. Is the new keyboard difficult to get used to?
5. Despite my current set-up beach balling and slowing down whenever it wants, something better coming in 2018 and better to wait?

1. If you are doing any type of work which requires extra screen space (such as Photoshop or Xcode), then you'll want the extra space. Or if you have a lot of windows open all at once, then a 15" is nice. If you have an external monitor you use, then a 13" is fine.
2. When I had to get a new laptop for work, I heavily considered getting the previous generation 15" MBP. One of the biggest reasons is due to the keyboard and older port compatibility.
3. Probably not, but if you are looking forward to the future, then you might want to "future-proof" your purchase with the latest, especially since the latest Macs are now coming equipped with USB-C. It's somewhat limited with native peripherals right now, but we'll see a lot more USB-C items in the future, and less and less USB-A items.
4. Personally, I HATE the new keyboard. I've found it is not very tactile and my accuracy goes way down when typing on the new keyboards. Fortunately, I tend to use an external keyboard, but if I'm carrying the laptop to a meeting or conference, I don't have that luxury.
5. There will always be something new. The MBP were just refreshed this summer, so buying now would not be a bad investment.

I would also recommend getting a computer with at least 512GB of SSD, otherwise you'll be going down from what you currently have. The speed is great, but SSDs are still pricy.

 

[Miltz]

Newb here.

I'm looking to get a new MacBook Pro. I would be coming from a 2010 15" MacBook Pro (500 GB HDD, 4 GB RAM, CD drive). My daily uses include Safari web browsing, videos, pictures, iTunes synching with iPhone X, Music streaming on Apple Music and Youtube, Netflix. The occasional use includes Microsoft Office: Word, Excel and Powerpoint. Possible future use includes GoPro video. As you can see my current set-up, I tend to hold onto my MacBook Pro for a long time and wish to continue that trend (5-8 years).

I checked out the MacBook Pros at the Apple Store, yet, I am still stumped on what MacBook Pro I would like to get.

Will I miss the 15" screen estate if I moved to a 13" MacBook Pro?
Is the 2015 15" the best value for my uses? Or
Is the latest and greatest the best value for my uses?
Is the new keyboard difficult to get used to?
Despite my current set-up beach balling and slowing down whenever it wants, something better coming in 2018 and better to wait?

I’ve seen some amazing deals on the 2016 15 inch models that will fill your needs. Look into those.

 

[canuckRus]

Newb here.

I'm looking to get a new MacBook Pro. I would be coming from a 2010 15" MacBook Pro (500 GB HDD, 4 GB RAM, CD drive). My daily uses include Safari web browsing, videos, pictures, iTunes synching with iPhone X, Music streaming on Apple Music and Youtube, Netflix. The occasional use includes Microsoft Office: Word, Excel and Powerpoint. Possible future use includes GoPro video. As you can see my current set-up, I tend to hold onto my MacBook Pro for a long time and wish to continue that trend (5-8 years).

I checked out the MacBook Pros at the Apple Store, yet, I am still stumped on what MacBook Pro I would like to get.

Will I miss the 15" screen estate if I moved to a 13" MacBook Pro?
Is the 2015 15" the best value for my uses? Or
Is the latest and greatest the best value for my uses?
Is the new keyboard difficult to get used to?
Despite my current set-up beach balling and slowing down whenever it wants, something better coming in 2018 and better to wait?

You will be waiting forever. There is ALWAYS something better in development.

 

[FlyingHighNow]

I ended up ordering a 2017 15" MacBook Pro silver colored. However, upon opening the lid, I found a small but noticeable scratch right out of the box. The scratch is at the bottom of the right speaker. I have not set up the new MacBook Pro since I saw the scratch. I just opened it as I didn't have time to open it for a week. I've had it since delivered December 4.

Can I return this to a local Apple Store and exchange it? I'm worried that they won't have the BTO silver one I ordered.

This is infuriating as I was excited to get a new computer for the first time in 8+ years.

 

[jerryk]

I ended up ordering a 2017 15" MacBook Pro silver colored. However, upon opening the lid, I found a small but noticeable scratch right out of the box. The scratch is at the bottom of the right speaker. I have not set up the new MacBook Pro since I saw the scratch. I just opened it as I didn't have time to open it for a week. I've had it since delivered December 4.

Can I return this to a local Apple Store and exchange it? I'm worried that they won't have the BTO silver one I ordered.

This is infuriating as I was excited to get a new computer for the first time in 8+ years.

You can return it locally, but as you suspect they likely will not have your configuration.

BTW, the scratch under the speaker is pretty common. You can do a search and see other examples.

 

[Sterkenburg]

I ended up ordering a 2017 15" MacBook Pro silver colored. However, upon opening the lid, I found a small but noticeable scratch right out of the box. The scratch is at the bottom of the right speaker. I have not set up the new MacBook Pro since I saw the scratch. I just opened it as I didn't have time to open it for a week. I've had it since delivered December 4.

Can I return this to a local Apple Store and exchange it? I'm worried that they won't have the BTO silver one I ordered.

This is infuriating as I was excited to get a new computer for the first time in 8+ years.

Unfortunately, this seems to be a common QC problem. I haven't personally seen it but there are many reports of this issue. Obviously you are entitled to an exchange, but might have to wait if it's a BTO model.

Contact the nearest Apple Store, and if they estimate a long waiting time ask whether you can keep the machine you have until the replacement arrives (I did the same when I had to replace my 2016 MBP explaining that I absolutely needed it for work, and they let me use it until they finally delivered the new one).

 

[jimbolic]

I placed an order last week for a 15 in MBP, my first pro machine ever. I can't wait for it to arrive at my doorstep!