Hi everyone, I'm looking to buy a Macbook Pro but I am unsure about which model I actually need. I have a Mid 2010 MBP that's been on its deathbed since about late 2014, running on only a single, working RAM slot, constantly failing to boot after sleeping, freezing randomly, and making unsettling beeping noises. I will be needing a new computer very soon as I plan to be working on digital art projects, and taking classes that will probably require a laptop. It has to be a Mac, that is not even a consideration I am making. Unfortunately, I have been corrupted by the ease of use of the Mac OS for years now, and whenever I actually have to use a PC at school or work, I just want to hurl myself out the windows.
I know any Mac I choose will be able to handle basic things like Photoshop and Illustrator, but I am also wondering how compatible Macbook Pros are with 3D programs like Maya and ZBrush. Right now, I can't really tell with my current MBP, because everything, even something like MS Word runs so incredibly slow. When I run Maya and ZBrush on my dad's iMac, they are usable for the most part. But I also know that the desktops are better at processing such things compared to the laptops. I would normally go for something like a 27" iMac with upgradable RAM, but I also might be having classes in the future that require a laptop. So the next best thing I could go for would be a Macbook Pro...right? And so this is where I'm lost.
It's been like 7 years since I last had to buy a Macbook. Back then it was easy. I went in the store, asked for a Macbook Pro, told them I was student, and got $100 off and a free iPod to boot. While it did serve my purposes back then as a non-art, college student, it felt overpowered and started failing surprisingly early. Now I have to consider the specs of what I'm buying, and I don't know what I actually need. So, there are now 3 different models right? A 13" with a touchbar, 13" without a touchbar, and then a 15". I don't particularly care about getting a touchbar, but are there any advantages or disadvantages to each model that would pertain to my intended use for digital, and in particular, 3D art? And yeah I know, "Mac sux for 3D, get a PC," but since I'm not going to use the computer exclusively for art, I just want something that can handle the programs sufficiently. Doesn't have to be the greatest setup ever. Plus, I'm using an iPad Pro as my drawing tablet right now, and that doesn't work with Windows.
Currently, I only use Photoshop, Illustrator, Maya, and ZBrush on a normal basis, but in the future I plan to learn more 3D packages. I'm definitely not planning on making professional level work yet, just projects for practice or portfolio pieces. Does that mean I can get away with a base model and the lowest processing power? Or must I have at least the 4 core (?) processor available in the 15" models in order to run the software smoothly? It seems that all of the models can be upgraded to 16GB RAM so that's good, will be definitely getting that. As for the hard-drive, I don't care about having that much space...or should I care? Can't I just use an external drive? I also heard about the 13" model with no touch bar running hot for some people. I guess I can't have that if I need to run intensive 3D programs, or is it not a problem? Battery life is not really a concern for me...I usually use my laptop plugged in. I really want a 15" screen, but the price differential is jaw dropping. If I could get away with just a base model, I guess I could "afford" it. What's the ideal spec configurations I should be looking at? Or should I just scrap all this and go for a 27" iMac instead? Get a cheaper laptop or endure my current one in situations where I need a laptop for class? Apple Care or no Apple Care? I'm aiming for Black Friday 2017, or should I wait a bit longer? Is there any news of a new model coming out? There's so much I feel like I don't know, yet I'm making an important decision that involves a lot of money. So anyway, thanks for reading this word vomit. I hope I could get some opinions from some working artists too, but any help is appreciated!
I know any Mac I choose will be able to handle basic things like Photoshop and Illustrator, but I am also wondering how compatible Macbook Pros are with 3D programs like Maya and ZBrush. Right now, I can't really tell with my current MBP, because everything, even something like MS Word runs so incredibly slow. When I run Maya and ZBrush on my dad's iMac, they are usable for the most part. But I also know that the desktops are better at processing such things compared to the laptops. I would normally go for something like a 27" iMac with upgradable RAM, but I also might be having classes in the future that require a laptop. So the next best thing I could go for would be a Macbook Pro...right? And so this is where I'm lost.
It's been like 7 years since I last had to buy a Macbook. Back then it was easy. I went in the store, asked for a Macbook Pro, told them I was student, and got $100 off and a free iPod to boot. While it did serve my purposes back then as a non-art, college student, it felt overpowered and started failing surprisingly early. Now I have to consider the specs of what I'm buying, and I don't know what I actually need. So, there are now 3 different models right? A 13" with a touchbar, 13" without a touchbar, and then a 15". I don't particularly care about getting a touchbar, but are there any advantages or disadvantages to each model that would pertain to my intended use for digital, and in particular, 3D art? And yeah I know, "Mac sux for 3D, get a PC," but since I'm not going to use the computer exclusively for art, I just want something that can handle the programs sufficiently. Doesn't have to be the greatest setup ever. Plus, I'm using an iPad Pro as my drawing tablet right now, and that doesn't work with Windows.
Currently, I only use Photoshop, Illustrator, Maya, and ZBrush on a normal basis, but in the future I plan to learn more 3D packages. I'm definitely not planning on making professional level work yet, just projects for practice or portfolio pieces. Does that mean I can get away with a base model and the lowest processing power? Or must I have at least the 4 core (?) processor available in the 15" models in order to run the software smoothly? It seems that all of the models can be upgraded to 16GB RAM so that's good, will be definitely getting that. As for the hard-drive, I don't care about having that much space...or should I care? Can't I just use an external drive? I also heard about the 13" model with no touch bar running hot for some people. I guess I can't have that if I need to run intensive 3D programs, or is it not a problem? Battery life is not really a concern for me...I usually use my laptop plugged in. I really want a 15" screen, but the price differential is jaw dropping. If I could get away with just a base model, I guess I could "afford" it. What's the ideal spec configurations I should be looking at? Or should I just scrap all this and go for a 27" iMac instead? Get a cheaper laptop or endure my current one in situations where I need a laptop for class? Apple Care or no Apple Care? I'm aiming for Black Friday 2017, or should I wait a bit longer? Is there any news of a new model coming out? There's so much I feel like I don't know, yet I'm making an important decision that involves a lot of money. So anyway, thanks for reading this word vomit. I hope I could get some opinions from some working artists too, but any help is appreciated!