Choosing the right MacBook & External Display

[evrard]

So basically I have been in hell trying to pick the right combination of macbook and external display. I am a PhD neuroscientist student so I do a lot of coding, data analysis, reading, and writing on the computer. In this way, power is important. I also travel often from the lab to the library, and even to various coffee shops. In this way, portability is important.

I have listed some ideas I have had in both but feel free to suggest something else. Especially in terms of external display.

Computer
12'' Retina Macbook Air - $1400?
13'' rMBP (Base) - $1400
13'' rMBP (Upgraded to 16GB Ram) - $1600
13'' rMBP (Upgraded to 16GB Ram & 3.0 Hz i7) - $1900
15'' rMBP - $2100

External Monitor Ideally I'd like it to look as good as the retina display
28'' 4K Samsung Monitor (UD590) - $500
40'' 4K LG TV (40UB8000) - $600

This TV only supports 4 2 0 Chroma​

Other monitor?
Other HDTV?

 

[Meister]

The retina mba doesn't exist.
The 13" rmbp only supports 50Hz for 4k.

For your usage and maximum portability I recommend a base mba and a TB display as external. You'll save yourself a lot of $$$.

In either case stay away from the cpu and RAM upgrades, since they make no snse in your case.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

If you want 4K.......

So basically I have been in hell trying to pick the right combination of macbook and external display. I am a PhD neuroscientist student so I do a lot of coding, data analysis, reading, and writing on the computer. In this way, power is important. I also travel often from the lab to the library, and even to various coffee shops. In this way, portability is important.

I have listed some ideas I have had in both but feel free to suggest something else. Especially in terms of external display.

Computer
12'' Retina Macbook Air - $1400?
13'' rMBP (Base) - $1400
13'' rMBP (Upgraded to 16GB Ram) - $1600
13'' rMBP (Upgraded to 16GB Ram & 3.0 Hz i7) - $1900
15'' rMBP - $2100

External Monitor Ideally I'd like it to look as good as the retina display
28'' 4K Samsung Monitor (UD590) - $500
40'' 4K LG TV (40UB8000) - $600

This TV only supports 4 2 0 Chroma​

Other monitor?
Other HDTV?

Then the 15 inch is the only way to go for top notch 4K output.

If you can wait for the next refresh I think you'll find that all the new macbooks will support 4K a little better. The Iris 6100 on broadwell supports up to 3 screens at a max of 3840 x 2160 over Display port 1.2 (TB) @ 60Hz so the next batch of 13 inchers should be better for you than the current haswell offering...