Convince me to get the 2016 rather than saving hundreds with the 2015.

[Sethaniel]

In a previous thread I made I was completely planning to order the 2016 once the reviews came out (link below), but since then I've gotten some seriously cold feet...

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...capable-new-mbp-for-music-production.2010387/

I'm a student and novice music producer but am picking up speed with my music. I need a computer that will last at least 5 years. Upon, request in the past thread, I work with about 20 virtual instrument tracks *usually* (would like to handle more). I also would like it to be able to do some light gaming, like mostly some cheap steam games.

I came to the conclusion that I'd get the 2.6/512/460 15". But now that I'm thinking about just how expensive even that low config would be I'm starting to wonder if I should consider a 2015 15". I'd get for sure 1TB, but past that I'm not sure the processor or if the dGPU is safe (I've heard it degrades quick). The prices just from some retailers would save me hundreds! And I've heard that it's over a thousand in savings on places like eBay (I'm not sure how they found those $1800 or lower 15"s).

So, is the new MBP really worth that hefty price tag? Because it's not like I can't afford the new one, but it'd be hard to see so much money go into this thing if it weren't vastly superior to the year old model. Thank you in advance for any and all input!

 

[motime]

Dude just get the 2015 high end model and use it for a year or 2. Sell it and get a new model when Apple actually releases a worthwhile upgrade. Last years 15 inch will retain it's value quite well over the next couple of years. The new ones will depreciate more relatively speaking due to the insane price hike.

I mean you can get a fully specced out 15 inch from last year with extended Apple care for a fraction of the cost of the new ones and you still get to enjoy great hardware and Mac OS all the same.

 

[monkeydax]

If you think you can afford one, get it for the better screen, speakers, newer processors and battery life. If you don't think that's worth the money, just give it pass. That's about it! Of course..factor in the need for dongles with the new MBP.

 

[Ethosik]

If you think you can afford one, get it for the better screen, speakers, newer processors and battery life. If you don't think that's worth the money, just give it pass. That's about it! Of course..factor in the need for dongles with the new MBP.

Also TB3 and 3GB/s SSD. And 15" supports two 5K displays!

 

[cerberusss]

They're both fantastic machines.

That said, you're a student. Once I was a student, and I always kept my student debt pretty low. Within two years, I had paid off all debts and bought a house. Then started paying that off slowly. I've paid off a third of my current house now.

Being frugal has a lot of advantages. I'd take the 2015 model.

In the future, use that machine to earn money. Then get the top model.

 

[maclaw21]

Just get the new one. You're already planning on this thing lasting 5 years, so if you can afford it, why not get the new one now? Remember that last year's 15" has an even older processor than the 13", so you could find yourself getting lapped by the new Skylake chips in the new 15" machines.

 

[Sethaniel]

Thank you everyone, I think I'll actually be getting the 2015 model, the savings are just too great to ignore.

Can anyone explain to me the best way to find a top config 2015? Amazon doesn't offer them and eBay doesn't seem reliable

 

[dapork]

I'm almost in the exact same boat as you, and I can't make up my mind yet. I've been using a 2009 Macbook for several years, and the bigger my Logic Pro projects have gotten, the more I realised I would need a new laptop. I've also noticed how much better visualising music projects is on a 15".

I've seen a pro sound engineer using nothing but a last generation 15" in the studio to record plenty of things. This studio actually had a Mac Pro, but he would just come in and hook up his MBP to the monitors. I've gotten by with my minimalistic rock projects on the 2009 Macbook, and I even manage to make some 15 track projects which are like half software and half real instruments. Given what I can already do and what I've seen others do with actual MBP's, I'm sure the 2015 version would suit your needs.

It can also play games. I've been watching videos lately and the 2015 MPB 15" has plenty of good titles to choose from.

On the other hand, I'm in Greece and the current price difference I'm looking at is maybe about €400. I save about €400 getting an older machine. So I'm thinking why not get the combo you mentioned in your other thread, have more power, play better games on higher settings, and have a beautifully thin and light laptop. The new 15" is 4 lbs, while my crumbling Macbook is 4.7! I can get a bigger more powerful computer that weighs less than my current one. Part of my motivation is want more than actual need. I could make do with an older version, but I wouldn't be saving all that much. I would have to buy one or two adaptors, but that doesn't seem like a big deal to me.

I can't tell you what I think you should do, cause I'm unsure myself, but I'm trying at least to wait until some reviews come out, or till I can try one out in stores. Being in Greece though I dunno when that'll be.

 

[motime]

I'm almost in the exact same boat as you, and I can't make up my mind yet. I've been using a 2009 Macbook for several years, and the bigger my Logic Pro projects have gotten, the more I realised I would need a new laptop. I've also noticed how much better visualising music projects is on a 15".

I've seen a pro sound engineer using nothing but a last generation 15" in the studio to record plenty of things. This studio actually had a Mac Pro, but he would just come in and hook up his MBP to the monitors. I've gotten by with my minimalistic rock projects on the 2009 Macbook, and I even manage to make some 15 track projects which are like half software and half real instruments. Given what I can already do and what I've seen others do with actual MBP's, I'm sure the 2015 version would suit your needs.

It can also play games. I've been watching videos lately and the 2015 MPB 15" has plenty of good titles to choose from.

On the other hand, I'm in Greece and the current price difference I'm looking at is maybe about €400. I save about €400 getting an older machine. So I'm thinking why not get the combo you mentioned in your other thread, have more power, play better games on higher settings, and have a beautifully thin and light laptop. The new 15" is 4 lbs, while my crumbling Macbook is 4.7! I can get a bigger more powerful computer that weighs less than my current one. Part of my motivation is want more than actual need. I could make do with an older version, but I wouldn't be saving all that much. I would have to buy one or two adaptors, but that doesn't seem like a big deal to me.

I can't tell you what I think you should do, cause I'm unsure myself, but I'm trying at least to wait until some reviews come out, or till I can try one out in stores. Being in Greece though I dunno when that'll be.

MacBooks are not gaming machines. If you want to even be able to moderately game on the new ones then you will have to opt for one of the higher end configurations which cost a fortune.

Personally I have just gone with the base 2015 model and just purchased a ps4 for gaming needs.

You also need to know if sacrificing a lot of ports is worth it for a new machine with a brighter display, lighter weight and a worse keyboard that makes a terrible sound while typing.

 

[circuitt]

I'd go with a 2015 over previous years and half the price of this year's, faster ssd , better video card, either a 2.5 or 2.8 not much difference honestly. with all the money you saved go buy one of those dell 4k monitors and an external TB HD to store all your sample Libs/Audio files and you're good to go. laptops are usually for live performance or recording remotely if you really want power go for a mac pro 6-8 core machine to handle all your VI's and NI Kontact, ableton live , etc..

 

[dapork]

I'd probably go for the old version too if I could find the prices you guys can. No amazon, eBay or apple where I live though. When the new ones do come out though I'll see if the retail store has any hookups for older versions with good prices. As for the gaming, I agree one should just get a PC or a console but I only wanna do some light occasional gaming. Last time I gamed I was 12 and spent 2 years as a Diablo II addict...

 

[Sethaniel]

I'm almost in the exact same boat as you, and I can't make up my mind yet. I've been using a 2009 Macbook for several years, and the bigger my Logic Pro projects have gotten, the more I realised I would need a new laptop. I've also noticed how much better visualising music projects is on a 15".

I've seen a pro sound engineer using nothing but a last generation 15" in the studio to record plenty of things. This studio actually had a Mac Pro, but he would just come in and hook up his MBP to the monitors. I've gotten by with my minimalistic rock projects on the 2009 Macbook, and I even manage to make some 15 track projects which are like half software and half real instruments. Given what I can already do and what I've seen others do with actual MBP's, I'm sure the 2015 version would suit your needs.

It can also play games. I've been watching videos lately and the 2015 MPB 15" has plenty of good titles to choose from.

On the other hand, I'm in Greece and the current price difference I'm looking at is maybe about €400. I save about €400 getting an older machine. So I'm thinking why not get the combo you mentioned in your other thread, have more power, play better games on higher settings, and have a beautifully thin and light laptop. The new 15" is 4 lbs, while my crumbling Macbook is 4.7! I can get a bigger more powerful computer that weighs less than my current one. Part of my motivation is want more than actual need. I could make do with an older version, but I wouldn't be saving all that much. I would have to buy one or two adaptors, but that doesn't seem like a big deal to me.

I can't tell you what I think you should do, cause I'm unsure myself, but I'm trying at least to wait until some reviews come out, or till I can try one out in stores. Being in Greece though I dunno when that'll be.

Hey yeah we are in the same boat. Honestly in your situation, if the difference is really only $400 and there aren't options for buying like new or used, then your best bet is probably with the 2016. For me, I'm now looking through eBay for a 2015.

 

[Hankster]

In a previous thread I made I was completely planning to order the 2016 once the reviews came out (link below), but since then I've gotten some seriously cold feet...

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...capable-new-mbp-for-music-production.2010387/

I'm a student and novice music producer but am picking up speed with my music. I need a computer that will last at least 5 years. Upon, request in the past thread, I work with about 20 virtual instrument tracks *usually* (would like to handle more). I also would like it to be able to do some light gaming, like mostly some cheap steam games.

I came to the conclusion that I'd get the 2.6/512/460 15". But now that I'm thinking about just how expensive even that low config would be I'm starting to wonder if I should consider a 2015 15". I'd get for sure 1TB, but past that I'm not sure the processor or if the dGPU is safe (I've heard it degrades quick). The prices just from some retailers would save me hundreds! And I've heard that it's over a thousand in savings on places like eBay (I'm not sure how they found those $1800 or lower 15"s).

So, is the new MBP really worth that hefty price tag? Because it's not like I can't afford the new one, but it'd be hard to see so much money go into this thing if it weren't vastly superior to the year old model. Thank you in advance for any and all input!

I would tell you to get the MacBook Pro 2015. It's more convenient (has all the ports and MagSafe), cheaper and still has the retina display.

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

The keyboard will make you shoot yourself

 

[Clix Pix]

Last year when there started to be rumors and rumblings about the configuration of the new rMBPs and suggestions that it would come with all-new ports, I made the decision to purchase a 15" 2015 with 512 GB SSD and 16 GB RAM. Not quite a year later I am typing on this machine and I do not for one moment regret my choice. It's a terrific machine, does everything I throw at it and it of course is compatible with all my current peripherals (most are wireless/BT) and external drives (USB 3). This is my "workhorse" machine, and I suspect we'll be together for the next several years, and by that time Apple will have stabilized the functionality and features of the new rMBP and people will be quite happily using USB-C ports on all their devices.

If I were a student and had limited funds I would definitely go with the 2015 15" rMBP. The one thing I kind of wish I had done differently is -- should've gotten the 1TB SSD rather than the 512, but it's not a big issue for me. No problems here with the dGPU here; I think Apple may have resolved whatever problems there were with earlier versions.

 

[Sethaniel]

Does $2200 for 2015 2.5/16/1tb with Apple Care sound like a good deal?

 

[xb2003]

If you perform live you do not want one with a dGPU. Get the 2015 with the iGPU only. You should be able to look around and find one with a 512GB SSD.

 

[BeefCake 15]

Convince me why we should keep convincing you of every computer purchase you make or think about...

 

[Sethaniel]

If you perform live you do not want one with a dGPU. Get the 2015 with the iGPU only. You should be able to look around and find one with a 512GB SSD.

Is it not enough to manually turn off the dGPU when performing? I'd really like 1tb storage and the graphical power when I need it.
[doublepost=1478547527][/doublepost]

Convince me why we should keep convincing you of every computer purchase you make or think about...

You don't, feel free to leave the thread, I greatly appreciate the input everyone is giving me when I ask, I'm not holding anyone hostage here.

 

[circuitt]

you can disable the dGPU, plus the 2015 amd is pretty solid, I wouldn't trip over it.

 

[xb2003]

Is it not enough to manually turn off the dGPU when performing? I'd really like 1tb storage and the graphical power when I need it.

Generally, if they fail, the computer won't boot. The newer pros aren't as prone to failure as the older ones, but it still tends to be the first thing to go.

You might be able to find an iGPU with 1TB refurb, Apple did make the BTO I believe.

This is coming fromsomeone who performs live weekly and has had a MBP GPU failure stop a show. Not that any computer can't fail. A backup MacBook would be a better option if you perform a lot.

 

[UltimateSyn]

New one is pretty sweet. Check the keynote video and the product page. I'd wait for the reviews if you can, I guess.

 

[Teague]

Does $2200 for 2015 2.5/16/1tb with Apple Care sound like a good deal?

Depends on who the seller is but yes--if new that's a great deal

If refurbished make sure it's a certified Apple reseller and make sure specs are accurate.

 

[jerryk]

Does $2200 for 2015 2.5/16/1tb with Apple Care sound like a good deal?

New or used?

Sounds good for new, Ok for used. Just make sure you trust the seller.

 

[Sethaniel]

Depends on who the seller is but yes--if new that's a great deal

If refurbished make sure it's a certified Apple reseller and make sure specs are accurate.

New or used?

Sounds good for new, Ok for used. Just make sure you trust the seller.

Used, and it is now sold. Will 2015 sales slow down soon? What price would you think I should ideally look for for the same config?