Getting MBP 15 2015 now will serve me well for the next few years?

[bobosing316]

Hi all. I have saw many of the posts discussing which MBP (2016 or 2015 version) to buy, but my doubts have not really been clarified. Thus I decided to have a post

I am a causal PC user with a light to medium usage of lightroom.

I believe the the non touch bar 13 (base model) will do the job, but is it better for me to get the few hundred bucks more to buy the MBP 15 2015 (or the touch bar 13?)(both base model). Which one is more value the money

I am open to all options though.

Thanks for reading


Regards

 

[ISKOTB]

It isn't always about the latest I got a 15" in Feb and I expected to last for a few years

 

[Ma2k5]

I think get base 13" model if you aren't doing anything too demanding and don't need to do any proper gaming and not worried about it still being sufficient in 3/4 years time

Or

13" with 16gb ram / 512+gb storage if you are unsure if you'll need more than 256gb storage or worried if in a couple of years time, 8gb won't be enough

Or

15" screen with 512+gb storage and RX460, if you really need the performance of the GPU. It is quad core as well but most can manage with dual core of th 28w CPU imo, but a dGPU will be necessary for any proper gaming ability, if not now, definitely in next few years.


I think these 3 options are the maximum value for money available. I wouldn't get base model with upgrades over the touch 13" - I wouldn't get the touch bar 13" without 16gb Ram - and I wouldn't get the 15" without the RX460.

 

[paris18m]

its sufficient for at least 3/4 years time.

opt for the 15'' model with touch bar if you ask me!

 

[ISKOTB]

You can cut some cost below too unless you want a brand now one
http://apple.co/2fZm4eG
http://apple.co/22pbiLq

 

[maflynn]

My 2012 rMBP is still going strong, while I have transitioned to a newer machine, the 2012 laptop is still being used by my daughters. I think the current crop of MBPs are powerful enough to last for many years.

 

[NickPhamUK]

To put into perspective, comparing 2012 and 2016 15" models:
- Similar CPU performance
- Similar GPU performance (from 650M to Radeon Pro 450)

The PC market is not developing as fast as you wanna believe...

 

[boateng]

I think get base 13" model if you aren't doing anything too demanding and don't need to do any proper gaming and not worried about it still being sufficient in 3/4 years time

Or

13" with 16gb ram / 512+gb storage if you are unsure if you'll need more than 256gb storage or worried if in a couple of years time, 8gb won't be enough

Or

15" screen with 512+gb storage and RX460, if you really need the performance of the GPU. It is quad core as well but most can manage with dual core of th 28w CPU imo, but a dGPU will be necessary for any proper gaming ability, if not now, definitely in next few years.


I think these 3 options are the maximum value for money available. I wouldn't get base model with upgrades over the touch 13" - I wouldn't get the touch bar 13" without 16gb Ram - and I wouldn't get the 15" without the RX460.

So if you are to get the 13' model get the touchbar model?

 

[bobosing316]

I think get base 13" model if you aren't doing anything too demanding and don't need to do any proper gaming and not worried about it still being sufficient in 3/4 years time

Or

13" with 16gb ram / 512+gb storage if you are unsure if you'll need more than 256gb storage or worried if in a couple of years time, 8gb won't be enough

Or

15" screen with 512+gb storage and RX460, if you really need the performance of the GPU. It is quad core as well but most can manage with dual core of th 28w CPU imo, but a dGPU will be necessary for any proper gaming ability, if not now, definitely in next few years.


I think these 3 options are the maximum value for money available. I wouldn't get base model with upgrades over the touch 13" - I wouldn't get the touch bar 13" without 16gb Ram - and I wouldn't get the 15" without the RX460.

Thanks for your thoughts; However i dont think i will do any upgrades from any models, because I will have my windows desktop as work station at home.

its sufficient for at least 3/4 years time.

opt for the 15'' model with touch bar if you ask me!

It make sense to go for the touch bar 15 (it is just a 400 hundred bucks more than touch bar 13 from my school pricing), but i don't think I will really benefit from that specs

 

[ocnitsa]

My 2012 rMBP is still going strong, while I have transitioned to a newer machine, the 2012 laptop is still being used by my daughters. I think the current crop of MBPs are powerful enough to last for many years.

My 2012 rMBP is still my main device. Sure, it has three pixels stuck by now, but performance-wise it's great. I did have to disable a kext to keep the SMC from freaking out and slowing the computer down to a crawl and turning the fan on full and refusing most of the time to recognize the original magsafe power adapter that came with it...but it still works great. I think the key is to max out RAM and make sure you have an SSD. The only thing (aside from poor luck with pixels) is really worry about is the battery life degrading.

I would imagine a 2015 or 2016 MBP to be fine for 3+ years...I guess also in response to OP, if it's just a matter of 200 bucks, you might get the Touchbar model anyway...in 3 years will you notice that increase? And, it's possible (although not entirely likely) that it will make for a better resale value compared to the vanilla model, for people that care about that sort of thing.

 

[boateng]

My 2012 rMBP is still my main device. Sure, it has three pixels stuck by now, but performance-wise it's great. I did have to disable a kext to keep the SMC from freaking out and slowing the computer down to a crawl and turning the fan on full and refusing most of the time to recognize the original magsafe power adapter that came with it...but it still works great. I think the key is to max out RAM and make sure you have an SSD. The only thing (aside from poor luck with pixels) is really worry about is the battery life degrading.

I would imagine a 2015 or 2016 MBP to be fine for 3+ years...I guess also in response to OP, if it's just a matter of 200 bucks, you might get the Touchbar model anyway...in 3 years will you notice that increase? And, it's possible (although not entirely likely) that it will make for a better resale value compared to the vanilla model, for people that care about that sort of thing.

its not

I am in the UK so prices are different/ The 15 touch bar model in the UK is like £400 more.

 

[fokmik]

To put into perspective, comparing 2012 and 2016 15" models:
- Similar CPU performance
- Similar GPU performance (from 650M to Radeon Pro 450)

The PC market is not developing as fast as you wanna believe...

common, we already know the cpu is far better than ivy bridge 2012, the 650M is slower than 450 with 2gb vRAM, SSD are 2x, the screen is even better, the battery has 3 more hours...so almost have half more than the 2012 model....you have TB3 vs TB1 so you can add 4k or 5k display to it vs...whell fullhd, bluetooth 4.2 vs 4.0, 802.11ac Wi-Fi vs n

 

[mikepro]

I opted for a 2015 15". Found a new one on eBay with 512GB SSD and AMD graphics for $1900. That's the best deal, IMHO. Bigger screen of the 15", plus the quad core, and this baby should last 5+ years no problem. Typing on my 2010 15" Macbook pro as the new one is restoring from Time Machine. This one lasted 6.5 years, and is frankly still going strong. I'd have stuck with it, but battery is at 800 cycles, and I want to get a 2015 with all of the ports I like before they are gone.

 

[RichardC300]

It make sense to go for the touch bar 15 (it is just a 400 hundred bucks more than touch bar 13 from my school pricing), but i don't think I will really benefit from that specs

Why are you cross-shopping a 13 inch and a 15 inch? This sounds like you are leaning towards a 13 inch. If the reason you are choosing a 2015 15 inch is the bump in specs over a 2015 or 2016 13 inch, then I'd say you should re-evaluate your choices. Get a top spec 2015 13 inch, and it'll last you plenty, and you won't have the awkward transition phase to USB-C.

 

[bobosing316]

My 2012 rMBP is still my main device. Sure, it has three pixels stuck by now, but performance-wise it's great. I did have to disable a kext to keep the SMC from freaking out and slowing the computer down to a crawl and turning the fan on full and refusing most of the time to recognize the original magsafe power adapter that came with it...but it still works great. I think the key is to max out RAM and make sure you have an SSD. The only thing (aside from poor luck with pixels) is really worry about is the battery life degrading.

I would imagine a 2015 or 2016 MBP to be fine for 3+ years...I guess also in response to OP, if it's just a matter of 200 bucks, you might get the Touchbar model anyway...in 3 years will you notice that increase? And, it's possible (although not entirely likely) that it will make for a better resale value compared to the vanilla model, for people that care about that sort of thing.

I opted for a 2015 15". Found a new one on eBay with 512GB SSD and AMD graphics for $1900. That's the best deal, IMHO. Bigger screen of the 15", plus the quad core, and this baby should last 5+ years no problem. Typing on my 2010 15" Macbook pro as the new one is restoring from Time Machine. This one lasted 6.5 years, and is frankly still going strong. I'd have stuck with it, but battery is at 800 cycles, and I want to get a 2015 with all of the ports I like before they are gone.

Why are you cross-shopping a 13 inch and a 15 inch? This sounds like you are leaning towards a 13 inch. If the reason you are choosing a 2015 15 inch is the bump in specs over a 2015 or 2016 13 inch, then I'd say you should re-evaluate your choices. Get a top spec 2015 13 inch, and it'll last you plenty, and you won't have the awkward transition phase to USB-C.

Is it a must to get the top specs to last? why everyone is saying to max out this and that?

 

[mikepro]

No, it's not. Processor upgrades, I feel are fairly irrelevant. I just wanted to be sure I got 512GB storage to last me, and the AMD video card for extra performance. I probably could have lived without the AMD graphics, but wanted the 512GB for sure.

 

[RichardC300]

Is it a must to get the top specs to last? why everyone is saying to max out this and that?

No, but if you plan on keeping it for several years, it wouldn't be a waste to buy the best laptop you could.