Got laid off at work (10 year position) and my boss is offering to buy me a new MacBook pro as a departing gift... what should I go for?

[throAU]

I'm pointing this out since a lot of posts say take the cash, you might need it, or wait for the 14. Well, if you want to work effectively on your own, you might need something sooner.

Yeah, by all means if you need the power or it will legitimately improve your chances of scoring work go for it and get a 16. And yes, normally no point waiting but it DOES hurt a heap if you buy today and then Apple drop the new, way better model 2 weeks later! Been there with a 2007 spec Mac mini I picked up literally the month before they updated it. As a result I lost out on several years of extra macOS support.

I think if you're a potential 13" MacBook Pro customer it's definitely worth holding out a little at this point if you can - because of the keyboard issue. The new keyboards are SO MUCH BETTER.

But sounds like the OP was previously looking at an air... my point re: sitting at the 2k limit is that just because you can spend more doesn't necessarily mean you should, especially if you are currently unemployed

 

[marmiteturkey]

First, I‘m sorry you got laid off - it’s hard, and it gets easier.
Second, I’m glad you seem to have been treated well by people around you - that makes all the difference.

Now...

The first thing I bought when I went solo four years ago was a really good machine, because:
1. I was going to be spending a lot of time on it, and differently to how I had been working (type of work, location)
2. I needed something robust with plenty of storage, headroom and screen space
3. I felt like I deserved it, wanted a statement of my serious intent, and it was a marker for my new life as an independent (the first thing I did on the new machine was build my website)

If your boss is honestly offering to buy you a machine to support you, I think that’s a generous, thoughtful gesture. If you need a machine now, I think you can find something long-lasting and appropriate on the refurb store. Be aware that vouchers may not be an option for tax reasons (that would be the case in the UK at least).

And I can’t speak to the right machine for you - but for me, it’s the 16in mbp with the 5k external display (which I added just as we went into lockdown). It’s plenty portable, very powerful aned a 16in display is much better to work on all day than 13in.

Wishing you courage and all the best!