Help me spend my money...

[Low country]

Hi all,

So I just bought the MacBook Pro 13" base $1499 at my Apple Store last night to decide if the screen, keyboard, ports or lack thereof and overall design or form factor is right for me.

The screen is outstanding!!, the keyboard is very fast to type on and has fantastic tactile feel albeit noisy but I think I'll get past that. The ports...well I think we are all stuck with just Thunderbolts moving forward. The build quality and QC is absolutely the best I've ever seen. Some of you reading this may know me from the iPhone forum here and how I essentially HATE the 7/7+ for their utter lack of QC and seemingly endless issues. This base MacBook could teach the iPhone a few things in the quality control department. It's just beautiful!!

Now the decision part. I knew buying this last night based on the specs alone I was not going to keep it. I will give this to my Niece once I decide what build spec to order. This is where I could use some help. For me it's not how much am I spending but am I wasting any money on certain upgrades that I'll never possibly see the benefit of. I believe in future proofing to the best of my ability in terms of speed and storage but at the same time don't want to throw money away if the bumps won't be noticeable.

Here is what I'm considering, obviously option 3 is the real performer but how much more so for the money?

Option #1

13" MacBook Pro - No Touch Bar $1499 base price
i7 2.4GHz Dual +$300
16 GB Memory +$200
512GB SSD +$200
Iris 540 Graphics
2 Thunderbolt Ports
TOTAL $2,199


Option #2

13" MacBook Pro - Touch Bar $1999 base price
i7 3.3 GHz Dual +$300
16 GB Memory +$200
512 GB SSD
Iris 550 Graphics
4 Thunderbolt Ports
TOTAL $2,499



Option #3

15" MacBook Pro - Touch Bar $2799 base price
i7 2.9 GHz Quad +$200
16 GB Memory
512 GB SSD
Radeon Pro 460-4 GB Memory. +$100
4 Thunderbolt Ports
TOTAL $3,099

 

[Kjung7]

I wish I had an uncle like you. Option 3 would only be necessary if you needed that much more power. 2 things you have to decide.

1) do you need 15" screen or can you get away with 13"?

2) do you really need a i7 quad core processor?

If you decide in a 13" then your decision comes down to do you need 4 thunderbolt ports and do you want/need the touch bar.

 

[Altis]

It's difficult to advise without knowing what you intend to do with the computer. What software/tasks, how much do you travel with it, etc..

 

[Howard2k]

Hi Uncle! Thank you so much, I'll PM you my alternative address in Canada and you just send it to me up there.

On a serious note, if you can provide some details on your usage it would help.

 

[Mcdevidr]

I like option 3 but I'm a little concerned about your storage choice. I'd say go for the $1,200 2tb SSD upgrade you know you need it.

 

[Phil A.]

To me, option #2 hits the sweet spot (but I'm not a fan of 15" laptops): You get the touchbar, a much faster processor and better integrated graphics for only $300 above option #1

If you would prefer a 15" laptop, then I'd be tempted to go for #3 without the optional upgrades - you will already have a very fast quad core processor in the "base" model, and unless you absolutely need to have 4GB video memory and the fastest possible discrete graphics processor then it seems like a waste of money (and the fact you are even considering 13" machines that don't have discrete graphics suggests you don't have a compelling requirement for it!)

 

[Low country]

Too funny...I never realized I had such a large family of long lost relatives

My usage is only surfing the web...LOL kidding.

Mainly photo & vid edits (Adobe), Autodesk, basic spreadsheet stuff, possible external monitor, maybe a few games...maybe.

13" or 15" is fine. I do travel quite a bit but the weight/dimensions of either make no difference to me.

Can't tell yet if the Touch Bar is unnecessary gimmick or truly useful moving forward.

I know without a doubt I want 16 GB memory, 512 GB SSD.

Is there a REAL big difference in having a dedicated graphics card?

i7 dual vs. quad..?? I have no idea

Thanks all

 

[hj576]

I will give this to my Niece once I decide what build spec to order

Ok this has been said before, But boy i wish i had an uncle like you.
In need of a nephew ?

 

[Marshall73]

Hi all,

So I just bought the MacBook Pro 13" base $1499 at my Apple Store last night to decide if the screen, keyboard, ports or lack thereof and overall design or form factor is right for me.

The screen is outstanding!!, the keyboard is very fast to type on and has fantastic tactile feel albeit noisy but I think I'll get past that. The ports...well I think we are all stuck with just Thunderbolts moving forward. The build quality and QC is absolutely the best I've ever seen. Some of you reading this may know me from the iPhone forum here and how I essentially HATE the 7/7+ for their utter lack of QC and seemingly endless issues. This base MacBook could teach the iPhone a few things in the quality control department. It's just beautiful!!

Now the decision part. I knew buying this last night based on the specs alone I was not going to keep it. I will give this to my Niece once I decide what build spec to order. This is where I could use some help. For me it's not how much am I spending but am I wasting any money on certain upgrades that I'll never possibly see the benefit of. I believe in future proofing to the best of my ability in terms of speed and storage but at the same time don't want to throw money away if the bumps won't be noticeable.

Here is what I'm considering, obviously option 3 is the real performer but how much more so for the money?

Option #1

13" MacBook Pro - No Touch Bar $1499 base price
i7 2.4GHz Dual +$300
16 GB Memory +$200
512GB SSD +$200
Iris 540 Graphics
2 Thunderbolt Ports
TOTAL $2,199


Option #2

13" MacBook Pro - Touch Bar $1999 base price
i7 3.3 GHz Dual +$300
16 GB Memory +$200
512 GB SSD
Iris 550 Graphics
4 Thunderbolt Ports
TOTAL $2,499



Option #3

15" MacBook Pro - Touch Bar $2799 base price
i7 2.9 GHz Quad +$200
16 GB Memory
512 GB SSD
Radeon Pro 460-4 GB Memory. +$100
4 Thunderbolt Ports
TOTAL $3,099

Option 3

 

[protoxx]

4 cpu s are faster. Especially if you have multiple apps open at the same time. Compare the geekbench or last year of the 2 cpu vs 4 cpu. You could always wait a couple of weeks for the new ones to get in the wild and see what benchmarks the do get. Even the base 15" should be noticeably faster.
13" is a lot more portable. Not as much weight but the screen size. The 15" is a lot lighter than my 2010 pro but almost all the difference is thickness.

ps I'm almost certain you must be my long lost uncle.

 

[aquaGC]

Unless battery is of the utmost importance to you, I don't see why you'd get option 1 over option 2 - if money is the issue get option 2 without upgrading the CPU for the same price. The MBPt i5 will outperform the non-touch i7 at the cost of battery life (exactly how much battery remains to be seen, probably ~2 hours) and physical function keys. But you'd be getting a faster 28w CPU, the Touch Bar, faster RAM, faster GPU, twice the ports, an extra fan...

So I'd get option 2 without the CPU upgrade. The i7 upgrade will most likely never be noticeable, let alone $300 better than the standard i5. Spend some of that $300 on AppleCare or put it towards your next machine.

Hope that helped uncle, and thanks again for the laptop!

 

[Samuelsan2001]

You'll appreciate the quad core and dGPU in gaming and editing. Everything else will be just as fast on the 13 inch.

 

[Low country]

All good advice in various opinions and I appreciate everyones feedback, thank you. But....still don't really know which direction to head

I'm thinking the max optioned 13" for the portability aspect but wished it could be equipped exactly like the 15" with quad core and dedicated GPU. Maybe I will just wait to see what changes Apple makes with regards to all the hoopla over pricing/options/lack of ports...etc

Thanks all

 

[xb2003]

You'll appreciate the quad core CPU. I'd say go for the 15".

 

[JamesMike]

I think that option # 2 would be good enough for her.

 

[Low country]

Hi all,
Thanks for the input. I went all in and ordered the maxed out 15" Pro...theres no looking back now LOL

 

[UnluckyXIII]

Wish I could have maxed mine out, should be an amazing machine to work on once it arrives!!

 

[Fried_Gold]

15" is too big for me so I say option 2.

 

[Low country]

15" is too big for me so I say option 2.

Apparently the new 15" Pro is considerably smaller than the old 15" Pro. Having said that if the 13" had quad core and dedicated graphics I would have ordered that instead.
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Wish I could have maxed mine out, should be an amazing machine to work on once it arrives!!

Kinda risky ordering $3,500 machine site unseen. Not sure about the Touch Bar, and I HOPE Apple and their famous BS of using different suppliers hasn't put a lesser screen in the 15", this 13" has an amazing display in every way possible and the 15" better be the same!!