Help me to choose MBP 15"

[DaveMike11]

Hello All,

I need your help to choose a Macbook Pro 15" for me. I was in the market to buy the MBP since last 2 years. I was hesitating due to the new design of MBP like missing ports/SD card, keyboard issues and the touchbar. I cannot wait more as apple is continuing the same design in the newer models as well. I need to get one to replace my aging windows computer. This would be my first macbook purchase. i have been a windows user all along.

My needs:
I'm a part time photographer. I do lot of photo and video editing. My main use would to use Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC and Premier Pro CC. My Budget is around $2300.

I looked at the 2018 models, the 32GB Memory, newr graphics card and 1/2 TB SSD is very good but too expensive and out of my budget.

My questions:
1. Is the 2018 MBP the correct one for me? I'm hearing about the Throttling issues with the 2018 Models.
2.Pls suggest me the best specs 15" MBP for me ?
3. Do you suggest getting a 2017 model of same specs is worth to save some money ?
4.What's your recommendation on buying Apple Care?

I need your expert advice & I'm new to Mac-book.

Thanks for your time.

 

[Vazza]

Get the latest base 15” and upgrade the hard disk to 512GB. If you still have cash then upgrade the graphics card imo. Don’t get the 2017 model now with how much it still costs and the potential for ongoing keyboard issues.

 

[DaveMike11]

Get the latest base 15” and upgrade the hard disk to 512GB. If you still have cash then upgrade the graphics card imo. Don’t get the 2017 model now with how much it still costs and the potential for ongoing keyboard issues.

Thanks for your reply. You mean the hard disk can be upgraded later ?

 

[Vazza]

Thanks for your reply. You mean the hard disk can be upgraded latter ?

No, I mean spec it with that and if you still have cash left in the budget after that upgrade (I’m not in the US so don’t know what it currently retails at) then upgrade the graphics card for a little more. The price to upgrade to 32GB RAM seems too steep.

 

[DaveMike11]

No, I mean spec it with that and if you still have cash left in the budget after that upgrade (I’m not in the US so don’t know what it currently retails at) then upgrade the graphics card for a little more. The price to upgrade to 32GB RAM seems too steep.

Thank you
[doublepost=1532279695][/doublepost]Any suggestions about Apple Care ?

 

[DaveMike11]

If i buy a base 2018 15" Macbook Pro with 256GB SSD, Is this a good enough space with the assumption i manage my photos/videos using an external HDD ? The 512 GB SSD one adds another $400 which is out of budget.

Pls advice.

 

[linkgx1]

with a base 2018 15" Macbook Pro with 256GB SSD will i be able to good if i manage my photos/videos in an external HDD ?

I want to know this too. I plan on having an external HDD either way and would rather have my money used efficiently.

 

[DaveMike11]

I also checked that 2 upgrade options . #1 - upgrade the memory from 16GB to 32GB or #2 - upgrade the SSD from 16 to 32GB both costs $400 more.

 

[Mac-key]

I'm a full-time media professional - photography and video. I use all the above apps you mentioned... and I do it on a BASE model 2015 15' MBP. You will be fine going with the 2018 BASE model. If there is anyway you can up your budget and add the 32GB of RAM, I would. You don't need it now, but it'll definitely "future-proof" your machine for years and years to come.

 

[swifty168]

I'm a full-time media professional - photography and video. I use all the above apps you mentioned... and I do it on a BASE model 2015 15' MBP. You will be fine going with the 2018 BASE model. If there is anyway you can up your budget and add the 32GB of RAM, I would. You don't need it now, but it'll definitely "future-proof" your machine for years and years to come.

Sorry for tagging onto this thread but I have a question for current PS/Lightroom/Capture One version users. Does editing, eg. using the develop module of LR utilise a lot of the CPU and/or GPU, causing temps to go up considerably? Not talking about export/batch processing, just editing.
Reason I ask is that there are very little difference in price going from i7 2.2 to i7 2.6, and going from 555X to 560x.

 

[joshi3joshi]

I also checked that 2 upgrade options . #1 - upgrade the memory from 16GB to 32GB or #2 - upgrade the SSD from 16 to 32GB both costs $400 more.

If you BTO the base model, upgrading SSD from 256gb to 512gb storage is only $200 more, not $400.

 

[DaveMike11]

If you BTO the base model, upgrading SSD from 256gb to 512gb storage is only $200 more, not $400.

Checking at Best Buy website shows $400 difference between the base model and the next model which has 512 SSD in it.

 

[sennomulo]

Checking at Best Buy website shows $400 difference between the base model and the next model which has 512 SSD in it.

Best Buy only stocks the two stock models, one is 2.2GHz/555x/256GB and the other is 2.6GHz/560x/512GB. They just represent it as "256GB" vs. "512GB" on their website, but it's actually three upgrades. If you want to just upgrade the SSD, you have to order it through Apple or another reseller that offers build-to-order options.

 

[DaveMike11]

Best Buy only stocks the two stock models, one is 2.2GHz/555x/256GB and the other is 2.6GHz/560x/512GB. They just represent it as "256GB" vs. "512GB" on their website, but it's actually three upgrades. If you want to just upgrade the SSD, you have to order it through Apple or another reseller that offers build-to-order options.

Thanks for clarifying it. Yeah true I was trying to get the additional details but their website did not have much info. Do you think its worth upgrading to the 2.6GHz/560x/512GB model? I was thinking to go with the base model + add apple care to it. If i go with the other option then it would be $3k which exceeds my budget. Pls suggest.

 

[sennomulo]

I'm leaning towards the base model myself. The CPU and GPU upgrades aren't really that significant, and I think the base CPU and GPU are fine for the majority of users. They certainly would be for me.

It would be nice to have 512 GB on the internal drive, but are you willing to spend an extra $400 for a small speed boost and an extra 256 GB of space? External storage is cheap these days. A speedy Samsung T5 500GB SSD goes for $128 on Best Buy. If you're willing to carry an external SSD with you, you could have 756 GB total space and stay under $3000. ($2400 + $379 + $128 = $2907)

 

[joshi3joshi]

I'm leaning towards the base model myself. The CPU and GPU upgrades aren't really that significant, and I think the base CPU and GPU are fine for the majority of users. They certainly would be for me.

It would be nice to have 512 GB on the internal drive, but are you willing to spend an extra $400 for a small speed boost and an extra 256 GB of space? External storage is cheap these days. A speedy Samsung T5 500GB SSD goes for $128 on Best Buy. If you're willing to carry an external SSD with you, you could have 756 GB total space and stay under $3000. ($2400 + $379 + $128 = $2907)

You're really only spending $200 to upgrade the 256GB to 512 GB on the internal SSD (and $180 if you have an education discount). Most people are thinking it's $400 because of the 2 default models which upgrades the Processor and GPU together, but if you just want the internal SSD upgraded, it's only $200. It's up to the user to decide if $200 for internal storage vs $128 for an external SSD is more worth it or not.

 

[sennomulo]

You're really only spending $200 to upgrade the 256GB to 512 GB on the internal SSD (and $180 if you have an education discount). Most people are thinking it's $400 because of the 2 default models which upgrades the Processor and GPU together, but if you just want the internal SSD upgraded, it's only $200. It's up to the user to decide if $200 for internal storage vs $128 for an external SSD is more worth it or not.

Yeah, but if you want such a configuration, you can't get it at Best Buy or an Apple Store, where you're limited to two versions. This is not an issue for people ordering online, but for some people it is an issue. In my case, I would save a lot of money by driving to New Hampshire (a no-sales-tax state) and purchasing the machine in store. Adorama and B&H offer no-sales-tax deals for people in 48 states, but I live in New York so that doesn't apply to me.

 

[DaveMike11]

Yeah, but if you want such a configuration, you can't get it at Best Buy or an Apple Store, where you're limited to two versions. This is not an issue for people ordering online, but for some people it is an issue. In my case, I would save a lot of money by driving to New Hampshire (a no-sales-tax state) and purchasing the machine in store. Adorama and B&H offer no-sales-tax deals for people in 48 states, but I live in New York so that doesn't apply to me.

Yes I'm aware of it. I'm only interested in either of two models which Best Buy carries it currently.