Hope to buy a 2015 Macbook m5 today, couple of questions.

[jonnyr78]

Hi,

I'm in the Uk and hope to buy the 2016 Macbook today. This is to replace the 2015 Macbook Pro 13, but I just use it for office / academic work (writing research papers and internet research mostly) so I would prefer the form factor and lightness of the 12". Plus, I really like the pink. :/ But, I wonder if anyone can help me with these questions. I HAVE tried to search, but ether I am a bit dense, or I can't see obvious answers.

1. If I wanted another charger for it (so, one charger in work, one at home), is the best bet the Apple one? Or, do third party charges such as https://www.amazon.co.uk/6-Port-Cha...335&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=usb+c+charger&psc=1 or https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-Powe...qid=1463989335&sr=8-10&keywords=usb+c+charger work just as well? I like the idea of the third party chargers for work, because I can charge my iPhone 6s at the same time then.

2. Do more powerful chargers charge it faster?

3. With the above, or the Apple charger, do you nee certain USB C cables to charge it? I'm certainly not paying £25 for an Apple cable (it's a crazy price!), but there are a lot elsewhere and I wasn't sure which work or which don't, for charging.

4. Does the Apple Apple USB-C Digital AV Multipart Adapter allow you to also sync a USB device, like my 6s, whilst charging the Macbook (if the charger is also connected)? But, I assume, not charge my phone?

5. Does that Adaptor allow one to use USB 3.0 USB sticks n stuff?

6. I am still debating the M3 vs. M5. I have read all the benchmarks and stuff, and I am not sure the speed difference is work the extra £200 it is here in the UK. But, one thing would bug me, does the M5 provide a smoother UI experience? I was hoping to run at 1440x900.

7. Is there any conclusive evidence that the 512gb M5 has a faster SSD?

Any help would be appreciated! I am tempted to wait for the new Pro's, but on handling the Macbook, it is so light and silent it's hard to resist.

 

[where is it]

In regards to your charger questions. I would stick with the Apple chargers. They may be expensive but they work. I wouldn't mess around with cheap chargers and what is a pretty expensive laptop.

The Apple multiport AV adaptor does indeed work perfectly with your iOS devices. It will also charge them with or without charging the MB at the same time. But it is pricey at £65.

I've got the M5 512gb as my daily machine and use it professionally without an issue. If you need more space for music and photos then go for it.

 

[jonnyr78]

Cool, perfect, that's why my searching, I got mixed messages on the Apple adaptor. I actually think the price of the Apple charger is ok ish, but the cable is an insane price.

So, I'll get the Apple charger, adaptor, and a cable and I should be sorted. Having searched again this morning it seems third party USB-C cables do work.

I'm going to go with the 512gb because I can just forget about storage space then, and a basic Windows partition is handy for work (our admins systems don't work with Safari).

 

[Gav2k]

The anker charger you listed works fine. I have the larger model...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0...nker+usb+c&dpPl=1&dpID=413l00fd9iL&ref=plSrch

 

[Precursor]

1. If I wanted another charger for it (so, one charger in work, one at home), is the best bet the Apple one? Or, do third party charges such as https://www.amazon.co.uk/6-Port-Cha...335&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=usb+c+charger&psc=1 or https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-Powe...qid=1463989335&sr=8-10&keywords=usb+c+charger work just as well? I like the idea of the third party chargers for work, because I can charge my iPhone 6s at the same time then.
Apple one is safest, though the one you linked also works. Though I use a Twelvesouth PlugBug World to do the same (I travel to different countries a lot), to charge my phone/ipad at the same time.
https://www.twelvesouth.com/product/plugbug-world

2. Do more powerful chargers charge it faster?
Faster charging heats up and damages any battery

3. With the above, or the Apple charger, do you nee certain USB C cables to charge it? I'm certainly not paying £25 for an Apple cable (it's a crazy price!), but there are a lot elsewhere and I wasn't sure which work or which don't, for charging.
You have to make sure the cable supports for charging with that wattage

4. Does the Apple Apple USB-C Digital AV Multipart Adapter allow you to also sync a USB device, like my 6s, whilst charging the Macbook (if the charger is also connected)? But, I assume, not charge my phone?
Yes it does. Once you plug in the Apple AV adapter it automatically install the drivers, then you can connect any USB peripheral. (except ones that do require more power than usual, like some external mechanical HDDs)
It will charge your phone, but then again, the PlugBug I mentioned above is easier

5. Does that Adaptor allow one to use USB 3.0 USB sticks n stuff?
Yes it does. I myself got this one so I don't have to plug in the adapter all the time:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kingston-D...qid=1463994570&sr=8-2&keywords=kingston+usb-c

6. I am still debating the M3 vs. M5. I have read all the benchmarks and stuff, and I am not sure the speed difference is work the extra £200 it is here in the UK. But, one thing would bug me, does the M5 provide a smoother UI experience? I was hoping to run at 1440x900.
Can't comment on that one, I have M7 myself.

7. Is there any conclusive evidence that the 512gb M5 has a faster SSD?
Yes it does. Almost all SSDs have faster speeds when in larger size. I got 933.4 MB read / 848.5 MB write on Blackmagic on 512 GB encrypted drive. The 256 GB SSD has about 930 MB/s read and 620 MB/s write speed. The big difference is in write speeds.
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc...laptops-and-netbooks/macbook-1287806/review/3

 

[jonnyr78]

Thanks for that reply, write speed does make a difference in my experience.

Right, I am getting me head around all this now. I have to say, whilst no doubt Apple is protecting their own profits, the main problem with the single USB-C is not it only being one port, but the often unclear advice given by Apple about how best to utilise it. The problem is not the one port, but that I think we have got used to a world where your charger is separate from the ports, so it takes a bit of untangling to forget that logic!

Still, these replies are very helpful. I basically just want:

1. extra charger (I now have options, thanks!)
2. Way of syncing / charging phone AND charging Macbook (so, Av adaptor might be best as I need Hdmi for presentations at work, I'd get two, but at £65 that's a bit much).
3. Definitely the 512gb one

 

[deeddawg]

FWIW, I picked up an Anker USBC to USBA cable recently and use it with an Anker two-port charger at my office to top up / maintain charge on my retina MacBook. It's not as fast as the Apple charger, but it works well for the purpose and cost US$10. It came with an included velcro wrap to keep the cable coiled, making it simple to keep with you and allow use of any USBA power source in a pinch.

As for syncing your phone via wire, do you need to do that often? I can't remember the last time I connected my phone directly to my computer, stuff syncs over icloud or via wifi when at home. If just for charging, there may be alternative options; I know Anker has a well liked portable battery pack that'll charge the retina Macbook via USBC as well as charge phones.