Is It Worth Getting The MacBook 16 Now?

[HeyGreggie]

I'm considering picking up a 15-inch MacBook Pro (2016) now, after selling two of my older Macbooks. I've been using my 2014 MacBook Air I share with my wife, but I need one of my own. The question though is should I want for the new ones to come out at this point -- if there's any decent updates (this models been out for five months Mid cycle?), or go for what's out now?

 

[keysofanxiety]

Buy now if you need it now. Wait if you can afford to wait.

 

[mixart]

I would only wait for the new Macbook Pro 2017, if you need 32GB memory, which rumors are said to have in this one. If 16Gb is enough then buy the new current one.

 

[Naimfan]

Either wait for the 2017 and hope Apple irons out all the flaws in the 2016, or buy a 2015.

 

[pst23]

I just got mine last week and I really like it. I got the mid-tier 13 inch model.

 

[xb2003]

I would say the odds of anyone getting their hands on an updated before the very end of this year or the beginning of next are slim to none.

 

[HeyGreggie]

I would say the odds of anyone getting their hands on an updated before the very end of this year or the beginning of next are slim to none.

And I think that's my ultimate issue there. Like sure I can try to get the update when it comes out in October but chances are it'll be so backordered I wont get one until almost this time NEXT year.

 

[xb2003]

And I think that's my ultimate issue there. Like sure I can try to get the update when it comes out in October but chances are it'll be so backordered I wont get one until almost this time NEXT year.

Exactly.

If I was in the market for a 15, needed it soon, and didn't need a powerful dGPU (and I don't know if you do or not), I'd probably sway more towards a 2015.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Of course it was it was released a few months ago.

 

[SDColorado]

I picked up a 15" 2016 a couple of weeks ago. Great machine. I honestly love everything about it. No regrets at all about not waiting, but I don't need 32GB RAM in a notebook.

 

[Fishrrman]

I wouldn't expect to see any revised MacBook Pro's until October or November at the earliest.

Are you willing to wait that long?

 

[Uofmtiger]

I would not get a 2015 model unless you update often. The lack of thunderbolt 3 is going to age it. Personally, I would not update to a new computer that did not have thunderbolt 3 port at this point.

As someone pointed out, it is always best to wait as long as you can.

 

[HeyGreggie]

I wouldn't expect to see any revised MacBook Pro's until October or November at the earliest.

Are you willing to wait that long?

I don't mind it as my MB Air 11-inch does work, although my productivity on the machine isn't as great as it was on my 2009 13'inch before I sold it. I'm not really concerned on 32gb of ram as I use my machine for school, office, and wordpress, image editing. What much difference would the Koby update do in this case?

 

[barkomatic]

Whenever Apple releases new Macbook Pros, they will most likely include last gen internals. Maybe Apple will be extra innovative and open an App Store for touchbar games. I'm still a fan of iPhones/iPads but I'd consider switching to a PC since Apple notebooks are not a good value at this point.

 

[pst23]

I don't mind it as my MB Air 11-inch does work, although my productivity on the machine isn't as great as it was on my 2009 13'inch before I sold it. I'm not really concerned on 32gb of ram as I use my machine for school, office, and wordpress, image editing. What much difference would the Koby update do in this case?

Is there a particular option that you are waiting for?

 

[jeff_in_MD]

I would only wait for the new Macbook Pro 2017, if you need 32GB memory, which rumors are said to have in this one. If 16Gb is enough then buy the new current one.

Definitely would upgrade when a 32gb model comes out. Didn't see enough reason to upgrade from my late 2013. Biggest issue I have is not enough memory but my use is probably different from most.

 

[HeyGreggie]

Is there a particular option that you are waiting for?

Not that I can think of. I don't know exactly what 32gb of ram would get me that I would really use as I don't do video editing of Final Cut Pro X. If I checked out today I would get a 16gb, 1tb (lots of files, photos/documents). Not sure what an upgrade Apple could give to suit me.

 

[mixart]

Definitely would upgrade when a 32gb model comes out. Didn't see enough reason to upgrade from my late 2013. Biggest issue I have is not enough memory but my use is probably different from most.

I'm in the same position. I have a Macbook Pro 15" Late 2013 too with 16GB and I will only upgrade, when they offer 32GB memory.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

I don't mind it as my MB Air 11-inch does work, although my productivity on the machine isn't as great as it was on my 2009 13'inch before I sold it. I'm not really concerned on 32gb of ram as I use my machine for school, office, and wordpress, image editing. What much difference would the Koby update do in this case?

For that use case any of apples laptops will work fine updates will make no difference to this work flow. The best bits that are better for you, better screen, modern versatile ports, better speakers, faster SSD and RAM, touchbar, bigger touchpad etc, are all there and will be the same in the next model. You would be waiting for a slight cpu bump that hasn't no effect on your work that's it.

 

[pst23]

Not that I can think of. I don't know exactly what 32gb of ram would get me that I would really use as I don't do video editing of Final Cut Pro X. If I checked out today I would get a 16gb, 1tb (lots of files, photos/documents). Not sure what an upgrade Apple could give to suit me.

Sounds like to me you want a new gadget and want to have the latest - an endless chase if you ask me.

 

[Uofmtiger]

Not that I can think of. I don't know exactly what 32gb of ram would get me that I would really use as I don't do video editing of Final Cut Pro X. If I checked out today I would get a 16gb, 1tb (lots of files, photos/documents). Not sure what an upgrade Apple could give to suit me.

Here is an article that might give you an idea of what 16GB of RAM can and can't do:

https://www.zdziarski.com/blog/?p=6355

"Conclusion, again, is that it takes an enormous amount of work to burn up 16GB of RAM on your MacBook Pro, unless you’re running a lot of poorly written apps that hog memory, have bloatware running at startup, or possibly doing a lot of advanced, high-end video editing (which I hope to experiment with at some point)."

There is also comparisons on Youtube of FinalCut Pro on a MBP vs Adobe Premier on a Windows computer with 32GB of RAM. In short, Final Cut Pro does well with 16GB. Hardware Canucks & Jonathan Morrison both have video comparisons.

 

[HeyGreggie]

Sounds like to me you want a new gadget and want to have the latest - an endless chase if you ask me.

Agree on that about the endless chase. but for me I bought the 11-inch MBAir thinking portability and tried to convince myself I could make it my go to for everything. Now I've resulted to typing and workflow through my work laptop, emailing or using icloud to send documents to my mbair, and finishing the load there. Attempting to multitask on an 11-inch screen isn't completely working out like I had planned.
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Here is an article that might give you an idea of what 16GB of RAM can and can't do:

https://www.zdziarski.com/blog/?p=6355

"Conclusion, again, is that it takes an enormous amount of work to burn up 16GB of RAM on your MacBook Pro, unless you’re running a lot of poorly written apps that hog memory, have bloatware running at startup, or possibly doing a lot of advanced, high-end video editing (which I hope to experiment with at some point)."

There is also comparisons on Youtube of FinalCut Pro on a MBP vs Adobe Premier on a Windows computer with 32GB of RAM. In short, Final Cut Pro does well with 16GB. Hardware Canucks & Jonathan Morrison both have video comparisons.

Thank you for this!

 

[JPNFRK7]

I say if you want it now then get it. I have a feeling that there will be tons of people saying "wait" for the next iteration of the Macs. There will be something that it doesn't have that people at that time will want to wait for.