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Questions About The 12 Inch 2017 MacBook

B

beeinformed

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 30, 2010
369
6
Hi Everyone

I currently own an 13 inch 2016 MacBook Pro notebook and I am considering purchasing the 2017 12 inch MacBook computer (primarily for its portability).

I have vision problems that causes glare & sensitivity issues and would like to know if this notebook is on a par with the MacBook Pro’ s screen & would also like to know if increasing the memory from 8 to 16 Gb would future proof it (as I would like to have it for five years).

Thanks in advance for your assistance to my inquery!
 
The MacBook Pro has a superior display.

I've compared both at a nearby Apple Store. Whether or not the image quality difference is a dealbreaker for you is entirely your call. After all, you're the one who is going to be using it and those are your eyes, not mine.

I suppose 16GB RAM might help some way in future proofing it, but based on Apple's design choices, the MacBook is not a good multitasking machine. Since it has no fan, it quickly throttles processes when CPU intensive tasks are running more than a couple of minutes. It's not like it is designed to concurrently run Photoshop, Illustrator, Final Cut Pro with a Safari window open with fifty tabs.

If you want to future proof your MacBook purchase, the higher priority would be to increase SSD storage. Operating systems, apps, and data tend to grow in size over time. Sure, higher RAM demands are forecasted but with the MacBook's multitasking limitations, it's less of an issue than with other systems that have more scalable performance.
 
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beeinformed said:
Hi Everyone

I currently own an 13 inch 2016 MacBook Pro notebook and I am considering purchasing the 2017 12 inch MacBook computer (primarily for its portability).

I have vision problems that causes glare & sensitivity issues and would like to know if this notebook is on a par with the MacBook Pro’ s screen & would also like to know if increasing the memory from 8 to 16 Gb would future proof it (as I would like to have it for five years).

Thanks in advance for your assistance to my inquery!
Click to expand...

Possible to check it out instore? 14 days if not satisfied as well.
 
So... *Disclaimer* I got my 16gb/i7/512gb 2017 MacBook this morning.

While I really wanted a second portable laptop to replace my Dell XPS 15 for most tasks while potentially carrying both, I am also a picture quality nut...

I was 100% set on the rMB until I went to a store that had a 13" MacBook Pro, and a 2016 rMB side by side. The Pro's screen looked SOOOO much better than the 12" rMB that I started to change my mind. It was brighter, with better color etc, etc.

I seriously considered the 13" Pro for a while before pulling the trigger on the rMB. It ultimately came down to portability. I did not want to replace my XPS 15 since it is provide by my work and I can get them to pay for a 13" or 15" Pro in the future.

I got the MacBook as my portable couch/bed/airplane computer (and maybe some other work while traveling
and at the office). I travel 150k-200k miles a year, so good battery and easy to use in confined places trump just about everything.

The screen easily compares to my pre(as in non) 5k iMac and my XPS 15. As I type this now, it is plenty bright and looks great. I don't miss the MacBook Pro screen because it is not right next to it to compare.

I maxed out the specs in order to future proof as much as I could and it seems pretty dang fast for everything I have done so far.

If you have (an)other computer(s), this seems like the perfect companion.
 
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Thanks everyone for your comments!

I would like to add that prior to owning the MacBook Pro, I had a 13 inch MacBook Air for five years & the screen quality between the two notebooks was obviously night and day.

The main reason I switched to the MacBook Pro was the retina screen and in particular the anti-reflective coating on it which proved to be very beneficial to the glare and sensitivity issues I have with my eyes.

I find the weight of the MacBook Pro notebook to be kind of acceptable (feels like it weights a tad more than my MacBook Air) but would prefer the weight of the MacBook instead.

If the anti-reflective coating on the MacBook were of similar quality to the MacBook Pro’s I think I might purchase it.
 
In my personal opinion...

The MBP has a display that, of all differences, is brighter to me - this is most noticeable outside and in areas with lots of natural sunlight, at least to me. I replaced a 13-inch MBP with a 12-inch rMB. I am happy with this decision, but it is not my primary computer (if it was, I would have kept the MBP.)

Unless usage requires it now or in the very short term, I dont think upgrading anything on the rMB is justifiable, personally (this keeps the cost much lower and makes it practical to upgrade sooner should a big breakthrough come about - such as Apple putting a multicore ARM processor in it sometime over the next few years and if Apple-designed ARM processors continue to advance at a speed that outpaces other CPUs.) If this is a second system for pure portability, I recommend considering the base model (especially because this base model is the one you can often find on sales.)
 
They need to update the screen. It's stupid that it isn't as good as the 'pros' as it's a much better computer :D Just kick up the brightness at least. It's not that the 12 is too dim, or anything, it just doesn't make any sense presently.

They also need to lose the headphone jack and put in another USB-C port (and include a USC-C to headphone adapter, like they do with the phones, and soon the iPads). They need to do this now, and not wait for CPUs, IMO)

This is the coolest machine they have, so they should take special care with it.
 
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Interesting that people re dumping the Pro for the rMB, agreed the portability is amazing. The screens on the MBP are gorgeous though.
 
Another person here who ditched the Pro for the rMB (after ditching the rMB for the Pro!).

I think when you compare the rMB and the 13" MacBook Pro side by side, you have to think "what the hell is all that space and weight being used for?" (in the Pro). Because it's way thicker, bulkier, and heavier. It's louder with its fans. And its batteries don't last as long in my experience.

The answer thrown around is always performance. But, given the right tasks, the rMB punches well above its weight. In short bursts, it has about the same performance as a 13" MacBook Pro. Of course, thermal throttling kicks in and then the gap widens. And in graphical tasks there is an even bigger gap.

BUT... if you are doing things that incur sustained load, or need graphics performance, why would you buy the 13" MacBook Pro? The processors are pretty weak. There is no dedicated graphics. The answer is, if you needed performance, you would have to get the 15" MacBook Pro.

And that means that the 13" MacBook Pro is only for people who don't need sustained performance.

And, to go full circle, if you don't need sustained performance, the rMB is just as good - with the added benefit of being so much more portable, and silent, and significantly cheaper.

After owning several rMBs, and a few 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pros, I really don't know who the 13" MacBook Pro is meant to be for.

The rMB is so underrated in my opinion. Even if it was the same price as the Pro I would probably still choose it. (Please don't read this Apple! :p )
 
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I tried the larger models and they are very nice, but i'll stick with the 12"

(I guess this is the 12" love thread :D ) . No harm in that.
 
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Hi Everyone

I’m still considering the 2017 12 inch MacBook but would like some more feedback about how the anti-reflective coating on it compares to the current MacBook Pro 13 inch model. Thanks!
 
Hello I wanna ask.a question also. ı will get Netflix account. can ı watch 4K videos on macbook 2017 if sub about ultra hd membership? also ı saw some 4K HDR movies on iTunes but confuse about can ı watch or not
Thanks
 
wishxmaster said:
Hello I wanna ask.a question also. ı will get Netflix account. can ı watch 4K videos on macbook 2017 if sub about ultra hd membership? also ı saw some 4K HDR movies on iTunes but confuse about can ı watch or not
Thanks
Click to expand...

You can, but when connecting my rMB to a 4k display, the performance is noticeably affected, and the temperatures are noticeably elevated. IMHO, if you are going to frequently use a 4k display, especially at 60hz, the MacBook Pro with touchbar is the better option.
 
ZapNZs said:
You can, but when connecting my rMB to a 4k display, the performance is noticeably affected, and the temperatures are noticeably elevated. IMHO, if you are going to frequently use a 4k display, especially at 60hz, the MacBook Pro with touchbar is the better option.
Click to expand...

I was using MacBook Pro i5 2017 but sold it and get macbook 2017 rose gold. its about my rose gold obsession. Just use for daily things watch movie and social media. Thats why maybe it can look crazy about change MacBook Pro :) thanks for reply
 
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