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Touch Bar MacBook Pro
- Thread starter tim1000
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That is the question that I would like answered. Is it price (13inch is cheaper) or is there some "magic" with the 13 inch form factor? Is the 15 inch super rare with most opting for smaller sizes?
I wouldn't take the 13" unless you really want the smaller size. 15" models have better processors and discrete gpus. And of course bigger screens. It's not that much bigger in size/weight that you couldn't carry it or use it in plane or whatever. If you think you don't need the extra horsepower and can manage with the smaller screen then go for it. I got the 15" and wouldn't settle for the 13" anymore.
I would like to see you with your 15inch on an airplane with the person in front of you having the chair reclined...
If you are not a regular traveler needing to use your MBP on long flights, then go for the 15. Otherwise, the 13 compact size for handling in restricted situations can come in very handy.
Well you seem obsessed about planes.. Didn't see anyone asking about them but yea I have travelled with this and I still wouldn't take a smaller one. Personal preference. As long as you're happy with yours
Well you seem obsessed about planes.. Didn't see anyone asking about them but yea I have travelled with this and I still wouldn't take a smaller one. Personal preference. As long as you're happy with yours
Also if you commute via subway. In major metropolitan areas where people carry their laptops to work, many prefer to carry their laptops in their briefs vs backpacks. The 15" real estate isn't entirely necessary for people in certain job positions or recreational purposes.
I personally have always had 15" MBPs, but I know several people who preferred the latter for those reasons.
This was my situation. Up until very recently, the 13” models had problems with RGB Color mode in Illustrator with the intel cards in the 13” both from 2016 and 2017. For that reason alone, I had to go back to the 15”. As of the latest release of High Sierra, it has been fixed.
Provided Apple tosses a quad core in the newest 13” at WWDC (as is speculated) I’d seriously consider going back to it. I can type code all day long on that screen without issue, and everything else ran ok as well.
On the other hand, I like having the dedicated graphics for illustrator, and I’m not sure how much that would impact the battery life of the 13”.
Truly it’s a double edged sword. Do you want performance, or battery life? As of right now, the 15” delivers both.
The 13" is probably the closest you will get to the 12" MacBook in the Pro line-up, it seems very small and portable i'm personally due an upgrade from my current 15" 2011 MacBook Pro, i'm waiting to see what's announced this year. Rumours are that Apple will put a quad core in the 13" and a 6 core in the 15" that would be impressive.
Personally i've always been told to get the maximum spec you can at the time of buying IF you plan on keeping for multiple years, that's what i did with my 2011 15" MacBook Pro, i got the 8GB Ram and maxed out the processor and it seems to have paid off as i haven't had any issues over the years. Of course it's now taking longer to load, the battery life isn't as good (lasts about 3 hours MAX) and for some reason the fans kick in very easy.
For a machine to have lasted 7 years i'm very happy, especially considering it has seen me through university and so on. I just hope my next MacBook (whichever model that may be) will also last!
Personally i've always been told to get the maximum spec you can at the time of buying IF you plan on keeping for multiple years, that's what i did with my 2011 15" MacBook Pro, i got the 8GB Ram and maxed out the processor and it seems to have paid off as i haven't had any issues over the years. Of course it's now taking longer to load, the battery life isn't as good (lasts about 3 hours MAX) and for some reason the fans kick in very easy.
For a machine to have lasted 7 years i'm very happy, especially considering it has seen me through university and so on. I just hope my next MacBook (whichever model that may be) will also last!
I have always had 13 inch laptops I love the small size for using on the go and retina screens make them very sharp and great to use. I don’t need anymore performance but if I did i’d Buy the 15 inch.
As for screen size it also depends on your use case if you are working with huge spreadsheets or photos or video editing the extra screen real estate is a big bonus if you aren’t you get used to whatever you have pretty quickly.
People buy different models for a huge number of reasons 15 inch machines sell very well especially the newer smaller slimmer lighter versions.
Very good thread @tim1000, well presented and well run. I find this very useful as I plan for my next MBP. I daydream and debate the same thing every time I walk into the Apple Store. I take the closed Space Grey 13" and put it on top of the closed Space Grey 15" obsessively, ask my GF lol!. Then I pick them up while tethered and try to feel the difference. I am still not sure what I would do when my current machine dies.
Price is not a factor. I really don't have a need for more screen real estate other than, well, having it, more is better right? I do not use my machine professionally. I am a COO who brings his MBP to work everyday via car. I set it up on my credenza and then I use my Windows machine with two displays to get through the day using MS Office.
What I use my MBP for is fun pretty much on the couch at night. Web surfing, email, etc. I occasionally use GoToMyPC to connect to my work machine and this is definitely challenging on my 13", but I think that may be because of the older graphics and display resolution.
Another use is vacations and travel. I don't travel a ton for work but I bring it when I do purely for hotel room options. I connect it to the TV in the room via TB to HDMI to watch Netflix and similar content.
Do the current 13"'s with dedicated intel graphics output as well as a 15" dGPU to a large screen? For what it is worth, I don't have any issues with my current output to large displays, but I am sure the newer machines perform better.
So, I still don't know what I would do? This thread is helpful. As I lie in bed typing this from my Mexico vacation, I think I am leaning towards the 13". I do agree that the 15" would be hard to use on a plane. I wonder if the 15" would be cumbersome lying in a bed with it propped up on your lap?
Decisions, decisions. One thing I know for sure, I am not buying until the 2018 models come out and if those aren't impressive, I will keep waiting for my 2011 to die. If it died today, I would probably get a maxed out 13".
Price is not a factor. I really don't have a need for more screen real estate other than, well, having it, more is better right? I do not use my machine professionally. I am a COO who brings his MBP to work everyday via car. I set it up on my credenza and then I use my Windows machine with two displays to get through the day using MS Office.
What I use my MBP for is fun pretty much on the couch at night. Web surfing, email, etc. I occasionally use GoToMyPC to connect to my work machine and this is definitely challenging on my 13", but I think that may be because of the older graphics and display resolution.
Another use is vacations and travel. I don't travel a ton for work but I bring it when I do purely for hotel room options. I connect it to the TV in the room via TB to HDMI to watch Netflix and similar content.
Do the current 13"'s with dedicated intel graphics output as well as a 15" dGPU to a large screen? For what it is worth, I don't have any issues with my current output to large displays, but I am sure the newer machines perform better.
So, I still don't know what I would do? This thread is helpful. As I lie in bed typing this from my Mexico vacation, I think I am leaning towards the 13". I do agree that the 15" would be hard to use on a plane. I wonder if the 15" would be cumbersome lying in a bed with it propped up on your lap?
Decisions, decisions. One thing I know for sure, I am not buying until the 2018 models come out and if those aren't impressive, I will keep waiting for my 2011 to die. If it died today, I would probably get a maxed out 13".
Only 15" for me. I've always liked the smaller 13" but it's just too under powered. MacOS is horrible on dual core. Just my $0.02, I'm sure others feel the processor on the 13" is satisfactory.
Edit, did a little homework. Given I will be coming from "What I know" which is a big unibody 13" form factor, the new 15" really isn't that much bigger than what I have? So more questions, do I want the same screen size in a smaller form factor, or a bigger screen in a slightly (half inch) bigger form factor?
2017 15"
2017 13"
2017 15"
2017 13"
Thanks...its a good discussion both sizes have strong arguments for.
I use a 13" for its travel size. When I'm at home, I plug it into a 40" 4k monitor through an OWC dock. If I need more graphics power, I plug it into a Mantiz eGPU. So when I'm home I have an enormous amount desktop real estate, and when I travel I have a diminutively-sized notebook. It's the best of both worlds.
Well, if you had read the starting post where he stated that prize was not the issue..
I'm not talking about the OP I'm talking about MY REASONING
If your question was to just him then you should have quoted his original post.
Get entry 12 inch and top end 15 inch. Thats what i did. sold everything previous to get the 2017 upgrades. 15 inch is wonderful for home use but annoying for travel. 12 inch is wonderful for travel and on the go. I rather have the 12 inch than my iPhone for most tasks. performance wise, not big difference for basic stuff. 15 inch snappier by a bit but nothing world changing. At moment im using 12 inch on work trip after using 15 inch all week and enjoying this little thing right away. to me the 12 inch is a revolutionary laptop and i rather give up the 15 inch and keep the 12 inch if i could only have 1 laptop and not need power hungry application use. Even Final Cut X works well for the 12 inch. in 2-3 years ill upgrade the 12 inch again if there are decent improvements.
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I also have the 12 inch which has a ****tier processor than the 13 inch and it funs well with MacOS. Keep in mind I also have the fully loaded 15 inch 2017 and use that all week so i cant say im noticing some crazy speed difference jumping between the two.
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To me the 15 is now so portable it virtually renders the 13 redundant considering how much more power you can fit in the chassis. As the 13 inch is more or less a glorified ultrabook, I feel they should have 12, 13 and 15 inch MacBooks, and 15 and 17 inch pros. This would offer far more choice without a confusing number of skus in the 13” thin and light category.
good reasoning. I wish they would bring back 17 inch and don't understand why apple attaches power/specs with screen size. give me the largest screen with lower specs like the non touch bar MacBook Pro.