Ugh, WWYD? Work MBP 13" M1's dead & needs replacing...before 14" release

[mamedarling]

Sigh...My brand-new 13" MBP for work wouldn't start this week. I took it to Genius Bar yesterday, and they told me it had liquid damage. (Idk how that would have happened, but I didn't get a sense they were making it up so chalking it up to someone else in the house or something I didn't see 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️). My IT dept didn't purchase AppleCare, ofc, so we're looking at a $1299 repair vs replacement.

I'll have to have a work-dedicated Mac between now and November when the new MBPs may(?) start rolling out.

But omg, it's hurting the deepest parts of my soul to imagine buying a replacement so close to this upcoming release.

Does anyone have any advice or creative ideas for avoiding what I fear may be the only outcome - buying a 13" M1 that arrives like the day the 14" is announced? Whatever you got, I'd be super grateful.

p.s. I do have an older, personal MBP and an external monitor, but IT really doesn't want me to use my personal MBP, and I can't keep both personal and work files, apps, etc. on my IT-administered iCloud account for work. I thought about purchasing a Mac Mini but a.) $699 for something that would get a couple months' use at most is tough to sign on for, and b.) would have to figure out how to hook it up to both my MBP and external monitor (for webcam and screen real estate, and it seems like that would be difficult to do.

 

[Strider64]

Personally, I know what I would do if it was a company computer. If the computer was needed right away, I would get the MBP 13" M1. If you can wait until the MBP 14" is announced then get the the MBP 14". Though it depends in what you are using the computer for? Now, if it was a personal computer (or a computer that can also be your work computer) then it would be a different story. This is just what I would do.

Is there a way you can use a loaner work computer until the MBP 14 is announced? That's another option?

 

[theluggage]

Does anyone have any advice or creative ideas for avoiding what I fear may be the only outcome - buying a 13" M1 that arrives like the day the 14" is announced?

Odds are the 14" won't be a direct replacement for the M1 and will cost at least as much as the $1799 4-port Intel model, with the M1 MBP staying where it is as the entry level MBP. So the M1 isn't going to be obsolete overnight, and it really depends whether you actually need the extra power of the 14"/M1X (as rumored).

My guess is that the M1 MBP will stick around until the rumoured new M2 Air comes out sometime next year, after which it won't make much sense.

...and, remember - although the leaks and analyst predictions make it sound more likely than not, the 14" MBP is still just a rumour - the launch date (and, more importantly, shipping date) even more so. Or it might suck...