Upgrade time, 14cCPU/32cGPU or 16cCPU/40cGPU M4 Max?

[spencer elliott]

Hello, I am about to upgrade from my 2018 Intel i7 MBP and was hoping to get some feedback.

I am a screen printer and graphic designer. This laptop will be running many of the products from the Adobe suite 90% of the time. That includes multiple large Illustrator and Photoshop files, daily, at the same time (which is currently causing me headaches with long pinwheel loading and crashes often). Also daily usage of a screen printing color separation software and rip software at the same time with Illustrator and PhotoShop running. It will also be running After Effects, Premiere Pro & other animation applications from time to time as well. Oh and internet browser and Numbers and Pages, all daily open at the same time. My print business is still in its infancy so I am a one man print shop and all of these tasks fall on me, every day.

I currently use five different desktops screens, scrolling between them with three finger swipes, for each different software or browser. One for FireFox, one for Pages, one for Numbers, one for Illustrator (sep software and rip software run on this same desktop), and finally one for photoshop.

My current 2018 suffers from a battery that is almost shot, usually pretty hot, keyboard suffers from the multiple input issue (too man "e"s when only struck once for example, if I am not mistaken this is the dreaded butterfly keyboard?), and Illustrator and Photoshop have been crashing often just recently, causing me to lose unsaved work. Its driving me insane. I wanted to hold out longer if possible, but my business is picking up and internal storage is running out. I know I should utilize external storage more, but I hate using them. This device is 7 years old and I just want to upgrade to something that will allow for smoothing working between all the software and larger internal storage. So the time has come.

I am definitely looking into the two 16" M4 Max options, but which one? I know both will be a huge upgrade over my current laptop, but will that jump from $3,500 to $4K make a difference for me in the long run? I am prepared to spend that extra $500 if it will be worth it. Will the increased CPU and GPU be noticeable for me considering how the machine will be operated?

Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks for reading!

 

[raythompsontn]

Considering your job revolves around software on the Mac, especially Adobe software, spend the extra $500.00. Amortized over 5 years the cost difference per month is less than $10.00. Is saving two hours a month worth your time?

In this case if'n I was in your shoes, I would chose the M4 Max, at least 32 Gig of memory, and 2TB of hard disk space or more.

Your time is valuable, don't skimp.

 

[spencer elliott]

Considering your job revolves around software on the Mac, especially Adobe software, spend the extra $500.00. Amortized over 5 years the cost difference per month is less than $10.00. Is saving two hours a month worth your time?

In this case if'n I was in your shoes, I would chose the M4 Max, at least 32 Gig of memory, and 2TB of hard disk space or more.

Your time is valuable, don't skimp.

This is how I am leaning, but now im looking at the upgrades and whoa nelly! Do you think the "nano-texture" display is worth a $150 upgrade? I dont think I will be using it outside too often, but less glare anywhere is nice.

This thing is gonna cost me a ton. haha

 

[raythompsontn]

Do you think the "nano-texture" display is worth a $150 upgrade?

For your use color precision and clarity is important. The nano-texture will reduce that somewhat. Worth it? Not unless you are experiencing glare in your current work environment.

This thing is gonna cost me a ton.

Indeed. As you use the machine for work, real productivity stuff, it will be money well spent. An investment, not an expense.

 

[ISKOTB]

This is how I am leaning, but now im looking at the upgrades and whoa nelly! Do you think the "nano-texture" display is worth a $150 upgrade? I dont think I will be using it outside too often, but less glare anywhere is nice.

This thing is gonna cost me a ton. haha

I hardly use my laptop outside, and I went with the nano-texture display. Now that I’m used to it, I’m actually putting a matte screen protector on my work MacBook Air too. Nano texture just fancy way of saying matte clear coat lol”

 

[spencer elliott]

For your use color precision and clarity is important. The nano-texture will reduce that somewhat. Worth it? Not unless you are experiencing glare in your current work environment.


Indeed. As you use the machine for work, real productivity stuff, it will be money well spent. An investment, not an expense.

Good point about the color clarity. Trying to match ink colors to colors on screen would be more difficult if I cannot see the color as clearly. I think I will be skipping the nano-texture. I can always buy a textured screen protector later if it is needed for some reason.

Also good point about it being an investment. If I weren't building a brand new house right now, I wouldn't be as concerned, but holy crap is this house getting expensive. Thank you for your feedback!

I hardly use my laptop outside, and I went with the nano-texture display. Now that I’m used to it, I’m actually putting a matte screen protector on my work MacBook Air too. Nano texture just fancy way of saying matte clear coat lol”

Thank you for the feedback. When I go to the mac store to look at the models in person, I will take a look at the differences. As stated above, if the nano-texture reduces clarity on colors, I may opt against it. We will see what they look like side by side. Thanks again!

 

[topgunn]

The nano-texture glass also has special cleaning instructions. It's never been worth the hassle to me. I work in all sorts of lightning conditions and my MacBook Pro, without nano-texture, has always been fine. From my perspective, I can save money, clean my screen like I always have, get better color accuracy (less washed out), for the cost of perhaps not sitting with my back to a glaring light source.

 

[spencer elliott]

The nano-texture glass also has special cleaning instructions. It's never been worth the hassle to me. I work in all sorts of lightning conditions and my MacBook Pro, without nano-texture, has always been fine. From my perspective, I can save money, clean my screen like I always have, get better color accuracy (less washed out), for the cost of perhaps not sitting with my back to a glaring light source.

Thank you for the feedback! I appreciate it.