Which Configuration of MacBook Should I Buy?

[imdog]

My primary computer is a 5k iMac and my current companion for it is a 2011 MBP. I'm looking into purchasing a 12" MacBook to replace my MBP; the most intensive applications I use are Pro Tools, FCP, and Photoshop. I'll be using my iMac for the vast majority of my work, but I travel a lot and will be using the MB to do light work on projects that I finish up on my iMac. Other than that the primary use of my MB will be for web browsing and content consumption while laying in bed or when I just want to be in a different room of my house. The main reason I'm in the market for a new laptop is because of the lack of portability of my 2011 MBP. When I'm in another room of the house I often find myself using my iPhone instead of my MBP because I just don't feel like lugging it around. I find the performance of my MBP alright, aside from the painfully slow boot time and application launching (which I'd presume is solely due to the HDD, so I shouldn't have that issue with the 12" MB) I'm admittedly a very aesthetic-oriented person which has drawn me to the 12" even though I know the 2017 MBP is surely the better bang for my buck.

Should the 2017 12" MB be sufficient for my needs? And which configuration do you guys suggest? The primary intensive task will be video editing in FCP, which upgrade do you think would be more beneficial for that; processor or RAM? I'm thinking either the i7/8gb or i5/16gb

Thanks

 

[0002378]

Ok, I know you've got your heart set on buying a new machine, but I see one other great option. Why not upgrade the drive in your 2011 MBP to an SSD ?

I recently upgraded my mid-2009 Macbook Pro drive from a HDD to an SSD, and it made a world of difference ! It almost feels like a new computer. Aside from upgrading the CPU (which may not be possible), an SSD is the single best upgrade possible.

To be honest, I don't know if/how much your new Macbook will outperform your 2011 MBP, without knowing the exact specs of both, but I'd stick with the existing Pro and upgrade it to the maximum, instead of getting a new Macbook.

 

[imdog]

Ok, I know you've got your heart set on buying a new machine, but I see one other great option. Why not upgrade the drive in your 2011 MBP to an SSD ?

I recently upgraded my mid-2009 Macbook Pro drive from a HDD to an SSD, and it made a world of difference ! It almost feels like a new computer. Aside from upgrading the CPU (which may not be possible), an SSD is the single best upgrade possible.

To be honest, I don't know if/how much your new Macbook will outperform your 2011 MBP, without knowing the exact specs of both, but I'd stick with the existing Pro and upgrade it to the maximum, instead of getting a new Macbook.

My MBP is the Late-2011 13.3" 2.8GHz i7 with 4GB of RAM, from Geekbench scores the 12" MB seems to outperform it greatly. If I choose to continue using this laptop I'll have to upgrade both the Hard Drive, RAM, Battery (have to keep it plugged in 24/7 at this point), and the number keys don't work which idk if there is a fix for. I'd be putting a few hundred dollars into a device that's only worth a few hundred dollars in resell, so I don't really want to put any more money into it. When I got it I was in high school and only used it at home so the form factor doesn't bother me, but now I'm on long-haul flights a couple times per month. Also the non-Retina display on my MBP is a little depressing to use when my iMac & iPhone both have Retina displays. Thank you very much for your suggestion however

Since my heart is pretty set on the 12" MB, what in your opinion is the more worthy spec upgrade? The processor or RAM? My 5k iMac has 8GB of RAM, I bought it assuming I'd upgrade but I'm able to edit 4k video on it no problem and haven't felt the need to upgrade yet.

 

[0002378]

Hmm, that's a good question. To be honest, I know nothing of the kind of work you talk about (FCP, Photoshop, etc), so I couldn't be sure. For my own use, I'd get more RAM.

Do you have to choose between the two ? Does your budget not allow both more RAM and the better CPU ?

 

[EugW]

MacBook: Core i7 / 512 GB / 16 GB

But truthfully I'd recommend a MacBook Pro for performance. I do get where you're coming from about the size though. The size of the MB is totally awesome. I actually find I'm using it for basic media consumption too, whereas I never used my 2009 13" MacBook Pro for that. I just used my iPad before, but now I'm sometimes using the MacBook instead of the iPad. I think that says a lot about its portability.