Which Macbook to buy? Advice needed

[rajcovuk]

Okay guys, i'm really stuck so looking for impartial advice. I'm basically needing a Macbook for Lightroom CC editing and Final Cut Pro editing eventually, but i'll only ever be shooting in 1080p most likely. I'm definitely only getting a 13" - but it has boiled down to whether you think I need a quad core or is a dual core sufficient?

In between I'll obviously be using it for browsing, Spotify etc but not running all at the same time (probably Spotify in the background when using Lightroom/Final Cut Pro)

Obviously the biggest issue is the price difference - I'd be paying about £500 more for a quad core.

The two machines I'm looking at though are:-

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/compu...ey-2017-10165801-pdt.html?intcmpid=display~RR


https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/compu...h-touch-bar-space-grey-2018-10182048-pdt.html

 

[maflynn]

If you can swing the price for the quad core, then I would. The cheaper one only has 128GB of storage, and as you noted a dual core. I think you'll be getting more bang for your buck with the more expensive model and you'll not be disappointed.

 

[rajcovuk]

If you can swing the price for the quad core, then I would. The cheaper one only has 128GB of storage, and as you noted a dual core. I think you'll be getting more bang for your buck with the more expensive model and you'll not be disappointed.

Thanks man! I think I'll eventually get an external drive anyway so not OVERLY concerned with the double storage, however I just want it to run smoother for as long as possible.

 

[chekie]

Avoid 128GB storage at all cost. Otherwise you will find yourself constantly looking for stuff to delete within one year.

Even if you move every personal file out to external storage, system files and caches will quickly eat up 128GB

 

[rajcovuk]

do you guys think the 8gb of RAM is sufficient?

 

[kp98077]

Quad core. Best Buy Friday has the TB for 1399 on flash sale $400 off! They probably don’t have it now but may soon!!

 

[currahee2100]

You don't want the base 2017. I had one and I had some issues with it. Mine was stuttering all the time and when I loaded what I wanted, it was clear that I was going to want more in a month. I have a 512 quad core now but only because it was on sale.

Quad core future proofs the laptop but at 500 pounds more, that's a lot of coin. But if you look at the 256, then maybe the discrepancy is a little less.

I personally couldn't stomach it. Or else I would have gotten the touch version at the get go.

 

[rajcovuk]

You don't want the base 2017. I had one and I had some issues with it. Mine was stuttering all the time and when I loaded what I wanted, it was clear that I was going to want more in a month. I have a 512 quad core now but only because it was on sale.

Quad core future proofs the laptop but at 500 pounds more, that's a lot of coin. But if you look at the 256, then maybe the discrepancy is a little less.

I personally couldn't stomach it. Or else I would have gotten the touch version at the get go.

Okay i do think I'm set on the quad core now, but i also see it at about £300 cheaper without the touch bar - is the touch bar more of a novelty thing? is it really worth £300 more?

 

[ascender]

Okay i do think I'm set on the quad core now, but i also see it at about £300 cheaper without the touch bar - is the touch bar more of a novelty thing? is it really worth £300 more?

People either seem to hate the TouchBar or they think its "OK". I think more people seem to resent having to pay for it in the first place when it should be an option.

Anyway, you also get a spec bump for that money and four TB3 ports, two on each side of the machine.

 

[rajcovuk]

Can anyone confirm these 3 machines are the same right? There is such a huge price difference and I'm looking but they both seem the same to me! I'm scared I'm missing something glaringly obvious!

Lowest price - £1385
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Apple-MacB.../20022296936?iid=303115264504&chn=ps&thm=1000

Amazon - £1609
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Apple-MacB...ore/dp/B07FLHK5BD?ref_=bl_dp_s_web_1647178031

Currys - £1750
https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/compu...h-touch-bar-space-grey-2018-10182048-pdt.html

 

[currahee2100]

Only the ebay one and currys are the same. All non touch models are 2017s with dual cores. Apple decided to only update the models with the touch bar, so all touch bar models are quad cores.

I think it's (touch bar) a gimmick and I don't use it, even though I use photoshop and premiere. It's not even consistent. Some security boxes it will ask for the password or touch ID and others it does not.

I bought it solely for the quad core but I think the touch bar increases the cost. Because I believe that display strip is OLED.

 

[kp98077]

Can anyone confirm these 3 machines are the same right? There is such a huge price difference and I'm looking but they both seem the same to me! I'm scared I'm missing something glaringly obvious!

Lowest price - £1385
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Apple-MacB.../20022296936?iid=303115264504&chn=ps&thm=1000

Amazon - £1609
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Apple-MacB...ore/dp/B07FLHK5BD?ref_=bl_dp_s_web_1647178031

Currys - £1750
https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/compu...h-touch-bar-space-grey-2018-10182048-pdt.html

Going for silver ? Would urge quad core. And from actual store. Personally online makes me nervous. Sometimes If you want
To exchange it it takes forever !

 

[currahee2100]

Going for silver ? Would urge quad core. And from actual store. Personally online makes me nervous. Sometimes If you want
To exchange it it takes forever !

Agreed. That ebay seller only has 427 reviews.

 

[rajcovuk]

Only the ebay one and currys are the same. All non touch models are 2017s with dual cores. Apple decided to only update the models with the touch bar, so all touch bar models are quad cores.

I think it's (touch bar) a gimmick and I don't use it, even though I use photoshop and premiere. It's not even consistent. Some security boxes it will ask for the password or touch ID and others it does not.

I bought it solely for the quad core but I think the touch bar increases the cost. Because I believe that display strip is OLED.

but it says in the heading on the amazon one that it's quad-core
[doublepost=1556145997][/doublepost]

Going for silver ? Would urge quad core. And from actual store. Personally online makes me nervous. Sometimes If you want
To exchange it it takes forever !

i'm confused! see this is the bit i must be missing. does silver mean it is dual core? all titles on the 3 ads specify quad-core (there eBay one you have to click to review specs)
[doublepost=1556146504][/doublepost]

but it says in the heading on the amazon one that it's quad-core
[doublepost=1556145997][/doublepost]

i'm confused! see this is the bit i must be missing. does silver mean it is dual core? all titles on the 3 ads specify quad-core (there eBay one you have to click to review specs)

Oh wait, my bad, on the amazon one if you change it to have it without the touch bar then yeah it changes the macbook to a dual-core

 

[kp98077]

but it says in the heading on the amazon one that it's quad-core
[doublepost=1556145997][/doublepost]

i'm confused! see this is the bit i must be missing. does silver mean it is dual core? all titles on the 3 ads specify quad-core (there eBay one you have to click to review specs)
[doublepost=1556146504][/doublepost]
Oh wait, my bad, on the amazon one if you change it to have it without the touch bar then yeah it changes the macbook to a dual-core

Was just curious of color
🙂

 

[Michvuee]

You could get a Razer Blade that has better specs and install macOS on it. LinusTechTips have a video which came out a week ago on how to install macOS(native macOS not emulation). Razer Blade 15 has a i7 8750H, GTX 1060, 16G RAM, 256GBssd+2TB HDD for £1300. Unless you don’t want to spend an hour or so installing macOS on the Razer Blade I guess the 256GB MacBook is fine since 128gb is very small.