Which MBP is my best choice?

[joripelli]

Hi guys,
First of all thanks for reading. I was using MBP 13" 2009 until september/october 2014. I was waiting to the new generation of MBP (Now working with lenovo windows 8) and I think it's time to upgrade my mac (I can't wait to new skylake generation... 6 moths? 1 year? So far...).

I was waiting to new broadwell quad core, but as you know, apple still use quad broadwell procesors in news MBP 15" and i have some doubts to choose my new machine. Do you must to know, that I will update my monitor too. I'll buy new Dell ultraSharp U2415. Since now, i don't use an external monito and 13" of my old MBP 2009 was too small form me (working 8 hours/day).

I don't know wich macbook pro is the best for me. I'll use the new mac for:
- Web developmnet: Magento (php)/Rails, Mysql, Vitualization with vagrant, etc
- Photoshop.
- Word, excell, etc.

Do you must to know that I'm not a gammer, I never use MBP to play games.
For me, portability is not a real problem, i see the 15" very portable for me too. It's true that 75% of time I'll work at home with my new external monitor but I see new 15" like a very thinner and portable machine.
In another way, I want use my new mac for years, there's no problem to upgrade CPU or RAM (I'll choose 16GB configuration sure). But what do you think.... is the new Broadwell 13" dual core enough for photoshop and web developmnet? or do you prefer new 15" quad core for this? If do you think 15" is the best solution... It's 15" top configuration my best choice (remember i¡ll never play with it).

Thanks for the tips.

 

[Bending Pixels]

First, YOU need to decide on which screen size. Personally, I prefer a 15" - the 2 extra inches of screen real estate make it easier on the eyes.

Next up - the 15" rMBP comes with 16gb of RAM already, so you don't need to worry there.

If you're doing HEAVY 3D Photoshop work, or regularly using lots of plug-ins, or creating videos in FCPX, then the higher end model would be a good choice. Otherwise....the base model should be just fine. I store almost all of my work (photos, videos, etc) on an external drive.

 

[RoboWarriorSr]

First, YOU need to decide on which screen size. Personally, I prefer a 15" - the 2 extra inches of screen real estate make it easier on the eyes.

Next up - the 15" rMBP comes with 16gb of RAM already, so you don't need to worry there.

If you're doing HEAVY 3D Photoshop work, or regularly using lots of plug-ins, or creating videos in FCPX, then the higher end model would be a good choice. Otherwise....the base model should be just fine. I store almost all of my work (photos, videos, etc) on an external drive.

Quick question how bad or how well does the iris pro is at video editing? I'm far from a professional video editor but I would definitely like to use Final Cut Pro. My 2009 just isn't cut for editing 1080p videos using Final Cut Pro.

 

[joripelli]

Thanks for the reply Bending Pixels.
I'll work 80% of time with the external monitor (I work at home). I only work directly on mac screem in summer (and not 8hours/day) for occasionally works. My biggest boubt is about de CPU, for my work is better a new dual Broadwell core or a Haswell quad core (2 years old cores). If with these new dual Broadwell cores I can do my job perfectly I'll choose 13", but if you think is not enougth i don't have problem to choose 15" (but I don't choose 15" or 13" for the screem).

In another way, i don't do Heavy Photoshop work (no video in FCPX, no 3D). I use photoshop to convert psd to HTML basically and photo editing.

I'm from Spain, I can choose between this two configurations

rMBP 15":
basic configuration.
2.249,00 €

rMBP 13":
dual core i5 2,9Ghz
16GB RAM
512 GB

2.239,00 €


As you can see... identical prices.

 

[yjchua95]

Thanks for the reply Bending Pixels.
I'll work 80% of time whit the external monitor (I work at home). I only work directly on mac screem in summer (and not 8hours/day) for occasionally works. My biggest boubt is about de CPU, for my work is better a new dual Broadwell core or a Haswell quad core (2 years old cores). If with these new dual Broadwell cores I can do my job perfectly I'll choose 13", but if you think is not enougth i don't have problem to choose 15" (but I don't choose 15" or 13" for the screem).

In another way, i don't do Heavy Photoshop work (no video in FCPX, no 3D). I use photoshop to convert psd to HTML basically and photo editing.

I'm from Spain, I can choose between this two configurations

rMBP 15":
basic configuration.
2.249,00 €

rMBP 13":
dual core i5 2,9Ghz
16GB RAM
512 GB

2.239,00 €


As you can see... identical prices.

Go for the 15". You'll appreciate the extra screen estate. Besides, the 15" has a better integrated GPU.

The 13" would do you fine, but I'd go for the 15" instead since it's only an extra 10 euros.

You can always increase your storage by using external drives.

 

[joripelli]

Go for the 15". You'll appreciate the extra screen estate. Besides, the 15" has a better integrated GPU.

The 13" would do you fine, but I'd go for the 15" instead since it's only an extra 10 euros.

You can always increase your storage by using external drives.

Thanks, perhaps top 15" will be a great option too. It has 512GB and more powerful cpu. I won't use the GPU but if I upgrade basic 15" model to 512Gb price is practically the same (and core is less powerful)

 

[joripelli]

Another good choice instead external drives could be something like JetDrive Lite 360 (256Gb costs 168$ in Amazon)

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Thanks, perhaps top 15" will be a great option too. It has 512GB and more powerful cpu. I won't use the GPU but if I upgrade basic 15" model to 512Gb price is practically the same (and core is less powerful)

The 15 inch is far more powerful than the 13 inch, the quad cores are far better processors Haswell or not.

For your use case either of the 15 inch models will be fine.

 

[yjchua95]

Another good choice instead external drives could be something like JetDrive Lite 360 (256Gb costs 168$ in Amazon)

The 2.5/16/512/M370X is a beast of a machine. You'll love it.

Also, on this model, you can choose to manually disable the dGPU by using gfxcardstatus. Note that there's a bug with this app - you've to click on 'Integrated Only' twice before it fully disables the dGPU.

I always use this app to disable the dGPU to save battery sometimes.

 

[Bending Pixels]

Quick question how bad or how well does the iris pro is at video editing? I'm far from a professional video editor but I would definitely like to use Final Cut Pro. My 2009 just isn't cut for editing 1080p videos using Final Cut Pro.

I have a late 2013 rMBP with the nVidia separate graphics chip. I've worked on a friend's laptop that just has the Iris Pro, and I don't notice any real speed difference in FCPX, 3D in PS CC or plug-ins.

 

[joripelli]

Thanks for the tips. It seems that 15" is the best option.

 

[yjchua95]

I have a late 2013 rMBP with the nVidia separate graphics chip. I've worked on a friend's laptop that just has the Iris Pro, and I don't notice any real speed difference in FCPX, 3D in PS CC or plug-ins.

That's because NVIDIA sucks big time in OpenCL.

When comparing the Iris Pro only with the M370X, the difference is fairly large when working with massive projects.

 

[rosario1990]

Thanks for the tips. It seems that 15" is the best option.

Yeah this will be the best. It's latest and updated too.