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Choosing a Macbook for Xcode (described everything in the post)
- Thread starter heltisace
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I'm very curious to see what will be your decision. I was about to order my 2015 to my friend in the USA so they can bring it back with them, but I had an issue with credit card provider and now I'll have to wait for the 2018 models anyway, I have a feeling that they'll delay the release to Aug/Sept though.EDIT: Also what do you think about the ports? I actually hate the USB-C, dongles are pretty much overpriced in my country, the best prices are the "AmazonBasics" Ones but they're still kind of expensive and it's ugly to use. I use a lot of USB3 external HDDs, SD Cards and I'm planning to connect my macbook to my screen...
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Looool, happens
Still thinking, but the more I think the more I realize that it highly depends on the market at the moment of me buying that laptop. I mean, that I still will have to wait something like about a month until I finish all the chores I have now and then the prices can change after new Macbook release.Patience is all that we have, man
If you are really interested though, seems wise to just add each other on Facebook or something. Do you want me to send you my account in direct messages? Or just send me yours one, because the theme becomes something like our conversation
I don't usually comment in the forums, but I'm in this exact same situation too. Need a new machine with xcode development my primary use.
Currently using a 2016 MB and a small program takes over a minute to build. I also have a 2012 i7 Mac mini and it builds 3-4x faster. Earlier, I had a 15", but didn't like the weight or the constantly spinning fans. Mine was a 2012 15", but I've heard the newer ones also keep the fans going. Then I switched to a 13" and it was about half the speed for builds. Now I'm on a 12" and it's half the speed again.
Looking back, the 13" (2014) was about perfect for me, but I wanted something a little smaller and lighter. My 12" MB is really ideal for putting in my backpack, but 99% of the time I use it at home connected to an external monitor.
I agree with you that the newer models with USB-C look much better, but they also have the butterfly keyboard. I've had 3 of these little 12" MBs now... 1 of them had a keyboard with stuck keys (I carefully ate around the laptops and also vacuumed the keyboards once a week). This was in Ukraine also. No one would guarantee a fix. Maybe the version 2 of the butterfly keyboard is better. For me, I really love the feel of the new keys and it's hard to imagine going back to the large push buttons, but since I've already had 1 problem with it, I'm hesitant to get another one when the 2015 13" is still great.
Either:
2015 13" MBP, 16gb
2016 13" ntb MBP, 16gb
But like others have said, a quad core 13" would be ideal.
Currently using a 2016 MB and a small program takes over a minute to build. I also have a 2012 i7 Mac mini and it builds 3-4x faster. Earlier, I had a 15", but didn't like the weight or the constantly spinning fans. Mine was a 2012 15", but I've heard the newer ones also keep the fans going. Then I switched to a 13" and it was about half the speed for builds. Now I'm on a 12" and it's half the speed again.
Looking back, the 13" (2014) was about perfect for me, but I wanted something a little smaller and lighter. My 12" MB is really ideal for putting in my backpack, but 99% of the time I use it at home connected to an external monitor.
I agree with you that the newer models with USB-C look much better, but they also have the butterfly keyboard. I've had 3 of these little 12" MBs now... 1 of them had a keyboard with stuck keys (I carefully ate around the laptops and also vacuumed the keyboards once a week). This was in Ukraine also. No one would guarantee a fix. Maybe the version 2 of the butterfly keyboard is better. For me, I really love the feel of the new keys and it's hard to imagine going back to the large push buttons, but since I've already had 1 problem with it, I'm hesitant to get another one when the 2015 13" is still great.
Either:
2015 13" MBP, 16gb
2016 13" ntb MBP, 16gb
But like others have said, a quad core 13" would be ideal.
Okay, thanks. A quad core 13" would be ideal if I had enough money to purchase it and I probably won't
Please, can you share you experience about having a Macbook with only one fan? Does it throttle? Works quieter or noisier than 15" models? If ntb Macbook doesn't throttle than it will be probably ideal for me and I'll be choosing between it and 15" 2015 model(just because of it sweet price and nice performance for it).Firstly, let me say that you don't need any of these machines to develop for iOS. You can get much, much older versions and still happily do iOS development on them. Heck, I used a Mac Pro 1.1 until late 2015 for all my development and design work and I could still use this machine and get work done in a relatively decent fashion.
Anyway, I'd rule out the 2015 MBP, not because it isn't capable, but because you don't like the machine in the first place. So, why put it on the list, unless you felt you could convince yourself it's a machine you'd be happy with in the long term? It's just too expensive a machine that one would want to have buyers' remorse over.
And with that said, I say go for the latest machine. You have saved up enough money for this computer. It is an investment and my impression is that you seem to be favouring this MPB model anyway. Yes, it's the most expensive, but you have the money, it's the device that would make you the happiest, and it's also the most powerful machine to boot. Therefore, I say, do it!
Anyway, I'd rule out the 2015 MBP, not because it isn't capable, but because you don't like the machine in the first place. So, why put it on the list, unless you felt you could convince yourself it's a machine you'd be happy with in the long term? It's just too expensive a machine that one would want to have buyers' remorse over.
And with that said, I say go for the latest machine. You have saved up enough money for this computer. It is an investment and my impression is that you seem to be favouring this MPB model anyway. Yes, it's the most expensive, but you have the money, it's the device that would make you the happiest, and it's also the most powerful machine to boot. Therefore, I say, do it!
Okay, thanks, gotcha. Not that I can't convince myself that it's a great device that will serve me for a long term, but as I've already said just find new Macbooks appearance so much better.. Guess sounds silly for a software developer to use that as an argument
As I've already said I still have to wait something like a month, so maybe I will be able to find some great deal and prices may become lower.
At least, the worst that can happen - I will have to sell it and buy another machine and that's definitely not the most horrible thing ever happened to me.
Thanks everyone for advices!
My 13" was whisper quiet except a few times I tried to play some older games with it. The 15" on the other hand was noisy at all times. Just browsing the internet would result in noticeable noise. For this reason, I won't consider a 15" again.
I see the ntbMBP as the ideal 13". Two fans on the tbMBP doesn't sound better to me. It sounds like more noise and I'd be okay with the limited throttling. It didn't affect me in the past, so I'm hoping it won't be noticeable with a newer laptop. The only reason for me to go with the tbMBP 13" is the 4 ports. I get by just fine right now with one port and a dongle. It would be nice to get rid of the dongle, but that won't happen with 2 ports. This isn't too big of a deal though. The one nice part with the dongle is to plug in 2-3 devices all at once.
I see the ntbMBP as the ideal 13". Two fans on the tbMBP doesn't sound better to me. It sounds like more noise and I'd be okay with the limited throttling. It didn't affect me in the past, so I'm hoping it won't be noticeable with a newer laptop. The only reason for me to go with the tbMBP 13" is the 4 ports. I get by just fine right now with one port and a dongle. It would be nice to get rid of the dongle, but that won't happen with 2 ports. This isn't too big of a deal though. The one nice part with the dongle is to plug in 2-3 devices all at once.
I'm creating a small iOS app for myself and I sometimes do a little graphics work. Nothing major, so the 12" MB is okay for my current use case, but as my app grows, I'm also seeing build times increase and it makes me think about upgrading. If I were more patient, this machine would be fine, but I keep thinking there might be a better solution.