Help Me Decide My Purchase ASAP (Mac Mini vs MacBook Pro)

[imdog]

As the dates get pushed back further & further it looks like I will have to purchase it within the next couple days to be assured to have it delivered before Christmas, so I'm going to bite the bullet and purchase it. But I have a few questions.

Right now I have a late 2015 5k iMac, I wish they released Apple Silicon iMacs or Mac Pros as I want a desktop replacement. I use my iPad Pro as my mobile device so I don't need a laptop. I've never used the MacBook + External display setup before but I know a ton of people do. I have some projects I have to get on with making in FCP & Logic and I don't want to wait for what could be over a year for these desktop computers. So I am thinking I'm going to buy one of these Apple Silicon Macs & External Display, and then sell the Mac to upgrade once higher end Apple Silicon desktops come out. How much money would I be losing here? If it's only a few hundred dollars and I'm waiting any longer than 6 months or so for that upgrade, I would find that justifiable.

So I want to purchase a 16GB RAM & 1TB SSD, should I get the Mac Mini or MacBook Pro?

Criteria:
- Optimum performance (does Mini have better thermals than the MacBook Pro?)
- Resell value (which one will I be able to recoup more of my money back for to put toward the higher end desktop when it releases?)
- I use my iPad Pro as a laptop, so I don't need a MacBook for portable use. If the price difference is minimal I wouldn't mind the convenience of having a laptop for just a couple hundred extra dollars. I would use it as a laptop occasionally but primarily use my iPad Pro.
- If I buy the MacBook I would also want one of those arc stands, and I'd need a port hub. Mac mini doesn't need a stand nor a port hub, so that would factor into the price as well


Thanks

 

[bill-p]

It's simple: will you be mobile? (i.e.: will you want to be able to use your Mac computer everywhere, and not just in one place?)

If yes, MacBook Pro. If no, Mac Mini.

 

[Ocnetgeek]

As the dates get pushed back further & further it looks like I will have to purchase it within the next couple days to be assured to have it delivered before Christmas, so I'm going to bite the bullet and purchase it. But I have a few questions.

Right now I have a late 2015 5k iMac, I wish they released Apple Silicon iMacs or Mac Pros as I want a desktop replacement. I use my iPad Pro as my mobile device so I don't need a laptop. I've never used the MacBook + External display setup before but I know a ton of people do. I have some projects I have to get on with making in FCP & Logic and I don't want to wait for what could be over a year for these desktop computers. So I am thinking I'm going to buy one of these Apple Silicon Macs & External Display, and then sell the Mac to upgrade once higher end Apple Silicon desktops come out. How much money would I be losing here? If it's only a few hundred dollars and I'm waiting any longer than 6 months or so for that upgrade, I would find that justifiable.

So I want to purchase a 16GB RAM & 1TB SSD, should I get the Mac Mini or MacBook Pro?

Criteria:
- Optimum performance (does Mini have better thermals than the MacBook Pro?)
- Resell value (which one will I be able to recoup more of my money back for to put toward the higher end desktop when it releases?)
- I use my iPad Pro as a laptop, so I don't need a MacBook for portable use. If the price difference is minimal I wouldn't mind the convenience of having a laptop for just a couple hundred extra dollars. I would use it as a laptop occasionally but primarily use my iPad Pro.
- If I buy the MacBook I would also want one of those arc stands, and I'd need a port hub. Mac mini doesn't need a stand nor a port hub, so that would factor into the price as well


Thanks

I purchased with The same specs. The difference in cost between the Mini and Air was almost 500. The Pro would be a couple hundred more.

 

[Zazoh]

I suspect because no mater what you choose resale value will not be high. These are Gen one devices and the next upgrades will really devalue these. Also, I have a 2018 mini which was inexpensive, to get a good experience I paired with a 4K monitor that cost as much as the mini. Tough decision.

 

[imdog]

I suspect because no mater what you choose resale value will not be high. These are Gen one devices and the next upgrades will really devalue these. Also, I have a 2018 mini which was inexpensive, to get a good experience I paired with a 4K monitor that cost as much as the mini. Tough decision.

I went with the Mini Don't feel the need for a MacBook with my iPad Pro, was going to be using this strictly as a desktop anyway. Gonna pair it with a 4k or 5k monitor and either upgrade when the Mac Pro comes out or the iMac. Depends on the price difference, if I'm keeping that monitor perhaps the Mac Pro will be the better deal.