Mac Advice

[jerry16]

Hey all, I posted this over in the Mac forums too but figured you would probably be an appropriate group to ask as well. Basically, I'm in the market for a new MacBook (Pro/Air/etc.). I already have a 27" 5k iMac, which I love but know next to nothing about MacBooks. I want a MacBook to supplement my iMac because I travel a lot for work and personal, and do photography on the side. I am busy enough with my side photography that when I'm away from my iMac, I fall behind on my editing/image distribution/etc.

All I really want to be able to do with this machine is use Photoshop/Light Room on an as needed basis - it wouldn't be my primary work station - so I'm not totally falling behind when I'm away from home for a week. I would still use my iMac as the primary workhorse.

All that being said, I don't really want to spend top of the line money on a MacBook when I already have a top of the line iMac. I just want a machine that can run Photoshop well (doesn't have to be blazingly fast, but not painfully slow), and has a decent display so I can actually see what I'm doing. I can live with a smaller display, but clear and sharp is important to me. Other things like an SD card reader and CD drive would be nice, but I'm more than willing to compromise on that. Storage space isn't a huge consideration for me as I would probably only ever be working on a handful of projects at a time with it.

Does anyone out here have any suggestions on a Mac that will cover my bases adequately and give me a bargain? I was browsing the Apple refurb store and was maybe interested in that - I do like the MBP's listed with SD and CD drives - just am painfully ignorant on Macs and whether those 2012 are too old to run well.

 

[Laird Knox]

I'm running a 2011 MacBook Pro with 36MP, multi-layer files without issue. I have upgraded it with an SSD and 16GB memory. For photo editing I would say your first priority is memory. 8GB minimum but get a machine that will handle more if possible. I installed my own memory and it was pretty cheap compared to Apple's pricing.

By comparison my desktop is a Sandy Bridge I5 with 32GB RAM. When I update that machine I'll be getting a motherboard that will handle more memory. The CPU in the mid 2012 MacBook Pro is one generation newer than what I am using (desktop and laptop).

 

[Fishrrman]

A whole new generation of MacBook Pro's are due by the end of October.

Consider this info BEFORE you make your buying decision.

If you buy NOW, you may find yourself quite disappointed by the dawn of November...

 

[jerry16]

I'm running a 2011 MacBook Pro with 36MP, multi-layer files without issue. I have upgraded it with an SSD and 16GB memory. For photo editing I would say your first priority is memory. 8GB minimum but get a machine that will handle more if possible. I installed my own memory and it was pretty cheap compared to Apple's pricing.

By comparison my desktop is a Sandy Bridge I5 with 32GB RAM. When I update that machine I'll be getting a motherboard that will handle more memory. The CPU in the mid 2012 MacBook Pro is one generation newer than what I am using (desktop and laptop).

That's good to know you're running well with a 2011! There's a refurb 13.3" MBP w/ 128GB SSD and 4GB of RAM w/ an i5 in the Apple store for $959. I like these 2012's over the Air's or MacBooks because of the SD reader and disc drive. There is a 13.3" MBP w/ 8GB of RAM and an i7 but has a spinner HDD for $1,049. Hate to give up the SSD, but that extra RAM is important. An extra $50 or $1,099 will get me a 2015MBP w/ retina display, 8GB of RAM and 128GB flash storage. Kind of leaning towards the $1,099 model. Retina display, flash storage, 8GB Ram but with a 2015, I give up the disc drive.

So much to consider!

A whole new generation of MacBook Pro's are due by the end of October.

Consider this info BEFORE you make your buying decision.

If you buy NOW, you may find yourself quite disappointed by the dawn of November...

Thank you for the heads up! I have heard rumblings about this. Definitely not interested in the new models, as it's just more than I need, but I wonder how a release would impact the refurb store pricing/availability?

 

[kenoh]

I run fine on a 2010 i5 MBP swapped out for SSD and maxed it to 8gb ram. Works fine editing A7Rii 42mp files. Stutters occasionally but not unusable by any stretch of the imagination.

I think power wise my MBP compares to a Macbook now so I dont think you will struggle regardless of what you buy. I would recommend waiting for the rumoured imminent refresh though...

 

[jaduff46]

Kids all have MBPs of various vintages. Most recent graduation present was a 2014 13" Retina for the youngest. They all love them.

I'd wait to see what the refresh looks like before deciding.

 

[MCAsan]

We have moved to iPad Pro for the field to review, cull, and upload to Lightroom on our desktop. On the iPad you can use Lr Mobile to do basic adjustments and a couple of local adjustments (grad and radial filter). So far you can not do heal/clone or the adjustment brush. So depending how much you want to do in the field and how many images there are from any given shoot, an iPad Pro could be an option to consider. There is a good chance iPad Pros will be update in the spring and MacBooks by the end of the month.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

If you want a machine with a DVD drive (SuperDrive), then be sure that it has SSD/Flash storage, not a spinning HDD. Accepting a spinning HDD in order to have a DVD is not a viable compromise in my book. You're compromising your day-to-day performance (slow HDD) in favor of a feature you're not likely to use often.

Personally, I'd get a more recent machine, without the DVD drive, and get an external DVD for the relatively few times it's needed.

 

[RCAFBrat]

^ This plus the fact that in your original post you seem to place high importance on the display (clear and sharp).

Might be worthwhile to compare Retina vs non-Retina at an Apple store to help with your decision. I think picking up one from the refurb store is an excellent idea.

 

[jerry16]

Thanks for all the input, everyone. Lots of good info here. I checked out a non retina display and I don't think it's necessarily bad, but it is very noticeable when I'm used to my iPhone/iMac. Don't think I'll be able to revert to non retina. SuperDrive would be nice, but an external drive would make more sense than going all the way back to 2012 hardware.

I think I've narrowed it down to the early 2015 rMBP. Just have to find a killer deal.

 

[jerry16]

Really appreciate everyone's time and advice. I picked up an early 2015 rMBP w/ a Magic Mouse 2 on Craigslist for $900. Less than a year old with some warranty left. Minor scuff on the bottom but other than that perfect.

I feel really good about the deal regardless of what Apple does with the Mac line up this month. Saved on sales tax, the machine, and even got a nice mouse with it. I also feel like my needs will be covered well!

Loving it so far - the display is beautiful. Thanks again!
[doublepost=1476131585][/doublepost]Side note - I am considering adding an Apple Care extended warranty to it while I am still able. $250 seems like a small price to pay for some peace of mind.