moving on from 2012 13” MBP

[StrollerEd]

I’ve enjoyed the 13” MBP (4lbs) ‘on the road’, having some grunt for occasional data/stats work, but must now find a replacement m/c.

Choices, choices … having some cash to spend but not wishing to over-spend - nor to have to upgrade for a few years, but then will.

Buying in UK, and considering moving to 15”:

1. 2015 2.2GHz refurb, with 16GB (4.5lbs) @£1,609 (Apple refurb site) or new @ £1,900 (John Lewis)
2. 2016 2.7GHz, (4lbs) USB-C ports … @ £2,000 (John Lewis)
   1. or £1,600.49 (clearance)
3. 2017 2.9 GHz (4lbs) USB-C ports …@ £2,444 (Educational discount)

Going from the 2012 13” MBP (2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor) to the he 2015 15” MBP, with 2.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 & twice the RAM, should deliver a performance improvement. And I'm telling myself that the shift to 15' is worth the increase in weight as I would be traveling less. And I would have all the dongles I need already.

+ £400 and its the 2016 which has more but requires investment in new dongles, altho' that might ‘future proof’ for much longer I wonder what the value is for the next 3-5 years.

another £400 and I'm into the premier league ...

Comments invited. As you might gather, I'm half decided on the 2015 reckoning that I would only get the upgrade itch after at least 3 years have passed, maybe longer


[I’m also told that holding off buying now might see discounting in September/October - although my need for a replacement m/c is within a couple of weeks.]

 

[Audit13]

I'm a big fan of the mid-2012 non-retina 13" MBP because it is the only unit with USB 3.0 and easily-to-replace RAM and hard drive.

Throw in an SSD and 8 GB of ram and the machine will seem like a whole new Mac

I have used a 13 and 15 when travelling. Granted, these were non-retina units but the weight difference became very noticeable after being carried for a short period of time.

 

[StrollerEd]

Thanks for the reply, but the MBP that I must now do without is a late 2012 and does have an SSD and 8GB RAM, so I will indeed miss it. Or are you suggesting that I look for a refurb/2ndH model?

 

[Audit13]

What programs are you using that need additional processing power?

I have a late 2013 13" and an early 2011 13". Both have an SSD and 8 GB of ram. Both machines boot without a couple seconds of each other. Basic office tasks such as MS office, email, and surfing are virtually identical.

When I execute large Excel macros for work, that is where the late 2013 shows it's increased speed.

I don't edit video or photographs so I can't comment on that aspect of a new unit's performance increase.

 

[StrollerEd]

Please stop praising the MBP 2012; I *have* to give it up. So I need a replacement. Pretend your m/c was dying - what you you then do to replace it?

 

[Audit13]

How about taking the 13" on the road and keep a 15.4" non- touch bar at home or short car trips?

I would just get the last 15.4" non-touch bar with 512 GB ssd.

 

[StrollerEd]

I should have left feedback - better late than never, perhaps?

I really did have to give the 2012 13" MBP back - to my employer, who would not let me buy it So, for myself, I opted for the mid-2015 15" MBP on special offer from Apple. Later I upgraded to 1TB SSD, keeping the 256GB SSD as an external with a 32bit O/S.

I'm now waiting on an upgrade to the 2021 16" MBP with the M1/M1x/M2 chip, aiming to cascade the 15" to a family member.