Macbook for building apps

[Csengori]

Hi . I would like to get some advice.
Currently, I have a 2013 iMac and I'm working as an iOS developer. 

Mostly what I use and need to: Xcode( multiple storyboards ),  Chrome ( 10+ tabs ), Unity for some app projects, Various iOS frameworks what are a bit demanding like Unit.

I was looking at the new Macbook Pro 13' without the touch bar. But price wise its the same as an almost fully loaded 2015 Macbook Pro. like this ( I have an external monitor at home in work where I can hook it up so )

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Apple-MacBook-Pro-15-4-Retina-MJLT2B-A-2015-i7-2-2GHz-16GB-256GB-APPLE-WARRANT-/262766625903?hash=item3d2e1c846f:g:PlEAAOSwal5YLdT8

Is it worth getting the new 13' or Should I get an older model? I don't mind getting a used machine ...

My budget is 1800 UK pounds

Thx for the help

 

[Natsoup]

2015 model will be a better choice for you in almost every way.

[Csengori]

28 minutes ago, Natsoup said:

2015 model will be a better choice for you in almost every way.

so the CPU model difference is not worth the newer model and extra money. Do any 2015 versions have dedicated GPU -s ? I think I do not need it for work , It's just a "luxury " item

 

[Pendragon]

21 minutes ago, Csengori said:

so the CPU model difference is not worth the newer model and extra money. Do any 2015 versions have dedicated GPU -s ? I think I do not need it for work , It's just a "luxury " item

 

It's a CPU downgrade. You're going from a 15in MBP Quad Core to a shitty 13in MBP Duo Core. 

[Csengori]

3 hours ago, Pendragon said:

It's a CPU downgrade. You're going from a 15in MBP Quad Core to a shitty 13in MBP Duo Core. 

Is it worth saving up to get the new 15' pro ? or just go with a used 2014/15/16 model ?  I want it to last a couple years

[applekillsmsft]

From someone who owns the new 15", I don't see the practicality for anything less than the quad-core 15"

 

[Csengori]

39 minutes ago, applekillsmsft said:

From someone who owns the new 15", I don't see the practicality for anything less than the quad-core 15"

 

 

why did u choose the new 15" instead of the "last year" 2015 version ? 

[mrchow19910319]

I am not sure how demanding the tasks you do are. I think if I were you I will skip this year's model. 

Too many issue. The battery life is not that great, as well as some other smaller issue. I do not want to spend a few k on a high end laptop then find myself keep scratching my head to find out why the touchbar is not fully working. I am doing some HTML/css coding... And all I know is you do not need to powerful machine to do web coding.... Or probably because I am newbie... But I do suggest you to have at least 16GB of ram, if you want your machine to last a lot of years. (At least 5 years.) I will choose the last year model. BUT, not second hand one. Buy from apple store if you can. Or authorised reseller, see whether they have any stocks left.  

[KWelz]

12 hours ago, applekillsmsft said:

From someone who owns the new 15", I don't see the practicality for anything less than the quad-core 15"

 

Agreed on every part.  I also have the new 15 inch and it is an amazing laptop.  Not for everyone but the "issues" people have complained about seem to have been mostly smoke and mirrors.  

 

12 hours ago, Csengori said:

why did u choose the new 15" instead of the "last year" 2015 version ? 

Cant' speak for him but in my case it was the following.  

 

Smaller chassis/lighter weight

Better IO for me (except the lack of SD card slot)

Much better screen.  

HUGE trackpad

 

I was looking at two models when I got mine.  

Both were 512gb/16Gb Ram

This one and a clearance model for exactly 1000 less from Microcenter.  I spent at least an hour going back and forth on my decision.  Looking at them literally side by side on display and just trying to figure out if I could justify the additional cost.   I went with the new model and have no regrets.   

 

The new touchpad is beyond words.   And the touchbar which I thought would be stupid gimmick at best, is actually really useful and will continue to become more so.  It is actually more convenient than a touchscreen on a full sized laptop like this one.  

 

This laptop is not for everyone.  And I still feel they made some missteps with it.  Most obvious is the use of DDR3L memory and the resulting limit to 16Gb.  For my needs this is more than sufficient.  But for some people it is not.  

[applekillsmsft]

On 1/3/2017 at 1:55 PM, Csengori said:

why did u choose the new 15" instead of the "last year" 2015 version ? 

For me, it was for the new features (apps that support and make actual use of the touch-bar make it less gimmicky and actually surprisingly useful. Better dedicated graphics support for light gaming, wicked fast SSD, better battery life (although not everyone is experiencing this) the nicer keyboard, Touch ID which is really useful. And an overall more badass Mac experience. I have friends that have last years model and thy are very envious of mine.

 

Keep in mind that I know the new MacBook Pro is overpriced (I did not pay out of pocket for mine) and that it is only for someone who enjoys the Mac experience/needs it for app development (I am both of those things) That isn't to say that I don't use windows on here in parallels (as well as Ubuntu) but it is a solid computer for development. Maybe overkill but with the significant decrease in Xcode compile times, Im happy. 

 

[applekillsmsft]

14 hours ago, KWelz said:

Agreed on every part.  I also have the new 15 inch and it is an amazing laptop.  Not for everyone but the "issues" people have complained about seem to have been mostly smoke and mirrors.  

 

Cant' speak for him but in my case it was the following.  

 

Smaller chassis/lighter weight

Better IO for me (except the lack of SD card slot)

Much better screen.  

HUGE trackpad

 

I was looking at two models when I got mine.  

Both were 512gb/16Gb Ram

This one and a clearance model for exactly 1000 less from Microcenter.  I spent at least an hour going back and forth on my decision.  Looking at them literally side by side on display and just trying to figure out if I could justify the additional cost.   I went with the new model and have no regrets.   

 

The new touchpad is beyond words.   And the touchbar which I thought would be stupid gimmick at best, is actually really useful and will continue to become more so.  It is actually more convenient than a touchscreen on a full sized laptop like this one.  

 

This laptop is not for everyone.  And I still feel they made some missteps with it.  Most obvious is the use of DDR3L memory and the resulting limit to 16Gb.  For my needs this is more than sufficient.  But for some people it is not.  

 

On 1/3/2017 at 1:55 PM, Csengori said:

why did u choose the new 15" instead of the "last year" 2015 version ? 

I didn't read KWelz's post until after posting but we have similar ideas and I hope that it is helpful

 

[Csengori]

Thank you all for the responses. I've ended up getting the 2015 15" MPB because the new one had no extra features worth the buck for me. And the battery life problems with the new one I've read all over the internet made this choice set in stone.

I've got the one with the 16gigs of ram, r9 m370x, and 516gb SSD.