Larry Wing Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 Looks like I'll have to replace my Macbook Air 13" i5. I'm thinking of going with a Macbook 12" for its portability but can't decide on i3 or i5. I know the specs but everyday usage is something else. Main use is Accordance 12, Iibraoffice, web (vivadi), email (thunderbird imap), a little photo editing (lightroom cc), Olive tree's Bible Study 6. Main concerns are loading speed and search in Accordance. I hate to wait for anything. Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukfraser Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 (edited) Im guessing that lightroom is going to be the app that uses most processing power and i would suggest i5 particularly if you have large raw files and dont like waiting. It will run on i3 but i5 will future proof you a bit if you upgrade your equipment. Edited May 17, 2017 by ukfraser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julia Falling Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 We hold onto our Macs for a long time. It used to be that, when we purchased a Mac, we maxed out the processor and added more RAM later. We can do that anymore. Everything seems to be soldered in (to get the slimmest and lightest possible laptop?). Now we max out everything in the machine of our choice. The Mac cannot be upgraded 2 or 3 years later. One benefit is that you get more for your Mac when you sell it. You also have received better performance from it while you have it. If the spinning beachball shows up a lot in a 2 year old machine, there will be regrets. My advice – buy the best MacBook you can reasonably afford. If you don't mind using an external drive to store the bulky stuff (video files, your iTunes folder) you can get by with less on-board storage. That is one way that you can economize. My iTunes folder for the MacBook Air is on an external drive. (Same with my MacMini.) By the way, we no longer buy the fastest desktop – you can buy a nice used car for what a MacPro costs. And neither of us has a 15" MacBook Pro. My husband is due for a new laptop and will go with a 13" – but will max it out. In the next year or two, I'll do the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Voth Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 Just a note on the Mac news sites there have been rumours of the possibility of new laptops being announced at WWDC in June so you might consider that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julia Falling Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 Thanks, David. We're waiting to see what happens before doing anything. Looks interesting, doesn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukfraser Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 Best time to buy an new pc is yesterday coz youll have had the benefit of it or tomorrow when you get the latest turbo charged added on version, never today when it instantly becomes obsolete. ;o) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Wing Posted May 18, 2017 Author Share Posted May 18, 2017 While I'd like to wait until June I don't think that's practical for me. Announce in June but release in September or several months later. Ill need this month and the current specs are fine for my use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukfraser Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 Not sure if you saw this thread Larry https://www.accordancebible.com/forums/topic/21200-2016-macbook-pros/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Wing Posted May 20, 2017 Author Share Posted May 20, 2017 (edited) Thank you Faser. No I hadn't seen it. I've decided to get a MacBook Pro rather than the MacBook. Right now I'm leaning toward the 13" without Touch Bar and upgrading to 512 SSD. From what I can find I don't think I'd notice a difference in startup and application starting/running speeds with that model compared to the next one up. At least not with the type of programs I'd use. My only concern is I want to future proof (if there is such a thing) so the one with Touch Bar is still a viable option. Coming from a Windows environment this Mac stuff can get a little un-nerving. Edit after posting this. Again I changed my mind. Right now I"m leaning for the 256gb SSD and ram 16gb. on the basic model without touch bar. We'll see what I end up with Monday. Edited May 20, 2017 by Larry Wing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julia Falling Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 The Touch Bar is intriguing, but not many apps use it at this point. I would expect that to change. I think Evernote does (Rick would know for sure). The Apple software does. I also think the MacBook Pro is a smarter move. I have found the 512 SSD more than adequate since I moved iTunes to an external drive. And the little drive I have for iTunes is small enough that I wouldn't mind traveling with it if I needed it. I've also begun using iCloud Drive – my Documents folder and Desktop are backed up to the iCloud. I can download stuff from iCloud to my iPad anytime I have a wi-fi connection. I really like that. I still use TimeMachine. I am really backed-up. This is not paranoia. It might just be laziness – I do not want to spend a whole bunch of time trying to recover data. Not fun. The Mac is so easy to maintain that even I can do it. I am only a semi-geek, not a full-fledged geek. I think the Mac Migration Assistant will transfer stuff from a Windows machine to a Mac. I'm sure someone on this forum has done it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Wing Posted May 21, 2017 Author Share Posted May 21, 2017 Thank you, Julia. For my present and anticipated future needs I can't see needing a Touch Bar. I will opt for the MacBook Pro though. I have 192 gb free on my Air so that says a lot on how little I've historically installed or saved on my Mac. All my photo editing is done in Windows and there are some programs I use in Windows that I am not willing to give up right now. (my email program, Quicken, and a few others not available in Mac. I know Quicken is but I can't sync between Mac and Windows and from what I read the Mac version is missing some things from Windows version.) I want to leave Windows but just can't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukfraser Posted May 21, 2017 Share Posted May 21, 2017 (edited) I have installed windows on my mbp and it runs oh so so so much faster!!!! I use virtual box rather than parallels. I cant do without visio or access. Edited May 21, 2017 by ukfraser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Wing Posted May 21, 2017 Author Share Posted May 21, 2017 Fraser, how much RAM do you have on your macbook pro? I've looked at upgrading to 16gb but it looks like I'll have to order it and not just pick up at store. I won't know for sure until next week though. I don't know what configurations Apple stores carry so will have to check with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukfraser Posted May 21, 2017 Share Posted May 21, 2017 (edited) Yes i went for 16 gig on a 15" (previous pre touch bar model normal usb model) though my wife tends to use the new one and im still using old faithful. ;o) Edited May 21, 2017 by ukfraser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.png.c3123c857d1029f98e39c9394adc358d.png)
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now