Trading in MacBook Pro

[ST12AT]

Currently have a mid 2014 MacBook Pro that apart from some dead pixels has been great, bought from Apple as a refurbished unit in early 2015 and now looking for a change.

The idea is to trade the MacBook Pro in for an iMac and a MacBook Air. There are just two of us and neither use any resource heavy programs (video/photo editing etc). The Pro feels a bit wasted, and heavy, for the odd spreadsheet sat on the sofa and we both want a bigger screen for sitting at the desk.

In all the years we’ve had the Pro we have never taken it out of the house as the iPad works perfectly well enough for watching movies etc when away.

Any thoughts on going from a 15” laptop to a 13”? Some of my spreadsheets are large and don’t quite feel right on a smaller iPad screen so I guess that’ll be the same on the Air?

I’ve been told the 2017 Air is the sweet spot, oh and that I shouldn’t have installed Big Sur on my current Pro?

[Phunk]

If you can stretch to the brand new MacBook Air, the new M1 processors are incredible. It’s just as fast as my top spec 2019 MacBook Pro 16’’

I didn’t find the difference in screen size a major issue, but if I’m sitting down doing any longer term work I hook it up to a 27” monitor.

Could this be an option for you? You could do away with the iMac just get a monitor, keyboard and mouse

[ST12AT]

Phunk said:

If you can stretch to the brand new MacBook Air, the new M1 processors are incredible. It’s just as fast as my top spec 2019 MacBook Pro 16’’

I didn’t find the difference in screen size a major issue, but if I’m sitting down doing any longer term work I hook it up to a 27” monitor.

Could this be an option for you? You could do away with the iMac just get a monitor, keyboard and mouse

Didn’t give much thought to a new Air and then hooking it up to a screen for prolonged use. I figured that with our needs a new one wouldn’t be worth it and for less money an older Air and iMac would be better, plus the added benefit of both of us being able to work separately at the same time.

[gangzoom]

ST12AT said:

I’ve been told the 2017 Air is the sweet spot, oh and that I shouldn’t have installed Big Sur on my current Pro?

Is there software you're current 2014 MBP cannot run??

My late 2013 MBP still runs all the apps I need with no issues, so Office, Photoshop, and iMovie.

If you are after a big screen, just buy a big screen + wireless mouse + keyboard, a thunder port dock and job done!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-Thunderbolt-Suppo...

The 2014 MBP can drive a big screen with no issues, I intend to keep my 2013 MBP for a good few years yet.

Edited by gangzoom on Saturday 2nd January 16:59

[megaphone]

There will be some new iMacs with the new ARM processor coming along at some point, I would wait.

[steveatesh]

megaphone said:

There will be some new iMacs with the new ARM processor coming along at some point, I would wait.

This, certainly as far as the iMac is concerned. If the M1 chip is anything to go by the M* chips in the iMacs will be amazing.

[Magnum 475]

I’ll back up everything that’s been said so far. My late 2013 MBP 15” does everything I need, so it’s staying for a while. I’ve put Big Sur on it - no issues, everything works just fine so no reason why you wouldn’t do this.

I’ve not bought an M1 machine yet, because I’m waiting for the next generations of M series Macs. If I wanted to buy now, M1 MBA or M1 MBP 13 would be my choice.

[robuk]

F1 2020 on Mac? Thought it was just up to 2017 that it had?!

[MYOB]

Using large spreadsheets on any laptop can be a strain. If you can connect it to a separate monitor that might be best, even if it's just to use whilst using spreadsheets.

I've a 2015 MacBook Pro and a 2020 Air (M1). I've heard and read all the positives about the M1 processor. However, with my usage on both devices I cannot see any difference in speed. The M1 won't load into websites any quicker as this is also reliant on your internet speed.

Don't get me wrong, whilst I understand the M1 is a vast improvement, you may not notice it if you're a light user. Mind you, it does boot up quicker.

The 2020 Air is still a great laptop. I've the 13" as it's fine for my usage but I wouldn't want to use large spreadsheets on it!

[Smiljan]

robuk said:

F1 2020 on Mac? Thought it was just up to 2017 that it had?!

There's an Xbox in his tv cabinet.

[mikeiow]

Magnum 475 said:

I’ll back up everything that’s been said so far. My late 2013 MBP 15” does everything I need, so it’s staying for a while. I’ve put Big Sur on it - no issues, everything works just fine so no reason why you wouldn’t do this.

I’ve not bought an M1 machine yet, because I’m waiting for the next generations of M series Macs. If I wanted to buy now, M1 MBA or M1 MBP 13 would be my choice.

Have to say, with all the ports and an SD slot, I felt the 2014 MPBr was "peak Apple" for usability.
We have 3 in the house (kids & me) - all still working just fine, batteries still decent for a good few hours (estimate 5-6, but this year that has been pretty irrelevant!)
Mine & daughter's still on El Cap (I have a Fusion VM I cba to pay to upgrade, just to run Quicken 2014....on Win7 ), son's on Catalina & working just fine.
I run 2 attached 1080p monitors with no problem. Zooms or some videos now can make the fans spin up, but I have too many windows open....reboot usually sorts that!

I suspect the M1 will be a bit of a game changer, but for now I can't see a reason to change. I am crazy, right?

[gangzoom]

robuk said:

F1 2020 on Mac? Thought it was just up to 2017 that it had?!

Its running via Stadia. Now that I can play stuff like Cyberpunk 2077 on my MBP, the need to upgrade to a newer laptop is almost zero. All my work apps still run fine on the 2013 machine.

[hyphen]

ST12AT said:

Currently have a mid 2014 MacBook Pro that apart from some dead pixels has been great, bought from Apple as a refurbished unit in early 2015 and now looking for a change.

The idea is to trade the MacBook Pro in for an iMac and a MacBook Air. There are just two of us and neither use any resource heavy programs (video/photo editing etc). The Pro feels a bit wasted, and heavy, for the odd spreadsheet sat on the sofa and we both want a bigger screen for sitting at the desk.

In all the years we’ve had the Pro we have never taken it out of the house as the iPad works perfectly well enough for watching movies etc when away.

Any thoughts on going from a 15” laptop to a 13”? Some of my spreadsheets are large and don’t quite feel right on a smaller iPad screen so I guess that’ll be the same on the Air?

I’ve been told the 2017 Air is the sweet spot, oh and that I shouldn’t have installed Big Sur on my current Pro?

Why an iMac - Why not just get a really good monitor, along with a keyboard/mouse for the Pro? Keep the 2014 and use that at the desk, and the Air when on the sofa. That way if one or the other breaks, you are not left stranded.

[i4got]

megaphone said:

There will be some new iMacs with the new ARM processor coming along at some point, I would wait.

There'll be load of second hand Macs on the market as more and more people get the CV vaccine and switch to PCs.

[gangzoom]

megaphone said:

There will be some new iMacs with the new ARM processor coming along at some point, I would wait.

If its anything like the move to PPC, than Intel you will need to upgrade all the major apps to work for native support. Buying brand new software isn't cheap when .docx, ppt, CSV, PDF files will all still open/work fine on older hardware for a while yet. Even MP4 encoding isn't that slow on a 2013/14 MBP.

My wife as a 2018 MBP from work, apart from the touch bar at the top it essentially works like my 2013 machine.

The unibody MBPs with Retina displays are fantastic work machines, I'll upgrade mine at some point, but when a 2020 equivalent MBP cost £2k+ the longer I can make current MBP last the better.

I see apparently my 2013 MBP will still be able to run the new Bir Sur OS update, should keep it going for a good few years yet .

Edited by gangzoom on Sunday 3rd January 20:35

[Rhonda]

i4got said:

megaphone said:

There will be some new iMacs with the new ARM processor coming along at some point, I would wait.

There'll be load of second hand Macs on the market as more and more people get the CV vaccine and switch to PCs.

[ST12AT]

hyphen said:

Why an iMac - Why not just get a really good monitor, along with a keyboard/mouse for the Pro? Keep the 2014 and use that at the desk, and the Air when on the sofa. That way if one or the other breaks, you are not left stranded.

That’s a very good point that I had somehow failed to consider

Thanks for the input from everyone else too.

Looks like keeping the Pro and hooking it up to a bigger screen with a separate mouse and keyboard in the office along with getting a newer Air to use on the sofa could be the way to go.

Any recommendations for a bigger screen and how to connect it all up?

[Wonderman]

Thanks for the info on this thread, went for an Macbook 11 for eldest to use for the homeschooling as they'd done the last stint on a ipad-mini without complaint but as more heavy stuff this year thought I'd treat them.

[hyphen]

ST12AT said:

Any recommendations for a bigger screen and how to connect it all up?

If you are going to mostly leave it there, just plug it all into the laptop. If expect to move it a lot then get a Thunderbolt dock, but make sure its compatible with the new one,USBC and what not.

With regards to the screen, decide what size you want and what resolution, 4k.

[ST12AT]

hyphen said:

If you are going to mostly leave it there, just plug it all into the laptop. If expect to move it a lot then get a Thunderbolt dock, but make sure its compatible with the new one,USBC and what not.

With regards to the screen, decide what size you want and what resolution, 4k.

Roger that. Off to Amazon I go.