Costco: MacBook Pro 13.3" – Apple M1 Chip 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU – 8GB Memory – 512GB SSD

kmtrebon

Jul 29, 2021 7:23 PM

12 Posts

Joined Jun 2017

kmtrebonJul 29, 2021 7:23 PM

12 Posts

Isn't this the same price as on apples website?

lightspeeds

Jul 29, 2021 8:01 PM

518 Posts

Joined Nov 2010

lightspeedsJul 29, 2021 8:01 PM

518 Posts

Quote from kmtrebon

:

Isn't this the same price as on apples website?

That's for the 256 gb SSD version. This one has 512 gb, so it's a better deal.

2

CaptainHook

Jul 29, 2021 8:08 PM

133 Posts

Joined Jan 2010

CaptainHookJul 29, 2021 8:08 PM

133 Posts

I'm a PC user so forgive my Mac ignorance; my daughter is headed to college majoring in graphic design. She'd like a MacBook Pro. Almost all the deals I see for MacBook Pro's are for 8GB versions and it is usually a big jump in price to 16GB.
Would a college design major be able to work with 8GB or is 16GB pretty much a must have for someone doing Photoshop and Illustrator work?

Sugartoes

Jul 29, 2021 9:22 PM

1,420 Posts

Joined Jan 2018

SugartoesJul 29, 2021 9:22 PM

1,420 Posts

Quote from CaptainHook

:

I'm a PC user so forgive my Mac ignorance; my daughter is headed to college majoring in graphic design. She'd like a MacBook Pro. Almost all the deals I see for MacBook Pro's are for 8GB versions and it is usually a big jump in price to 16GB.
Would a college design major be able to work with 8GB or is 16GB pretty much a must have for someone doing Photoshop and Illustrator work?

I hope she has shown prior passion and dedication before you fork over 2 grand

Edit: she may be just fine with an 8gb mb air

https://youtu.be/Qtzlj5cJcoQ

Last edited by Sugartoes July 29, 2021 at 02:28 PM.

3

drinkw

Jul 29, 2021 9:33 PM

2 Posts

Joined Nov 2018

drinkwJul 29, 2021 9:33 PM

2 Posts

Quote from CaptainHook

:

I'm a PC user so forgive my Mac ignorance; my daughter is headed to college majoring in graphic design. She'd like a MacBook Pro. Almost all the deals I see for MacBook Pro's are for 8GB versions and it is usually a big jump in price to 16GB.
Would a college design major be able to work with 8GB or is 16GB pretty much a must have for someone doing Photoshop and Illustrator work?

16gb or 32gb good speed when files are big it kick in without crashing.

2

PowerfulClub4936

Jul 29, 2021 11:12 PM

2,508 Posts

Joined Apr 2021

PowerfulClub4936Jul 29, 2021 11:12 PM

2,508 Posts

As you can see on the m1 Macbook Air threads, Apple is so far ahead of their competition that they keep lowering the price and giving deeper and deeper discounts. Wink

1

DudeGuy1985

Jul 29, 2021 11:31 PM

84 Posts

Joined May 2019

DudeGuy1985Jul 29, 2021 11:31 PM

84 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank DudeGuy1985

Quote from CaptainHook

:

I'm a PC user so forgive my Mac ignorance; my daughter is headed to college majoring in graphic design. She'd like a MacBook Pro. Almost all the deals I see for MacBook Pro's are for 8GB versions and it is usually a big jump in price to 16GB.
Would a college design major be able to work with 8GB or is 16GB pretty much a must have for someone doing Photoshop and Illustrator work?

So here is my opinion, 8gb of ram is probably enough for 95% of most activities. The 5% of the times that the additional ram is required though, it is 'definitely' required. If the amount of ram used by apps is exceeded then the entire system takes a performance hit as the computer now has to use hard drive memory as a swap drive (this also degrades the hard drive over time). Personally I purchased the 256gb air, with the 8gb of ram, but found that I could only run a certain app on windows (was not available on mac). Fortunately Windows can run as a virtual machine on the mac with a program called Parallels, but it consumes the entire ram allocation. So I shipped back the 256gb, 8gb of ram m1, and swapped it for the 512gb and 16gb version of the m1. Parallels runs windows smoothly now, and I don't have to worry about filling up the smaller hard drive with apps. I would check to see if the m1 air (not pro) is acceptable, it doesn't have the touch bar, has a slightly smaller battery, and doesn't have an internal fan. None of these 'upgrades' justify the cost difference between the air and the pro. The m1 air is an awesome laptop, it checks everything off of my list for a professional programming laptop. The cpu and gpu are way more than what is necessary for either photoshop or adobe illustrator, it has a super bright greater than 1440p resolution screen, a backlit keyboard, 18 hour battery life, 2 thunderbolt ports than can be expanded with an adapter. I bought a bluetooth mouse, and a $20 case, screen protector, and keyboard cover bundle. Teachers and students get a direct discount from apple, and the cost difference for the 16gb is $180. This might help too.. in some number of years.. when you want to re-sell the laptop, 95% of the market will be saturated with 8gb unusable computers, but the 16gb will be usable until the machine stops functioning. I have zero complaints about my purchase and find new innovative ways to improve my workflow almost every day. The trackpad gestures are actually incredible, zooming and swiping windows. As a side note, Parallels does consume battery power quite a bit when running, but more optimizations are on the way to fix this. Still a great Parallels user experience.

Last edited by DudeGuy1985 July 29, 2021 at 04:43 PM.

9

1

crazyxlakerxfan

Jul 30, 2021 3:38 PM

7 Posts

Joined Nov 2010

crazyxlakerxfanJul 30, 2021 3:38 PM

7 Posts

Quote from Sugartoes

:

I hope she has shown prior passion and dedication before you fork over 2 grand

Edit: she may be just fine with an 8gb mb air

https://youtu.be/Qtzlj5cJcoQ

Keep in mind the video review is for macbook pro 8GB vs 16GB. This offer is for a Macbook Air

mikem5407

Jul 30, 2021 5:48 PM

168 Posts

Joined Oct 2013

mikem5407Jul 30, 2021 5:48 PM

168 Posts

Just bought the same computer from Best Buy for $1249. It's part of their student discounts for the next 2 days.

Loveday22

Jul 31, 2021 4:50 AM

1,148 Posts

Joined Dec 2011

Loveday22Jul 31, 2021 4:50 AM

1,148 Posts

Mac air with m1, 8gb, 256gb is a better deal at 750. $500 extra for slightly better gpu and 256gb ssd is not worth it imo.

2

sammyman

Jul 31, 2021 4:59 AM

1,050 Posts

Joined May 2007

sammymanJul 31, 2021 4:59 AM

1,050 Posts

I went with the MacBook Air 512gb 8gb. From what I understand, these new MacBooks have really fast ram and are more efficient so most can get by with 8gb. That said, I'm not sure what I'd be missing with going to the MacBook Pro for an extra $250 (similar spec'd MacBook Air is $999)

jterp7

Jul 31, 2021 3:17 PM

1,074 Posts

Joined Sep 2007

jterp7Jul 31, 2021 3:17 PM

1,074 Posts

Quote from sammyman

:

I went with the MacBook Air 512gb 8gb. From what I understand, these new MacBooks have really fast ram and are more efficient so most can get by with 8gb. That said, I'm not sure what I'd be missing with going to the MacBook Pro for an extra $250 (similar spec'd MacBook Air is $999)

Mainly the touchbar and cooling fan. If youre doing anything with sustained loads that requires a fan then get the pro.

sammyman

Jul 31, 2021 8:31 PM

1,050 Posts

Joined May 2007

sammymanJul 31, 2021 8:31 PM

1,050 Posts

Quote from jterp7

:

Mainly the touchbar and cooling fan. If youre doing anything with sustained loads that requires a fan then get the pro.

Touch Bar is on its way out. Semi useful for just a few programs. Was a really bad idea IMO.

I'm torn between this lower spec mba, and waiting for the new 16" MacBook Pro. But I have a powerhouse so I think the mba is the best fit.

1

PowerfulClub4936

Jul 31, 2021 9:43 PM

2,508 Posts

Joined Apr 2021

PowerfulClub4936Jul 31, 2021 9:43 PM

2,508 Posts

Quote from sammyman

:

Touch Bar is on its way out. Semi useful for just a few programs. Was a really bad idea IMO.

I'm torn between this lower spec mba, and waiting for the new 16" MacBook Pro. But I have a powerhouse so I think the mba is the best fit.

The price difference will be large. Just get the Air now if you need it.

Costco: MacBook Pro 13.3" – Apple M1 Chip 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU – 8GB Memory – 512GB SSD – Space Gray - $1299.99

$1,300

$1,450

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