Choosing the Right MacBook For You in Spring 2020

Now that Apple has updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro, it is time for many to decide which one to buy. The MacBook Air is ideal for portability while also being a great value. The 16-inch is best for anyone needing maximum power. Where does the 13-inch model fit in?

Comments: 22 Responses to “Choosing the Right MacBook For You in Spring 2020”

    James Daransun
    4 years ago

    MBA 2020

    Dan
    4 years ago

    I've owned 3 MacBook pro's over the last 15 years, and each one required repair due to HEAT BUILDUP and MELTDOWN of various components, like CONTROLLER BOARD. Still the same problems ? I used each at home with an external monitor, and suggested aluminum stand, and Qbooks, photoshop, spreadsheet, and internet. Can't afford new Mac Pro, and IMACS I owned suffer same problems. I know I'm not alone...read too many complaints on net. WHAT SAY YOU ? Any suggestions ? thanks

    4 years ago

    Dan: The new 13-inch is too new for anyone to experience that. I haven't heard of any of the other models having any heat problems. I've never seen that in any of my MacBooks ever.

    Tom
    4 years ago

    Do you anticipate an upgrade to the 16-inch MacBook Pro in the fall? I've heard rumors about an updated screen or is that too much to ask? Thanks.

    4 years ago

    Tom: Your guess is as good as mine. I doubt it would be an updated screen as that is such a new model with a completely new screen just introduced.

    Steve Weinstock
    4 years ago

    To add my (and my family's) 27 years of owning Macs, from LC111s to iMacs of all iterations, to Mac Pro, to MacBooks to MacBook Pros, I haven't ever had a heat problem. Weird. I have more problems with the OS and software than hardware over the years. As of now, I'm recommending my wife purchase an upper end 13" MacBook Pro. What I am ticked about is that there's no USB, HDMI, and ethernet ports (as well as Audio in—for a LONG time). Might want to add the price of adapters to the base price...

    4 years ago

    Steve: The upper-end 13-Inch MacBook Pro has 4 ports, any of which can be used as USB, HDMI or ethernet (as well as power, Thunderbolt, DisplayPort and many other things). The best thing about it is that you can use them as you please. Need HDMI, you can do that. But if you don't, you aren't stuck with a big HDMI port you'll never use. Same for any other combination. The ports are what you need, and none are wasted because the owner doesn't have a need for an exact port type.

    Tom
    4 years ago

    Which MacBook has the best keyboard?

    4 years ago

    Tom: All three use the new Magic Keyboard, which uses the tried-and-true scissor mechanism, not the "butterfly" keyboard that has had so many problems.

    Tito
    4 years ago

    Aloha Gary!
    What kind of work one must do to justify getting the power of the 16?
    Mahalo!
    Stay Safe. Stay Healthy. Keep Distant. Keep Happy 😄🤙 🌈 ça va bien aller!!!

    4 years ago

    Tito: Lots of people would benefit from the high-end. For instance, someone who makes lots of videos, or long ones (films). The big screen is something many may rather have too.

    Brian
    4 years ago

    How far away are we from the new Apple processors being put in MacBook Pros? What will the implications be for users? Will there be any negative implications?

    Jackie
    4 years ago

    Thanks Gary - just what I was looking for. Wondering about photo storage. I have about 1400 photos, want to scan a lot more old photos. Do I have room to add quite a fe more on the Macbook Air?

    4 years ago

    Brian: Outside of Apple, no one really knows anything about this. It is just rumors. Could happen next year or 5 years for now, or never. We don't know if it will be a major switch like going from PowerPC to Intel, or if it will barely affect anything. Sometimes rumors like this turn out to be nothing and sometimes they are right. But all we can do is speculate in the absence of any real information.

    4 years ago

    Jackie: 1400 is actually a pretty small amount. But I can't say how much room you have without knowing your hard drive space and how much you are already using. Or do you mean iCloud space? Either way, you can check and see for yourself. If each photo is 2MB (a general average from looking at mine) then 1400 should take up 2.8GB or so. If you have a 256GB drive, then that is 1% of your space.

    Jon
    4 years ago

    Thanks Gary, this is a great comparison summary, and it's very helpful!
    Would you consider doing a video on the benefits of the toolbar? I am considering the MacBook Pro vs the MacBook Air, and the latter does not have a toolbar. I wonder how useful a toolbar would be or how much I would use it. Cheers! -Jon

    4 years ago

    Jon: The benefits of the Touch Bar, you mean? That depends on which apps you use. Some apps make great use of it, and others do not. Also depends on how willing you are to start using it and get into the habit. It is all very subjective. Like switching from mouse to trackpad or one app to another.

    Tom j Dolan
    4 years ago

    Hey Gary, been taking a long look at these nu 13" to replace maybe? my 11' Air... considering the upper 13" Pro for on the road video and lite Biz stuff, but what's your take on the 14" rumors floating around re: a stretched 13"? Thanx

    4 years ago

    Tom: I don't think we are going to see a 14-inch for a long time since everything has been updated so recently now. Maybe 14-inch was just wrong info. I don't know why you would wait to get a screen that is a tiny bit bigger. If you want a bigger screen, then go for the 16-inch.

    Marc Chamberland
    4 years ago

    Hi Gary. I just ordered the MacBook Pro 13 with the Core i5 tenth generation ! I will add a 27 inches monitor on my desk and I don't know what to choose between a mouse or a trackpad ! What would you suggest ? I surf the web, do some spreadsheets in numbers and edit photos with Luminar 4, and a little bit of video editing in iMovie ! Any suggestion ??

    4 years ago

    Marc: Use what you want to use. I love a trackpad over a mouse, personally. Lots more you can do with trackpad gestures. Plus, your MacBook Pro already has a trackpad. Why not use it?

    Marc Chamberland
    4 years ago

    Thanks Gary ! I will try the trackpad.

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