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    MBPro As Desktop Replacement

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by smilepak, Apr 13, 2015.

  1. smilepak

    smilepak Notebook Deity

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    What you think using the 13" MB Pro as Desktop Replacement. Would 8GB RAM be enough with 256SSD. My primary use would be Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. I assume I would have to keep the entire Lightroom catalog off an external HDD?
     
    smilepak, Apr 13, 2015
    #1
  2. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

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    Lol MBP as a desktop replacement. No. If you MUST have a mac, get an iMac or MacPro, or the top end spec macbook pro retina. Everything else is weak.
     
    Raidriar, Apr 14, 2015
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  3. Eric Auer

    Eric Auer Notebook Guru

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    For that use it will be just fine.

    Get as much Ram as you can, and as fast an external HDD as well.

    Also I would use a larger external monitor.

    Eric
     
    Eric Auer, Apr 14, 2015
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  4. mmoy

    mmoy Notebook Deity

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    I use my 15 inch rMBP as a desktop replacement in the office and at home during the winter. I sometimes run a VM for Windows 7 and have 5 GB of RAM allocated and it uses 13 GB of RAM altogether so more memory can be helpful if you're running large memory applications. I'd assume an external drive if you're working with a lot of big files. My setup is with a Das Keyboard, Logitech Mouse and 24 inch WUXGA Dell monitor.

    I sometimes even use my 2008 17 inch MBP as a desktop replacement at home. It holds my iTunes library and I use it for moving podcasts and videos to my mobile devices.
     
    mmoy, Apr 14, 2015
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  5. smilepak

    smilepak Notebook Deity

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    Interesting. Thanks. That would mean I must get it with the RAM ready from Apple since I can't upgrade the RAM after the fact, only the SSD huh. A cost I would need to consider if I want 16GB.

    So let say I get the 16GB and 128GB SSD. I assume it is easy to replace that with a 512GB SSD.
     
    smilepak, Apr 14, 2015
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  6. Eric Auer

    Eric Auer Notebook Guru

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    I have not heard of any of the MBPro's 2012-current not having user upgradable Ram.

    Eric
     
    Eric Auer, Apr 14, 2015
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  7. mmoy

    mmoy Notebook Deity

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    The SSD is actually flash memory chips - not a standard 2.5 inch device. They are replaceable by Apple in the store - they can remove the chips from one motherboard and put it in another one so they can replace your motherboard without you having to restore from backup but I don't know if you can get the specific chips that will work in them and I don't think that Apple will sell them to you.

    I would go with at least 256 GB of flash storage. I think that you can get by with about 48-64 GB for Mac OS X but you may eventually find that you put a lot of other stuff on your HDD for convenience.
     
    mmoy, Apr 14, 2015
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  8. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    The retina has a "non standard" for factor for the SSD, OCW has a replacement that works, but it's rather expensive. The RAM in the retina is not upgradeable. The "vanilla" MBP should still have upgradeable RAM.
     
    tijo, Apr 14, 2015
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  9. KCETech1

    KCETech1 Notebook Prophet

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    Tijo is correct, the SSD is non standard so Apple or OWC only for upgrade path. And the RAM is not replaceable unless you buy an entire motherboard or a new system

    Have to agree with mmoy, 250GB minimum if you are looking to do a lot of photo work even with an external and 16GB ram IMO
     
    KCETech1, Apr 15, 2015
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  10. Eric Auer

    Eric Auer Notebook Guru

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    Thanks, I did not know that.

    My Wife's 13" MBP is a 2012.

    Eric
     
    Eric Auer, Apr 15, 2015
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  11. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    The takeaway from this is to max out the RAM and make sure the storage is plenty if you're going for a retina macbook pro. The soldered RAM in a growing trend in thin and light consumer notebooks of all kinds, be they Windows or OS X.

    The exception is usually business notebooks that are made to be serviceable by IT departments.

    The soldered components are just a trade off between thinness and engineering costs. It's much easier to make thing thinner if you don't have to deal with SODIMM sockets and standard SATA connectors.
     
    tijo, Apr 15, 2015
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