Looking for opinions on new laptop buy

[dmag]

Hi,

[dmag]

(Getting weird forum messages, so will lay this message in on multiple edits)

Hi,

For the video work and livestream work I do, I'm looking at upgrading to a new laptop. Not sure if that's an Air or MBP. I'm currently using a dual-core i7, mid-2012 MBP, so whatever I choose will be much faster.

The choice is...

1. MBP— 14-inch M1 Pro chip, basic 8-core CPU, 14-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine. 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM. $2199

2. Air — 13-inch M1 chip with 8?core CPU, 7?core GPU, and 16?core Neural Engine. 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM. $1599

My most intense needs are to occasionally edit/render 5-6 hour Camtasia and Handbrake videos (conferences), edit/render 3X weekly YouTube videos in 10-minute range, plus run the livestreams with an external display, and two external cameras.

This would be a dedicated computer for just these tasks. I can use the existing laptop for web work, email, etc.

There are more ports on the MBP, but I don't think I'd need them all.

If you can draw any conclusions from what I need and let me know if spending the extra $600 is necessary, that would be helpful.

Thanks!

[jdc]

Id prob go with the 14 for the extra ports and video power... 1 for an external monitor, 1 for a hub to run the other things you mentioned

Adorama has the 14" MBP 16/1 TB for $2035, if that helps.

Curious tho -- if you say you can continue to use your current laptop for existing work, and the MBA is an option... why another laptop? Why not a 16/1 TB mini for $1200? plenty of ports for monitors, cameras, drives, etc.

[dmag]

jdc wrote:
Id prob go with the 14 for the extra ports and video power... 1 for an external monitor, 1 for a hub to run the other things you mentioned

Adorama has the 14" MBP 16/1 TB for $2035, if that helps.

Curious tho -- if you say you can continue to use your current laptop for existing work, and the MBA is an option... why another laptop? Why not a 16/1 TB mini for $1200? plenty of ports for monitors, cameras, drives, etc.

Thanks.

The reason for the second laptop is some of the work I do would be away from home, particularly the live video streams.

[jdc]

Then the 14. In the long run, the better option.

Although honestly, the 16" is superior in every way -- battery life, speakers, cooling, etc. -- but $2500... which is $$$$.

FWIW, Adorama allows 30 day returns. Buy an MBA, try it for a few weeks, if it struggles, or you need too many dongles -- return it.

[DP]

Although honestly, the 16" is superior in every way -- battery life, speakers, cooling, etc. -- but $2500... which is $$$$.

I'd think the larger screen is necessary for video editing. Plus, if you're gainfully employed at this, you just amortize the higher cost-raise your fee to cover the cost...

[mattkime]

IMO anything will be dramatically faster, but stepping up to the 16" would be worth it.

[cbelt3]

Rule #1- when buying a computer for work, try to futureproof as much as possible so it will be useful to you for the three year depreciation cycle.

[mikebw]

cbelt3 wrote:
Rule #1- when buying a computer for work, try to futureproof as much as possible so it will be useful to you for the three year depreciation cycle.

Haha, yes this is what we did in 2015 for our MacBook Pros, and it's a good thing since we had to milk them until just last December when they were finally replaced! We got the 16" M1Max, 10c/32c, 32GB, 2TB. So nice. Only thing I haven't been impressed with is Adobe Premiere playback of H.264 files, seems to choke on some files which I didn't get as much before on the 2015 MBP. Something about the Intel one having a better decoder that the M1 lacks.

[dmag]

Thanks for all the opinions.

After considering everything, I'm leaning in the direction of the 14-inch MBP. I sense that some folks here are engaged in far heavier lifting than I do, and they can really use the extra juice in the 16-inch model.

I figured on buying when they announce new upgrades, which I read was likely in September.

That said, I was told yesterday by a tech Youtuber that they're rolling out a few M2 chip Macs next week. Should be interesting.

Appreciate the help, guys.