New MacBook Pro question

[mjpatey]

Hi,

I've been running Pro Tools 12 HD on a mid-2015 MacBook Pro with one external display (HDMI). I do mainly audio post work, so the video engine is always engaged... and likes to fail every time I open PT, and sometimes tells me I'm using an unsupported codec (despite my strict adherence to their prescribed video standards). It occasionally tells me I'm low on CPU resources and stops playback, and closing other programs never works, only a reboot. Most of this happens only occasionally, but it seems like it should be rarer than it is.

So those are my problems when using the mid-2015 MacBook Pro with the following specs... Core i7/2.2GHz (4770HQ, I believe), 16GB RAM , 256 GB SSD and Intel Iris graphics. This is my personal laptop, but I've been using it to work at home.

Work now wants to buy me a new laptop for home use (I love my job!) and I'd love some input from you all.

The obvious move would be a new MacBook Pro... The specciest one has a 3.1GHz Kaby Lake i7-7920HQ processor, 16GB 2133MHz LPDDR3 RAM, 512GB SSD, Radeon Pro 560 with 4GB. I don't need a huge SSD, so that's where I'm economizing (if there can be such a thing with new MacBook Pros!) It has the touch strip, but only because that model lets me have the dedicated video card, which I'm hoping can only help.

The other option is a high-performance Windows 10 laptop, which I'd consider mainly because it would let me have up to 64GB of RAM... though RAM doesn't seem to be my current bottleneck.

I know there are proponents of using Windows for Pro Tools, but the UA audio interface I use at home uses Thunderbolt... and though UA has tested their current interfaces in certain configurations with certain hardware on Windows (with lots of provisos and footnotes), I really don't need another thing that I'll worry about breaking whenever an update occurs, etc.

All the above makes sense to me, and I'm inclined to go for the new MacBook Pro, despite the 16 GB RAM limitation. Is there anything else to consider in this equation that I'm missing? Has anyone moved from a mid-2015 MBP to the current generation and have any experiences to share?

Thanks in advance for any insight you may have.

-Mark

[PTlanceK]

I've just made the same move and am loving it. Pro Tools works great as well as the computer is really fast. I was going to go for the Windows laptop as well because of the price and ended up going with a refurbished Mac. (The latest model). It is brand new and cost $1200 less. Best move I made . :)

[mjpatey]

Thank you, PTlanceK! I'm glad it's positive overall. Do you use the video engine much, and how has that gone for you?

[Darryl Ramm]

Your largest concern right now should be software compatibility. A new MacBook Pro is likely to arrive with High Sierra and not be downgradeable. Will that work for you? Interface drivers? Pro Tools? Plugins? Other software?

[mjpatey]

Darryl- That's a very good point. The plan is to buy one with Sierra installed, as neither PT nor my UA interface are working with 10.13 yet. B&H and others should hopefully have them in stock for a while (crossing fingers!)

[Darryl Ramm]

I would ask them explicitly about that and not assume anything or rely on store descriptions.


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[mjpatey]

Definitely! This will be a phone order for sure.

[ramonetl]

Check out BHPhotovideo.com. They have a very large selection of customized Macbooks and their prices on extended apple care is much cheaper than apple. I have seen the prices really drop on the 15.4 macbook pros recently. Could be a great spot for you to find what you want and I think they have free shipping and likely no tax unless you are in NY. Peter

[Darryl Ramm]

Originally Posted by ramonetl

Check out BHPhotovideo.com. They have a very large selection of customized Macbooks and their prices on extended apple care is much cheaper than apple. I have seen the prices really drop on the 15.4 macbook pros recently. Could be a great spot for you to find what you want and I think they have free shipping and likely no tax unless you are in NY. Peter

Read the thread Luke He has already talked about shopping at B&H.

[ramonetl]

Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm

Read the thread Luke He has already talked about shopping at B&H.

Homer Doh.