A Macbook Pro could be a great choice as your primary machine if you don’t already own a desktop and are looking to purchase something that can be with you wherever you go.
For example, maybe you love to work remotely in coffee shops, airport terminals, on the couch, and anywhere else that a desktop would be impossible to bring along.
The Macbook Pro Laptop (2012) is Both Portable and Powerful
I’m a huge believer that an Apple Macbook Pro makes a great primary computer; personally, I have been using my 2008 15.4″ Macbook Pro Core 2 Duo for the last five years and am very happy with it. The machine is still used to this day for travel and general computing around the house. It’s also been a solid machine for image management and post-processing through the years.
Here’s the bottom line – no matter which Macbook Pro you choose, follow my upgrade guidelines below and you will maximize the machine’s performance and save a few dollars along the way.
Also, if you’re thinking about purchasing a Retina Macbook Pro, know this going into the purchase:
YOU CANNOT UPGRADE THE MEMORY, EVER! The RAM is soldered to the logic board and it is no longer upgradable.
In order for Apple to make this computer super thin, compromises had to be made and user serviceable parts were scrapped. Okay, onto recommendations…
Which Base Model Should I Choose?
These recommendations are based on this computer being your primary machine, I would only choose the 15″ model because it will get you a quad core processor instead of a dual core chip in addition to a bit more screen real estate.
Choose the fastest base model processor you can afford in the 15″ Macbook Pro line. Today, by default, that’s the 2.6GHz i7; I would skip the upgrade to 2.7GHz and put your money toward storage or another peripheral.
You may choose the 15″ Macbook Pro with or without the Retina display; either of these builds are perfectly acceptable.
How Much RAM Should I Get?
Without Retina Display
Choosing RAM for the laptop is simple. If you chose the base Macbook Pro model (non-Retina), choose the default and get your aftermarket 16GB of memory from Other World Computing.
With Retina Display
If you chose the Retina model, max out your RAM to 16GB on the configuration screen. Once you choose, there is no going back and upgrading the memory later because it is soldered to the logic board.
Hard Drive Choices
Without Retina Display
For those of you who pick the 15″ Macbook Pro without Retina Display, the single best upgrade you can make to this machine is to put a SSD into it. Choose the Apple SSD from the configuration page if you do not trust yourself to change the hard drive yourself (if you mess up, you’ll probably void the warranty).
iFixit hosts a tutorial (of moderate difficulty) that you can follow if you choose to do this upgrade yourself; I like the OWC Mercury Pro Extreme 6G drive. 240 GB should be more than enough. Otherwise, pay the premium on the configuration page and move on.
With Retina Display
If you chose the 2012 Macbook Pro with Retina display, this machine already comes with flash memory installed. Choose a flash storage size you’re comfortable with and you’re done.
Other Recommendations and Closing Macbook Pro Suggestions
I firmly believe a Macbook Pro can be suitable as a primary machine. It serves a huge demographic and belongs in the Apple lineup because it both powerful and portable. You may run external hard drives over USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt, connect color-calibrated external monitors for when you’re working at the studio, and be portable at a moments notice. The Macbook Pro is highly recommended for photographers who plan on purchasing only one computer and travel often.
Want the best of both worlds? Have a larger budget? Then choose the 2012 Mac Pro as your primary workstation and pick up a 13″ Macbook Pro with or without the Retina display for portability. These two computers work wonderfully in tandem and will keep you focused on the task-at-hand no matter where you are in the world.
Return from 2012 Macbook Pro Recommendations to How to Choose a Computer For Photography
