What macbook should I get for school and programming?

3l1or wrote:

Should I go for a 256 or 512gb of ssd?

Are you scrupulously neat with your filing and your ability to off-load and reload contents while under pressure across multiple deadlines and within an environment built to create stress and distractions and competitions?

Even if you are, and can (somehow) manage to maintain that... Don’t go short on space.

Otherwise, you get to deal with insufficient storage, and usually when under deadline pressures.

Your requirements are only going to increase over time, too.

Development requires yet more processing and space—another recent conversation around here had the Mac user blown through 128 GB with nothing added past macOS, Xcode, its simulators, and core tools.

You’re going to have papers, research, projects, resources, doc, games, and multimedia.

Here? 512 GB SSD, if you want ~five years.

Budget for backup storage, too.

TheLittles wrote:

...But, if you’re not looking to store much on it, but, rather use the apps to create it, then I can see 128GB being just fine.

A Mac with 128 GB is adequate for folks using mail and FaceTime and with minimal or streamed media expectations, or those folks with no local storage used past that needed for macOS itself.

Neither of which will likely be the case, here.

I would not touch a 128 GB Mac configuration with the proverbial barge pole.

Particularly not for a Mac involving a five to maybe seven year use plan leading from high school into college.

Storage requirements only ever increase.

128 GB is arguably marginal now, with macOS Catalina.

In five to seven years, it’ll be a frustration for many folks. Particularly anybody with a locally-hosted media library.

And as mentioned in another reply, the upper-end configurations for the MacBook Pro 13” four-port models aren’t as constrained as this 128 GB configuration. Two ports also gets you charging and a display with no provision for a connection to backup storage, or a need for more USB-C external gewgaws such as hubs or docks to add the necessary ports.

Aiming low for a long-lifecycle Mac is... unwise.

Yes; that’ll work. The upper-end MacBook Pro 13” four-port models will be the ones to look at, in that series. The lower-end models are rather close to MacBook Air.

Cybersecurity doesn’t need much in the way of computing resources. That’s largely a discussion of encryption, authentication, mitigations, and bugs. Which when (if?) implemented correctly, consumes negligible system resources.

You’ll want to budget for backups—direct-attached storage such as a 4 to 6 TB hard disk, or for network-attached storage with Time Machine support if you can afford that. Scheduled backups are your path to recovery from hardware and software failures, from theft, loss, and damage, and from user error.

Also probably also budget for a case or sleeve, as portable computers are subject to dings and drops and damage.

Maybe a second charger, as that avoids having to disconnect and reconnect everything at your usual working spot when you move. The second charger can be left in the bag for mobile use, and as a spare.

And as was mentioned, an LCD or 4K DTV is probably also in your future (not immediately), for when you want or need more display size. This’ll be a desk or dorm setup.

Vanishingly few Mac problems benefit from a huge number of processors, with the exception of Video Editing. This is because taking an inherently single-threaded problem and automating it to multiple processors is a classical unsolved problem in Computer Science. "More than a handful is wasted"

Among the WORST is software development -- it does not parallel-size. So do not go BIG on number of processors. In addition, processing speed is close to a don't-care, because the computations involved in compiling are just not that complex.

What Many programmers care about is screen space. But ONLY when doing intensive revising and debugging work, requiring multiple windows open at once.

So the compromise on displays may be to go small built-in screen for classes and papers, and have an External display on your desk at home/school, to open multiple additional windows for revising software and debugging. All the models under consideration support at least one substantial external display.

3l1or Said:

“What macbook should I get for school and programming?[...] Should I go for a 256 or 512gb of ssd?"

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Determining Storage Capacity:

• 256GB - If using it for programming, 256GB would do just fine.

• 512GB - But if you want to use it for school, home &, work; have many users on it; use many applications; use virtual machines; and store media on it - upgrading to 512GB would do much better.

Maybe Consider this: AppleCare Products - Mac - Apple

It's all your call.

3l1or Said:

“What macbook should I get for school and programming?[...] Do I need a dedicated graphics card for developing games like the game companies “ketchapp” and “voodoo”? Or can I be fine with integrated graphics?"

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If Used for Gaming...

With gaming taking part, for me, I'd get something with high resolution, and 32GB of RAM - I'm into gaming - and that is why I have 32GB of RAM.

RAM, (Random Access Memory) puts data to the side so your CPU can more sufficiently process large a mounts of data - and gaming, I assure you, creates lots of processing. And multitasking (running many things at once - application in this case), is bound to take part, with gaming taking part.

You don't need a dedicated graphics card unless you are trying to make competitive arcade-quality games.

Everything will run, just a slightly lower frame rate on the Integrated graphics.

The way to compare is that Discrete graphics card can render video effects in real-time, while Integrated graphics can render them, but is somewhat less than real-time.

Grant Bennet-Alder Said:

“I don't recommend ANY 128GB boot drive[...]”

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In Regards to 128GB:

Maybe I mistook the OP. I see “no graphics, school, and Cybersecuirty”. But, if you’re not looking to store much on it, but, rather use the apps to create it, then I can see 128GB being just fine. :)

Interestingly, the "high line" MacBook Pro 13-in (the two higher spec models, as recommended by Mr. Hoffman) do not have a boot drive smaller than 500-ish GB available as an option, at any price.

Only the lowest entry model has a Boot drive smaller, and that one is 256GB -- still too small for most practical Applications, in my opinion.

128GB boot drive is not offered at all in standard consumer model MacBook Pro 13-in, and on further examination, not even on the entry-level education model.

3l1or Said:

“What macbook should I get for school and programming?[...]I don’t really have an idea what to buy but to buy but I need the laptop to be worth it, portable, and well working. I’m taking Java curses right now and will be learning iOS development by my self.[...]”

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What to Consider, Based on your OP:

First and Foremost - Purchase this Directly from Apple:

To avoid scams: stay away from used purchases - purchase it directly from Apple - scams seem to be going on quite a bit, and if the original owner does not sign out of iCloud, then you’d be stuck from there.

Multitask would most certainly take Part.

So, three thoughts:

I. Specs:

• Memory: 16GB RAM
• Hard Drive: 256GB SSD
• CPU: i7 (Quad Core)
• 13”: Screen

II. Accessories:

• Apple USB SuperDrive: media drives are not built into the Mac.
• USB-C to USB Adapter: USB-C is what are on MacBook Pros
• External Drive: for backing up with Time Machine Backup

III. Other:

• Run Windows on a Virtual Machine:

Consider using a Virtual Machine(VM) (Windows-in-a-window). You would open Windows-Only Compatible items on it, including hardware like printers and scanners that are macOS incompatible.

All would be accessed and would operate as desired on the VM. Virtual Machine applications include VMWare Fusion and Parallels. Learn more here: What Is a Virtual Machine? - VMWare Support.

3l1or wrote:

So overall, what macbook should I get with what specs?

Which model? That depends....

No one-size-fits-all.

There are reasons to go small and light (Air), or to go robust (16”). Or to split the range.

Tradeoffs abound, too.

Biggest trade-offs tend to involve performance, weight, screen size, available I/O ports, and price.

Which do you value more highly?

Apple has effectively four laptops. Air, 2-port 13”, 4-port 13”, and 16”.

Here is a comparison: Mac - Compare Models - Apple