Which Macbook Pro to get?

I currently have a mid 2012 macbook pro 13" with 8GB Memory, 2.9 GHz Dual-Core Intel core i7, and 750GB of storage

That was a well-equipped Mac in its day. Would you agree it served you well for a long time?

If you want to enjoy a similarly long economic life, then I believe you will arrive at the same conclusion: spend the additional money now, and you probably won't be considering a replacement until 2028.

For the purposes you intend all the upgrades you describe are important, but if you had to choose just one it would be storage. I suggest more than 512 GB, because you needed a "massive declutter" just to result in what would be only about 100 GB left. How much of that 100 GB will be left after eight years? I'm guessing you won't make it that far.

Get 1 TB storage, get the i7, and then bear in mind RAM isn't upgradable before you lock yourself in to 8 GB forever. You'll thank me in eight years.

You're welcome. If you had asked about it when your Mac started to have trouble I might have recommended replacing its original hard disk drive with a solid state drive. It's a simple procedure that remains an option for you to consider, but at this point I'd be reluctant to spend a lot of money on a 2012 model Mac.

The fact you experienced problems with RAM modules coming loose is a contributing factor in expressing that reluctance. If you had to remove them again it's another opportunity for an intermittent connection (if that's what it is) to fail completely. Memory module sockets are not easily replaced.

Apple is no different than any other consumer electronic equipment manufacturer in that they're constantly seeking ways to minimize the possibility of user-inflicted damage. Eliminating what used to be considered user-replaceable components (batteries, memory, storage) is one way to accomplish that. Since there is no way to upgrade those components to adapt to future needs, you have to anticipate those needs when you purchase your Mac. I wish it were not so, but that's what the market demands.

Hi Aimee

John is quite right in recommending that you spend as much as you can manage, since you can't upgrade the hardware in the future.

Since you are an artist using Adobe products, you might consider 16GB of memory as a high priority, with faster CPU next, and lowest the size of the SSD. This assumes you have a good cloud storage plan in place -- Apple's iCloud is a good value in my opinion.

The tough thing is that there really is not a one size fits all answer here -- it really depends on how you use your devices.

There actually is one option for speed in the creative world that is upgradeable in the future. A new lappy WILL be able to use an external GPU, which of course can be added at any time. This really speeds up rendering and other graphics intensive tasks like crazy.

Best of luck!

... when I spoke to apple about this they said to just open it and resit the RAM each time- easy enough but not practical when using the laptop outside of my home.

I agree that's an impracticable workaround at best. The RAM sockets themselves may have become weak leading to intermittent contact, or the solder joints may have developed microscopic cracks. That's not unheard of in those Macs, or electronic equipment in general. From a design perspective connections are weak points in any electronic device.

If not for the possibility of perhaps making the problem worse, I'd suggest removing the memory modules, cleaning their contact surfaces with isopropyl alcohol, and reinstalling them. It's one thing to do that to my own equipment but I'm reluctant to suggest it to someone else.

hello,

Before buying a Macbook please google this problem know as flexgate. Its told to me by an apple care engineer when I went to fix my laptop.