Which Apple Laptop to get for Residency?

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Which Computer Should I Buy?

  • Macbook

    Votes: 1 25.0%
  • MacBook Air

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • MacBook Pro

    Votes: 3 75.0%

  • Total voters
    4
  • Poll closed .

MSTP18

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Brand new PGY-1 here. I think it's time to replace the MacBook Pro (the most basic one at the time) I bought during my pre-clinical years over 5 years ago. Please spare me any discussion about getting something other than a Mac.

I'm leaning towards spending the extra $300 and getting the new MacBook Pro instead of the Air because I imagine going forward I will be dealing with lots of high res images and so the retina display and extra processing power seem like good investments. It seems to me that the MacBook isn't really worth it since it's the same price as the MacBook Pro and is essentially paying $300 more than the Air for just a retina display without an appreciable increase in processing power. Therefore I think the decision is between the Air and the Pro unless someone who knows more about computers can correct me otherwise.

My research background is pretty bread and butter wet lab stuff with the occasional microscopy image and occasionally excel files with thousands of rows. Never felt like my current Pro (my first Mac) was slow except occasionally since updating to Sierra which I think was just too much for it given how old it already was at the time (and frankly, I don't think I received any benefit from the upgrade). I've pretty much always waited until my computer was barely usable before purchasing another one but I've also never had a laptop last this long (hence not entertaining going back to PC). This one is still usable but clearly old and starting residency feels like the perfect time to get a new one since I don't know how much longer this guy has.

Thanks for your help.
 
Dude get a surface pro, I have a new MacBook pro with a touch bar and its absolute shyte

Stop thinking Apple is the only answers, their products haven't changed. in 10 years
My current and first apple laptop has lasted longer than all 3 of my previous laptops combined so I'm sticking with Apple.
 
Get base 13" MBP. Screen and keyboard are significantly better than on Air or MacBook - that's reason enough IMO. More power is nice too.
 
Keep in mind that MacBook models can't be upgraded much, if any. Get more memory than you think you need.
 
Pro is worth it compared to Air = because of the reason you mentioned. I am dealing with photoshop a lot for publications and that's why I got a pro. Starting resideny in path now and super happy to have it. I did upgrade on memory though as kchan99 suggested. I am sticking with Apple, too but I would say it's a personal thing.
 
It depends on what you intend to do with your laptop. If your goal is to use the laptop with the AP and EMR systems natively, you’re probably not going to be able to do that very well, if at all. No AP LIS or EMR system used by a hospitals that I know of runs on OS without either a Remote Desktop or Citrix configuration, which may not be available where you are at. I would investigate with the IT department wherever you are at if you can run the programs you intend on using on OS before you buy.

I have had 2 Apple MacBook Pro laptops and they’re great machines in academia. But for medical practice, they have definite limitations. My intent is to buy the new generation of HP workstation laptops whenever they’re available for purchase.
 
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