Advice on new 2020 Macbook

[Jelster]

I'm looking at updating my existing Macbook Pro (2014) to a new 13 inch model. The option I'm looking at is the 2.0Ghz CPU with 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD.

Here's my conundrum...

This now has 4 Thunderbolt/USB C ports. As I understand it, one is used to power the unit, I have a 27" monitor, wireless mouse, and a separate 4TB HDD for storage. So, that's all 4 ports used up. My current machine has a built in card reader, so how do I transfer images from my cards to my HDD?

I fully understand the idea of slimming stuff down, but I'll be spending just under £2k, and I think I'm actually losing functionality...

Anybody else here been through this dilema?

Please, no "Windows is better" posts, I love working with Mac's, everything in the house is Apple, and it all works together nicely.

 

[admirable]

A friend has just bought one but it only has two USB C ports, I'm not up to speed on Apple stuff. It cost him £75 for an adapter and the Ram is DDR3 and not DDR4? I think DDR3 uses less power?

 

[troutfisher]

Would a USB hub work, we have one that goes from USB C to 3*USB 2 but I would assume that they are available with USB C at both ends , couple that to an OTG cable and you can plug a card reader into it

 

[Deleted member 21335]

I'm looking at updating my existing Macbook Pro (2014) to a new 13 inch model. The option I'm looking at is the 2.0Ghz CPU with 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD.

Here's my conundrum...

This now has 4 Thunderbolt/USB C ports. As I understand it, one is used to power the unit, I have a 27" monitor, wireless mouse, and a separate 4TB HDD for storage. So, that's all 4 ports used up. My current machine has a built in card reader, so how do I transfer images from my cards to my HDD?

I fully understand the idea of slimming stuff down, but I'll be spending just under £2k, and I think I'm actually losing functionality...

Anybody else here been through this dilema?

Please, no "Windows is better" posts, I love working with Mac's, everything in the house is Apple, and it all works together nicely.

I have a late 2017 MBP. Same 4 USB-C ports.
The power comes from the monitor so one lead/socket. A HDD takes a second.
A wireless mouse is......wireless, no? or does yours take a dongle of some sort? If so, maybe just get a new mouse?

 

[Jelster]

A friend has just bought one but it only has two USB C ports, I'm not up to speed on Apple stuff. It cost him £75 for an adapter and the Ram is DDR3 and not DDR4? I think DDR3 uses less power?

Two of the three 13" models only have 2 ports, the 2Ghz model has 4. I was trying to avoid adaptors, as I'm going to need a card reader as well, so was hoping to cut down on cables. And yes, it is DDR3 RAM

Would a USB hub work, we have one that goes from USB C to 3*USB 2 but I would assume that they are available with USB C at both ends , couple that to an OTG cable and you can plug a card reader into it

I've got a 4TB drive that I use as my main photography storage, this has a USB port on the back, so if all else fails, I can plug a card reader into this if I have to.

On reflection, I may just go for a 21.5" iMac, and keep the existing Macbook Pro as a back up and for field work.

 

[Jelster]

I ordered a new 21.5" iMac in the end.

Spec:
3.0GHz 6-core i5 processor
16GB 2666MHz DDR4
1TB Fusion Drive
Radeon Pro 560X with 4GB of GDDR5 memory

Went into the Apple store in Bath and looked hard at the 2 options, deciding that a 13" MBP was:

1) a bit smaller than I wanted (my current machine is 14") and I didn't want anything smaller.
2) very expensive for what you get, even by Apple standards.
3) not required to go portable, as I still have the old one and a 10.5" iPad Pro.

Worked out about £350 cheaper, some of which I'll invest in a new 2TB external SSD.