Apple announced new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros on Tuesday. With six configurations to choose from, it can be a tricky purchasing decision. Don't sweat it. We've picked a model from each size class for you.
First up: You don't want Apple's low-end, non-Retina display MacBook Pro - at least not unless you just can't live without a CD drive. Step up to a newer Retina model.
Now let's talk size. Are you a video editor, compiling lots of code, or doing something extremely processor-intensive? You'll want the 15-inch. (And we'll get back to you in a minute.) For almost everyone else, the answer is 13 inches. You won't get a quad-core processor with this option, but it still packs more than enough power for a casual user. And with the money you'll save on those two inches of screen real estate, you can splurge on a fancy new bag to carry it in.
Now it's time to talk storage and speed. For most people, a 256GB flash drive should be more than enough - especially if you have an external hard drive. If you don't, may we suggest you get one. Externals are cheap and are a better investment in the long run. To go with that, you're going to want 16GB of RAM. Seriously, load that puppy up because you can't upgrade it later. And for processor speed we're going the opposite way: 2.4 GHz. You really won't notice that big difference by paying $100 or $300 more for the slightly faster dual-core i5 and i7 chips. Bang. You're done.
Now back to you processor-intensive types. You need the 15-inch, and we're going all the way: 2.6GHz processor and a full terabyte of storage, baby. Yes, that bumps the price up over $3,000, but hey, you're a big shot and need all the power you can get. Do it.
Mat Honan is a senior writer for Wired's Gadget Lab and the co-founder of the Knight-Batten award-winning Longshot magazine.
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