Apple display alternative and "docking" for MBP 13

klaxhu · 28 Mar 2015 at 13:38

Hi all,

looking at doing an apple setup for work (from home), new employer is giving me some budget in $
$2000 - MBP
$500 - docking,keyb, display
$300 - office and other software

Any recommendations?
I will be running potentially multiple VM's (win server and w7/w8) to do demos and normal office/email work, so as much as possible RAM for VM's (using vmware workstation)
Q0:

I was thinking about this one to have the better power over my current mac air, yet still more portable than an 15inch:
MBP
13-inch: 2.9GHz
with Retina display Specifications,2.9GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz, 8GB 1866MHz LPDDR3 memory, 512GB PCIe-based flash storage1, Intel Iris Graphics 6100, Built-in battery (10 hours)2
Force Touch trackpad at £1,399.00 (apple website? any alternatives to get it closer to the US price off ebay or other uk websites?)

Q1: Now the stuff I don't know much about: what would be the best alternative for the expensive apple displays which I clearly don't have budget for?
Any good IPS 27 inch high res screen that fits my budget or are there any special recommendations for macs? Anything out there from others with thunderbolt?

Q2: What is the recommended "docking" on a mac/monitor/keyboards/mouse in order to not have a mess with cables?

Thanks!

Caged · 28 Mar 2015 at 14:07

13" Retina MBP is a good choice, for displays look at Dell. As far as I know there is nobody else doing Thunderbolt displays.

For docking you have a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, Mini DisplayPort for the display, MagSafe 2 for the power, and maybe a USB hub. So three wires to attach - that's about the best you can manage.

klaxhu · 28 Mar 2015 at 15:28

Caged said:
13" Retina MBP is a good choice, for displays look at Dell. As far as I know there is nobody else doing Thunderbolt displays.

For docking you have a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, Mini DisplayPort for the display, MagSafe 2 for the power, and maybe a USB hub. So three wires to attach - that's about the best you can manage.

ok, got it. usb hub is around my thoughts exactly... cheap and working

usb bluetooth no can do as I use mechanical (ducky for now) ..and unless there is a working adapter, i will need cable

Caged · 28 Mar 2015 at 17:57

Dell monitor with a built-in USB hub then, that's about as neat as you can go.

There are Thunderbolt docks available but I think they cost a lot more than they are worth.

lamboman · 28 Mar 2015 at 18:53

Some of LG's models have Thunderbolt, the 34UC87/97 (same model, different enclosure and stand) and the 31MU97 are two that do off the top of my head.

The 34" IPS panels have issues with backlight bleed however, I'd avoid.

Thunderbolt certainly isn't worth it unless you absolutely need high-speed IO (e.g. an external array of striped SSDs or something similarly nutty).

As for great displays, as Caged said Dell are a good bet. The U2715H is apparently excellent, however if you want huge real estate and slightly sharper text for £50 more you could pick up two U2515Hs, virtually identical monitors but with a 25" 1440p panel. Use the USB hub built-in along with something like a BookArc. The only question I can't answer is for built-in audio, as the Dell monitors don't have built-in speakers.

The only concern here is what you're going to be running in the VMs, and how many VMs you will run concurrently. Multiple Linux VMs would be fine, however I wouldn't want to run multiple Windows VMs on a dual-core model.

Fallen god · 28 Mar 2015 at 23:44

I have similar work requirements as you, firstly the 13" rMBP will straggle once you have VMs up. I would recommend getting the base 15" rMBP - It will have 16gb ram and 2x the cores, which will help greatly (Just upgrading too it myself from a 13' rMBP).

Monitors I would recommend the Dell U2515H's, 2x 1440p lovelyness, enough said really. Keyboard I personally use a Logitech K811, its what Apples keyboard should be, backlight, charges through USB, can sync up to 3 devices. I would pair it with a Magic trackpad, I really like having my gestures and it helps with my workflow.

klaxhu · 29 Mar 2015 at 12:11

Fallen god said:
I have similar work requirements as you, firstly the 13" rMBP will straggle once you have VMs up. I would recommend getting the base 15" rMBP - It will have 16gb ram and 2x the cores, which will help greatly (Just upgrading too it myself from a 13' rMBP).

Monitors I would recommend the Dell U2515H's, 2x 1440p lovelyness, enough said really. Keyboard I personally use a Logitech K811, its what Apples keyboard should be, backlight, charges through USB, can sync up to 3 devices. I would pair it with a Magic trackpad, I really like having my gestures and it helps with my workflow.

thanks.
I don't know the spec's of the VM's as of yet, but I am expecting them to have lower requirements than the current ones I have been using on my mac air and they were working fine. for anything more demanding I will set up remote-demos and go via vpn in, it's easier

my problem is the 2000$ limit for the mac that the employer set, which for US is fine, but not too great for the UK.

The U2515H's actually fits my budget, now the question is either getting that or maybe an asus or something else good with 27" ?
keyboard wise, I will stay with my mechanical for now and see if I miss any of the specific buttons when working on it, if so - that logitech is not a bad choice!

Fallen god · 29 Mar 2015 at 17:34

Ahh, if the workload is not so bad then the 13" rMBP is an amazing machine.

Monitor wise the Dells are amazing, can't rate them highly enough, best in class response times, perfect colours, amazing viewing angles. Only other thing I would recommend is a 4k/4k panel, but that would push you out of the budget. I mostly go with the 25" U2515H's cause the pixel density is better then a 27" monitor with the same res so its a little less painful to look at coming from a retina display laptop.

rahularora1 · 31 Mar 2015 at 04:57

Another vote for 2515 I have a couple of them hooked up to my mbp. Sent for the 16gb version on mine that you should really do as well.

What sets it all working together is the henge dock. Drop in the mbp into it and you have now got USB, two display ports, mic and headphones and magsafe. I've got the single USB going into a USB hub where I have a USB to gigabit ethernet dongle that works well when docked and all the rest. Apple magic pad and keyboard as well on Bluetooth.

shiver · 31 Mar 2015 at 08:34

Another vote for 16GB on these macs. As they're none upgradable, and the Intel integrated GPU will use up to 1.5GB for VRAM I'd say it's worth it.

MacRS4 · 31 Mar 2015 at 20:53

I do something similar - work from anywhere, need a lot of VMs for flexibility. I have a late 2013 Retina Pro...now, it's great as my travel buddy. I.e. Once I've built the VMs and they're done, and want them available on the site I'm at.

To build & run though, it just runs out of steam. For ultimate flexibility go for the 15" Quad Core i7.

To give you an idea, my late 2011 17" MBP with 16Gb and an SSD carries way more VMs at a capable level than my 2013 Retina can. I always do build & dev on that, and use the 13 for my 'to site' views.