Backround: I am a windows guy through and through. I'm a business logic API, database developer / manager writing code to run on Microsoft platforms. I have taken a few UI online courses just so I can talk and understand user interface development with my UI engineers.

Problem: Almost to a person my UI engineers use MacBooks. My daughter wants to do a UI bootcamp and hopefully go into the field full time at completion. I know zero about Macs. The only thing I do know is that they are inline with windows business and gaming class platforms price wise. The bootcamp she will attend will be teaching the React dev library, html, java script, and CSS if that is helpful

Advice Needed: What Mac Book should I buy her. For now it will be pretty light weight usage but it will increase as time goes on. Some video/photo editing may be needed but mostly she will need to emulate a web server and be able to develop and display web sites. A dock station to power two monitors, keyboard, and mouse is mandatory. Additionally minimal connections between the Mac and dock (preferably 1) would be nice. My Lenovo laptop connects to a dock with one USB C connection. It charges and allows a desktop experience but is easily disconnects when mobility is needed. I am not averse to buying Apple factory refurbs FYI. My budget is $800 to $1500 but I can step up if needed.

Thanks in advance for your advice. Odd that I go here instead of my devs but members seem a little more down to earth

My MacBook Pro 13 inch would do that, easily.

quote:

Originally posted by SigJacket:
My MacBook Pro 13 inch would do that, easily.

How much memory do you use? Do you use a dock station? And if I go refurb how old of machine should I go?

Sorry, should have put these in the original post.

Work sent an early 2022 16GB Macbook Pro 14" and a single 32" monitor. No dock needed as I don't travel with it, but I ended up getting a usb c to usb 3 hub to easily connect camera, headset, logitech mouse, and a mechanical keyboard.

I'm a data engineer using python, ruby, and sql with docker, dagster, and dbt. With several docker instances running I've seen 12GB in use and have never seen it bogged down or low in memory.

The bootcamp should have a recommended system, so it could be an 8GB Macbook Air is fine. You could get a 16GB machine in the hope of using the system longer before replacing it, but one could also argue an employer will likely provide their own machine and there's no need to buy more than is needed.

This Mac Book 13 along with this dock station seems like a pretty good bang for the buck. I don't think a 13" display will be much of a drawback with a dock station. Any Apple road warriors think I should go up in display size? I'm leaning against Apple Care since their products seem pretty bullet proof. Anyone have any experience with Apple Care?

Email sent with some info for you

That dock station you listed has some very poor reviews on amazon so be careful. I use docking stations from OWC (Other World Computing), they do a very good job with Mac stuff and have a variety depending on your needs. I have had several of the thunderbolt docks in use in my family for over a year with no issues at all.

quote:

Originally posted by Bytes:
This Mac Book 13 along with this dock station seems like a pretty good bang for the buck. I don't think a 13" display will be much of a drawback with a dock station. Any Apple road warriors think I should go up in display size? I'm leaning against Apple Care since their products seem pretty bullet proof. Anyone have any experience with Apple Care?

That Mac is an M1 mac, which are fantastic, but be sure that it will work for you. I'm out of the loop, so to speak, regarding them, since all of my Macs are still Intel based and easily cross into Windows territory. I have found that the easiest way to have Windows on my Macs is to have an old Dell Optiplex stashed in my basement, and I remote to it when I need to do windows stuff. Or I sometimes use a VM on my NAS.

If you want a third-party dock that is very Mac like, try looking at OWC's stuff. www.macsales.com. They are as close to Apple as you can get without buying right from Apple.
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/docks
Their little travel dock "E" is about 60% the cost of the one you linked, and it will provid 100W of pass through power instead of 60W.

ETA: Looks like I was typing while Itz400 was posting.

quote:

Originally posted by sigcrazy7:
If you want a third-party dock that is very Mac like, try looking at OWC's stuff. www.macsales.com. They are as close to Apple as you can get without buying right from Apple.
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/docks

ETA: Looks like I was typing while Itz400 was posting.

Thanks (Itz400 too). Looks like one of the OWCs will be my choice for a doc.

I use 2 usc-c to usb/hdmi/usb-c dongles and power wired networking, usb connected devices and 2 27" 4k monitors. Works well. This is on a 2017 14inch macbook pro.

You can Thunderbolt to the right monitor, and let the monitor be the hub. That's the cleanest way, one cable.

That said, I use this on the work 14" MacBook Pro

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter...eaders/dp/B07X1VYRN3

works fine so far, though I confess that my main desire was for the USB so I could use my old white Apple keyboard from around 10-15 years ago. It has HDMI as an option, I just don't use an external monitor.

 
2021 MacBook Pro, either 14" or 16", M1-Pro CPU. Both are widely discounted right now, in anticipation of upgraded M2 models coming out sometime this year. But the M2 models offer very little in terms of enhanced performance. Otherwise, they are the same machine.
 
The new M2 MacBook Air is appealing, but equipping it similarly to an entry level M1-Pro MBP 14.2" (16GB RAM, 512GB storage) puts you at the same price as the on-sale MBP. But the M1-Pro MBP has a better processor, much better display, and more ports.
 
The entry level MBP, 14.2" is now selling for $1599 on Amazon, $400 off list. I bought mine a year ago for $1799. BTW, 16GB RAM is way more than enough for the M series processors, unless you are doing heavy video editing. There is a M1 Max chip available as an upgrade in these 2021 MBPs, for more processing power, if you need it. My M1-Pro, 16GB RAM, has never, since I have owned it, used a swap file.

Re: docking -- I am perpetually pseudo-docked. HDMI out to the monitor. Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. My charger knows it is hooked to the AC power and that I rarely use the battery, so it takes care not to overcharge and just lets me run on AC. It's basically like a UPS then. I love the mag-safe charger. Thank goodness they brought that back.

Talked to the daughter last night. She ordered this one. At least it was close to my price range. Looks like the M2 processor is pretty darn powerful and the overall system is also top of the line.