Buying a MacBook Pro - Help Suggestions

Question

Hi,
I'm looking to get a new computer. I'm considering a MacBook Pro and could use some advice.
I'm a front-end web developer, who primarily works from home. In the instances in which I work for a client on-site, I usually use their equipment/software, otherwise, I'd be using this Mac.
The programs I primarily use are:
Photoshop
Illustrator
Chrome
Firefox
Safari
text editor)
Word
Excel
My Photoshop files can be pretty large, and it's not uncommon for me to have a dozen or so tabs open in each browser. The program I use the most would probably be my text editor of choice, as I spend the most time coding (HTML, CSS, JavaScript). I also listen to music all day via YouTube. Additionally, I tend to work with all my applications/browsers open simultaneously, as I switch frequently between them.
Though I'm not a gamer, I intend to learn mobile development (both iOS and Android) this year.
A number of my clients use Internet Explorer, so I'd like to view IE on the Mac. I see that there's a program called VMWare Fusion which will allow me to view IE on the Mac. I currently have an old Dell computer that I will continue to use, if need be for PC-specific tasks.
With all that said, this looks like something that would fit me:
Refurbished 15.4-inch MacBook Pro 2.3GHz Quad-core Intel i7 with Retina Display
15.4-inch (diagonal) Retina display; 2880-by-1800 resolution at 220 pixels per inch
16GB of 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM
256GB Flash Storage1
720p FaceTime HD camera
Intel Iris Pro Graphics
I'm not sure if I need that much RAM. I'm also willing to go down to 13-inch. This one in particular might be the better buy:
Refurbished 13.3-inch MacBook Pro 2.9GHz Dual-core Intel i7
13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen display, 1280-by-800 resolution
8GB (2 x 4GB) of 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM
750GB Serial ATA @ 5400 rpm
8x double-layer SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Intel HD Graphics 4000
...but I'm uncertain, as I think I should go with Quad-core over the Dual-core.
My budget is less than $2000, around $1500 (or less, if possible).
Any advice, tips as to what to look for would be greatly appreciated. Let me know if I need to provide any further information.
Thanks.
Stephen

Answer 1

Stephen,
it seems as though Photoshop and Illustrator would be the most voracious consumers of RAM among your primary programs. Because the RAM is soldered in on the Retina models, it’s non-upgradeable; so if you prefer a Retina model, I’d recommend that you go for a Retina model with 16 GB of RAM. (The non-Retina models have sockets, so their RAM is upgradeable.) If you prefer to work with all of your programs opened simultaneously, then don’t underestimate the importance of sufficient RAM.
I use a 13-inch Mid 2010 MacBook Pro myself, and it suffices for my needs (once I’d installed a SSD), but I don’t use Photoshop-type programs, so I don’t know if you’d find the 1280×800 resolution to be limiting in Photoshop. The discrete GPUs on the 15-inch models would also be of benefit to graphics-intensive programs.
With either of your choices, you could also install Windows on your MacBook Pro by using Boot Camp, and choose which OS to start at boot time. Either of your choices above could run 64-bit Windows 7 or Windows 8 in Boot Camp; the non-Retina model could also run 32-bit Windows 7.