Looking to buy a 12" Macbook, advice needed for my setup

[williamsbh76]

I currently use a 2014 15' rMBP almost fully loaded. For my day time job I have to run Windows (10) just to run one web based program through IE and a VPN. That is literally all I use Windows for. I also keep a couple of Safari or Chrome tabs open (mood dependent) mainly for the Gmail calendar, Notes.app, Outlook or Spark (also mood dependent), and maybe one or two Word or Excel documents. About 50% of the time I plug into an external monitor. At my home/office I hook it up to a 28" 4k monitor and a 24" 1080p monitor for multitasking with multiple Excel and Word documents, several plus all the daytime stuff which is why I bought a MBP to begin with. I'm looking to size down my laptop for portability so I have considered buying a decently loaded Mac Mini or even an iMac for my home office and a Macbook for on the go during the day. I'd like to hear from some current 12" Macbook users on whether they think I'll be able to run my day job set up with Parallels, Safari/Chrome, Word, Notes, Outlook/Spark, and sometimes an Excel document running without drowning the poor computer. Obviously my home set up will be out of the equation. I'm considering the 2016 model with the m5 processor. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[pkcable]

I'm similar but different. At work I'm all PC having mostly Win 7 desktops (I support them) and a couple (VERY few) Windows 10, and sprinkling of WinXP. So for my Windows needs I have the office. At home I have a 2016 MacBook AND a 2015 iMac 27 inch. I have no need for Windows programs at home (well if I do I have an HP 2 in 1 Win 10, but it's mostly a dust collector). 60 to 70% of what I do is on the MB, BUT when I need to do some serious stuff I switch over to the iMac, BUT it's just so much easier to use the highly portable MB on the couch, or in the car, or at the parents, or one of my siblings houses, etc I would say MB and iMac would be the combo I would go for IF you can afford it. (I'm actually still paying for mine via Apple financing ) (almost paid off)

 

[williamsbh76]

I'm thinking heavily about a 5k iMac too in lieu of the Mac Mini. My only two reservations are the money I'd have to spend. I have a 2013 that's the family computer and the fusion drive is slow as Christmas. I'd have to go SSD and would probably want an i7. The other thing is that I just dropped some cash on the 4K monitor that I already have less than 2 months ago. Definitely not ready to mothball that but I don't think I'd have room in my office for it as a second monitor. So many decisions, so little space and cash lol.

 

[pkcable]

Apple finance baby! lol 18 months no interest, of course the iMac you are talking would be like 3k!

 

[jafobabe]

Apple finance baby! lol 18 months no interest, of course the iMac you are talking would be like 3k!

So True, but who can pass up a year and a half free financing??