I'm with you. I have my system to do data analysis. I have a late 2013 MacBook Pro and like it, especially the SSD and the Retina display. When I upgrade I want a faster processor, more RAM (I have 16GB now). I like my keyboard with the escape key. I like my ports (incuding HDMI). Like you, I want good battery life at a reasonable weight - and I don't want major surgery required to replace that battery if needed.
I don't want a walled garden of software. I don't mind a distinct authorization to run non-app store software (I break it, I own it...), but I want to run it easily. For example, I want an OS will easily let me install and run R and a current Python distribution like Anaconda.
While I want my phone, iPad, and MacBook to play nicely together, I want each to be optimized for a different set of tasks.
I work in the same space as you. Would you buy a MacBook Pro again for your work? If not, what would you buy instead?
My Mac is in the process of dying and I am
struggling to commit to buying the lower end non-touch 15" MacBook Pro. I think the feature is stupid because I am a touch typist. I don't want to be hunting for an ever changing soft key. Fortunately I have a back up machine that works okay-ish but I don't like it in the same way as I enjoy working on the Mac.
I don't want a walled garden of software. I don't mind a distinct authorization to run non-app store software (I break it, I own it...), but I want to run it easily. For example, I want an OS will easily let me install and run R and a current Python distribution like Anaconda.
While I want my phone, iPad, and MacBook to play nicely together, I want each to be optimized for a different set of tasks.