Frontpage
๐ Dark mode
โค๏ธ Your favorites
๐ Nomad insurance
You won't be notified by email when a reply is posted, to change your notification settings. Posts must follow the TOS: No ads, self promotion, commercial posts, surveys etc. For customer support questions, don't post here but use the feedback box in the bottom right of this page instead.
Hey!
Iโm wondering how many developers travel with a MBP 13" vs 15"? I currently use a late-2012 13" for iOS development, but Iโm pondering the 15" because Xcode is so resource hungry. On the downside, it is rather heavyโฆ
Do you travel with a 15"? Do you wish youโd opted for the 13" instead?
Cheers
P.S Iโm asking developers specifically as system spec is more crucial than, say, for a copywriter.
Iโve been quite happy with my 2015 MBP 13"
The display is experiencing staingate, although I can perhaps wipe off the AR coating as a workaroundโฆ
Now, Iโm thinking what to get nextโฆ Quite keen to exploring the 12" MacBook for simplicity.
Why? Iโm actually loving the 2018 iPad. I feel like with some software improvements (mostly to cover my critical Chrome plugins), a simpler machine would do the trick most of the time.
In 2019, I could be rocking the latest iPhone, 2018 iPad (not Pro), and the basic MacBook.
I had a similar setup with my i7 2015 MBP 13".
As my Apple Care program was going to an end in June 2018 I pay a visit to Hong Kong and bought i7 MacBook 12". It was a perfect transition to (as you say) simplicity and ultra lightweight. MBP 13" + Logitech keyboard and mouse found a new happy owner.
Iโm web designer, so thereโs no need for extra power and honestly, I donโt see any difference in performance. I also bought Magic Keyboard 2 + Magic Trackpad 2 for stand up work.
The market offers a ton of options so itโs important to customise it for your own needs.
OK, I went for the 15"!
Canโt wait to do some of my best work on it! 
Iโm using 13" now and planning to upgrade to 15".
The power difference is quite a lot and bigger screen is ++
Came to this thread for an answer and seems like everyone vote for 15" over 13".
15 inchโฆthat computer is going to get a lot of useโฆyou want something you feel comfortable enough for long hours with a lot of screen real estateโฆ
I use a 13" Air. The Air comes in a 13" or 11" - and of course I wanted the extra screen real estate. Itโs still amazingly light.
My computer before this was a, I believe 15" (Maybe 17"?) MBP - And that thing was probably 3x as heavy - definitely wouldnโt travel with it having now switched to the air.
In the end - itโs personal preference, it doesnโt matter why I or anyone else says. If you need a lot of power for compilation or something - get something beefier. If you can do without - stay lighter. But in the end itโs your call.
Hi,
Iโm a game developer & photographer and have spent the last year travelling with a 15" late '11 MBP. Iโm due an upgrade and am currently thinking Iโll stick with a 15". The power and large screen are really useful - Iโm not sure my Unity games would be so easy to develop on the smaller models. While a 13" might be more portable, for me personally, I think I would regret downsizing.
Interested to hear what you end up choosing!
I currently use the 15inch retina. I know itโs heavy, but I love it too much to give it up. Maybe when Apple creates a powerful macbook air I will switch, but until then I will continue to use this computer.
I use MBP 15" i7 2010 versionโฆ so itโs heavier than new MBPsโฆ and I still donโt care that muchโฆ it works greatโฆ so next one will be much lighter and I think 99% sure 15", not 13"โฆ that way I donโt need external monitors, power is here (didnโt even know there is no i7 13" MBPs ?!)
The only thing Iโm waiting for is for them to make fanless versionโฆ not sure if itโs even possible with these processors and if new fanless processors will have comparable speedโฆ someone knows what is the plan here?
Technically possible, but not with current laptop processors. Think cellphones and tablets. You get some power, but even this little bit of power means overheating while charging etc., and itโs usually a fraction of the speed of a โproper computerโ.
Future looks very bright though, technology is improving really fast and there are some really interesting advances towards fast computers that produce very little heat, but donโt hold your breath.
The 15" is heavy, the casing scratches the screen after a while. The discrete GPU makes no difference for development or basic graphics.
That said it is a rock solid machine and I can work on it for months without an external display or keyboard.
Are you travelling with checked in baggage? If not I would go for the smaller machine.
Hi Ian,
I have a 15" Retina, but my next one would be an air for sure. I donโt use Xcode, just the terminal and chrome. I appreciate my i7 but, prefer less weight.
I think the screen is small anyway, and always try to find a monitor at coworking spaces.
Hi everyone,
I would love to hear what you'd like me to build next on Nomad List, or any other product/feature feedback ideas you have.
It's been 6+ years now but I'm in this for the long term and with the boost remote work got last year it's even more exciting to work on Nomad List than ever.
Current roadmap is here: twitter.com/levelsio/status/1363204985488572417?s=20 and pbs.twimg.com/media/EusS9PKXEAUR8xp?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
The next products/features I have planned:
- ๐ Rebase: visa, residency and immigration services for remote workers
- ๐Courses: learn the steps how to go remote and travel/relocate
- ๐ Gov liaison: diplomacy services to the governments to help us lobby for nomads and for them to attract remote workers
Thanks a lot!
What are the best places right now in the Caribbean/LatAM? (Also cheapest flights/accommodation?) Asking from the US.
As part of signing up for this website I was hoping I would come across a list of Visa and/or Residency requirements by country ideally in a table format to assist with decision making. Does anybody recommend any other websites that might present the information in this format (or Google Spreadsheet)?
I love living in walkable areas of town. I can always find them. But now I'm wondering where in the world are the most walkable places? I'm imagining walk streets (no cars), zoning allowing both business and residential, parks or beaches ,etc.
Hi guys,
After the Netherlands, the Bay Area, Colorado and being on the van life for 8 months, I am now in Sedona, AZ with a few other digital nomads. We are sharing a home here and are wondering if there are more like minded people in the area.
We do a bunch of hikes and campouts in the northern of Arizona. If you would like to connect with us, please do so :)
Val
Has anyone figured out a way to get setup with a virtual number and internet connection anywhere you go?
Hi everybody. I live and work in Germany and want to go to Canary Islands for 6 months to work from there. I'm going to keep my current job, just change the "home" in the home office part of things. Are there any tax issues I have to be aware of? I was reading about becoming a residence after 183 days, thus having to pay taxes there plus my employer having to register there. Does anybody know how it works exactly? Thanks a lot!
Winter is coming and Iโm feeling the ache of travelling after being stuck in the same place since the Pandemic started. Wondering if anyone is travelling right now? If so, where are you currently located and how is the situation where you are?
Hello World!
I'm an experienced Digital Nomad and after being in Lockdown in Bangkok and Germany for one year I would like to team up with someone to visit a new place. Or just doing some exchange about what destinations would be interesting currently.
I take the virus seriously and still I think we can still be able to take our life in our own hands. So I'm aiming for cities/countries which are not in full lockdown, are not too complicated about immigration (I'm looking at you Thailand, your state quarantine costs like 1k USD and is basically a prison) and is also rather safe regarding the virus. I tend to stick for rather big cities and like culture. I'm not a beach or nature person. I'm pretty flexible about the money topic.
After being told it's unworkable in Puerto Escondido, looking for alternatives :)
Hi, we are trying to find a house to rent for 2-3 persons near Las Palmas for 4-5 months at the moment and it seems to be almost impossible except through Airbnb which is super expensive. Any advises or local contacts?
What I mean is, for example, since most of the EU has banned Americans, if I live in Guatemala and will be traveling FROM Guatemala to the EU, could I get in? Or does the ban count for all Americans regardless of where they live?
I have a slightly above average US income which I can work remotely from paired with a $1000 a month income stream and more than enough to purchase a middle end Flat in Ukraine. Does anyone with knowledge of this process have any advice to acquire a reliable way to stay in the country?
My fiancรฉe and I are most likely moving to NYC (maybe DC) in August, and as a technical startup co-founder I'd love to meet new people that are also into startups. Would joining a co-working space be worth the money to do this?
I work for a big tech company that has an office in NYC, but it's mainly sales so I wouldn't be able to meet others that are related to any of my 9-5 work or likely into tech.
If co-working spaces, post covid of course, aren't a good way to meet business starting people in a new city, what is?
Does anyone ever travel to any Islands like Bermuda, Barbados, Barbuda and St. Kitts & Nevis?
Hi, my name is Eric and I am a remote worker from Norway. Me and a friend is flying into Gran Canaria on Friday and spending two weeks in San Agustin on the south side of the Island.
After that we are pondering about staying in La Gomera. Does anyone of you have an experience staying there or are there anyone of you staying there now? :)
I have two passports from different countries and am trying to understand where can I travel now. Is there a publicly available map of countries open for visitors by passport country that I can use to see what are my options? I was pretty sure such a thing should exist, but cannot easily find any.
Maybe at least there're maps for specific passports? Mine are Russian and American.
If there's no such thing, I'd be down to build one, let me know if interested to collaborate :)
Hello Everyone
I'm planning to stay in Seville for 6 weeks for mid January - end of February. Do you any recommandations for a coliving or a place to live in?
Thanks ๐
Can't login? See the FAQ
Nomads.com
By signing up, you agree to our terms of service and community guidelines.
One-time-payment: $39.98 $19.99 ๐ซ 0% off
Billed once. Then never again
Nomads.com members
work remotely at
Nomads.com
๐ Thanks for signing up! I hope you like my site. I put a lot of effort into making it for years!
๐ฌ First, please go to your email and click the confirm link first to verify your email address
โ๏ธ Check your spam folder if you can't find it, because we got reports it ends up there sometimes
๐ After you confirm your email we'll send you an email with more info
๐ฉโ๐ป You can start using Nomads.com's member-only features now!
