2011 Refurbished or 2013 New Macbook Pro?

turtlepuddin · May 9, 2013

Hola,

I've been using my old Macbook since 2005 and I'm thinking of getting a MacBook Pro. I'm a musician so am not familiar with computer stuff so I need your advice.

I'm currently deciding between two of the following laptops. Detailed advice would be appreciated but I simply want to know (1) which of the two YOU would choose and (2) a couple of reasons to why and (3) another laptop you would recommend. You might think it really depends on what I am looking for but I just want an Apple laptop that can burn a DVD, that doesn't have a retina display ($$), in other words I'm a tech noob who just wants a fast and a reliable laptop.

So these are ones I have in mind. Refurbished one costs $30 more than the brand new one.

2013 Brand New Macbook Pro 13.3inch
v.s.
2011 Factory Refurbished Macbook Pro 13.3inch
-----------------------------------------------------------
BRAND NEW ONE (2013)
2.5 GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5
8GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM 2x4GB
500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm

REFURBISHED ONE (2011)
2.8 GHz Dual-core Intel Core i7
4GB (2 x 2GB) of 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM
128GB Solid State Drive

Thanks guys!

B... · May 9, 2013

Brand new one, but with 4 GB RAM. I would buy 8 GB of RAM for $60 vs. Apple's $100 and add a 128 GB SSD on my own which would put me at $1200+$60+$100=$1360. The refurb is, I assume, $1330 ($30 more than $1300), but add $60 for 8 GB RAM and the refurb is $30 more expensive still. Although you don't get the i7 processor, you gain USB 3.0, Ivy Bridge, Intel HD 4000, and the like. It's a better deal.

So:
2012 13" MBP: 2.5 i5, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB HDD- $1199

ADD 8 GB RAM for $60
ADD 128 GB (or maybe 256 or 512) SSD for $100 (200,500)- all aftermarket.

I recommend the Samsung 830/840 series SSD and Crucial/Corsair RAM.

iAppl3Fan · May 11, 2013

The 2011 will appear faster in everyday usage because of the SSD. The 2013 would be the one I would choose and just have someone help you upgrade it.

pbmagnet4 · May 12, 2013

B... said:
Brand new one, but with 4 GB RAM. I would buy 8 GB of RAM for $60 vs. Apple's $100 and add a 128 GB SSD on my own which would put me at $1200+$60+$100=$1360. The refurb is, I assume, $1330 ($30 more than $1300), but add $60 for 8 GB RAM and the refurb is $30 more expensive still. Although you don't get the i7 processor, you gain USB 3.0, Ivy Bridge, Intel HD 4000, and the like. It's a better deal.

So:
2012 13" MBP: 2.5 i5, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB HDD- $1199

ADD 8 GB RAM for $60
ADD 128 GB (or maybe 256 or 512) SSD for $100 (200,500)- all aftermarket.

I recommend the Samsung 830/840 series SSD and Crucial/Corsair RAM.

This is what I did in my sig. Plus isnt Ivy Bridge the only mobile dual core generation so far to have hyper threading enabled? Would an i5 with hyper threading would be preferable to a faster i7 without hyper threading (both dual core)?

B... · May 12, 2013

pbmagnet4 said:
This is what I did in my sig. Plus isnt Ivy Bridge the only mobile dual core generation so far to have hyper threading enabled? Would an i5 with hyper threading would be preferable to a faster i7 without hyper threading (both dual core)?

Not necessarily; only if you are running apps that take advantage of the hyperthreading, like Photoshop. I wouldn't buy a mobile chip without hyperthreading, because I might need it in the future. But if the i7 had a seriously better clock speed (like 3.0 vs. 2.1 for the i5) and you aren't using hyperthreading apps, it might actually perform better.

designs216 · May 13, 2013

For savings, I would consider a refurb 2012 like this one. You may even be able to find it new at Amazon or B&H. Later you can do the upgrades yourself and save a bundle -- anyone can do this, you don't need an A+ certification

You can buy the RAM from Crucial or OWC. Crucial has a handy tool on the home page to ensure you get the right modules. OWC has handy How-To videos that walk you through the whole process. Sell the original RAM to offset the upgrade cost. I would go ahead and put 16GB in and be done with it.

Replacing the drive is easy too. You can get a large 7200RPM drive at Amazon or New Egg for relatively little money. While you're there get a cheap USB enclosure for your original 5400RPM drive and use it for Time Machine backups.

turtlepuddin · May 21, 2013

Thanks

Thanks guys for your response.

Unfortunately I understood half the things you all said because I'm a tech noob.

But I got a lot of ideas, again thanks.

I saw the 2012 Refurbished one, it's got 4GB RAM I believe, came out one year later than the one I thought I'd get, so I might take this to a consideration too.

Now I got a new question for you all.

It seems that a new Macbook pro will come out (in June?) but do you guys think the price of older ones (like the last pro that came out in June last year) would go down because of the new one? Would the price go down for refurbished laptops as well?

I mean will a new one really come out?

enigma2118 · May 21, 2013

Nobody really knows if a new line of MBP MBA rMBP rMBA or whatever is going to come out or not this June, but we are hoping.

If a new line is released, yes, it will push down the price of the older models. However, sometimes it takes a bit for people to acquiesce to the idea. Heck, on Craigslist people are still selling a 2007 iMac for the price of a much newer, refurbished model on the Apple website.

If you can wait for the WWDC, I think it would be worth it. But don't blame me when all they release is an update to the Mighty Mouse.

jg321 · May 21, 2013

Once you've used an SSD, you won't ever want to go back.

Also, currently writing this on an early 2011 13" i5 with hyper-threading. As far as I know, the only difference between Sandy and Ivy bridge is that Ivy Bridge is a die-shrink that uses different transistors.

Edit: I've just realised I'm probably in a good position to help here. I have two 13" MBPs, an early 2011 i5 with 4GB RAM and a mid 2012 i7 with 8GB RAM. Both have 128GB SSDs. In day-to-day use, they feel equally as fast as each other to be honest. As such, I'd probably go for the newer one, as you get USB3. I've also not needed to upgrade to 8GB, but could do so relatively cheaply and easily (I've had this thing apart many a time!).

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2011 Refurbished or 2013 New Macbook Pro?

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