13" Retina MBP: 16GB Ram or 256GB SSD?

[Meister]

No 8GB isn't a lot, especially if you're virtualizing. RAM compression can only do so much.

The OP is not running any virtualizations!

 

[Ed Miliband]

For a computer that you plan on keeping 5 years I would pay for both of the upgrades.

 

[Cubytus]

The OP is not running any virtualizations!

I read about VMWare somewhere in this thread.

Granted, the pressure to keep on upgrading RAM isn't what it used to be. My 2009 MB runs decently with 4GB RAM on Yosemite Beta, as it did on Mavericks.

 

[TechGod]

No 8GB isn't a lot, especially if you're virtualizing. RAM compression can only do so much.

I have an advice completely opposite here. Sure 128GB SSD is tight. But the SSD is user-replaceable, the RAM isn't. So of you happen to run out of storage space, you could always put a larger SSDs down the road as their price have been steadily coming down. If you run out of RAM, you're screwed.

Yes because totally this person is gonna be running VM's all day

Also the SSD is not user replaceable for the late 2013 and 2014 models do some reading up....


8GB maybe not a lot for you but sure as hell is a lot for most people.

 

[Dameatball]

You cannot upgrade the ram of a retina MBP.

Yup, just read that. that's really unfortunate.

 

[MCAsan]

Same as an iPhone or iPad. Purchase the configuration you need from day one.

 

[acctman]

look at it this way, if you decide to sell your Mac next year or even 2yrs from now you'll get a pretty good return regardless of the configuration. Mac's and Apple products in general tend to hold value a lot longer. You'll probably loss like 300-400$ on it if you sell in the next 2yrs or so for the next model. Get what you can afford now. Make you Macbook Pro work for you and turn profit and upgrade to another one in 2yrs or so.

 

[helix21]

Thank you everyone for your input and it's been interesting to read all the different views.

In the end, I decided that living off £50 in total this month (excluding rent) is a relatively sane thing to do, if it means I can have both the 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD.

As a result, I have ordered both. I'm a final year uni student and I aim on using this machine for the next 5+ years like I said. However, I will take the advice from acctman and perhaps consider selling it in a few years most likely once a redesign with SkyLake comes around (2016 perhaps?), should I able to afford the difference with my job.

 

[KeepCalmPeople]

Thank you everyone for your input and it's been interesting to read all the different views.

In the end, I decided that living off £50 in total this month (excluding rent) is a relatively sane thing to do, if it means I can have both the 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD.

As a result, I have ordered both. I'm a final year uni student and I aim on using this machine for the next 5+ years like I said. However, I will take the advice from acctman and perhaps consider selling it in a few years most likely once a redesign with SkyLake comes around (2016 perhaps?), should I able to afford the difference with my job.

A couple of months from now you will have forgotten about your month of austerity, but every time you open up that rRBP 13" it will be a pleasure to use and you won't be worrying about whether you did the right thing. Enjoy!

 

[Cubytus]

Yes because totally this person is gonna be running VM's all day

Also the SSD is not user replaceable for the late 2013 and 2014 models do some reading up....


8GB maybe not a lot for you but sure as hell is a lot for most people.

No need to run VMs all day to feel the pains of low RAM. I am running Yosemite Beta on 4GB RAM, which was supposedly good, and could feel the performance dragged down when swap memory grew to 1GB. That is, on a SSD. And this isn't my main machine, so I am not loading it much.

 

[gngan]

Thank you everyone for your input and it's been interesting to read all the different views.

In the end, I decided that living off £50 in total this month (excluding rent) is a relatively sane thing to do, if it means I can have both the 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD.

As a result, I have ordered both. I'm a final year uni student and I aim on using this machine for the next 5+ years like I said. However, I will take the advice from acctman and perhaps consider selling it in a few years most likely once a redesign with SkyLake comes around (2016 perhaps?), should I able to afford the difference with my job.

I see a responsible young man. I am sure you will get a job that will support another Mac soon.

Good decision.

 

[TechGod]

No need to run VMs all day to feel the pains of low RAM. I am running Yosemite Beta on 4GB RAM, which was supposedly good, and could feel the performance dragged down when swap memory grew to 1GB. That is, on a SSD. And this isn't my main machine, so I am not loading it much.

For me 4 isn't enough. That's why I got the 8Gzb model.