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15-inch MacBook Pro + Retina Purchase

ZBates9513

ZBates9513

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 12, 2015
15
1
Hey guys, I'm looking into purchasing the 15" MacBook Pro with the Retina display as a Christmas present with the help of my parents. However, I noticed the "Buyer's Guide" for the Retina MacBook Pro says "Don't Buy, Updates Soon". Every year I go to get this as a Christmas present, I run into this issue, and it is why I didn't get it last year! I was wondering what some of your opinions would be about purchasing this and if you think it would be a good idea to wait or to just go ahead and purchase one. Maybe the updates that are rumored aren't really drastic? Thanks for the help!

Zach
 
There's always a new one around the corner. As the average time between MBP updates is ~215 days, after 4 months you are on average closer to an update than farther. So the Buyer's Guide will recommend that you wait 4 months or so for the new one. So you can ask your parents to give you an IOU for a few months from now when the new MBP drops (according to "experts") or you can get it in 2 weeks and be happy with your purchase but aware that the new MBPs could have brought a "must have" feature that the existing ones don't have.
 
ZBates9513 said:
I was wondering what some of your opinions would be about purchasing this and if you think it would be a good idea to wait or to just go ahead and purchase one. Maybe the updates that are rumored aren't really drastic?
Click to expand...

The 2015 15" model has Haswell processors just like the 2014 and late 2013 models. They're plenty fast, but something better will be out next year. Do you need a new computer?

Buy now if you need one now. If you can wait, you should wait.
 
T5BRICK said:
The 2015 15" model has Haswell processors just like the 2014 and late 2013 models. They're plenty fast, but something better will be out next year. Do you need a new computer?

Buy now if you need one now. If you can wait, you should wait.
Click to expand...

I've been using my girlfriends Toshiba that she has had since middle school and I am now a junior in college, and it's slowly dying. So yes I could use one, however it's not my main source of computer power. I have a pretty powerful desktop that I use as my primary.
 
ZBates9513 said:
Hey guys, I'm looking into purchasing the 15" MacBook Pro with the Retina display as a Christmas present with the help of my parents. However, I noticed the "Buyer's Guide" for the Retina MacBook Pro says "Don't Buy, Updates Soon". Every year I go to get this as a Christmas present, I run into this issue, and it is why I didn't get it last year! I was wondering what some of your opinions would be about purchasing this and if you think it would be a good idea to wait or to just go ahead and purchase one. Maybe the updates that are rumored aren't really drastic? Thanks for the help!

Zach
Click to expand...
I'm so excited for you. I have that model, and you will love it! Get a Cinema Display if you can.
 
ajay96 said:
I just got the 2015 MBP 13" Retina 2 weeks ago, and i'm satisfied. I don't really care for the new features. There will always be new features coming out, it'll never end. :p
Click to expand...

Very true! That's why I'm just so tempted to do it and get it over with.
 
An early 2016 redesign may give you buyers remorse. There is an event coming up in three months time. Buckle up.
 
ZBates9513 said:
Very true! That's why I'm just so tempted to do it and get it over with.
Click to expand...

Go to B&H photo and get the $1799 deal on the 2014 15" MBP with 512GB/16GB. You'll have it now, more machine that you'll ever need, and you'll save ton over waiting for the 2016 and then paying full price for it because you know there will no no discounts on it when it first comes out.
 
Another
coorsleftfield said:
Go to B&H photo and get the $1799 deal on the 2014 15" MBP with 512GB/16GB. You'll have it now, more machine that you'll ever need, and you'll save ton over waiting for the 2016 and then paying full price for it because you know there will no no discounts on it when it first comes out.
Click to expand...

I came very close to doing that myself before opting to spend $320 more and get a refurbished 2015 model (2.5ghz/16gb/512gb/AMD). For most tasks, I doubt I'll notice the performance bump, but I plan on keeping this computer for awhile so wanted the most updated graphics I could get, plus the ability to drive a 5K monitor (albeit using both thunderbolt ports to do so).
 
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coorsleftfield said:
Go to B&H photo and get the $1799 deal on the 2014 15" MBP with 512GB/16GB. You'll have it now, more machine that you'll ever need, and you'll save ton over waiting for the 2016 and then paying full price for it because you know there will no no discounts on it when it first comes out.
Click to expand...

That's a really good deal. Now the question is, do I go with the 15" Mid 2014 with 2.5 GHz Intel Core i7 (Crystalwell), 16GB Ram, 512GB Storage, and NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M Graphics, or the 15" Mid 2015 with 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7 (Crystalwell), 16GB Ram, 256GB Storage, and Integrated Intel Iris Pro Graphics.

Both for the same price ($1,779.00)
 
ZBates9513 said:
That's a really good deal. Now the question is, do I go with the 15" Mid 2014 with 2.5 GHz Intel Core i7 (Crystalwell), 16GB Ram, 512GB Storage, and NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M Graphics, or the 15" Mid 2015 with 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7 (Crystalwell), 16GB Ram, 256GB Storage, and Integrated Intel Iris Pro Graphics.

Both for the same price ($1,779.00)
Click to expand...

The 2015 model will give you slightly better CPU performance, another 30 min of battery life, touch force, 2X SSD performance (and better graphics if you bought one with AMD graphics)

It comes down to how much storage you need, and if you're not running any games, or doing video work, the AMD/nvidia GPU is not needed. Of course is gaming is a factor at all I'd be getting a PC laptop.

Given the two choices you presented, I'd pick the one with 512GB of storage, but thats me, I can't live with 256GB, and I want the better graphics. I'd probably do what SheridanMac did, and spend a little more to pick up a 512GB 2015 model. Only reason I didn't is because I got the 512GB 2014 on black friday for $1599.

Don't think you ever said what you'd be using it for. I bought the 15 because I want to do a lot of photo editing and software development, so having a quad-core , 16GB RAM, and the 15" display was key. IF not for those things I would have gone MPB 13" because it travels better and doesn't have the huge price premium the 15s do.
 
coorsleftfield said:
The 2015 model will give you slightly better CPU performance, another 30 min of battery life, touch force, 2X SSD performance (and better graphics if you bought one with AMD graphics)
Click to expand...

Between the two he posted, they both have Haswell CPUs. The 2015 model is 300MHz slower, no way it'll have better CPU performance.
 
Buy now. You need the machine, so get it. If you constantly wait you're just crippling yourself further on down the line. It's only worth waiting if you really don't need it now & could then buy the week of a new release.
 
T5BRICK said:
Between the two he posted, they both have Haswell CPUs. The 2015 model is 300MHz slower, no way it'll have better CPU performance.
Click to expand...
Your right , I missed this major detail. Given the two choices the 2014 is a far better machine for the same money. No brainer.
 
AndyK said:
It's only worth waiting if you really don't need it now & could then buy the week of a new release.
Click to expand...

Are there any signs or rumors on when this will be? I've only heard early 2016, was trying to research for a scheduled apple event but couldn't find anything.
 
ZBates9513 said:
Are there any signs or rumors on when this will be? I've only heard early 2016, was trying to research for a scheduled apple event but couldn't find anything.
Click to expand...

There won't be an apple event unless there is a major redesign (could happen but i doubt it). Apple are waiting for the appropriate Skylake chips from intel to be released (They only use the ones with IRIS and IRIS Pro graphics in the rMBP's) the Intel roadmap suggests this SHOULD be between feb and april sometime.
 
ZBates9513 said:
Are there any signs or rumors on when this will be? I've only heard early 2016, was trying to research for a scheduled apple event but couldn't find anything.
Click to expand...

Maybe Q1-2 next year? No one knows, it's only speculation based on Intel roadmaps (as other posters have said) and various things you see in the press. Personally I don't think it's worth the wait. The rMBP 15" is in a good place, so much so I bought one 10 days ago.
 
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