15" rMBP or 13" MBA + Mac Mini?

[dmk1974]

I currently have a 2012 MBA (see sig) and am thinking of doing one of the following (each would cost a net of about $650-$700):

A.) Buy a 2012 15" rMBP ME664LL/A then sell my 2012 MBA MD231LL/A

B.) Buy a 2012 Mac Mini MD388LL/A to use as my desktop powerhouse in addition to my 2012 MBA

Primary app usage will be web browsing, email, MS office apps, light photo and video editing, very little gaming, and some CAD work. But to be honest, mostly web and office apps. I also have a home server PC that holds all of our music, photos, and videos. I'd probably replace the server with the Mac Mini.

I'd be buying the rMBP and/or the Mac Mini from Best Buy as open-box units. After 10% coupon and RZ Silver Triple Points and tax, they come to about $1650 and $660 respectively.

Which is better? Thanks!

 

[Macman45]

The 13" is a great screen...I was really skeptical coming from a cMBP 17" but bought the maxed out 3GHZ 13" and have not missed the real estate. When people say the retina makes up for it, it's true.

Hence I vote for the 13" + the Mini...A good choice and more flexible too. I cut down from having a 27" iMac, a MBA and the cMBP to a new mxed out Imac 27" and this rMBP 13" Works fine, as the 13" is powerful enough to do "Real" work on too. I went with the 500GB SSD, and added in a WD 2TB USB3 external for bulk file storage, but the mini would take care of that for you too.

 

[GermanyChris]

Just buy a mini if you need a desktop.

If your getting along fine with a MBA as your only computer I don't understand why you'd need a "desktop powerhouse". I can understand wanting a desktop computer though.

 

[dmk1974]

Thanks for the replies. The 15" rMBP is attractive because it's a good deal and the screen, processor, and dedicated graphics are nice upgrades to the MBA I have today. Keeping the MBA and adding the Mini to replace my desktop/home server PC may be an overall smarter solution though. Still debating...

 

[nightlong]

How important is the screen, that's the major question? The MBA is a great computer but the screen is poor compared with retina, and no screen you could get at this time for the Mac Mini will be as good or even close to retina.

 

[Badrottie]

You already have a MBA and nothing is wrong with that..the only missing is desktop so you need a Mac Mini.
I would sell my desktop PC with Windows 7 Ultimate so I can buy a Mac Mini.

 

[dmk1974]

Well, I wound up grabbing the Mac Mini. Wound up getting it for $681.99 pre-tax/coupon/RZ triple points so net $632. The Mini plus the MBA just seemed to be better to allow one machine for portability (granted, not a gorgeous retina display) and the other for the home server and mor intensive tasks. Thanks for all your feedback!