15" rMBP vs 17" MBP - what would you do?

[MrGimper]

The rMBP's SSD can be upgraded where have you been? It has a SDXC Card slot and there is an adapter if you really need an express card slot. The rMBP also has an hdmi port 2 USB 3.0 ports, 2 thunderbolt ports, better video card, its thinner and lighter. You can also change the resolution if you need more workspace, and a 15" 2880x1800 retina IPS display with much superior colors and contrast..........

Yeah I know the rMBP RAM can be upgraded.... at time of purchase, costing more than a set of SODIMMS. RAM isn't user-upgradable. SSD can be upgraded at time of purchase, or after if you want to void your warranty and give over your firstborn to pay for it.

The point of my post is that the 17" cMBP still has advantages over the rMBP. It depends what you want out of a machine.

 

[NutsNGum]

SSD can be upgraded at time of purchase, or after if you want to void your warranty and give over your firstborn to pay for it.

It doesn't void your warranty, the machines are warranted on a part-by-part basis. Keep the original SSD, and you should be fine unless you pour a can of coke into the laptop along with the new SSD.

Incidentally, I picked up a 512GB SSD on here for the rMBP for £200, which isn't too bad.

 

[NetWanderer]

Depends on your uses. I faced that choice earlier this year. I was looking for a mac that could handle some light-moderate gaming, so dGPU was important. Anyway on the topic:

I went with the retina ultimately because I just didn't couldn't justify spending that kind of money on something that outdated. The retina was lighter, thinner and had better internals.

The cons that I see between the choices is that for me 256GBs wouldnt be enough for me personally, and I dont know whether or not you frequently use an optical drive, but a usb one is always a choice. And also if you are one to upgrade the RAM/SSD, be assured that the rMBP is very limited. All you can change is the SSD, but that is only with custom SSDs from OWC, which have a maximum capacity of 480GB I believe.

I would ultimately wait for the new models to be released later this month/early november before making a choice. If youre buying them used you can use this information to barter for a lower price.

I'm totally feeling you on this. My thoughts exactly. I replaced my 17" with an rMBP and used the 17" resolution. I loved it! But I broke it in an accident.

It's really tough because I'm a coder and need to get back to work ASAP or I'm not making any more money at all. I've even considered getting a more future proof iMac I could sell again in a few weeks without loosing money due to the impending macbook refresh and resulting price drop. What do you guys think about that?

 

[sonicrobby]

I'm totally feeling you on this. My thoughts exactly. I replaced my 17" with an rMBP and used the 17" resolution. I loved it! But I broke it in an accident.

It's really tough because I'm a coder and need to get back to work ASAP or I'm not making any more money at all. I've even considered getting a more future proof iMac I could sell again in a few weeks without loosing money due to the impending macbook refresh and resulting price drop. What do you guys think about that?

That may be the better option, get something to hold you over until the refresh and then move to a macbook for as your primary computer.

I think an iMac would be a good choice, but dont go out of your way to get bells and whistles. If you are looking for resale, the base model is usually the best bet in most cases. But depending on the amount of power you need for your coding, if you have a monitor/keyboard/mouse you can use, the mac minis are pretty cheap and have a pretty great resale value. But the base model is only dual core with no dgpu, so Im not sure if that will fill your needs

 

[aiom]

I know it won't happen but I've always wanted a 14" MBP. I think 12, 14, 16 lineup would be ideal.

I totally agree with this suggestion. A 16" would be ideal for my purpose. Not 15", not 17", but a 16". In fact I believe a 16" could maybe fit in the same body as the 15", or only minimally larger, but with decent screenspace, having a resolution of 1600x1000 or so, without getting the pixels too small (I'm not very happy about the Retina displays...). 15" is the utmost minimum for working, just a little bit too small to be really satisfied

But you'll never know, maybe one day they do for 2014 they have plans to make a 12" (maybe replacing both 11" and 13"); and a 14" sized laptop is not so uncommon either (Dell, Alienware).

 

[Rizzm]

I totally agree with this suggestion. A 16" would be ideal for my purpose. Not 15", not 17", but a 16". In fact I believe a 16" could maybe fit in the same body as the 15", or only minimally larger, but with decent screenspace, having a resolution of 1600x1000 or so, without getting the pixels too small (I'm not very happy about the Retina displays...). 15" is the utmost minimum for working, just a little bit too small to be really satisfied

But you'll never know, maybe one day they do for 2014 they have plans to make a 12" (maybe replacing both 11" and 13"); and a 14" sized laptop is not so uncommon either (Dell, Alienware).

It makes so much sense to me. 12" for ultra portability (the 11" is so compact, but the 13" is much more practical), the 16" for people like you that like a big screen (but not too big), and the 14" for pretty much everything in between.

 

[Zeov]

It also lacks Thunderbolt.

no.

 

[agaskew]

Retina Mac = thinking smaller. Seventeen inch MacBook Pro = think ahead, think bigger and actually 'thinks'.

What on earth does this mean?