2011 MacBook Pro or 2012 MacBook Pro?

[Kyllle]

If you're completely happy with what you have now, then wait, but the redesign is supposed to be in 2012, not late 2011, so you would likely be waiting another year.

If you are positive that you want the redesign when it comes out, then I would buy a refurb from Apple now, then sell it next year, and hopefully only lose $200-300.

 

[miisterlim]

If you really want it now then get it. Otherwise if you don't mind waiting get the newer one. I bought the 13" MBP 2010 five months before the 2011 models came out and I've never been happier.

 

[AMacbook]

I would wait for the 2015 models, I hear they'll be even better

Seriously though, the 2011 models are really good, powerful, machines. Apple has finally ditched the "ancient" Core 2 Duo and put in the new core i processors. Yes, the 2012 models will likely be faster, but so will the 2013 models, the 2014 models, etc..
The 2011 MBP models are in the mid product cycle, there's no point of waiting 6-8 months if you need a computer now. If it was a month or two, that's another story.

Final advice: Buy it and enjoy it!

I heard the 2025 models are going to have 8 cores and 4 graphics card gonna wait for thoose!

 

[MJNBGA]

I heard the 2025 models are going to have 8 cores and 4 graphics card gonna wait for thoose!

I've seen laptops with 8 cores in 2011. Hell, the Mac Pro has 12 cores!

So I guess that the best idea is to buy one now, see if the "redesign" is worth the upgrade (when/if it comes out), and if it is, sell the one I've got now to buy the newer one. Did I get that?

Thanks for all of your responses?

 

[MacsOnAnabolics]

I think you should wait 'til the 2015 model! I heard that one is suppose to have a 2TB SSD standard and an OCTA-CORE processor... Should be something to hold out for.

I've seen laptops with 8 cores in 2011. Hell, the Mac Pro has 12 cores!

12 "Virtual" cores

 

[fattire357]

I have a feeling that once the 2012 Macbook Pros come out they will look so cool that a 2011 will look like that old retired model.


I'm waiting until 2012...

 

[asdf542]

12 "Virtual" cores

No, the 12-core Mac Pro has 24 virtual cores.

 

[aluren]

Don't forget about the possible retina display on the MBP!

Since you will use the laptop heavily, I don't think you should wait. You should for iPhones or iPads updates, but not MBPs. And like others mentioned, just sell it next year when the new one comes out. You'll probably end up losing $200. that's worth it for 8-10 months of use.

 

[Chiuy]

I was in the same situation as you for like a day and decided to go buy it once back to school start.
The MacBook are in mid production, so I doubt they will upgrade it anytime soon.
2012 MacBook might come out in December, or it could even come as late as June 2012.

So... just buy it now, you won't regret it.
Remember, Apple Laptop has high reselling value, you can probably get back a good 70%-80% back depending on the condition.

Don't wait for it, just get it. Unless they're at the near end cycle and rumors are starting to fly everywhere, but at this time... nothing is happening.

 

[Chiuy]

I have a feeling that once the 2012 Macbook Pros come out they will look so cool that a 2011 will look like that old retired model.


I'm waiting until 2012...

Rumors... rumors... rumors...
They could look exactly the same as 2011.
(Most likely high reso screen, more upgrade stuff, upgrade intel, etc)
You can always sell your old MacBook since they have high reselling value.

 

[superericla]

If you wait long enough you might be able to get a quantum MacBook Pro. In all seriousness I'd suggest just getting this year's MacBook Pro.

 

[ThirtyThr33]

Get one now, I'm in the same boat as you are. I'm going to school and I want a powerful laptop to get me by. I too was considering playing the waiting game but just like all these other guys have said, just enjoy the current model and if you REALLY cannot live without a newer (possibly redesigned model) just sell your old one and buy a new one when they are released.

As for the whole "screen too small" issue, I again am in the same boat as I need the portability of a 13" but I also want a big screen. Solution? Buy a LCD monitor off eBay for ~$150 and hook you MBP up to that bad boy. Forget the apple cinema display for an extra $1000. Hell for that price you might as well pay a few extra bucks to buy an iMac and use that as your external monitor lol

 

[sumone]

If you wait long enough you might be able to get a quantum MacBook Pro.

NO WAY!!! Screw the MBP 2012 model, i'm waiting for that bad boy

 

[Sodner]

Buy crap and use it till 2015 when the new MBP is rumored to be really fast.

 

[Mrguidogenio]

Get the MBP 2011 NOW

 

[stevemiller]

people who get overly hyped for a redesign make me laugh. for example, i swear most of the people drooling over "liquid metal" are doing so just because it conjures images of t-1000 or something. i'm surprised they haven't just broken down and purchased an alienware for the extra bevels and neon lights.

not to say there is never reason to wait, either. i held off on my first macbook pro until they introduced the unibody; but i had some specific things i was anticipating. namely the much easier to keep clean chicklet keyboard and the fewer screws and seams design, both of which were already in use by the macbook air released earlier that year. but those specific niggles aside, i also would have had no regrets going with the previous model (except the whole nvidia fiasco!).

looking ahead to any future redesigns, i think think most desirable potential improvements will be a thinner/lighter body with the removal of the optical drive, and a cooler running system under ivy bridge. whether the weight and/or heat of the current model is unappealing enough to justify waiting is entirely up to the buyer.

one other word of caution. when a redesign does occur, you can bet your britches there'll be an equally ridiculous vocal contingent on here branding the new look as hideous and unusable. with the unibody it was the black bezel, glassy screen, and funnily enough, the chicklet keyboard that i actually desired. you can also rest assured that any quirks that pop up will be met with a dismissive "lol, thats what you get for buying a rev. A apple product"

happy trails

 

[Bloodstar]

Depends on when you'll be able to get it. If you can now, by all means, go for it! Especially if you need it.

For me, I'll be able to buy one in a few months (of course, taking advantage of Micro Center's $999 deal, if it still exists in September), and I'll still spring for the 2011 model. The MBP seems to be going on a 10-month cycle now instead of 8 in the past, and I'm going to need the upgrade for the next semester - my iBook won't be able to get me through the whole thing, seeing as the class I'm taking requires Xcode 4. (I apparently can get by with 3 for the beginning though, fortunately... saves me from having to buy an old MacBook instead.) If not for that, however, I'd wait out the couple months with my current machine.

I don't see the i5s going out of style anytime soon, anyway. It's not like you'd be stuck on a Core Solo Mini, which was pretty poor to begin with...

 

[bygaro]

IMO i would say waiting several months will deserve it. If whispers comes true we will have a completely redesign of the new mbq'12 material change, dimensions change and maybe new design thinner, lighter and even more powerful than mbp'11.

I'm in the same situation as many people are. I need asap a laptop to work @cad so i will get a mid-low profile laptop that helps me these next months. Till then... just wait for sell it as soon as an official release date comes true.

 

[Arneee]

Have an old 17" MBP 2007

IMO i would say waiting several months will deserve it. If whispers comes true we will have a completely redesign of the new mbq'12 material change, dimensions change and maybe new design thinner, lighter and even more powerful than mbp'11.

I'm in the same situation as many people are. I need asap a laptop to work @cad so i will get a mid-low profile laptop that helps me these next months. Till then... just wait for sell it as soon as an official release date comes true.

OK, I have this 17" MBPro from 2007 2.4ghz. I upgraded year and half ago to 500Gb hdd and 4Gb ram. Now I am dumping out the superdrive and putting an extra 128gb SSD into that empty real estate. I will also do a fresh os reinstall to 10.6.3. Snow Leopard. I have been running it with 10.4.11. Tiger for almost all four years now!!!

 

[Erasmus]

If you buy the 2011 MBP now, you can justify buying the 2014 MBP in 3 years. If you wait until 2012, you'll also have to wait until 2015 to justify buying your next MBP.

If you buy new computers more frequently than every three years, Greenpeace puts you on their black list, and hounds you more often and more vigorously. Or at least that's what I imagine would happen. You don't want that.

 

[MicyMic]

well, the thing is, Einstein, 2012 is the rumored year for the complete overhaul, or redesign, and knowing apple, it could be big, and i suppose the op knows about this, hence the question

who gives a crap about a 20 percent increase in cpu power? not so many people, your advice would be valid if we werent looking at the complete redesign

to the op, youll get a lot of advices like 'if it does everything you need it to buy now', well why dont you buy lenovo then, it will do everything you need it to for half the price

in my opinion you should wait for the redesign, assuming youll have it for at least 4 years, you gotta thing forward, not like these fellows here

this guy has encapsulated it

i can understand that people who've bought the '11 models dont wanna hear, that the new models will get a new case! i concur with your opinion

i have superiored to buy one of the '11 models, too... but now i decided to wait for the new design

 

[randomrazr]

im going to university this fall too

you are better off buying a awesome macbook now and enjoying it for ur first year.

granted macbooks will be released in 2012 but is there anything your really gonna go do differently on a 2012 omodel compared to the 2011.

the 2011 macbooks have the best specs so far. im happy with my 2011 15inch. even though the design has remained unchanged for 4 years, its unchanged for a rreason, its a awesome solid pieces of computer

buy it now, enjoy it for the rest of school.

 

[MrRoyksopp]

If they updated it in a month or so, I understand waiting. But when we talk like 8 months or so, I think its way to long waiting time. Why not wait several years then?
You wait for a computer in 8 months, that you know is going to be updated in a year again, in my opinion, thats waste of time.
Go pick one up now, use that for some years, and maybe get a new one later on.

My opinion.

 

[2hvy4grvty]

Funny that you guys mention specs, because the 2010 -> 2011 introduced one of the biggest jumps "specs" wise that you'll find for years: dual core -> quad core. The 13 inch MBP went from penryn -> sandy. 10-20%? Rubbish.

 

[awer25]

well, the thing is, Einstein, 2012 is the rumored year for the complete overhaul, or redesign, and knowing apple, it could be big, and i suppose the op knows about this, hence the question

who gives a crap about a 20 percent increase in cpu power? not so many people, your advice would be valid if we werent looking at the complete redesign

Your post is great - you speak with such certainty regarding a COMPLETE RUMOR. Have you already forgotten how many people thought that the 2011 model would bring a complete new design[1][2]?