2013 13" MacBook Air or 2012 13" Retina MBP for $255 more?

[dmk1974]

The retina screen of course is absolutely gorgeous. But even with the Best Buy Black Friday sale right now, is it worth the extra $255 for it compared to the new MacBook Air that just came out? I am looking at the base model for each.

Assuming that I would apply the $100 Back to School coupon to either one, and the current sale pricing at Best Buy, the pre-tax price of each machine are:

2013 13" MBA MD760LL/A: $944.99
2012 13" rMBP MD212LL/A: $1199.99

Pros for the MBA are: price, battery life, weight, faster SSD, newer chipset, newer graphics

Pros for the rMBP are: the screen, extra ram, slightly faster processor

 

[sofianito]

How much does cost a eateable pizza in US? $15?

If you stop eating pizza during 17 days, you could then afford to pay the $255 difference and get the retina...

 

[alex0002]

Pros for the rMBP are: the screen, extra ram, slightly faster processor

Do you have another Mac or pc, or will this be your main or only computer? I wouldn't want to buy a machine limited to 4GB of soldered in ram unless it was just a secondary machine.

Is there a third option with a MBA with 8GB of ram?
Or a cMBP which allows you to upgrade the memory?

 

[dmk1974]

Do you have another Mac or pc, or will this be your main or only computer? I wouldn't want to buy a machine limited to 4GB of soldered in ram unless it was just a secondary machine.

Is there a third option with a MBA with 8GB of ram?
Or a cMBP which allows you to upgrade the memory?

I do have a 2012 Mac Mini that is our home server computer that has all of our music/photos/videos/files. The MacBook though would be my primary machine that I use, sometimes connected to a 24" monitor at my desk as well.

 

[twombles62]

Get a refurb rMBP like I did!

 

[dmk1974]

Get a refurb rMBP like I did!

But pre-tax, it would be $70 more for the refurb from Apple. Why would I want the refurb?

 

[RicoRich196]

But pre-tax, it would be $70 more for the refurb from Apple. Why would I want the refurb?

Why wouldn't you? Apple refurbs are top notch and have the same warranties new machines have, and you can add AppleCare. There really is no losing going Apple Refurb.

 

[B...]

Why wouldn't you? Apple refurbs are top notch and have the same warranties new machines have, and you can add AppleCare. There really is no losing going Apple Refurb.

Are you really promoting a refurb over a brand new machine which costs more than $70 less?

 

[henry72]

I'd definitely take the retina display simply because it is just AMAZING! Downside is that you might have to flight for a Samsung screen

 

[dmk1974]

Are you really promoting a refurb over a brand new machine which costs more than $70 less?

That was my point as well. While I have also bought from the Apple refurb site as well and the products there are just like new, why the heck would I not buy a brand new unit for less money?

 

[lagisibuk]

Get retina, perfect for screen

 

[dmk1974]

Get retina, perfect for screen

Yeah, that's where I'm definitely leaning.

Pretty set on the base 13". Thinking of the 2.6/256 GB version for $200 more, but since I have a Mac Mini, I don't really need the extra space on the laptop. I read benchmarks that the 128 GB SSD is a bit slower than the 256 GB SSD. Just keeps adding up....$250 here, $200 there...

I think I'm mostly enamored by the "deals" that are going on and the awesome retina screen vs absolute need.

 

[lagisibuk]

Yeah, that's where I'm definitely leaning.

Pretty set on the base 13". Thinking of the 2.6/256 GB version for $200 more, but since I have a Mac Mini, I don't really need the extra space on the laptop. I read benchmarks that the 128 GB SSD is a bit slower than the 256 GB SSD. Just keeps adding up....$250 here, $200 there...

I think I'm mostly enamored by the "deals" that are going on and the awesome retina screen vs absolute need.

why you dont think to get 15" retina, either is refurbish or second hand

 

[dmk1974]

why you dont think to get 15" retina, either is refurbish or second hand

I don't really like the much larger 15" unit. However, if I actually found a killer deal, I'd consider it. But I currently am using a 11" MBA. the 15" in comparison seems huge. 13" is kinda the sweet spot.

 

[dmk1974]

Well, I picked up the 13" base rMBP from my local Best Buy. Don't have time to play around with it tonight, but hope to open it tomorrow and see how it is!

 

[jread]

You made the right choice. The 13" rMBP us superior to the Haswell MBA in every way except for battery life. Yes, the Haswell MBA has the HD 5000, but in my experience the weaker processors in the MBA do not take full advantage of it. I still get better graphics performance out if my 13" with HD 4000.

 

[DarkSel]

Curious as to why you didn't wait for the Haswell rMBP?

 

[dmk1974]

Curious as to why you didn't wait for the Haswell rMBP?

Mainly because I really don't know when those will be available. And I'm assuming the base 13" version will be at least $1499. At $300 less, I thought it was a good deal.

 

[dmk1974]

While I am very much enjoying my 13" rMBP, i just noticed that Apple dropped their refurb price on this by $20 to $1249. Maybe another indicator that the Haswell version of the 13" rMBP is right around the corner?

http://store.apple.com/us/product/F...z-dual-core-intel-core-i5-with-retina-display

 

[dmk1974]

I see Best Buy this week has had the 13" base 2013 MBA on sale for $999 so with the education discount, it now becomes $899 ($300 less than the 13" base 2012 rMBP).

I still do like my rMBP though. While it has a slight lag, the 1680 x 1050 screen is great for my fantasy football cheat sheets

 

[dmk1974]

BB still has the sale this week on the 2013 MBA 13" for $999.99 ($899.99 after the edu coupon). With new rMBP models now hopefully out in a month or two, I wonder if returning the 2012 rMBP for the 2013 MBA is the better option and then see what happens.

With the current sale price on that MBA, it would save me $300 and then worst-case I'd probably be able to get this same model for about $1100...or the new Haswell rMBP depending on how much it costs.

 

[dmk1974]

I bought a 2013 MBA 13" base model for $899.99. Had to at least try it out. Very similar to the 2012, but the battery life is incredible! My real-time testing so far has yielded over 9 hours of actual use. Probably more on the next cycle since I had TimeMachine and Spotlight indexing running.

I think the 2012 rMBP is going to have to go back. We'll see what happens when the 2013 rMBP comes out (hopefully soon).

 

[christof]

I bought a 2012 MBA 13" base model for $899.99. Had to at least try it out. Very similar to the 2012, but the battery life is incredible! My real-time testing so far has yielded over 9 hours of actual use. Probably more on the next cycle since I had TimeMachine and Spotlight indexing running.

I think the 2012 rMBP is going to have to go back. We'll see what happens when the 2013 rMBP comes out (hopefully soon).

What are you thinking now? I have an rMBP 13, but I think the battery life (and size/weight) of an MBA 11 are becoming more appealing. I'm considering the 11 MBA since its pixel count is slightly more dense. God, I wish Apple would release an rMBP 11.

 

[dmk1974]

What are you thinking now? I have an rMBP 13, but I think the battery life (and size/weight) of an MBA 11 are becoming more appealing. I'm considering the 11 MBA since its pixel count is slightly more dense. God, I wish Apple would release an rMBP 11.

I agree, an 11" rMBP with a 16:10 screen would be the ultimate laptop for me.

I wound up keeping the 13" 2013 MBA and am glad I did. As long as I don't compare it right next to a retina screen, it was a much better value, fast enough for my needs, and the battery I get real-life 9+ hours on it.

 

[robvas]

Missing my 13" rMBP I recently sold for a 13" Air. Mostly the screen but the slightly more compact footprint was nice, as was the 8GB/256GB (but you can get the Air setup like that...)

I have had the 13" Air, 13" Pro, 13" Pro Retina, 11" Air, and 15" Pro.