Apart from its price and its optical drive, what are the other advantages it has over other macbooks? Or are there none and apple will eventually phase them out. (please don't)
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Advantages of cMBP over other Macs
- Thread starter leimin
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Count Blah
macrumors 68040
Apple will phase them out eventually. The question is whether it's with Haswell or broadwell.
The advantages are - User replaceable parts. You can upgrade the RAM, replace the standard HDD with off the shelf hardware, and swap out the optical drive(need a special mount) and add another off the shelf HDD/SSD. You can purchase the minimum specs for now, and upgrade them whenever you like. Meaning, you can eek out another couple of years out of the same spec'd rMBP which can only have it's SSD replaced with very specific and expensive parts, but the RAM is stuck at what you bought originally.
The disadvantages versus rMBP are weight, screen, physical dimensions, 2 thunderbolt pots versus 1 on the cMBP, HDMI.
I"m sure I'm missing others, but this is off the top of my head.
The advantages are - User replaceable parts. You can upgrade the RAM, replace the standard HDD with off the shelf hardware, and swap out the optical drive(need a special mount) and add another off the shelf HDD/SSD. You can purchase the minimum specs for now, and upgrade them whenever you like. Meaning, you can eek out another couple of years out of the same spec'd rMBP which can only have it's SSD replaced with very specific and expensive parts, but the RAM is stuck at what you bought originally.
The disadvantages versus rMBP are weight, screen, physical dimensions, 2 thunderbolt pots versus 1 on the cMBP, HDMI.
I"m sure I'm missing others, but this is off the top of my head.
How about the vents though? Which is better, cmbp or rmbp? And about the speakers, why is 15's outside while 13's inside?
Mr MM
macrumors 65816
in terms of cooling the rmbp is better
in terms of speaker the rmbp is also better
regarding why they put speaker grills on the 15 and not on the 13 I dont really know, they are different parts after all and the 15 speaker is larger
in the end the post above yours sums it up
RAM and HDD user replaceability are the mbp trademark, aside that the rmbp is a clear superior machine
zipur
macrumors 6502a
Count Blah
macrumors 68040
If you go match the rMBP specs through the apple store, at time of purchase, then yes. But that is kinda the point, you don't want to do that through the apple store, you want to do it on your own for a lot less $$$ and to be able to upgrade in the future when prices really come down on SSDs.
Besides being able to upgrade certain hardware, as mentioned earlier, you also have more ports in cmbp. For instance retina pros do not have rj-45 (network) port and a fire-wire 800 port. Sure you can get adapters for those but that's extra money you have to spend just to have basic ports. I think Apple is going way over the top with the whole minimalistic approach. I don't think less is more, I think more is more. I hate how Apple phased out dvd drives, never adapted blue-ray, removing more and more ports, and making even such basic and much needed options as ram upgrades obsolete. I don't care that my computer is not as thin as it can possibly be. I'd rather have a fully functional slightly thicker laptop then a thinner and lighter completely not upgradable and port-less one with a bunch of thunderbolt adapters sticking out of it as well as a portable DVD burner. I think a final nail on the coffin for many Apple users will be when Apple will ditch a dedicated video card in favor of some Intel's latest and greatest integrated crappy video card. Integrated video cards are bad for gaming. Oh and I'm also forgetting a battery charge indicator that is missing from retina pros. I love being able to check my battery charge any time my macbook is turned off.
/rant
zipur
macrumors 6502a
Wow you have a lot to say on the matter. Half way through I wanted to say "Sir Step away from the keyboard" 🙂
I'm sure many would agree with you but I think you would be out voted by the majority of people who would never want to modify/upgrade their machine. However I agree with you, the "Pro" should allow for modifications.
and the 'Air" should be for that market.
Maybe Apple needs to add another laptop model or at least keep cmbp and retina together. Resurrect the 17" model, many people really do need that bigger screen. I just hate how Apple keeps simplifying their computers. It's like they care more about how thin a computer is vs performance/ports/usability/upgradability. Before long we will have supped up iPads with one thunderbolt port and that will be called a macbook pro with IOS replacing OSX. And Tim Cook will tell everyone that this is all any professional will ever need.
I am a student and I am looking to get my first Mac. I have been juggling with what model to get, and though the rMBP and MBA have a lot of advantages, the fact that I can easily upgrade RAM and the hard drive is crucial.
I will be purchasing a cMBP because of this. Maybe it doesn't have the newest core i5 or i7, but it should be a good machine for a long time. 🙂
I will be purchasing a cMBP because of this. Maybe it doesn't have the newest core i5 or i7, but it should be a good machine for a long time. 🙂
TechZeke
macrumors 68020
Well, for my needs as both an engineering student and doing engineer related work, the cMBP had several advantages over the rMBP:
Ports. I don't use thunderbolt. However, for work I need an optical drive and ethernet. For getting actual sh-t done, being directly connected to the network is actually much more productive.
User-replaceable RAM and HD - Already stated numerous times before. When looking at the retina I couldn't bring myself to pay apple's ridiculous prices for RAM and SSD space. 256GB for $2200 laptop is not worth it for me. The only I reason I got the SSD I have now is because I got it as a gift. This 250GB SSD I have now is way too small. I paid $100 for my high-quality 16 RAM.
Retina Display is useless. It's a great gimmick, but as an Engineer I don't need things to look pretty, I need things to work. It puts more unnecessary strain the GPU which is counter-productive to CAD rending and when gaming. People argue the GPU in the rMBP is more powerful than the cMBP(Gee, I wonder why🙄) but I will only see that extra power if I use an external display, which defeats the purpose of having a retina display in the first place.
The rMBP is definitely a better machine in many ways, but for my needs it just doesn't fit well. Will I eventually get a rMBP? Of course, but there is no need to force yourself onto something if you are given an option that fits your needs better.
People will jump in this thread and argue that these advantages aren't really advantages and that I could buy a bunch of $30 adapters to do the things I need the rMBP to do, but at the end of the day my needs are my needs no one else's opinions really mean anything.
Ports. I don't use thunderbolt. However, for work I need an optical drive and ethernet. For getting actual sh-t done, being directly connected to the network is actually much more productive.
User-replaceable RAM and HD - Already stated numerous times before. When looking at the retina I couldn't bring myself to pay apple's ridiculous prices for RAM and SSD space. 256GB for $2200 laptop is not worth it for me. The only I reason I got the SSD I have now is because I got it as a gift. This 250GB SSD I have now is way too small. I paid $100 for my high-quality 16 RAM.
Retina Display is useless. It's a great gimmick, but as an Engineer I don't need things to look pretty, I need things to work. It puts more unnecessary strain the GPU which is counter-productive to CAD rending and when gaming. People argue the GPU in the rMBP is more powerful than the cMBP(Gee, I wonder why🙄) but I will only see that extra power if I use an external display, which defeats the purpose of having a retina display in the first place.
The rMBP is definitely a better machine in many ways, but for my needs it just doesn't fit well. Will I eventually get a rMBP? Of course, but there is no need to force yourself onto something if you are given an option that fits your needs better.
People will jump in this thread and argue that these advantages aren't really advantages and that I could buy a bunch of $30 adapters to do the things I need the rMBP to do, but at the end of the day my needs are my needs no one else's opinions really mean anything.
Definitely cmbp will be better for you to add speed, insert a ssd drive, will last you till your graduation ceremony and beyond.🙂
zipur
macrumors 6502a
I was wondering what kind a deal you got on your cMBP. I'm in the market for a new laptop. Wife wants my rMBP and the son will get her MBA for college.
So due to your post I was thinking maybe the cMBP is the way to go. I don't care that much about the screen because 90% of the time it will be docked.
So I found this deal, I can upgrade to an SSD later. But the question still remains If I should go cMBP.
MacMall:
zipur
macrumors 6502a
Here is a link for you gives a review of cMBP 2012 and some rMBP INFO,
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6037/the-2012-macbook-pro-review/1
thekev
macrumors 604
It's a common retailer thing. First off if you look at configure to order pricing on anything, it's always higher. You always pay more to customize compared to a stock configuration. With the rmbp, it's priced and specced higher in its entry configuration. That doesn't make it cheaper. They just attempted to add some value there. Companies do that to make certain minimum sales, and in the case of the rmbp, it may have been yield limited enough at the start that they wanted to ease demand through pricing strategies.
ValSalva
macrumors 68040
I also think Apple is trying to steer people towards the retina Macs. But they are probably able to get better deals on the components because they are not consumer grade, i.e. the RAM needs to be soldered on and the SSD's are not the usual 2.5" form factor ones. Apple is just buying the flash for the SSD's and not the cases and thus in quantity they may be getting a better price than they are for the 2.5" SSD's they buy for the cMBP's.
jav6454
macrumors Core
In places where there is lack of Wi-Fi and Ethernet access only (think many college dorms), the cMBP will shine. (unless you buy the ethernet adpater)
maflynn
macrumors Broadwell
The ethernet adapter is cheap enough, though if I had my druthers, I would have a native ethernet port instead of the dongle.
I was debating between the cMBP and rMBP when apple introduced the retina MBP. I found for the most part it was no more expensive then the cMBP if I wanted to add 16GB and a 256SSD (even third party products not just apple's)
The screen one me over and I don't mind the loss of the optical drive, or the FW port.
jav6454
macrumors Core
My same debate. But, for me, what tips it still in the cMBP is the dGPU, which in my opinion, does not satisfy the needs of the display just yet.
zipur
macrumors 6502a
jav6454
macrumors Core
My brother bought it. Is he happy? Yes. Would I love to have one right now? Yes. Would I buy it over a Retina? Yes.
Because for my needs, the cMBP is great. Retina is just a gimmick for more sales and dGPU that definitely is not meant to push all that pixel load, albeit in the cMBP, the GT 650M does absolutely great.
Hopefully either AMD or nVidia got this next generation better suited for ultra-high resolution displays.
sonicrobby
macrumors 68030
Custamizeability; you can easily change the RAM and HDD of the cMBP, even replace the optical drive with a second HDD or SSD. The other macbooks have soldered in RAM and custom-shaped (expensive) SSDs
zipur
macrumors 6502a
I remember last year that was all the talk, but its died down. I guess people feel Screen out weighs the Self Maintenance. Same with cars, they don't want you in there so you have to buy the computer for diags. Im in the market but I swear I just can't decide. I like the fact that I can get a 2.7 add my own memory and what ever SSD and have a smokin machine. But the fan may be to loud. And then there is the Haswell beast on the horizon and maybe a new feature I would want. anx
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KingKen1986
macrumors regular
I just bought a mid 2012 cmbp because I needed the disc drive for the work I do. I got the high end model with 2.9ghz i7; 8gb ram; 750gb hdd etc....All I have to say about it is its absolutely stunning. and you can get them on sale at BestBuy right now for 1299 instead of 1499 at the apple store. (yes i got mine for 1299). That is a hell of a deal for a computer as powerful as it is. I wasn't sold on the rmbp. For the same price I didnt get as powerful of a computer just because of a higher resolution screen. So I went with power over retina because it just made more sense to me. In my opinion, and again this is my opinion, the cmbp is a better deal until they do some changes to the rmbp. Oh I forgot to mention its the 13 inch for those who don't know.
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