And then you go through "nothing to declare" at the airport, unless you want to pay your 20% VAT. Look at the Australians on this thread as an example, they add their VAT to price comparisons.
Isn't "serious gaming" self-contradictory?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Updates Retina MacBook Pros With New Processors and Faster PCIe Flash Storage
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
And then you go through "nothing to declare" at the airport, unless you want to pay your 20% VAT. Look at the Australians on this thread as an example, they add their VAT to price comparisons.
Isn't "serious gaming" self-contradictory?
My late-2008 15" just died after 5 years of faithful service. Over time it became my just-about-everything platform, including development. So I was holding my breath waiting for today, hoping... and then came the tough decisions.
- could I get by with only 13"? - Probably. I can scale to 1440x900, same as before... less physical real estate, but at higher effective resolution. Adjusting to more use of full-screen mode and a set of one-app Spaces should also help.
- 128GB, 256GB, 512GB? - 128 is out of the question. I've been pretty comfortable with 512 for quite a while, but have recently been moving more and more things to, uh, "internal cloud" storage as is. If I kill off Boot Camp, change work flow a bit, make more use of thumb drives... 256 might be just fine.
- 8GB or 16GB? - Well hell, this was the very reason I cut the 13" right out of consideration last year: no 16GB, no way. But wait... I've been reasonably okay with 8GB, and Mavericks is making some efficiency promises here, and the whole point of "no 16GB, no way" had more to do with "future-proofing" than with dire immediate need.
So huh. My ideal MBP doesn't really exist (matte screen, user serviceable), and next-gen long-term replacement for how I've *been* doing things is going to exceed $3500 (figuring in 1TB storage, tax, and at that level of expense, AppleCare for damn sure). So I thought about things, how reliant I've been on an everything platform, how I've gotten by on this iPad for so much over the past week, how many resources are just a wifi hop away, and what I really want for a development environment.
And then I ordered the new standard config 13" 8/256.
It'll do everything the previous could - except way way faster, with a couple of trade-offs - and leave nearly $2000 on the table for a primary dev one. It'll be in my hands sooner, and if it's not working out, there's the better part of 14 days to figure that and change my mind if so.
Your base considerations are clearly different than mine, but there you go... my "why".
keep in mind UK prices include VAT, we have sales tax which is not included in the price. For me it adds roughly 10% to the cost so $2200 vs 2757, it's still substantially more expensive though.
Well I guess I fail at life since I just bought a new one to upgrade my current one. Career be damned, salary and marriage be damned, I fail because I looked and bought a new one.
Same here. I too have an '07 MBP that will be replaced. It's been 6 years and still kickin with Mavericks!
Sigh.. need to replace my 2007 MacPro (which is used for Photoshop/Lightroom/Warcraft) and thought the graphics in the new RMBP might be good enough.. but.. looking at the specs, it's barely on par with the Radeon 5770 that my MacPro has. The memory bus would be faster in the RMBP, but still, for $400 more, I would get a lot more from the new MacPro. (No, don't actually need a laptop, just need a new rig, whatever the configuration).
I think most of us are roughly on the same page when it comes to Apple's upgrade pricing, but some setups just BEG you to buy the next model up. Check these two out.
15" (integrated graphics)
2.0GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz
16GB 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM
1TB PCIe-based Flash Storage
=$2999.
15" (discrete graphics)
2.3GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.5GHz
16GB 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM
1TB PCIe-based Flash Storage
=$3099
So for $100, you get a slightly faster processor AND discrete graphics. So boo to setup no. 1, am I right?
To be honest, I don't use graphic intensive applications but I'm still debating whether or not getting the higher end 15" for the discrete graphics. I'm just trying to future-proof the machine as much as possible. Whatever I get, I'm getting 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage (+$800 for just the storage in some setups!?!). With the crazy upgrade pricing, I'm having a hard time weighing the pros and cons of some setups. Portability is a big reason I'm getting a laptop, but whether it's 15" or 13", that's not such a big deal.
Besides the more expensive of the two 15" models, I'm considering this one as well.
13"
2.6GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz
16GB 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM
1TB PCIe-based Flash Storage
=$2499
My question to you guys: Disregarding screen size, is shelling out $600 more for the i7 quad-core and iris pro PLUS the GT 750M graphics the way to go? When I consider the upgrade to 1TB from the base 15" costs $800, it seems like a no brainer, but when it comes to real world usage, I'm at a loss.
15" (integrated graphics)
2.0GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz
16GB 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM
1TB PCIe-based Flash Storage
=$2999.
15" (discrete graphics)
2.3GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.5GHz
16GB 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM
1TB PCIe-based Flash Storage
=$3099
So for $100, you get a slightly faster processor AND discrete graphics. So boo to setup no. 1, am I right?
To be honest, I don't use graphic intensive applications but I'm still debating whether or not getting the higher end 15" for the discrete graphics. I'm just trying to future-proof the machine as much as possible. Whatever I get, I'm getting 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage (+$800 for just the storage in some setups!?!). With the crazy upgrade pricing, I'm having a hard time weighing the pros and cons of some setups. Portability is a big reason I'm getting a laptop, but whether it's 15" or 13", that's not such a big deal.
Besides the more expensive of the two 15" models, I'm considering this one as well.
13"
2.6GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz
16GB 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM
1TB PCIe-based Flash Storage
=$2499
My question to you guys: Disregarding screen size, is shelling out $600 more for the i7 quad-core and iris pro PLUS the GT 750M graphics the way to go? When I consider the upgrade to 1TB from the base 15" costs $800, it seems like a no brainer, but when it comes to real world usage, I'm at a loss.
For that $3k, you sure you need a laptop? because that's the starting price for the MacPro.. my dilemma.
It's really not ideal that Apple does not include an ethernet port just because they find it "extraneous". I've run across routers that don't play well with Apple's network cards either.
Woo Hoo...
Items to be Shipped to ####
Shipment 1 Available to ship: Within 24 hours
Delivers: 25/10/2013 by Standard Shipping
More details about delivery dates
13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display
A$ 1,571.82
With the following configuration:
2.4GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 2.9GHz
8GB 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM
256GB PCIe-based Flash Storage
Backlit Keyboard (English) & User's Guide
Accessory Kit
Items to be Shipped to ####
Shipment 1 Available to ship: Within 24 hours
Delivers: 25/10/2013 by Standard Shipping
More details about delivery dates
13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display
A$ 1,571.82
With the following configuration:
2.4GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 2.9GHz
8GB 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM
256GB PCIe-based Flash Storage
Backlit Keyboard (English) & User's Guide
Accessory Kit
Haha, I had a mini internal struggle with that, actually. I'm living in Japan now, and want to move back to the states within a year and a half. I just don't want to have to ship the MacPro when it comes time. And I do somewhat appreciate the mobility of a laptop even though it does stay in the house mostly. I've been without a computer for about 8 months now after my 2008 MacBook backlight died, and then when I had enough money, I figured I'd wait for the new rmbp at the WWDC and.. You get the picture.
So what are your thoughts on those setups?
You're correct. My mistake. I guess I confused my memory with the iSight camera of the iPad Air which does 1080p video, I suppose? I shall edit my original post
So... which one to buy?
Once again I find myself looking at all of these different specs (specifically processor speeds, graphics processors, etc.) and for the life of me I can't figure out which machine makes the most sense.
- I do some picture & video editing (not professionally, but as an enthusiastic amateur).
- I'm a casual gamer who still wishes he had the time to be a hardcore gamer, but just doesn't.
- I do a LOT of web research, and enjoy the ability to have 30+ browser tabs up & running at the same time.
- I travel 5-6 times a year so weight matters, but not like it would for a regular business traveler.
So, it's safe to assume max RAM on any model... but which model?
- low or high-end 13"?
- low, middle or high-end 15"?
Once again I find myself looking at all of these different specs (specifically processor speeds, graphics processors, etc.) and for the life of me I can't figure out which machine makes the most sense.
- I do some picture & video editing (not professionally, but as an enthusiastic amateur).
- I'm a casual gamer who still wishes he had the time to be a hardcore gamer, but just doesn't.
- I do a LOT of web research, and enjoy the ability to have 30+ browser tabs up & running at the same time.
- I travel 5-6 times a year so weight matters, but not like it would for a regular business traveler.
So, it's safe to assume max RAM on any model... but which model?
- low or high-end 13"?
- low, middle or high-end 15"?
If you go with 4GB of RAM, OS X will use all of it all the time. You will feel as if having nothing spare and scare yourself (unnecessary) to dead. Historically RAM exists so that your very fast CPU does not need to wait on your very slow HDD (more than once). Whenever you start a program or open a document for the first time, the data is loaded from you slow HDD or fast SSD into the RAM. When your RAM is full some of the data in memory might be deleted to make room for new data and than needs to be re-read a second time later. When loading a program took an eternity, you wanted to avoid this second run at all costs and always have empty RAM spare, so that never anything gets to be deleted from memory. Nowadays with SSD connected via PCIe (over 700MB/s read and write) it takes only 5 seconds to swap out the whole 4GB of RAM. The faster your SSD gets, the less important it is if your RAM is full or not. Let it be full and stop worrying.
All this carrot-dangling by Apple and discussion of "future-proofing" here is a big part of why I decided "ah, screw it" and went with the basic 13" 8/256 a few comments back.
For my purposes, it seems pointless to drop twice as much cash as I really need to. Specs advance, prices drop. Year after year. $1650 is a perfectly comfortable amount to consider spending every couple of years or so on a personal laptop. It'll probably still be in perfect working condition - a lovely hand-me-down, or reasonable resale value, or a handy and capable spare. Paying twice as much in hopes of getting another couple of years out of it - years where I'll likely be drooling over the then-current models anyway - eh, I think I'm done with that. For me, separating out personal and professional use, and only having to refresh one of those every other cycle or so - at similar total cost as a one-shot attempt to future-proof - makes too much sense.
And you know, if we're still looking at essentially the same laptops, updated, in 4 or 5 years time... well, that doesn't speak well for Apple's future commitment to general purpose computing at all. I'm hoping for some real awesomeness to occur before that "future" even gets here.
Looks like we've both gone for the maxed out spec and be receiving our new notebooks on the same day. Mine will be replacing the MacBook Pro in my signature that I bought in February 2009. 4 Years and 9 Months between them!
Am I brain damaged or is it stupid to consider 128GB SSD is enough for ANYONE. So many people I know but them and can't even backup their iPhone and iPad due to lack of HDD space, let alone their iTunes library and photos.
I also note, the HD upgrades are only available on the top of the line 13" MBPr and the 15"s, which are ridiculously priced when you have decent storage.
I think Apple has killed the HD too soon, people need storage!!!
Agreed. I think the rMBP tried to innovate too much at once, and thus priced itself out of the mainstream market. 256gb needs to be the absolute minimum a laptop is shipped with.
That's a really good point that I hadn't thought about. If I'm just going to buy another laptop a few years down the road that will be better than the current top of the line model, and the total cost of a mid range model now plus the cost of a future mid range model is roughly equivalent to a current high end then... Thanks for the insight. Seems very logical.
You do understand the logic, but the logic is flawed by historical evidence that isn't applicable to the future.
This worked back then, because you switched from HDD to SSD on a standard SATA III (6.0Gb/s or 600MB/s) connector. With PCIe SSD Apple has already gone beyond those speed and form-factor limitations. Adding more RAM used to help, because HDDs were slow. Switching to SSD helped, because HDDs were slow. Apples proprietary PCIe SSD blades are not slow and they are not soldered to the motherboard either. You could upgrade them, there just isn't a standardized market offering better, cheaper or faster solutions.
Well, looks like my 2011 mbp is my last apple. I don't care about the price, but there is no way in hell I'm going to buy a laptop that doesn't take industry standard ram and hard drives. I've got a 256 gig SSD($200), 1TB HD ($150 with optibay) and 16 gig of ram ($80) in my tiny little 13" machine and I love it. Even if I want to pay Apple's fees for upgrades, I can't get anything that compares.
I won't even download Mavericks. I mean when you're not high on Apple Kool-Aid, why in the world would you want to burn CPU cycles compressing memory when 16 gig is $80???? They say it's efficient, but why waste any processor time at all when the proper solution is so cheap.
What's next, hard drive compression coming back? That was killed off by cheap hard drive prices, but Apple is artificially making that stupid tiny too.
I bought my first android product last month after the iphone event and I guess my next laptop means I'm free of the apple ecosystem.
Enjoy your disposable crippled iToys pretending to be computers. I won't let the door hit me on the way out.
I won't even download Mavericks. I mean when you're not high on Apple Kool-Aid, why in the world would you want to burn CPU cycles compressing memory when 16 gig is $80???? They say it's efficient, but why waste any processor time at all when the proper solution is so cheap.
What's next, hard drive compression coming back? That was killed off by cheap hard drive prices, but Apple is artificially making that stupid tiny too.
I bought my first android product last month after the iphone event and I guess my next laptop means I'm free of the apple ecosystem.
Enjoy your disposable crippled iToys pretending to be computers. I won't let the door hit me on the way out.
The joys of non-replaceable proprietary flash SSDs! You have to shell out a fortune with the largest drive available as you can't upgrade it later, and if you max it out you still can't get as much storage in it as my 3 year old 17" with an optibay having a 256GB SSD + 1TB 5400rpm drive. And that's nearly full so no doubt they'll be upgraded again before the end of its usable life. Green my arse and needs to be highly recyclable with that level of non-upgradability!
Sure it'll go faster, but it'll also go faster into the bin and empty your wallet faster. If I'm gonna blow as much as a decent 2nd hand car on a laptop it damn well better be upgradable!
Sure it'll go faster, but it'll also go faster into the bin and empty your wallet faster. If I'm gonna blow as much as a decent 2nd hand car on a laptop it damn well better be upgradable!
Bigger screen, more pixels, more backlight. Quad-Core i7 and Iris Pro.
The bigger battery in the 15-inch rMBP can't compensate all those energy drainers.
After decades of Intel optimizing the platform for speed not efficiency. Nothing will help with battery life.
How many more pixels do you need? The 15-inch is your new 17-inch. Just sit nearer and you see it bigger.
But don't you wish you could connect an old PS/2 keyboard to your new Mac Pro?
That's socialism! And I like it.