Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Bought a 13" rmbp yesterday, should I return it and wait for broadwell?

C

Calleknug

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 9, 2014
66
15
Two days ago I got tired of waiting for broadwell so I went to a nearby apple store and grabbed a 13" retina macbook pro 2014 edition (my first mac computer ever). I've wanted to buy a macbook since summer, but I've been holding out for a broadwell release. I'm starting medical studies at university in two weeks so my options are to either take this newly bought haswell mbp with me or to take my old sluggish thinkpad (2011 edition with i3/HDD) with me and and then replace it when a 13" broadwell mbp is released. Since I'll be studying for 5 and half year on a tight budget I'm hoping to keep whatever macbook I buy now or soon for that matter during these years. The improved battery life, graphics and usb 3.1 seems pretty nice to me.

Do you guys think the broadwell mbp is worth the wait in my situation? Since this is my first mac I don't know how apple goes about updating their machines. Do they wait to update both 13" and 15" macbooks until the H processors for the 15" is released or do they update the 13" first and then the 15"?
 
Can you wait until 2nd (or maybe even 3rd qtr) 2015? That's really the bottom line, if you can hold off buying one until summer, then do so, otherwise enjoy what you have.

Its doubtful that your current computer will last less time, then a broadwell based. The performance of today's computers are well beyond what most consumers need imo.
 
Not sure what you are using your macbook for, but I suspect a mba might be more suited for your needs.
I'd get what you need now, since there is always a new release around the corner.
 
Why not wait...

Intel just released the broadwell chips yesterday so should be in the new macbooks in the next month or two if you can wait...
 
Calleknug said:
Two days ago I got tired of waiting for broadwell so I went to a nearby apple store and grabbed a 13" retina macbook pro 2014 edition (my first mac computer ever). I've wanted to buy a macbook since summer, but I've been holding out for a broadwell release. I'm starting medical studies at university in two weeks so my options are to either take this newly bought haswell mbp with me or to take my old sluggish thinkpad (2011 edition with i3/HDD) with me and and then replace it when a 13" broadwell mbp is released. Since I'll be studying for 5 and half year on a tight budget I'm hoping to keep whatever macbook I buy now or soon for that matter during these years. The improved battery life, graphics and usb 3.1 seems pretty nice to me.

Do you guys think the broadwell mbp is worth the wait in my situation? Since this is my first mac I don't know how apple goes about updating their machines. Do they wait to update both 13" and 15" macbooks until the H processors for the 15" is released or do they update the 13" first and then the 15"?
Click to expand...

Since all you're likely to do in your studies is read and write, the computer is already grossly overpowered for your needs. Keep what you have.
 
maflynn said:
Its doubtful that your current computer will last less time, then a broadwell based. The performance of today's computers are well beyond what most consumers need imo.
Click to expand...

Totally agree. At my last company, people were still surviving on 6 year old dell laptops; duo cores with 2 gigs of memory. All we did to bring them up to speed was replace the hd with a ssd. Ran win7 and office just fine.

Current macs are good for 3-5 yrs easy.
 
maflynn said:
Can you wait until 2nd (or maybe even 3rd qtr) 2015? That's really the bottom line, if you can hold off buying one until summer, then do so, otherwise enjoy what you have.

Its doubtful that your current computer will last less time, then a broadwell based. The performance of today's computers are well beyond what most consumers need imo.
Click to expand...

So this means the both macbook models will likely be refreshed at the same time and 15" processors won't be available until summer/early autumn? I feel like I could wait for early late q1 / early q2 if they decided to update the 13" before the 15" but it's probably not worth waiting until summer for me.

Meister said:
Not sure what you are using your macbook for, but I suspect a mba might be more suited for your needs.
I'd get what you need now, since there is always a new release around the corner.
Click to expand...

Yeah you are probably right about the MBA. I'm just not willing to give up the retina display for it. It also seems like if there will be a retina air this spring it will be a new 12" inch that I think is too small and also it will be using core M does not seem very impressive at all.

Samuelsan2001 said:
Intel just released the broadwell chips yesterday so should be in the new macbooks in the next month or two if you can wait...
Click to expand...

Yeah but only broadwell U chips right? If Apple waits for the broadwell H chips for the 15" then the 13" unfortunately will not be update in the next two months even though it could have been.

snaky69 said:
Since all you're likely to do in your studies is read and write, the computer is already grossly overpowered for your needs. Keep what you have.
Click to expand...

I'm not entirely sure exactly what it I'm going to need it for regarding my studies but you are very likely right about that. Better battery life would be useful for that but it is already pretty good on the other hand.
 
Calleknug said:
Yeah you are probably right about the MBA. I'm just not willing to give up the retina display for it. It also seems like if there will be a retina air this spring it will be a new 12" inch that I think is too small and also it will be using core M does not seem very impressive at all.
Click to expand...
I meant the current mba. It's excellent.
 
luvmymbpr said:
Totally agree. At my last company, people were still surviving on 6 year old dell laptops; duo cores with 2 gigs of memory. All we did to bring them up to speed was replace the hd with a ssd. Ran win7 and office just fine.

Current macs are good for 3-5 yrs easy.
Click to expand...

Well there is a difference between surviving and happily using it. I could probably be using my old thinkpad for quite a while instead of buying a new macbook but it takes like 8-10 seconds for it to open a web browser while the mac takes 1 second for instance so it's not a very nice experience and and sort of a waste of time when studying. However I don't think this will be the case with this mac regardless.

Meister said:
That is a gross understatement. Unless they break they'll work longer.
Click to expand...

Sounds great, I hope that will be the case.
 
Calleknug said:
Well there is a difference between surviving and happily using it. I could probably be using my old thinkpad for quite a while instead of buying a new macbook but it takes like 8-10 seconds for it to open a web browser while the mac takes 1 second for instance so it's not a very nice experience and and sort of a waste of time when studying. However I don't think this will be the case with this mac regardless.



Sounds great, I hope that will be the case.
Click to expand...
Macs don't get slow over time like windows machines do.
Just be careful upgrading to newer OSs
 
Calleknug said:
Two days ago I got tired of waiting for broadwell so I went to a nearby apple store and grabbed a 13" retina macbook pro 2014 edition (my first mac computer ever).

Do you guys think the broadwell mbp is worth the wait in my situation?
Click to expand...

No.
 
Meister said:
I meant the current mba. It's excellent.
Click to expand...

I mostly agree with that. I love the feeling of holding and moving around the MBA etc. it feels so light and fantastic. I'm just having a hard time giving up the retina display for it. Although I can get more storage and better battery life as well if I go for an air. **** I just realised I'm giving up a lot for the retina display heh.

luvmymbpr said:
Yeah 3-5 or my need to spend money and buy a new one. Whatever comes first :)
Click to expand...

Hehe, well if you can afford it, it makes a lot of sense to keep it for less than 5 years
 
maflynn said:
Take a look at this article
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2864...t-intels-new-broadwell-chips.html#tk.nl_today

It looks like the performance gains are minimal at best.
Click to expand...

Well that has been true for cpu generations since sandy bridge. However I find battery life and 4K support valuable for a laptop and for hooking it up to an external 4K monitor when they become the new standard. The current generation doesn't do 4K at 60Hz on OS X if I've understood it right?

Meister said:
Macs don't get slow over time like windows machines do.
Just be careful upgrading to newer OSs
Click to expand...

I see, just like iPhones then huh ;)

Naimfan said:
No.
Click to expand...

I appreciate your strong opinion but I would be very happy if you could elaborate a bit.
 
Samuelsan2001 said:
Intel just released the broadwell chips yesterday so should be in the new macbooks in the next month or two if you can wait...
Click to expand...

MBPs use Iris CPUs, which are scheduled for end of Q1 - so March/April the earliest for the 13'' rMBP, unless they decide to wait until they can upgrade both the 13'' and the 15'', which would make it summer 2015.
 
thundersteele said:
MBPs use Iris CPUs, which are scheduled for end of Q1 - so March/April the earliest for the 13'' rMBP, unless they decide to wait until they can upgrade both the 13'' and the 15'', which would make it summer 2015.
Click to expand...
What are Iris CpUs?
 
True

thundersteele said:
MBPs use Iris CPUs, which are scheduled for end of Q1 - so March/April the earliest for the 13'' rMBP, unless they decide to wait until they can upgrade both the 13'' and the 15'', which would make it summer 2015.
Click to expand...


They have been known to update them separately in the past though it took months for the retina 13 to come out after the 15 inch.
 
I have a few friends who have finished residency in the past couple of years. Once you are out of the classroom, I think you will find a greater need for an iPhone and/or an iPad. Once you begin your rotations and residency, you will spend little time in front of your personal machine, but you may often want to read/reference an article quickly, and this is where something as portable as a phone will come in handy. You will working all hours and studying anytime/anywhere you can.

Personally, I would stick with the machine you just bought. If you are willing to wait, I would hold out for Intel's Skylake processors. If all of the hype comes to fruition, it will be a major change in the way we use our laptops. Then again, it will take several years for all of the wireless accessories to become mainstream.

Good luck with med school!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back