Do I buy the MBP 13 retina now? is Apple Care needed?

[EuanA]

Hi there,

This is my first post here so apologies if it's in the wrong section or whatever.

Anyway, I am a student starting University in 2 weeks and I am looking at buying a Macbook (either an Air or a Pro).
Obviously, from basic research on the Internet, there are many rumours of a new model launching in the coming month(s), but the current student offer ends on the 5th September (next Sunday). Currently you get 10% off and a free pair of Beats Solo2 Wireless Headphones (worth around £150) and the AppleCare plan 1/2 price (£99).

Am I worth waiting for a new release and possibly missing out on the headphones, or just biting the bullet and buying now?

Thank you all in advance!

 

[SSD-GUY]

Hi there,

This is my first post here so apologies if it's in the wrong section or whatever.

Anyway, I am a student starting University in 2 weeks and I am looking at buying a Macbook (either an Air or a Pro).
Obviously, from basic research on the Internet, there are many rumours of a new model launching in the coming month(s), but the current student offer ends on the 5th September (next Sunday). Currently you get 10% off and a free pair of Beats Solo2 Wireless Headphones (worth around £150) and the AppleCare plan 1/2 price (£99).

Am I worth waiting for a new release and possibly missing out on the headphones, or just biting the bullet and buying now?

Thank you all in advance!

If you can, hold out. However if for any reason not owning a laptop will be detrimental to your studies (as we don't know when the new MBPs will be out), then get one now, as no laptop is worth you doing badly at University.

 

[Queen6]

Hi there,

This is my first post here so apologies if it's in the wrong section or whatever.

Anyway, I am a student starting University in 2 weeks and I am looking at buying a Macbook (either an Air or a Pro).
Obviously, from basic research on the Internet, there are many rumours of a new model launching in the coming month(s), but the current student offer ends on the 5th September (next Sunday). Currently you get 10% off and a free pair of Beats Solo2 Wireless Headphones (worth around £150) and the AppleCare plan 1/2 price (£99).

Am I worth waiting for a new release and possibly missing out on the headphones, or just biting the bullet and buying now?

Thank you all in advance!

Go for the Retina, your eyes will thank you, the Air`s display is very poor in comparison, nor can it scale the resolution. for your needs the current 13" MBP model is perfectly adequate, well developed with an extremely solid reputation for reliability (13")

Upcoming 2016 models are an unknown quantity and may or may not be problematic as some 1st Gen Apple products have been in the past. Another consideration is ports, the 2016 rMBP is likely to be USB C only, requiring adaptors & dongles to achieve what can be done natively with the current models, this will be an additional cost, ranging from a few £`s to close to 3 figures. There is also the potential for Apple to drop the SD Card slot which may or may impact your purchasing decision.

USB C is undoubtedly one of the most important standards for ports ever developed, equally it`s still in it`s infancy with relatively few peripherals that can naively take advantage of the standard, 2-3 years this will be a different story, right now it can be more of a hindrance.

Q-6

 

[T5BRICK]

Am I worth waiting for a new release and possibly missing out on the headphones, or just biting the bullet and buying now?

Do the currently available Macs meet your needs? If so, getting a discount and some extras thrown in is a good thing.

Alternatively, if you can wait with no consequences, then you should wait.

It really all comes down to this: if you need a computer now, and the computers available meet your needs, you should buy it now. Otherwise you should wait until you actually need a computer or your needs are met.

 

[aced411]

Go for the Retina, your eyes will thank you, the Air`s display is very poor in comparison, nor can it scale the resolution. for your needs the current 13" MBP model is perfectly adequate, well developed with an extremely solid reputation for reliability (13")

Upcoming 2016 models are an unknown quantity and may or may not be problematic as some 1st Gen Apple products have been in the past. Another consideration is ports, the 2016 rMBP is likely to be USB C only, requiring adaptors & dongles to achieve what can be done natively with the current models, this will be an additional cost, ranging from a few £`s to close to 3 figures. There is also the potential for Apple to drop the SD Card slot which may or may impact your purchasing decision.

USB C is undoubtedly one of the most important standards for ports ever developed, equally it`s still in it`s infancy with relatively few peripherals that can naively take advantage of the standard, 2-3 years this will be a different story, right now it can be more of a hindrance.

Q-6

I have been waiting patiently to upgrade from my 2012, but if the new retina pro does not have at least one regular size USB port I'm getting a surface book. Dongles are a pain in the ass.

 

[Queen6]

I have been waiting patiently to upgrade from my 2012, but if the new retina pro does not have at least one regular size USB port I'm getting a surface book. Dongles are a pain in the ass.

I own two USB C only machines 2015 Apple rMB & 2016 Samsung TabPro S, with the latter replacing the former shortly. Both were purchased with portability & battery life in mind as a priority, being used globally in multiple countries and facilities. After over a year of use in a professional role I have yet to come across one peripheral that can natively plug into USB C without the need for an adaptor/dongle/hub etc. which has to be a consideration.

I am much of the same mindset, and will wait on Microsoft`s 2nd Gen Surface Book, to replace both 13" & 15" Retina`s if they in turn are USB C only as their use case is different to the ultraportables. What I actually am hoping for is both USB A and C with TB-3, this then offers the best of both worlds on the go and static with the added potential for an eGPU.

USB C is a significant leap forward, however it will take time to implement for several reasons. Adaptors & dongles are clearly an interim measure, that said if you don't have the right one at the right time, it can turn a relatively straight forward task into an exercise in frustration instantly.

After over a year of using a USB C only system(s) I have found ways to deal with the port, it`s benefits & limitations, however for me, a more universal system such as the rMBP USB A is still highly relevant and necessary outside of your own controlled environment.

Q-6

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:
If you absolutely need to buy NOW, then go ahead and buy what you need.

If you are "getting by ok" with what you have now, it might pay off to keep holding out for the newer model.
I think the next generation of MacBook Pros are going to prove "worth the wait" -- a "jump up" in next-generation technology.

Sometimes "sales" (such as the one you mentioned that includes free headphones) don't represent all that great a value, overall.

I would "wait", if at all possible.
But again, if you have no choice but to buy what's available now, then do so.
One has to do, what one has to do!

 

[GZR]

If I was still in the market for a 13" I would buy it just before the promo ends to take advantage of the offer and not use the machine. Then I would wait to see what the rumoured early to mid September reveal alongside the iPhone brings in order to take advantage of Apple's 14 day returns period in the case I prefer the new version.

 

[EuanA]

If you can, hold out. However if for any reason not owning a laptop will be detrimental to your studies (as we don't know when the new MBPs will be out), then get one now, as no laptop is worth you doing badly at University.

I don't actually start until the 17th so what's the chances of anything happening before then?
[doublepost=1472415411][/doublepost]

Go for the Retina, your eyes will thank you, the Air`s display is very poor in comparison, nor can it scale the resolution. for your needs the current 13" MBP model is perfectly adequate, well developed with an extremely solid reputation for reliability (13")

Upcoming 2016 models are an unknown quantity and may or may not be problematic as some 1st Gen Apple products have been in the past. Another consideration is ports, the 2016 rMBP is likely to be USB C only, requiring adaptors & dongles to achieve what can be done natively with the current models, this will be an additional cost, ranging from a few £`s to close to 3 figures. There is also the potential for Apple to drop the SD Card slot which may or may impact your purchasing decision.

USB C is undoubtedly one of the most important standards for ports ever developed, equally it`s still in it`s infancy with relatively few peripherals that can naively take advantage of the standard, 2-3 years this will be a different story, right now it can be more of a hindrance.

Q-6

Thank you for the advice, I have decided to go for the Pro Retina, just seems worth the extra £130 over the Air with the additional specs you get.
[doublepost=1472415477][/doublepost]

Do the currently available Macs meet your needs? If so, getting a discount and some extras thrown in is a good thing.

Alternatively, if you can wait with no consequences, then you should wait.

It really all comes down to this: if you need a computer now, and the computers available meet your needs, you should buy it now. Otherwise you should wait until you actually need a computer or your needs are met.

They do, yes. Something like this makes it look like a good decision to buy now as the new MBP will probably cost more on release plus no free headphones.

 

[robeddie]

I don't actually start until the 17th so what's the chances of anything happening before then?
[doublepost=1472415411][/doublepost]

Thank you for the advice, I have decided to go for the Pro Retina, just seems worth the extra £130 over the Air with the additional specs you get.
[doublepost=1472415477][/doublepost]

They do, yes. Something like this makes it look like a good decision to buy now as the new MBP will probably cost more on release plus no free headphones.

I recently got the 13 inch MBP retina from the Apple refurb store. I felt it was the final, best implemetation of the current form factor, a form factor that was originally built for a hotter, more power hungry processor. So once Apple slims down the next model, you'll likely get a hotter machine with slightly less battery life. It seems like when Apple slims down their laptops, the first models have problems with heat and video card failures, since they're pushing the thermal envelope so hard in their psychotic obsession with thinness.

Go with the current 13-inch MBP ... assuming you're dead set on staying with MAC's at all.

 

[EuanA]

I recently got the 13 inch MBP retina from the Apple refurb store. I felt it was the final, best implemetation of the current form factor, a form factor that was originally built for a hotter, more power hungry processor. So once Apple slims down the next model, you'll likely get a hotter machine with slightly less battery life. It seems like when Apple slims down their laptops, the first models have problems with heat and video card failures, since they're pushing the thermal envelope so hard in their psychotic obsession with thinness.

Go with the current 13-inch MBP ... assuming you're dead set on staying with MAC's at all.

Thank you for this advice. Realistically cosmetic look isn't my highest priority so I'm not too bothered if it's a few mms slimmer.

I am unsure what that are able to do to make the MBP 'better' but will instead add more features which are 'luxuries'.
[doublepost=1472419386][/doublepost]

If I was still in the market for a 13" I would buy it just before the promo ends to take advantage of the offer and not use the machine. Then I would wait to see what the rumoured early to mid September reveal alongside the iPhone brings in order to take advantage of Apple's 14 day returns period in the case I prefer the new version.

Are you able to do this?

 

[GZR]

Thank you for this advice. Realistically cosmetic look isn't my highest priority so I'm not too bothered if it's a few mms slimmer.

I am unsure what that are able to do to make the MBP 'better' but will instead add more features which are 'luxuries'.
[doublepost=1472419386][/doublepost]

Are you able to do this?

Yes, you have 14 days from receiving it to return it. I intend to order a 15" just before the back to school promotion ends then wait and see if new machines are announced at the next event.

http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/help/returns_refund

Apple Store Return Policy
You can return your items to an Apple Retail Store within 14 calendar days of receiving your order. You need to bring a government-issued photo ID and confirmation of the web order number with your items.

Standard Return Policy
Returns can be arranged via our online Order Status website in one single step.

Returns are subject to . If you change your mind, you can return your standard hardware to us within 14 calendar days of delivery. Software returns are also accepted within this period, but only if the software was not unsealed. This option is in addition to your consumer rights to return defective products. Click here for more details and check “What happens if I have received a defective item” below.

 

[EuanA]

Yes, you have 14 days from receiving it to return it. I intend to order a 15" just before the back to school promotion ends then wait and see if new machines are announced at the next event.

http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/help/returns_refund

Ah ok, I have never owned a Mac before, when they are announced, do they tend to be more expensive than at the end of their product cycle?

 

[GZR]

Ah ok, I have never owned a Mac before, when they are announced, do they tend to be more expensive than at the end of their product cycle?

I don't know what will happen with regards to pricing, when Retina MacBook Pros were released in 2012 the prices rose but have gradually come down so they are almost inline with the old pricing off Pre-Retina Macbook Pros. The introduction of a Retina screen and move to SSD storage drove the price increase, this time around the OLED touch panel may cause an increase in price but that is just guesswork.

 

[BenTrovato]

If holding out is an option, hold out. If I was a student I would hold out and buy the 2015 from the refurb store at a lower price once the 2016's are announced.. IF they are announced.

 

[EuanA]

If holding out is an option, hold out. If I was a student I would hold out and buy the 2015 from the refurb store at a lower price once the 2016's are announced.. IF they are announced.

You get 10% off on the Refurb store, but not the headphones so -£150? Isn't the refurb going to be about that much cheaper?

 

[EuanA]

Is it worth buying AppleCare for £99 with the MacBook Pro?

 

[GZR]

You can buy it up to 1 year after the initial purchase, I intend to buy it from a Apple some months after buying my MacBook.

 

[SSD-GUY]

Is it worth buying AppleCare for £99 with the MacBook Pro?

Get it for £99 with Apple. You can't find it cheaper than that. Not even on eBay.

 

[EuanA]

You can buy it up to 1 year after the initial purchase, I intend to buy it from a Apple some months after buying my MacBook.

I think i might do the same since you get 1 yr warranty anyway!
[doublepost=1472501386][/doublepost]

Get it for £99 with Apple. You can't find it cheaper than that. Not even on eBay.

Would you consider that good value?

 

[SSD-GUY]

I think i might do the same since you get 1 yr warranty anyway!
[doublepost=1472501386][/doublepost]

Would you consider that good value?

Well I assume you're a Uni student? The 3 year applecare used to be free before, when a student bought a laptop through Apple. You only had to pay £99 to take the phone support from 3 months to 3 years, so Apply have got slightly stingy, however saying that, no other major computer manufacturer has a warranty that beats Applecare.

So all in all, I would 110% pay the £99 for the 3 year apple care. If any fault arises (which doesn't occur through user damage), then applecare will cover it. I don't want the stress of having to repair a laptop whilst having to study for exams. You drop your laptop at an Apple store and it should be ready in between a day to 10 days depending on how big the repair is.

EDIT: The above user is right, you can buy AppleCare within the year, but you'll only get it for £99 at the time of purchase. After this, you'll have to pay over £200 from Apple, or around £150 off eBay, but if buying off eBay, be careful. I'd just spend £99 now through Apple and get it done with.