The non-retina MBP is not all that upgradeable. It's a silly argument really. After all, it's a laptop. Sure you can add storage in the future, but the max ram is already limited. The one thing you can't upgrade, however, is the screen. Your resolution will always be subpar by current or future standards. So, is it worth the upgrade price today, who knows? For me, I couldn't imagine buying a non-retina (low pixel density) anything. Sure, I'm limited to 16gbs of ram and a 512gb SSD, but other than increasing storage, what else is there really?
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How Do You Justify Retina?
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The non-retina MBP is not all that upgradeable. It's a silly argument really. After all, it's a laptop. Sure you can add storage in the future, but the max ram is already limited. The one thing you can't upgrade, however, is the screen. Your resolution will always be subpar by current or future standards. So, is it worth the upgrade price today, who knows? For me, I couldn't imagine buying a non-retina (low pixel density) anything. Sure, I'm limited to 16gbs of ram and a 512gb SSD, but other than increasing storage, what else is there really?
** Also, You have NOT mentioned The Battery, and as the machine ages it WILL become less efficient 'as a consumable' is known to be, and will take a ~$150 Fix to get to where a new one already starts!! **
Happy Shopping, hope you 'find what you are looking for'..
The battery for the MBP is $129 and you can do it yourself. The battery for the Retina is $199 and you have to have Apple do it. Add shipping to that price if you don't have an Apple store near you.
I'd be surprised if you would need to replace your battery before 3-5 years. Even still, a user replaceable battery doesn't seem like a good enough reason to buy into older technology. The size and weight reduction in the rMBP outweigh the added nominal cost of letting Apple install a battery five years from now.
A better question is how can I justify getting a regular screen? It's an old technology that is on it's way out. The pixel is getting smaller, one thing that is even less upgradable than ram and hard drive in a newer Retina laptop is the screen, go without than now and you're stuck.
I don't know what justification you are in search of? Many here having supplied cogent reasons to go Retina -- but it seems you are adamant on finding (in spite of your ability to afford it) a fiscally sound reason to go Retina, which probably does not exist. Few people need a Retina screen. Those who have purchased it have done so because they want it and value the beauty of the screen; there is an emotional component to it.
Like others, I would go Retina. Surprised, so many threads pop up here: someone in the throes of deliberation, "should I go Retina or not?" Personally there isn't really a good reason to go with old technology unless you are really on a budget. I really think the only people who can pose such questions, are those looking for justification to upgrade to Retina from non-Retina. For instance, I have been salivating over the Retina displays since they came out. But, I have a 13" early-2011, which I have put some work into. It is a super peppy and responsive machine and it's hard for me to justify upgrading. However, if I were buying new (or upgrading from a very old machine), I would no doubt go Retina, absolute no brainer.
Here's another reason. When you buy a Mac, you want the Mac experience. The Retina is Apple's flagship notebook right now. Did it occur to you that future iterations of OS X will be designed with the Retina display in mind? It boils down to whether you want to experience the future (and present) of OS X in all of its glory or not?
Like others, I would go Retina. Surprised, so many threads pop up here: someone in the throes of deliberation, "should I go Retina or not?" Personally there isn't really a good reason to go with old technology unless you are really on a budget. I really think the only people who can pose such questions, are those looking for justification to upgrade to Retina from non-Retina. For instance, I have been salivating over the Retina displays since they came out. But, I have a 13" early-2011, which I have put some work into. It is a super peppy and responsive machine and it's hard for me to justify upgrading. However, if I were buying new (or upgrading from a very old machine), I would no doubt go Retina, absolute no brainer.
Here's another reason. When you buy a Mac, you want the Mac experience. The Retina is Apple's flagship notebook right now. Did it occur to you that future iterations of OS X will be designed with the Retina display in mind? It boils down to whether you want to experience the future (and present) of OS X in all of its glory or not?
I am aware of the 'serviceability' of the earlier MBP and the price, at least here in Canada (I bought a couple of replacements for my last series, about the same cost) ~ ~ BUT, as I mentioned, you did not seem to have accounted for that in your assessment of the viability of a 2-3 year old MBP vs rMBP.. or did not care to Add that Cost.. Perhaps.. There is no way a new battery is not 'better than' a 2-3-4 year old one, at least in my eyes..
: Once again, Happy Shopping.. Buy What You NEED, and Upgrade when you 'need' something else.. Seems to work for me, pretty much..
OP, have you gone into the store and compared a retina mbp with the non retina?
That is my suggestion if you have not done so. From there you can easily decide what to do.
I chose retina on everything I have because it's very important to me to see things clearly and not strain.
That is my suggestion if you have not done so. From there you can easily decide what to do.
I chose retina on everything I have because it's very important to me to see things clearly and not strain.
Well I decided to jump on the Retina. After pondering it all this time, I decided I really wanted it.
I have been watching the refurb store and some 13" finally hit the store this morning. I grabbed the 2.6/8gb/512gb for $1,529. I thought that was a pretty good deal. It's $170 off the EDU price and $270 off the regular price. I put it on the discover card too so I should save about $76 in cash back.
I would have grabbed the 16gb model if it was available, but I doubt I need the 16gb anyway.
I hope I receive one without issues. Wish me luck!
I did end up grabbing a great condition current MBP model on ebay for a smoking good deal of $630 total. I am sure I can resell it for about $825 so I should make a good $125 after fees and shipping on that.
So with cash back and a profit on the regular MBP, I should pay $1,328 ($1529 - ($76 + $125)) before tax. You can't beat that!
I have been watching the refurb store and some 13" finally hit the store this morning. I grabbed the 2.6/8gb/512gb for $1,529. I thought that was a pretty good deal. It's $170 off the EDU price and $270 off the regular price. I put it on the discover card too so I should save about $76 in cash back.
I would have grabbed the 16gb model if it was available, but I doubt I need the 16gb anyway.
I hope I receive one without issues. Wish me luck!
I did end up grabbing a great condition current MBP model on ebay for a smoking good deal of $630 total. I am sure I can resell it for about $825 so I should make a good $125 after fees and shipping on that.
So with cash back and a profit on the regular MBP, I should pay $1,328 ($1529 - ($76 + $125)) before tax. You can't beat that!
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Not everything is about money, or costs, or cost savings. Some people who want and can afford the best do so. It may seem silly to you, and you enjoy squeezing every ounce of value out of a laptop. Some people just want the best and are willing to pay for it, regardless if the value is better somewhere else. It's irrelevant.
You can't buy a new MBP that can support more than a TB of storage in it, not for any amount of money. You can with the cMBPs.
In the past yes - now it's buy what you need, throw it away when you need something else.
No Toss Away Here..
Well, with many 'current consumables' I agree.. BUT as far as my past MBPs go, I bought a 1st Gen one in Apr-06 and sold it to a friend 2 1/2 years later (was still working when he had it stolen 2 years ago!!) and the next one I sold in 2011 (when I bought my latest one) to a friend's mother.. IT is definitely still working well, I am happy to say.. Both of these were in great shape (last one had just been back to Apple at the end of Applecare for a Logic Board and Battery) and I just looked around at any 'acceptable sites' to see what they were selling for, and took off a $100 or so.. Definitely NOT 'throw away' material in my case.. Nope ~ Re-use and Recycle for me ~
So, I suspect I will most likely sell my current 2 1/2 year old one in a few months to someone I know as well, perhaps before Applecare expires, but maybe not, it STILL works very well for me.. Once again, just seems the way it works, for me.. Others, may not treat their machines as well and so I suppose they Reap What They Sow accordingly, which would be NOTHING if that is the case!!
Well, with many 'current consumables' I agree.. BUT as far as my past MBPs go, I bought a 1st Gen one in Apr-06 and sold it to a friend 2 1/2 years later (was still working when he had it stolen 2 years ago!!) and the next one I sold in 2011 (when I bought my latest one) to a friend's mother.. IT is definitely still working well, I am happy to say.. Both of these were in great shape (last one had just been back to Apple at the end of Applecare for a Logic Board and Battery) and I just looked around at any 'acceptable sites' to see what they were selling for, and took off a $100 or so.. Definitely NOT 'throw away' material in my case.. Nope ~ Re-use and Recycle for me ~
So, I suspect I will most likely sell my current 2 1/2 year old one in a few months to someone I know as well, perhaps before Applecare expires, but maybe not, it STILL works very well for me.. Once again, just seems the way it works, for me.. Others, may not treat their machines as well and so I suppose they Reap What They Sow accordingly, which would be NOTHING if that is the case!!
I can afford it, and my rule with technology is to get the latest and greatest thing that falls within my budget. I fly around a lot these days (I moved 3 times in the past year and a half and flew about 45,000 miles in the same time period) so add "portable" to the list of limiting factors.
Hence, maxed-out 13" MBPr with 16GB, i7 and 512GB SSD (couldn't afford the 1TB upgrade).
Now my 2 year old 13" MBP will pay for a part of this new toy when I sell it. Market value: $700.
Is it fiscally responsible? Not really. Will an extra $1,000 spent on a laptop over 3-5 years break me? Given what I make vs. what I spend, no way.
Do I need to "justify" it? Not if I'm spending my own money.
Hence, maxed-out 13" MBPr with 16GB, i7 and 512GB SSD (couldn't afford the 1TB upgrade).
Now my 2 year old 13" MBP will pay for a part of this new toy when I sell it. Market value: $700.
Is it fiscally responsible? Not really. Will an extra $1,000 spent on a laptop over 3-5 years break me? Given what I make vs. what I spend, no way.
Do I need to "justify" it? Not if I'm spending my own money.
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Good luck and congrats. I will say (including myself) that 16GB is not really needed. I think you'll be fine with the 8gb model.
Life is a subjective analog rocess. It is not objective and does not fit into a logically contrived spreadsheet. Get away front the screen, grab your camera, and go do some nature photography!
Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death.
Rosalind Russell in Auntie Mame
Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death.
Rosalind Russell in Auntie Mame
It all depends on what you value I guess.
The Retina MBPs (late 2013) are bringing a newer and rather more advanced chipset to the table. Haswell is both faster and more power efficient. And the difference between the older integrated graphics and Iris is huge. Iris and its counterpart Iris Pro are a new integrated GPU architecture and the uptick in power and capabilities is major league. The PCIe Flash memory is a lot faster than SATA SSDs and not just on bootup times. Even discounting the display this is a fundamentally faster machine.
The Retina MBPs (late 2013) are bringing a newer and rather more advanced chipset to the table. Haswell is both faster and more power efficient. And the difference between the older integrated graphics and Iris is huge. Iris and its counterpart Iris Pro are a new integrated GPU architecture and the uptick in power and capabilities is major league. The PCIe Flash memory is a lot faster than SATA SSDs and not just on bootup times. Even discounting the display this is a fundamentally faster machine.
Never try to outsmart innovation. Justifying is bargaining the wrong way. I'm glad to get the extra weight off my computers, and I really like leaving the responsibility of repairs to professionals. Got tired of stripping screws. All this analysing isn't good for your brain. Buy what you can afford, and use your right as a consumer.
The battery alone is a major dealmaker. At least double. The screen is also nice. Nothing to think about. I would be more concerned about a new 12" Macbook Air Retina, which may be the computer to own, if it ever hits the street. Rumours hint at a possible launch mid 2014.
The battery alone is a major dealmaker. At least double. The screen is also nice. Nothing to think about. I would be more concerned about a new 12" Macbook Air Retina, which may be the computer to own, if it ever hits the street. Rumours hint at a possible launch mid 2014.
If your a conscience budget consumer, I would say you can't justify $800 for retina. As a general rule, something new in the world of tech will cost more. If your willing to hold out, go less for now - in a couple of years time, retina will will be a normal standard in all screen devices by various companies. Competition in this market will drive prices down. TV - HDTV - UHDTV - UHRetinaDTVVersion2.7 and so on and so on.
The issue isn't whether it is justifiable. It is really what you are looking for and how much your willing to spend. It's not about worth more so about how much people are willing to pay. It took me years waiting for Apple to design a phone that I like in design and function - the 5s. Never bothered with any of the previous models because I didn't like them. You can do the same.
The issue isn't whether it is justifiable. It is really what you are looking for and how much your willing to spend. It's not about worth more so about how much people are willing to pay. It took me years waiting for Apple to design a phone that I like in design and function - the 5s. Never bothered with any of the previous models because I didn't like them. You can do the same.
I think the fact that retina is easier on the eyes often goes overlooked. I use a rMBP because i look at mostly text for 8+ hours per day. The strain is far less then previous laptops, and I would go as far to compare to looking at print.
I'm not saying this is the one reason that will justify the price, because I personally don't think the retina Macs need any justification. But the benefit to your eyes over a long period of time can payoff tremendously.
I'm not saying this is the one reason that will justify the price, because I personally don't think the retina Macs need any justification. But the benefit to your eyes over a long period of time can payoff tremendously.