I ordered a 13" cMBP did I make a mistake?

[mslide]

Sooooooo was it a mistake.

Buying a machine that is reasonably priced, supports 16GB RAM, can take 2 standard 2.5" HDs and isn't really any less portable than the other 13" alternatives doesn't sound like a mistake to me.

I bought the same machine a few months ago and would get it again today if I was in the market for a new laptop.

 

[Saturn1217]

This is just my opinion but I think the only mistake you made was not getting the base model.

You got the computer because you can upgrade it right? The differences in processor aren't going to be that noticeable. You can upgrade everything else for much cheaper than paying $1399 for the computer.

So again IMHO buying a 13" cMBP is still a good idea but you are paying too much for it at this moment.

 

[Orlandoech]

This is just my opinion but I think the only mistake you made was not getting the base model.

You got the computer because you can upgrade it right? The differences in processor aren't going to be that noticeable. You can upgrade everything else for much cheaper than paying $1399 for the computer.

So again IMHO buying a 13" cMBP is still a good idea but you are paying too much for it at this moment.

Very valid point.

 

[Rodster]

Thanks fellas, point well taken wrt the base model. I tried to cancel it and order the base model but it's now too late as Amazon is ready to ship my cMBP. Thanks again to all who chimed in with their opinions and input.

 

[B...]

Thanks fellas, point well taken wrt the base model. I tried to cancel it and order the base model but it's now too late as Amazon is ready to ship my cMBP. Thanks again to all who chimed in with their opinions and input.

Amazon has a 30 day return service, if the box is not opened. Just ship it back if you want the base model!

 

[AppleChampagne]

I think people are over-anticipating Haswell because they assume it will have a miracle fix for performance issues with rMBPs. Honestly, I don't think it's the case.

It'll be a spec bump like all others and Haswell entry-level CPUs will be weaker than current's best Ivy Bridge CPUs, which do show some scroll lag. As for the iGPU, it'll also definitely be weaker than a GT 650M, which, again, currently lags.

The only real fix there will be is progressive software optimisation, which already started and will only get better (Safari 6.0.3 is now smoother but still not as much as WebKit).

Basically, all those people saying the rMBP is a "rev 1" product you should stay away from are more justifying to themselves not buying it than anything else. There has been some real issues : display image retention, SMC glitch (now fixed), scroll lag (improved and will continue improving), but people claiming the rMBP has underpowered CPU/GPU will eventually find out Haswell isn't going to be a hardware revolution and it's software improvements that will ultimatly "fix" the rMBP, including this generation.

Now as for the cMBP itself, it's an awesome computer if your plan is to upgrade it one day or another. A SSD upgrade for example is going to make it a lot faster than whathever improvement Haswell will bring. If your eyes can't allow you to read small text, I assume you wouldn't fully appreciate the sharpness of a Retina display either.

In all my time on this forum, this is the greatest post... Take a bow mate

AC

 

[seveej]

Sooooooo was it a mistake or should I wait...

IMO, if you have to ask, then you've made a mistake. Now either get over it and enjoy your machine, Or return it and wait until apple announces that they will never launch another machine.

RGDS,

 

[Spink10]

IMO, if you have to ask, then you've made a mistake. Now either get over it and enjoy your machine, Or return it and wait until apple announces that they will never launch another machine.

RGDS,

Not everyone is as confident as you.

 

[thehustleman]

I ordered the 2.9GHZ i7 model. I did it because of the upgradability of the MBP and that web pages on average are not optimized for the retina display.

I paid $1399 on Amazon. Sooooooo was it a mistake or should I wait for rMBP Haswell. Btw i'm not in dire need of a MBP, just would like to get one since most of my laptops run Windows and Linux.

No, you didn't make a mistake.

The cMBP is a smarter buy than the retina due to expandability. There really isn't a good reason to make the retina non expandable

 

[B...]

No, you didn't make a mistake.

The cMBP is a smarter buy than the retina due to expandability. There really isn't a good reason to make the retina non expandable

How about size and weight? While some of the reason that the cMBP is so (relatively) thick is its optical drive, another part is that they need to give room for its upgradeable components (ie the RAM's removable container). With it soldered in the rMBP, Apple can make the body thinner.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

Okay, people need to stop listing upgradeability as a reason why the cMBP is better than rMBP.

The ONLY components you can upgrade are the RAM and HARD DRIVE. You don't upgrade these as often as you all seem to think when touting ugpradeability. So stop fooling yourself that having the option to upgrade these two components in somehow a big deal. It's not.

 

[thehustleman]

How about size and weight? While some of the reason that the cMBP is so (relatively) thick is its optical drive, another part is that they need to give room for its upgradeable components (ie the RAM's removable container). With it soldered in the rMBP, Apple can make the body thinner.

Function over form my friend, function over form.

Apple just did that to make you upgrade with them at their extreme prices

----------

Okay, people need to stop listing upgradeability as a reason why the cMBP is better than rMBP.

The ONLY components you can upgrade are the RAM and HARD DRIVE. You don't upgrade these as often as you all seem to think when touting ugpradeability. So stop fooling yourself that having the option to upgrade these two components in somehow a big deal. It's not.

But it is a big deal.

What can you upgrade on the retina?

SSD? A proprietary one at that.

I can upgrade at my own pace with the classic. Laptops are supposed to have upgradeable ram

 

[B...]

Okay, people need to stop listing upgradeability as a reason why the cMBP is better than rMBP.

The ONLY components you can upgrade are the RAM and HARD DRIVE. You don't upgrade these as often as you all seem to think when touting ugpradeability. So stop fooling yourself that having the option to upgrade these two components in somehow a big deal. It's not.

I do like the rMBP, but for some people expandability is a big issue. It only has to matter once. For example, say you start editing and rendering movies (as a hobby). Suddenly 8 GB RAM is not enough...but now you have to sell your old one and buy a new computer, rather than just installing a $75 kit. THEN,you need to store these movies, but oh! only a 256/512 GB hard drive. Sure, external storage is fine, but who wouldn't prefer internal?

Just playing devil's advocate.

 

[LatinaC09]

I do like the rMBP, but for some people expandability is a big issue. It only has to matter once. For example, say you start editing and rendering movies (as a hobby). Suddenly 8 GB RAM is not enough...but now you have to sell your old one and buy a new computer, rather than just installing a $75 kit. THEN,you need to store these movies, but oh! only a 256/512 GB hard drive. Sure, external storage is fine, but who wouldn't prefer internal?

Just playing devil's advocate.

I completely agree! I upgraded my cMBP to 8GB of ram and a 256GB SSD. One of the best things about it is that I can still upgrade later on if I want/need to.
One of the things that is important to me is not just the ability to upgrade but the fact that doing so doesn't void the warranty.

 

[Tenashus1]

Thanks fellas, point well taken wrt the base model. I tried to cancel it and order the base model but it's now too late as Amazon is ready to ship my cMBP. Thanks again to all who chimed in with their opinions and input.

Refuse the shipment.

----------

Bought my 13", i7 cMBP as a refurb at the Apple website.

 

[Rodster]

Refuse the shipment.

----------

Bought my 13", i7 cMBP as a refurb at the Apple website.

That's a possibility but I buy so much stuff from Amazon that i'm worried they could lock my account with a large purchase. I've refused a few things recently. I'll probably keep it unless there's something wrong with it.

 

[Tenashus1]

That's a possibility but I buy so much stuff from Amazon that i'm worried they could lock my account with a large purchase. I've refused a few things recently. I'll probably keep it unless there's something wrong with it.

Call them and ask if it's okay to refuse. I must tell you, though, I love my 13" cMBP.

 

[B...]

Call them and ask if it's okay to refuse. I must tell you, though, I love my 13" cMBP.

Or just return it...

 

[Rodster]

Or just return it...

I'll probably keep it if I don't find any glaring faults. I'm sure once I unbox it and get to play with it, it will be tough sending it back. It'll be like trying to return a cute puppy.

 

[robvas]

Being able to upgrade form 8GB to 16GB is so overrated.

 

[B...]

I'll probably keep it if I don't find any glaring faults. I'm sure once I unbox it and get to play with it, it will be tough sending it back. It'll be like trying to return a cute puppy.

For $300 more,you are getting $20-$30 worth of more HDD, $25 of more RAM and a processor. Is getting an i7 with .4 more GHz worth $250 to you?

 

[Rodster]

For $300 more,you are getting $20-$30 worth of more HDD, $25 of more RAM and a processor. Is getting an i7 with .4 more GHz worth $250 to you?

True but having to buy a 750 or 1TB HDD is going to cost more than $30 and going from 4 to 8GB will cost about $35. I don't know if the i7 is worth $175 more if I include both the HDD and the ram upgrade? It's been awhile since i've owned a Mac.

 

[Tubamajuba]

Being able to upgrade form 8GB to 16GB is so overrated.

To you. You are not everybody.

 

[B...]

True but having to buy a 750 or 1TB HDD is going to cost more than $30 and going from 4 to 8GB will cost about $35. I don't know if the i7 is worth $175 more if I include both the HDD and the ram upgrade? It's been awhile since i've owned a Mac.

No, 250GB more (500 to 750) is $30 more of HDD. If you got a quad core for the upgrade,I think it would be worth it, but not a dual core. A 2.x quadcore i7 costs about $200 dollars, so to pay the same for a dual core is...you decide.

 

[Rodster]

No, 250GB more (500 to 750) is $30 more of HDD. If you got a quad core for the upgrade,I think it would be worth it, but not a dual core. A 2.x quadcore i7 costs about $200 dollars, so to pay the same for a dual core is...you decide.

I was referring to after the purchase. Do MBP 750GB HDD drives sell for $30 these days?

I'm now leaning on refusing the shipment and buying the base model instead.