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MBP owner -- To be

M

MuscleGeek

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 4, 2012
8
0
Hey guys I'm new to the forum and this is where I guess to ask my question. I have been contemplating on a MBP for a while now and I believe it's time. I totally forgot that the 2012 model is just around the corner. So my question, is now the right time to buy a MBP, or would I be better off waiting for the next ug?

Would even the 13" be available in the next one? I believe that they are leaning more towards the 15" and 17" to make it come up.


Thanks in advance!
 
MuscleGeek said:
I do need one, but is the next worth waiting for? Blah...
Click to expand...
No matter when you buy, there will always be a "next one" coming out in the near future. It's useless to try to chase the next model release. Just buy what you need, when you need it.
 
It will be many months from now.

But, it will be harder to sell a current MBP when the new retina versions come out.

You could either buy one now, and sell it for a few hundred loss on Craigslist/Ebay and "upgrade" when the new one comes out, or you can buy a stop-gap laptop for like 3-400 and sell it for around the same when the new MBP comes out.

You can also just keep what you have now? Either way, you won't want to settle for anything less than the new displays. You don't want to invest deep into a current MBP when such a better upgrade is coming sometime after mid april.
 
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The current MacBook Pro is currently Mid-Cycle, based on recent average time between updates. So a new version is a good few months away. Thing is with computers there will always be something faster round the corner, as you say you need one now, I would get what you need.
 
I think if you are primarily after speed it is not really worth the wait. It will be faster but not really a by a big margin at least for general processing (more for 3D graphics).
If you are primarily after great ergonomics like a cooler notebook, less noise, more battery life it is probably worth the wait.

Generally you are always better of at the time of buying if you wait. Because it even if the new one doesn't suit your needs perfectly the old ones are cheaper in rebfurb. But you get no value at all up to that time. If you want it now buy it now.
 
Can you wait until May/June because with intel releasing ivy bridge april/may that's the time frame you're looking at.

As others stated if you have an immediate need, then buy one, but if you can wait then you'll get the newest machine
 
If you want another reason to buy one right now, consider the higher probability of problems in a newly redesigned laptop.

It happened to me with the original Black MacBook, it lasted me 6 years, but not without it's share of problems. The wi-fi antenna had to be replaced once, battery died two times on me, hard drive died one time, CD drive stopped working after two years, and the keyboard was a mess (mouse click very unresponsive and it cracked in the corners) for the first year, until eventually they fixed it after replacing it 3-4 times.

Right now the MBP has been around with the same design for many years, so most problems should be fixed by now.
 
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In addition you may not like the new design or feature set. If you need it and like the MBP today, buy it.

Consider a refurb or Amazon warehouse deal to bring the price down.
 
HarryPot said:
If you want another reason to buy one right now, consider the higher probability of problems in a newly redesigned laptop.

It happened to me with the original Black MacBook, it lasted me 6 years, but not without it's share of problems. The wi-fi antenna had to be replaced once, battery died two times on me, hard drive died one time, CD drive stopped working after two years, and the keyboard was a mess (mouse click very unresponsive and it cracked in the corners) for the first year, until eventually they fixed it after replacing it 3-4 times.

Right now the MBP has been around with the same design for many years, so most problems should be fixed by now.
Click to expand...

You do have to consider this but I purchased the first unibook aluminum macbook expecting it to have problems, and there really very few to be found by the mac community (my only problem was the battery cover was loose - fixed at the apple store the day I bought it).
 
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Thank you guys for the extremely helpful suggestions! I think waiting out would probably be the best bet for me. I do need a new book, but I don't need it that urgently. I believe waiting to see what the new models have in store would be the best bet, if anything Apple Refurb could be an option.

There are some reasons I'd like one now though. Since there are very minimal problems with the mid-cycle MBP, it's tempting. We shall see how this goes. I'll keep everyone updated. Again thanks for all the help and suggestions.
 
Bobby Corwen said:
It will be many months for now.

But, it will be harder to sell a current MBP when the new retina versions come out.

Y a better upgrade is coming sometime after mid april.
Click to expand...

its posts like this that aggravate me...
1) How do you know when retina MBP's will come out?
My guess is several years actually
2) How do you know they will be updated? Do you work for apple?
They will arrive when Tim Cook says they will (Look it, the current model came out in october, and the prior was released 9 months ago)


You could be looking at a July relise.

OP: Also keep in mind that this revision has had this design for 4 years and has essentially no problems. They are also very powerful machines.
 
I'm getting my Macbook Pro (13") around Mid-May as it's going to be a gift for when I go to college. Assuming the next model isn't out by that time, is it worth waiting for it? I only really need it by mid-August, but I'd like to get it pretty close to my graduation unless I only need to wait a little bit longer.

I love gaming so this new processor sounds nice (not entirely sure how much better it is though from the previous model, so more info on that would be nice). I'll be using Bootcamp for my macbook for Windows 7 on a couple of 3D games, but not anything too intense like Crysis 2 and Skyrim. I can't exactly ask for a quad-core as I'll probably be getting the cheapest pro while upgrading the RAM to 16GB.

Any tips?
 
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Xelorx said:
I'm getting my Macbook Pro (13") around Mid-May as it's going to be a gift for when I go to college. Assuming the next model isn't out by that time, is it worth waiting for it? I only really need it by mid-August, but I'd like to get it pretty close to my graduation unless I only need to wait a little bit longer.

I love gaming so this new processor sounds nice (not entirely sure how much better it is though from the previous model, so more info on that would be nice). I'll be using Bootcamp for my macbook for Windows 7 on a couple of 3D games, but not anything too intense like Crysis 2 and Skyrim. I can't exactly ask for a quad-core as I'll probably be getting the cheapest pro while upgrading the RAM to 16GB.

Any tips?
Click to expand...

This^. And any confirmation if they're releasing a 13"?
 
wrinkster22 said:
its posts like this that aggravate me...
1) How do you know when retina MBP's will come out?
My guess is several years actually
2) How do you know they will be updated? Do you work for apple?
They will arrive when Tim Cook says they will (Look it, the current model came out in october, and the prior was released 9 months ago)


You could be looking at a July relise.

OP: Also keep in mind that this revision has had this design for 4 years and has essentially no problems. They are also very powerful machines.
Click to expand...

https://www.macrumors.com/2011/12/1...lution-retina-display-macbook-pro-in-q2-2012/

http://www.redmondpie.com/new-macbook-pro-with-2880-by-1800-retina-display-coming-next-year-report/

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2...ip-retina-macbook-pros-starting-next-year.ars

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-57343090-501465/macbook-pro-rumored-to-get-retina-display/

There you go.

And to the people saying "there will always be a next one so buy when you need it," its not that simple.

Sometimes the next one will be a spec bump. Sometimes it will be a major overhaul.

This advice would have made sense from early 2011 to late 2011 but not, lets say, when the unibody came out. Would you have bought the pre-unibody MBP knowing the unibody was on the way in a few months? Just because you "buy it when you need it?" Its not a reasonable blanket rule to make.

There are different scenarios, and in this, it would be smart to wait or at least not settle into something permanently and too deeply when you can just get going with the new 2800 x 1800 displays proper like when they most likely come out late Q2.
 
Pro's of waiting:

1) More power efficient, cooler CPU
2) Better onboard GPU and possibly better discrete GPU
3) Potential Chassis redesign that you will prefer
4) A year or so of bragging rights because you have the new shiny.
5) Possibility that Apple drop the optical drive and you're happy about that because you think Optical drives are old school.
6) Possibility of retina screen (although I think it's too early for these to be produced in sufficient numbers at a reasonable cost).

Cons of waiting

1) Potential chassis redesign that you hate
2) Struggling to find the exact older model that you prefer in the refurb store
3) Certain loss of Snow Leopard capability
4) Possibility that Apple drops discrete GPU's because Intel's onboard GPU is "Good enough"
5) Possibility that Apple drop the optical drive and you wanted an optical drive
 
Gomff said:
Pro's of waiting:

1) More power efficient, cooler CPU
2) Better onboard GPU and possibly better discrete GPU
3) Potential Chassis redesign that you will prefer
4) A year or so of bragging rights because you have the new shiny.
5) Possibility that Apple drop the optical drive and you're happy about that because you think Optical drives are old school.
6) Possibility of retina screen (although I think it's too early for these to be produced in sufficient numbers at a reasonable cost).

Cons of waiting

1) Potential chassis redesign that you hate
2) Struggling to find the exact older model that you prefer in the refurb store
3) Certain loss of Snow Leopard capability
4) Possibility that Apple drops discrete GPU's because Intel's onboard GPU is "Good enough"
5) Possibility that Apple drop the optical drive and you wanted an optical drive
Click to expand...

You say it like there's a 100% chance of a chassis redesign. I would love for there to be one, but its not for sure. If there is, I trust Apple + Jony Ive to make it sexier than ever.

Next, I doubt Apple will go for the onboard gpu for a $2,000+ laptop. If that does happen, there will be a huge internet **** storm. I think Apple is smarter than that.

Lastly, external dvd drives are very, very cheap now, even blu ray ones.
 
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that1guyy said:
Gomff said:
Pro's of waiting:

1) More power efficient, cooler CPU
2) Better onboard GPU and possibly better discrete GPU
3) Potential Chassis redesign that you will prefer
4) A year or so of bragging rights because you have the new shiny.
5) Possibility that Apple drop the optical drive and you're happy about that because you think Optical drives are old school.
6) Possibility of retina screen (although I think it's too early for these to be produced in sufficient numbers at a reasonable cost).

Cons of waiting

1) Potential chassis redesign that you hate
2) Struggling to find the exact older model that you prefer in the refurb store
3) Certain loss of Snow Leopard capability
4) Possibility that Apple drops discrete GPU's because Intel's onboard GPU is "Good enough"
5) Possibility that Apple drop the optical drive and you wanted an optical drive
Click to expand...

You say it like there's a 100% chance of a chassis redesign. I would love for there to be one, but its not for sure. If there is, I trust Apple + Jony Ive to make it sexier than ever.

Next, I doubt Apple will go for the onboard gpu for a $2,000+ laptop. If that does happen, there will be a huge internet **** storm. I think Apple is smarter than that.

Lastly, external dvd drives are very, very cheap now, even blu ray ones.
Click to expand...

They can't raise the price for the mbp's. Their prices are set.
 
MuscleGeek said:
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They can't raise the price for the mbp's. Their prices are set.
Click to expand...

Umm.... yes they can, they change the prices every once in a while, sometimes for the higher.
 
that1guyy said:
You say it like there's a 100% chance of a chassis redesign. I would love for there to be one, but its not for sure. If there is, I trust Apple + Jony Ive to make it sexier than ever.
Click to expand...

That's why I said "potential" chassis redesign.

Also, some MacBook Pro's already just have integrated GPU's.....if the next generation are 60% better as reported, who knows what Apple will do given their penchant for slimming down their devices. I'm not saying they will, I'm saying they might.

Lastly, I mentioned the DVD drive because not everyone wants to carry an external drive around with them.

I was just speculating, obviously I don't know more than anybody else.
 
MuscleGeek said:
They can't raise the price for the mbp's. Their prices are set.
Click to expand...
I'd have to disagree with you on that.

Everyone is raising their prices these days and given the supply issues of hard drives, they could very do that. I don't think they will but they certainly can bump the price up
 
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