Need Help Soon! New cMBP or refurbished rMBP? I'm going to order tonight!

[dragonjinse]

It is going to be my FIRST apple laptop!

New cMBP 15":

-2.3GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 512MB GDDR5 memory
-500GB SATA
-8GB RAM
-Hi-res + anti-glare

Total $1900
(I might upgrade 2.3 Ghz, 512MG to 2.6 Ghz, 1GB = $120. Do you guys think it's a good idea?)

Refurbished rMBP 15":
-2.6 GHz Quad-core i7, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
-8GB RAM
-512GB Flash Storage

$2100


Which one should I get?
I'm a college student who is trying to find a last long laptop! (4 years or more). I don't play game much but watch LOTS of movies, and listening music. Good quality of audio is really important for me!
I mostly use laptop for school work (words, excel, power point), email, surfing internet, WATCHING movies and listing musics.

I planned to install Window 7 or 8 to my macbook..

I went to apple store today but still can't decide due to the similar prices of these 2 laptops, the rmbp screen problem (samsung and LG), and of course the refurbished qualities and problems.

So please please please help me to figure this out... I'm new here..
I dont plan to get any upgrade after purchasing. I'm not good with electronic stuff.

Thank you

 

[Seniordan]

I say go for the refurb retina. My mother and I both ordered new macbooks and received them today. She got a refurb 13" air and I got a refurb 15" rMBP and side by side theres such a difference between the two screens. Also regarding refurb quality I don't think that's something you should even worry about, you will get a great product, and if not thats what the return policy and applecare beyond that is for.

 

[dragonjinse]

Thank you so much for the info..
I know that the Applecare is only last 3 years. Can I extend after it expires?
My parents said this laptop must live longer than 5 years!
lol.. Because my Dell (current laptop) is only 2 years old and it broke!

I say go for the refurb retina. My mother and I both ordered new macbooks and received them today. She got a refurb 13" air and I got a refurb 15" rMBP and side by side theres such a difference between the two screens. Also regarding refurb quality I don't think that's something you should even worry about, you will get a great product, and if not thats what the return policy and applecare beyond that is for.

 

[wonderspark]

I recently bought the refurb 15" cMBP with:

-2.3GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 512MB GDDR5 memory
-500GB SATA
-4GB RAM
-Hi-res + anti-glare

Total $1599 (why buy new and pay $1900?)

Then I added two SSDs, putting one in the optical bay with OWC's $44 optical bay kit, and 16GB of RAM from Crucial.

So I have:

-2.3GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 512MB GDDR5 memory
-512GB SSD (2x 256GB for now)
-16GB RAM
-Hi-res + anti-glare

Total $2150

If you're considering the retina anyway, might as well get two SSD bays that both run at SATA III speeds. Once the new M500 960GB SSD is in stock, I'll be swapping one of my 256GB SSDs for that one.

 

[dragonjinse]

That's so cool!!!
So you suggested me to get the rmbp then?

I'm not an expert for moving/upgrading things. So what I brought is what I'm going to stay with for the rest of my new laptop life!

I recently bought the refurb 15" cMBP with:

-2.3GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 512MB GDDR5 memory
-500GB SATA
-8GB RAM
-Hi-res + anti-glare

Total $1599 (why buy new and pay $1900?)

Then I added two SSDs, putting one in the optical bay with OWC's $44 optical bay kit, and 16GB of RAM from Crucial.

So I have:

-2.3GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 512MB GDDR5 memory
-512GB SSD (2x 256GB for now)
-16GB RAM
-Hi-res + anti-glare

Total $2150

If you're considering the retina anyway, might as well get two SSD bays that both run at SATA III speeds. Once the new M500 960GB SSD is in stock, I'll be swapping one of my 256GB SSDs for that one.

 

[wonderspark]

That's so cool!!!
So you suggested me to get the rmbp then?

I'm not an expert for moving/upgrading things. So what I brought is what I'm going to stay with for the rest of my new laptop life!

No, I suggested the non-retina and doing your own upgrades, but if you're saying you're not willing to upgrade it yourself, then I'd change my suggestion to the retina model after all. Apple loves people that fear the screwdriver.

Apple doesn't sell a model like what I'm typing on right now. You have to convert it yourself for hundreds of dollars less.

 

[dragonjinse]

I know!! I wish I can deal with the screwdriver or know anybody who can deal with the screwdriver for me.

Thanks for the advice!

No, I suggested the non-retina and doing your own upgrades, but if you're saying you're not willing to upgrade it yourself, then I'd change my suggestion to the retina model after all. Apple loves people that fear the screwdriver.

Apple doesn't sell a model like what I'm typing on right now. You have to convert it yourself for hundreds of dollars less.

 

[Dalton63841]

If you don't do your own upgrades, get a retina Macbook Pro. They are a significantly nicer machine, but they are almost completely un-upgradeable.

Personally I do all my own maintenance and upgrades, so the day I buy a Retina MBP will be after they stop selling classic MBP, and my last classic MBP is dead and unfixable.

 

[dragonjinse]

Thanks for the advice. I'm really appreciated!
Yep, I think i'm leaning toward the rMBP too.. just worry about the screen problem, charging problem and etc that people complaint online.

If you don't do your own upgrades, get a retina Macbook Pro. They are a significantly nicer machine, but they are almost completely un-upgradeable.

Personally I do all my own maintenance and upgrades, so the day I buy a Retina MBP will be after they stop selling classic MBP, and my last classic MBP is dead and unfixable.

 

[Dalton63841]

Thanks for the advice. I'm really appreciated!
Yep, I think i'm leaning toward the rMBP too.. just worry about the screen problem, charging problem and etc that people complaint online.

I've come to ignore most of peoples complaints about Mac's. The thing is for every 1 complaint, there's like 1000 people not having the problem, but you don't hear from the one's not having problems.

 

[wonderspark]

I know!! I wish I can deal with the screwdriver or know anybody who can deal with the screwdriver for me.

Thanks for the advice!

I'm the computer repair / upgrade dude for all my friends.

 

[dragonjinse]

You're right! Thanks for pointing it out!

I've come to ignore most of peoples complaints about Mac's. The thing is for every 1 complaint, there's like 1000 people not having the problem, but you don't hear from the one's not having problems.

----------

Lucky you and your friends!!

I'm the computer repair / upgrade dude for all my friends.

 

[fratey]

Get the Retina. The single disadvantage is that it isn't upgradable, and the thing is - you've maxed it out already. You won't be able to put 32 gigs of RAM in the classic MacBook, which makes the upgrade point only valid on the storage. 512GB SSD will last you years, however.

 

[dragonjinse]

Thank you for the advice!
I just clicked a "place the order" button for my FIRST macbook pro retina 15" 20secs ago!
Hopefully I will get a great refurbished one without any problems or damages!

Get the Retina. The single disadvantage is that it isn't upgradable, and the thing is - you've maxed it out already. You won't be able to put 32 gigs of RAM in the classic MacBook, which makes the upgrade point only valid on the storage. 512GB SSD will last you years, however.

 

[phillipjlael]

I just purchased a refurbished rMBP on monday. I got the..


-2.6 GHz Quad-core i7, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
-16GB RAM
-512GB Flash Storage

$2189


Did they have the option for that one for you? Cause for a extra 89 bucks you could have doubled the Ram.

It is going to be my FIRST apple laptop!

New cMBP 15":

-2.3GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 512MB GDDR5 memory
-500GB SATA
-8GB RAM
-Hi-res + anti-glare

Total $1900
(I might upgrade 2.3 Ghz, 512MG to 2.6 Ghz, 1GB = $120. Do you guys think it's a good idea?)

Refurbished rMBP 15":
-2.6 GHz Quad-core i7, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
-8GB RAM
-512GB Flash Storage

$2100


Which one should I get?
I'm a college student who is trying to find a last long laptop! (4 years or more). I don't play game much but watch LOTS of movies, and listening music. Good quality of audio is really important for me!
I mostly use laptop for school work (words, excel, power point), email, surfing internet, WATCHING movies and listing musics.

I planned to install Window 7 or 8 to my macbook..

I went to apple store today but still can't decide due to the similar prices of these 2 laptops, the rmbp screen problem (samsung and LG), and of course the refurbished qualities and problems.

So please please please help me to figure this out... I'm new here..
I dont plan to get any upgrade after purchasing. I'm not good with electronic stuff.

Thank you

 

[dragonjinse]

I didnt check it though.. But $2100 is the max i can pay because it hasn't included the tax yet. So the total is around $2250 that i paid!
Im broke! But thanks

I just purchased a refurbished rMBP on monday. I got the..


-2.6 GHz Quad-core i7, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
-16GB RAM
-512GB Flash Storage

$2189


Did they have the option for that one for you? Cause for a extra 89 bucks you could have doubled the Ram.

 

[PEN10k]

Go for the the rMBP.

 

[dragonjinse]

Thanks
wow! people love rMBP huh?

Go for the the rMBP.

 

[rabidz7]

Thank you so much for the info..
I know that the Applecare is only last 3 years. Can I extend after it expires?
My parents said this laptop must live longer than 5 years!
lol.. Because my Dell (current laptop) is only 2 years old and it broke!

Don't get applecrapcare. It is a complete waste of money, and they will often refuse to replace a broken component like my MBP optical drive. It will last for a very long time if you are careful with it.

 

[sonicrobby]

If youre going to get the updates in the cMBP, id say just go with the retina.

I went through the same decision just last weekend. I choose the retina because the screen was just gorgeous! + the extra 512GB of GDDR5 video ram.

Due note that there is no problem buying refurbished from Apple. Its all good quality

 

[sofianito]

Thank you so much for the info..
I know that the Applecare is only last 3 years. Can I extend after it expires?
My parents said this laptop must live longer than 5 years!
lol.. Because my Dell (current laptop) is only 2 years old and it broke!

If you get the retina, you better get the Applecare and sell the notebook before the warranty expires. AFAIK, Apple doesn't allow to extend the warranty. This is the major drawback of retina models: Repairing the notebook, Upgrading the disk, or replacing the battery are costly...

 

[Badrottie]

You want to save more money before tax then go with cMBP then you can upgrade more memory and SSD in the future you can always ask your friends if they can fix memory and SSD for you. Friends fix it for free.

Good luck

I fix computer/laptop for fun but now I am retired.

 

[Count Blah]

Personally, I went with the cMBP because I could upgrade it when and with what I wanted. If you don't want to crack open the cMBP yourself, then by all means, go with the rMBP. Just make sure that 8G RAM and 512G SSD is sufficient, for as long as you plan on keeping the machine.

Good Luck

 

[portishead]

Get the Retina! You may not need all the RAM & Processing all the time, but you look at the screen 100% of the time you're using your machine. Get the one that looks the best!

 

[vampireszombies]

Definitely go with the Retina if I were you.