Original MBP or RMBP? More for your money?

[el-John-o]

I went with the non-Retina for the main reason of storage cost.

512GB of SSD storage is a LOT cheaper on a non-retina than a retina. for $400 I got 512GB worth of SSD storage, it's a minimum of TWICE that on top of the extra cost of the retina for a 512GB SSD retina. Out of my price range.

 

[Ploki]

I do use a dvd burner Im a computer tech. External stuff doesnt count, you cant always take that stuff with you. Irrelevant Ethernet? Businesses still relie on Ethernet because its more stable than wireless. Seriously you talking about bitching about S-Video and VGA while comparing the rMBP and cMBP? It isnt like the rMBP has VGA or S-Video.

You can have ethernet via adaptor. You will be able to have 10Gbit ethernet via adaptor, while cMBP will be always stuck on 1Gbit.

Not comparing cMBP to rMBP, by comparing old tech to new tech.

If you use a DVD burner then you can buy the old cMBP. But even the people who moan about ethernet and FW800 aren't complaining about the lack-off it for DVD burning, but for using a second storage bay.

Springs to mind why do you need the 2012 model if you still burn DVDs?

The rMBP is so smaller than you CAN take some external stuff with you without gaining either weight or size

I went with the non-Retina for the main reason of storage cost.

512GB of SSD storage is a LOT cheaper on a non-retina than a retina. for $400 I got 512GB worth of SSD storage, it's a minimum of TWICE that on top of the extra cost of the retina for a 512GB SSD retina. Out of my price range.

25% + keeping the SSD you got in the machine is tad more value than 5k4 drive.

 

[el-John-o]

You can have ethernet via adaptor. You will be able to have 10Gbit ethernet via adaptor, while cMBP will be always stuck on 1Gbit.

Not comparing cMBP to rMBP, by comparing old tech to new tech.

If you use a DVD burner then you can buy the old cMBP. But even the people who moan about ethernet and FW800 aren't complaining about the lack-off it for DVD burning, but for using a second storage bay.

Springs to mind why do you need the 2012 model if you still burn DVDs?

The rMBP is so smaller than you CAN take some external stuff with you without gaining either weight or size



25% + keeping the SSD you got in the machine is tad more value than 5k4 drive.

You aren't any more "stuck" on gigabit with a non retina. It also has thunderbolt. If 10gbit Ethernet becomes available on a thunderbolt adapter you can use it with the non retina just as easily as the retina.

 

[Ploki]

You aren't any more "stuck" on gigabit with a non retina. It also has thunderbolt. If 10gbit Ethernet becomes available on a thunderbolt adapter you can use it with the non retina just as easily as the retina.

Without a screen or anything else :I

 

[duervo]

Without a screen or anything else :I

Which is a negative as a result of the absence of a dedicated wired port, IMHO.

Which is fine. When the time comes that I need to purchase a new laptop, I have my certain list of requirements. If Apple doesn't meet them, I will simply look elsewhere. It's not that big of a deal to me.

To me, the best product out there is one that meets my requirements and meets them for the time that I need that product.

It's not like Apple is the only laptop manufacturer out there.

 

[Ploki]

Which is a negative as a result of the absence of a dedicated wired port, IMHO.

If cMBP would at least replace FW800 with another thunderbolt... I'd shut up. And one USB with HDMI.

 

[duervo]

If cMBP would at least replace FW800 with another thunderbolt... I'd shut up. And one USB with HDMI.

Oh god, don't get me started on FW. A port that only one industry uses to any sort of degree, yet is still practically omnipresent with Apple.

 

[Ploki]

Oh god, don't get me started on FW. A port that only one industry uses to any sort of degree, yet is still practically omnipresent with Apple.

Yeah, audio industry. I bought the adapter along with my retina, I'm more than happy that they ditched it. 90% of people I know don't even know WHY they have it.

 

[el-John-o]

Oh god, don't get me started on FW. A port that only one industry uses to any sort of degree, yet is still practically omnipresent with Apple.

Oh come on though, weren't you just talking about how consumers should realize how certain standards are better? Prior to USB 3.0, FireWire has always been faster as an external storage medium!

I agree though, it's really on it's way out. USB 3.0 does everything it can do faster... although in all fairness, it took over a decade for USB to out-run FireWire. (I know TECHNICALLY USB 2.0 was 80mbps faster than FW400, but in the real world files transferred much faster over FireWire)

Without a screen or anything else :I

That's true. Although in theory, you'd be using a thunderbolt display and/or thunderbolt devices, and the GbE adapter could just be added at the end of the chain. At least, that's what Apple thinks. Everyone went out and replaced all of their displays with Thunderbolt displays when TB came out... right?

I'm with ya though. One more thunderbolt port would be really nice. Or perhaps someone will release a GbE/10GbE adapter with a thunderbolt daisy chain connector on it!

Which is a negative as a result of the absence of a dedicated wired port, IMHO.

Which is fine. When the time comes that I need to purchase a new laptop, I have my certain list of requirements. If Apple doesn't meet them, I will simply look elsewhere. It's not that big of a deal to me.

To me, the best product out there is one that meets my requirements and meets them for the time that I need that product.

It's not like Apple is the only laptop manufacturer out there.

Ding ding ding ding. I love Apple, always have, but not all of their products are always great.

The original iPhone? FORGET that! A year BEFORE it came out I already had a smartphone with 3G running an OS with tons of Apps I could download online! (PocketPC). Some time later, Apple added the App store, 3G, a better CPU, a better form factor, etc. So, when it came time for an upgrade, huh, who knew, the iPhone 4 was the best candidate for what I needed!

A good consumer purchases the best product for their needs! Also, I don't care what Apple is going to do in 5 years, I am going to buy a laptop RIGHT NOW, so, what does everyone have to offer RIGHT NOW in my price range?

 

[moderngamenewb]

I went with the 13inch retina with 8gb ram, 512ssd, and upgraded the processor to the i7 for about $2700. If you for sure know you're going with the retina, but can't decide between 13inch and 15inch retina, get the 13inch since it's cheaper, and just get an external display and VGA cord that you can hook your laptop to. You can easily get a 22 inch monitor for about 100-200 dollars on Amazon, and you still save money with the 13inch

 

[el-John-o]

I went with the 13inch retina with 8gb ram, 512ssd, and upgraded the processor to the i7 for about $2700. If you for sure know you're going with the retina, but can't decide between 13inch and 15inch retina, get the 13inch since it's cheaper, and just get an external display and VGA cord that you can hook your laptop to. You can easily get a 22 inch monitor for about 100-200 dollars on Amazon, and you still save money with the 13inch

You could also upgrade the parts yourself and save a TON of money. Apple even includes instructions on how to do it!

$1499 for the i7/8GB model (although you can upgrade that to 16GB for about 70 bucks), plus $400 for a 512GB SSD, and you are at $1899 for the exact same machine, that's saving almost $1,000 to spend 2 minutes with a screwdriver!

If you go with the i5 you start at $1200, buy 8GB of RAM from a third party for $50, same 512GB SSD, and now we have an i5/8GB/512 for $1650

I have an i5/16GB/512 and spent a total of about $1700.

 

[duervo]

Oh come on though, weren't you just talking about how consumers should realize how certain standards are better? Prior to USB 3.0, FireWire has always been faster as an external storage medium!

Haha! Guilty as charged, I suppose. In the end, I guess we all have things we feel strongly about, and they're all valid ones ... except for FW!

 

[STiNG Operation]

If I was in the market to buy a new MBP, I would buy the 15" retina.

More specifically, I would probably custom order the base model with the 2.6GHz processor upgrade, and 16GB RAM. I would then buy a faster 480GB SSD from OWC, and put the original SSD in their external blade SSD housing. Basically ends up being the same as the top 15" rMBP with RAM upgrade, but with a slightly faster SSD, and an external USB3 256GB SSD for around 150 bucks.

EDIT: Make that 30 bucks.

That's a good idea. But lets say I'm really unsure about the amount of RAM I need. I plan on running Final Cut Pro for video editing, but I don't if I need 16GB or if I should just stay with 8. Could I have your opinion please? What do you primarily use on your system? Thanks.

 

[el-John-o]

That's a good idea. But lets say I'm really unsure about the amount of RAM I need. I plan on running Final Cut Pro for video editing, but I don't if I need 16GB or if I should just stay with 8. Could I have your opinion please? What do you primarily use on your system? Thanks.

You probably don't NEED 16GB of RAM and you probably wont' NEED it for a couple of years. If you are working with very large files in FCP, once in a while you might run in to a use case.

BUT, if you can afford it, it can be helpful. However I know lots of folks running FCP on 8 gigs of RAM, even doing 4k video. I rarely use more than 6 or 7 gigs, even when working with huge image files (like panoramas which can be 50 or 60 megapixels when it's all said and done). OSX manages memory pretty well.

Bottom line is, if you can afford it, 16 gigs of RAM will not hurt you one bit. There's no reason NOT to, except of course for cost! If the cost puts it out of reach for you, then you should probably stick with the 8 gigs. You will be okay with 8 gigs, but once in a blue moon you MIGHT spill over into the page file slowing you down

 

[adjeff8]

Just get the rMBP with 16GB ram, think about what feature you use the most. When ever you're using the laptop, the most used component will be the screen right? Wouldn't you want that to be a top priority, since it is how you interact with the computer daily? If you go the 16GB route you eliminate the RAM upgrade issue, and the SSD is replaceable. By the time you need more than 16GB RAM, you will be ready for a new computer anyway I bet.

Another small detail that may not mean much to you, I played with both side by side at the apple store. Played a identical YouTube video on both (Rolling Stones Gimmie Shelter) and the Retina machines sound was easily 3 times as loud. Try it for yourself at the store when you buy

 

[tivoboy]

same

Mine is perfect. BTO 2.7/16/256, Samsung display, no issues at all. perfect machine

same here 2.6/16/256...I DID have to go through two to get a samsung screen, two LG's were poor. One had IR, one was just DIM, couldn't get brightness to any reasonable level.

 

[Ploki]

same here 2.6/16/256...I DID have to go through two to get a samsung screen, two LG's were poor. One had IR, one was just DIM, couldn't get brightness to any reasonable level.

Mine is a first one

 

[Poisonivy326]

I'd also like to add that for many people on macrumors, money seems to not be an issue. So they have a maxed out 15" quad-core 16gb ram/512 gb sdd rMBP and are having a great time with it. That's wonderful for them.

BUT ... I'd say if you're a college student who works a part-time job just to put yourself through school, if you're making an okay but not great income but want a nice computer anyway, plunking down 3k for a computer is not exactly wise, and just because the rmbp is the latest and greatest doesn't mean the MBA or cMBP is all of a sudden dog****. They remain solid laptops that are more affordable for the general population.

I think many macrumors threads exemplify "first world problems" syndrome.

 

[amit715]

i got the current 13inch macbook pro and i love it!! i upgraded the ram to 8gigs and just installed a samsung 256gig 840 pro ssd..its blazing fastttttttttt.

 

[duervo]

I think many macrumors threads exemplify "first world problems" syndrome.

Well, that's the thing ... if you frequent a site that talks primarily about products developed by a first world company, you stand a pretty good chance of seeing content related to so-called "first world problems." (It's not as if this site is called feedthehungry.com, or savethechildren.org.)

It doesn't mean that the ones posting for help with their issues go around crying from the mountaintops about those issues at every chance they get. They come to the place where they feel that they have the best chance of getting some sort of resolution or advice.

Judging them for it does nothing to solve those issues or give them advice.

 

[Poisonivy326]

I'm not judging but pointing out that there's a lot of "I'm embarrassed of my 27" iMac that I got for Christmas because its not retina" hype. You might get the impression that not having retina is tantamount to owning a horse and buggy. I'm just saying that if money isn't an issue, buy a maxed out retina, but if it is, there's no reason to be embarrassed by buying Apple's cheaper alternatives.

 

[Ploki]

I'm not judging but pointing out that there's a lot of "I'm embarrassed of my 27" iMac that I got for Christmas because its not retina" hype. You might get the impression that not having retina is tantamount to owning a horse and buggy. I'm just saying that if money isn't an issue, buy a maxed out retina, but if it is, there's no reason to be embarrassed by buying Apple's cheaper alternatives.

I think you are over-analyzing it.

The whole retina/nonretina ******** is about people not wanting to feel buyers remorse because apple split the market, and half of the people buying a MBP now is having trouble choosing, and when they do, they feel obligated to defend and justify that choice.

 

[MatLane]

Id say its either you want the Retina, or you don't

Thats the best way of putting it. I still feel, AT THE MOMENT, that best MacBooks to buy are the non retina. Wait to see whats ahead this year in retina, till at least they all go retina

 

[derbothaus]

You mean the Kensington lock? The operation of the hinge gets in the way. Plus, anyone with a decent set of pliers or wire cutters can steal a notebook tethered down with a cable that hooks up to a Kensington lock.

Yes. The K-Lock. It at least slows the ones down that don't have pliers or wire cutters. Like most people in an office that did not break in. Why would the hinge get in the way when the k-lock is placed a good bit forward on even the classic (Front of DVD slot). Closer to the front than the back hinge. There is plenty of room. I am looking at a retina this very second.

 

[Ploki]

Id say its either you want the Retina, or you don't

Thats the best way of putting it. I still feel, AT THE MOMENT, that best MacBooks to buy are the non retina. Wait to see whats ahead this year in retina, till at least they all go retina

Funny how nobody was saying how "not to buy unibody yet". Unibody was actually just some re-arranging, dropping of FW400 and DVI and nothing else. Visual overhaul. And while retina is NOT a visual overhaul, it's an engineering overhaul, which seems to put people off.

I guess they really pushed the envelope.