Photographers - 15" 2.6GHz vs. 15" 2.3GHz Retina

[markp99]

Bottom line: I wouldn't store a big photo library on a single mechanical HDD that's mounted within a portable computer. So you must have an external drive regardless to fit them all, and here's the question - do you still need your entire library on your internal drive? Do you need a big part of it on your internal drive?

This was exactly my rationale for spending $$ on 16GB RAM and keep the SSD at 256GB. I had thought to bump to 750GB but just too pricey.

But, even at 512GB, I would still run out of space, just not as soon as with 256GB. EXTERNAL storage/archive would have been necessary in either case.

My only concern as I migrate my work stuff (large client DBs and other data files), and then my photos, is segregating archive (external) from active (SSD), and then remembering what is where... This is a slight concern - we shall see how things progress.

 

[magbarn]

The SSD in the Retina is upgradeable. In the not too distance future you'll be able to upgrade it. Will be expensive at first but the price will come down.

This remains to be seen as of currently, 2 YEARS since the release of the first Apple product (2010 MBA) with a proprietary 'blade' type SSD, there is still only ONE manufacturer of a SSD upgrade. If you think 480gb for $800 is 'cheap'.... for the MBA, it's actually more cost effective to sell your 2011 MBA and CTO a 2012 with the 512gb than pay's OWC's ridiculous prices. Since Apple is unwilling to standardize and allow other companies to use their SSD interfaces (one of their OEM's tried to sell the SSD's 'on the side' when the 2010 MBA came out and was threatened with lawsuits, so they quickly shut up about it), you really should consider the SSD as un-upgradable. It's more for Apple's warranty repair benefit to allow them to swap if the SSD goes bad or put it in another machine if something else goes bad in your rMBP. Back to the OP, for photography work 'it depends' . Honestly, for me, my rMBP isn't very good right now for my photography needs as now LR4 and CS6 currently look like ass. It's even worse for 'office' stuff like Word/Excel. Aperture 3 looks great, BUT I'm unwilling to switch over right now as it was a PITA go from aperture to LR3. If you're using Aperture or willing to switch it's great, otherwise I would wait and see how long it takes Adobe to make their software retina aware. Given Adobe's previous track history, you're probably looking at LR5/CS6.5 before this happens.

 

[peterb69]

Back to the OP, for photography work 'it depends' . Honestly, for me, my rMBP isn't very good right now for my photography needs as now LR4 and CS6 currently look like ass. It's even worse for 'office' stuff like Word/Excel. Aperture 3 looks great, BUT I'm unwilling to switch over right now as it was a PITA go from aperture to LR3. If you're using Aperture or willing to switch it's great, otherwise I would wait and see how long it takes Adobe to make their software retina aware. Given Adobe's previous track history, you're probably looking at LR5/CS6.5 before this happens.

I think this is good advice. I need a computer "now" to replace my aging 15" MacBook Pro. I'm going to get the non-retina model. I will see a speed increase, and be very happy. Then after all the programs I work with make use of retina, I can sell this MB pro and get a 2nd gen retina version.

Thanks everybody.