R.I.P. 15" cMBP -- Are you happy or not about it's demise?

[kunai]

That's a good point! Something which I never thought of (Kensington slot).

But in hindsight, I never used it with my current laptop. I never leave it out of my sight and I'm quite sure that's what I will do with a Mac as well. But, I do see what you mean...

I had the chance for a great student offer last year; but thought I'd give my current machine one more push. Happy that it held up, but I've lost out the machine I had in mind. Oh well...

Glad to know about the warranty on a refurbished Mac. So... One more question comes to mind - does "refurbished" mean it could have a dent or crack, etc?

Thanks for suggesting that adapter, btw - I might have to get one then.

No. Refurbished (usually), in Apple parlance are brand-new factory overstocks and unused returns that have been tested for no dents, scratches, and the like.

As for right now, pretty much all of the later ones are factory overstocks of BTO versions of the machines. Go ahead. You won't be able to tell the difference between a new and a refurb... because the refurb is essentially new.

 

[kartnite]

No.

No. Refurbished (usually), in Apple parlance are brand-new factory overstocks and unused returns that have been tested for no dents, scratches, and the like.

As for right now, pretty much all of the later ones are factory overstocks of BTO versions of the machines. Go ahead. You won't be able to tell the difference between a new and a refurb... because the refurb is essentially new.

Thank you! I wasn't aware of that. I'll check what's available on their "Certified Refurbished" page.

PS: BTO?

 

[Count Blah]

I enjoy the fun of change and something new. Yet I also think for myself.

Relying on Apple to define the future is for the , oh nevermind...

I hear ya. I planned for the future by purchasing a 2012 cMBP, that I plan on keeping for a LONG time. Hopefully by the time I'm in the market again, the options will be less user-hostile.

 

[talmy]

Not happy.

• I use wired Ethernet daily
• I still have some FW800 external drives
• I lose information density (I've got the high res anti-glare display) unless I leave Retina display mode.
• I occasionally use the DVD drive, but can live without it
• Probably most important -- the RMBP ends up being a lot more expensive once you factor in having to buy Apple RAM, and the cost of SSD storage is outlandish if you need lots of storage space. I'd be looking at an additional $1000+ over what I paid for my cMBP.

Upsides to the RMBP: IPS display is better for photography, faster, more battery life, and probably more rugged.

 

[kunai]

Thank you! I wasn't aware of that. I'll check what's available on their "Certified Refurbished" page.

PS: BTO?

BTO: Built-to-order.

 

[kartnite]

BTO: Built-to-order.

Ha ha ha, thank you for that.

I checked the page. I guess there is one anti-glare unit left. I don't want a glossy screen.

Quick question here, then - this will then require a manual update to Mavericks, yes? Do I then get iLife and iWork for free too?

Also, given it has 4GB RAM, I suppose I can manually upgrade it to, say, 8GB?

 

[kunai]

Ha ha ha, thank you for that.

I checked the page. I guess there is one anti-glare unit left. I don't want a glossy screen.

Quick question here, then - this will then require a manual update to Mavericks, yes? Do I then get iLife and iWork for free too?

Actually, just because there is only one model listed doesn't mean that there's only one unit. There's still several of those AG models left. Buy it and the listing won't go away immediately.

Although, I will say this: the antiglare model makes things tiny on-screen and harder to read. It's also far less vivid than the glossy screen, and the reflections actually aren't too bad on the newer models because the LCD is closer to the display. Stuff also is a lot larger on the glossy model and easier to read. Not to mention the huge price difference between that AG model and the Glossy.

If I were you, I'd pick the glossy, but if money's not a problem, get the antiglare.

Yes, RAM is upgradeable... that was kind of the entire point of this thread. Yes, it ships with ML, and will require a manual upgrade...

And iWork is not preinstalled. If I were you, I'd buy an iWork 09 disc off of Amazon and install it. iWork 5 is a disfigured mess; wait until Apple adds back all the features they've removed, like AppleScripting and styles drawers. iLife is preinstalled.

 

[kartnite]

Actually, just because there is only one model listed doesn't mean that there's only one unit. There's still several of those AG models left. Buy it and the listing won't go away immediately.

Although, I will say this: the antiglare model makes things tiny on-screen and harder to read. It's also far less vivid than the glossy screen, and the reflections actually aren't too bad on the newer models because the LCD is closer to the display. Stuff also is a lot larger on the glossy model and easier to read. Not to mention the huge price difference between that AG model and the Glossy.

If I were you, I'd pick the glossy, but if money's not a problem, get the antiglare.

Yes, RAM is upgradeable... that was kind of the entire point of this thread. Yes, it ships with ML, and will require a manual upgrade...

And iWork is not preinstalled. If I were you, I'd buy an iWork 09 disc off of Amazon and install it. iWork 5 is a disfigured mess; wait until Apple adds back all the features they've removed, like AppleScripting and styles drawers. iLife is preinstalled.

Oh, ok... I thought the glossy ones would mean putting up with an irritating reflection (that's what I'd read) - Money isn't a problem, touchwood, but I didn't know AG would make it hard to read. Might think again then. Thank you.

The only reason I wasn't interested in retina wasn't because of the gloss factor - simply put, I don't need that many pixels and stuff. Just fancy, imho.

Isn't iWork supposed to be a free download (referring to the keynote) - noted what you said, though, re: iWork 09.

Wasn't aware iLife was pre-installed. Remember reading a live blog of the keynote saying new iLife was free with new Mac/iOs device.

 

[kunai]

Oh, ok... I thought the glossy ones would mean putting up with an irritating reflection (that's what I'd read) - Money isn't a problem, touchwood, but I didn't know AG would make it hard to read. Might think again then. Thank you.

The only reason I wasn't interested in retina wasn't because of the gloss factor - simply put, I don't need that many pixels and stuff. Just fancy, imho.

Isn't iWorks supposed to be a free download (referring to the keynote) - noted what you sad, though, re: iWork 09.

There is a reflection, but wherever you go, if there's a light source behind you, it's going to block out the screen. The same with antiglare. The only difference is that antiglare diffuses the light across the entire pane of the LCD glass, whereas the glossy keeps it localized. I prefer AG because it gets rid of smaller reflections, but AG completely washes out outdoors. I don't mind glossy, and since colors are way more accurate on glossy displays, actually prefer them to antiglare for professional use in a darkened room.

Yes, iWork is free -- but iWork 5 that was announced with Mavericks, frankly, sucks. Apple decided to do the same thing they did with FCPX, Aperture, and Logic Pro X -- think now, add back missing features in 2 years later. Pages 09 was a pleasure to use, and now, it's nearly as bad as MS Word.

However, if you seriously need an office suite, I'd take a good look at NeoOffice or LibreOffice -- they're both built off of the same codebase and are extremely powerful for a low price. NeoOffice is $10 on the Mac App Store, but totally worth it, in my opinion. LibreOffice is free (both as in beer and as in speech) but you lose a lot of Mac-only features, and the experience doesn't feel as cohesive with OS X.

 

[ScottishDuck]

Both firewire and ethernet are available if you buy the thunderbolt adapters and if you just laid down all that cash for a rMBP I doubt their cost will be all that much of a barrier

 

[kartnite]

There is a reflection, but wherever you go, if there's a light source behind you, it's going to block out the screen. The same with antiglare. The only difference is that antiglare diffuses the light across the entire pane of the LCD glass, whereas the glossy keeps it localized. I prefer AG because it gets rid of smaller reflections, but AG completely washes out outdoors. I don't mind glossy, and since colors are way more accurate on glossy displays, actually prefer them to antiglare for professional use in a darkened room.

Yes, iWork is free -- but iWork 5 that was announced with Mavericks, frankly, sucks. Apple decided to do the same thing they did with FCPX, Aperture, and Logic Pro X -- think now, add back missing features in 2 years later. Pages 09 was a pleasure to use, and now, it's nearly as bad as MS Word.

However, if you seriously need an office suite, I'd take a good look at NeoOffice or LibreOffice -- they're both built off of the same codebase and are extremely powerful for a low price. NeoOffice is $10 on the Mac App Store, but totally worth it, in my opinion. LibreOffice is free (both as in beer and as in speech) but you lose a lot of Mac-only features, and the experience doesn't feel as cohesive with OS X.

Thanks for that explanation. Come to think of it, I will hardly be using my laptop "outdoors". As in.. It will always be indoors - be it home or at workplace. So... Glossy should indeed be fine. Hi-Res glossy (1680x1050) not available on that page, btw, dang.

Ok, I didn't know about the version#. I'll check out the 09 then. I have been an MS Office user all my life. Tried OpenOffice, too. That's it. So... I'll need to see which office suite to go for. Will check out Neo and Libre.

Both firewire and ethernet are available if you buy the thunderbolt adapters and if you just laid down all that cash for a rMBP I doubt their cost will be all that much of a barrier

Was just musing over possibilities. Ideally, I'd prefer the cMBP. I'd asked about the adapters before checking the refurbished page. Didn't know I'd find cMBPs there.

 

[themumu]

…

And iWork is not preinstalled. If I were you, I'd buy an iWork 09 disc off of Amazon and install it. iWork 5 is a disfigured mess; wait until Apple adds back all the features they've removed, like AppleScripting and styles drawers. iLife is preinstalled.

iWork 5 will appear as a free update on any computer with Mavericks, even old ones. It did on mine. How good it is compared to 09 is debatable, but it's there for anyone to try.

 

[NewishMacGuy]

Now we're all captive to Apple's stoopid criminal upgrade pricing!

Need 16GB/1TB? Drop your drawers, bend over, grab your knees and grit your teeth! Apple's going to get all up in your business - medieval style.

 

[kunai]

iWork 5 will appear as a free update on any computer with Mavericks, even old ones. It did on mine. How good it is compared to 09 is debatable, but it's there for anyone to try.

The MacBook in question came with ML, not Mavs.

----------

Now we're all captive to Apple's stoopid criminal upgrade pricing!

Need 16GB/1TB? Drop your drawers, bend over, grab your knees and grit your teeth! Apple's going to get all up in your business - medieval style.

I know, but it kinda feels goooood... I mean, the prostate is a very sensitive organ.

 

[themumu]

The MacBook in question came with ML, not Mavs

Once you upgrade to Mavs (which is free), it's the same thing.

 

[cube]

This is a troll thread. Nobody here has a valid reason to be happy about this.

 

[Moshe1010]

I'M SO HAPPY THAT I CAN NO LONGER DO ANY UPGRADES TO MY COMPUTER OR SEE THE BATTERY STATUS IMMEDIATELY OR HAVE AN ANTIGLARE SCREEN (GLOSSY LOOKS SOOOOO SHINEEEEEeeEeEEYYYYY) OR KNOW WHETHER MY COMPUTER IS SLEEPING OR NOT OR USE AN APPLE REMOTE TO CONTROL iTUNES WITH OR LISTEN CDs BECAUSE WHO CARES THAT CDs HAVE BETTER QUALITY THAN iTUNES? APPLE IS THE BEST AND WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO THEM AND IF THEY SAY OPTICAL MEDIA SUCKS, **** GOOD-QUALITY FLAC-RIPPABLE OPTICAL MEDIA!

I'M SO HAPPY THAT I NOW HAVE A MARGINALLY THINNER MACHINE EVEN THOUGH IT ENTAILS ALL THESE SACRIFICES

RETINA DISPLAY, YIPPPEEEEEEEE!!!1111

/s

What about using these?

They don't break easily as CDs, don't scratch, and have the best quality of all!!!!!!

How about changing your car back to this:

Less pollution, less problems in the world.

My message is, you need to move on and accept the technological changes that are the norm today. You still have options to leave in the cave though - your choice.

 

[kunai]

What about using these?
Image


They don't break easily as CDs, don't scratch, and have the best quality of all!!!!!!

How about changing your car back to this:
Image


Less pollution, less problems in the world.

My message is, you need to move on and accept the technological changes that are the norm today. You still have options to leave in the cave though - your choice.

The strawman argument -- the #1 argument of the deluded Apple fanboy.

First of all, floppies had horrible quality, were low capacity, and rotted magnetically -- way worse than scratching. There was good reason to kill them. DVDs and Blu-Ray discs have high capacity, persistent, resilient, and the best quality compared to MP3s and iTunes 1080p.

There's a reason that a music CD takes up the whole CD whereas MP3s take up 1/4. You're losing a ton of quality.

There's a reason that a Blu-Ray movie takes up the entire 25GB disc and iTunes downloads are 8GB. You're losing a ton of quality.

Stop talking out of your behind and poking a strawman. You won't get anywhere arguing against me.

 

[noodile]

Such a bummer. Glad i made a good decision buying one last august.

Main reason i bought one.

Upgradabillity in the future. (both storage and ram)

Having Dual Hard drives (replaced the superdrive)

Antiglare screen.