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Retina MacBook Pro or Classic?
- Thread starter touchu4g
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Well it's a good thing that you can manually add your own SSD then.
And the cMBP speakers actually have a sub woofer, unlike the rMBPs.
The Retina is the more advanced machine, the only downside is the lack or user upgradeability and built in optical disk, which is simply a personal choice, personally if you want to "tinker" go for a desktop and built a "Hackintosh" likely it will work out cheaper and a lot more fun in the long run.
Retina`s in general will run cooler, are less likely to throttle, have better audio, connectivity, quieter, lighter, thiner, have scaleable displays. IPS display, and more.
I own both 15" standard and 15" Retina MBP, from my use and experience the Retina far surpasses the standard system in many aspects. I frequently travel with both, I now very much prefer the Retina, it takes some time to really appreciate the difference in display quality and the ability to increase work area by scaling the display. The Retina definitely reduces eyestrain when used for prolonged periods. Where the standard system will spool up fans when moderate loads generate heat, the Retina under the same conditions remains cool and silent. The reduced weight is also welcome when you are hauling a lot of gear on multiple flights ever ounce counts.
There is a lot of chat about Retina`s being "first gen" products with many fallings, here`s my take as a longstanding user of portable Mac`s; My own Mid 2012 Retina has never missed a beat, stuttered, suffered any throttling, had issue with WiFi, I can force image retention equally it`s never shown up in normal use, graphically the performance is superb i don't game a lot yet my 2.3 Retina now plays Witcher 2 on Ultra which is no mean feat @ 1440x900. The Retina is the culmination of several generations of the 15" MBP and far from being some "user experiment" by Apple.
One the things with forums in general is people mostly come to solve issues, in some case complain, and a minority just to whine about hardware they have little or no experience with, barring ten minutes hands on at "BestBuy" by far the vast silent majority are happy with their systems and unfortunately there seems to be a dislike by some solely due to pricing, you can up upgrade the standard system, however there is a lot more to Retina than just storage and RAM, something many overlook.
It`s simply a matter of time before Apple cut the standard model, so if this is your "weapon of choice" best to buy sooner rather than later. for me i planned to replace the standard 15" MBP with a Haswell Retina, however my new contract clearly stipulates all work to be completed and submitted on Windows hardware/software platform, excluding Mac`s, so i will be looking to replace it with a ThinkPad of a similar spec, and pass the standard MBP to my daughter. After over six months with Retina, i know that i wont be going back to a standard MBP.
Finally the standard 15" MBP is far from being a subpar notebook and still remains an extremely powerful tool, Retina is just the next step up on Apple`s evolutionary ladder, which one is solely a personal choice...
Retina`s in general will run cooler, are less likely to throttle, have better audio, connectivity, quieter, lighter, thiner, have scaleable displays. IPS display, and more.
I own both 15" standard and 15" Retina MBP, from my use and experience the Retina far surpasses the standard system in many aspects. I frequently travel with both, I now very much prefer the Retina, it takes some time to really appreciate the difference in display quality and the ability to increase work area by scaling the display. The Retina definitely reduces eyestrain when used for prolonged periods. Where the standard system will spool up fans when moderate loads generate heat, the Retina under the same conditions remains cool and silent. The reduced weight is also welcome when you are hauling a lot of gear on multiple flights ever ounce counts.
There is a lot of chat about Retina`s being "first gen" products with many fallings, here`s my take as a longstanding user of portable Mac`s; My own Mid 2012 Retina has never missed a beat, stuttered, suffered any throttling, had issue with WiFi, I can force image retention equally it`s never shown up in normal use, graphically the performance is superb i don't game a lot yet my 2.3 Retina now plays Witcher 2 on Ultra which is no mean feat @ 1440x900. The Retina is the culmination of several generations of the 15" MBP and far from being some "user experiment" by Apple.
One the things with forums in general is people mostly come to solve issues, in some case complain, and a minority just to whine about hardware they have little or no experience with, barring ten minutes hands on at "BestBuy" by far the vast silent majority are happy with their systems and unfortunately there seems to be a dislike by some solely due to pricing, you can up upgrade the standard system, however there is a lot more to Retina than just storage and RAM, something many overlook.
It`s simply a matter of time before Apple cut the standard model, so if this is your "weapon of choice" best to buy sooner rather than later. for me i planned to replace the standard 15" MBP with a Haswell Retina, however my new contract clearly stipulates all work to be completed and submitted on Windows hardware/software platform, excluding Mac`s, so i will be looking to replace it with a ThinkPad of a similar spec, and pass the standard MBP to my daughter. After over six months with Retina, i know that i wont be going back to a standard MBP.
Finally the standard 15" MBP is far from being a subpar notebook and still remains an extremely powerful tool, Retina is just the next step up on Apple`s evolutionary ladder, which one is solely a personal choice...
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I wonder where you got that from
In all seriousness, the rMBP is technically the better machine. However, getting one maxed out with 16GB RAM isn't always affordable to most people and therefore not a viable option.
If you are happy with the baseline cMBP without any upgrade.
I'd say go for cMBP.
If you need to upgrade CPU, ram or even SSDs.
I'd say go for rMBP. try it yourself.
If you add upgrade options on Apple store.
you ended up getting more expensive than rMBP (same config)
rMBP is lighter, thinner and the display has better readability.
So for me.
happy with default baseline config, no upgrades needed = cMBP
need more rams, ssd and faster CPU = go straight to rMBP.
getting rMBP will lose lan port and Super drive though but you can buy them inexpensively outside of Apple Store. So wouldn't be so much of a concern really.
I'd say go for cMBP.
If you need to upgrade CPU, ram or even SSDs.
I'd say go for rMBP. try it yourself.
If you add upgrade options on Apple store.
you ended up getting more expensive than rMBP (same config)
rMBP is lighter, thinner and the display has better readability.
So for me.
happy with default baseline config, no upgrades needed = cMBP
need more rams, ssd and faster CPU = go straight to rMBP.
getting rMBP will lose lan port and Super drive though but you can buy them inexpensively outside of Apple Store. So wouldn't be so much of a concern really.
Just curious as to how the rMBPs have more RAM? The cMBP supports 16GB RAM. It also supports SSDs.
I mean.
rMBP 13 default came with 128GB SSD and 8GB ram
selling for HKD 11,488
if you going to get cMBP 13 and wants the same config (128GB SSD, 8GB ram upgrades)
it's HKD 11,528
not much of a difference(around USD 5) but it's more expensive than stock rMB{.
at 15" the difference is a lot.
cMBP upgrades like 2.6Ghz CPU + 650M 1GB, 8GB RAM, 256SSD, high res screen.
you ended up will paying USD 300 more than stock rMBP 15.
I wonder where you got that from
In all seriousness, the rMBP is technically the better machine. However, getting one maxed out with 16GB RAM isn't always affordable to most people and therefore not a viable option.
The vast majority of users don't need a max`d out Retina, even the base is an extremely powerful system. As with all your "Anti Retina" posts you very much come over as an individual who is simply trying to justify their own purchase of the standard MBP, nothing more, nothing less. For an Apple portable the base Retina is actually very well priced, ask anyone who bought a first gen MBP in 2006. By the time that you upgrade the standard machine; RAM, add an SSD you are so close to the Retina price point, it makes no sense, unless you absolutely need massive onboard storage, even so the machine will be lacking many of the engineering benefits Retina brings to the table, or do you seriously believe that Apple have produced an inferior MBP? somehow i doubt it
Many are likely to upgrade to 16Gb for no other reason than posts by the uneducated, unless you are doing significant work that requires this amount of RAM you will see no real world benefit, those that need it already know, those that need to ask likely don't. Given that many are still running OS X systems on 2Gb - 4Gb, the standard system ships with 4Gb. The Retina`s 8Gb is a vast amount of RAM, by the time 16Gb of RAM is a minimum requirement for the average user, the present day systems as a whole will likely need replacing, of course the engineers can always be wrong; "bar talk" and big numbers impress no one in the real world, it`s never what you have it`s what you do with it that counts...
The standard system offers the flexibility of greater storage and or a software RAID configuration, some will have a real-world benefit from this flexibility, others needing the 17" form factor the majority likely not. The more defining feature for the average user is the inclusion of the SuperDrive, as by far the vast majority of notebook owners do not upgrade their hardware. The standard 15" MBP is a fine system, and will remain so for a couple more years.
At the end of the day it`s a personal choice, if you can pay $1800 (plus upgrades) for a notebook $2200 is not a big stretch by any means, if it is then a PC makes a whole lot more sense frankly. Bottom line to the OP`s question is that standard MBP will be discontinued and outdated sooner than the present Retina`s, it will.
As for BestBuy "if cap fit`s wear it" as frankly this is exactly how you are coming across on multiple threads.
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He's talking base cMBP vs base rMBP, disregarding price.
Ultimately the OP does not care about OS X or build quality or service/support, but better specs on paper, in which case the half-priced Lenovo is a perfect fit, imo.
Thats ********. I had the 2008 (first gen) unibody and the 2012/2013 cMBP has a better screen. Better colors, better backlight, better contrast. Its a no****ingbrainer. They didn't dumb it down at all.
USB3.0 works fine here...
Posts like this make me think people here are defective, not units...
what about this?
If you don't care about the display... Doesn't this seem like a pretty good deal? It's the fasted processor, and most other stats line up. Plus you still get the old school upgrabability. What am I missing? Other than the display this sounds like the best value option.
13-inch: 2.9GHz
2.9GHz dual-core Intel Core i7
Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz
8GB 1600MHz memory
750GB 5400-rpm hard drive1
Intel HD Graphics 4000
Built-in battery (7 hours)2
$1,399.00
If you don't care about the display... Doesn't this seem like a pretty good deal? It's the fasted processor, and most other stats line up. Plus you still get the old school upgrabability. What am I missing? Other than the display this sounds like the best value option.
13-inch: 2.9GHz
2.9GHz dual-core Intel Core i7
Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz
8GB 1600MHz memory
750GB 5400-rpm hard drive1
Intel HD Graphics 4000
Built-in battery (7 hours)2
$1,399.00
You are missing an all flash architecture, thinner body, a pound less weight, better cooling technique, thinner bezel and less footprint. But other than that, and if you will not miss those, then that cMBP is a great computer for you.
And that is a good deal, although you are paying most of the money to upgrade from the base model to the upgraded is for the processor. 4 more GB RAM is $25, 250 more GB HDD is $30, so tht makes the processor about $250. Kind of an expensive upgrade.
Sometimes I wish technology would just slow down a touch. I'm still rocking my 2006 Macbook. It works fine except I can't upgrade the software. I really don't want to spend any of this money right now. And choosing between all these laptops is a pain.
I guess I've always thought the processor is the one thing you can't upgrade on any of these machines, so aim high there, and then chip away at the rest as time and finance allow. Does that not ring true? I just it's assuming there's a significant difference between the 2.5 and the 2.9...
I'll yank the hard drive and the ram eventually anyway.
I don't know what to think, I just know that I bought one and compared it to my 2009 MBP, then I returned it and the Genius agreed with me and gave me a new one, but same thing so I returned it for credit. Somebody on THIS forum had the same issue last week.
As far as the USB 3.0/ Haswell issue just go to Google and type in HASWELL USB 3.0. You'll see many links explaining it
Here is one example
http://www.guru3d.com/news_story/in...in_low_volume_until_usb_3_issue_is_fixed.html
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The classic is better value, the retina is the one with the better screen
If you don't want to be able to upgrade it in the future when you need more RAM, get the retina but if you want to be able to upgrade the Ram and even install an SSD if you choose to, get the classic.
If you don't want to be able to upgrade it in the future when you need more RAM, get the retina but if you want to be able to upgrade the Ram and even install an SSD if you choose to, get the classic.
Nice reply Dip*#%+. All I know is that I bought the 2012 took it home and it wasn't nearly as sharp as my 2009 model. I looked at it for two weeks, over and over, finally I couldn't accept it and took it back. The Genius AGREED with me and gave me a new one, but same thing. Took it back and another genius tweaked the settings for 30 mins. I finally took store credit. Another poster on THIS forum had the same issue last week. And his original MBP was a 2008. THIS is what we encountered, our experience, so take your personal insults somewhere else, Pal
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I know that, about the speakers, but I compared the two side by side with the same music video and there was no comparison, the retina was 3X louder, no exaggeration. Maybe it's less bassy, I'll have to go back and retest with that in mind. But I've owned several MBPs and I've never been satisfied with the volume, until now. It actually gets TOO loud. Awesome
cMBP is better value? Buy cMBP for $1200. Put in 128GB SSD--$100. Put in 8 GB RAM--$50. So now $1350 vs $1500 for similar computers, but one has a vastly better screen, better cooling system, is lighter and slimmer and has a smaller footprint. Worth $150? Oh, but one is upgradeable. With 8 GB RAM and an SSD, most users will love the speed (not many people need 16 GB) and if page outs happen, having an SSD is a ton better than a HDD.
You're completely omitting the optical drive, another 80 bucks
16>8gb
You can upgrade the classic at your own pace
Yes, it's a better value
You are presenting your personal experience as FACTS.
Facts are panel makes and technical specs, your faulty model doesn't mean its a rule that older macbooks have crappier screens which is WHAT YOU CLAIMED TO BE TRUE, not user experience...
Well, I'll find out next week when I get mine. I'll make sure to come back and post about it. I ordered the 15" cMBP.
I think you are reading me in reverse here. Fact...I'm talking about my 2009 MBP that has a far supperior screen than the 3 2012 model screens that I went thru, one of them from a different store. Add that to the gentleman on this forum that went thru the same thing with his 2008 machine having a better display than his 2012 MBP, which he then also returned, tells me that the quality of the cMBP has gone down a bit. In addition, the last time I went down, when I got the store credit, I brought my 2009 machine with me and compared it to ALL the floor models. Same thing. I set them all to the desktop with the galaxy on it. The new ones were less defined, kind of blown out. The guy fiddled with the settings, but no doubt, my 2009 had a sharper display. It's a trend supported by several 2012 screens. IDK, maybe it was just a coincidence that 3 new computers plus the floor models PALED in comparison to my 2009 MBP, but it was enough to make me wait for th next retina.
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Yeah. Check it out and come back. Do you have a older MBP to compare it to? If so what year and model? If you don't then I'm sure it'll look fine to you. Otherwise it has the same guts as the retina, except no SSD. So I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I just had a four year old computer with a much nicer, more defined display next to it, and for $2000 I felt that was not acceptable
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Any USB drive works, so no need to payout for an external Apple SuperDrive. Personally I use an old Iomega USB DVD writer, as it will read and write disks on my Retina & Air, does a dam sight better job than the on board SuperDrive of my Late 2011 15" MBP. The Iomega is region free, will read disks the both my 2011 & 2008 MBP`s wont touch and in general is faster at getting things done.