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Retina vs. Regular
- Thread starter sap12690
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Yup...Once you really get down to the nitty gritty, the retina screen is just that much nicer then a reg screen.
I'd either go with a souped up cMBP (if you need CD/DVD drive) or a retina...
The screen is such a big difference. WOW! I'm just realizing it now after looking on my air for several hours this morning.
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When was the last time you used a CD/DVD drive honestly? I haven't even used a USB stick since like 2010.
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When was the last time you used a CD/DVD drive honestly? I haven't even used a USB stick since like 2010.
18 posts later and you finally provide a vague clue as to what you can spend. And nobody even asked.
What does "tight" mean? And what degrees of financial pain are you willing to endure for each model?
No and no. I use 150GB and I think the only game I have installed is Team Fortress 2. 128GB goes quick one you start storing music, pictures, a movie or 2, all your apps, etc. It especially starts to eat away if you have to have virtual machines.
I also don't think paying extra for retina is worth it but that's just my opinion.
The base non-retina 13 MBP is the best bang for your buck. Throw an SSD in there if/when you get extra cash.
I had that conversation in August of last year with my lady inside Apple when we were shopping for a new laptop to replace here 2009 Pro. She was dead set on getting an Air, but wound up getting a 13 inch cMBP because she wanted the CD/DVD drive onboard.
Take a wild guess how many times she's used the CD/DVD drive?
If the guy is on a tight budget then I'd say Retina is out of the question. I had to choose between the 15" cMBP and rMBP and opted for the rMBP. But now I'm reconsidering because I'm kinda getting over the whole retina thing. It looks better but in the long run I feel a beautiful screen doesnt compensate for its long term shortcomings.18 posts later and you finally provide a vague clue as to what you can spend. And nobody even asked.
Also, based on the current resale market, Retina machines dont seem to hold up their resale value as much. So I cant imagine how the resale value will drop when the 2014's introduces higher memory/storage options as standard (16GB/1TBSSD) and the 2012 models are stuck with 8GB/256SSD.
CD/DVD? a couple times this past week. USB stick? Those are horribly slow, but the misses uses one a couple times a month.
Just because you don't use it, doesn't mean no one uses it. Granted, a USB port is easier to fit in than an optical drive. But I use CD/DVDs way more often than a thumb drive.
You speak the truth...But IMO I wouldn't be able to go back to a reg screen. No matter how I shape it with pro's and cons,,,I just dont think I'd be able to give up my retina for a machine with a reg screen.
Plus in 2014 if the machines are that awesome, I'll just buy one and get whatever I can for my current machine. I've worked hard enough in life to be able to support my tech hobby (habit..lol)
A few years ago with the MacBook Air I tried to live within the constraints of 256GB SSD by using an HDD connected to my Time Capsule but the speed disparity was so huge thatit always felt like a superglued temporary fix rather than an actual solution.
Thats why the rMBP is such a mixed bag of "awesome" and "disappointment". The machine can do so much, but its also so limited by the storage solutions Apple offers. And thats most disappointing when you consider that Apple created the Fusion Drive solution yet didnt equip the hardware to actually implement it.
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I'm still deciding on whether or not Retina is worth it. If based purely on the screen then I'd say yes. But based on the storage options you lose by choosing a Retina screen then I think I lean more towards getting a standard 13" MBP. Its cheaper, easy to upgrade and has the highest resale value of Apple's entire lineup.
Why not just use a portable USB3 HDD? I have one that is easy to slip into my bag and gets read/write of 100Mbps (Toshiba Canvio 1TB...although I also have an older 320GB version which only gets around 60Mbps..but still way faster than your time capsule.) I also have a NAS setup that gets me 30Mbps read/write over wireless N.
You hit the nail on the head. I just received my cMBP and I was wondering what was wrong with this display after spending an hour trying to calibrate it. The difference between the 2008 and the 2013 displays are night and day. Just dreadful! This one is going back to Apple.
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It is a portable USB3 drive and I physically connect it when I'm at a desk. The problem is that I tend to work on the couch or away from a desk so a USB drive means I have to have it tethered. So I just share it on my Time Capsule. I'm considering a NAS but its tough to spend on another device when all I'm trying to do is share a disk on the TC just like Apple says it should.
If you're tight on money I suggest the non retina. Why? it is user upgradeable.... you can add an ssd for 200 $ (256 GB) and you can even use your 500 GB HDD as an external or internal drive for data storage.... the MBP standard is @ 1100.... so basically at 1300 you have a machine with more or less the same spec of the top edge retina, without the screen, for sure, but maybe this is not important to you.
But what about the complaints from rMBP owners who say 720p videos suck on the rMBP?
You hit the nail on the head. I just received my cMBP and I was wondering what was wrong with this display after spending an hour trying to calibrate it. The difference between the 2008 and the 2013 displays are night and day. Just dreadful! This one is going back to Apple.
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That's exactly what happened to me. When I brought it back it took me 15 mins to get the "Genius" to admit I was right. He gave me another one but I took that back too. That's when I decided to get the Retina...And I've been waiting for the 2nd generation ever since as I refuse to spend that much money on the first generation.
I'll try the retina and see if the monitor is better. But I still have my 2008 MBP and it's in excellent condition, just not very fast.
Some people here say yes, but I say absolutely not. No way. It's just a minor spec bump and a price drop for the 13". The true 2nd generation will have a Haswell chip and will be out sometime in July or August. Look for a announcement in June
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Do what I did at the Apple store. Place the cMBP and the rMBP next to each other, then go to YouTube on both and bring up the Rolling Stones Gimmie Shelter on both. (Just kidding, you can bring up whatever) and watch the clip in unison, side by side. The difference is stunning. Then crank up the sound on the cMBP (This is why I say bring up the Stones) Then turn it down and crank up the sound on the rMBP. You will be blown away by the sound on the rMBP. 3X as loud. Also make sure you do the reboot test on both.
I have had an '09 MBP since just before the '13 rMBP launch. I was very impressed with the brightness and clarity of the '13 rMBP. (I hope when I say 'r' means 'RETNA" and not 'REFURBISHED'. I don't mean to confuse the two 'r's' Though, this purchase wasn't out of a desire to be updated, it was a necessity.
You have to answer both of these questions. Enough and worth are both highly subjective and you'll get different answers from different people. Randomly polling isn't the way to answer if it is enough for you or worth it to you. Compare the displays in person.
I would definitely go with the rMBP. With your work in Photoshop you will not be disappointed with the retina screen!
Sorry, maybe I am going to jump in here too late.
I agree with all the people to say get a rMBP. For your Photoshop uses, the Retina is definately worth the extra money.
I think you only need 8 GB of RAM though. xShane, I know that you are going to say it is future proofing, but 16 GB for your uses is overkill.
Get the 256 GB version, because these Photoshop pics cn take up quite a lot of space. But before you start worrying about price, Amazon has the last gen (perfectly good) 256 rMBP for $1515. Go for it! You will not regret it.
I agree with all the people to say get a rMBP. For your Photoshop uses, the Retina is definately worth the extra money.
I think you only need 8 GB of RAM though. xShane, I know that you are going to say it is future proofing, but 16 GB for your uses is overkill.
Get the 256 GB version, because these Photoshop pics cn take up quite a lot of space. But before you start worrying about price, Amazon has the last gen (perfectly good) 256 rMBP for $1515. Go for it! You will not regret it.