I agree that the rMBP doesn't offer as much "bang for the buck" as the 15" rMBP and certainly not Windows notebooks. To me, it is essentially the "Retina Air" until such a product is actually released. The base 13" Pro has been roughly comparable to the high-end Air since late 2010, and the Retina model hasn't changed that. It just brought it closer in size.
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Returning my rMBP 13" the right decision?
- Thread starter taenzerme
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I agree that the rMBP doesn't offer as much "bang for the buck" as the 15" rMBP and certainly not Windows notebooks. To me, it is essentially the "Retina Air" until such a product is actually released. The base 13" Pro has been roughly comparable to the high-end Air since late 2010, and the Retina model hasn't changed that. It just brought it closer in size.
I never really understand these comments about "more bang for my buck". People dismiss the 13" rMBP because the 15" rMBP offers "more bang for my buck" in terms of raw performance vs. price. It's a valid point, but it's not the only point. The 15" is less portable, has a greater form factor and weighs more.
It's like pricing out a Nissan 370z and loading it up with options, only to have someone say at "$40k, you should get a Mustang because it's more bang for my buck". Yeah, it is if you only want to drive fast in a straight line, but not everyone wants the raw speed. Some people may want portability, less weight, etc.
All depends on each person's needs.
My problem with the rMBP 13" is it's neither powerful (no discrete graphics) or lightweight and thin (compared to the Air). It's a bit of a pricey jack of all trades.
I have owned both. The 13" didn't seem more or less portable to me. Are you referring to carrying it in a bag? I noticed no difference. The 15" is just a slim, and doesn't even weigh a lb more. They both had the same presence when I whipped it out at work and in public. I am not going to deny that 13" is smaller than 15", but I also won't act like I noticed any real difference when carrying either of the two.
...except the Air doesn't have a Retina display. Again, if you're going to knock one, knock the other for a glaring point of distinction there.
The 15" is great with the larger display and discrete graphics. But it's larger and heavier. It's wider/deeper by two inches and one inch respectively, and nearly a pound heavier. The 13" fits like a glove into a slot in my bag. The 15" doesn't fit. Get a bigger bag?
Not sure why people gloss over certain points. If that's not important to you, then that's cool. No worries and get the machine that's right for you. But to me, the 13" rMBP is a perfect medium of small/portable with a display that blows away the Air.
As a long time MacBook Air user (since the original model all the way back in February 2008), I hesitated a little before making the decision to replace my lost 2012 11.6" Air with the rMBP. I certainly notice the extra heft, and if Apple releases an 11.6" Retina (whether Pro or Air) I'll probably go back to it eventually, but the display won me over. My insurance proceeds were almost exactly enough to purchase a refurbished 11.6" Air, but I decided to take the plunge and spend a few hundred extra on the rMBP. Once I get re-acclimated to the heft I can see this one being a keeper.
...except the Air doesn't have a Retina display. Again, if you're going to knock one, knock the other for a glaring point of distinction there.
The 15" is great with the larger display and discrete graphics. But it's larger and heavier. It's wider/deeper by two inches and one inch respectively, and nearly a pound heavier. The 13" fits like a glove into a slot in my bag. The 15" doesn't fit. Get a bigger bag?
Not sure why people gloss over certain points. If that's not important to you, then that's cool. No worries and get the machine that's right for you. But to me, the 13" rMBP is a perfect medium of small/portable with a display that blows away the Air.
Honestly I totally forgot about the retina screen. I use an external monitor when desk-bound so it's not something I tend to think of. I buy my laptops primarily for portability.
Of course, of you want the high resolution screen then the rMBP is your only choice. The combination of that many pixels and no discrete graphics would worry me personally.
It amazes me at how many people around here buy a product with full intention to return it, or just to give it a test drive. Maybe I'm in the wrong here, but to me it seems like this should have been a decision made before the purchase.
Anyways, in regards to returning it or not: do whatever you think is right. Since you are still able to return it, if you do not believe that the computer is worth the value you paid for it, then return it. There's only so much other people can tell you. At some point, it really needs to come down to whether you think that you should should have bought it. If not, then return it,
Anyways, in regards to returning it or not: do whatever you think is right. Since you are still able to return it, if you do not believe that the computer is worth the value you paid for it, then return it. There's only so much other people can tell you. At some point, it really needs to come down to whether you think that you should should have bought it. If not, then return it,
Arguably that's why Apple offers a fairly generous return policy. They take a lot of notebooks back that are later sold as refurbished, but still at a decent margin. By doing so, they probably sell more notebooks overall than if they didn't allow returns. People would hesitate a lot more before plunking down $1699 or more on a rMBP. Even people who buy and later return a rMBP may still wind up getting a cMBP or MBA as a keeper.
Makes sense, I guess it's just a good policy on Apple's part. Another reason to like the brand.