rMBP 13" with 128gb/4gb ram or rMBP 13" 256gb/8gb ram

[NickVanHoeve]

Hi, since this is kind of my very own first Mac, (I've been using my dad's 2009 MBP), which one should I get? The 13" rMBP 256GB with 8GB ram or the 128GB with 4GB ram? I will be going to the university as a computer science student, plus I want this computer to last about 3 years before upgrading to a new macbook. My usage is of course programming, some photoshopping, web surfing, etc. I might install some games, but I can store it in my external hard drive. I might be running visual studio through parallel if I need to use visual basic. If there is no point of getting the 8GB, then it would of course cut the cost and I can use the money to buy some other thing without asking extra money from my parents.

 

[Macman45]

I would go for the larger model. It will last you longer and with 8GB will perform properly. It's surprising how fast space gets used. I have a 13" rMBP with the 500GB drive and 8GB RAM and that's fine, but I very quickly added in an external USB 3 2TB to use with it. 128GB really isn't enough unless you plan on doing very little. Once your apps are installed and you have it set up, that space is going to be borderline and that's before you do anything...go for the larger model.

 

[Wuiffi]

I'd also get the 8/256
I worked with a 128GB SSD for about one year and then switched to 256GB. No way I could go back to the small one.
And the RAM is soldered on an can not be upgraded, so 8GB is the minimum I recommend

 

[alphaod]

Get the better one.

You may find your needs increase as a CS student and you can't upgrade the RAM later.

 

[Meister]

Both are fine, but for a price difference of only 200,- i recommend the 8/256.

 

[maflynn]

Another vote for the 8/256 model. It will be very easy for you to fill up the 128gb SSD. The 8GB of ram will be nice now and the future.

 

[NickVanHoeve]

Thanks for the reply guys, I will go with 256GB. I'm getting it by this week/next week. So excited.

 

[yjchua95]

Thanks for the reply guys, I will go with 256GB. I'm getting it by this week/next week. So excited.

By the way if you're still deciding over how much RAM to get, look here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1686227/

 

[fskywalker]

Thanks for the reply guys, I will go with 256GB. I'm getting it by this week/next week. So excited.

That is the right choice, 4GB ram is too little.

 

[elviorion]

I agree with the rest...128 and 4 is just too small for anyone but the most basic of users. I would give something like that to a grandparent to do facetime/skype/email and to read the obituaries...er I mean the newspaper..

 

[Meister]

I agree with the rest...128 and 4 is just too small for anyone but the most basic of users. I would give something like that to a grandparent to do facetime/skype/email and to read the obituaries...er I mean the newspaper..

This statement is not true at all.
Give your grandparents an iPad instead.
The 4/128 is as capable as the 8/256. Test it out!!!
the only reason to get the extra 4gig + 128gig is the price.because its such a bargain.

 

[fskywalker]

The 4/128 is as capable as the 8/256.

All depends on his specific usage. 4GB RAM may be suficient to run most programs, as my wife's 2012 MBA has 4GB and she runs Parallels / Windows 7 without issues, but even for her 128GB iSSD would be too little storage space.

For me, only 512GB SSD or above makes the cut... have 550GB already on my 1TB drive

 

[talmy]

I might be running visual studio through parallel if I need to use visual basic.

This is the key phrase for me -- running a VM is tough with just 4GB. Otherwise memory would be fine. I'd be hurting with just 128GB of mass storage these days. Our light use 11" MBA gets by with 64GB/2GB on Mavericks with the major threat being the 64GB is nearly full.