I wasn't planning on this originally, but all the evidence in my life at present seems to strongly suggest that I need to jump on buying the newly released MacBook Pro 15 in. with Retina Display and 512 GB Flash Storage. I am looking for constructive feedback on this major decision.
Currently, I own a 2010 model MacBook Pro 17 in. with Antiglare Screen, 500 GB Storage, and 2.66 GHz Core i7 CPU. It's been a great computer and I admit I haven't had any problems with it. If I have to be honest with myself, however, I forsee no reason, in the practical application and usage sense, why for the next three years this would continue to be a fine computer for my purposes. The only critical reason I can think of that I should feel uneasy about keeping my 2010 MacBook Pro for the next three years is if some random, unpredictable hardware failure does occur that would suddenly force me to buy a new MacBook Pro at a time when I likely wouldn't have the money to do so. I did not buy the AppleCare extended warranty, so admittedly I am not under warranty anymore from Apple.
I am a computer engineering student who is projected to graduate with my bachelor's degree in 2015. I currently have a substantial amount of savings in my pocession. Enough savings such that even if I didn't work for the next year while going to school full-time, by the end of the year I would likely only have maybe $1000 or less. Regardless, however, I definitely plan to secure a part-time job before the start of this Fall semester in late August. Also, mind you this does not account for the potential substantial amount of money that I might get in February 2013 during tax season. I am aware of the Education Credit that I could claim under Form 8863 and I should be able to claim the purchase of a new MacBook Pro as credit and get a partial refund for it. Also, I should note the next tax season is the "last" year that I would be able to claim Education Credit. That being said, is one of the main primary reasons I feel strongly compelled to buy the new MacBook Pro now because I forsee that I won't be able to afford to buy another Mac at least until 2015.
I live in Utah and we have a chain of Mac Stores called "Simply Mac". I have already been promised $1150 of in-store credit by trading in my 2010 MacBook Pro for the new 2012 model. They are also able to give me the $200 student discount but "only" if I buy AppleCare through them for only $80. Compared to the value of AppleCare through Apple for $350 I believe, and easily to me that seems like a bargain. It solves the dilemma of feeling uneasy about the condition of my computer for the next three years. And my technical intuition in the matter tells me that an all flash-hardware based computer will likely be substantially more stable and last a long time.
That all being said, so the final question comes down to: to buy or not to buy the 2012 MacBook Pro? I will also say this. That in comparing all the variations on the new 2012 line of MacBook Pros, only the most high-end that comes with 512 GB flash storage will do. Going with one of the lesser SATA hard-drive models to me is not a substantial enough improvement over the 2010 models. And the flash storage model that has only 256 GB is not enough storage. So, after calculating the numbers involving the in-store credit value of my current 2010 MacBook Pro, the cost of the 2012 MacBook Pro with education discount, cost of AppleCare, and sales tax; I came up with me having to spend $1777 out of my own savings. OR, I risk keeping my 2010 MacBook Pro for the next three years and hoping it doesn't suddenly die on me in that time.
What do you guys think I should do?
Currently, I own a 2010 model MacBook Pro 17 in. with Antiglare Screen, 500 GB Storage, and 2.66 GHz Core i7 CPU. It's been a great computer and I admit I haven't had any problems with it. If I have to be honest with myself, however, I forsee no reason, in the practical application and usage sense, why for the next three years this would continue to be a fine computer for my purposes. The only critical reason I can think of that I should feel uneasy about keeping my 2010 MacBook Pro for the next three years is if some random, unpredictable hardware failure does occur that would suddenly force me to buy a new MacBook Pro at a time when I likely wouldn't have the money to do so. I did not buy the AppleCare extended warranty, so admittedly I am not under warranty anymore from Apple.
I am a computer engineering student who is projected to graduate with my bachelor's degree in 2015. I currently have a substantial amount of savings in my pocession. Enough savings such that even if I didn't work for the next year while going to school full-time, by the end of the year I would likely only have maybe $1000 or less. Regardless, however, I definitely plan to secure a part-time job before the start of this Fall semester in late August. Also, mind you this does not account for the potential substantial amount of money that I might get in February 2013 during tax season. I am aware of the Education Credit that I could claim under Form 8863 and I should be able to claim the purchase of a new MacBook Pro as credit and get a partial refund for it. Also, I should note the next tax season is the "last" year that I would be able to claim Education Credit. That being said, is one of the main primary reasons I feel strongly compelled to buy the new MacBook Pro now because I forsee that I won't be able to afford to buy another Mac at least until 2015.
I live in Utah and we have a chain of Mac Stores called "Simply Mac". I have already been promised $1150 of in-store credit by trading in my 2010 MacBook Pro for the new 2012 model. They are also able to give me the $200 student discount but "only" if I buy AppleCare through them for only $80. Compared to the value of AppleCare through Apple for $350 I believe, and easily to me that seems like a bargain. It solves the dilemma of feeling uneasy about the condition of my computer for the next three years. And my technical intuition in the matter tells me that an all flash-hardware based computer will likely be substantially more stable and last a long time.
That all being said, so the final question comes down to: to buy or not to buy the 2012 MacBook Pro? I will also say this. That in comparing all the variations on the new 2012 line of MacBook Pros, only the most high-end that comes with 512 GB flash storage will do. Going with one of the lesser SATA hard-drive models to me is not a substantial enough improvement over the 2010 models. And the flash storage model that has only 256 GB is not enough storage. So, after calculating the numbers involving the in-store credit value of my current 2010 MacBook Pro, the cost of the 2012 MacBook Pro with education discount, cost of AppleCare, and sales tax; I came up with me having to spend $1777 out of my own savings. OR, I risk keeping my 2010 MacBook Pro for the next three years and hoping it doesn't suddenly die on me in that time.
What do you guys think I should do?
