Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Should I keep a recently purchased MBP early 2015?

K

KoolAid-Drink

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Sep 18, 2013
1,879
974
USA
I found an incredible deal for a rMBP 13', top of the line, early 2015 from a 3rd party website (legit, http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1129105-REG/apple_z0qp_mf8417_13_3_macbook_pro_notebook.html). $2449 for 3.1ghz i7, 1TB SSD, 16gb of RAM, free expedited shipping AND no sales tax! My aging 2011 MBP is still working well, but I'm tired of it and want a change. However, I can live with the 2011 MBP.

I have made the order today, and have 30 days to cancel/return if I decide not to keep it (unopened only though). I am unsure about keeping it, because $2449 is a lot of money, and do I *really* need it? On the other hand, it's an incredible deal (normally $2650 including tax), top of the line (futureproofed with a 1TB SSD, 16gb of RAM, and an i7 processor), and my 2011 MBP is running out of storage. What if 2016's model is much better? I just don't know! I am incredibly torn.

Any suggestions or ideas? Reassure me or talk down my purchasing decision.

Many thanks!
 
KoolAid-Drink said:
My aging 2011 MBP is still working well, but I'm tired of it and want a change. However, I can live with the 2011 MBP.
Click to expand...

I think this is your answer right here. If your old Mac still does the things you need it to do, you don't need an upgrade.

Any suggestions or ideas?
Click to expand...

The i7 upgrade is a waste of money and if you don't NEED 16GB RAM, so is that upgrade.

Check out the refurbs on Apple.com, you may find a comparable model for less.
 
T5BRICK said:
I think this is your answer right here. If your old Mac still does the things you need it to do, you don't need an upgrade.



The i7 upgrade is a waste of money and if you don't NEED 16GB RAM, so is that upgrade.

Check out the refurbs on Apple.com, you may find a comparable model for less.
Click to expand...

The funny thing is, if I try making it 8gb, it will actually become more expensive. Try it for yourself at the link I included above.
 
If you get the 512Gb SSD, it's $1999

That's a HUGE savings, and possibly 512Gb is more than enough
 
KoolAid-Drink said:
The funny thing is, if I try making it 8gb, it will actually become more expensive. Try it for yourself at the link I included above.
Click to expand...

It looks like they've got a special on the config you purchased, it's not a BAD deal. I'm just saying that the upgrades that you picked aren't necessary worth the standard upgrade cost.

Check out refurb.me and watch for the models you're interested in. You can even setup alerts so you're notified when the model you want is in stock.
 
Any other thoughts? I'm really torn on this. Looks like the 2015 rMBP 13' doesn't have an user-replaceable SSD unless warranty is void (and I plan to get AppleCare).
 
Return it unless portability is paramount, and you need is urgent. Apple`s in-house upgrades have ridiculous margins, you would be far better served with a base 15" it will be faster, save you $500 at the cost of storage, and let`s be straight about it media is the storage hog for the vast majority, or look at the stock 512 SSD 13" @ $1800

In effect your saving very little, just a couple of hundred $ on an EOL product as the 2016 Skylake models will be significantly improved; display, audio, battery life, iGPU performance, new design (highly likely)

Q-6
 
OP, I think you're over-paying for an over-provisioned computers and should return it. 2,450 for a dual core 13" rMBP is a bit much imo. I think you may be served with the 15" rMBP

Do you really need a TB of storage or is that for possible future utilization?
 
maflynn said:
OP, I think you're over-paying for an over-provisioned computers and should return it. 2,450 for a dual core 13" rMBP is a bit much imo. I think you may be served with the 15" rMBP

Do you really need a TB of storage or is that for possible future utilization?
Click to expand...

Just curious, from your perspective, why do you think I am overpaying? The price would ordinarily be $2,699, and that's not including tax. Even the education discount would be only $100 off, so $2599 plus shipping. $2,449 with no sales tax, and with free expedited shipping, for a top of the line model that normally costs $2,699 PLUS $150-200ish in taxes really seems like a sweet deal to me.

Plus, I tried reducing the RAM to 8GB (as that's all I'd really need), and the price actually jumped!

As for the TB, future utilization. I have a lot of ripped DVDs and photos/videos saved up.
 
For 2,449 you get a 13" dual core computer running the Iris iGPU with 16GB of ram and 1TB of storage.
Conversely if you opt for the 15" rMBP, you get a quad core computer with the Iris Pro GPU, 16GB of ram, and if you throw in the 1 TB drive you pay 2,800 (only 350 over what you're paying). If you get a 512GB SSD that drops the price of the 15" MBP to 2,300.
In either case (the 1 TB or 512GB drive), you get a larger display, more powerful CPU, and a better iGPU

If you opt for the high end stock 15" MBP you pay 2,500 and for that you get 512GB SSD, and the dGPU.

Basically you're getting more bang for your buck with the 15" MBP.
 
The maxed out 13" rMBP is the worst value in the history of computers. Return it and get your money back while you can.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Queen6
If I was willing to spend $2449, I would get the refurb 15" $2119 16gb/512gb 2015 model and put together a 1TB ssd external. The samsung 1tb 850 evo on Amazon is $350 and a Inateck enclosure is $15.
 
KoolAid-Drink said:
Curious, why is it the worst value?
Click to expand...

Too many BTO upgrades offer worse and worse value. For example, for $2500 you could get the 15" which isn't much heavier and offers a quad core processor and a dGPU. After the $1800 mark you are paying the same for less performance. Same goes for the MBA. After one BTO, you are paying the same price for MBA as the 13" rMBP with a worse screen and worse performance.
 
I've decided to try and cancel the order as UPS shows it as processing/waiting for the shipper. B&H said they might be able to cancel the shipment and give me a full refund right there on the spot. Let's see.

I'm really bummed about this, but the more I think about it, the more I realized I may be better off just waiting until 2016 and seeing what comes up then. Good deals will always come and go.
 
A bit pricey for a 13 inch. I paid less for my 15 inch. Half the SSD space, but then again, my laptop came with a free 1TB external hard drive :D
 
KoolAid-Drink said:
Curious, why is it the worst value?
Click to expand...

As stated Apple hikes up it`s margins massively on upgrades, greater Apple Tax if you will. For this money you can get a much better computer including a Mac, or you can save yourself a good chunk of cash, by buying one of the stock configured models.

Basically it`s a mechanism for Apple to standardise it`s lineups, yet still be able to offer build flexibility, equally it could be construed as sheer greed, "scalping" those that absolutely require a higher technical spec.

Q-6
 
I fancied the 13", but it's performance compared to the 15" I had earlier was a real disappointed. So I traded the 13" for a rMB 12. The bulky chassis doesn't really bring much to the table regarding portability between the 13 and the 15. Would rather go for 15" if I was to go Pro.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back