I think OP should go back to Windows. It is cheap to buy Windows stuff and Windows is easy to fix yourself. MBP cost more than 2000 and you have issues compared to Compaq notebook costs to buy 450.00 and can be fix for a little of 150 .Think about it.![]()
Compaq. EWWWWWWWWWWW.I think OP should go back to Windows. It is cheap to buy Windows stuff and Windows is easy to fix yourself. MBP cost more than 2000 and you have issues compared to Compaq notebook costs to buy 450.00 and can be fix for a little of 150 .Think about it.![]()
Compaq. EWWWWWWWWWWW.

I would strongly suggest the MacBook Pro with Retina display. Have you seen or used one? I upgraded from an early-2011 15" MacBook Pro and it was a HUGE upgrade.
To give you an idea of how much I love it: I've had the machine for a year and to this day, I am still totally amazed by how awesome it is. The incredible display... the thinness and light weight, the superior cooling system and so on. It's truly brilliant.
Thanks for the response MarcBook, the retina does sound awesome I'm definitely leaning towards it at the moment!
Unfortunately I've not had a chance to use one just yet but was planning to visit the local Apple Store for a look in the next few days - I've checked out some YouTube videos and the only slight concern that I have is that ill be losing the Antiglare Screen on my Mid 2012 CMBP... Is there a noticeable difference between Antiglare and the Retina Screen? Or do you feel that the quality of the picture / strength of the machine outweighs any glare issues?
I dont want to ignite a Windows vs Mac war but for what I want I could use some guidance from the more experienced users. If its best to stick with Mac for the stuff that I want then thats what I'll do however if based on the issues that I've had / money and cost of another system with higher specs will be a better option then this is something I'll consider!

Thanks everyone for all of the responses so far;
I'll be heading to an Apple Store for a quick little look at the screen difference after work this evening and will be hoping to make a final decision tomorrow;
If anyone else has any experience of the Retina MacBook Pro's vs the Classics and can give me any further info/advice or any pros/cons that would be great 🙂
As mentioned, spec wise the Retina they have offered me will blow the Classic out of the water + they will be giving me a SuperDrive as well so I wont really be losing the DVD/CD Drive which is excellent;
Due to the upgraded specs of the Retina I can only assume that Video, Music and Photography applications will run much better and that gaming will also be improved (Although the GFX card is the same)... If I ever want to get back into heavy gaming then I'll probably review Thunderbolt eGPU options but gaming isnt my main concern right now 🙂
The main thing that is slightly holding me back is that I'm not sure of the difference of glare between the Antiglare Screens and the Retina but I will look into this further this evening!
Any other info/advice until then would be great!
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***EDIT***
Also, as someone stated previously I could always sell the system for a profit should it not work out however I'd like to get the right system the first time around rather than getting the wrong one and having to sell it etc;
take it! if u dont like it u can sell it for a profit 😛
They have offered me...
MacBook Pro Retina Display
Hardware
2.8GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz
16GB 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM
512GB Flash Storage
Backlit Keyboard (British) & User's Guide (English)
Accessory Kit
Apple USB SuperDrive (Separate)
Software
iLife '11
OS X Mountain Lion
I find it interesting that people are claiming that the rMBP has virtually no glare and isn't far off from the cMBP hires antiglare or that the glare isn't as bad as the glossy display.
No offense, but I think that's a bunch of hooey. I, too, have both and there's a HUGE difference in glare between the two.
https://picasaweb.google.com/103816...&authkey=Gv1sRgCNWXgbubtayMSA&feat=directlink
Hey 🙂
Just noticed you've got a Retina that is of similar spec to the one I've been offered!
Which machine did you have prior to the Retina and how are you finding it so far?![]()
Forgetting the facts is hasn't got an antiglare screen/DVD drive - have you got any complaints with the retina?
See you erase the update you gave a while ago that Mac is offering now a lower grade rMBP. What happened?
While I was only seeking additional advice from you guys I didn't think it was too fair to Apple to be publicly discussing it + I didn't want to get drag the thread on longer than required but unfortunately just as I thought there was a resolution - the goal posts have been changed;
The situation as it stands is that they have outright said that the initial MacBook Pro Retina spec they offered me was a mistake and due to the huge increase in terms of spec / cost they simply cannot offer it to me.
I'm going to be reviewing my options tomorrow however I'm currently left with;
1) Return for Refund (Will not get a like for like system for the same money as it was purchased during Apple Xmas Sales and on 0% Finance)
2) Potentially return for an upgraded Classic MacBook Pro although this has not been discussed yet
3) Take their new offer which would be a 15" Early 2013 Retina MacBook Pro, 256GB SSD, 16GB and 2.7GHz processor
The 3rd option is the best I could get from them as I stated that any of the other options they presented me with would have resulted in me incurring some kind of loss in either CPU, RAM or HDD space and capacity. I mentioned that the key issue is that they are trying to offer me a Retina system which may be well specced but cannot be upgraded later on so I will be stuck with whichever upgrade I would have chosen for good.
I'm going to have a little think about things through the week and have an update with the Apple Representative on Saturday;
What's your thoughts?
From your previous posting (erased) understood you could ask for an upgrade on either speed (2.8), memory (16GB) or hard drive (512gb). I think out of the 3, would take the 512GB SDD option since is the best bang for the buck. If they allow you to pay extra and have 2, would suggest you take the 512GB through them and pay the $200 extra fee (if remember correctly, that is the cost at order) for the 16GB RAM. I
While that would be great if it was possible it would mean I would have paid an extra £200 which I'm not too sure I want to do at the moment;
I'm curious to know why you would have chosen the SSD over the 2.8GHz as at least with the SSD I can get an external HDD/SSD. Should I opt for the SSD it would mean going from my current 2.6GHz machine to 2.4GHz;
My thinking was that If I could secure almost top specs with regards to Processor and RAM (2.7GHz and 16GB RAM) the HDD/SSD wouldn't be an issue as I could get an external one or am I looking at things all wrong?