Thinking about upgrading MBA to rMBP in a few months: 256 vs 512?

[JerTheGeek]

Hello all. I'm currently planning to upgrade my MBA 13" (2014) to a 2015 refurb 13" rMBP in a few months. I'm mostly doing this so I have more power for the future, since I plan on using this eventually for college and possibly more intense video editing than what I do now for my YouTube channel in iMovie. I currently have 256GB, with 50GB free. Will it be worth it to get the 512gb model for almost $300 more? Main thing that will be added is pictures and video.
Also, are there supposed/rumored to be new rMBPs released at the event next week? If so, will the prices of the 2015 refurb models go down?
Thanks!

 

[Closingracer]

IMHO if you can afford it get. Rather have it then not

 

[glenthompson]

Unless you like carrying around an external drive all the time it's better to get the larger SSD. Video can eat up a lot of space quickly.

 

[MacRazySwe]

To be honest, I'm not sure how much of a performance increase you will gain by moving from a 13" MBA to a 13" rMBP. I went from a Mid-2011 Sandy Bridge 13" MBA (4GB RAM) to a Late-2013 Haswell 13" rMBP (8GB RAM). If anything, in day to day use the MBA actually feels (felt..) a bit "snappier", as it doesn't have to push those 2560x1600 pixels. The rMBP can sometimes show slight UI lag, especially when scrolling through large PDFs or using pinch-to-zoom in Safari for example. The MBA had none of those issues. Just so you're aware.

Of course, video editing and such processor-intensive tasks may save you a minute or two here and there in iMovie and Final Cut I'm guessing, using a 13" rMBP instead of the MBA.

The reason I updated was mainly for the Retina display, and I needed additional storage. If you're serious about video-editing I think a 15" rMBP makes more sense, with its Quad-Core processor it will be worth the upgrade.

 

[JerTheGeek]

To be honest, I'm not sure how much of a performance increase you will gain by moving from a 13" MBA to a 13" rMBP. I went from a Mid-2011 Sandy Bridge 13" MBA (4GB RAM) to a Late-2013 Haswell 13" rMBP (8GB RAM). If anything, in day to day use the MBA actually feels (felt..) a bit "snappier", as it doesn't have to push those 2560x1600 pixels. The rMBP can sometimes show slight UI lag, especially when scrolling through large PDFs or using pinch-to-zoom in Safari for example. The MBA had none of those issues. Just so you're aware.

Of course, video editing and such processor-intensive tasks may save you a minute or two here and there in iMovie and Final Cut I'm guessing, using a 13" rMBP instead of the MBA.

The reason I updated was mainly for the Retina display, and I needed additional storage. If you're serious about video-editing I think a 15" rMBP makes more sense, with its Quad-Core processor it will be worth the upgrade.

Thanks for the input, I'm wanting to upgrade to the rMBP for the same reasons you mentioned: Retina display and more storage, I really think the 512gb will be beneficial. The 15 inch is just out of my price range, and I also like the 13" form factor as it is still easily carried around the house when needed.

 

[skiltrip]

I just got a new 15" rMBP and went 256GB simply because the 512GB was out of the question in regards to price.

If I had the extra $300-400 I would've sprung for the 512.

Honestly though, I'm done installing all my audio software and sample libraries and I still have 165GB free so I'm pretty happy I saved the money.

Only you know what you truly need. I had a feeling I'd be fine with 256GB and I was right.

If you need some extra "internal" storage that's not drivespeed critical (like iTunes libraries or basic documents) take a look at the Transcend Jetdrive Lite. It sits flush in your SD card slot. 128GB card is about $60-65. 256GB card is about $135.

 

[JerTheGeek]

I just got a new 15" rMBP and went 256GB simply because the 512GB was out of the question in regards to price.

If I had the extra $300-400 I would've sprung for the 512.

Honestly though, I'm done installing all my audio software and sample libraries and I still have 165GB free so I'm pretty happy I saved the money.

Only you know what you truly need. I had a feeling I'd be fine with 256GB and I was right.

If you need some extra "internal" storage that's not drivespeed critical (like iTunes libraries or basic documents) take a look at the Transcend Jetdrive Lite. It sits flush in your SD card slot. 128GB card is about $60-65. 256GB card is about $135.

I saw that Jetdrive the other day, and while it definitely is nice, I think it'd be an annoyance constantly having to remove it whenever I import video or pictures from my cam. I like everything on the same drive.

 

[skiltrip]

I saw that Jetdrive the other day, and while it definitely is nice, I think it'd be an annoyance constantly having to remove it whenever I import video or pictures from my cam. I like everything on the same drive.

I totally get that. I don't generally use the SD Card slot for anything, so for me, it's a great solution. The SD card slot is otherwise wasted for my use.

If I was importing video and images all the time, I'd definitely do what I could to get the extra safety net of 512GB.

I primarily use my rMBP for audio recording, which isn't THAT demanding storage-wise. I'll be keeping my iTunes library on the JetDrive Lite just to get that extra 60GB off my main SSD.

Good luck in whatever your decision is, and have fun with that new computer once you finally get it. I LOVE my rMRP. I am coming from a 2011 MBP 15". Nice improvements all around compared to what I had.

 

[JerTheGeek]

Good luck in whatever your decision is, and have fun with that new computer once you finally get it. I LOVE my rMRP. I am coming from a 2011 MBP 15". Nice improvements all around compared to what I had.

Thanks! I'm definitely excited to get it in a few months. Hopefully Apple releases new rMBPs on Monday and the prices on the refurb 2015 models go down by around $100, that way I should be able to afford the 512gb.

 

[Ace2617]

I'll be making a similar move within hopefully the next month or two. I love my MacBook Air but the screen size, 11" has just become too small. Also I'd like to get into video editing, so I'll be getting a rMBP. I'm also debating between 512 gb or 256 gb. My MacBook Air has 256 and it's fine, but I don't do any serious editing on it. I may spring for 512 GB if I can. This was a helpful thread

 

[JerTheGeek]

I'll be making a similar move within hopefully the next month or two. I love my MacBook Air but the screen size, 11" has just become too small. Also I'd like to get into video editing, so I'll be getting a rMBP. I'm also debating between 512 gb or 256 gb. My MacBook Air has 256 and it's fine, but I don't do any serious editing on it. I may spring for 512 GB if I can. This was a helpful thread

Sounds like we are in the same position! I had the 11 inch Air before I got the 13 inch, but I also thought the screen was a bit too small, though I really did like it, very convenient size to use just about anywhere.
My 13 inch Air is fine for editing in iMovie, but the 4gb of ram I can tell isn't enough, as I experience some stuttering when editing. Anyway, I've decided to go for the 512 GB 13" rMBP, I want to have the storage and performance for a good long while.

 

[617aircav]

The key is to get the most you can afford. That way no regrets. I wanted a surface 4 with 16gb of ram but it was way to expensive so I bough the best I could afford.

 

[Trahearne]

To be honest, you can get a portable USB3 512GB SSD for less than $300 nowadays. So I would suggest looking thoroughly into your collections, and figuring out how large the working set actually is. You can always archive stuff to a secondary drive, say old videos and old footages. But of course, if you don't like managing stuff and really want (need?) to have everything at your hands, it is your money after all.

 

[JerTheGeek]

To be honest, you can get a portable USB3 512GB SSD for less than $300 nowadays. So I would suggest looking thoroughly into your collections, and figuring out how large the working set actually is. You can always archive stuff to a secondary drive, say old videos and old footages. But of course, if you don't like managing stuff and really want (need?) to have everything at your hands, it is your money after all.

Well, I generally don't keep old footage and if I do I have a 500gb HDD that I also use for time machine backups. What takes up a lot of my space is old photos, I have a whole library that takes up a lot (in addition to my smaller iCloud Phot Library). I could make a separate library of older photos to put on a drive but I'm not sure if i want to do that. I should be able to get the 512gb, cause I know if I can afford it, it'll be worth it. However if it ends up being too expensive at least I know that I could make it work.

 

[applesith]

In a few months...the pricing and configurations will hopefully be different/better, as we are vey due for a refresh. Even if you aren't looking to buy the latest, a refresh will push down prices of the current lineup.

Either way, getting the most you can afford is the best route.

 

[JerTheGeek]

In a few months...the pricing and configurations will hopefully be different/better, as we are vey due for a refresh. Even if you aren't looking to buy the latest, a refresh will push down prices of the current lineup.

Either way, getting the most you can afford is the best route.

Yeah exactly, hopefully some new rMBPs are released on Monday, and the refurb prices go down on the 2015 models.

 

[Ace2617]

Sounds like we are in the same position! I had the 11 inch Air before I got the 13 inch, but I also thought the screen was a bit too small, though I really did like it, very convenient size to use just about anywhere.
My 13 inch Air is fine for editing in iMovie, but the 4gb of ram I can tell isn't enough, as I experience some stuttering when editing. Anyway, I've decided to go for the 512 GB 13" rMBP, I want to have the storage and performance for a good long while.

Oh nice! Yeah, I loved the small form factor of the 11" when I bought it, and the portability is still nice, but I just feel like it's getting harder on my eyes. I think the upgrade to not only the 13" screen, but the stunning Retina display, will be very nice. Congrats on your decision! I hope to have one of my own very soon lol

 

[h00ligan]

Just remember most video and photo apps have no issue with secondary drive storage.

Lightroom for example - so long as you import with the smart preview function on you don't need to even have he drive with files attached. Just alter them and t updates when the drive is connected. I'm not big into video yet but in sure external drives are fine. And external ssd are cheaper and usable when you upgrade to even more space.

As for me I store a lot of stuff on my synology NAS and I'm debating the same thing. I feel 256 is OK for me using the NAS to store stuff but 512 while much unused for now would set for the future. Plus video files in he get huge.

 

[JerTheGeek]

Just remember most video and photo apps have no issue with secondary drive storage.

Lightroom for example - so long as you import with the smart preview function on you don't need to even have he drive with files attached. Just alter them and t updates when the drive is connected. I'm not big into video yet but in sure external drives are fine. And external ssd are cheaper and usable when you upgrade to even more space.

As for me I store a lot of stuff on my synology NAS and I'm debating the same thing. I feel 256 is OK for me using the NAS to store stuff but 512 while much unused for now would set for the future. Plus video files in he get huge.

Yep, video piles up real fast. I do think I'll spring for the 512GB cause i think i can afford it; however i think ill miss my Air's design! I really love it. But i know the retina screen will be great.

 

[JerTheGeek]

Anyone think I should wait for 2016 refurbs? Will they be worth it? Is the 2016 Pro supposed to come at WWDC? I'm thinking I can hold off upgrading my Air for a while.