To 256GB and 512GB Retina MBP Buyers - Which One You Buy?

[Zeov]

gonna get

2.6 GHz
16GB RAM
768GB Flash

 

[MrD1sturbed]

Since the RMBP has USB 3.0 support, I will most likely go with the 256gb option to start. I can grab a cheap external for data storage. My biggest issue is 8 or 16 for ram.

 

[KandyKane]

I just ordered the base model with 16GB ram.
I only have 128GB in my MBA at the moment and while sometimes I'm frantically looking for stuff to delete (bloody iPhone & iPad backups), most of the time it's fine. All my media and larger files are on the networked drives on TC or AEBS.

 

[gekoo]

For going dual OS. Incoming Mountain Lion and Windows 7. Will that actually be enough to hold both OS up in a 256 GB Flash?
On my current PC laptop I got 160gb SSD and using 102gb out of 148GB storage (I can certainly clean a few programs out and go down to 60gb).
Is it possible for me to go dual OS on this machine with only 256GB flash storage u think?

Planning on using Windows for my adobe, word some games. And using Mac for music, small video editing, programming.

To go all the way to 512GB is a stretch but affordable.

I have a 2tb usb3 external also, might be able to store all my work in that instead.

 

[jonnymo5]

256GB is plenty for me. I'm going to keep the laptop lean and mean. I have a MP at home to be the storage mule. I spent my extra money on memory. I can always connect a TB or USB3 disk but I can't plug in an extra stick of RAM.

 

[mellofello]

Luckily I bought a few 2 tb USB 3 drives so I am going with 256 gb. I tend to only keep the bare minimum on my laptops. I still have 70 gb free on my 128 gb MBA that this will replace. With spotify and iTunes match all I need to worry about are my photos which will also probably live in the cloud by next year.

 

[leenak]

For going dual OS. Incoming Mountain Lion and Windows 7. Will that actually be enough to hold both OS up in a 256 GB Flash?
On my current PC laptop I got 160gb SSD and using 102gb out of 148GB storage (I can certainly clean a few programs out and go down to 60gb).
Is it possible for me to go dual OS on this machine with only 256GB flash storage u think?

Planning on using Windows for my adobe, word some games. And using Mac for music, small video editing, programming.

To go all the way to 512GB is a stretch but affordable.

I have a 2tb usb3 external also, might be able to store all my work in that instead.

I think it is doable but you'll just be doing a bit more juggling. There are also some mentions that retina-enabled applications may require more space. It also depends what programs you are using and how much space they take. You also have to consider your current needs and your future needs. I think 256 is doable but again, just need to juggle space

 

[bobr1952]

Considering my 4+ year old iMac has used less than 100GB of the 500GM drive, I think the 256 option will be just fine.

 

[Rudy69]

Your choices are crap. I'm getting 256 because I still over about 50GB free on my 128 in my MBA

 

[hi-there]

ifixit.com found that both SSD and RAM in the retina display MBP can NOT BE UPGRADED after purchase so choose wisely. SSD is proprietary drive and RAM is soldered onto the logic board.

I went with 768GB.

 

[hi-there]

...another thing about storage consumption. Unless you are not planning to upgrade anything else, we are more likely to use up larger storage space in the future then in the past. It. Digital camera files are getting bigger so every year, we will need more space.

 

[Tibits]

I'm not sure if an aftermarket solution would be cheaper. The OWC 480GB (not even 512GB) blade SSDs for the Macbook Air (similar in type to the new MBP), $759 or $795 depending on the model. The 512GB model MBP is $600 more and includes a faster processor as well.

Thank you! All of the "aftermarket will be cheaper" BS is beginning to give me a headache.

 

[stevelam]

Hey,

just curious which one you chose there. I myself will go with the base model 256GB, though I would have preferred 512GB for the long run.

Enjoy!

i'm sticking with 256gb. all of my music/media is stored in the cloud somewhere ready to stream to wherever i am. i've been surviving just fine with 160gb in my 2008 macbook.

 

[bobr1952]

...another thing about storage consumption. Unless you are not planning to upgrade anything else, we are more likely to use up larger storage space in the future then in the past. It. Digital camera files are getting bigger so every year, we will need more space.

Not true if you store elsewhere be it in the cloud or on external drives. Your drive usage may actually go down in the future.

 

[bniu]

I vote 768! I have 512GB in my 2011 MBP and i'm already running out of space. I need at least 1 TB!!!

btw, how is a 768 SSD built?

I can see with a 256, you'd have say 16 16GB chips fully covering both sides, for 512, you'd use 16 32GB chips, but what do you do for a 768?

Chips only come in powers of 2, is it 8 64GB chips with 8 32GB chips? Why not just do 16 64GB chips?

 

[TJC PE]

Middle ground 2.6 with 512ssd and 16 gb RAM

Just ordered what for me is great middle ground:

- went with the slightly faster processor 2.6 CPU
yes needed to pay $600 more but CPU goes from 2.3 to 2.6
AND THE SSD goes from 256 gb SSD to 512 gb.

The bump in SSD alone is worth about $600 or $700 IF it could be bought aftermarket from OWC. No telling when the aftermarket SSD upgrade might be available, but likely 2 months or more. Besides, with the retina display and all this new technology tightly packaged in a whole new configuration, I don't want any deniability on any warranty work or AppleCare claims due to third party SSD. Nothing wrong with OWC as a company, just don't want to risk it and why wait a few months to buy the SSD I want from aftermarket when I can get it right now from Apple at a very reasonable price?

- maxed out with the16 gb RAM ($200 more but can't upgrade later!)

- Couldn't justify spending $250 for the small bump in CPU from 2.6 to 2.7
- Couldn't justify spending $500 more for the bump in SSD from 512 to 768gb

So this splits the middle quite nicely:

-Base Entry Model: 2.3 CPU, 8gb RAM, 256 gb SSD = $2,199
(great lightweight 15 inch MacBook Pro with Retina display)

-My Custom Model: 2.6 CPU, 16gb RAM, 512 gb SSD = $2,999
($800 more for a lot of good stuff)

-MAX Model: 2.7 CPU, 16 gb RAM, 768 gb SSD = $3,749
($750 more for some relatively small incremental gains in practical function)

Your mileage may vary, but I really think this hits the sweet spot, and may turn out to be one of the most common BTO configurations!

 

[bniu]

-MAX Model Refurbished: 2.7 CPU, 16 gb RAM, 768 gb SSD = $3,199

Now that's more reasonable, eh?

 

[TJC PE]

MAX Model Refurbished: 2.7 CPU, 16 gb RAM, 768 gb SSD = $3,199

So- when do you think the referbished will start to show up?

 

[jeopardy2311]

Just ordered what for me is great middle ground:

- went with the slightly faster processor 2.6 CPU
yes needed to pay $600 more but CPU goes from 2.3 to 2.6
AND THE SSD goes from 256 gb SSD to 512 gb.

The bump in SSD alone is worth about $600 or $700 IF it could be bought aftermarket from OWC. No telling when the aftermarket SSD upgrade might be available, but likely 2 months or more. Besides, with the retina display and all this new technology tightly packaged in a whole new configuration, I don't want any deniability on any warranty work or AppleCare claims due to third party SSD. Nothing wrong with OWC as a company, just don't want to risk it and why wait a few months to buy the SSD I want from aftermarket when I can get it right now from Apple at a very reasonable price?

- maxed out with the16 gb RAM ($200 more but can't upgrade later!)

- Couldn't justify spending $250 for the small bump in CPU from 2.6 to 2.7
- Couldn't justify spending $500 more for the bump in SSD from 512 to 768gb

So this splits the middle quite nicely:

-Base Entry Model: 2.3 CPU, 8gb RAM, 256 gb SSD = $2,199
(great lightweight 15 inch MacBook Pro with Retina display)

-My Custom Model: 2.6 CPU, 16gb RAM, 512 gb SSD = $2,999
($800 more for a lot of good stuff)

-MAX Model: 2.7 CPU, 16 gb RAM, 768 gb SSD = $3,749
($750 more for some relatively small incremental gains in practical function)

Your mileage may vary, but I really think this hits the sweet spot, and may turn out to be one of the most common BTO configurations!

I agree with you. I will most probably get the same configuration. Just a bit concerned about the lag some are talking about

 

[Rizzm]

I just can't see who needs more than 256GB of drive storage, unless you work with large files like high-res images or video. Anyone else should be fine, but maybe I'm ignorant.

I'm opting for 256GB SSD and 16GB of RAM. Light storage, but heavy multi-tasking with future coding/programming and hobby music production.

Also, there was no "256GB and happy" option as many mentioned, so I didn't vote in your biased, condescending poll.

 

[alphaod]

None cause I can't justify the 768GB upgrade which is what I want if I were to buy this Mac.

There are other needs to fulfill like a new Mac Pro...

 

[leenak]

Your mileage may vary, but I really think this hits the sweet spot, and may turn out to be one of the most common BTO configurations!

Maybe that is why it seems none of ours with this configuration have had our units ship

I agree with your assessment though which is why I made the same decision.

 

[dccorona]

why no option for "256gb is plenty for my needs"

or

"i have boxes of fast external hard drives lying around, and piles of massive flashdrives, not to mention more cloud storage than I know what to do with. 265gb of local storage is more than enough"

 

[hi-there]

Not true if you store elsewhere be it in the cloud or on external drives. Your drive usage may actually go down in the future.

I have Drobo with 7TB storage but I still want to work off the local drive for faster response. As for the cloud solution, in Australia, we get a shocking upload speed at the moment so not many people will be uploading RAW files to the cloud. One day!