Want rMBP but which and when?

[Tomr182]

Finally signed up after reading for last few weeks all in the interesting posts.

I have a white macbook late 2007 that's been going strong for over 6 years now but is feeling dated given I can't upgrade it anymore and OSX wise it's maxed out. I have self upgraded the ram and HDD.

I will use a new MBP for usual email, internet, docs etc but also photo editing and music recording - neither professional, but I don't want to be held back by hardware. I also want this to last me another 5-6 years.

My questions really are

who has done photo editing and/or music recording and what specs would you recommend? And what experiences have you had good/bad? I don't want to restrict how many tracks I can use other than 8-10, or suffer big latency issues, likewise I don't want to wait all day to edit a photo.

When is the time to buy? I'm not in a particular rush, as I don't NEED it yet.

Any thoughts and insights welcome

 

[Bending Pixels]

I just upgraded from a 2010 MBP to a new 15" rMBP. I chose the stock higher end model (2.3GHz i7/16GB RAM/512GB SSD).

I'm running Photoshop CC, Lightroom 5, Aperture, Nik and onOne plugins. 3D in PS CC screams. The separate nVidia 750 w/ 2GB video RAM really helps with PS CC and the plugins.

 

[Qaanol]

Pick the size you like, 13.3″ or 15.4″, and get the base CPU with 8 GB RAM and a 256 GB SSD. Buy refurbished to save several hundred dollars.

If you want it now, get it now. You could also wait until June to see if a minor spec bump is released, which might lower the refurb prices on the current generation.

 

[Hieveryone]

1. Wait a few months till the next gen

2. 15" model that comes dedicated graphics. Everything else will be top notch with the model with NVIDIA.

 

[Tomr182]

Thanks for the input guys, 2 different points of view. I think I'm on 13" middle model on spec/cost and what I think I'll actually need in the coming years.

I would love to hold out, but spec bump probably won't give much performance increase, and broadwell seems to be delayed and delayed, I don't want to wait 6+ months even though I'm not in a hurry.

 

[The Mercurian]

Thanks for the input guys, 2 different points of view. I think I'm on 13" middle model on spec/cost and what I think I'll actually need in the coming years.

If you go 13" the mid spec is probably the one to go for - the top end one costs alot extra for little gain. But I guess your main question is do you need 15" screen ? You say you will do photo editing - is this something you were doing on your 2007 machine ? Is it new for you ? If you want to do high level maybe your want 15". If you don't intend doing more intensive stuff than even a macbook air would seem amazing compared to your 2007 whitebook. So probably the 13" MBPro is a good middle ground.

I would love to hold out, but spec bump probably won't give much performance increase, and broadwell seems to be delayed and delayed, I don't want to wait 6+ months even though I'm not in a hurry.

I hear ya on this!

 

[Tomr182]

Have been doing amateur photography for a few years now so kinda know what I want to do, same with music, just need a revamp to get modern and secure me for a few years to come

Thanks for the feedback, agree totally on the cost per spec thing too

 

[The Mercurian]

Have been doing amateur photography for a few years now so kinda know what I want to do, same with music, just need a revamp to get modern and secure me for a few years to come

Thanks for the feedback, agree totally on the cost per spec thing too

Also - could be worth waiting to see if this rumoured 12" macbook air materializes at WWDC in June.

 

[Badrottie]

Also - could be worth waiting to see if this rumoured 12" macbook air materializes at WWDC in June.

12"?? I think you are talking about iPad Pro/Maxi running OSX Maverick?

 

[dalupus]

12"?? I think you are talking about iPad Pro/Maxi running OSX Maverick?

no he is talking about the rumored fanless 12" macbook air

For the OP
I would go to a store or a best buy and try out the sizes and weights of the different machines. I'm not positive but I think the 15" rMBP may be lighter than the 13" you have now. Since you seem to keep your machines for a long time I think it is probably worth it to max out whatever you get.

When you are keeping machines for 5+ years we are talking about less than a happy meal a month difference.

edit-- and whatever you do max out the ssd, you are going to need it to make that machine last.

 

[MCAsan]

but I don't want to be held back by hardware. I also want this to last me another 5-6 years.

Maxed out rMBP that is refurbed for $500 off, still with 1 year warranty and eligible for AppleCare.