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What's wrong with the non-retna MacBook Pro?

W

whytwofor

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 28, 2015
2
0
Hey folks,

If I don't care about the retna display, why shouldn't I spend less and get the non-retna MacBookPro?

The buyers guide says do not buy, but I'd like to save a few hundred dollars if I don't care about the retna display.

What's the downside of saving the money and getting the cheaper MacBookPro? Your guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks!
 
If you don't need the retina display then why not get a MacBook air and upgrade the specs.

The old MacBook will run slower becuase it has a HDD rather than the new SSD which trust me is enough reason to leave it alone!
 
The non-retina MBP is only offered in the 13 inch variety. If you don't need the display, get the air. If you need the power, get a 13 or 15 rMBP.

The nrMBP doesn't give you worst of both worlds unless the lowest price is the number 1 priority.
 
The issue is you're spending over a thousand bucks on a chipset that is over 3 years old. While you get ports and expansion, you're paying a premium on a chipset that is old.
 
Thanks for the feedback!

Aaaahhh! That makes sense. Thank you folks for the help. I think I'll spend the extra dough on rMBP. I didn't realize the chips/hardware was a substantial negative.

THANKS!
 
The 13" cMBP was a good computer in 2012. Since then, it has not been updated so its hardware is outdated yet the price hasn't changed significantly.

I could recommend a 13" cMBP for $799, but not for $1,099. Some $600-700 Windows notebooks have a higher-res screen, better CPU, more RAM, more storage and better graphics.

If we consider the specs to be equivalent to a $600 Windows laptop, then I think it's fair to pay a $200 premium for OS X and good build quality/trackpad, but paying a $500 premium is kind of ridiculous.

Both the MacBook Air and Retina MacBook Pro are priced more competitively for the tech they pack.

Some people are still interested in the 13" cMBP because it's upgradeable and has a disc drive. Given how overpriced it is I don't think the tradeoff is worth it, you'd be better just saving a little more to get an upgraded MBA/rMBP for future-proofness.
 
Here the non-r mbp can be had for 800 - 900€.
It has the cheap RAM and storage upgrade option, a superdrive / optibay, ports and is proven and reliable.
IMO it's not a bad deal at all.
 
dunno about the 'bad deal' part, but i'd love to see it have its internals and display upgraded to whatever is in the 'retina' thing but retaining the same form factor.

it's dated, that's a fact...
 
Old, slow and heavy.

You can put an SSD in it and more RAM but then it's just old and heavy.
 
Nothing wrong with the cMBP itself. The problem is with the pricing for a 'new' one. You're paying current $ for yesterday's technology.
 
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