I think that sounds like a good strategy, especially since Apple always does some sort of promotion for education customers in the summer that might make the deal even sweeter.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
When should I buy?
- Thread starter Bm96
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I think that sounds like a good strategy, especially since Apple always does some sort of promotion for education customers in the summer that might make the deal even sweeter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey everyone, I'm bumping this thread from a while ago! I will be going to school sometime late August and am unsure when the heck these new Retina MBP's will be rolling in. I'm reading sometime in September or October? That would obviously be too late.
Should I go ahead and buy one now?
Hey everyone, I'm bumping this thread from a while ago! I will be going to school sometime late August and am unsure when the heck these new Retina MBP's will be rolling in. I'm reading sometime in September or October? That would obviously be too late.
Should I go ahead and buy one now?
You're kidding, right?
You're basically saying "If you don't see something wrong with your display, something is wrong with you."
That's ridiculous, and insulting. Just because you're bitter over something it doesn't mean it's everyone's experience.
Going by your absurd opinion, there must widespread vision impairment going around, as there are literally millions of Retina MacBook Pros out there. Even if every single post in the 600 page topic you reference is a different user complaining about the issue, that's only 6000. Out of a conservative 6,000,000 Retina MacBook Pros. I hate to burst the fantasy bubble you've put yourself in, but that is pretty damn far from "widespread".
The next Macbook Pro to be released is what I'm talking about. You know, the ones that get updated every year?
There is no rumors in the pipes that there will be a new macbook pro relased anytime soon.
Just this:
If you need it now, buy it. There will always be a newer version
The current generation ones were released around October 2013. The next update will be minor (about 0.1-0.2GHz bump) and will probably come around June 2 (WWDC season).
The next real upgrade (Broadwell and Maxwell) will only be around in 2015 at the earliest.
Ok, so do you guys think I should hold my horses for next month to see if they do any little updates? I know not to expect anything big but I just don't want to be purchasing something when there is literally something a bit better coming out in two weeks. I don't need it right now, but I would love it right now, and I know there will always be a better model.
Timeframe - now until August, purchasing the cheapest model pro 13" with Retina
Timeframe - now until August, purchasing the cheapest model pro 13" with Retina
The base 2013 model is available in the refurb store for $1100. That'll be your best bet, and save you the most. The alternative, even with an update, is essentially paying $200 more for 100mhz. To me that wasn't worth the wait or cost, so I bought my MBP a month ago with zero regrets. To you it might be, but I'd strongly recommend a refurb.
Yeah I was deciding on whether or not I should go with a refurb. I'm also looking at the student discount pricing, it's $100 less on each 13" model.
No one knows for sure, but one thing is known. Broadwell is delayed to the point where you'll not see a Broadwell based rMBP for some time. Since you're going to school late summer, why not wait until July to buy the MBP.
If there's a new one out then, great, if not, you didn't lose too much in waiting.
If you're going with a standard order, definitely use Student Pricing, and wait a bit for the back to school sale (likely August). That will either get you an extra device like an iPod Touch or a chunk of iTunes credit for free.
A student discount wasn't an option for me, so I just went with a refurb. Putting the savings towards a 27" Thunderbolt Display.
There isn't much on MBP rumors, but if you're going to school, at least wait until mid-June to take advantage of the back-to-school promos that Apple does. For the past few years, they've given you a $100 iTunes/App Store gift card with your machine if you're a student (or going to be one), as long as you buy from Apple directly (web, phone, retail store). That's a nice little bonus to go along with the education discount.
I too am looking to purchase a new mbp. I recenlty posted the same question in a different thread, and the consensus seemed to be buy now if you need it or wait until after the developer's conference in June. It did not seem like there would be a major update to the mbp until q3. I would say wait until the developer's conference, which may bring minor spec bumps and then buy.
You're kidding, right?
You're basically saying "If you don't see something wrong with your display, something is wrong with you."
That's ridiculous, and insulting. Just because you're bitter over something it doesn't mean it's everyone's experience.
Going by your absurd opinion, there must widespread vision impairment going around, as there are literally millions of Retina MacBook Pros out there. Even if every single post in the 600 page topic you reference is a different user complaining about the issue, that's only 6000. Out of a conservative 6,000,000 Retina MacBook Pros. I hate to burst the fantasy bubble you've put yourself in, but that is pretty damn far from "widespread".
Well... I'll reinforce my argument in other terms. In USA, a Mac is a pretty inexpensive computer. There is no much reason to buy a plastic-made PC if you're adult and employed. USD 2000,00 is an affordable price for an almost-workstation computer. In Brazil, the same computer costs USD 4000,00. In Europe, a bit less, but still more than USD 2000,00.
It's obvious that Macs sell a lot in USA because they're affordable. As a consequence, a lot of users who use a computer just for browsing and watching videos for entertainment have Macs. The stuff these users do with a computer is much less demanding than photo and video editing, multi-task/gpu programming, CAD, intensive reading and writing papers (academic work) and so on.
What does it have to do with the complaining about retina screens? The answer is that most users who have a rMBP in USA don't care about mild display uniformity problems because they aren't capable to note. You only note if you are reading PDFs for hours or if you're trying to find which green tone your site will look on other displays -- is the tone from the display's top? or the tone from the bottom of the screen? No one knows because the retina displays are usually yellower at bottom and magentaish at the top. I had this pattern in 3 displays. The only one which hadn't the uniformity issue had image retention.
In other words, it's a widespread problem for users who bought a Retina Macbook expecting color accuracy. It's not even a issue for users who bought a Retina Macbook because it is light, has a long-lasting batteries, good speakers and a big-res screen for watching videos.
Don't bother waiting.
The rMBP just had a bigger update. He next update will just be a spec bump. So the question you have to ask yourself , is about 10% performance upgrade worth 2.5 months. It's just going to be a Haswell refresh.
And remember the update following the august one (2015)will be a bigger update / architecture update. So you will be buying the last model on the old architecture . Just look at the Intel road maps to get an indicator when the bigger upgrades are.
The rMBP just had a bigger update. He next update will just be a spec bump. So the question you have to ask yourself , is about 10% performance upgrade worth 2.5 months. It's just going to be a Haswell refresh.
And remember the update following the august one (2015)will be a bigger update / architecture update. So you will be buying the last model on the old architecture . Just look at the Intel road maps to get an indicator when the bigger upgrades are.
Except the current machine is 6 months old, and the 2.5 months that you mention for the Haswell update is purely speculative. Certainly not grounds for making a decision off of. I think it's worth waiting until WWDC to see if they bump it there. If not, then I would just buy the 2013 model then.
I agree with this sentiment - maybe wait until WWDC, but not much longer, especially with what we know about Intel's plans. However, since you are a student, it may pay to wait and see what back-to-school deals pop up since that can sweeten the deal.
I was in the market a year ago and wanted a non-Retina MacBook Pro (had some particular reasons for this), and jumped at it when Apple redid the education pricing on those to be even cheaper. I do feel a little dumb for not waiting until the actual Back to School promo to start - that would've netted me an App Store gift card _and_ the $200 off on the computer.
The one think that is certain, it's not getting Broadwell this year.
The other thing for certain, Apple does not announce minor spec bumps at WWDC. They could announce a new laptop all together, like a 12" but they will not waste time informing people the retina got a spec bump. It will be a silent update like the Airs were. And if you look at the updates to ther Airs, performance wise it was meh...... The discount was more significant.
----------
Ok, I guess I'm waiting for WWDC 2014
As the above poster recommended, the back or school promo might be worth waiting for. I did not think of that.
That's good to know, are you aware if the student promos come at the same time every year? if so around when would that be?
It varies from year to year, but is usually late May or early June and runs until about the first week in September. Last year was abnormally late (July 2): https://www.macrumors.com/2013/07/0...o-school-promotion-with-gift-cards-up-to-100/
2012 started on 6/11: https://www.macrumors.com/2012/06/11/apple-launches-2012-back-to-school-promotion/
2011 started on 6/16: https://www.macrumors.com/2011/06/16/apple-launches-2011-back-to-school-promotion/
2010 started on 5/25: https://www.macrumors.com/2010/05/24/apples-back-to-school-promo-to-start-tuesday/
2009 started on 5/27: http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/05/27/2009.back.to.school.deal/
2008 started on 6/3: https://www.macrumors.com/2008/06/0...hool-promo-free-ipod-touch-with-mac-purchase/
If buying from a store, Apple or other, wait for the tax free weekend in your start if at all possible. That will likely save over a hundred.
Always check the AppleInsider price list for the best retail prices. Avoid Amazon as they have started charging state sales tax. B&H does not. Also B&H has the lowest price on AppleCare. You may find a better deal than the usual Education discount.
http://prices.appleinsider.com
If you don't mind refurbed, same warranty as new an available for AppleCare, you can get a very good deal....especially if you purchase on your state's tax free weekend.
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac
Always check the AppleInsider price list for the best retail prices. Avoid Amazon as they have started charging state sales tax. B&H does not. Also B&H has the lowest price on AppleCare. You may find a better deal than the usual Education discount.
http://prices.appleinsider.com
If you don't mind refurbed, same warranty as new an available for AppleCare, you can get a very good deal....especially if you purchase on your state's tax free weekend.
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac
I'm glad they do it that early! Thanks for the info.
Good to know, I think that weekend is sometime in August though, I live in Massachusetts.