this config: http://store.apple.com/us/buy-mac/macbook-pro?product=ME865LL/A&step=config gives you so much more for these 200 bucks.. This mbp and the one you bought are worlds apart..
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The "I just ordered / bought / got my new/refurb MBP" thread [Merged]
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MBP Retina 15 2.3
Bought a 15 inch stock retina with the 2.3 / 16GB / 512... was deliberating the BTO 2.6 but in the end it was the stock models' ability to exchange quickly if necessary to minimise down time that won me over.
Had one store offer me around $190 discount on the laptop purchase but it turned out the last unit in store was reserved online while we were chatting so would have to wait until next week... another store originally offered me a $100 discount with Applecare thrown in but that turned out to be a 'computer error' and in the end I paid an additional $80 on top of RRP including the AppleCare.
Had never intended to buy AppleCare and the final price happens to be exactly the same amount as the BTO 2.6 (after BF discount/voucher) and so the box remains unopened while I consider switching out for the BTO less Applecare.
The main value I see in having Applecare lies in screen replacement in the event of dead/stuck pixels but Apple were unable to advise on what the threshold is before screen repairs or replacement is covered by AppleCare so this may end up being of little advantage.
Thoughts?
Bought a 15 inch stock retina with the 2.3 / 16GB / 512... was deliberating the BTO 2.6 but in the end it was the stock models' ability to exchange quickly if necessary to minimise down time that won me over.
Had one store offer me around $190 discount on the laptop purchase but it turned out the last unit in store was reserved online while we were chatting so would have to wait until next week... another store originally offered me a $100 discount with Applecare thrown in but that turned out to be a 'computer error' and in the end I paid an additional $80 on top of RRP including the AppleCare.
Had never intended to buy AppleCare and the final price happens to be exactly the same amount as the BTO 2.6 (after BF discount/voucher) and so the box remains unopened while I consider switching out for the BTO less Applecare.
The main value I see in having Applecare lies in screen replacement in the event of dead/stuck pixels but Apple were unable to advise on what the threshold is before screen repairs or replacement is covered by AppleCare so this may end up being of little advantage.
Thoughts?
The best buy $1099 deal for the base model is your best bet. You can buy external storage for with the extra money. The 4 gb will do what you need. (the speedy SSD of the new model helps here)
Go back and exchange sit before they are all gone. They are sold out online.
Go back and exchange sit before they are all gone. They are sold out online.
Well people were trying to tell you that you would get a much better deal for your money if you got the rMBP. The $1,499 configuration offers the most value if you can spend the couple more hundred.
External storage is always bad advise. Sorta defeats the purpose of a notebook.
I just looked at your old thread and with your budget a macbook air wouldve been my choice.
The Pcie ssd and haswell make a huge difference.
You can get the base model 4gig/256gb/i3 on offer.
Run revit not in parallels but in bootcamp. Win8 runs like a dream.
The advise given to you before was limited.
A lot of people in here have a ram fetish. Theres long threads on this.
The one you bought is not a bad machine at all but I dont understand how it goes along with your usage.
External storage is always bad advise. Sorta defeats the purpose of a notebook.
I just looked at your old thread and with your budget a macbook air wouldve been my choice.
The one you bought is not a bad machine at all but I dont understand how it goes along with your usage.
He totally did not need a Pro, and certainly not the cMBP. The Air is well suited for him, or a mid-range rMBP if he really wants that Retina screen.
External storage is always bad advise. Sorta defeats the purpose of a notebook.
I just looked at your old thread and with your budget a macbook air wouldve been my choice.
The Pcie ssd and haswell make a huge difference.
You can get the base model 4gig/256gb/i3 on offer.
Run revit not in parallels but in bootcamp. Win8 runs like a dream.
The advise given to you before was limited.
A lot of people in here have a ram fetish. Theres long threads on this.
The one you bought is not a bad machine at all but I dont understand how it goes along with your usage.
please..externals storage a bad idea?...who doesn't back up?
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yes.. a air would be fine..but for today only...the 1099 the macbook pro 13" retina is a better value.
I dont back up.
I wouldnt buy a 1000+ notebook and already plan to connect a wired box to it cuz the storage doesnt suffice.
I think thats a really bad idea.
The 1099 rmbp is nice but he says he doesnt need the retina.
And then it depends on portability. For 1099,- you can get the mba 4gig/256.
I got the same configuration with AppleCare, and it cost me $2,880.44 here in the US. Well worth it.
So...after a few days with the above rMBP 13" 8GB...I was disappointed. I came from a 4GB 11"air. I was only using Safari, mail and Lightroom 5 and editing 24MB RAW files but when I zoomed in the screen was really jerky. Worse though was reading from a disk when it could take up to 20 seconds to show the files on the drobo I have connected via firewire (through apple thunderbolt adapter)..
I wonder if I the machine I had a fault with the SSD or memory but then it started to write out to the swap file up to 512MB..
In the end I decided to return it..
I now have the rMBP 15" 2.3Ghz Quad, 16GB, 512SSD.. paying the difference didn't make me think too much about the cost and I'll have blocked that out in a few weeks. It gives me the opportunity to dump my iMac if I can get this new one to play SWTOR..
He gets 128 more storage but weaker graphics and slower sad and a non retina display.
He can get a ad card to make up the difference.
You may not back up but I think most users might.
He doesnt want the retina and the graphics are almost exactly the same.
In fact in realworld use the mba performes snappier cuz it doesnt have to support the retina.
Cards are slow and not large enough.
He can back up on airport extreme. Carring around an external drive is stupid.
I can only speak from xperience. We have the rmbp 8/256/2.4 (me) and the mba 4/256/i3 (gf) at home.
After a while i wanted to swap my rmbp with my gfs mba. Because i like the battery and lightness on the mba.
She refused
Both machines are good but for the general user id recommend the mba
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Yeah, you bought the same version my dad bought (which I wish he would have consulted me on). It's extremely slow when you compare it to a rMBP HDD vs SSD. It's really worth jumping up to the rMBP's just for that. Not to mention the one you bought has not been updated in almost 1.5 years now and will probably be discontinued.
Your whole premise is pretty absurd to me OP. After taking the time to do research and ask knowledgeable people on this forum for their advice, you still ended up with something that was over budget, made you unhappy, and are still back questioning the wisdom of your decision. Rather hard to sympathize with your plight.
I once again would like to thank everyone's input. I fell asleep and now awake to return the Mac if needed. My problem is that I assumed all the Macs at Best Buy were the latest releases but they are all last years model with upgrades and discounts on them versus the latest Macintosh found at apple for the same amount but lower specs in ram, ghz, etc.
If I read correctly, users here feel that I don't need a MacbookBook Pro Retina but instead a MacBook Air Retina that has haswell for my designing use? 8GB RAM overrated and 4 would work just fine?
I guess I am back to returning it. I haven't opened it yet. Anymore feed back?
If I read correctly, users here feel that I don't need a MacbookBook Pro Retina but instead a MacBook Air Retina that has haswell for my designing use? 8GB RAM overrated and 4 would work just fine?
I guess I am back to returning it. I haven't opened it yet. Anymore feed back?
If he's not very knowledgeable about computers how's he going to do those upgrades then?
For the cost of doubling the ram and getting new ssds and paying for installation, either 3rd party or apple, the cost of buying a retina with the same or similar specs to the upgrades will be mostly negligible. Plus the benefits of a retina screen, smaller footprint, faster ports are easy to see. Purchasing a cMBP going into 2014 is a crap decision for the most part imho.
To be fair I received limited feedback at first. This time around I got a lot of responses but it was after I bought the Mac. I just made many assumptions and was blind sited by Best Buys' $200 price reductions. I got the last MBP with all the upgrades left at the time. So I felt I was getting a steal haha. Lastly, I haven't kept up with Macs in a few years and was slightly lost in terminology. (I know I sound like a dinosaur but I am just not well informed).
I think you should go onto the apple online store and do some research on their different laptops before you make another purchasing decision.
The macbook air (13") sounds like it would be a good option for you.
It does not have a retina screen (extremely high resolution), only the 'Macbook Pro with Retina screen' does.
Installing ssds and upgrading ram in mbp is a moronproof task.
U can get a 1tb ssd for 400,-. For 800,- youd have 2tb ssd!
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I agree. I think you should really read up first.
I dont think the mbp you bought is bad though.
But i dont think it would be best for your needs.
Should I upgrade the RAM to 8? I know RAM cannot be upgraded at a later date but can other specs be?
Given my situation, how exactly would you spend $1,300? MAYBE maybe $1,400? Like I've said, I just want to maximize my money.
I don't mind you being blunt with me as long as I learn
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So I can buy an Air and upgrade SSD at a later date? I'm assuming outside of apple service for a cheaper rate. I just read it's soldered so I assume nothing is upgradable after you buy it. It must just be the RAM that's not upgradable then, right?
Should I upgrade the RAM to 8? I know RAM cannot be upgraded at a later date but can other specs be?
Given my situation, how exactly would you spend $1,300? MAYBE maybe $1,400? Like I've said, I just want to maximize my money.
I don't mind you being blunt with me as long as I learn
If you absolutely cannot spend more than $1,300, then don't even bother with a Pro. Go for the Air. Unless you are OK with the base rMBP for $1,299, or can stretch things to the $1,499 model.
But everything you say suggests the Air is what you want.
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You can upgrade the SSD later on, sure. But keep in mind that there are no compatible 3rd-party SSDs currently available, and even when they are, upgrading will cost you more than it would have if you had just bought from Apple.