[Closed] macbook pro non retina - buy now or wait

Just found this

http://www.macrumors.com/roundup/macbook-pro/

Apple's non-Retina MacBook Pros have not been updated since June of 2012, and it remains unclear if Apple intends to continue producing lower-cost laptops or if the company is planning to phase them out in favor of an all Retina Macbook Pro lineup.

According to KGI securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who often gives reliable predictions, Apple will continue to sell its Ivy Bridge MacBook Pros but has no plans to introduce new models.

Hmmmm....

Wait, they are overdue a refresh as the link above points out.

22nd October is the day of the next press event.

Wait, they are overdue a refresh as the link above points out.

22nd October is the day of the next press event.

http://www.macrumors.com/2013/10/08/apple-ipad-centric-event-to-take-place-on-october-22/

I'd bet they won't touch the non retina models now and just keep them for offering education pricing etc, wouldn't expect an update. I'd get something off the refurb store:

http://store.apple.com/uk/product/FD103B/A/refurbished-macbook-pro-23ghz-quad-core-intel-i7

I'd go for retina if I was after what you are unless price was an issue, in which case i'd go refurb retina or air. External HDD and DVD if you need space/optical drive. Lots more portable and newer/better tech.

I can get £200 off for educational discount ( I work at a university)

I'd go for retina if I was after what you are unless price was an issue, in which case i'd go refurb retina or air. External HDD and DVD if you need space/optical drive. Lots more portable and newer/better tech.

Thing is.. why would i want to carry around an external HDD everywhere? I want at least 500mb for all my music but i also want it for web development

if i could upgrade the retina to SSD and HDD i'd get one

So by all accounts its very diffcult to upgrade the retina macbooks?

So no RAM or Hardrive?

My brother bought a Retina MBP for his work (Graphic designer), but reckons it was a mistake as he mainly uses it with an external screen and so the retina screen is rarely seen.

No upgrade options on the retina macbooks, I'm afraid. They do come with *GB though, which is usually enough.

Would be nice to have a bit more for when I need to run tests that fire up multiple vargant VMs

Having said that, the screens are amazing...

Rachel

that's my worry is it's very expensive to get equivalent SSD and i'd want to do dual SSD and Hardrive so really not that bothered with retina

I'm going to have a ton of music but also running bootcamp

@tricky - MacRumours is a great site, search the forum or ask the question there. As above the talk is not about MacBooks. Mavericks should be launched but I think if you buy now you get free upgrade (check) full price upgrade is likely to be only £15. Full OS upgrades very straightforward IME just download from the web. Not sure why you think upgrading a MacBook Pro is hard. RAM and drives pretty easy following online videos and buying components online. Obvioulsy if you do it within first year yourself it invalidates warranty. Mavericks memory management is supposed to be excellent. It's the Air where stuff is soldered in so upgrades hard. As per other threads/experience running windows bootcamp generally makes the machines run poorly.

In the MacBook Pro Retina models, the memory is soldered onto the motherboard. They cannot be upgraded.

I just want a 8gb shuffle 🙁

It's the Air where stuff is soldered in so upgrades hard

...as Rachel says. It's soldered onto the back of the Retina's logic board.

It's the red bit...

[img] [/img]

...from [url= http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook+Pro+15-Inch+Retina+Display+Mid+2012+Teardown/9462/3 ]iFixit[/url]:

As in the MacBook Air, the RAM is soldered to the logic board. Max out at 16GB now, or forever hold your peace—you can't upgrade.

Always wait for the next release

Or get a refurb and save £300. Except the refurbs are not even refurbished but old inventory they want to shift before the new ones. The speed bump will be insignificant and there will just be a bit extra battery life (if that's important to you)

Looks like I was wrong about memory - thanks guys/gals (probably cannot say that these days I suppose).

Anyway you can replace soldered in memory it's just harder !

Retina screen is great, normal screen still very good so if its more upgradable I'd go with that, with pricing differentia you could get an ipad mini as well (which may getbretina screen on Oct 22 but doesnt really need it)

The retina screen is a lot better than than the MBP not just in resolution, it's gamut covers the whole sRGB colourspace that while not the full adobe1998 is a big improvement plus it has a semi-mat finish that has less reflections. I did look at the hi-res matt MBP but it's not in the same league as the retina.

Go to an Apple store and take a look. To me the screen resolution and clarity of the non retina mackbooks is very good, very nearly as good as the retina screens, in fact you can only tell a difference when comparing side by side. Those retina display models are pricey and even if they're going to ditch the Non retina screen at the next update they won't give it to you at the current non retina screen price.

Also if Mavericks is being released soon, you'll get it for free if you buy a MacBook today.

I'd be inclined to save my cash and get a specc'd up non retina model now.

[url= http://specsavers.co.uk ]www.specsavers.co.uk[/url]

To me the screen resolution and clarity of the non retina mackbooks is very good, very nearly as good as the retina screens

Erm...

Do you not think so Jamie? You can tell a difference when they're side by side, but when you're using a non retina screen on its own with no other frame of reference it is very very good (instead of very very very good). It's a big premium to pay (on top of an already premium price) for a slight improvement. But that's the law of diminishing returns I suppose.

I've got 3 13" MacBook pros for sale and a 15" one also.

Varying specs and all legit. I've sadly had to close my business today.

Let me know if you want full details.

Tremendous shame andybanks.

Do you not think so Jamie? You can tell a difference when they're side by side, but when you're using a non retina screen on its own with no other frame of reference it is very very good (instead of very very very good). It's a big premium to pay (on top of an already premium price) for a slight improvement. But that's the law of diminishing returns I suppose.

The Retina display is much better. Much comes down to what your planning on using it for though, for graphics, photo editing and design work I would go for the retina display every time. If its a tool for your trade it's hardly emperors new clothes or slightly better.