Retina, or Non-Retina?

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Sysem

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My MacBook Pro (mid 2012) is on the fritz and if insurance helps me out, I'll need a new one. Its a development machine, so I'm looking at at least 16GB of RAM.

The iStore have said it will take 6-8 weeks to order a 13" with that kind of a spec, which isn't going to work for me. I can go for the non-retina again, and just upgrade the HDD and RAM myself, but I'm worried the machine is coming to its end of life. Seeing as its going on 4 years old, I don't want to get caught without updates in the next 2 years or so.

Thoughts?
 
How does insurance help you out if a laptop is not stolen?
Excuse the ignorance... looks like something I need to do as well if that's the case.
 
I purchased the same spec (mid-2012, non-retina) unit in 2015 and was very happy with it. Two weeks later I purchased a retina. I cannot imagine how I ever managed without the smooth retina display. There is nothing on the market that I know of that can remotely compare with this display. I have no eye strain whatsoever anymore, something that I struggled with, on both non-Apple displays and the non-retina Apple. But it is going to cost you.

Then again, there are many of these mid-2012 non-retina units available second hand that are in excellent condition. You can use one like that as a base unit and upgrade to SSD and more RAM.
 
CamiKaze said:
How does insurance help you out if a laptop is not stolen?
Excuse the ignorance... looks like something I need to do as well if that's the case.
Click to expand...

Not the question I'm asking ;) Its covered for loss or damage, and right now its pretty damaged. Whether I'm covered or not for the problem at hand, I don't yet know
 
andrieso said:
I purchased the same spec (mid-2012, non-retina) unit in 2015 and was very happy with it. Two weeks later I purchased a retina. I cannot imagine how I ever managed without the smooth retina display. There is nothing on the market that I know of that can remotely compare with this display. I have no eye strain whatsoever anymore, something that I struggled with, on both non-Apple displays and the non-retina Apple. But it is going to cost you.

Then again, there are many of these mid-2012 non-retina units available second hand that are in excellent condition. You can use one like that as a base unit and upgrade to SSD and more RAM.
Click to expand...

Yeah, apparently the retina is amazing, but coming from non-retina I'm not overly worried about it. Its the delay in getting the MacBook I'm worried about.
 
Sysem said:
Not the question I'm asking ;) Its covered for loss or damage, and right now its pretty damaged. Whether I'm covered or not for the problem at hand, I don't yet know
Click to expand...

Thanks.

Yeah the answer to your question is Retina any day. As mentioned in the post above, it is pricey but oh so lovely.

I only enquired about the insurance thing as I thought I might be missing out on something.
Only found out the other day that people have their dogs on their medical aid as well. :P
 
15" out of the question?
 
CamiKaze said:
Thanks.

Yeah the answer to your question is Retina any day. As mentioned in the post above, it is pricey but oh so lovely.

I only enquired about the insurance thing as I thought I might be missing out on something.
Only found out the other day that people have their dogs on their medical aid as well. :P
Click to expand...

Strange world we live in!

bwana said:
15" out of the question?
Click to expand...

Not entirely... I'm going to take a look at them today after work, but I love the smaller 13" (connected to a larger monitor when at home)
 
CamiKaze said:
How does insurance help you out if a laptop is not stolen?
Excuse the ignorance... looks like something I need to do as well if that's the case.
Click to expand...

Depends on your insurance I guess, but if I damage something by dropping it (for example), then insurance covers it.
Insurance isn't about theft (Although it is a part of it)
 
Sysem said:
Not entirely... I'm going to take a look at them today after work, but I love the smaller 13" (connected to a larger monitor when at home)
Click to expand...
I had 4-5 13" before I got the 15" last year and as great as the size of the 13" is/was the 15" is worth it. I travel with mine a lot and don't really notice it any more.
 
bwana said:
I had 4-5 13" before I got the 15" last year and as great as the size of the 13" is/was the 15" is worth it. I travel with mine a lot and don't really notice it any more.
Click to expand...

Thanks - maybe be tempted then. Puts the price up though
 
Since I have a 2011 MBP at home and a brand spanking new MBP at work, I'll throw in my two rands (cents really don't cut it anymore eh?)

The display is unquestionably nicer. But in terms of clarity for working with text, I don't feel difference is practically relevant. That said, my home machine has the "high resolution" matt option of the time, so it's 1680x1050 rather than the stock 1440x900, but that's really a slight difference. The only time I see a difference is when working with very small text - it's definitely more legible on the retina display.

BTW, in terms of performance, I even notice the difference. I guess if you time compile times you'll see a marginal difference, but Sandy/Ivybridge i7 chips really stand their ground.
 
Oh, so you're going to trip over the dog while walking to the kitchen to make some coffee while holding the Mac :)

Regarding retina - no way would I go back, and absolutely I would wait until I could get one......rather than put up with a non-retina. You will be kicking yourself black and blue for the next 3 years for buying old technology, if you buy a non-retina. I can guarantee you that you will be sorry for being impatient. Make the most of an opportunity to change up a gear.
 
I'm not sure who would consider buying a non retina display in 2016.
 
Having worked on a 13" Retina MBP (2015 model) for almost a year now, there is no way I'd ever switch to a machine with a worse screen. No way.
 
is it worth holding out for the new MBK pro ?
 
surfs-up said:
Oh, so you're going to trip over the dog while walking to the kitchen to make some coffee while holding the Mac :)

Regarding retina - no way would I go back, and absolutely I would wait until I could get one......rather than put up with a non-retina. You will be kicking yourself black and blue for the next 3 years for buying old technology, if you buy a non-retina. I can guarantee you that you will be sorry for being impatient. Make the most of an opportunity to change up a gear.
Click to expand...

This is my feeling. And doing the upgrade would have been fine, if I wasn't slapped with a ton of expenses in one month (car repairs being the major one). Either way, I'll reevaluate the finances and see if I can get retina.
 
maqs said:
is it worth holding out for the new MBK pro ?
Click to expand...

Hard to make a judgement as we don't know much about the new MBP. The deciding factor is probably how long you are able to wait. If you can wait, rather wait.

Just remember that the Rand is weakening in the meantime.
 
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