Which Macbook to go for, 2012 or 2015?

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bobbytb

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So I am looking at buying a new macbook. Since apple has decided to close down upgrades on their newer machines, my choices are either a Mid 2012 13" Macbook Pro (Non-Retina) - "The Last of the upgradables" or a latest top-of-the-line retina macbook which would cost 2x as much but isnt as repairable or upgradeable.

My current daily driver is a 15" macbook pro, late 2008 (unibody). Its been running very well and has outlasted any other piece of tech hardware that i've owned. At the time, it cost around R25,000, so its definitely been worth it. When I got this, it had 2GB ram and a 256 GB HDD. Over the years, I have upgraded it myself and it currently sports 8GB RAM, a 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD. I have also routinely upgraded the HDD every 18-24 months and kept the old one on the shelf before it failed on me. The battery has also been replaced. These upgrades were all very easy to do, and if the current top of the line macbooks allowed this, Id buy one immediately. However, spending 35,000 or more and then not being able to swap out a battery or failed hard drive doesn't sound like a good deal to me.

Usage:
Mostly used at a desk with external keyboard/mouse and 24" monitor(s) running various software development tools, virtual machines, and occasionally some graphics editing.

[table="width: 500, class: grid"]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Mid 2012 13" Macbook Pro (non retina)[/td]
[td]Mid 2015 15" Retina Macbook Pro [/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Base Specs[/td]
[td]
  • 2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Ivy Bridge)
  • 4GB 1600MHz memory
  • 500GB 5400-rpm hard drive
  • Intel HD Graphics 4000
  • 13" 1280x800 Display
Note: If I purchase this, I will beef up the ram to 16GB, add a 512GB ssd and replace the optical drive with a 1TB HDD, giving me 1.5TB storage.
[/td]
[td]
  • 2.5GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor (Haswell)
  • 16GB of 1600MHz Memory
  • 512GB PCIe-based flash storage
  • Intel Iris Pro Graphics + AMD Radeon R9 M370X with 2GB
  • 15" 2880 by 1800 Display
[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Pros[/td]
[td]I upgrade the battery, ram, hard drive. Repairs are also easy to do and parts are much more cheaper. I can replace the HDD/SSD as often as I want.[/td]
[td]Latest processor will give better performance, improved battery, lightweight, retina display[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Cons[/td]
[td]Not as fast processor, non retina display[/td]
[td]No/Expensive repairs - everything is fixed to the logic board. Upgrades are expensive: Battery is stuck with glue. Ram soldered onto logic board.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Price[/td]
[td]Approx 15,000 - 16,000 :)[/td]
[td]Approx 30,000 - 35,000 :wtf:[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

What would you advise? If you currently have the 2012 MBP with 16GB + SSD, how does it perform?
 
Last edited:
All comes down to what you want to do with it. I still use my mid-2012 MacBook Air as my only work machine and haven't considered replacing yet - apart from a failing battery that I understand to be my own fault.
 
unskinnybob said:
All comes down to what you want to do with it. I still use my mid-2012 MacBook Air as my only work machine and haven't considered replacing yet - apart from a failing battery that I understand to be my own fault.
Click to expand...

Good point - something I forgot to mention so Ive updated my original post. I mostly use it for software development and run virtual machines (hence the need for additional ram). I also have 24" monitors at the office and home so mostly use it in clamshell mode.
 
I didn't realize you could upgrade the memory of Macs - I thought it was soldered on?
 
Once you use a Retina, you won't be able to go back.

Your table also does not compare the dimensions and weights. If this isn't important to you, or resolution, you'll be happy with a non Retina.

Ancalagon said:
I didn't realize you could upgrade the memory of Macs - I thought it was soldered on?
Click to expand...

Pre Retinas you can, Retinas need to be ordered to spec.
 
Might need to check the price on that mid-2012 after adding the RAM and SSD.

I'd buy a newer model - not the spec you quoted though. Not a fan of the pro. Battery life is a bit tight.

My thoughts: I'd buy a mac mini for static office work OR a beefy macbook air for mixed mobile/desktop.
 
2014 MBPr is cheaper and close to same performance as 2015 models except for ssd (slightly faster) and force touch?
 
PostmanPot said:
Once you use a Retina, you won't be able to go back. Your table also does not compare the dimensions and weights. If this isn't important to you, or resolution, you'll be happy with a non Retina. Pre Retinas you can, Retinas need to be ordered to spec.
Click to expand...
Totally agree - Ive had a chance of playing around with a couple and the the retina macbooks look beautiful, the display is crisp and the form factor is just perfect. Personally, I hardly use the macbook screen for work (except when im not working from home or office) - prefer to work off a larger 24" monitor.

unskinnybob said:
Might need to check the price on that mid-2012 after adding the RAM and SSD.
I'd buy a newer model - not the spec you quoted though. Not a fan of the pro. Battery life is a bit tight.
My thoughts: I'd buy a mac mini for static office work OR a beefy macbook air for mixed mobile/desktop.
Click to expand...

Thanks, unskinnybob. What macbook would you go for?
I have an SSD lying around so I would only need to buy the RAM on the 2012 model.
The mac mini is a good suggestion. I occasionally do work on-site, say one week in every 8-12 weeks, so this would require a laptop. Even the 2015 Macbook air isnt really an option for running virtual machines since it has lower specs (less ram and hdd space) than my current 2008 macbook pro.
 
Sounds like it's got to be a Pro then. I wouldn't compromise on disk. If you have the 512 SSD already, nice. Max the RAM then. If you work docked alot, and let's face it nobody has the money to buy a thunderbolt display, get the non-retina. Going from retina to 1080P is going to bug you. Alot.
 
unskinnybob said:
Sounds like it's got to be a Pro then. I wouldn't compromise on disk. If you have the 512 SSD already, nice. Max the RAM then. If you work docked alot, and let's face it nobody has the money to buy a thunderbolt display, get the non-retina. Going from retina to 1080P is going to bug you. Alot.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Which pro are you referring to? Retina or non Retina?
 
unskinnybob said:
All comes down to what you want to do with it. I still use my mid-2012 MacBook Air as my only work machine and haven't considered replacing yet - apart from a failing battery that I understand to be my own fault.
Click to expand...

Why do you think the failing battery is your fault? What has your usage pattern been like?
 
bobbytb said:
Thanks. Which pro are you referring to? Retina or non Retina?
Click to expand...
If you're going to dock, go non-retina. (imho)

Viva said:
Why do you think the failing battery is your fault? What has your usage pattern been like?
Click to expand...
Continuos charge. I leave it docked at the office for weeks at a time. Apparently worst thing you can do to a lithium ion battery. Only got around 150 cycles when the service battery warning came on.
 
unskinnybob said:
Continuos charge. I leave it docked at the office for weeks at a time. Apparently worst thing you can do to a lithium ion battery. Only got around 150 cycles when the service battery warning came on.
Click to expand...
Not if the laptop's charging circuitry is designed and working correctly. Then all it does effectively is recharge the battery when it runs down a little, or as Apple typically does these days maintain it around 95-98%.
 
Does the 2012 have dual display output? If you want that, and Retina, I would get the newer one. I love my retina!

And what is the difference between the 2015 and 2014 one?!
 
xera said:
Does the 2012 have dual display output? If you want that, and Retina, I would get the newer one. I love my retina!

And what is the difference between the 2015 and 2014 one?!
Click to expand...

SSD is about twice as fast (on paper).

Not sure what else, new CPU/GHz?
 
unskinnybob said:
Continuos charge. I leave it docked at the office for weeks at a time. Apparently worst thing you can do to a lithium ion battery. Only got around 150 cycles when the service battery warning came on.
Click to expand...

That's strange. From what I've read, continuously charging shouldn't impact the health as the circuitry has been designed to deal with this. I'm especially interested in the best practice w.r.t. charging a Macbook as mine only has about 20 cycles currently.
 
unskinnybob said:
If you're going to dock, go non-retina. (imho).
Click to expand...
Noted. I was also considering this route, but now thinking about going for the 16gb retina instead. Its has far superior specs (cpu, battery life, screen, gpu) compared to the 2012 edition and will set me back an additional +/- 10k.

Other than that, both have ram maxed out at 16gb. The HDDs will be easier to swap out on the 2012 model, but I'll just have to start doing more housekeeping.

xera said:
Does the 2012 have dual display output? If you want that, and Retina, I would get the newer one. I love my retina!
Click to expand...

Seems that it does via thunderbolt daisy-chaining.
http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/98972/will-the-macbook-air-mid-2012-support-dual-monitors
 
bobbytb said:
Noted. I was also considering this route, but now thinking about going for the 16gb retina instead. Its has far superior specs (cpu, battery life, screen, gpu) compared to the 2012 edition and will set me back an additional +/- 10k.

Other than that, both have ram maxed out at 16gb. The HDDs will be easier to swap out on the 2012 model, but I'll just have to start doing more housekeeping.



Seems that it does via thunderbolt daisy-chaining.
http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/98972/will-the-macbook-air-mid-2012-support-dual-monitors
Click to expand...

There won't be a need to daisy-chain. Since the MacBook Pro Retina display has 2 Thunderbolt ports and 1 HDMI port, all you will have to do is plug in a display via HDMI and then use HDMI adaptors on the Thunderbolt ports for additional displays. Then you won't be limited to having to use Thunderbolt displays only.
 
I have the 13" retina, 2013 model. Think I'd enjoy the bigger 15", but it was a fair bit more expensive. Having said that, I love my MBP, would never be able to go back to a normal resolution laptop (or a windows machine for that matter). Don't think I'll need to upgrade for a good 2-3 years from now, awesome little machine
 
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