Macbook for Aperture 3.3

Have to say I'm not that fussed about the Retina display (maybe I should be??). There are a few points that make this decision difficult and for me there are some really weird configuration anomalies now.

With the retinas, the base model is only 256 GB HDD and that will be half full as soon as I switch across. OK the, the only thing that's growing is the Aperture library and I suppose I COULD get by with it, moving the masters to a TB connected HDD if needed later on and buying a FW adaptor for my legacy drives. No Ethernet connector though, that might prove problematic. Shame they don't do a 512GB SSD version, otherwise I'd likely jump. Both the retinas can be configured to 16GB RAM also. So it's 8-16 GB RAM with either 256 or 750GB SSD.

Neither 15" can be upgraded to 16 GB RAM it seems (whether you can do so via 3rd party RAM is a different matter). I wonder why? Forcing 16GB RAM 'users' down the SSD / Retina route??? You can configure them with SSD but only with a max of 8GB RAM. Same applies with the 13"

So, the only machines that seem configurable to 16G RAM now are the retinas. If I went the retina route I'd only consider the 256 GB, the 750 is WAAAY overpriced for me. It does begin to look like that the retina might be the best option given my preferred option not to upgrade tech too often (my MB is 5 years old). With SSD and 16 GB RAM it might have more 'legs' than a 15". $2,400 for that option.

But the 15" vanilla has a much larger HDD (albeit it's not an SSD), keeps a FW / ethernet connection and disc drive, and can be configured with an anti-glare screen, even an SSD if you want (but then the price goes up rapidly). Just not 16 GB RAM. $2,300 with anti-glare.

There's a lot of dead end corridors when navigating Apples configuration maps :-( Clever the way they do it ;-)

Hmmm. Option I suppose. The Retinas do seem pricey to be honest, esp as I lose a lot of what I want. But no 16GB RAM now for vanilla 15s. I presume your SSD addition was 3rd party and not configured by Apple store?

I also have to bear in mind that the ONLY reason I am going for this upper-mid level spec with the new MBP is Aperture and my investment in time and money (I have the Nik Software full range for Aperture) and the new release of Aperture does seem to go in the direction of dumbing down. Is Apple giving up on pro photography I wonder and raising the white flag to LR etc? If that's the case I could even consider moving photo processing an management of my quad-core i7, 16 GB, 3.4 GHz with SSD desktop which sees little use. That option does force an office based approach to management though. Aperture always seems slightly more elegant at managing also, compared to the somewhat clunky approach of Windows options. And I suppose I keep what Aperture dumb away with Nik Software, provided Apple continues to support Aperture!!

Ah I see. The confiuration options have changed now it seems. I believe you could get 16 GB RAM, HDD and SSD in the last MBPs.

Now it's an SSD or a HDD and 8 GB RAM max with 15" non-retina 😟.

If you want 16GB RAM now it seems the Retina is the only option 😟. I suppose I could get by with USB to FW/Ethernet connectors but it's carrying round a Super Drive as well (I still by CDs for iTunes etc). I suppose I could work around that by ripping CDs on the Windows machine and copying them across but........... That said, I'd rather be able to get a 15" with a 1TB HDD, 16GB RAM and a 256 GB SSD. At least I would seeing what the options are now 😟

Apple does seem to have closed down some configuration options now. 16 GB RAM, retina only TQVM 😟

PS: I think the last MBP was 8 GB max from Ap store but 16GB could be slotted in. I don't think that's possible now.

I've narrowed it down (noy much!!!) and am considering either:

1) Base 2.6 MBP 15" in its basic configuration (except maybe for an ant glare screen) at $2199

2) As above but with 512 SSD at $3,099

3) Retina base model at $2199

4) As aobe with 16 GB RAM at $2,399

I suppose if I was prepared to put up with losing connectivity and didnt need retina or 16GB RAM there is also the MBA to consider with 8GB, 512 GB SSD and CPU upgrade.

The deciding factor is 16GB RAM I suppose. I still suspect 8GB will fly on these machines with what I do but that 16GB may be more future proof. If 8 GB will hack it, I still think I prefer the connectivity, larger HD (albeit non SSD) and the optical drive on option 1, and the price is good too.

At the moment I'm leaning towards option 1 or 3.

TQVM for the reply. Been pondering this more and more and concluded I was making this too difficult, making deciding harder.

As you say, FW and Ethernet irrelevant as it can be dealt with by cable and all my FW drives are USB compatible as well (not sure if the sending and receiving device need to be USB 3 to take advantage of that though). Even the optical drive is neither here nor there. I can buy a Super Drive to get round that for the 4 times a year I use it.

The only issue I THINK is that the MBPs are now fixed RAM and drive bay (at least via Apple). No upgrades possible. If this is not the case (as you say, to be explored more) it opens other options. If RAM upgrade is possible and the CD drive can be replaced, I'd def look at that route. At the Apple store though there is no bay or ram configuration.

If modification to RAM/drive is not possible it leaves two things to be considered:

15" with 750 GB HDD with 8 GB RAM max or

15" Retina 256 SSD with 8 GB RAM (accepting that this CAN be upgraded to 16 - I'm looking base options first).

I have a gut feel that the SSD/8GB RAM option will be better, better still if upraded to 16 GB RAM?? Is there anything wrong with that overall conclusion (notwithstanding the 16GB upgrade)?

I see little point in upgrading the MBP with SSD (bearing in mind I'm only talking Apple Store configurations here - not waht MIGHT be an option via 3rd party), taking it over Retina prices given that the Retina upgrade option is more RAM, preferable to a SSD with 8 GB RAM I would think.

I could then use a TB or USB 3 external HDD for my Aperture library once the SSD got 75% full.

Thanks all very much for replies.

The points made by SD are very valid. The only problem with the 2011 line up is that the places here that have them are re-sellers and are not (as yet) offering any incentives to move them on. Being re-sellers the supply-fit SSDD might be hard to get and the 2011 15" are all 4 GB RAM. Configuring those to 8GB (even if you can now) pushes the price up beyond the base spec of the 2012 refresh. If there was a price incentive to take the old stock (esp if that would cover the cost of 3rd party retro fitting to bring the costs roughly to that of buying 2012 spec) it would be an option. The RAM should be do-able cheaply via 3rd party I suppose but it's just SSDD and the optical drive fit that would concern me. And of course, buying the 2012 machine with 1GB VRAM at the same price as the 2011 machine has it already fitted with 8GB RAM.

In some ways would it not make more sense to buy the 2012 MBP 2.6 (non-retina) version which is already equipped with 8GB, supply-fit a 256 SDD and swap out the optical drive via third party? IF you can that is. BUT.....that takes the price of that machine (with anti glare to $2,699). And in my case, for what? Merely an on-board optical that I might be able to swap out for an HDD and all the connectivity I need (or rather might sometimes use). Compare that to $2,799 for the Retina with 8GB and 512 GB SSDD. Bear in mind I'm just weighing up available options here in Malaysia v cost/benefit. I am using US Apple Store $ pricing for ease of reference.

Compare that machine also to the Retina base model with 8GB RAM and a 256 GB SSDD at the base price of $2,199 to which I need to do nothing other than add a TB HDD in a few years (when hopefully TB drives are the norm and cost around $150 for 1 TB v $500 now). No anti-glare needed either (or indeed an option) given that they say they have reduced glare by 70% (this I need to see before deciding). In all honesty of course I don't NEED thin or retina BUT it might be something I don't object to when I see it 'in the flesh' so to speak.

Bearing in mind others might be pondering the same question now (e.g. which 2012 Macbook for Aperture) there are two things that it would be nice to quantify to some degree:

1) How essential is an SSDD? May ageing 2007 MB 2.16 with it's 2GB RAM has coped well up until now, albeit the SBOD is proving more and more of a problem these days. Is an SSDD essential for good Aperture performance or does it just make it excellent? For many, good may well be enough.

2) How much discreet video RAM does Aperture need? It seems to be the case that people have historically suggested the first machine in the old (2011) 15" MBP line, with 4GB and the 512 MB Radeon card. I ask this specifically because for those who don't feel the need to go down the SSDD route, that same machine in 2012 in it's base state is just $1,799 and fitted out with 8GB (which I think is essential) and anti-glare still only costs $1,999

Sorry for prolonging this but I suppose it may be useful to others for the issues to be considered in the one thread. Me too, but I think I'm going with the base retina model given the potential problems here of securing a machine kitted out as has otherwise suggested, other than at a significant premium.

PS: Unfortunately, being supplied via a hub in Singapore we don't seem to be able to get refurbs here. Whether or not they will push 2011 stock into the 'Clearance' section of the store remains to be seen.

I asked before also about the VRAM needs because I have seen it suggested that discreet RAM is essential for Aperture and that the Intel graphics aren't up to the job. An important issue because it effectively renders the 13" machines out of the equation. Fine if that's the case but I have been using a base 13" for 5 years now. Sure it's creaking, and badly, but the better CPU of the new models and 8GB RAM might well help considerably I would have thought.