I'm thinking about getting the MBP Retina, but....

Question

Level 1

5 points

I'm thinking about getting the MBP Retina, but....

I'm really considering upgrading from my 15" MacBookPro mid-2009 but I am concerned about how I can best utilize the limited number of ports that I would have.

Here is what I currently have attached to my MBP:

WIN TV 950 so that I can watch my local TV channels (via USB)
1 TB Iomega eGo for my Time Machine backup (via FireWire 800)
500 GB WD Mybook portable for the TV programs I record and for testing Mountain Lion (attached via FireWire to the Iomega drive)
my Ipad and ipod touch I also plug into a USB port

Because I still use optical media (CDs and DVDs) I will be getting the Apple USB Superdrive

I am thinking of replacing the 2 Firewire drives with a 2 TB USB 3.0 drive,since there is no Firewire port, but I'm still short on USB ports.

Any suggestions on how I can connect these peripherals to the new MBP Retina?

Thanks!

MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2009), Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Jun 15, 2012 9:25 AM

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Answer 1

Courcoul

Level 6

18,558 points

Jun 15, 2012 9:35 AM in response to MikePolinske

Unless you absolutely MUST have the display, I believe you can custom-order a non-Retina MBP that can meet or exceed the Retina's specs in all but the screen department. And will be more maintainable and cost less all-around, needing less adapters and dongles throughout its lifetime.

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Answer 2

jws1982

Level 2

175 points

Jun 15, 2012 9:43 AM in response to Courcoul

+1. The non-retina would have every port you need for your current devices. Also, you could look at a NAS for your storage and backup needs. For example, a QNAP NAS on a Wireless-N network is super fast and has lots of other capabilities.

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Answer 3

EllaiMac

Level 1

0 points

Jun 15, 2012 9:45 AM in response to MikePolinske

If you are the type of person that upgrades ram and battery using third parties, the new retina mbp is NOT for you. but if you just want to watch cat videos in Retina and use peripherals, Its OK. It just depends on bwhat you will use it for.

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Answer 4

MikePolinske Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 15, 2012 9:52 PM in response to Courcoul

I saw a post on Cult of Mac that the old MacBook Pro configured identically to a MacBook Pro Retina is actually more expensive. The link to the article is below:

http://www.cultofmac.com/173611/old-macbook-pro-cost-more-than-retina-macbook-pr o-with-same-specs/

Also, in order to take advantage of Mountain Lion features like "Power Nap" you need a flash drive.

I don't plan on upgrading any of the hardware in the new MBP, but I do plan on keeping the unit at least 3 years.

I do have an Airport Extreme, so I'll be able to plug a new external hard drive into that, so that will help.

The reason I like a portable external hard drive is that I can then take it whereever I go.

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Answer 5

Jun 15, 2012 10:08 PM in response to jws1982

I haven't really had such a 'closed' system of a Mac since I bought my Mac 512K. Even with the Mac Plus and SE you could crack the case to add more RAM, and in the SE even add a hard drive or second floppy drive. I haven't seen the MBP-R side-by-side with a 'standard' MBP but I'm happy with my more 'user-friendly' upgradable MBP (though I do wish that I had USB 3 ports!).

Regards,

Clinton

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Answer 6

Jun 15, 2012 10:13 PM in response to EllaiMac

cat videos

Whaatt?

Clinton

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Answer 7

MikePolinske Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 15, 2012 10:27 PM in response to clintonfrombirmingham

I'm not handy with changing hardware, so updating the innards of a system doesn't matter to me. I just saw on Mac Rumors that Apple will be charging $199 to replace the battery on the MBP Retina.

http://www.macrumors.com/2012/06/15/apple-to-charge-199-for-battery-replacement- on-macbook-pro-with-retina-display/

I realize on the old MacBook Pro you could easily upgrade the RAM and hard drive, but that's not for me.

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Answer 8

jerwrenn

Level 1

0 points

Jun 16, 2012 3:44 PM in response to MikePolinske

Its not just about being able to tinker, its extemely hard to repair, ifixit gave it a score of 1 out of 10 and called it almost unfixable. Ram being glued will also limit the life of your machine, and changing ram is simple

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Answer 9

Jun 16, 2012 4:02 PM in response to MikePolinske

Belkin (revised)

expected availablility: September

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Answer 10

MikePolinske Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 16, 2012 4:56 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks Grant! That Belkin dock looks sweet! And I think at $399 is worth it with the additiional ports, etc. I can hold off on buying the new MBP-Retina until September.

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