MacBook Pro 15-inch mid-2012 model or 15-inch retina display?

Check these links out

http://www.apple.com/osx/uptodate/

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD463ZM/A

Go with the Non-Retina for future upgreadabilty by means of RAM and Hard Drive. You might need the superdrive in the future which is not offered in the Retina.

The Retina is a nice machine but you're stuck with what you get. ( i ordered one )

To get a free mountain lion upgrade, read this link

http://www.apple.com/osx/uptodate/

To be honest, only you can answer that question.

If having a Retina works best for you, then go for it. I bought mine because it's the newest thing not because it's what I need.

We all have different reasons as to why we should buy the latest gadgets. Some buy it because it's what they need to do what they need to do. Others buy it because it's the newest thing.

In any event, whatever you decide to purchase, I'm sure you'll be quite happy with it.

good luck in deciding.

I get confused a bit by this "you can't upgrade it arguement so buy a model that you can upgrade". Seriously, how many people do you think pull old parts out of a notebook (as a percentage of total sales) and replace then with higher capacity or more memory parts? I doubt it is even 1%, yet many who write here are concerned that they'll get "stuck" with the technology they bought.

My 5 year old Core 2 Duo recently had a system board failure. It wasn't covered by the extended warranty so I had the HDD removed and ordered a new computer. I doubt it made sense to put a new system board in when the rest of the computer (HDD, RAM, Display, processor) could all be next (remember they are all 5 years old too).

They way I deal with the obsolecence issue is to buy a bit more power, storage and memory than I need today and keep the same computer for the 4 - 5 year period I'll use it. After that, Apple doesn't have parts for it anyway.

So, on my last notebook, I had 120 GB of storage (it is about 1/3 ful), 8GB of ram and a 2.3 Core 2 Duo processor. For what I do, it had plenty of performance. My new order is a 2.6/16MB/256SSD model. More than I need today and about right for what I'll need tomorrow. I could have saved $600.00 by buying the base non retina model, but to upgrade a new MBP from the base specification to what I've ordered (aftermarket stuff) would likely be more than $600.00. So what would be the point?

My advice, spec what you think you'll need over the life of your new computer and buy it. If it needs a repair, unless you are an expert or someone who doesn't mind the risk of a self repair, you'll be happier and will have less hassle.

While I do agree with your argument.

There are still a few of us here that likes the option to upgrade out Macbooks.

This is why a lot of people ask if they should get the Retina or the non-Retina PRO.

We give them the basic rundown of not user upgradeable in the future to consider before plunking down almost $3K on a machine that might disappoint them in the future if they need more RAM or larger Hard Drive.

I still own my old late 08 Macbook Uni - I upgraded it to 8GB and changed the drive to a SSD so I can prolong the use of it before tossing it out.

I also own a late 2011. Bought it with 4GB of RAM and as soon as I got it home, dumped the RAM it came with and installed 16GB the same day. Then I recently installed a 512GB SSD.

As I mentioned, everyone one of us buy our Macbooks for different reason and only we can answer our own questions. It is however, good to get sound advice from other people to help us make our decision clearer.

I chose the NON-retina display MacBookPro 15" because:

1. Did not want to carry a Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter

2. Did not want to carry a Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter. I use target mode quite often.

3. Did not want to carry an external DVD drive

4. The various reports of image persistence on the Retinal Display

5. Inability to change the hard drive in the Retinal model

6. Macs retain much of their value, and can always upgrade to the Retina Display model in the future, especially if Apple makes the standard MacBookPro with all the ports and includes the Retina Display.

No question the display looks better, but not worth the sacrifices described above.

Good choice.

The level 4 guys (and up) might swap SSDs and RAM and other stuff, but the average guy, will likely never find a need to (as long as you configure correctly). In 4 years time, you'll probably want the latest and the greatest again (I know I will). As I wrote before, for the average user, I can't see needing more than the MBPr offers, in 4 years time. At the 5 year mark, most people (including Apple) consider the computer to be obsolete (you'd better, because Apple doesn't supply parts beyond 5 years).

If I lived in Cuba and needed to keep cobbling together parts to keep a computer running, the MBP would be the better choice for me for the next 15 years. Given that I can buy a new computer in 4 or 5 years, I think the risk of not being able to upgrade is managable.

As others have wrote though, to each is own. Some people love to take stuff apart and put it back together again. I'm just not one of those guys. 🙂

Enjoy your new MBPr. Mine arrives this coming Monday.

Okay. But even after AppleCare or the standard Apple warranty is over, there are MANY places which repair Macs for a reasonable fee. Out of warranty, Apple may charge over $900 for a motherboard. At may places you can get a replacement or board level repair for under $350, and get a six month warranty included. Six months parts and labor, and that is twice as long of a warranty than Apple offers.

Which MBP did you purchase ?