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Level 1

7 points

Suggestion on Purchasing the New MacBook Pro

Hello-

I am wondering where I would be best to go if I wanted to purchase a new MBP. I understand the 15" MBP has recently been updated, but that the retina display is not available in this size yet. If I am wrong with this onformation would you please correct me and let me know when the MPB was last updated. I am also wanting to configure several hardware items like adding more RAM (I do not feel comfortable adding it myslef, even if it does not void the warranty), add the SS hard drive (I heard that the Apple Stores do not carry this drive), and hopefully I wil be allowed to add iLife, and if the MPB does not already have a dedicated graphics card/drive, I am curious to know if it is possible to make this change when configuring the MBP. Is the website the best place to go? I am in grad school, so I understand that I can put in the name of the school I go to and some machines will come up, but I am not even sure if the discount will apply to a configured machine.

Any feedback on the current MacBook Pro and even the current operating system & version would be appreciated.

Posted on Nov 11, 2012 7:57 PM

27 replies

NObodE Author

Level 1

7 points

Nov 12, 2012 9:24 PM in response to sidonsoft

Thanks! I like to get real life opinions not just read a bunch of information from the apple website because they will make it all sound so cool and a must to have. I learn from what Apple says too but I like to use a combination of input before making a big purchase. what size SSD did you get?. What type of display did you get? the antiglare?

sidonsoft

Level 2

275 points

Nov 12, 2012 9:27 PM in response to NObodE

NObodE wrote:

What size SSD did you get?. 🙂

256GB as I purchased the base model Retina this model gave me the 3 things that I wanted which was the SSD and the Dedicated Graphics and of course the super high resolution screen.

I recently posted a blog on word press regarding my migration to this macbook, you can read that here: http://sidonsoft.wordpress.com

and I know people on this community object to me using my macbook for gaming, but here is me gaming on my macbook Need For Speed Most Wanted: on MacB…

NObodE Author

Level 1

7 points

Nov 12, 2012 9:36 PM in response to sidonsoft

Did you get it at Apple.com? I did not see the super high resolution as an option. I saw anti glare and glossy but with the retina it is best to stay away from glossy displays, correct? Maybe the super high resolution is another option. what did you select as far as the glossy or anti glare? maybe I am confused, but I am interested to get you input. thanks for the links.

sidonsoft

Level 2

275 points

Nov 12, 2012 9:39 PM in response to NObodE

sorry if my statement was confusing, the Retina display is 2880x1800 which for me is a super high resolution as I am accustomed to the max resolution of 1920x1080 coming from PC. I purchased mine instore, as I wanted to have a play with it before I paid for it.

edit: PC are not limited to 1920x1080 resolution this limitation was imposed by the LCD monitors that I used on my PC

NObodE Author

Level 1

7 points

Nov 12, 2012 9:43 PM in response to sidonsoft

Great game. I have never played a game before and it looks like I am really missing out. do you only play the games from the PC /Windows partition?

so what type of display did you get with you MBP retina display?

sidonsoft

Level 2

275 points

Nov 12, 2012 9:49 PM in response to NObodE

NObodE wrote:

Great game. I have never played a game before and it looks like I am really missing out. do you only play the games from the PC /Windows partition?

so what type of display did you get with you MBP retina display?

Some of my games are available for mac osx natively but I choose the windows versions so they are all in one place. I can play them thru my parallels VM or using CrossOver while inside OSX but you do suffer some performance loss.

I got the samsung retina display with my macbook pro.

NObodE Author

Level 1

7 points

Nov 12, 2012 9:52 PM in response to sidonsoft

I am confused and understand if you are tired of my questions. Samsung retina display? Is that a special order or is that who makes Apple's retina displays? Did it come in either glossy or anti glare or high anti res. If the Samsung display does not come with the Apple MBP, are you using a seperte monitior? I am confused and probably just do not know much about the Apple MBP retina display

sidonsoft

Level 2

275 points

Nov 12, 2012 9:57 PM in response to NObodE

NObodE wrote:

I am confused and understand if you are tired of my questions. Samsung retina display? Is that a special order or is that who makes Apple's retina displays? Did it come in either glossy or anti glare or high anti res. If the Samsung display does not come with the Apple MBP, are you using a seperte monitior? I am confused and probably just do not know much about the Apple MBP retina display

The two base retina models of the macbook pro 15" without a build to order:

differences:

2.3ghz vs 2.6ghz i7 Processor

256GB vs 512GB SSD

MacBook pro retina 15" are known to be shipped with either an LG retina panel or a Samsung retina panel.

You have no choice in the matter and this is purely luck.

There are no options for screens in these models

NObodE Author

Level 1

7 points

Nov 12, 2012 10:04 PM in response to sidonsoft

i was going by a post ds store left stating the following about the retina display,

"Yes you can get both a regular glossy 15", a high res glosy and anti-glare and a Retina 15" I guess I was confused about what he or she was saying.

sidonsoft

Level 2

275 points

Nov 12, 2012 10:21 PM in response to NObodE

NObodE wrote:

i was going by a post ds store left stating the following about the retina display,

"Yes you can get both a regular glossy 15", a high res glosy and anti-glare and a Retina 15" I guess I was confused about what he or she was saying.

The macbook pro 15" (mid 2012) - the ones that you see on the Apple website come in two different forms

Non-Retina and Retina and then these two forms have two different types which can be sorted out by their processor. This make for a total of four macbook pro 15" notebook that you can just walk into a store and buy off the shelf.

1. Non-Retina 2.3ghz (I would not recommend this one so let's ignore it exists)

2. Non-Retina 2.6ghz

3. Retina 2.3ghz

4.Retina 2.6ghz

(2) Non-Retina 2.6ghz has that (3) Retina 2.3ghz does not:

SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)

Thicker base to allow user serviceable ram slots and hard drive bay

Slightly faster processor ( +0.3 ghz )

* when Built to Order: has option for 1,680-by-1,050 glossy or anti-glare display that gives you 36 percent more pixels. <-- what ds store said *

(3) Retina 2.3ghz has that (2) Non-Retina 2.6ghz does not:

2880x1800 Retina display

Thinner & lighter build

Solid State hard drive

* recommendation by Sidonsoft 🙂 haha ha haha

They are Both the same price $$$

NObodE Author

Level 1

7 points

Nov 12, 2012 10:31 PM in response to sidonsoft

ahh, good deal. I am strange when I can afford an Apple computer. I usually go with the most advanced options. I wait until I can afford those and that is ususally what I get. My current MBP I think has 8 GB memory and is 3.06 ghz. Not sure that is always the best, but because my work changes and the needs I place on my laptop change, I usually do better by getting the higher processor, more RAM, etc. I like your choice. Thanks for the info. I should read up on the hardware more. I have been researching the operating system and that does not get the best marks, but i have learned a lot and how different it is from what I am using now which is snow Leopard..

But all in all you are satisfied with your notebook. do you use it entirely for gaming or for a multifunctional "family" laptop? Hey a new category of laptops--multifunctional family series. 😝

sidonsoft

Level 2

275 points

Nov 12, 2012 10:36 PM in response to NObodE

Email, general web browsing, basic website publishing, basic video editiing, basic photo editing

watching videos and listening to music and syncing things to the iPad or iPhone or my Android tablet.

and then theres 3D Gaming, looking forward to Black Ops II!! maybe tommorow

Suggestion on Purchasing the New MacBook Pro