Welcome to Apple Support Communities. We're users here and don't speak for "Apple Inc."
In addition to the retina MacBook Pro (rMBP), and the MacBook Pro (MBP), there's also the MacBook Air (MBA) to consider.
http://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/specs/
https://www.apple.com/macbook-air/specs.html
http://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/specs-retina/
You will have to decide your priorities, then rank them. Here's a short (but by no means comprehensive list):
- Cost
- Minimum acceptable battery life
- Weight/portability
- Screen size and screen resolution required by the apps you run.
- Minimum acceptable performance
- Built-in CD/DVD drive (or add an external CD/DVD drive for $79)
- Can RAM and internal hard drive/SSD be replaced or upgraded later by the user, an authorized Apple service facility, or not-at-all?
- College 'help desk' support for your choice of computer. It's great to be a trendsetter in some things, but you don't want to be "the only one on campus" who uses whatever computer you choose.
If you walk to class and take your computer in your backpack every day, lighter weight and longer battery life could outweigh future upgradability and cost.
The current MacBook Pro (MBP) 13" was introduced in 2012, so it is the oldest design and offers the shortest battery life, up to 7 hours. It includes a built-in CD/DVD drive and at 4.5 lbs, weighs about 1 pound more than the current retina MacBook Pro 13" (rMBP) at 3.5 lbs, and 1.5.b more than the MBA at 3 pounds.
If importing music from CD's, watching movies on DVD, or burning CD's or DVD's is quite important to you, that benefit might outweigh carrying an extra pound or so around in your backpack, if an when you take your Mac to class or to the library. An external Apple CD/DVD burner is available for the rMBP and the MBA for $79.
The 13" MBP has a 1280 x 800 screen resolution.
The 13" rMBP has a 2560x1600 screen resolution, great for photo editing, but many apps use an apparent 1280x800 screen resolution.
The 13" MBA has a 1440x900 screen resolution.
The MBP comes standard with 4GB RAM or 8GB RAM, and IS user-upgradable to as much as 16GB RAM later.
The rMBP comes standard with 4GB RAM, 8GB, or 16GB and is NOT designed to be user upgradable, I'd recommend that you purchase at least 8GB RAM for best performance with current and future operating systems and programs that use them.
The MBA comes standard with 4GB RAM or an optional 8GB and IS NOT upgradable at all.
The MBP comes standard with a 500GB traditional internal rotating hard drive. It is also available with a 1TB internal rotating hard drive, or with flash memory drive options of 128GB, 256GB or 512GB.
The MBP internal hard drive or flash drive IS designed to be user-upgradable.
The rMBP comes standard with 128GB of flash storage, available with 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB, and the internal storage is NOT designed to be user upgradable.
The MBA comes standard with either 128GB or 256GB of flash storage, and the internal storage is NOT designed to be upgradable at all.
If you select either the rMBP or the MBA, I'd recommend that you purchase at least 8GB of RAM installed, and a 256GB internal flash drive, because neither RAM nor internal storage can be upgraded by you later.
In deciding how much to spend, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND that your purchase budget includes:
1) a sturdy backpack or carrying case with a shoulder strap
2) an external hard drive of at least 1TB or more for Time Machine backups, and
3) perhaps a smaller 500GB second external drive if you have an extensive collection of music, photos, and movies that don't need to be occupying valuable internal SSD space.
Stuff happens. Computers do stop working. In my opinion, the MacBook Pro, while an older design, slightly slower, and slightly heavier design, is less expensive, BUT is still a logical choice for many college students. It offers the advantage of you, the user, being able to easily upgrade RAM and internal hard disk (or flash drive) storage, when components fail or your needs change.
Most college students (and their parents) qualify for a modest Apple Education Store discount and perhaps Apple financing for the purchase of a computer.
Check to see if your college has a site-licensing program with major software vendors such as Microsoft and Adobe. If so, you can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on software purchased for your use during your college years.
If you are on a really tight budget (what college student isn't?), also consider purchasing a refurbished Mac directly from Apple. They are indistinguishable from a brand new computer, and often cost 12% to 25% less than a brand new unit. The only difference is that they come shipped in a plain brown box instead of the 'pretty' white retail box. Slightly older refurbished Macs are often available direct from Apple at even greater discounts. http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac
Both my Macs (a mid-2007 MacBook, and a mid-2011 iMac) were purchased direct from Apple refurbished.
If you have questions, feel free to post them in this thread. I'm not online every day, but I do look at the forums at least several times a week.
