Need Convincing....

rscosworth · 9 May 2013 at 17:48

Guys,

I have an iPhone 5 and iPad 4 and I am a self confessed Apple fanboy (I queue for new product launches) etc

I have always wanted to try Mac os, I used to own a MacMini but used windows on it (i was using it as a media centre at the time)

I have been scouring gumtree for weeks and weeks looking for a reasonably priced MacBook Pro or MacBook Air but they seem to hold their price to ridiculous levels.

I looked at the refurb store and found a 13.3" MacBook Pro Retina display model for £1059 and bought it.

I bought it purely because of Apples return policy, knowing that I would probably send it back within the 14day period, having satisfied the itch that was MacBook ownership.

It is a lovely machine, seems very very quick and the screen is amazing. The issue is that I already have an almost new Lenovo laptop (T430) which I can't sell, but it does not struggle with anything I use it for, browsing, itunes, watching movies etc.

So - convince me that I need to keep this MacBook - or have I answered all my doubts already.

I have the money but, is it foolish and frivolous to spend when I don't need to?

Thoughts.....

theheyes · 9 May 2013 at 18:12

Get your grand back.

passey89 · 9 May 2013 at 19:22

well its a mac thats all that needs to be said.

I think the last review from cnet or somewhere said that the most reliable (least crashes, fails, failed boots) was a mac running windows anyway.

It will synch with all your other apple products as well.

Mountain Lion is brilliant.

The lenovo will probably die/slow down after a year.

Resale value of the macbook will still be heigh after a year or so a lot more than any other laptop.

theheyes · 9 May 2013 at 19:34

I'm sorry, but speculating a Thinkpad will die after a year is conjecture of the highest order. They are some of the most proven and reliable laptops you can buy.

Ross1234 · 9 May 2013 at 19:35

theheyes said:
I'm sorry, but speculating a Thinkpad will die after a year is conjecture of the highest order. They are some of the most proven and reliable laptops you can buy.

This. My thinkpad is indestructable. (Also I much prefer it to my Macbook Pro I got from work)

rscosworth · 9 May 2013 at 19:52

I am also a Lenovo fanboy (it's part of my job) which is why perhaps it's silly to spend a grand when I have one with no outlay.

lamboman · 9 May 2013 at 20:28

You've basically said it yourself. The rMBP might be a lovely machine but why have it when you could have £1000 in your pocket and a machine that is sufficient for the purpose? That, and you won't be able to sell the Lenovo for a price that'll justify the move.

I'd take it back...

Turbo-G · 10 May 2013 at 13:10

So you would buy something and keep it for 14 days to satisfy an itch? Really?

If you like it, keep it. rMBP and iMac owner myself.

Once you've gone Mac, there's no going back

Raumarik · 10 May 2013 at 13:26

Turbo-G said:
Once you've gone Mac, there's no going back

I did. Does that prove you wrong?

As long as you don't count the iPod Touch and iPad 4 kicking around..

PLazarou · 10 May 2013 at 14:09

Return it, wait for Retina Air.

rscosworth · 12 May 2013 at 18:52

PLazarou said:
Return it, wait for Retina Air.

good suggestion. I have been using it a fair bit over the weekend and getting used to it, but I think the writing is on the wall and it will be getting returned.

Thanks for all the comments.

Fallen god · 12 May 2013 at 23:31

PLazarou said:
Return it, wait for Retina Air.

Why would they make a retina air, it will basically have to be just as big as the 13" retina, I really dont understand people think apple can magically make it the same size, with a screen 4x the pixel, huge ass battery and so on. If they could make the current Retina line anymore like an air I think they might have already.

staying OT just return it, if there really isn't any thing it does any better then your T430 and you can't return the T430 it just seems like a huge waste of money that you could do to buy something else, go on holiday, whatever you want.

Bromhead · 13 May 2013 at 23:08

Honestly, get your money back. It could be better used in your life and you already have a near new laptop which does everything you need.

You have the tool for the job already.

WuMyster · 16 May 2013 at 22:03

Return it. A 13" laptop with mediocre specs and a fancy screen is not worth a grand. You could get so much better for the money.
Gotta kick the fanboy self out mate!

PLazarou · 17 May 2013 at 00:00

Fallen god said:
Why would they make a retina air, it will basically have to be just as big as the 13" retina, I really dont understand people think apple can magically make it the same size, with a screen 4x the pixel, huge ass battery and so on. If they could make the current Retina line anymore like an air I think they might have already.

Why would they make the current Retina line more like an Air? They are MacBook Pros, not Airs. They will always be the more powerful option, so they received the retina treatment first.

You rightly point out that it will be difficult to give the MBA a retina screen without adding bulk. And at the time, it was probably not possible. But as the months pass, it becomes feasible. The 13" MBP Retina has a 227ppi screen. Impressive, but many high end smartphones are now above 400ppi (the HTC One is 468ppi), with backlighting powerful enough to deal with such crazy density (in something even thinner than a MacBook Air).

What's more, the current Air has exactly the same graphics technology as the 13" Retina MBP (Intel 4000). It could already support the retina display. They need to work on a bit more efficiency so that it doesn't kill the battery life, but that comes naturally with each new generation from Intel. They are coming, I have no doubt.

Fallen god · 17 May 2013 at 22:16

PLazarou said:
Why would they make the current Retina line more like an Air? They are MacBook Pros, not Airs. They will always be the more powerful option, so they received the retina treatment first.

What's more, the current Air has exactly the same graphics technology as the 13" Retina MBP (Intel 4000). It could already support the retina display. They need to work on a bit more efficiency so that it doesn't kill the battery life, but that comes naturally with each new generation from Intel. They are coming, I have no doubt.

My point was more to the fact that the 13" rMBP and 13" have similar hardware (the air uses the ultrabook versions of the gpu). So they have similar hardware, the weight difference isnt a huge amount more so I'm guessing it mostly just battery that makes up the difference. So my point is either the Air will need to be similar size as the rMBP or they didn't go as thin as they could on the current rMBP line. You can't really have it either way. Moreover with how the 13" really has some issues pushing the screen, how loud it gets and so on. I really don't see it being feasible in a air type case and I don't see them ever uncompromising on the size/weight/battery life which actual makes the air what it is. Just my thoughts thou and I could be completely wrong but I just feel like Apple will keep the Air as light as slim as it possible can and change all the Pros to retina.

theheyes · 18 May 2013 at 12:18

The rMBP is clearly the upsell option for people looking at the 13 MBA, because that's what it basically is - a jumped up Air marketed as a Pro machine.

For that reason alone I doubt the retina displays will filter down to the cheaper options for a good few years yet. It's not as if PC laptops are holding their feet to the fire either with regards to display resolutions.

PLazarou · 21 May 2013 at 14:39

Fallen god said:
My point was more to the fact that the 13" rMBP and 13" have similar hardware (the air uses the ultrabook versions of the gpu). So they have similar hardware, the weight difference isnt a huge amount more so I'm guessing it mostly just battery that makes up the difference. So my point is either the Air will need to be similar size as the rMBP or they didn't go as thin as they could on the current rMBP line. You can't really have it either way. Moreover with how the 13" really has some issues pushing the screen, how loud it gets and so on. I really don't see it being feasible in a air type case and I don't see them ever uncompromising on the size/weight/battery life which actual makes the air what it is. Just my thoughts thou and I could be completely wrong but I just feel like Apple will keep the Air as light as slim as it possible can and change all the Pros to retina.

You're right that it is unlikely that Apple would want to compromise the Air's weight just to fit a retina display into it, but that didn't stop them with the iPad 3.

I believe they have been waiting until they can do it while maintaining (or even reducing) the size and weight of the Air. After all, the Air has only had one major redesign since launch despite multiple generations of specs. It is due a brand new chassis, and there's no better way to introduce retina displays into the range.

Such a time draws very near. The tech is here, and getting even more ridiculous - this week Samsung is showing their new prototype 13.3" 3200x1800 laptop display with 30% power savings. :eek:

DaleTheWhale · 21 May 2013 at 14:45

I have a T430 supplied to me by work, one of the best laptops I have ever used.

Gotta get rid of that Apple fanboy-ism out of you!

Fallen god · 21 May 2013 at 23:38

PLazarou said:
You're right that it is unlikely that Apple would want to compromise the Air's weight just to fit a retina display into it, but that didn't stop them with the iPad 3.

I believe they have been waiting until they can do it while maintaining (or even reducing) the size and weight of the Air. After all, the Air has only had one major redesign since launch despite multiple generations of specs. It is due a brand new chassis, and there's no better way to introduce retina displays into the range.

Such a time draws very near. The tech is here, and getting even more ridiculous - this week Samsung is showing their new prototype 13.3" 3200x1800 laptop display with 30% power savings.

I think it could come soon, Haswell also offers a better GPU even in the ultrabook models but I really don't see it coming. It just doesn't make sense to me if they have a laptop with the Airs chassis and a retina display then why would I want to get a 13" rmbp?

I guess will see in time of course I just don't see it coming this year. But I do really want all laptops to be retina models.

Also the iPad 3 really had nothing else to offer, but looking at the iPad Mini they clearly left out a retina display to make it as thin and light as they could.