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Updated MacBook Pros

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Re: Updated MacBook Pros

#51
post #5

summary of changes from macrumors.com: The new notebooks feature faster versions of Intel's Haswell processors, as all 13-inch models now come with 8GB of RAM standard while all 15-inch models now feature 16GB of RAM. The high end 15-inch model also received a $100 price cut, going from $2599 to $2499. and this analysis: Today's minor refresh is primarily a stopgap measure until Apple can launch a more significant up…

From what I have read, the Broadwell processors will only be ready by Q1 2015 and not the holiday season 2014?

Re: Updated MacBook Pros

#52
post #11

battery life isn't improved?

This is only a minor iteration; they've bumped the processors, but left them at the same TDP, and bumped the RAM. That's about it. Battery life changes will happen when Broadwell Macs show up, late this year or early next depending on how Intel's schedule works out.

Re: Updated MacBook Pros

#53
post #35

Why doesn't Apple ship MacBooks with optional anti-glare display anymore? Is a third party anti-glare matte screen protector useful? I would like to use the notebook outside too. Using the iPad outside on a sunny day strains the eyes.

I think there was low demand for the anti-glare stuff. For what it's worth I've been using my macbook air (2013, 11 in) outside without much issue. I think as long as the screen image is sufficiently brighter than the reflected scenery it kind of looks ok.

Re: Updated MacBook Pros

#54
post #37

wow, I bought one less then a week ago for £2200 and now it costs £1999 and has more stuff... did I just gifted them £200 or if I complain I might at least get the new model? EDIT: thanks all, yes I remember asking the return policy is 14 days. I will do that.

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/apple

Want to know even a funnier thing? I don't like Apple at all, the last product I bought was an iPhone 3G because I didn't like their business practice but I gave in to the mbp because it's a nice machine and I wanted to expand myself instead of keep developing only on Windows. Guess I was right when I decided to ditch Apple.

Re: Updated MacBook Pros

#55
post #15

I'm seriously wondering what my upgrade path is supposed to be. I have an ancient 2011 15" MBP, which was also the last user-upgradeable Apple laptop ever, but I remain hesitant to buy a new model. There is just not enough storage in the new ones, or in models that come close to my old one (1TB+) it's prohibitively expensive. At some point soon, my old MBP will probably disintegrate or get stolen, and it has features…

Stop being a packrat and move cold data to an external drive.

Bonus: now you have your data around even if your laptop breaks.

Once I learned to live with a 64GB macbook air, I realized that 90% of the data I was keeping around was not useful.

It's very liberating.

Yes, I realize 64GB of data is huge, but not for modern machines.

Re: Updated MacBook Pros

#56
This is the same; there's nothing new; the whole laptop market is dead. There's not a single machine I would buy -- the combination of decent keyboard, screen and user replaceable components is nonexistent now. ThinkPads had good keyboards and replaceable components and (unless you want to go back to T60 times) shitty screens. Now they have shitty keyboard, many don't have replaceable components but the screen is good. The Apple trajectory is not better.

Re: Updated MacBook Pros

#57
Compared to my 2011 MBP I Like the Retina, 16GB is nice as a standard but I have that now (and honestly I don't foresee needing more soon). But man would I trade that 256GB SSD for a 2 or 4 TB HDD in a heartbeat.

Re: Updated MacBook Pros

#58
post #39

The best time to buy a Mac is when you need one; if you wait forever you'll never end up buying one. My work machine died less than a month ago; a little bit annoying that this happened but there's always going to be a better, faster, cheaper Mac in the future.

No the best time to buy one is immediately after they release a refresh.

Re: Updated MacBook Pros

#59
post #14

Am I right in thinking you need to buy the top ($2500) model if you want to do any CUDA work? Or am I misreading the table and all the MBP models have both the Intel and nvidia GPUs?

For CUDA HPC work, you really need a desktop/server Linux machine that you can use remotely from your laptop. Only the highest end MBP has a discrete nvidia GPU.

I agree that is the better setup, however I'm often on a train or other environment where I can't rely on a connection. In that situation a weak CUDA device is better than nothing.

Re: Updated MacBook Pros

#60
post #10

For those of you who choose Pros over Airs; why does a Pro serve you better than an Air? Is it because it's your only machine, and you need the hardware to be beefy?

I chose an air a while back, and it has been fantastic for a lot of things. However, now I'm considering going back to the pro.

The biggest limitation for me is the single thunderbolt port. If I want to connect to ethernet, a display, or other thunderbolt devices (like an audio interface I have), I can only connect to one. Even on the 13" MBP, I can connect all three since there are two thunderbolt connections plus HDMI. The other biggest limitation has been video performance and CPU performance. I've ran into performance issues with virtualized boxes for local development and also with connecting an external display.

As far as retina, I could care less. It's nice, but not a necessity for me. Also, you get more battery life without it. That said, I'll still be moving to a MBP.

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