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Which MBP would you choose: 2012 non-retina or 2013 retina?
Posted by: MEG
Date: December 24, 2014 11:17AM
Poll
Which would you pick?
Only registered users are allowed to vote for this poll.
26 votes were received.
2012 15" 2.3GHz i7 with 16GB RAM 10
 
38%
early 2013 15" 2.4 GHz i7 with 8GB RAM for $200 more 16
 
62%



Have an opportunity to upgrade my aged MacBook Pro to a 2012 1 2.3GHz i7 non-retina with 16GB RAM or early 2013 2.4GHz i7 retina with 8GB RAM and only built-in graphics.

I'll be upgrading to a 1TB SSD regardless of which one I get so the retina's current SSD advantage is only temporary.

I'll primarily use it for work and pictures (currently an Aperture devotee) so the big question is while the retina screen is nicer, will the Intel HD 4000 on-board graphics of the 2013 perform better than the 650M GPU in the 2012?
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Re: Which MBP would you choose: 2012 non-retina or 2013 retina?
Posted by: mikebw
Date: December 24, 2014 11:29AM
If your pictures are larger than the non-retina display I think you will really enjoy being able to view them at a potentially fuller scale on the retina model. Either one will probably be much nicer than what you have, any chance you could go to a store to check out the screen on the new retina MBP?
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Re: Which MBP would you choose: 2012 non-retina or 2013 retina?
Posted by: sekker
Date: December 24, 2014 11:35AM
The 650M GPU is far better than the Intel on board.

The retina is a little more portable, but it may have a screen problem long-term. First gen screen issues.

I would only get the retina if you can have a full 3 year Apple Care warranty.

I am less worried about hardware failures on the non-retina machine.
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Re: Which MBP would you choose: 2012 non-retina or 2013 retina?
Posted by: Gareth
Date: December 24, 2014 11:44AM
I bought a 2012 well after the retinas came out because I wanted USB 3 (coming from a 2011), antiglare LCD, 1TB SSD + 2TB HD.
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Re: Which MBP would you choose: 2012 non-retina or 2013 retina?
Posted by: sekker
Date: December 24, 2014 11:51AM
Quote
Gareth
I bought a 2012 well after the retinas came out because I wanted USB 3 (coming from a 2011), antiglare LCD, 1TB SSD + 2TB HD.

The high-glare on the screen is my least favorite 'feature' of the retina display on this MBPR.
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Re: Which MBP would you choose: 2012 non-retina or 2013 retina?
Posted by: N-OS X-tasy!
Date: December 24, 2014 11:57AM
Tough call. The Retina is like a siren's call, but for me a discrete graphics card is a must.



It is what it is.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/24/2014 11:59AM by N-OS X-tasy!.
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Re: Which MBP would you choose: 2012 non-retina or 2013 retina?
Posted by: Acer
Date: December 24, 2014 12:08PM
Your head will tell you non-Retina, but your heart is saying Retina.



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Re: Which MBP would you choose: 2012 non-retina or 2013 retina?
Posted by: richorlin
Date: December 24, 2014 12:48PM
I traded up from a 2013 13" MBA to a 2014 13" MBPr and my eyes have never been happier.
All else being equal, go for the retina display, unless there is some hardware issue I'n not aware of.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/24/2014 12:48PM by richorlin.
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Re: Which MBP would you choose: 2012 non-retina or 2013 retina?
Posted by: MEG
Date: December 24, 2014 01:04PM
Quote
Acer
Your head will tell you non-Retina, but your heart is saying Retina.

Yup smiling smiley


Quote
Sekker
The 650M GPU is far better than the Intel on board.

That's what my head's argument is smiling smiley


Quote
Sekker
The retina is a little more portable, but it may have a screen problem long-term. First gen screen issues.

The 2012 was the 1st gen retina, so this is the 2nd. Still screen issues?

I have access to both so I may do an old fashioned head to head. Either one is gonna be faster than my current 2009 MBP smiling smiley
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Re: Which MBP would you choose: 2012 non-retina or 2013 retina?
Posted by: thermarest
Date: December 24, 2014 01:12PM
Gareth, sekker, N-OS X-tasy, Acer all very good points and exactly my thought process.

I made this same decision this fall. I went for the 2012 non-retina with the 1680x1050 antiglare screen. IMHO, this display is a must if going non-retina. My setup now has 256ssd+2tb hard drive. Probably will go 1tb ssd in the future.

Except for the screen itself, all points go to the non-retina. Well, weight I suppose but for me the weight diff is trivial.

Serious photo work usually would involve an external display much of the time anyway so there goes the only point for the retina. That was my analysis. Just wasn't willing to only have 256 or 512 onboard and not willing to pay a fortune for 1tb apple-specific ssd.
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Re: Which MBP would you choose: 2012 non-retina or 2013 retina?
Posted by: GuyGene
Date: December 24, 2014 01:15PM
Quote
Acer
Your head will tell you non-Retina, but your heart is saying Retina.

That's wha' happened to me - I got the retina. Reckon I made the right choice... Me old haid, me old heart, I followed me heart this time. Unusual for me.



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Re: Which MBP would you choose: 2012 non-retina or 2013 retina?
Posted by: Gareth
Date: December 24, 2014 02:12PM
Quote
thermarest
Serious photo work usually would involve an external display much of the time anyway so there goes the only point for the retina. That was my analysis.

Yea, I only use the built-in display when traveling. At home and work, I use external monitors, so that was another reason I went with the 2012.
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Re: Which MBP would you choose: 2012 non-retina or 2013 retina?
Posted by: Speedy
Date: December 24, 2014 03:12PM
Go 15" Retina and never look back.

Screen problems:

[www.google.com]



Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.
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Re: Which MBP would you choose: 2012 non-retina or 2013 retina?
Posted by: sekker
Date: December 24, 2014 03:27PM
Quote
Speedy
Go 15" Retina and never look back.

Screen problems:

[www.google.com]

Mine had the screen problem - appeared after one year. Glad I had Apple Care.
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Re: Which MBP would you choose: 2012 non-retina or 2013 retina?
Posted by: hal
Date: December 24, 2014 05:28PM
Is the 2012 2.6ghz model an option? It's a killer machine. I's take it over the 2013 machine you listed at equal price, but I think I'd take the 2013 model over the 2012 bottom of the line.
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Re: Which MBP would you choose: 2012 non-retina or 2013 retina?
Posted by: RAMd®d
Date: December 24, 2014 09:33PM
Which would I choose?

Retina.

Now that there's a Retina iMac, I'll never buy another Mac that doesn't have a Retina display.






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Re: Which MBP would you choose: 2012 non-retina or 2013 retina?
Posted by: MEG
Date: December 27, 2014 10:37AM
Well...smack me in the ass and call me Judy... *somebody* read the specs wrong and it turns out the retina MBP *has* a dedicated GPU as well (a 1GB VRAM version of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M) so..

MacBookPro Retina it is smiling smiley

My head and heart both win smiling smiley
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