MBP 2011 or 2012?

Z31daG33k · Dec 8, 2011

Hay, I am new to this forum (and the world of mac) I am currently a Windows user And WAS a windows fan and Mac hatter, I grew up on windows and never really gave mac a chance but after getting an iPod touch I thought. "If this is so awesome why would mac computers suck?" And decided to do a LOT of research and finally came to the decision
to switch to Mac so I was planning on getting a Macbook Pro 2011 15" or 17" But knowing that it would be a hefty fee along with hearing rumors of macbook pro 2012 I and have a new problem I don't know if I should empty my wallet for a soon to be out of date Macbook 2011 or if I should wate for the macbook 2012 so I will be up to date and don't have to go threw the hassle of selling a macbook 2011 for money for a macbook 2012 I just wanted to know what mac users think about this problem of mine and wold also like to know some of the rumors (and if some have been confirmed or not) Also any idea of a release date?

McBie · Dec 8, 2011

Welcome to the forums ....
The MacBook Pro 2011 will not be out of date soon -_-
If that machine fits your needs , then go for it now .... why wait for a new machine with unknown specs and an unknown release date .

You can always wait for something newer, brighter, sexier ... and wait ... and wait -_-
There will always be something new on the horizon.

My 2 cents

Cheers ... McBie

Z31daG33k · Dec 8, 2011

McBie said:
Welcome to the forums ....

Thank you

McBie said:
The MacBook Pro 2011 will not be out of date soon -_-
If that machine fits your needs , then go for it now .... why wait for a new machine with unknown specs and an unknown release date .

That is a good point don't know if i can wate till an unknown date...
But the only thing I am worrying about is if it comes out like a month after I get the 2011 model but I guess they would announce it more than a month before it comes out so I just sudden worry about it.

McBie · Dec 8, 2011

Well, there is always a risk in buying something and then a new model comes out soon after that, but that doesn't mean that the machine you bought is " Out of date ".

I understand your concern, and in the end, you will be the person to make the decision -_-.

Personally, if the current model fits my needs, I am going for it and I can start enjoying the machine without waiting for D-Day .... whenever that is ( Only Apple knows )

Cheers ... McBie

BrianLachoreVPI · Dec 8, 2011

Should we go ahead and sticky this since we'll probably see a bunch of these over the next few months.

zacster · Dec 8, 2011

Let's look at Intel's pipeline. SandyBridge was introduced early 2011 and was a major boost in processing, with added on-board video processing, and a host of other features that I don't even understand. IvyBridge is coming next, but the main development is smaller size, not a performance boost. That isn't to say it won't be faster, or feature an incrementally faster clock speed, but it won't be leaps and bounds different.

After IvyBridge, Intel will take advantage of the smaller size and manufacturing changes to incorporate even more features to make it a lot faster. That won't be until 2013 at the least.

Basically, the 2011 MBP will be good for at least another 2 years, and beyond that too. I wouldn't wait. If you want to completely future proof, get an i7 processor in it, an SSD, and load it up with memory. Just don't buy the memory from Apple as they charge too much. (I just checked and the i7 is standard in the 15" and 17" models, but there is a faster version available, for an additional amount of course.)

Z31daG33k · Dec 9, 2011

zacster said:
Basically, the 2011 MBP will be good for at least another 2 years, and beyond that too. I wouldn't wait. If you want to completely future proof, get an i7 processor in it, an SSD, and load it up with memory. Just don't buy the memory from Apple as they charge too much. (I just checked and the i7 is standard in the 15" and 17" models, but there is a faster version available, for an additional amount of course.)

Yea ill probably just get the current MBP as opposed to waiting for the new one I just wanted to see what people who own a mac (unlike me) thought and Just wondering, what is so good about an SSD as opposed to just a standard hard-drive durability or what? Oh, and how good is the performance of an i7 processor compared to i5 is it worth the extra money?

chas_m · Dec 9, 2011

In reverse order:

1. IF all factors were equal (number of processors, clock speed etc), then the i7 and the i5 wouldn't be that far apart, maybe 20 percent. But factors are not equal there, so yes the i7 is worth it if you can afford it.

2. The big selling point of SSD is speed, speed, speed. Its technology produces WAY faster read times and (slightly less fast but still whoa! fast) write times over conventional hard drives. It can be quite startling for people used to hard drives. The disadvantages you already likely know -- cost (higher) and capacity (not as much).

Do they last just as long? That's hard to say, since they haven't been out on the market really long enough to fully judge, but early evidence indicates that they should actually last LONGER, being less prone to shock. OTOH, the memory cells of an SSD have a finite life and without proper (automated) management by the computer, SSDs will gradually slow down in the same way that batteries gradually lose the ability to fully charge.

Bottom line, people tend to replace their notebooks every 4-5 years in the Mac world, the drive should be fine for that length of time.

afriqueart · Dec 11, 2011

I, too was a PC Guy. Managed a network of 1500 PC desktops. Thought they were the end all machines.

I went Macbook Pro earlier this year and couldn't be happier. I don't even turn on my desktop any more.

Take the plunge. When a newer MBP comes out, upgrade. You won't be disappointed!

Z31daG33k · Dec 12, 2011

chas_m said:
2. The big selling point of SSD is speed, speed, speed. Its technology produces WAY faster read times and (slightly less fast but still whoa! fast) write times over conventional hard drives. It can be quite startling for people used to hard drives. The disadvantages you already likely know -- cost (higher) and capacity (not as much).

How fast is "whoa! fast" Megabytes per second, Gigabytes per second, Terabytes per second.... (Joking about that last one)

Village Idiot · Dec 12, 2011

chas_m said:
In reverse order:

1. IF all factors were equal (number of processors, clock speed etc), then the i7 and the i5 wouldn't be that far apart, maybe 20 percent. But factors are not equal there, so yes the i7 is worth it if you can afford it.

2. The big selling point of SSD is speed, speed, speed. Its technology produces WAY faster read times and (slightly less fast but still whoa! fast) write times over conventional hard drives. It can be quite startling for people used to hard drives. The disadvantages you already likely know -- cost (higher) and capacity (not as much).

Do they last just as long? That's hard to say, since they haven't been out on the market really long enough to fully judge, but early evidence indicates that they should actually last LONGER, being less prone to shock. OTOH, the memory cells of an SSD have a finite life and without proper (automated) management by the computer, SSDs will gradually slow down in the same way that batteries gradually lose the ability to fully charge.

Bottom line, people tend to replace their notebooks every 4-5 years in the Mac world, the drive should be fine for that length of time.

This automation is built into Win7. Does the most recent OS X have the same ability? I would hope so.

Z31daG33k said:
How fast is "whoa! fast" Megabytes per second, Gigabytes per second, Terabytes per second.... (Joking about that last one)

Google

You can see comparisons of start up times and everything else with a SSD to a standard HDD.

Z31daG33k · Dec 12, 2011

Village Idiot said:
Google

You can see comparisons of start up times and everything else with a SSD to a standard HDD.

Oh yea, Good idea i'll just google it

McBie · Dec 12, 2011

Startup times are totally irrelevant these days, since most machines are not switched off anymore.
Open the lid, do work,close the lid .... next day same ritual.
I am much faster operational than any SSD -_-
The only time when I " startup " my MBP is when Apple Software Update asks me to do so.
Been doing that for the last 4 years, so I am not bothered with boot times.

My 2 cents.

Cheers ... McBie

zacster · Dec 12, 2011

Not just startup from power down, but startup of programs, loading of images, opening files, switching users... And it is so fast to boot up maybe you would power down, although I don't myself either. But I do have auto logoff, even though it is just a house computer with 3 kids using it besides my wife and myself. It comes on to any account so fast it doesn't matter.

Given how little real processing I do, it really does make a difference on my slow processor machine.

bazanders · Dec 12, 2011

Village Idiot said:
This automation is built into Win7. Does the most recent OS X have the same ability? I would hope so.

Google

You can see comparisons of start up times and everything else with a SSD to a standard HDD.

Only if you buy the ssd from apple, if you put your own ssd in, trim is not officially supported,(sucks i know) though there is a 3rd party app to enable it.

zacster · Dec 12, 2011

The OWC SSDs have their own software built in with SandForce.

bazanders · Dec 13, 2011

zacster said:
The OWC SSDs have their own software built in with SandForce.

Still not as good as having trim supported by the os

Z31daG33k · Dec 14, 2011

So if I get an SSD I should get it from apple?
And is the anti glair screen worth the extra $50?

MBP 2011 or 2012?

Z31daG33k

McBie

Z31daG33k

McBie

BrianLachoreVPI

zacster

Z31daG33k

chas_m

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afriqueart

Z31daG33k

Village Idiot

Z31daG33k

McBie

zacster

bazanders

zacster

bazanders

Z31daG33k

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