Diff between retina and non retina

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Hello, I am interested in knowing the diff between this non retina I'm leaning towards.

Configuration

2.6GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7
8 GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM -2x4GB
750GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400
8x Double-Layer SuperDrive
MBP 15" HR Antiglare WS Dspl
Intel HD Graphics 4000
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory

( plan is to add SSD 256/512 in few months and upgrade ram on my own)
Compared to

Retina base
2.3GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz
8GB 1600MHz memory
256GB flash storage1
Intel HD Graphics 4000
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
Built-in battery (7 hours)2

Besides the fact you get the retina screen, little thinner. What are differences between these too.

I'm not looking for retina only fans to tell me why I should get the retina one but a educated info on the differences thanks
 
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Your Mac's Specs
Way... way too many specs to list.
the non-retina is user upgradable, the retina is not.
 
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the non-retina is user upgradable, the retina is not.

I understand that. That's why I'm leaning more towards the non Retina as it won't cost me a $1000 to do the upgrades I want more like less than half.

Any other specific differences?

Thanks in advance
 
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Your Mac's Specs
Late 2013 rMBP, i7, 750m gpu, OSX versions 10.9.3, 10.10
Non-retina also still has an optical drive, but doesn't have the 2nd thunderbolt nor the HDMI connector. It's also thicker and heavier then the retina version. You can also get a matte display as an option over the glossy.
 
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Playing with same decision, was at the local iStore today, they only have the non retina in stock, still 2/3 weeks before the retina arrives so was wondering if I should wait.

So the 2 I was looking at are: (Decided to go with the non retina, I'm not into graphic that I can justify the extra cost, also I like to burn backups to optical media, would have liked to see the Superdrive be BR based, but the fact that it is there + it has a RG45 port, where the retina have neither swung me), so potential very happy Monday on it's way :Cool:

G

15-inch: 2.6 GHz

· 2.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
· Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz
· 8GB 1600MHz memory
· 750GB 5400-rpm hard drive1
· Intel HD Graphics 4000
· NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
· Built-in battery (7 hours)2

OR

15-inch: 2.6 GHz Retina display
· 2.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
· Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz
· 8GB 1600MHz memory
· 512GB flash storage1
· Intel HD Graphics 4000
· NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
· Built-in battery (7 hours)2
 
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Your Mac's Specs
Late 2013 rMBP, i7, 750m gpu, OSX versions 10.9.3, 10.10
The CPU and ram performance are identical. Gpu performance on non retina will be better in terms of gaming (fewer pixels to draw) storage on the retina will be faster due to ssd but u can get an ssd drive for the non retina.
 
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I've decided the non retina 2.6ghz with antiglare. Maybe in a year or so the retina will be ready for my needs.

I'm planning on upgrading the hdd in a few months. Any suggestions? (SSD)

Will bumping ram from 8-16 make difference much?
 
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Your Mac's Specs
Late 2013 rMBP, i7, 750m gpu, OSX versions 10.9.3, 10.10
8 to 16 won't make a difference for most people. Eventually that may change, but for now 8 would most likely be more then enough. You'd see more of an improvement getting an ssd or a hybrid drive.

I put an ssd in my wife's new desktop I made for her a few months ago and it's super fast - and quieter. Biggest concern will come at her next upgrade in terms of how to securely dispose of the drive (ssd's are notoriously hard to securely wipe. There's a lot of data on this so if u get an ssd be ready to hang onto it)
 

dtravis7


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Your Mac's Specs
MacMini M-1 MacOS Monterey, iMac 2010 27"Quad I7 , MBPLate2011, iPad Pro10.5", iPhoneSE
If you want a lot of good info and tests on the Retina MBP check Anandtech's review. Very well done and informative.
 

chscag

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Your Mac's Specs
2017 27" iMac, 10.5" iPad Pro, iPhone 8, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Mini, Numerous iPods, Monterey
If you want a lot of good info and tests on the Retina MBP check Anandtech's review. Very well done and informative.

Did you notice all the comments from the Mac haters below that review article? Lots of Apple envy from the Windows world. ;P
 

dtravis7


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Your Mac's Specs
MacMini M-1 MacOS Monterey, iMac 2010 27"Quad I7 , MBPLate2011, iPad Pro10.5", iPhoneSE
Did you notice all the comments from the Mac haters below that review article? Lots of Apple envy from the Windows world. ;P

I usually read a few just to see some of the very hateful and misinformed people out there! :D Anand loves the Retina MBP and it's the first Apple he has reviewed he has given Anandtech's Editors Choice award to.
 
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I think Retina is Too advanced for our time.. Give it time in few years there will be more I bet
 
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Comparisons of 2011 vs. Retina

Scott:

Last week I took my late 2011 15 Macbook Pro 2.2Ghz/4 GB RAM/500 GB HD with hi-res matte screen to the Apple store and put it side by side with the new 15 MBP 2.3/8/256SSD with retina display while looking at the same 5 mb photos which I had sitting in my e-mails. Apparently no customers had done this before and many of the Apple clerks surrounded me to see this for themselves as the retina laptops are all at the same separate table in the store.

The glare with the retina display still exists even though there is said to be some sort of film on the display but it is closer to the glare the Macbook Air 13 has, whereas my matte display has none. I thought the retina display was 15-20% better while looking at the photos. Where the difference really became noticeable was in the details surrounding the main photograph objects. For example, the little purple and pink flowers next to a statue popped with the retina where they did not with my hi-res display. The main photo objects were also slightly better as well. Tangentially, I also found my new iPad display to be about 15-20% better than my iPad2 which my 4 year daughter has taken over.

Downloading the photos from e-mail was slightly snappier with the SSD but not significantly faster and loading to preview was a little quicker as well.

I found not much difference in speed and downloading pages while surfing the internet with both laptops.

Even though my laptop is 4 months old, I am going to try and sell it but I will not take any low ball offers because the retina is not that much better. If it sells, I will buy the 2.3 retina, if it does not sell, I will continue to enjoy my laptop and will upgrade it to Mountain Lion when the time comes.

The new base model MBP 15 2.3/4/500 costs $1799 but I would spend $200 on the hi-res screen and 8GB ram ($100 each) so the real difference is $200 for the 256SSD and retina display which costs $2199. Since so much of my use is somehow related to photos/video, it is worth it for me.

You asked for input and opinions, right or wrong, I have shared with you mine…
 
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Scott:

Last week I took my late 2011 15 Macbook Pro 2.2Ghz/4 GB RAM/500 GB HD with hi-res matte screen to the Apple store and put it side by side with the new 15 MBP 2.3/8/256SSD with retina display while looking at the same 5 mb photos which I had sitting in my e-mails. Apparently no customers had done this before and many of the Apple clerks surrounded me to see this for themselves as the retina laptops are all at the same separate table in the store.

The glare with the retina display still exists even though there is said to be some sort of film on the display but it is closer to the glare the Macbook Air 13 has, whereas my matte display has none. I thought the retina display was 15-20% better while looking at the photos. Where the difference really became noticeable was in the details surrounding the main photograph objects. For example, the little purple and pink flowers next to a statue popped with the retina where they did not with my hi-res display. The main photo objects were also slightly better as well. Tangentially, I also found my new iPad display to be about 15-20% better than my iPad2 which my 4 year daughter has taken over.

Downloading the photos from e-mail was slightly snappier with the SSD but not significantly faster and loading to preview was a little quicker as well.

I found not much difference in speed and downloading pages while surfing the internet with both laptops.

Even though my laptop is 4 months old, I am going to try and sell it but I will not take any low ball offers because the retina is not that much better. If it sells, I will buy the 2.3 retina, if it does not sell, I will continue to enjoy my laptop and will upgrade it to Mountain Lion when the time comes.

The new base model MBP 15 2.3/4/500 costs $1799 but I would spend $200 on the hi-res screen and 8GB ram ($100 each) so the real difference is $200 for the 256SSD and retina display which costs $2199. Since so much of my use is somehow related to photos/video, it is worth it for me.

You asked for input and opinions, right or wrong, I have shared with you mine…

I appreciate your opinion. I am not hating on the retina. I believe everyone needs to update their stuff for retina display to take full advantage. I use photoshop a Lot. Currently working on could get update next month or next year. Right now pictures look bad on them.

Second is the non upgradable features- if I went with the retina specs I need. it would cost me 3k. So I decided to go with the non retina 1k cheaper and I can upgrade later of I wished.

I may get the retina when more company's like photoshop etc have stepped up. However I'm fine with my Non retina

2.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz
8GB 1600MHz memory
750GB 5400-rpm hard drive1
Intel HD Graphics 4000
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
Antiglare

P.s. mbpR you may be on my wish list next year :)
 
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Also it is only $100 for hi res. and you can always add ram yourself. For half the cost. Even SSD. With the non retina.

My mbp 15 will be in tomorrow I ordered it Thursday with antiglare. Pretty fast I think

Hey if I don't like it I think I might trade it for the retina but as its mostly for photography I think I'll be happy.
 

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