16GB RAM - non-retina vs fully equiped new 13" retina?

Non-Retina

13" Non Retina $999.00
2.5 Ghz i5 $0.00
2.9 Ghz i7 + $135.00
4GB Ram $0.00
16 GB Ram + $144.99
500 GB HDD $0.00
1TB SSD $500 + $500.00

Total $1,779.00

Save $730.01

_________________________

Retina

13" Retina $1,699.00
2.8 Ghz $0.00
3.0 Ghz i7 + $180.00
8GB Ram $0.00
16 GB Ram + $180.00
512 GB SSD $0.00
1 TB SSD + $450.00

Total $2,509.00

I am on the fence about buying a new 13" retina Macbook or buying the non-retina Macbook and putting a 1TB SSD and 16 GB of RAM in it. That would save $730 but would sacrifice the retina display, new processor, and lighter form factor.

You can get a 2.9 Ghz i7 processor in the non-retina, is that much slower than the 4th generation 3.0 Ghz option in the new 13" retina?

If apple is going to release something completely new in the next 6 months then I would get the older non-retina since I have use of a retina 13" at work. I like to keep my files synced so need the large HDD.

The other option would be to buy the 13" retina with a 128GB SSD and use an external HDD to hold my data and upgrade when OWC has the option.

I did not included the air because it seems that after you spend the money to upgrade the air you might as well get the retina.

Thoughts?

Unless you have specific needs which the Pro will fulfill, I'd go Retina.
Pro will be phased out eventually, in favour of Retina (according to Apple guy in Regent Street store), so you'd be dealing with 'old' technology.

I had to buy the Pro because I needed a Superdrive and FireWire.

I did buy a Retina model first (to try with externals) but ended up downgrading.
Of the two machines, the Retina was much nicer in design and feel - and screen picture, of course. Performance was better, too - but I think/hope that was down to the SSD vs HDD . I'm hoping that, when I get round to putting a SSD in my Pro, it will be similar.

My main gripe about the new models is that they aren't user upgradeable. So make sure you can get the spec you want at point of purchase.

Luke345 said:

Non-Retina


If apple is going to release something completely new in the next 6 months then I would get the older non-retina since I have use of a retina 13" at work.

Click to expand...

Don't know if they are, but if you already have access to the work machine, could you wait 6 months to find out?

Good luck, CB