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New rMBP, or secondhand 2012/2013 version.


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New rMBP, or secondhand 2012/2013 version.
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Bryson
Rocket Surgeon
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: The Canadark
 
2015-05-22, 15:02

So, the specs on the rMBP have seemed rather stagnant since 2012.

Aside from the Force Touch trackpad, can you guys come up with any compelling reason to spend the extra money on a 2015 model over a secondhand 2012/2013 model?
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turbulentfurball
Right Honourable Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Québec
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2015-05-22, 15:36

The graphics card in the 2012 model wasn't so great if I remember correctly. It seems to be a 'thing' that the first retina version of a device isn't quite up to the job.
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kscherer
Which way is up?
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
 
2015-05-22, 15:59

13" or 15"?
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Bryson
Rocket Surgeon
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: The Canadark
 
2015-05-22, 16:49

13"
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thegeriatric
geri to my friends
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Heaven
 
2015-05-22, 16:51

Warranty and option to buy Applecare.
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kscherer
Which way is up?
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
 
2015-05-22, 17:21

Minor updates in performance and big updates in the screen's color and brightness. The first 13" Retina's had kind of a yellow tint in the screen and not as bright. More standard RAM, etc. The first 13" Retina's only shipped with 4GB (adequate then, suspect now) and they can't be upgraded.

If you can find a good deal, say a 128GB with 8GB RAM for $800-ish, then I might take the deal (but see below). The only thing that bugs me about buying from a 3rd party is trust. Did it ever have a spill? Been dropped? things like that. If you trust the source, then used might be good.

I suggest finding a local dealer with a good reputation willing to back their used stuff with a warranty (that's what we do). Buying from an unknown 3rd party is asking for it, sadly.

To be fair, I would only buy used if it went through our shop. I'm not into buying used systems in the wild. Too many opportunities to get the shaft. If I can't put it in a certified tech's hands and have it pass everything, I'm not buying it! Things like the battery and power adapter need to be tested thoroughly. The bottom case needs to come off to inspect for liquid damage, and dents need to be noted.

Also, the incremental updates that the 13 has gone through have actually been quite good. They might not be jaw-dropping numbers, but with each rev the processor and flash have gotten faster. I'm convinced that the 13" Retina is currently the best every-day laptop on the market. They're fast, reliable, light and that makes for nice portable computing.

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chucker
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: near Bremen, Germany
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2015-06-07, 13:15

CPU is about 19% faster, GPU about 110%. Couldn't find what SSD is in the older rMBP, but compared to the late-2013's, the early-2015's is about twice as fast.

That said, if you can wait, I recommend waiting for a Skylake version, if only for Thunderbolt 3.
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