Upgrade to a new Macbook now?

IdLikeToBeATree on 13/01/2015 - 00:04

I was fortunate enough to get the $500 macbook air 11" 128gb 4gb RAM deal from Kogan last year. Bought it to sort of try out macs and see if I'd like them

Well I fell in love with it and could never imagine using a windows laptop again

My only issue is that obviously the screen is very average, and it seems to not like doing too much at a time, even having more than a couple of safari tabs open it starts to slow down on me

Since I know I love them now, I was thinking of upgrading to a new macbook retina 13". I was thinking the slightly bigger screen + much better resolution will be nice, plus having 8gb RAM and larger ssd should help out too.

I was just wondering if there was any new amazing processors or expected upgrades coming out within a few months for the new macbooks. Or if it'd likely just be a small upgrade like 2013/14. I believe the last retina update was around june, so it'd probably be around then again?

And would the late 2013 13" retina 256gb refurb from the apple store for $1439 be a good deal, or be better off buying a new one from somewhere else?
http://store.apple.com/au/product/FE865X/A/refurbished-133-i…

Thanks!

Computing

Comments

  • massafiri on 13/01/2015 - 00:30

    Rumoured Upgrade Mid-2015.

    However; Dell released this bad boy recently:
    http://www.dell.com/au/p/xps-13-9343-laptop/pd?oc=y510194au&…

    Which is the Macbook Air Direct competitor. It boasts a FHD display, 8GB Ram and an impressive 15 hour battery life
    At $1800 for 256GB - it's not cheap. It goes to show how good the value of the Macbook Air is. Granted the screen isn't that great and RAM is limiting - the build quality of the Air is, in my opinion, market leading.

    Like you, I'm a Macbook Air user and Fanboy, looking to upgrade to the Macbook Pro 13".
    I'm holding out for the 5th Gen processor, which should bump up the Battery life from 9 hours to at least 10. If not more.

    • IdLikeToBeATree on 13/01/2015 - 09:22

      Thanks for the reply. Mid 2015 is probably a bit too long for me to hold onto my money :P

      That Dell is really nice looking, love the look of the screen, if only it didn't have windows on it. (I don't mind windows, just prefer a windows desktop and mac laptop)

      I think I might just grab one as the battery isn't a big deal to me as I just use it at home anyway

  • iridiumstem on 13/01/2015 - 00:39

    Hmmm, if you are interested in upgrading, as massafiri said, there is rumours on upgrades on Macbook (I am not sure whether he meant Air or Pro, but I've heard about the rumours about Air).

    In terms of Macbook Air, I think the rumours about 12 inch Macbook Air are interesting at the very least. http://9to5mac.com/2015/01/06/macbook-air-12-inch-redesign/

    I have also heard rumours about better screen in terms of resolution, also fanless, with Broadwell Core M processors.

    It's slightly bigger, it has better screen according to rumours. Honestly speaking, it looks interesting, even though it's not my cup of tea (having one USB port can be very limiting, from experiences). Though that being said, I think it might be worth the waiting.

    • IdLikeToBeATree on 13/01/2015 - 09:25

      Thanks for the reply. I'm not sure how I feel about the rumoured air to be honest. The main reason for upgrading to the pro would be so it was more like a regular laptop and I think the lack of ports would be a step backwards, and the keyboard looks really small/odd

      I don't know how they'd get the retina screen in it either considering that'd just basically be a pro then. Unless if it's just the ports that are making the pro bigger

    • Giraffe on 13/01/2015 - 11:31

      How accurate is 9to5mac usually?

      If the lack of ports and shrunken keyboard is true then I'd be more inclined to buy the current 13 inch Macbook Air.

      • iridiumstem on 13/01/2015 - 12:13

        I don't know. Though that being said, I've seen the supposed new macbook air from various sites, but it might be them cross referencing themselves.

  • the-mal on 13/01/2015 - 08:38
    +1

    If you mean 13" MacBook Air Retina - then it's not a good time to buy, they're getting close to the end of their cycle: http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#MacBook_Air

    If you mean 13" MacBook Pro Retina - then you're probably pretty safe since they had a refresh 6 months ago: http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#Retina_MacBook_Pro

    • IdLikeToBeATree on 13/01/2015 - 09:30

      I was looking at the pro, so I think I might jump on one thanks for the info :)

      • the-mal on 13/01/2015 - 10:13

        If you're going for a Pro, I'd jump on one of the 10%-14% off sales and avoid the refurb. MacBooks hold their value really well - if you have the chance to salary sacrifice it this is what I did for several generations that I had MacBooks:

        • Salary Sacrifice MB Pro
        • Look after it (keep it cosmetically perfect incl. the box)
        • After 2 years sell MB Pro second hand and recoup what I paid for it
        • Buy new MB Pro (or other laptop of choice) via salary sacrifice

        Means you get to keep an updated MBP with little to no additional outlay each time they bring out a new model. If you buy the refurb you'll save upfront but you also will wipe a few years off the resale value.

        • IdLikeToBeATree on 13/01/2015 - 10:40

          Thanks for the tips. I should be able to make atleas $300 profit on the air so that's a good help too. I found the good guys have one for about $1650 which is decent so might go with that

        • PVA on 13/01/2015 - 20:58

          @jumpo:
          really, second hand 11inch airs are still $800?

        • IdLikeToBeATree on 13/01/2015 - 21:00

          @PVA: From my quick check on ebay completed listings, yep been selling up to 850 for the base model used

        • PVA on 13/01/2015 - 21:03

          @jumpo:
          thats amazing. buggered if i would pay that for a basic 11inch lappy but good on the seller for getting that much.

  • MrMaxwell on 13/01/2015 - 10:40

    As mentioned just wait for the next 10%+ off sale and pull the trigger. With the Apple Watch release in a few months I doubt there will be any MB upgrades until June. Any of the current pro models will be a big jump from the 11" MBA anyway…don't forget to sell your current Air and put that towards new purchase.

    • IdLikeToBeATree on 13/01/2015 - 10:41

      Thanks for the comment, I think that's what I'll do :)

  • IdLikeToBeATree on 13/01/2015 - 20:48

    Got the pro retina this afternoon. Love it, I can't bare to look at the Air screen when they are side by side now :(

  • MrMaxwell on 14/01/2015 - 12:46

    Was it on sale or full price? Love my Air but the retina screen would be awesome.

    • IdLikeToBeATree on 14/01/2015 - 15:12

      The good guys had it for $1664, latest model 256gb. My store doesn't stock them though so I called JB and they did it for $1644, most stores are about $1850

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