5 ms·

I spent 4k for maxed out ram and a larger SSD. I'll spend more time interfacing with this machine than with anything else in my life over the next 3 years. I

I spent 4k for maxed out ram and a larger SSD. I'll spend more time interfacing with this machine than with anything else in my life over the next 3 years. I advocate spending a lot on your Computer, chair and bed, and spending little on your car.

Xcelerate 14y ago
Yep, same here. I put the most money into the things I spend the most time with. So far it's worked out pretty well.
- Xcelerate 14y ago
  Explain please. I was providing reinforcement for his statement.
BryanB55 14y ago
Exactly how I rationalized spending $3k on the MBP retina. I commonly see people that think its crazy to spend a few grand on a computer but to me it's a device that supplies my income and where I spend the majority of my time. The part about the car however, I do not agree with. I'm an auto enthusiast and unfortunately I spend way too much on my car as well but it is something that I love to do and it provides me with a hobby to let me get away from all the time I spend on my $3,000 MBP.
- sliverstorm 14y ago
  In regards to cars, yeah, that comment gave me pause. I mean, when I was a teenager I was a skinflint on cars, but once you've got some funds... your computer can't kill you. Your car can. This is not an advertisement for the latest car with fifty airbags. Rather, a suggestion to avoid being downright cheap with an automobile. Assuming risk is one of the costs of driving, and should be factored in to your purchasing decision.
- slantyyz 14y ago
  Yeah, for me, the $3K is worth it. The only thing that gives me pause about the Retina MBP is the price and capacity of storage. For example, if you're a photographer who likes to keep your entire library on your internal drive, you'll have mixed feelings about the Retina MBP's storage. I'm only shooting 12MP RAW, and my Aperture library is already >200GB with diligent pruning. I'd hate to imagine someone using something like a D800 and its 36MP RAW files only to find out they need an external drive after a few months of using the Retina.
RegEx 14y ago
It seems a good portion of the HN crowd is obsessed with spending more money than necessary. I totally get the "Put money into things that matter" idea, but overpaying for outdated specs is not some honorable trait.
- sliverstorm 14y ago
  A key counterpoint to the "put money into things that matter" idea is "but don't put unreasonable amounts of money into those things". In other words, it doesn't rationalize spending $10,000 on a laptop if the $1,000 model is 99% as good.
  - robryan 14y ago
    I think it depends, obviously if it really were 99% as good it is a no brainer, a $4000 laptop that you value say 30% more could well be worth it. If you are bringing in 100k+ a year mostly using your laptop the $4000 figure is really quite insignificant in the long run.
- shinratdr 14y ago
  Because a computer is nothing more than a list of specs right? It's the same quality logic behind "My number is bigger than his, so therefore my computer is better."
  - RegEx 14y ago
    > Because a computer is nothing more than a list of specs right? What else would it be? If my computer is faster, cheaper, and lets me accomplish the same things in the same amount of time, how could it be worse?
    - AllenKids 14y ago
      Oh. There are a thousand ways it could be worse.
      - 14y ago
rapind 14y ago
I spent around $3500 for a maxed out 15" MPB in 2010. Matte screen, higher res, 256GB SSD, 8Gig RAM. Just this year I downgraded to a 13" MBA after using a co-workers... $1500 later and I've never been happier. The old MBP feels like a brick. A buddies new retina MBP feel like a lighter brick, but still a brick. I can't see myself ever going back to the larger form factor. I recommend really thinking about what you want in a laptop and trying out a few options. Go ahead and spend a lot if it's the perfect match, but don't feel like it needs to be expensive in order to be a great machine.
- aaronblohowiak 14y ago
  Absolutely, my machine preceding this one was an 11" MBA. I still use it on-the-go frequently. It helps me to check that I have committed everything :D It was the best $1000 I've ever spent.
  - rapind 14y ago
    I almost went with the 11", but it just felt too small after playing around in the terminal for a bit (talk about weird looks from the Mac Store kids). Maybe in a couple years I'll give it a try again. Such an amazing little box.
- stock_toaster 14y ago
  I tried to like the air, but the fonts were just a bit too wee for my eyes for extended use. Maybe if the airs ever go retina then resized terminal fonts won't look completely awful, and I may give it a go again. A retina 13"-mbp could be pretty nice too though. Still rockin' the mid-2009 15"-matte with an aftermarket ssd for now.
  - rapind 14y ago
    I'm running 14pt Monaco in iTerm. It's perfect for me, and it still feels like I have more than enough screen space. Only thing I miss is the matte screen...

Xcelerate 14y ago

Yep, same here. I put the most money into the things I spend the most time with. So far it's worked out pretty well.

Xcelerate 14y ago
Explain please. I was providing reinforcement for his statement.

BryanB55 14y ago

Exactly how I rationalized spending $3k on the MBP retina. I commonly see people that think its crazy to spend a few grand on a computer but to me it's a device that supplies my income and where I spend the majority of my time. The part about the car however, I do not agree with. I'm an auto enthusiast and unfortunately I spend way too much on my car as well but it is something that I love to do and it provides me with a hobby to let me get away from all the time I spend on my $3,000 MBP.

sliverstorm 14y ago
In regards to cars, yeah, that comment gave me pause. I mean, when I was a teenager I was a skinflint on cars, but once you've got some funds... your computer can't kill you. Your car can. This is not an advertisement for the latest car with fifty airbags. Rather, a suggestion to avoid being downright cheap with an automobile. Assuming risk is one of the costs of driving, and should be factored in to your purchasing decision.
slantyyz 14y ago
Yeah, for me, the $3K is worth it. The only thing that gives me pause about the Retina MBP is the price and capacity of storage. For example, if you're a photographer who likes to keep your entire library on your internal drive, you'll have mixed feelings about the Retina MBP's storage. I'm only shooting 12MP RAW, and my Aperture library is already >200GB with diligent pruning. I'd hate to imagine someone using something like a D800 and its 36MP RAW files only to find out they need an external drive after a few months of using the Retina.

RegEx 14y ago

It seems a good portion of the HN crowd is obsessed with spending more money than necessary. I totally get the "Put money into things that matter" idea, but overpaying for outdated specs is not some honorable trait.

sliverstorm 14y ago
A key counterpoint to the "put money into things that matter" idea is "but don't put unreasonable amounts of money into those things". In other words, it doesn't rationalize spending $10,000 on a laptop if the $1,000 model is 99% as good.
- robryan 14y ago
  I think it depends, obviously if it really were 99% as good it is a no brainer, a $4000 laptop that you value say 30% more could well be worth it. If you are bringing in 100k+ a year mostly using your laptop the $4000 figure is really quite insignificant in the long run.
shinratdr 14y ago
Because a computer is nothing more than a list of specs right? It's the same quality logic behind "My number is bigger than his, so therefore my computer is better."
- RegEx 14y ago
  > Because a computer is nothing more than a list of specs right? What else would it be? If my computer is faster, cheaper, and lets me accomplish the same things in the same amount of time, how could it be worse?
  - AllenKids 14y ago
    Oh. There are a thousand ways it could be worse.
    - 14y ago

rapind 14y ago

I spent around $3500 for a maxed out 15" MPB in 2010. Matte screen, higher res, 256GB SSD, 8Gig RAM. Just this year I downgraded to a 13" MBA after using a co-workers... $1500 later and I've never been happier. The old MBP feels like a brick. A buddies new retina MBP feel like a lighter brick, but still a brick. I can't see myself ever going back to the larger form factor. I recommend really thinking about what you want in a laptop and trying out a few options. Go ahead and spend a lot if it's the perfect match, but don't feel like it needs to be expensive in order to be a great machine.

aaronblohowiak 14y ago
Absolutely, my machine preceding this one was an 11" MBA. I still use it on-the-go frequently. It helps me to check that I have committed everything :D It was the best $1000 I've ever spent.
- rapind 14y ago
  I almost went with the 11", but it just felt too small after playing around in the terminal for a bit (talk about weird looks from the Mac Store kids). Maybe in a couple years I'll give it a try again. Such an amazing little box.
stock_toaster 14y ago
I tried to like the air, but the fonts were just a bit too wee for my eyes for extended use. Maybe if the airs ever go retina then resized terminal fonts won't look completely awful, and I may give it a go again. A retina 13"-mbp could be pretty nice too though. Still rockin' the mid-2009 15"-matte with an aftermarket ssd for now.
- rapind 14y ago
  I'm running 14pt Monaco in iTerm. It's perfect for me, and it still feels like I have more than enough screen space. Only thing I miss is the matte screen...