Can't decide

[RazeNCain]

Have never owned any Apple products before but I believe I will be getting an rMBP soon.

Brand new 13" MBP for $1499
2.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
8GB 1600MHz memory
256GB PCIe-based flash Storage
Intel Iris Graphics

Refurbished 15" MBP for $1499 (Early 2013)
8GB of 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM
256GB Flash Storage
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory

Whichever one I choose I will be adding AppleCare. I have never purchased anything refurbished before, however I know there is a 14-day return period.

Right now I am leaning waaay towards the Refurb since I will be adding AppleCare. Just need some opinions, I know nothing about macs other than I love the touchpad.


Edit: I guess I should mention what I will be using it for. Primarily web development and Photoshop. May be doing some AutoCAD as well. I don't play games at all, prefer a console it's much cheaper and you don't have to upgrade every year to keep up with everyone else.

 

[Just_Me_D]

You should be fine with either and hopefully, you'll come to enjoy your Apple product as much as we enjoy ours....

 

[RazeNCain]

I hope so, going to best buy tonight to make sure I want an Apple. I sold my desktop which I just built this past Christmas. So it's going to be a desktop replacement, I kept my 27" display however. Forgot to mention they are both retina displays as well.

Is there a big difference between the early 2013's and the current new ones?

 

[Just_Me_D]

There's not that big of a difference, other than the usual bump in specs. The thing to remember about Macs is that they are supported for a long time. For example, I am still using a MacBook (early 2009) model that I bought brand new in February of 2009. With the exception of the malfunctioning display (I have a external display connected), the device runs well and is running OS X Mavericks with ease, and it only has 4 GB RAM. Like you, I used to build myself and others new PCs year a after year, and when I first got my MacBook, it was a bit awkward to use because I was so used to Windows. In all honesty, I almost returned my MacBook. Thank GOD I didn't. You couldn't pry me away from it now..

 

[RazeNCain]

Alright, I will definitely be going with the refurb then. If I don't like it I've got 14 days. Just gotta make sure apple is what I want.