I'm planning on buying a MacBook Pro retina display

I was wondering if the baseline model with 2.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
Turbo Boost up to 2.9GHz
4GB 1600MHz memory
128GB PCIe-based flash storage1
Intel Iris Graphics
Built-in battery (9 hours)2
(13 inch $1299 version)
Is that storage enough for light web browsing, video watching, picture storage, Microsoft word, and general stuff. I'm not a hardcore gamer and will not be using any gaming, no video editing, no photoshop, I'm just a high school student using it for general things and homework. Is this suitable for me?

128gig SSD  is always plenty storage for 98% of people
due to:
Your Solid State Drive and having enough space inside your Macbook Air & Pro
Solid State Drive usage premise, or the “more space / upgrade SSD” question
There have been questions posed and positions taken by many people who are trying to use their Macbook Air or Pro’s solid state drive (SSD) as a mass media storage device, for either pictures, videos, massive music collections or all three combined; but this should not be the working premise of a ‘limited’ SSD and its use.
In which, it’s the case of those users with either 128GB, 256GB, or even 512GB of internal SSD space, that have or are running “out of space”, that questions are raised. The immediate premise of some users can sometimes be “(how to / if) upgrading my SSD” when in fact in nearly all instances another approach is the logical and sensible one that needs to be looked into and exercised.
Any Macbook containing a SSD should be idealized as a ‘working platform’ notebook containing all your applications, documents, and weekly or bi-weekly necessary files. All collections of media files such as pictures, music, and videos, unless directly needed should be kept off the notebook and on an external hard drive or likewise. While the ‘working platform’ premise is also the case with larger internal conventional hard drives of 1TB+, its implementation isn't as critical except in terms of data protection.
Realistically, you should at most coordinate roughly 20 to 25% of your total SSD space to all audio-video personal use media (picture / music / video collections), leaving the remaining amount on an external HD.
Nobody should consider any notebook a data storage device at any time under any circumstance, rather a data creation, sending, and manipulation device; and in the case of a SSD, this is more important for purposes of having sufficient working space on the SSD and reducing SSD ‘bloat’ in which cases someone is wrongly attempting to use the SSD space as a large media storage nexus.
The rare exception to the collective usage and premise of SSD use in which a much larger SSD is truly needed are for those in video and photography professions that require both the extremely fast speeds of the SSD and the onboard storage for large and or many video and photography files. However this also falls under the premise of a ‘working platform’ for such peoples rather than the intent of many who are using the SSD as passive and static data storage for media files very infrequently needed or accessed.
All on-notebook data collections should be logically approached as to necessity, and evaluated as to whether it is active or passive data that likely doesn’t need to be on the notebook, allocations of space-percentages to as-needed work and use, apportioning space for your entertainment media, and questioning whether it should it be on the notebook for more than short-term consumption.
Considerations should be made in the mind of any user in differentiating the necessary system data (System hub) comprising the Mac OSX, applications, necessary documents that both must and should be on your internal SSD, and that of the users personal data (Data hub) comprising created files, pictures, music, videos, PDF files, data created or being created and otherwise, that likely unless being used soon or often should be parked on an external hard drive for consumption, or temporarily loading onto the internal SSD.
You both can and should purchase whichever SSD size you need or see fit, but even in the case of the largest of SSD, unless use-considerations are made, and SSD spaces are allocated as should be the case indicated above, one can easily and immediately run into this quandary of “needing more internal SSD space”, in which instance a different approach in usage must then be implemented.
However it is almost always the case, that such large media files are wanted to be stored internally rather than actually needed, in which case the external HD is both prudent as well as necessary. Additionally costs per MB are infinitely less on an external HD than an internal SSD in any consideration of data expansion needs.
A Professional Example
In the case of a Macbook Air or Macbook Pro Retina with ‘limited’ storage on the SSD, this distinction becomes more important in that in an ever rapidly increasing file-size world, you keep vital large media files, pics, video, PDF collections, music off your SSD and archived on external storage, for sake of the necessary room for your system to have free space to operate, store future applications and general workspace. 
You should also never be put in the position of considering “deleting things” on your Macbook SSD in order to ‘make space’. This is especially what your external HD is for.
Professionals who create and import very large amounts of data have almost no change in the available space on their notebooks internal SSD because they are constantly archiving data to arrays of external or networked HD.
Or in the case of the consumer this means you keep folders for large imported or created data and you ritually offload and archive this data for safekeeping, not only to safeguard the data in case your Macbook has a SSD crash, or gets stolen, but importantly in keeping the ‘breathing room’ open for your notebook to operate, expand, create files, add applications, for your APPS to create temp files, and for general operation.
Slim USB3 1TB external hard drive
External Hard Drives
External hard drives are both extremely cheap and regardless of the size of your internal SSD (or even internal hard drive if the case), you need an external hard drive with your SSD equipped Macbook for several reasons:
1. Data backup and protection.
2. Redundancy for important data.
3. Necessitated ideal space for large media files for collections of pictures, videos, and music etc.
While ever changing in price, typical portable 2.5” external hard drives in USB3 run roughly $65 for 1TB or $120 for 2TB small portable USB3 hard drives. Such drives range in thickness between 5mm and 15mm, with recent improvements in storage of 500GB drives in 5mm profiles.
There is almost no premise in which a small 12mm thick 1 Terabyte USB hard drive cannot be taken along with any Macbook as an external large storage extension inside any Macbook carry case or pouch. Typically such external HD profiles are not much bigger than a deck of cards.
External hard drives are a foregone necessity for purchase with any Macbook for at the very least Time Machine backups, data redundancies, and ideally for large media storage.

Similar Messages

  • Can i buy a macbook pro retina display in US with portuguese keyboard?

    Can Apple or someone else tell me if is possible to buy in Apple Retail Store in U.S. a Macbook Pro retina Display  with portuguese keyboard?

    It's difficult to get one at a shop or Apple Online Store because build-to-order Macs aren't available at them unless they are very popular.
    The only option you have is to call Apple (1-800-MY-APPLE) and see if you can order a MacBook Pro with a Portuguese keyboard. In case you can, this will take days because it has to be ordered and delivered to the USAFD

  • Where can I buy a Macbook pro retina display with english keyboard in bangkok

    Hi,
    I am currently in Bangkok right now. I wanted to buy the new Macbook Pro with retina display. I went to Power Buy in Central world and found out that the keyboard for the macs have thai characters as well as English ones. I wanted to buy a mac with plain English keyboard. The guy in the store said that is only possible if I buy online.
    Is there anywhere or any store in Bangkok where I could get the new macbook pro with an english keyboard? Thanks.

    Since nobody in this forum represents Apple or any store, you will probably get better info on this by directly contacting stores yourself.

  • Can I buy a MacBook Pro Retina one month before I travell?

    I will have a trip no NYC and I wanna buy a macbook pro retina display 25 dyas before my trip because i dont wanna exceed my credit card limit. Can the macbook pro stay 25 days at the Apple Store? Thank you!!!

    I would not even ask a friend to *just hold* it for 25 days, as you have a 14 day grace period to return "for any reason" and that time should be spent using it to determine if there are issues.
    You may also owe considerable "import duties" if you bring back a system purchased in the US.  Your own country may want to take its 20+% (just guessing) import duties when you return home.

  • Sims 3 - 15" Macbook Pro Retina Display

    Hello All,
    I plan on buying a Macbook Pro Retina and i was just curious on how well it runs Sims 3.

    It will run fine. However something's will be a bit odd. For one, if you set the game to retina resolution everything will be very, very tiny. The computer will heat up noticeably, and the fans will shift up to maximum speed. However none of this really affects game play, and doesn't have much affect on the end user, so to answer your question it will be fine.

  • Portuguese Keyboard on Macbook pro retina display.

    Dear All.
    Is there a possibility to buy a macbook pro retina display with portuguese keyboard in Apple Store in the U.S.A.?
    Regards.
    Emilio Silva

    Hey, I have the same problem too. It is making me angry. Both my thunderbolt outputs work, but the hdmi freezes both screens. I then have to shut the computer off by holding the power button and re-boot. Have you found a solution? I NEED my hdmi port. Please get back to me. Thanks!

  • Is the Macbook Pro Retina display better than the LED display on the new iMac that is coming out?

    I am thinking of either buying the Macbook Pro retina display (15") or waiting for the iMac 27" display. I am mainly focusing on the display, so what is better?

    vinay.sujan wrote:
    Is the MacBook Pro Retina display resolution of 2880-by-1800 a strain on the eyes as I understand the higher the resolution the more strainful the screen can be to the eyes?
    Well there are two or three causes of eyestrain with displays different people seem to have.
    1: Small type/UI elements
    2: Glossy screens
    3: Flicker rate
    1:
    The higher pixel rate combined with the display set at the higher resolution is going to cause UI and type to be smaller and harder to see. In fact it's advised to set OS X to a lower resolouton so it upscales better to match the pixel of the higher display.
    Reports coming in say watching HD 1920 x 1080 trailers on the anti-glare 17" is best as the pixel content matches the display almost fullscreen, where on the MBP-R it's upscaled and thus looks blurry.
    HD content makers are NOT going to change all their video cameras to support 2880 x 1800 full screen, so in order to get a clearer image playing HD 1080 content, one will have to do so in a smaller window.
    2:
    The new MBP-R dispalys are 75% less glossy, but not 100% less glossy like the anti-glare models so this can still cause some people problems. This can be lowered to under 1%, however I'm suspecting to do so would be considered giving up a military advantage to China where Apple gets it products made.
    3:
    I don't know about the flicker rate if it's better or not on the MBP-R's than the previous screens.

  • Hi just wondering, i live in ireland but i am planning to buy a macbook pro with retina display in america, will applecare purchased in ireland still cover the macbook from america, thank you

    hi just wondering, i live in ireland but i am planning to buy a macbook pro with retina display in america, will applecare purchased in ireland still cover the macbook from america, thank you

    Yes. Apple care is associated with the serial number, and stays with the machine even if you where to sell the machine before the Apple care expires.

  • Is it possible to connect my 2008 black macbook, to my new 2014 macbook pro retina display screen to make a dual monitor. If this is possible what cables would I need to buy?

    Is it possible to connect my 2008 black macbook, to my new 2014 macbook pro retina display screen to make a dual monitor. If this is possible what cables would I need to buy?

    You can try using Screen Sharing in the Sharing preferences. Or try a third-party utility such as ScreenRecycler.

  • I want to buy a MacBook pro retina in India... Just want to know the discount for students

    I wanted to buy a MacBook pro retina
    Want to know the student discount on the base model...if any(offers)

    "to get discounts for Education, call Sales on 1800 425 4646 (toll free) or 080 2574 4646, SMS "SALES" to 54646 or email [email protected]"
    In the USA the education discount on Macs is $100.

  • Should I buy a MacBook Pro 13-inch or a MacBook Pro Retina Display 13-inch??

    Should I buy a MacBook Pro 13-inch or a MacBook Pro Retina Display 13-inch??

    MacBook Pro 13-inch - Compare Mac notebooks
    http://www.apple.com/mac/compare/notebooks.html
    If you have no use for super drive, buy MacBook Pro 13-inch with Retina display
    with 8GB RAM and  higher capacity SSD storage if budget permits.
    Best.

  • I'm about to buy the MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch in USA. I will be using predominantly in Europe. What accessories should I be buying?

    I'm about to buy the MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch in USA. I will be using predominantly in Europe. What accessories should I be buying?

    We can't discuss what Apple is going to do or new products, but it does make a lot of sense if your gut feelings tell you to buy now.
    I got a really bad feeling and ran out and got the last of the 17" MBP's with anti-glare and Snow Leopard.
    Turned out I was right in listening to my gut, the abortion of OS X Lion came out killed my 15", Cupertino HQ was pwned by Flashback and Apple pulled the 17" MBP completely off the market.
    Apple has purposely put the Retinas front and center in their stores, so the majority of the know-nothings buy those. If they thought a bit about buying a machine with future options in upgrade options they would, like you, choose the non-Retina.
    Really if you want choice in hardware, your going to have to switch to a PC. As you can pretty much get anything you need on that platform. Apple's hardware choices have been sealing up and their OS X is turning into iOS, soon it's going to be nothing more than a dumbed down iPad.
    Windows 8 Pro can be downgraded to Window 7 even, and since Win 7 is supported until 2020, you should be set for quite a few more years. The choice of software is vast on Windows and it's sort of the next eveolutionary step up actually.

  • Can I use Final Cut Studio 2 on the latest macbook pro retina display?

    I'm planning on buying the 15" macbook pro retina display and was given Final cut studio 2 from a friend as he woudn`t use it.
    is it possible to install this program on the computer at all and successfully use it or can i upgrade to the newest version?

    Studio 2? FCP 6? No. Sorry, won't even install. It's 8 year old software...and Apple no longer supports it. 
    The latest version, FCP-X...costs $299. There is no upgrade cost. But once you buy it, every single update after that is free...given the history of past updates.  Note...it's very different from FCP 6. Completely different app.

  • I am going to replace my 3 year old MacBook Pro with a new MacBook Pro Retina display machine.  I have been told by Apple that I can use the Migration Assistant ON MY WIRELESS NETWORK (no cables) to transfer data... I've read this can take AGES.. True?

    I am planning to replace my 3+ year old MacBook Pro with a new MacBook Pro, Retina display... I have been told by "chat" on the Apple site that I can transfer my data wirelessly... on my network.. Is is a good option?  I don't want to invest in cables if I can help it... since the old machine has firewire and the new one has thunderbolt!  Will the wireless transfer take forever... as in 30-50 hours???  I've been hearing these horror stories...

    Ralph Landry1 wrote:
    Recently did one MacBook Pro to another for my daughter...almost full 500 GB HD estimate wireless was 48 hours, wired took a little over an hour.
    Wow, shocking in comparison.  You have the patience of a Saint ! 

  • Photoshop elements 10 will not migrate to my new macbook pro/retina display.  There is no CD/DVD player on this machine.  Any suggestions on how to get Elements onto my machine?  Yes, I have the disk(s).

    Photoshop elements 10 will not migrate to my new macbook pro/retina display.  There is no CD/DVD player on this machine.  Any suggestions on how to get Elements onto my machine?  Yes, I have the disk(s).  Am I going to have to buy an external CD/DVD player to load this one program:(

    I have ordered a USB3 BluRay/DVD/CD player/burner and will use that both with my iMac ( in which the Superdrive seems to be failing ) and the MBPro Retina I just bought .

Maybe you are looking for