We've got a good MacBook Pro. For general usage there's plenty of x64 grunt rolled into a compact, light package with good battery life. But for graphically demanding and creative applications we can do much better. For mine the following two items particularly stand out:
1) Faster dedicated GPU options - benefits for gaming, and depending on workflow, editing, modelling, and animation / rendering: The GT 650M is a solid mobile GPU, but there is plenty of room for improvement - even the Fermi-based GTX 670M outshines it, not to mention its Kepler cousins the GTX 670MX or GTX 680MX, and that's just this year's GPUs (see eg. http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html and http://community.futuremark.com/hardware/gpu). With appropriate power management, and well thought-out cooling, there is no reason why these GPUs can't work in a MacBook Pro (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compar...ocessing_units#GeForce_600M_.286xxM.29_series for TDPs).
2) 17+ inch retina model - benefits for image and video editing, development, modelling, animation / rendering, gaming: The 15" retina supports some very high resolutions, but they end up being quite small on the 15" screen. Where mobility is especially important this can be a reasonable trade off. But where mobility is a smaller part of the puzzle, a larger screen can make more sense, while still being relatively mobile. It makes higher resolutions easier to see - ie. more of the windows, more of the content, more of the game - without the need for a magnifying glass (and without needing to cart around an extra monitor).
The bigger form factor of a 17+ inch also has the benefit of allowing for more effective cooling and juicier batteries to drive everything when not connected to the mains. I for one would be much happier to pay the current top dollar for a kitted-out 17 inch retina over a similarly-kitted r15.
At the moment it's anyone's guess what Apple's thinking in this space. So the best thing to do - presuming you're an interested party - is to let Apple know there's a market for them. With the iMac refresh (witness GTX 680MX[!]), management shuffle-up, and the ever-nearing release of Haswell (see eg. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haswell_(microarchitecture) and http://www.anandtech.com/show/6355/intels-haswell-architecture), now seems like a pretty good time to do just that.
If like me you're keen for these options, let Apple know on their MacBook Pro feedback link http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html. Let's get portable graphics on Apple's radar!
1) Faster dedicated GPU options - benefits for gaming, and depending on workflow, editing, modelling, and animation / rendering: The GT 650M is a solid mobile GPU, but there is plenty of room for improvement - even the Fermi-based GTX 670M outshines it, not to mention its Kepler cousins the GTX 670MX or GTX 680MX, and that's just this year's GPUs (see eg. http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html and http://community.futuremark.com/hardware/gpu). With appropriate power management, and well thought-out cooling, there is no reason why these GPUs can't work in a MacBook Pro (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compar...ocessing_units#GeForce_600M_.286xxM.29_series for TDPs).
2) 17+ inch retina model - benefits for image and video editing, development, modelling, animation / rendering, gaming: The 15" retina supports some very high resolutions, but they end up being quite small on the 15" screen. Where mobility is especially important this can be a reasonable trade off. But where mobility is a smaller part of the puzzle, a larger screen can make more sense, while still being relatively mobile. It makes higher resolutions easier to see - ie. more of the windows, more of the content, more of the game - without the need for a magnifying glass (and without needing to cart around an extra monitor).
The bigger form factor of a 17+ inch also has the benefit of allowing for more effective cooling and juicier batteries to drive everything when not connected to the mains. I for one would be much happier to pay the current top dollar for a kitted-out 17 inch retina over a similarly-kitted r15.
At the moment it's anyone's guess what Apple's thinking in this space. So the best thing to do - presuming you're an interested party - is to let Apple know there's a market for them. With the iMac refresh (witness GTX 680MX[!]), management shuffle-up, and the ever-nearing release of Haswell (see eg. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haswell_(microarchitecture) and http://www.anandtech.com/show/6355/intels-haswell-architecture), now seems like a pretty good time to do just that.
If like me you're keen for these options, let Apple know on their MacBook Pro feedback link http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html. Let's get portable graphics on Apple's radar!