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supply chain indicates 2560x1600

Hi,

Anybody seen this news ? These guys look at what panels are produced and they've noticed a 13.3" with 4x resolution is currently in production. A clear indication of what the screen spec of the 13" MBPR will be.

For me, 1280x800 is probably enough, particularly on a 13" screen. I'm actually typing this on that resolution, 19". But one thing that people seem to miss is the quality of the non-native resolutions. It used to be that showing an 800x600 on a 1024x768 screen looked really bad. Of course ! Even at native res, you could see the pixels. So doing very rough up/downscaling was obviously going to give really bad artefacts.

With the Retina display, you cannot see the pixels. Also, Apple isn't using dumb scaling mechanisms: they use quad resolution (e.g. 3360x2100 when rendering simulated 1680x1050), which they then downscale. This reduces aliasing and other artefacts significantly. Looking at the Anandtech screenshots (make sure you click "View Original Size" and, if necessary, click again to zoom in to 100%), I can't see any difference in the UI even when it's scaled. So on a screen where you can't see individual pixels, scaling basically cannot be noticed.

That means that with a 13.3" MBPR, you wouldn't just get 2560x1600 resolution. If you want, you can switch it to 1440x900 or other resolutions and work just as if that resolution was native. You won't see the difference anyway. It'll probably be crisper than a competitor's laptop at that resolution, particularly because the Retina displays are high quality IPS.

This, for me, is a game changer. It virtualises screen resolution. I may be exaggerating a bit here, but that's more or less what it comes down to. As I still have to save up before I can purchase any mac at all, this one has suddenly popped up at the top of my list. For serious work (I do documentation), I can work on a 13" screen with 2 pages of readable text next to each other, increasing the (virtual) resolution if required to reduce the size of the UI elements. I can't even do that comfortably with this 19" monitor I'm using at the moment. I expect specs to be quite high, so this would be a machine that would still be quite okay in 5 years' time.


Peter.
 
Most of Ultrabooks I've seen use the low voltage dualcore i5, and sometimes slower i3 chips. The good thing about the new MBP is that it retains the more powerful (and hotter running) higher voltage quadcore chip in a relatively thin body and a decent battery life. But man they had to throw in a ton of battery to get that 7 hour battery life with the juice-sucking Retina screen there.



Good point. Just like that time, this looks like another product line up transition period for Apple.

Low power CPU is slow and not useful.
 
Newbie's first post, be gentle....

See, this is why I have had such a hard time getting on board and finally taking the leap of faith with the larger (more expensive) Apple products. As soon as I get ready to purchase a "new" product of theirs (13" MBP w/Ivy Bridge) I read about the 13" line getting the retina upgrade in a few months.

Here is my concern...based off the original article and the subsequent posts, it sounds like the Pro lineup may be getting ready for a significant shake up. Retina display addition requires a larger battery which is changing the layout of the MB and internal components. I also vaguely remember reading that the Retina screens were allowing the overall design to be thinner (18mm vs 19) and in turn, changing how many ports and external options were available. If all of that is true, then why would anyone buy the current 101 model when such a shakeup is just around the corner?

Lastly, I admittedly went into my local best buy store looking to purchase a reasonably equipped, highly upgradeable HP that fit my needs to a 'T' but thanks to my beautiful wife and my inability to ignore the Apple aura, I'm now SERIOUSLY interested in a 13" Pro. The price is right at $1200, but you can bet I would blow a gasket if in four months a significantly redesigned version came out at the same price. Do we really feel that if the Retina display and subsequent changes hit the 13" Pro line, it's going to be in the $1200 - $1500 range?

I want to invest in Apple/Mac, but things like this is what leads me to pay 50% less on something that I can knowingly predict will be outdated in 12-18 months. A $1200 -1500 computer is another story....
 
Low power CPU is slow and not useful.
Tell that to all the people using x86 cpus, or better yet Intel to start implementing better stuff in some of their CPUs like Atom, and their quad-cores(really needs graphene stuff to make it soar and not silly).
 
I sincerely hope this machine has a dedicated GPU. If not, it's just a heavier/thicker MBA with a nicer display. I don't see the point of a machine like that...

I was thinking the same thing. I think it will have discrete graphics which will justify a higher price than the MBA 13".
 
I sincerely hope this machine has a dedicated GPU. If not, it's just a heavier/thicker MBA with a nicer display. I don't see the point of a machine like that...

If they do actually change the design, chances are they might really try this time to put one in.
 
13 inch retina would be great, i would 100% go for it. I hope some of the bumps that the 15 has had will be overcome. I believe it will be in October simply because they will not leave the 15 inch ONLY with Retina for a year. A few months makes sense.
Im looking forward to the Next Generation 13 inch Macbook Pro!
 
13 inch retina would be great, i would 100% go for it. I hope some of the bumps that the 15 has had will be overcome. I believe it will be in October simply because they will not leave the 15 inch ONLY with Retina for a year. A few months makes sense.
Im looking forward to the Next Generation 13 inch Macbook Pro!

The rumor mill surrounding the 13 inch retina seems to have stopped, especially with the iPhone being such a topic of discussion.

Anyone still think a release this year is possible?
 
That would be really nice. The 13" is actually a really nice size.
Also, $2000+ is a bit too much for some people to fork out on a laptop.

I agree, I played with the Retina 15" this weekend in an Apple store, it is breathtaking, however 2100 for the base and 2800 for the upper?

the 13" hopefully will be 1600 or under, not worth much more than that to me at least
 
I just got my new Macbook Air. I am seriously considering returning it now. I would definitely take a retina display and more power even if it is a little thicker.

Should I return the Macbook Air and wait out this rumor? How long until we know for sure? I am dying here.....
 
I predict their notebook line will be re-structured again, dropping the 13" Air for the Retina MBP but keeping the 11" Air.

New line prediction: 11" Air, 13/15" standard MBP, 13/15" Retina MBP.

Streamlined, fills every need; weight reduction in 13" RMBP would make the 13" air kind of redundant imo.

The only need that isn't filled by that line and the current is the full-fledged desktop replacement market (the smallest of them all), with the 17" no longer being available.

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I just got my new Macbook Air. I am seriously considering returning it now. I would definitely take a retina display and more power even if it is a little thicker.

Should I return the Macbook Air and wait out this rumor? How long until we know for sure? I am dying here.....

Had the previous model 13" Air, came to the same conclusion; I now have a 15" Retina MBP. Fills the purpose of the air (weight sufficiently low), while providing ultimate power. Unless it's an 11" air and you need that form factor, I'd recommend returning it and getting the 15" Retina.

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I agree, I played with the Retina 15" this weekend in an Apple store, it is breathtaking, however 2100 for the base and 2800 for the upper?

the 13" hopefully will be 1600 or under, not worth much more than that to me at least

It's worth it, believe me.
 
I predict their notebook line will be re-structured again, dropping the 13" Air for the Retina MBP but keeping the 11" Air.

New line prediction: 11" Air, 13/15" standard MBP, 13/15" Retina MBP.

Streamlined, fills every need; weight reduction in 13" RMBP would make the 13" air kind of redundant imo.

The only need that isn't filled by that line and the current is the full-fledged desktop replacement market (the smallest of them all), with the 17" no longer being available.

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Had the previous model 13" Air, came to the same conclusion; I now have a 15" Retina MBP. Fills the purpose of the air (weight sufficiently low), while providing ultimate power. Unless it's an 11" air and you need that form factor, I'd recommend returning it and getting the 15" Retina.

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It's worth it, believe me.

I think the 15 inch Retina is just to big. I want better portability and 2100 is just over my budget. The 13 inch MBPR will be my choice! Question is when will we know for sure? I am already falling in love with this 13 inch Macbook Air.
 
I predict their notebook line will be re-structured again, dropping the 13" Air for the Retina MBP but keeping the 11" Air.

New line prediction: 11" Air, 13/15" standard MBP, 13/15" Retina MBP.

Streamlined, fills every need; weight reduction in 13" RMBP would make the 13" air kind of redundant imo.

The only need that isn't filled by that line and the current is the full-fledged desktop replacement market (the smallest of them all), with the 17" no longer being available.

Im guessing they end the old form factor MBPs eventually removing the 13" all together leaving the line.

11" & 13" Air
15" Pro.

Maybe eventually adding a 17" pro again but if your 13" air can drive a 27" cinema display that as a bundle would cost less than the 17" why wouldn't they push that?.

the extra weight of a new 13" retina would be marketed as a hinderance by other companies and then the air would also be classified as underpowered.

due to this i cant see the 13" retina happening.
 
I think the 15 inch Retina is just to big. I want better portability and 2100 is just over my budget. The 13 inch MBPR will be my choice! Question is when will we know for sure? I am already falling in love with this 13 inch Macbook Air.

That's good to hear :) Personally felt like the 13" was too flexible (bendy), due to its size in area compared to its thicknes. Don't have that problem with the 11" or the Retina. The 13" Retina MBP will most definitely have the same GPU as the 13" air; the only speed increase you'll get is in CPU power (possibly a quad core) and more ports.

Anyway, enjoy your new MB :)
 
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