Am I insane?

[profmjh]

I've had my retina MacBook Pro for two years now. I thought it was having WIFI problems, but I seem to have sorted them. But because those problems were driving me mad, I started thinking about replacing it.

I now have a 256GB MacBook on the way. It's presumably slower than my current MacBook (i5) and with a slightly smaller screen (12in vs 13in). It has the same storage (256GB).

But it's just so damned sexy! I'm seriously thinking of keeping it and selling the MacBook Pro.

Am I insane? Is there any rational case for doing this?

 

[MrXiro]

Rational? No, you just want a nice and slim computer to carry around.

While I have no idea what your uses are so it could very well be the a Macbook Retina might be good enough as your daily driver. So far I've been using mine a lot more than my Mac Pro desktop, which I have for video editing and drive that a lot harder than my Macbook Retina. The best uses for the MBr are the same ones you would use your iPad for. Media consumption and web surfing/email; it's better for writing/homework/note taking than an iPad but otherwise it's not for much else beyond that.

If I were you I would look into selling the rMBP if you think that the MBr is good enough a machine to be your daily workhorse. Otherwise the MBP is probably the better choice based on the extra amenities that it offers, but I don't think you need both machines... actually I'd sell the rMBP anyway, I tend to cut loose any computers that start having issues and had just gotten fixed. It's probably the best shape that computer will be until there is another problem and needs to be fixed again. So you'll never see as much resale value for it than right now.

 

[Queen6]

Totally depends on your usage/workflow, you may never see a difference in performance, equally if your doing a lot of CPU bound tasks the rMB will be slower. Current rMB is very much Apple`s "gem" with many aspects of the Notebook exceeding the rest of the line up, however portability is the focus not performance.

The rMB definitely works for me equally I also own 13" & 15" rMBP`s so any "heavy lifting" is not an issue, that said the one Mac that I will buy without reservation in 2016 is the Retina MacBook (Skylake)

Q-6

 

[profmjh]

Rational? No, you just want a nice and slim computer to carry around.

While I have no idea what your uses are so it could very well be the a Macbook Retina might be good enough as your daily driver. So far I've been using mine a lot more than my Mac Pro desktop, which I have for video editing and drive that a lot harder than my Macbook Retina. The best uses for the MBr are the same ones you would use your iPad for. Media consumption and web surfing/email; it's better for writing/homework/note taking than an iPad but otherwise it's not for much else beyond that.

If I were you I would look into selling the rMBP if you think that the MBr is good enough a machine to be your daily workhorse. Otherwise the MBP is probably the better choice based on the extra amenities that it offers, but I don't think you need both machines... actually I'd sell the rMBP anyway, I tend to cut loose any computers that start having issues and had just gotten fixed. It's probably the best shape that computer will be until there is another problem and needs to be fixed again. So you'll never see as much resale value for it than right now.

You are clearly very wise and are my new best friend. That's sooo what I wanted to hear, lol.

The most grown-up thing I use my MacBook Pro for is using InDesign. Occasionally. I never get involved in photo editing or video work or game playing. Someone else on another thread said the MBP is overpowered for my needs.

Whether I can justify keeping the new rMB and the iPad Pro I just took delivery of is another question. I think they do complement each other: they're good at different things.

Love your signature, btw!

 

[Z3man]

No you are not insane, i did exactly the same as you and couldn't be happier, it was the best move i have ever made, i really like the MBP a lot, but i am in love with the MB, and my MBP was only 9 months old.

 

[profmjh]

This is Officially the Best Thread I've Ever Started!

I love you guys!

 

[navaira]

No matter how insane you are, I am insaner I tried out the rMB and hated the keyboard. I hate the idea of one port too. BUT I WANT ONE. Whyyyy brain why do you want it?!

 

[Z3man]

No matter how insane you are, I am insaner I tried out the rMB and hated the keyboard. I hate the idea of one port too. BUT I WANT ONE. Whyyyy brain why do you want it?!

Desirability that is what apple is all about and that is why they have made so much money.

 

[profmjh]

No matter how insane you are, I am insaner I tried out the rMB and hated the keyboard. I hate the idea of one port too. BUT I WANT ONE. Whyyyy brain why do you want it?!

I haven't even tried one or seen one in real life. They get great customer reviews. I'm marginally worried about the keyboard but if I don't like it, it can always go back, especially now that I've fixed my MBP.

And I don't really regret getting the iPad Pro -- it's much better (for me) than the iPad Air 2 that it's going to replace.

 

[cis4life]

Your not insane. I too now have a rMB, a colocated mac mini, the latest MBPR 15" with 16gb Ram and the 512gb HD, and the iPad Pro with LTE 128gb. I love all my devices and they all have their uses. Could I consolidate to one device (not really cause I develop software for a living, but having all 4 devices is great and works well for me). The operative word here is "ME".

I develop mainly on my MBPR and push all my projects to and from BitBucket.
When I'm traveling, I travel with my rMB and simply pull the project from BitBucket and I can continue working with no slow down.
I draft, conceptualize, meeting notes and so forth with my iPad Pro, and cause it has LTE I use Parallels Access to my stream my mac apps from my colocated Mac Mini, and again use GIT to push and pull to my mini and work if I need to or for quick fixes.

It works great, I never miss a thing and no matter what device I'm on, I can work and be as productive as I need to be. So the moral of the story is, It's not about what device(s) you have, it about how you have your work environments set up that will allow you to work and play in any way (configuration) you desire.

 

[MrXiro]

I haven't even tried one or seen one in real life. They get great customer reviews. I'm marginally worried about the keyboard but if I don't like it, it can always go back, especially now that I've fixed my MBP.

And I don't really regret getting the iPad Pro -- it's much better (for me) than the iPad Air 2 that it's going to replace.

I've gone through a 2 Macbook Airs, an iPad Pro, a Surface 3 and now settled on the MBr over the last month. Of the plethora of devices it's probably the most middle of the road for my needs, which was to write and do some side work on when out and about. The MBA was my 2nd choice followed by Surface 3 and then the iPad Pro. While I really like the iPad Pro as a consuming device it was practically useless to me as a creation device (mostly cause I couldn't find a Pencil) but it didn't do anything "better" than my iPad Air 2 as far as my uses were concerned. It is a cool device though but I think I'll wait to see what they release this year (I'm hoping iPad Air 3 with Pencil support) cause I also found the iPad Pro to be too unwieldy for my main usage which is as a TV at the gym to watch shows while I'm on an elliptical machine. But I may revisit owning a Pro in the future as an on the couch tablet.

As for the keyboard, you WILL need to get used to it. The travel is so shallow that it doesn't feel right for a few days, try not to go back to your MBP in the meantime cause jumping back and forth makes you dislike the MBr more. I did tend to get a few more typos because I'm a hard typer based one the keyboards I'm used to so I think I was skipping words to compensate more.

Thanks for liking my signature... it's so true.

 

[profmjh]

For me, funnily enough, perhaps, the iPad Air 2 was too small. I have an iPhone 6+, which I adore, and I have/had a MacBook Pro and I couldn't see where the iPad fitted in. It was neither one thing nor the other. The iPad Pro, on the other hand, is huge and that has value to me. I agree it sucks for content creation: the onscreen keyboard may be full size but, for now at least, it really irritates me; perhaps I'll get used to it. I also got hold of a Pencil but I couldn't really make a case for keeping it. I might give it another try, but I'm not sure what purpose it would serve for me.

My primary attraction to the rMB, if we're being honest, is that it just looks so great. I've ordered the gold (not everyone's taste, I know) which I think looks amazing, at least in pictures, and it matches my iPhone and iPad. I'm sure it will serve all my needs (Safari, Mail, Excel, Word, Preview, occasional InDesign and very occasional Illustrator). I'm marginally worried about the keyboard, though the consistency of the high reviews ordinary people give it (as opposed to journalists) suggests it'll be OK. I'm more worried about losing an inch of screen size to my MBP, though the iPad Pro nearly makes up for that, and has the significant advantage of operating in portrait as well as landscape.

It's not too hard to justify the iPad Pro and rMB: it's a luxury having both, but the cover more bases between them. And the iPP will get far more use than the iPA has done.

It's harder to justify getting rid of the MBP now that I've fixed it, but the look and weight and warranty on a new rMP might just take me there.

I really appreciate everyone's input

 

[navaira]

My primary attraction to the rMB, if we're being honest, is that it just looks so great.

That's exactly it. I hate the keyboard. I dislike the slow processor. BUT IT IS SO PRETTY. It's like a super refined toy for big boys. When I was a kid I wanted a laptop so bad and obviously I couldn't have one so I built myself laptops from Lego. The rMB is this boy's dream come true. Would I use it a lot? I don't know. But then the motorbike I want I also wouldn't use a lot, living in Amsterdam. But both are just so SEXY.

 

[profmjh]

That's exactly it. I hate the keyboard. I dislike the slow processor. BUT IT IS SO PRETTY. It's like a super refined toy for big boys. When I was a kid I wanted a laptop so bad and obviously I couldn't have one so I built myself laptops from Lego. The rMB is this boy's dream come true. Would I use it a lot? I don't know. But then the motorbike I want I also wouldn't use a lot, living in Amsterdam. But both are just so SEXY.

I'm such a dream consumer for Apple. I've been brand-loyal since 1988 when I first encountered the Apple Mac and I've bought almost everything they've made since then. (Well, nearly.) In some ways the rMB is a step down, but the MBP is grey and boxy and just dull. (I feel guilty typing those words on the MBP itself!) I type a lot, so the keyboard is going to be important to me. I touch-type, and pretty fast.

#firstworldproblems

 

[BarcelonaPaul]

Best design ever. For me, the BEST Apple product of all time. Love the design, the screen, the colours, I even really like the keyboard. To me, it's perfect but next week is January so, wait a few more weeks and it'll be March and the updated one will be here with maybe a price drop as is often the case with Apple's computers. It's chic, it's stylish, it's international. AND I use Final Cut Pro X on my friend's and edit 4K video and gosh, no problems there Works lovely with Apple TV 4 and iPhone

 

[palpatine]

For me, funnily enough, perhaps, the iPad Air 2 was too small. I have an iPhone 6+, which I adore, and I have/had a MacBook Pro and I couldn't see where the iPad fitted in. It was neither one thing nor the other. The iPad Pro, on the other hand, is huge and that has value to me. I agree it sucks for content creation: the onscreen keyboard may be full size but, for now at least, it really irritates me; perhaps I'll get used to it. I also got hold of a Pencil but I couldn't really make a case for keeping it. I might give it another try, but I'm not sure what purpose it would serve for me.

My primary attraction to the rMB, if we're being honest, is that it just looks so great. I've ordered the gold (not everyone's taste, I know) which I think looks amazing, at least in pictures, and it matches my iPhone and iPad. I'm sure it will serve all my needs (Safari, Mail, Excel, Word, Preview, occasional InDesign and very occasional Illustrator). I'm marginally worried about the keyboard, though the consistency of the high reviews ordinary people give it (as opposed to journalists) suggests it'll be OK. I'm more worried about losing an inch of screen size to my MBP, though the iPad Pro nearly makes up for that, and has the significant advantage of operating in portrait as well as landscape.

It's not too hard to justify the iPad Pro and rMB: it's a luxury having both, but the cover more bases between them. And the iPP will get far more use than the iPA has done.

It's harder to justify getting rid of the MBP now that I've fixed it, but the look and weight and warranty on a new rMP might just take me there.

I really appreciate everyone's input

I use the rMB with an iPad Air 2 and find that I get a lot of work done this way -- having two displays coming in at less weight than the rMBP more than makes up for what I lost moving from a 15" screen to this. I had an odd issue with the keyboard (see crumbling key thread in this forum), but it was promptly fixed (Apple's support has always been great for me) and I've got no complaints. It is not as fast as my rMBP, especially with RAM intensive tasks. The screen is also a lot smaller. But, it perfectly fits my use case: outside the office more than inside of it. The keyboard complaints and single port complaints in so many early reviews have been non-issues for me.

I loved a lot of things about the 11" Air, but I got fed up with the aspect ratio and poor resolution, so I moved up to the rMBP. I'm glad to be back to something more portable.

 

[Serban]

Apple its a fashion company too, maybe this is why we are all insane because design sells
this is working very well on cars too, design

 

[navaira]

My own madness has been suddenly cured by reading the battery thread. I'm sitting here holding on to my Air for dear life and promising myself never to even walk by the rMB until second revision.

 

[xtcvvv]

I also have both but I'm considering returning the MB. I'm not a heavy duty user but just opening webpages side by side the MBPr is much snappier. I just love the sleek design and space grey color of the MB though. Hopefully the next MBPr get a sexy new design.

 

[Z3man]

I tried the side by side test with my MB and my mid 2014 rMBP and they were both about the same. I tested it quite a lot, sometimes the MB was a fraction quicker and sometimes the rMBP would be a fraction quicker, so overall they were exactly the same.

 

[bueller1]

Just got mine and I must say I was apprehensive at first but this thing is just beautiful. Does anyone know if theres a hub out there that would charge an iPhone and power an external hard drive at the same time? Thanks

 

[boltjames]

Am I insane? Is there any rational case for doing this?

You're not insane, but then again I may be as I have never owned a Mac and bought this just to run Windows 10 and couldn't be more happy.

Form factor matters more than performance for those who never strain their notebooks to the performance boundaries. Say that to yourself a few times. Lugging around all that weight and all that size and all those battery-hogging ports and those thick heavy casings and those hot noisy fans....for what? If the RMB does everything you need a notebook to do, all that extra horsepower doesn't matter and all the weight and size you can shed matters mightily.

Enjoy.

BJ