I exchanged my 2.6 512MB rMBP after 2 weeks for a 13"Air. The speakers , nor the screen were worth $1300.00 more...
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Anyone having to fight off Retina MBP mojo?
- Thread starter clyde2801
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Thanks for sharing that. It's nice to read this among dozen of "OOOOOOhhhhhh mmmmmaaaaaahhhhhhhh GAAAAAAAAWWWWWWDDDD the screen is soooo sweet!" posts and reviews.
Probably will have to break down and buy the spyder4 pro and applecare for my current rig. Nice thing is the pro can help me get the most of all the LCD's I already use in my office.
Probably will have to break down and buy the spyder4 pro and applecare for my current rig. Nice thing is the pro can help me get the most of all the LCD's I already use in my office.
Um, no, not if you keep it in savings, but if you save it and invest it (and the economy eventually rebounds), yeah, 6% is not unreasonable from stock market investments.
If you're expecting to retire in 50 years, $1000 in price difference between the base 13" MBA and the base rMBP with compounded interest at 5% grows to $12,000.
And if that's not at least a couple months' living expenses for you, then you're probably not someone who needs to worry about $1000 here or there.
The apple fans are dying for the vote down button with this post... I'd have to agree though. I went to the Apple store to check out the rMBP and walked away unimpressed given the cost of the machine. The screen nice, sure, the nicest laptop screen on the market in fact but I was expecting to be blown away by Retina awesomeness and I wasn't.
Maybe it was my high expectations with all the media as well as owner hype around the screen. Maybe it's that high DPI screens are something I've grown used to with my IP4 and 3rd gen iPad or maybe it's a combination of the two. Whatever it is, walking away from it was one of the easiest decisions I've ever made.
I had the lust at first, but after spending some time playing with it at the store and reading about the issues on the board, I decide its not time yet. I currently have a 2011 13" MBA Ultimate.
I realized the reason I bought my first Mac in the first place - a 2010 11" Air - it was about the portability. For work I still have to lug a windoz machine around, and when I travel, I take both and try to use the MBA as much as possible. The rMBA is beautiful indeed, its total overkill for me - the MBA still seems wicked fast for most of what I do. No way I need a quad core processor just yet, and the 15" size just seems huge.
Also, I'm using my iPad 3 more and more now for browsing and using the MBA less for content consumption. My personal laptop is essentially becoming less useful for me as time goes by.
I realized the reason I bought my first Mac in the first place - a 2010 11" Air - it was about the portability. For work I still have to lug a windoz machine around, and when I travel, I take both and try to use the MBA as much as possible. The rMBA is beautiful indeed, its total overkill for me - the MBA still seems wicked fast for most of what I do. No way I need a quad core processor just yet, and the 15" size just seems huge.
Also, I'm using my iPad 3 more and more now for browsing and using the MBA less for content consumption. My personal laptop is essentially becoming less useful for me as time goes by.
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That is an incredibly poor and inaccurate statement. You're comparing the higher end retina to a MBA. There are huge differences between the two. Much more then just the speakers and the screen.
MBA is slower, dual core vs quad core, 512 SSD compared to 256 SSD, smaller screen, less connections (although very close), louder do to less efficient cooling system, plus other things (graphics).
A closer comparison would be a maxed out MBA compared to the base retina. However, the top of the line MBA still doesn't have near the features of a base retina and the price difference is only $500 after upping the ram and processor on the MBA. The screen, speakers, quad core over dual core and the faster graphics are worth much more than the $500 difference.
Actually, you could BOTH be right, based upon different use scenarios on whether the rMBP is "worth it":
From the standpoint of a graphics professional who makes his money on the computer, where the features would equal better and/or more work product, it would be worth it.
OTOH, a typical consumer who probably would neither need nor really use the other functions of the machine other than the screen, probably couldn't justify the expense.
While I'm loathe to apply car analogies to computers...it's a bit of a Toyota vs. Jaguar thing. I'm more interested in dependability, don't require the latest in creature comforts and don't have clients in my car (with doing a lot of criminal defense, its not a smart idea) so a Toyota will work. My friend has a new advertising agency, so he does a lot of driving, sometimes halfway across the state, and is often expected to transport and entertain prospective customers-the local business aristocracy as it were-while impressing them, so he's a Jaguar guy. I can't justify a Jaguar, and he'd lose money driving an older Toyota around.
I'm a non graphics professional who does a fair amount of reading and writing on a computer screen at the office. And I love, love, LOVE my 27" imac and two additional screens for reading and word processing there. Going paperless, and it's nice to have the real estate to open a couple of files and literally use the desktop as a desktop. (I've also been told that I've been diagnosed with the beginning of Fuch's syndrome, where the outer layers of my cornea will start to peel apart over time.) I'm also having to start taking work home on nights and weekends. The 13" air is fine for glancing at blogs and posts, but is starting to be a bit uncomfortable after extended in depth reading. I can also foresee the rMBP's ability to go from laptop to plugging into two external monitors like the iMac being potentially quite handy.
The logical, rational thing to do is wait for retina or improved screens to trickle down to the rest of Apple's product line. And maybe hedge my bets a bet and get a spyder pro to calibrate my Air....and my office monitors, while I'm at it.
It's not a poor comparison at all, you're looking at it wrong. It's not about how many ports they have it's about the entire package including cost and size as well as what works for the individual.
Okay, taking the plunge...
...but NOT buying a rMBP! Taking the advice of a few posters here who strongly suggested taking some of the money that I 'save' (or, more accurately, not spend) on the retina and buy a spyder4 pro. $149.00 on ebay, shipping included. Should get it by next Wednesday.
The hope is that I'll be able to professionally tweak my 2011 13" LG display to make it as clear and legible as possible, and then turn it loose on my other monitors as an added bonus.
Ebay auction ends tonight on the unopened extended applecare on my Air, hopefully for $180. If I'm going to hunker down and keep my Air, may as well go 'all in'.
Otherwise, I'll just sit and obsess on the Retina until I break down and buy it just to shut my head up about the whole thing.
I'm taking all you 'you can't compare any profile to one custom made for your screen' folks at your word, all right?!?
...but NOT buying a rMBP! Taking the advice of a few posters here who strongly suggested taking some of the money that I 'save' (or, more accurately, not spend) on the retina and buy a spyder4 pro. $149.00 on ebay, shipping included. Should get it by next Wednesday.
The hope is that I'll be able to professionally tweak my 2011 13" LG display to make it as clear and legible as possible, and then turn it loose on my other monitors as an added bonus.
Ebay auction ends tonight on the unopened extended applecare on my Air, hopefully for $180. If I'm going to hunker down and keep my Air, may as well go 'all in'.
Otherwise, I'll just sit and obsess on the Retina until I break down and buy it just to shut my head up about the whole thing.
I'm taking all you 'you can't compare any profile to one custom made for your screen' folks at your word, all right?!?
I'm honestly not getting the MBPR for the screen. I just need a quad core, 16GB RAM, SSD, and preferably a graphics card - and the MBPR's the only real computer that offers that as a quality brand (in a small package). Screen's just a slight perk.
If it makes you feel any better, I think that it's far more important to have a computer that fulfills your needs over any advantage you may gain over a screen (function over form, imo).
I'm honestly not getting the MBPR for the screen. I just need a quad core, 16GB RAM, SSD, and preferably a graphics card - and the MBPR's the only real computer that offers that as a quality brand (in a small package). Screen's just a slight perk.
If it makes you feel any better, I think that it's far more important to have a computer that fulfills your needs over any advantage you may gain over a screen (function over form, imo).
Considering the time I spend at a computer reading, reading, reading with my middle aged eyes, the screen may be an advantage. It's one of the reason's why I love my 27" imac in my office. I'm trying to hedge my bets with the spyder4 pro to see if that can improve my 2011 13" Air's screen a bit.
If so, woot! And if not, I can at least tweak on my other monitors at home and at work.
Had a really, really good day at work today. So much so that I decided to say to hell with it and buy the rMBP.
Had my poor long suffering blackshirt friend find a demo unit and had him put it to the 13" mba. Yes, definitely a difference. Bit crisper and brighter.
Then pulled open in Safari the webpage I primarily use to conduct research. I could see that the default text (without zooming) in the rMBP was sharper than on the MBA. BUT it was still too damned small for me to read on either display.
Once I zoomed in the the text on the rMBP, it was quite legible. Then again, so was the Air. Not too much discernible difference.
My poor business selling compadre noticed he could tell A difference between the two (he's a gray[ing] head like I am) but not enough for him to chunk a paid for computer and buy the Air. Great guy about it, though. Patting me on the shoulder, he said he knew I "just had to work [my] way through this" and shlubbed back off to the back.
Tried the spyder4 lg calibration posted today on the samsung vs lg. thread and LOVED IT. Applecare auction ends in 5 minutes, going all in.
Loving the one I'm with. Maybe the retina Macbook Pro actually IS for graphics, well, pros.
Had my poor long suffering blackshirt friend find a demo unit and had him put it to the 13" mba. Yes, definitely a difference. Bit crisper and brighter.
Then pulled open in Safari the webpage I primarily use to conduct research. I could see that the default text (without zooming) in the rMBP was sharper than on the MBA. BUT it was still too damned small for me to read on either display.
Once I zoomed in the the text on the rMBP, it was quite legible. Then again, so was the Air. Not too much discernible difference.
My poor business selling compadre noticed he could tell A difference between the two (he's a gray[ing] head like I am) but not enough for him to chunk a paid for computer and buy the Air. Great guy about it, though. Patting me on the shoulder, he said he knew I "just had to work [my] way through this" and shlubbed back off to the back.
Tried the spyder4 lg calibration posted today on the samsung vs lg. thread and LOVED IT. Applecare auction ends in 5 minutes, going all in.
Loving the one I'm with. Maybe the retina Macbook Pro actually IS for graphics, well, pros.
Have the Air 2011 as well as the Retina. I have to tell you, Macbook Air is the most beautiful laptop ever made. If Apple could ever find a way to get a Retina Screen in the Macbook Air, that would be the end of it. That would make it the best laptop for so many people.
I have used 13" laptops for the last 5 years. 13" is a great size. Anything over and its too big, anything under and its almost not usable. I got the Retina because I will soon be starting developing and learning to code. I love to read on my Computer. I use the computer for most parts of the day. It is not heavy, but truth be told I wished it was 13". Is it because it's heavy? No it is not. But it is a little awkward in my lap (and I am not a tall person, just below average)
This is Macbook Air forum, if you want to read the praises about the Retina, head over to the Macbook Pro forums. I see a lot of people are biased here and have skewed opinions. Air is the most portable laptop with decent performance. But the snappiness that the Retina offers with current 14-18 megapixel camera pictures, 1080p videos, it is not the same on my Air. Though, Air has been great, I think it is time to let it go for the Retina and hopefully Apple will come up with 13" Retina in the next product cycle.
I have used 13" laptops for the last 5 years. 13" is a great size. Anything over and its too big, anything under and its almost not usable. I got the Retina because I will soon be starting developing and learning to code. I love to read on my Computer. I use the computer for most parts of the day. It is not heavy, but truth be told I wished it was 13". Is it because it's heavy? No it is not. But it is a little awkward in my lap (and I am not a tall person, just below average)
This is Macbook Air forum, if you want to read the praises about the Retina, head over to the Macbook Pro forums. I see a lot of people are biased here and have skewed opinions. Air is the most portable laptop with decent performance. But the snappiness that the Retina offers with current 14-18 megapixel camera pictures, 1080p videos, it is not the same on my Air. Though, Air has been great, I think it is time to let it go for the Retina and hopefully Apple will come up with 13" Retina in the next product cycle.
So, what's the consensus then? Obviously, the rMBR is better for the screen, CPU, and graphics. BUT, the portability is not as good as the Air.
I have an iMac for home and ipad3 for just surfing on the sofa, but I need a laptop for traveling. Only if apple would release the rAir. I have a BTO rMBP base +16GB RAM on order. I hope it's not too clunky for the carryon luggage.
I have an iMac for home and ipad3 for just surfing on the sofa, but I need a laptop for traveling. Only if apple would release the rAir. I have a BTO rMBP base +16GB RAM on order. I hope it's not too clunky for the carryon luggage.
Took my retina to the Apple store today and compared it to the MBP with the antiglare screen and to the new MBA. The retina makes the antiglare look washed-out and basically just terrible. Kind of surprised me because I use to love the matte screen.
When I compared it to the MBA there wasn't nearly as great a difference. I can see where a properly calibrated MBA would look very good. Not as good as the retina but certainly the next best thing.
When I compared it to the MBA there wasn't nearly as great a difference. I can see where a properly calibrated MBA would look very good. Not as good as the retina but certainly the next best thing.
Eh, I picked up a almost brand spanking new late 2011 17" i7 off of a student off of CL...$1450 for the base configuration, glossy samsung screen and applecare to boot. And a lucky devil's getting my 2011 13" ultimate for a pretty good price himself. (Waiting on Apple verify my Applecare on it before I ship it off.) And considering he had the box, and signed a bill of sale after letting me look at his ID, I'm fairly sure it's not stolen (and have covered my :censored: as a good faith purchaser).
The 13" Air is still a damned good machine, but my middle aged eyes are loving this glossy Samsung with it's stock profile, and I'm thinking my spyder 4 may make it look even better. And it's nice having the extra real estate to blow text up or work on a couple of documents at the same time. Think I'll go up to 16 gigs for under $100 on newegg, and eventually put in an SSD within the next year or two as prices continue to plummet and capacity rises. Not crying about getting the 6770 with 1 gig of vram, either.
After completely buying into the prevailing sentiment on MR, (Glossy screen? Ptuy!) I'm thinking this will completely do the trick for me. The higher contrast works better for my extended reading and typing than does the lesser contrast but higher color accuracy of the matte and air screens.
It's not the latest and greatest, but it serves my needs well and the screen's pretty damned good! Can't really complain with getting it for $1000 less than the base rMBP, and with extended applecare to boot!
Think this will hold off the retina MBP upgrade mojo for a bit....even if they come out with the 13" in October.
The 13" Air is still a damned good machine, but my middle aged eyes are loving this glossy Samsung with it's stock profile, and I'm thinking my spyder 4 may make it look even better. And it's nice having the extra real estate to blow text up or work on a couple of documents at the same time. Think I'll go up to 16 gigs for under $100 on newegg, and eventually put in an SSD within the next year or two as prices continue to plummet and capacity rises. Not crying about getting the 6770 with 1 gig of vram, either.
After completely buying into the prevailing sentiment on MR, (Glossy screen? Ptuy!) I'm thinking this will completely do the trick for me. The higher contrast works better for my extended reading and typing than does the lesser contrast but higher color accuracy of the matte and air screens.
It's not the latest and greatest, but it serves my needs well and the screen's pretty damned good! Can't really complain with getting it for $1000 less than the base rMBP, and with extended applecare to boot!
Think this will hold off the retina MBP upgrade mojo for a bit....even if they come out with the 13" in October.
Wow, after all that I can't believe you didn't end up with the rMBP.
I have a 2011 loaded 17" and my rMBP replaced it, no looking back, it's about to go up for sale.
I LOVE my rMBP and my Air too, both work together very well!