Cancelled Retina MBP Order - Ordered 13" MBA

[NutsNGum]

if they would have shipped day of they would have had my money haha. Seriously though, when i sat back and thought about it...i couldn't justify what the retina would do for me personally. All movies i stream to apple tv and i don't use photoshop or imovie

This is exactly how I feel, if it had been more readily available I'd have ordered one yesterday. As it is, I've had a chance to consider it, and now sort of find myself reevaluating the point of me having a retina display, personally. I find myself gravitating once again towards the now base 11" Air.

It's had a price drop, and I'm Scottish.

 

[christophermdia]

This is a struggle of mine as well. MBPR vs MBA 13. I have a MBA 2011 13 and just love it. I want the additional memory and especially SSD Space. I travel A LOT. And having the air has been awesome for my trips. I did have a 15" hi res MBP before the air, and had sold it because it was a bit much to lug around. I wonder though if the MBPR is portable "enough" to take around with me, or if I should just stick with the Air....This is a personal problem I know...but it is the difference of a good amount of $$$....

 

[amitdoc2b]

This is a struggle of mine as well. MBPR vs MBA 13. I have a MBA 2011 13 and just love it. I want the additional memory and especially SSD Space. I travel A LOT. And having the air has been awesome for my trips. I did have a 15" hi res MBP before the air, and had sold it because it was a bit much to lug around. I wonder though if the MBPR is portable "enough" to take around with me, or if I should just stick with the Air....This is a personal problem I know...but it is the difference of a good amount of $$$....

I compared them both at the store.. The retina macbook is still pretty thick and heavy if you lift it after lifting the macbook air in stores. If you need portability, you will definitely be happier with the macbook air. The footprint was also too much, so it was refreshing to go back to the air display after the retina section.

 

[Tenashus1]

This new review of the MBP retina display may be helpful to some:http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/13/apple-macbook-pro-with-retina-display-review/

 

[fig]

So I had ordered the base Retina MBP yesterday. Today I cancelled and ordered the stock top config of the 13" MBA.

The following factors affected my decision:

- Weight. 4.5 lbs for Retina MBP still too heavy for frequent travelers.
- Cost of Entry for latest and greatest.
- 1st Gen Product issues for Retina MBP.
- Software support for Retina Display.
- Reassessed true requirements in terms of power.

I sold my 2010 Ultimate 13" MBA on Sunday for $1000. Cost of Upgrade = $500.

Some times it takes time to rationalise your true requirements and assess pros and cons.

Still wishing for a 15" MBA no heavier than 3.5 lbs.

You could always just work out a bit

 

[MrXiro]

Yeah I am thinking about getting a new MBA as well... the 13 inch base seems like a really great deal to me.

Does anyone think that there will be a price drop in the next generation or 2 for a retina display MBP? Kind of like what Apple did with the MBA. The first gen was outrageously priced but then the 2010 model came out and it was quite a bit more reasonable... Not that the retina MBP is unreasonable... more just "out of my budget range".

 

[gwsat]

You could always just work out a bit

I usually don't pick on newbies but in this instance I can't resist. Do you realize how lame a comment like yours sounds in the MBA forum? For most who post here a svelte form factor and portability are crucial. MBA owners benefit a hundred times from the MBA'a compactness for every one time, if that, they feel the slightest remorse for not having bought the far heavier MBP. Anybody who runs apps requiring the extraordinarily high resolution of the MBP retina knows it in advance and so is not going to consider the MBA. Not to belabor the point, but that isn't most of us who post here.

 

[Cicatrix]

I usually don't pick on newbies but in this instance I can't resist. Do you realize how lame a comment like yours sounds in the MBA forum? For most who post here a svelte form factor and portability are crucial. MBA owners benefit a hundred times from the MBA'a compactness for every one time, if that, they feel the slightest remorse for not having bought the far heavier MBP. Anybody who runs apps requiring the extraordinarily high resolution of the MBP retina knows it in advance and so is not going to consider the MBA. Not to belabor the point, but that isn't most of us who post here.

some nice points brought up. good post.

I have used both air and pro for audio work and both have handled every project I've ever done on them. I don't even think I've ever gotten over 35 % CPU usage. I would think that even for of a somewhat demanding user, the air is plenty. I really like the form factor more and more. with my first MBA I almost thought it was to light. not any more. I just bought a 2012 MBA and it can't get here any sooner.

 

[nylon]

Wow, I never thought this thread would get so many like minded replies.

Nice to see so many rational people. I admit, the impulsive Apple purchase is so easy to make. After all, we wouldn't love Apple otherwise. It's this damn ageing process that causes me to use my brain more.

Ah, what I wouldn't give for those carefree younger years.

 

[christophermdia]

Wow, I never thought this thread would get so many like minded replies.

Nice to see so many rational people. I admit, the impulsive Apple purchase is so easy to make. After all, we wouldn't love Apple otherwise. It's this damn ageing process that causes me to use my brain more.

Ah, what I wouldn't give for those carefree younger years.

I for one thank you for your original post, while I havent made my ultimate decision yet, I certainly have a more rational thought about which direction to go on this subject....I am leaning towards the Air at this moment, as I really just want the MBPR just because its new

 

[fig]

I usually don't pick on newbies but in this instance I can't resist. Do you realize how lame a comment like yours sounds in the MBA forum? For most who post here a svelte form factor and portability are crucial. MBA owners benefit a hundred times from the MBA'a compactness for every one time, if that, they feel the slightest remorse for not having bought the far heavier MBP. Anybody who runs apps requiring the extraordinarily high resolution of the MBP retina knows it in advance and so is not going to consider the MBA. Not to belabor the point, but that isn't most of us who post here.

Note to self: locals don't take well to light hearted sarcasm.

 

[SurferMan]

Good call, imho.

I believe software support will be very underwhelming for retina.

And I'd like to see that thing's battery tested too. You know you're getting a good 7ish hours out of a 13" MBA. I was surprised Apple made no announcements of improved Air battery life, even though Ivy Bridge is supposed to be more efficient. It wouldn't surprise me if the 2012 MBAs unofficially have better battery life compared to their 2011 counterparts.

I was surprised at that too, I was hoping for a larger battery, but I would have thought with the new tweaks like Ivy etc that they would have mentioned improved battery life.

 

[GBlansten]

Note to self: locals don't take well to light hearted sarcasm.

Your comment was funny and clearly not mean spirited.

Back on topic: I also considered the RMBP but man that thing is pretty big. I would have considered a 13" version even with the uniform height and different form factor of the RMBP chassis.

 

[fig]

Your comment was funny and clearly not mean spirited.

Back on topic: I also considered the RMBP but man that thing is pretty big. I would have considered a 13" version even with the uniform height and different form factor of the RMBP chassis.

Appreciated, that's how it was intended.

i'm in limbo right now myself, I'm waiting for the iMac updates to play out over the next month or two before making any decisions.

 

[zerotiu]

All your comment have changed my mind . Overall score, maxed out MBA may have higher score in term of size, weight and price. Retina display is so good, but if I have to do something with apps and websites that still don't support retina display, I think I will pass this time.

Talking about speed, Is the speed difference between 4mb L3 cache and 6mb L3 cache noticable? Or it doesn't?

 

[gwsat]

Note to self: locals don't take well to light hearted sarcasm.

Your comment was funny and clearly not mean spirited.

Back on topic: I also considered the RMBP but man that thing is pretty big. I would have considered a 13" version even with the uniform height and different form factor of the RMBP chassis.

Guys, if I overreacted, I apologize. I have seen the "you should work out" jibe in the MBP forum more times than I can recall. Such nonsense usually comes from those who have never owned an MBA and tends to bring out the worst in me. That said, the MBP Retina is a tremendously powerful and appealing machine, it just wouldn't do for me what the new 13 inch MBA would.

 

[jmgregory1]

Like so many others, the Retina mbp at first seemed like a perfect solution to my wanting a bigger screen than the '11 mba 13" I am using now. But for the price, I'm leaning towards getting a new 13" air (8GB/256GB) and spring for Thunderbolt display. That way I get a BIG screen and lightweight portability.

 

[fig]

Guys, if I overreacted, I apologize. I have seen the "you should work out" jibe in the MBP forum more times than I can recall. Such nonsense usually comes from those who have never owned an MBA and tends to bring out the worst in me. That said, the MBP Retina is a tremendously powerful and appealing machine, it just wouldn't do for me what the new 13 inch MBA would.

No worries, apologies if my comment was taken more personally than intended, it was really supposed to be tongue in cheek. I don't have a need for a superlight laptop but I can certainly see the benefits.

That being said, with the lack of certainty regarding how some apps may look on the Retina display I'm unsure about investing in a new MBP. I'm actually tossing around the idea of a MBA in the interim, I'm just not sure if it's going to provide what I need power-wise for my graphic and 3d work.

 

[mattopotamus]

Wow, I never thought this thread would get so many like minded replies.

Nice to see so many rational people. I admit, the impulsive Apple purchase is so easy to make. After all, we wouldn't love Apple otherwise. It's this damn ageing process that causes me to use my brain more.

Ah, what I wouldn't give for those carefree younger years.

only rational b.c it didn't ship the same day so it gave me time to think haha.

 

[thekev]

I usually don't pick on newbies but in this instance I can't resist. Do you realize how lame a comment like yours sounds in the MBA forum? For most who post here a svelte form factor and portability are crucial. MBA owners benefit a hundred times from the MBA'a compactness for every one time, if that, they feel the slightest remorse for not having bought the far heavier MBP. Anybody who runs apps requiring the extraordinarily high resolution of the MBP retina knows it in advance and so is not going to consider the MBA. Not to belabor the point, but that isn't most of us who post here.

I still find them a little limiting, but I tend to buy things where I won't question if it's enough (and I load them with ram). Personally I'm not bothered by the couple extra pounds even while traveling, and I do tend to carry quite a lot of stuff. If it can fit in a backpack or laptop case I'm fine with it. The 17" is the only one that might get to me, and part of that is its bulk. Of course I don't spite anyone who likes the macbook air, and I read way fewer complaints than I anticipated at its release given the everything soldered design. The new RMBP has a couple minor issues that annoy me, and I feel like it was designed for parts that aren't so power hungry. Going thinner with a 45W cpu and 50W gpu seems insane to me, and I wonder how hard it can be pushed without hitting thermal throttling.

 

[rygamble]

Like so many others, the Retina mbp at first seemed like a perfect solution to my wanting a bigger screen than the '11 mba 13" I am using now. But for the price, I'm leaning towards getting a new 13" air (8GB/256GB) and spring for Thunderbolt display. That way I get a BIG screen and lightweight portability.

Has that display been upgraded to USB 3.0?

 

[jmgregory1]

Has that display been upgraded to USB 3.0?

Nope - but good reminder that this too should be seeing a revamp at some point in the very near future. I really don't need usb 3 now, given I don't have any 3.0 periphs.

 

[gwsat]

I still find them a little limiting, but I tend to buy things where I won't question if it's enough (and I load them with ram). Personally I'm not bothered by the couple extra pounds even while traveling, and I do tend to carry quite a lot of stuff. If it can fit in a backpack or laptop case I'm fine with it. The 17" is the only one that might get to me, and part of that is its bulk. Of course I don't spite anyone who likes the macbook air, and I read way fewer complaints than I anticipated at its release given the everything soldered design. The new RMBP has a couple minor issues that annoy me, and I feel like it was designed for parts that aren't so power hungry. Going thinner with a 45W cpu and 50W gpu seems insane to me, and I wonder how hard it can be pushed without hitting thermal throttling.

You may have a point because both of my pre MBA Mac laptops were 17 inch models that weighed more than 6.5 pounds. They were nice machines and all right to travel with but the MBA has been exponentially more convenient in that regard. Better yet, my 2010 MBA has handled all my apps as well or better than the 17 inch Santa Rosa MBP, which it replaced. The new 2012 MBA Ultimate, which doubles the 2010 model's RAM and flash storage, has an i7 chip and upgraded graphics, should be still better.

All of that said, the new 15 inch MBP Retina weighs only 4.5 pounds, which is the same weight as the old 14 inch MBP. That is indeed remarkably light weight for a 15 inch machine but is still more that 50 percent heavier than the 13 inch MBA, which is why I'm sticking with the MBA

 

[thekev]

Better yet, my 2010 MBA has handled all my apps as well or better than the 17 inch Santa Rosa MBP, which it replaced. The new 2012 MBA Ultimate, which doubles the 2010 model's RAM and flash storage, has an i7 chip and upgraded graphics, should be still better.

All of that said, the new 15 inch MBP Retina weighs only 4.5 pounds, which is the same weight as the old 14 inch MBP. That is indeed remarkably light weight for a 15 inch machine but is still more that 50 percent heavier than the 13 inch MBA, which is why I'm sticking with the MBA

You're in a slightly different situation than me. I never found the Core2duos to be very useful for anything computationally intensive. I mean I could make it work, but it wasn't pleasant. Larger SSDs, quad core cpus, and the ability to configure to 16GB of ram changes that for me, but of course those things are still limited to the macbook pro. Even then they're not truly desktop replacements, but I can turn down my settings slightly and work on one. I'm aware that we had mostly 32 bit applications not that long ago, but dealing with heavy disk activity on a 2008 era 2.5" HDD would not have been fun.

I'm glad they allowed configurations to go to 8GB this year. Many OSX applications released during the current year are going to say 4GB minimum 8GB recommended. I wouldn't want a machine I purchase to barely make minimum requirements the year that I purchase it.

Personally I won't touch the new ones for 1-2 cycles. I want to see how they hold up, and haswell onward looks like a bigger jump.

 

[EspressoLove]

Not to rain on anyone's parade (I am "13MBA as Primary" user since 2010)
But when I read Anand's scaling options on RMBP article - it made me think twice (about getting my dream MBA)

Effectively you can run RMBP at "1680" or "1920" resolution
(ironically you can't access full 2880 as it's only used with HiDPi which gives you "1440")

I didn't see it with my own eyes yet, but screenshots look really compelling so far - you don't get the blur - the one that you get when you downscale your non-retina display.

Now I really miss Retina on Air
(Just imagine running effective "1680" on your 11" HiDPi 2732 x 1536 screen )

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I can add that if MBAs were still limited to 4GB I would go for 8/16GB RMBP without thinking much.
Now I'm on the fence