Clamshell mode rMBP with external display, does it make sense?

My opinion, why spend the extra money on the Retina screen if you're not going to use it?

I was running my MBP classic screen with external monitor. I found myself preferring the normal screen and less desktop clutter, so I got rid of the monitor. I'm stuck with 1440x900, but I still prefer it.

If I were to do it again, I'd try to use an Air in clamshell with an HD monitor. In other words I would go all-in one way or the other: Use the retina 100% or use the monitor 100% with the cheapest Mac.

 

I might be in a similar situation to yours I predominately use a 15 inch rMBP with my 27 inch Apple LED as a sort of desktop replacement. For me the rMBP is not just the retina display but also better specs vs the Air and what I consider to be a better form factor vs MBP. The rMBP rarely leave my home but when it does I appreciate its larger screen better specs vs the Air and smaller ligher chasis vs the MBP. Using it in bed, on the coach, in the kitchen is also a pleasant experience and a definite improvement over the MBP.

I have owned the unibody MBP 13, 15 as well as the Air 13 and for me the rMBP 15 is a comfortable compromise between the MBP and the Air.

 

You know, I would actually in your case just get a 13inch MBA. I mean chances are it'll be left in clamshell mode and considering how high the resolution is on that screen it's not like you'd be sacrificing screen quality.

However, if you really do want something with more power than a refurbished 15' would be a good idea, I mean imo if you're going to spend money might as well get the best bang for your buck!

 

You'd get a mac mini instead. Why pay for the retina screen if you don't use it?

 

You're better served getting a mac mini since it always plugged in anyway. Extended usage of the laptop plugged in can mess up the battery too if you don't take it out and about on batteries.

I have my retina plugged in to the TBD but I use the laptop screen just as much so I'm happy with the setup.

 

My take...

13" rMBP vs Mac Mini - Mac Mini is cheaper for basically the same hardware, sans built-in display

15" rMBP vs 13" or Mac Mini - 15" rMBP has a discrete GPU and will provide better graphics performance than the 13" rMBP or the Mac Mini

My 15" cMBP stays connected to my ATD 90% of the time, my 15" rMBP is carried around the house more because it's smaller and lighter. The main reason I bought a cMBP, other than being able to upgrade it, is because it would be connected to an external display most of the time.

That said, based on current prices and my cMBP's specs, I would spend $150 more for a fully loaded 15" rMBP as I easily have more than that in upgrades in my cMBP.

If you think you'd get value out of the Retina display then go for it, if you're not sure then go play with both at your local Apple reseller and decide which you like better overall.

 

Thanks. Here's a Geekbench comparison, though my cMBP numbers are a little low (I also have more services running by default)...at least, that's my excuse.

http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench2/compare/2039476/2014196

The 840 Pro SSD in my cMBP is a bit faster for both read and write compared to the 512GB SSD in the rMBP.

rMBP - 413MB/s write, 443MB/s read
cMBP - 490MB/s write, 513MB/s read

 

No. In my experience, the 13" rMBP struggles with external screens - it becomes laggy and hot almost instantaneously when hooking up just one of them. If you need to drive two external screens, you need a dedicated GPU.

 

i'd use dual displays.

external display as primary, retina for secondary.

 

I have a similar setup at work... I don't like it. I rather use my TB display exclusively, with the MBP in clamshell mode. The problem is that it is not so easy to put both monitors at the same height, and also the best viewing distance is very different for a desktop display.

@OP

I believe there is no perfect solution for you right now. But I don't see a problem with buying one of the retina MBPs. The point is that while you could go for a cMBP instead, at least you would want a RAM upgrade (8 GB) and an SSD - the performance difference is huge. If you add that to the cMBP price, you are not so far away from the retina machine, so why not just go for the nicer screen.

 

Of course you're going to be using it on a desk with a large display when you're stationary. You can't seriously think you would use a 15" display all through the day by choice? This isn't the 1980s...

But when you're sitting on your sofa or occasionally out and about the display will be everything you expect.

The rMBP is also not a slow computer, of course. You can't compare it to a rMBP13 or an Air or a Mac Mini. Only the top end iMacs and Mac Pros are more powerful, and then only if specified with SSDs...

 

I use a 13" i7 rMBP with a Thunderbolt display all day at work, usually in clamshell mode. No fans, no heat, no lag. I develop software and have a Win 7 VM in parallels all day long...so you must have something wrong with your machine.

To the original poster: Run a 13" in clamshell mode with your Dell monitor, and then when you travel you have great display on the road. The i7 rMBP is still faster than a brand new 13" MBA with haswell processors released this week.

 

Nope, none that I can tell.

Sorry, I meant the rMBP listed for $150 more than my cMBP. $2799 vs $2650. By the time you add in the 512GB SSD, 16GB memory and optibay my cMBP is a bit more expensive than the rMBP, which has the Retina display but lacks the second 1TB HDD but is otherwise basically equal in terms of specs. For the money, a loaded rMBP is a better value than a loaded cMBP, IMO.

I didn't pay for the rMBP as it's supplied by my employer, which also means it's not my primary personal laptop. I use an Apple Thunderbolt Display 90+% of the time so when it comes down to it whether one is a Retina or not doesn't make much difference to me. My cMBP has 1.5x the storage of the rMBP which is needed for when I do video editing and such. I could just use the external USB3 HDD for that, but then it's not as portable. I like everything being contained within a single device.

As for resale, I hope my cMBP holds its value well but it likely won't matter, when I upgrade I give my old stuff to family...or at least sell it to them at a heavy discount if it's still worth a bit of money. I don't want them to think of me as the one who gives them awesome free stuff and then they come to expect it.

 

It's a point. The external display is run by the discrete GPU on the rMBP15. On a 13" obviously it has to be worked by the HD4000. Your mileage may therefore vary. While I've never had any issues at all with an external monitor and find it good and snappy this is a completely different machine from a 13.