Yes, it is unnecessary but I think there are many, many people who would buy a new MBA solely based on the requirement that the new MBA design inclufes a retina display.
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How many of you are waiting till mid '14?
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Yes, it is unnecessary but I think there are many, many people who would buy a new MBA solely based on the requirement that the new MBA design inclufes a retina display.
The current Macbook Airs are powerful enough to replace my almost dead 2008 Macbook. The one and only thing that I would use the extra power in a rMBP for would be to play Sim City... Honestly considering whatever integrated graphics come in this new Air would be good enough to play that on low settings anyway, I'd prefer the battery life of the Air over the extra punch of a 13" rMBP.
The only reason I haven't gone with a MBA already is because I want my next Mac to have a Retina display.
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I am also about to pull the trigger on a 2013 13-inch MacBook Air. The only thing that is keeping me from going ahead and purchasing is the GPU improvements of Broadwell. I think that the current CPU and GPU performance in the 2013 Air is actually surprisingly good, pretty much on par with the Late-2013 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro (except the graphics perform better on the Air). I tested these two MacBook models in person at the Apple Store and the CPU difference between each other for exporting 100 high resolution photos to .PNG was just 8 seconds. Exporting and encoding video on the MacBook Pro was only slightly faster too than the Air. However, graphically, the Air outperformed the 13-inch MacBook Pro. Animations were super smooth, 4K video for 10 minutes never stuttered at fullscreen or when other tasks were running simultaneously, and I haven't tested this in person, but Skyrim via Boot Camp runs very smoothly.
I really hope that retina does NOT come to the MacBook Air. I honestly think that retina is overkill for computer displays. I sit approximately 2 ft. from my MacBook display when on a desk, and at that distance, I can hardly see the pixels anyway, they're even less apparent on the MacBook Air because of the higher pixel density. I might welcome a SLIGHTLY higher pixel count, but retina is ridiculous. It puts a strain even on the base model 15-inch MacBook Pro, which still has some choppy animations. I compared the Air vs Retina at approximately the same distance, and retina hardly makes a difference. It's only really seen if you sit closer than 2 feet, which I never do. 1440x900 on the 13-inch is pretty good, a bit more might be perfect, but retina is just a waste of GPU power.
I really hope that retina does NOT come to the MacBook Air. I honestly think that retina is overkill for computer displays. I sit approximately 2 ft. from my MacBook display when on a desk, and at that distance, I can hardly see the pixels anyway, they're even less apparent on the MacBook Air because of the higher pixel density. I might welcome a SLIGHTLY higher pixel count, but retina is ridiculous. It puts a strain even on the base model 15-inch MacBook Pro, which still has some choppy animations. I compared the Air vs Retina at approximately the same distance, and retina hardly makes a difference. It's only really seen if you sit closer than 2 feet, which I never do. 1440x900 on the 13-inch is pretty good, a bit more might be perfect, but retina is just a waste of GPU power.
I really do not understand those who do not want Retina on the Air. The MBA is using outdated screen technology as it is. So they need to update the screen regardless.
The difference is like night and day.
I think the upcoming 2014 MBA will come with a retina option but I think that the old models will stick around (just like the classic 13" MBP has) for a little while. It won't be long, though, and Apple will only feature all-retina displays (I'm guessing less than five years). It is the future and that is where Apple positions their products.
I think you are in the minority as far as your opinion on retina displays. I don't think the average person comes into the store and measures how well the machines handles 4K video (or any of the other tests you did). The average, non-technical person probably just looks at the display and is amazed and how crisp the text looks. They think to themselves how much more pleasant it will be to use the computer for their daily tasks.
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I'm not against upgrading to better quality displays, and I'm not entirely against the transition to ultra high definition, but when it begins to affect performance and battery life, that's when I debate it. I experimented with the 13-inch Air and the 13-inch Pro using the same high resolution image in Photoshop and the 13-inch Pro was uncomfortably choppy while editing. I'm just afraid that if the Air goes Retina, it's going to take a big graphics performance hit like the 13-inch Pro.
I definitely understand your perspective and can sympathize with you. The integrated graphics in Broadwell are again supposed to be a big improvement. Will that be enough? I doubt it.
I suspect the first retina MBA will probably not be as good as you would like. I look forward to it, though, and am willing to take a much better display even if it is a little slower than the precious model. I think the average Apple customer will prefer how the screen looks too.
if MBA had Retina, why we would buy it over macbook pro?
like i said before, MBA battery life is long, very long
it makes a big big improvement
MBA means mobility, mobility requires battery life
it does matter to many people and all those people dont really mind about Retina
experts and pro will turn on MBP because of specs, Retina...
MBA targets novices or people who seek mobility
if Apple could promise Retina and not lowering battery life, that would be perfect otherwise it would be unnecessary
Unnecessary to you, but some people (including myself) would prefer the addition power saving we will see from Broadwell and an IGZO screen to be used on a retina screen, not addition battery life.
Personally, I would be willing to sacrifice some battery life from the current MBA for a retina screen. My 11" 2010 MBA's battery life is all I need.
People would buy a rMBA over a rMBP because the redesign rMBA would be significantly more portable. The MBP design has seen several size reductions since the MBA was last redesigned. It's time for a smaller MBA, as the rumors have suggested.
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I still dont understand WHY apple uses inferior outdated low quality tn displays in air, no need for retina, but why not ips? If air had ips display, with current resolution, it would be ok, but tn is really horrible and unacceptable in 2013 machine
I don't care about the retina display, but what they put in MBAs is a disgrace. Especially considering the proliferation of nice IPS full HD laptops.
Had Apple only improved the 11" MBA screen by moving it to IPS, I probably would have upgraded (11" MBA / 8G RAM / 512G HD). More battery life was nice but it was not good enough to justify my purchase.
Now, I'm expecting a retina version in 2014. I am very much looking forward to it!
(Hopefully Apple will get my money in 2014)
Apple tends to lead the way with new display technology. It is almost shocking to me that the display on the current MBA is so poor.
if you mean waiting until 2114 then hell yes. 2114 will definitely be the sweet spot!
although, i hadn't considered 2115's model...
although, i hadn't considered 2115's model...
MBP has Retina but i still prefer MBA
Vaio Pro has Full HD and better design aswell but i still prefer MBA
huge battery life makes the difference
There sure are a lot of people who feel that way.
It would seem, then, that Apple should add a retina screen yet keep the battery life the same. I think that is possible and I suspect it will happen. I don't expect an increase in battery life, though
I REALLY don't want to but I'm one of those people who would be heartbroken if they redesigned the next-model. If there is no redesign next year I will definitely bite. I miss my 11-inch.
A haswell/broadwell MBA with an IPS display is all I really want for productivity. For those that own a MBA, try the following test: adjust the angle of your screen to the best angle when you have the MBA on a desk and you're sitting on a chair looking at it. Now stand up from your chair and stare at the screen (without adjust the screen's angle). Notice the significant color distortion? With an IPS screen, your screen will look the same whether you are standing up or sitting down. That's because all TN displays have horrible vertical viewing angles.
Retina display is more eye candy than productivity. At its worse, retina displays decreases battery life. Therefore it's not something I would like in a work-oriented machine. Thus, the only advantage for me that the rMBP has over MBA is that it has IPS, not because it has retina.
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For those who are curious about what the viewing angle of an IGZO display (which is rumored to be installed in future MBA for its high resolution but low power consumption) is like, here is a picture of it:
The above picture comes from a review of the Fujitsu LifeBook UH90 (which is available in the US as Lifebook u904). The review states that the viewing angles are better than a TN panel (e.g. better than MBA & cMBP) but worse than an IPS panel (e.g. worse than rMBP)
Retina display is more eye candy than productivity. At its worse, retina displays decreases battery life. Therefore it's not something I would like in a work-oriented machine. Thus, the only advantage for me that the rMBP has over MBA is that it has IPS, not because it has retina.
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For those who are curious about what the viewing angle of an IGZO display (which is rumored to be installed in future MBA for its high resolution but low power consumption) is like, here is a picture of it:
The above picture comes from a review of the Fujitsu LifeBook UH90 (which is available in the US as Lifebook u904). The review states that the viewing angles are better than a TN panel (e.g. better than MBA & cMBP) but worse than an IPS panel (e.g. worse than rMBP)
I get so tired of people saying that!
Does the average person think about productivity? No, they want to enjoy using their computer. If it is a pleasure to look at and use why is that eye candy? It makes work more enjoyable. I don't see how that can not be thought of as productivity.
Doesn't a retina display also show pictures at higher resolution? There are more pixels, and, thus, more information that the user can see at once. How is that not an increase in productivity?
You do get more workspace with a retina display but that's at an expensive of more power consumption. A perfect example is to look at the current MBA and rMBP. The 13" rMBP had a redesigned body just last month, yet it has less battery life than the Air and weighs more. The current Air was last redesigned 36 months ago, meaning it's 36 times older than the rMBP but it's lighter and has significantly longer battery life. In terms, of mobile productivity specifically measured by battery life and weight, the much older MBA still beats the present rMBP all because due to it being equipped with a power-hungry retina display.
this is nonsense - you are comparing something incomparable...
firstly and mainly, retina is next big thing, you can deny that, you can argue that, but you cant ignore that - once sb goes retina usually cant stand non retina lcd (and once you go retina ips, there is no way back to inferior tn in airs) and secondly, rMBp is stronger computer (higher clocked CPU, up to 16 gigs) - that does not count into your so called mobile productivity?
Perhaps retina will eventually be installed across all macbooks across the board, but that does not mean it has to be at the expense of heavy power consumption. Hence why IGZO is rumored to be implemented into future Airs (retina display without heavy power consumption). I work in the healthcare industry, and my underclocked Air is highly efficient for me to review multiple PDFs and document files. Productivity does not necessarily mean raw power alone, but perhaps it may be for those who work in high-power demanding fields such as those who use AutoCAD. Both efficiency AND mobility (in terms of light weight and long battery life) are components of productivity for me. Thus, this is why the currently outdated Air design is still a superior product for me than the rMBP.