Is this Retina MacBook right for me?

[zhenya]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. The fact is that even though I may wait until WWDC, I am leaning toward the MacBook. Though a 2.5lbs MBP would be very compelling ...but it would still have a fan.

My ACD is NOT the Thunderbolt display one, but the one with the MiniDisplay Port. Is there nothing that would work with that, even the one I linked to previously (http://www.amazon.com/Belinda®USB-DisplayPort-Adapter-Aluminium-ChromeBook/dp/B0155BR8BM)?

4k: For what it's worth, I've seen videos on YouTube of people editing 4K on the MacBook's screen and it seems "passable". Does anyone have any more info on this?

So the downsides FOR ME:

The MacBook's 60hz @ 4k (that I may never use), the storage issue that I'm undecided on, the lack of a good hub.
The MBP: FANS!, More weight, I'm paying for power I don't need, not available "today".

That might well work, but you won't be able to charge while using it...

I happen to agree that lack of a fan is a bigger deal than most people give credit for. The fan in my SP3 is on nearly all the time, and is noisy. It's nice to have a computer where that never happens.

I would not worry too much about external storage which has gotten very cheap. I purchased a 4TB external drive last year for $150! Not SSD, but I don't need that kind of speed for bulk storage.

 

[nutmac]

My data set is about 450GB.

Regardless of which MacBook you end up upgrading to, I would get a 1TB SSD. With SSD, you don't want to use majority of the available of the storage space and I think it's good to leave some room.

If you are not into bringing your own enclosure, Samsung T3 is a good pick, which is very small and has USB-C port (and USB adapter for older computer).

As for the Mac itself, I think newly released MacBook can do the job, but if possible, I would wait until WWDC in June 14 to see if Apple unveils redesigned MacBook Pro that can do the job even better while providing enough portability.

 

[InfiniteLoopy]

That might well work, but you won't be able to charge while using it...

I happen to agree that lack of a fan is a bigger deal than most people give credit for. The fan in my SP3 is on nearly all the time, and is noisy. It's nice to have a computer where that never happens.

I would not worry too much about external storage which has gotten very cheap. I purchased a 4TB external drive last year for $150! Not SSD, but I don't need that kind of speed for bulk storage.

Yeah but I'm not even that sure I'd use it with the ACD, it's just whether I technically could.

The silence of the MB is perhaps what pushes me to it from an MBP the most. How is it for heat in the keyboard area? Would it be best to get the 1.1 over the others?

What I need to figure out is storage. 512 would be enough, but I probably need to figure out some external storage and how best to manage that.

Regardless of which MacBook you end up upgrading to, I would get a 1TB SSD. With SSD, you don't want to use majority of the available of the storage space and I think it's good to leave some room.

If you are not into bringing your own enclosure, Samsung T3 is a good pick, which is very small and has USB-C port (and USB adapter for older computer).

As for the Mac itself, I think newly released MacBook can do the job, but if possible, I would wait until WWDC in June 14 to see if Apple unveils redesigned MacBook Pro that can do the job even better while providing enough portability.

Thanks. Unfortunately, the MacBook doesn't have 1TB SSD on offer, the max is 512.

 

[nutmac]

Thanks. Unfortunately, the MacBook doesn't have 1TB SSD on offer, the max is 512.

I meant get an external 1TB SSD, such as Samsung T3 ($380). If majority of your storage is photos and video, you can probably even get away with getting 256GB flash storage on a Mac.

Granted, using an external disk far less convenient, but it is very cost effective. Apple charges about $500 for upgrading from 512GB to 1TB on MacBook Pro.

 

[zhenya]

The silence of the MB is perhaps what pushes me to it from an MBP the most. How is it for heat in the keyboard area? Would it be best to get the 1.1 over the others?

I've never felt any area of the rMB get more than warm. Nothing I can even feel in the keyboard. I wouldn't worry about which processor you get, but in theory, the 1.3 should run the coolest because it is 'binned' highest meaning it's most efficient.

 

[InfiniteLoopy]

I'm thinking that the 1.2 suits me best at the moment. While I don't need to carry EVERYTHING around with me all the time and the 256 would probably be enough for now, the 512 is just more convenient. The 1.2 would also run potentially cooler. Though it does bother me paying so much for Apple's 256GB upgrade....

Is there a chance Apple could release a fanless 13" MBP or a 14" MacBook at WWDC? I think both are unlikely.

 

[zhenya]

Is there a chance Apple could release a fanless 13" MBP or a 14" MacBook at WWDC? I think both are unlikely.

Highly unlikely as Core M is the highest performing Intel chip without a fan at the moment. Much more likely we will see updates based on some combination of the 15/28/45w processors they use now.