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Bulldog3777

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 2, 2009
327
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I have used MB Pro with a retina screen for years. I am considering an Air for travel. I am concerned about getting use to the screen. For those of you that have both a retina screen and an Air, how much difference is there. Is it easy to get use to?
 
"....yeah, if you use your Mac for movies, games and professional photo manipulation - but for most users, it's overkill..." - an Apple Store sales clerk in Toronto describing the advantages (and the significant price hike between Air and MacBook) of a retina screen. Retina lovely to look at, but really, if you're using Office, cruising the internet or scanning your Facebook...really? Oh, and get to maintain all those ports you've grown used to on your old Pro - especially useful if you need to plug into someone else's technology.
 
"....yeah, if you use your Mac for movies, games and professional photo manipulation - but for most users, it's overkill..." - an Apple Store sales clerk in Toronto describing the advantages (and the significant price hike between Air and MacBook) of a retina screen. Retina lovely to look at, but really, if you're using Office, cruising the internet or scanning your Facebook...really? Oh, and get to maintain all those ports you've grown used to on your old Pro - especially useful if you need to plug into someone else's technology.

I actually find the opposite true for games and movies, the extra resolution of the MBP doesn't make much difference. It's the productivity apps where it's huge, including general computing apps, "office" apps, developer tools, and the ability to run a smaller font, get more on screen (without losing UI fidelity).
[doublepost=1517581356][/doublepost]@Bazza1 I hear you about those ports though, I'm not letting go of my '15 MBP until it melts down :D
 
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"....yeah, if you use your Mac for movies, games and professional photo manipulation - but for most users, it's overkill..." - an Apple Store sales clerk in Toronto describing the advantages (and the significant price hike between Air and MacBook) of a retina screen. Retina lovely to look at, but really, if you're using Office, cruising the internet or scanning your Facebook...really? Oh, and get to maintain all those ports you've grown used to on your old Pro - especially useful if you need to plug into someone else's technology.
Pretty sure that sales clerk is working in the fast food industry now because his opinion is not supported by reality. The narrow viewing angle on the Air means you have to view it at the perfect angle or it washes out bad.
 
I have a late 2013 13” Pro and early 2015 Air. The air screen is not bad in my opinion and I have no problem using either screen for office, mail, and surfing. Anything else and I use my pro.
 
This is really personal. You really just have to use it and see for yourself. I use a retina on iPad and iPhone,,and have no problems going back to using the Air.

If your use for travel is purely utilitarian then the air is fine. The MacBook is smaller and comes with a bigger SSD, which is something to consider for the price.
 
i use macbook pro retina and macbook air 13.
it s about the same at a normal distance.
overall i think mba is a better laptop
 
Pretty sure that sales clerk is working in the fast food industry now because his opinion is not supported by reality. The narrow viewing angle on the Air means you have to view it at the perfect angle or it washes out bad.

Working for Apple, he is already working for the tech equivalent of a fast food establishment. I mean, have you seen the crowds there?
Meanwhile, I thought that a narrow, direct viewing angle was considered a security plus? ;)
 
Depends on your eyes. Some people see a huge difference while some see none, even side by side.

i used for many years 320x240 screens and most of my best good looking games were under 640x480.

ok, there s a noticeable difference between retina and 1440x900 but i really don t care. i prefer the thinner lighter mba
 
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The MBA crams 1440x900 into a 13" screen but the default for the MBP 13" is 1280x800. So you'll want to make sure you are comfortable with the more condensed size of text on the MBA. The MBA is terrible at non-native resolution.
 
Once you get used to having a book with Retina display it takes some adjustment going back to a non-retina book but you will get used to it. For traveling I love having a MBA because of the significant weight savings and long battery life. It will come down to what you will be using your Mac for while traveling. If you are doing emails, web surfing and some youtube videos then the MBA should be okay. When you get back to using your Retina display Mac you will appreciate it all the more. At least that's how I feel whenever going back to my Retina MBP. :)
 
I have used MB Pro with a retina screen for years. I am considering an Air for travel. I am concerned about getting use to the screen. For those of you that have both a retina screen and an Air, how much difference is there. Is it easy to get use to?

Consider a rMB 12”. Form smaller than a MacBook Air 11” and lighter.
 
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