MacBook Pro with Retina: not impressed

[2298754]

Nope. Not me.

I was overwhelmed by the rMBP's display when I went to an Apple store to check it out. Overwhelmed enough to pay big bucks for one and to wait a month for it to be assembled and delivered.

Now that I have been using it for a couple of weeks...am I now underwhelmed? Not in the least. It just keeps looking better and better.

YMMV as always.

Yup, the people who are in denial or say the retina screen sucks are just:

jealous that they don't have one or in denial

 

[rockyroad55]

Still, you won't find any other laptop on the market comparable in size and power.

True, to some extent, but far more went into making a machine this complicated work right. Just look at the tear downs and what they did with the speakers & configuration in regards to airflow, meaning thermal management. It's truly a feat of engineering.

Yes, Apple only designed a custom SSD and memory implementation and they only restructured the battery to be the thinnest and most powerful in existence, and yes, they've made it so thin that a CD's worth of thickness is too much to spare. How absolutely terrible of them!

Just stating the obvious part with the removal of the CD. Seems like you guys are attacking me for a truthful comment. I'm not the OP

 

[ajcadoo]

Troll or blind man..

Yup, the screen res on this thing is just as clear as day as iPhone 4 vs 3GS. Seeing an old MacBook screen is so icky.

 

[portcontrol7]

I agree, I compared my anti-glare late 2011 17" MBP to a retina the other day and was like, meh. I liked how much lighter the new one was but knowing that it's got soldered and glued bits in there, I'll take the extra 2 lbs on my MBP.

I'm not saying it's not the worlds best laptop, but I prefer late 2011 17 inch anti glare goodness any day.

 

[thekev]

This thread keeps making me think of this. Unfortunately the rMBP was not inspired by Star Trek.

 

[vanc]

I kinda of agree with the OP. I can clearly see the huge difference of screens between my new rMBP and my old mid-2009 MBP. But my wife was much less impressed. With different eye sights and other factors, people may have different reactions to rMBP. So please don't simply say trolling. You're not other people.

 

[cmChimera]

I admire the fact that you were able to make this thread despite your blindness.


On a serious note, do we need a thread for every single person that looks at rMBP?

 

[stylinexpat]

Well... That leaves only one option - denial. I mean, seriously, how can you not see the difference...

 

[ixodes]

Apple is ultra successful because they're the masters of marketing. Setting buyers expectations so high they'll buy anything Apple. Just the thought of a new model makes them drool. You've got to give Apple credit. No matter what the other factors are, Apple knows how to sell.

As a longtime loyal Apple customer, I pre-ordered sight unseen. Then no sooner did I receive mine, when it was revealed that Apple chose to cram most of the components including the battery in & glue it together.

I fought off the urge to go into denial about the negative environmental impact this will have. While at the same time the Apple apologists were making up excuses for Apple.

While it's certainly a nice computer, I offed mine in favor of a more environmentally responsible, easily upgradeable, new maxed out MBP.

 

[theSeb]

Apple is ultra successful because they're the masters of marketing. Setting buyers expectations so high they'll buy anything Apple. Just the thought of a new model makes them drool. You've got to give Apple credit. No matter what the other factors are, Apple knows how to sell.

As a longtime loyal Apple customer, I pre-ordered sight unseen. Then no sooner did I receive mine, when it was revealed that Apple chose to cram most of the components including the battery in & glue it together.

I fought off the urge to go into denial about the negative environmental impact this will have. While at the same time the Apple apologists were making up excuses for Apple.

While it's certainly a nice computer, I offed mine in favor of a more environmentally responsible, easily upgradeable, new maxed out MBP.

Let's wait and see what the EPAT review has to say, before judging a book by its cover.

 

[wethackrey]

It's really only thinner because of the removal of the optical drive and restructured battery/SSD.

That's like saying "it's really only thinner because they redesigned everything." Let's not forget about the display. The retina display is thinner as well, and much less reflective, because Apple designed it without the typical front layer of glass.

 

[thekev]

I fought off the urge to go into denial about the negative environmental impact this will have. While at the same time the Apple apologists were making up excuses for Apple.

While it's certainly a nice computer, I offed mine in favor of a more environmentally responsible, easily upgradeable, new maxed out MBP.

I don't have issues being critical of Apple. Sometimes they do things that I really like. It's hit and miss, but I don't have a very high opinion of consumer electronics in general. I've personally experienced things like bulging batteries which annoys me immensely. Battery dying due to age or cycle count is normal, but gradually applying pressure to the trackpad due to swelling is an extremely bad thing. I've seen this in different notebook generations through 2009 ish, but I've seen later complaints. If you look at their store, the two items with the highest number of complaints are replacement batteries and chargers (both 1-2 star average ratings which is bad by any standard). The chargers have cords that get tweaked easily, and the cords are not replaceable. You have to buy an entirely new charger, which I think is wasteful. There are two tabs where you can wind the cord up, but it's not durable and develops kinks easily.

On the glued design, I'd like to know if they did the research on recycling issues with these prior to release. There are things I'd really like to see them improve. I'd like to see an upgraded charger option capable of powering the machine at full load without leaning on the battery. IPS is a really nice addition overall. I wish they'd make chargers that aren't prone to breaking (I'm quite careful with my stuff). They redid the airflow on the new one. I would've appreciated some improvements on the thermals a couple generations ago. I'm debating repasting the cpus to see if it brings fan noise down a little on my 2011. I've pulled apart many computers including a couple light servers, but the number of small tabs and things on the logic board that look like they're meant to be replaced during service rather than unplugged and replugged makes me a little nervous in spite of this.

I'm also annoyed with the state of the mac pro.The lack of a real update both puts it behind and makes me question long term support for the line, even with the PR statement.

 

[cryptonit]

I repeat to myself each morning: "retina macbook is ugly! you don't want one! retina macbook is ugly! you don't want one! retina macbook is ugly!". Works for now

 

[wethackrey]

... Then no sooner did I receive mine, when it was revealed that Apple chose to cram most of the components including the battery in & glue it together.

I fought off the urge to go into denial about the negative environmental impact this will have. While at the same time the Apple apologists were making up excuses for Apple.

While it's certainly a nice computer, I offed mine in favor of a more environmentally responsible, easily upgradeable, new maxed out MBP.

Knowing this will probably get me labeled as an "Apple apologist"... I think the glue issue has been wildly overblown. Almost all of the fever about the issue began with the iFixit tear-down article. That article focuses on the ease of repair, not recycling, but it spawned a bunch of hysterical articles in the trade press about a supposed inability to recycle the machine.

I've recently read interviews with principals of two large recycling firms who have actually disassembled the MBPr. Both say that the glue issue is a very minor one and that they've already developed the tear-down process for the machine. Both also said that the entire Apple line is prized by recyclers due to the high percentage of metal and low percentage of plastic in the design.

Seems to me that the glue issue is much ado about nothing.

 

[theSeb]

Seems to me that the glue issue is much ado about nothing.

As is the other 98% of hysteria around these parts.

 

[wethackrey]

I repeat to myself each morning: "retina macbook is ugly! you don't want one! retina macbook is ugly! you don't want one! retina macbook is ugly!". Works for now

"Retina MacBook is gorgeous! Retina MacBook is fast! Retina MacBook is thin! Retina MacBook is light!"

I'm just sayin'...

 

[d00d]

Had a go on a mates today and have to say wasn't impressed.

BHA

 

[leman]

As a longtime loyal Apple customer, I pre-ordered sight unseen. Then no sooner did I receive mine, when it was revealed that Apple chose to cram most of the components including the battery in & glue it together.

I fought off the urge to go into denial about the negative environmental impact this will have. While at the same time the Apple apologists were making up excuses for Apple.

While it's certainly a nice computer, I offed mine in favor of a more environmentally responsible, easily upgradeable, new maxed out MBP.

What negative environmental impact? People keep talking about this, but I still have no idea what this is supposed to mean. The computer has a very power efficient PSU and does not use much power in the first place. The manufacturing process is relatively environmentally sound (as far as you can get with aluminium anyway). The entire machine can be recycled, Apple will do this for you for free. The battery is replaceable, every Apple service provider will do this for you for a reasonable fee.

I mean, there are lots of real, valid reasons to criticize Apple. But why won't you pick one of those instead of making some stuff up?

 

[wethackrey]

... On the glued design, I'd like to know if they did the research on recycling issues with these prior to release.

From recent interview I've read with principals of two large recycling firms, they've already developed tear-down and recycle process for the MBPr based on samples Apple gave them. So I'd say yes, Apple clearly researched the issue.

There are things I'd really like to see them improve. I'd like to see an upgraded charger option capable of powering the machine at full load without leaning on the battery. IPS is a really nice addition overall. I wish they'd make chargers that aren't prone to breaking (I'm quite careful with my stuff).

Apple has upgraded the MagSafe power adapter continually ever since it's release. While earlier versions tended to crack and fray at the top of the strain relief, the newer examples have completely reformulated insulation. I have some of the early versions here and the new ones are very different and clearly less prone to cord failure.

As for the plastic cord-winding ears, the only one of those I've ever broken, out of the twenty or so I've owned, I did by unwinding the cord by dropping the adapter and having it unwind like a yo-yo. I knew it was a boneheaded move the moment I did it. And yes, one of the ears broke off when the power adapter got to the end of the cable. How could it not? Other than that, I've never had a problem with the ears.

I'm not sure where you get the idea that the power adapters can't power the computer "without leaning on the battery". Every MacBook Pro I've owned, which is about a dozen now including the MBPr, has had no problem charging the battery while operating at full tilt.

I'd be very interested to know what other laptop power adapters you might think there are out there that are better than Apple's.

 

[thekev]

From recent interview I've read with principals of two large recycling firms, they've already developed tear-down and recycle process for the MBPr based on samples Apple gave them. So I'd say yes, Apple clearly researched the issue.

That is excellent news. Thank you for mentioning it.

Apple has upgraded the MagSafe power adapter continually ever since it's release. While earlier versions tended to crack and fray at the top of the strain relief, the newer examples have completely reformulated insulation. I have some of the early versions here and the new ones are very different and clearly less prone to cord failure.

As for the plastic cord-winding ears, the only one of those I've ever broken, out of the twenty or so I've owned, I did by unwinding the cord by dropping the adapter and having it unwind like a yo-yo. I knew it was a boneheaded move the moment I did it. And yes, one of the ears broke off when the power adapter got to the end of the cable. How could it not? Other than that, I've never had a problem with the ears.

I've never broken the cords. It became a little wavy by where it's reinforced. I've had some chargers cease working. I don't unwind them in a reckless manner, and I don't even wrap them around those tabs anymore. I coil them loosely like a garden hose due to paranoia of more broken chargers.

I'm not sure where you get the idea that the power adapters can't power the computer "without leaning on the battery". Every MacBook Pro I've owned, which is about a dozen now including the MBPr, has had no problem charging the battery while operating at full tilt.

I'd be very interested to know what other laptop power adapters you might think there are out there that are better than Apple's.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2787732?start=15&tstart=0

Just a link for reference. There are many of these discussions. It seems to depend on how hard it's run. Anyway I've been working on ways to deal with power issues under heavy load. I can disable the keyboard backlight, use an external display and turn off the normal one entirely, disable spotlight, etc. I've been looking for as many ways as possible to manage heat and power consumption. I don't do transcoding specifically. PC laptops with similar internals often have power brick options up to 120 W or so as opposed to 85.

Out of curiosity have you ever tried Arctic Silver on these? Opinions on the matter seem to vary, but I was going to try it to bring down temps a bit along with other custom energy settings.

 

[Pipper99]

bha

 

[Carl Sagan]

I kinda of agree with the OP. I can clearly see the huge difference of screens between my new rMBP and my old mid-2009 MBP. But my wife was much less impressed. With different eye sights and other factors, people may have different reactions to rMBP. So please don't simply say trolling. You're not other people.

It's amazing just how insecure some people are that you can't have an independent thought without being treated like a heretic..!

 

[rockyroad55]

That's like saying "it's really only thinner because they redesigned everything." Let's not forget about the display. The retina display is thinner as well, and much less reflective, because Apple designed it without the typical front layer of glass.

Yeah I know. But for the general public, the removal of the optical drive is seen first.

 

[terraphantm]

I kinda of agree with the OP. I can clearly see the huge difference of screens between my new rMBP and my old mid-2009 MBP. But my wife was much less impressed. With different eye sights and other factors, people may have different reactions to rMBP. So please don't simply say trolling. You're not other people.

But the OP claims to have pretty good vision. My mom can't see much of a difference between the iPad 2 and 3 (in fact, she claims the 2 looks better to her eyes...), but I know her vision is pretty crappy. I personally see a very striking difference between the retina and non-retina displays (my eyes have repeatedly tested at 20/13 though)

 

[PeterSharp]

Yeah I know. But for the general public, the removal of the optical drive is seen first.

"General public" is not really a target audience for Macbook Pro Retina...