MPB as a desktop replacement (or, MPB as the only computer, if you wish)

Road warrior power-user here.

If your usage has to do with needing high-end desktop-class performance, then what you're looking for is a workstation-class laptop. If it's more about ergonomics, then any good laptop capable of driving an external monitor with good resolution would do.

I highly recommend the Retina Macbook Pro as a workstation-class portable computer. My own units have been superb, and I really pound my machines. They've held up far better than any of my previous Windows laptops (Dell, Sony, Compaq, IBM/Lenovo...). In fact, my doughty 2010 pre-Retina Macbook Pro survived my chronic over-usage (and even a Chinese-hotel-room physical hack) and runs 24/7 to this day as a specialized server.

Marvelous machines. Great keyboards, great screens, great support.

And great power. If you don't need that, consider an Air.

 

I've been using MBP as the only work computer for about 9 years now. I'm on my third one and have absolutely no problem. Actually, the entire office (25 people) use laptops and external monitors, both PC and MACs.

Also, why use clamshell when you can have dual screen?

 

I use my rMBP 15 as a desktop replacement including heavy duty Video editing and transcoding. I have been using one for about 4 years now. I have the laptop setting on the keyboard tray and a 27 inch monitor on the desk above, a real nice arrangement. The rMBP for its precise text display and the 27 inch for video and photo editing. It runs maybe 18 hours a day, seven days a week.

The rMBP perfect for this, no damage whatsoever. It may get a little warm to the touch at times, but it is designed for that. If I routinely processed 2 hour feature films, a Mac Pro may be a better desktop, but not an iMac.

Batteries are no longer user replaceable (its glued into the case). When you use the laptop plugged in as a the desktop, its not using the battery or using up cycles.

I'd advise the max RAM and internal SSD memory as you can spend as you can't upgrade RAM and its nice not to have to lug around external drive when you are on the run.

 

I'd recommend keeping the rmbp open, as it provides another surface area for cooling. Regardless, it is a fine desktop replacement as long as it has sufficient power for your needs. It's not going to outperform a mac pro, but it has a lot of power for its size.

 

Yes apple will replace your battery. Keeping it plugged in will not really damage it just use it plugged in or not how you wish and it should be fine for 3-4 years no issues at all.

RAM usage in modern OSX (yosemite and mavericks is massively misunderstood they use all available RAM as much as possible but much of it is just keeping things loaded for instant opening. THis RAM is available to the system whenever it is needed the only way to see how your RAM is coping is to look at the pressure graph if it is green in your workload then it is coping with ease, if there are no page outs to disk the same applies.
Also RAM compression will mean that 16gb can act like up to 24GB without causing the pressure graph to change colour or any page outs. 16GB of RAM is plenty for almost every workload short of rendering 4K videos with lots of after effects etc and should be enough for at least 4-5 years.

You should be able to target screen mode and have one screen with the macbook open, you could also use your Imac as the screen...

 

My rMBP is de-facto my only computer since 2012. I sold my iMac at some point, because I was not using it. I am also not using an external display, because frankly, I don't see a point (at least for my work, which involves mostly text). The real screen estate is the same and the quality of the rMBP's screen far surpasses that of the external monitors.

What you should be worried about? Well, nothing. Its a wonderful machine and it will take anything you throw on it without complains. I have took any care of my battery, I average at around 1.5 load cycles per day, and my battery is still over 80% of its original capacity.

 

Sorry to threadcap a little bit, but it might actually help out the OP as well:

For the guys who are running their macbooks in clamshell mode, are you using any kind of docking station? or just have the the wires direct?

I'm in a similar situation trying to figure out what to do; I have a 2009 white macbook that I upgraded to SSD and 4gb (or was it 8? heh) that has been running 'pretty good' for a while now, as well as a 21" i5 iMac.... but just looking to consolidate into one machine at this point.

--rob

 

I can't confirm this. I used a 2012 15" rMBP as desktop replacement with open lid and the only time I was gathering cycles was when I recharged after having it actually used on battery. Similar experience with two older MBA's before.

Not sure about the exact price, but it's possible, yes.

 

Yes I use my MBP as my only computer, it's been the finest Mac I've ever had. Do a lot of video editing and transcoding in FCPX and Compressor on it, you need a lot of patience with that on this ancient hardware but it still chews on anything you throw at it.

And I wouldn't worry too much about cycles and stuff. My battery has over 500 cycles and I still get about 3-4 hours on a single charge (down from 8-9 when I first got it). I'm happy with that. I'd rather put those 200 bucks into a new MacBook.

 

No matter if you choose to use it open or in clamshell mode, I recommend spending a few dollars on iStatMenus. Being able to manually increase the fan speed makes me feel better about running heavy tasks (and, when I have time, games) on my rMBP.

Battery has not been a problem yet. My wife "inherited" my mid 2010 MBP 15 (pre retina) and still gets several hours of real use out of it when she needs to run it on battery.

My MacBooks have held up insanely great to my abuse. I travel less now than when I got my first one, but my current rMBP still goes into and out of my backpack every day both at home and at work, and I have had zero problems with it.
Of course I wouldn't complain if someone gave me a Mac Pro for use at home, but the rMBP is good enough that I can't justify the expense based on my own usage.

 

No, I can't. The rMBP does NOT waste charging cycles when used as desktop replacement with open lid.

 

My apologies for not expressing myself more clearly.

I wanted to say that it does not waste battery cycles even when _not_ in Clamshell mode. I assumed that your statement about not wasting battery cycles in clamshell mode would mean that you thought it actually would waste cycles when used with open lid.

This is not the case.

Hope I could clear up the confusion now