So I have been using my new rMBP 2.7/16/512 for about 2 hours now, and while I haven't had the chance to really stress test this thing I'd like to share my first impressions.
First, you should know that I am upgrading from an early 2008 mbp and will mainly be running CS6 plus some light gaming on my new rMBP.
Out of the box everything is as perfect as you would expect from apple. It comes in a minimal white box with the computer, power adapter, and some paperwork I'll probably never open let alone read.
Everyone knows how light and thin this is but its hard to truly understand until you take it out of the box for the first time. Anyone that tries to say this isn't a portable machine is delusional.
After booting up, I noticed 2 things. It's really fast, and it has a really nice screen. (who would have known...) Its crisp, vivid, deep, and detailed. It will be the nicest display you have ever used. The only thing that could make it any better is if it were 27".
*insert complaining about glossy display*
I wouldn't say its a "gloss" display but it's definitely not matte either. I love it. In my opinion, it's just enough gloss to make the screen "pop" but not so much that it is a mirror like previous MBP's.
Plus, you bought a laptop. If you are sitting in direct sunlight... Move?
Now lets get real technical and dive into the performance of your new workhorse.
Apps launch instantaneously. SSD is a beautiful thing.
The Intel i7 won't even break a sweat on simple tasks. Fans don't budge. The downside to this is that you might have to boot up Diablo III if you want to cook some eggs with you bottom case. (I didn't even know my rMBP had fans until I played D3 for a bit)
Oh, the ram is fast too. Just for ***** and giggles I highlighted every single app, right-clicked, and hit "OPEN". ~7 seconds later, I was trying to close every app on my computer.
(is there a shortcut to quit all programs??)
The key board is nice. The speakers are really nice. The track pad is nice. This is near perfect in form.
What about function.
It lags. Everywhere.
EDIT: Installed the updates. Fixes much of the lag.
It's not unbearable but its definitely noticeable. Scrolling and even dragging things causes it to lags a little, but its definitely not enough to hinder this machines function or give you a headache. I'm looking forward to ML in the hopes that everything will be smooth and polished with that update. (you have to believe this machine was built for ML and nothing earlier.)
The lag is undoubtably caused by one thing, that 2880 x 1800 screen... We'll get to that in a second.
One of my favorite improvements (keep in mind that before this I was on a '08 mbp) is the heat management. For 2 whole hours now I have been using this on my lap and not once have I needed a cold towel, ice bags, or burn treatment!! Now like I said earlier, I haven't had a chance to really stress the cpu or gpu but after 2 hours of mail, web, some 1080p youtube and some light CS6, my MBP has hardly reached room temp. I couldn't tell you how well the fans work or how quiet they are because, sitting in my living room with the tv on quietly and ambient outdoor noise, I have no idea if my fans have made one complete rotation or not.
EDIT: The first time I heard the fans was while playing Diablo III. This computer gets hot, but you have to poke it a little to get it going.
Now for the screen. It's a blessing and a curse.
At "best for retina" CS6 is unusable. (I believe "fuzziness" is the technical term)
I downloaded an app called SetResX that allows you to run your rMBP at it's native resolution of 2880 x 1800. Tons of workspace and beautiful art boards but it is also completely unusable due to the tiny menus and tools that come with that insane resolution.
So at this point, I'm starting to panic a little. I've got a 27" ACD I can plug into, but whats the point of a graphic designer buying a laptop if the only time you can run CS6 is when your hooked into an external display.
"best for retina" was too hot, 2880 x 1800 too cold. So I opened up my display options and chose "more space" and it was just right. Kinda... (the furthest right scaling option)
Don't get me wrong, it's not a perfect solution but you actually get a somewhat larger workspace, menus and tools that are just big enough, and you get rid of a lot of the "fuzziness" that currently plagues non-retina apps at the "best for retina" resolution.
The pixelation still exists in some areas but after diving into a design for more than 20 min you will completely forget about it.
With all that being said, I am impressed. This machine is not only beautiful on the outside, but is a complete and utter workhorse on the inside. Sure it has its flaws, but none of them will stop you from completing your work or getting frustrated in the process. With ML arriving in less than a month and retina updates coming later this year for most of the popular apps on the market, the rMBP will only get better.
As you would expect with an Apple product, everything has been design with a purpose. This machine is the result of years spent refining and perfecting a design ideology.
While nothing is perfect. Apple is getting damn close.
If theres anything else I missed or anything specific you guys want me to take a look at, let me know. Remember these are just the observations and (mostly) unbiased opinions of one graphic designer. Take it for what it is.
P.S. After about 3.5 - 4 hours of constant use, I am at 41% battery out of the box.
P.S.S. took about 1 hour 15 min to go from 41% to 100%
First, you should know that I am upgrading from an early 2008 mbp and will mainly be running CS6 plus some light gaming on my new rMBP.
Out of the box everything is as perfect as you would expect from apple. It comes in a minimal white box with the computer, power adapter, and some paperwork I'll probably never open let alone read.
Everyone knows how light and thin this is but its hard to truly understand until you take it out of the box for the first time. Anyone that tries to say this isn't a portable machine is delusional.
After booting up, I noticed 2 things. It's really fast, and it has a really nice screen. (who would have known...) Its crisp, vivid, deep, and detailed. It will be the nicest display you have ever used. The only thing that could make it any better is if it were 27".
*insert complaining about glossy display*
I wouldn't say its a "gloss" display but it's definitely not matte either. I love it. In my opinion, it's just enough gloss to make the screen "pop" but not so much that it is a mirror like previous MBP's.
Plus, you bought a laptop. If you are sitting in direct sunlight... Move?
Now lets get real technical and dive into the performance of your new workhorse.
Apps launch instantaneously. SSD is a beautiful thing.
The Intel i7 won't even break a sweat on simple tasks. Fans don't budge. The downside to this is that you might have to boot up Diablo III if you want to cook some eggs with you bottom case. (I didn't even know my rMBP had fans until I played D3 for a bit)
Oh, the ram is fast too. Just for ***** and giggles I highlighted every single app, right-clicked, and hit "OPEN". ~7 seconds later, I was trying to close every app on my computer.
(is there a shortcut to quit all programs??)
The key board is nice. The speakers are really nice. The track pad is nice. This is near perfect in form.
What about function.
It lags. Everywhere.
EDIT: Installed the updates. Fixes much of the lag.
It's not unbearable but its definitely noticeable. Scrolling and even dragging things causes it to lags a little, but its definitely not enough to hinder this machines function or give you a headache. I'm looking forward to ML in the hopes that everything will be smooth and polished with that update. (you have to believe this machine was built for ML and nothing earlier.)
The lag is undoubtably caused by one thing, that 2880 x 1800 screen... We'll get to that in a second.
One of my favorite improvements (keep in mind that before this I was on a '08 mbp) is the heat management. For 2 whole hours now I have been using this on my lap and not once have I needed a cold towel, ice bags, or burn treatment!! Now like I said earlier, I haven't had a chance to really stress the cpu or gpu but after 2 hours of mail, web, some 1080p youtube and some light CS6, my MBP has hardly reached room temp. I couldn't tell you how well the fans work or how quiet they are because, sitting in my living room with the tv on quietly and ambient outdoor noise, I have no idea if my fans have made one complete rotation or not.
EDIT: The first time I heard the fans was while playing Diablo III. This computer gets hot, but you have to poke it a little to get it going.
Now for the screen. It's a blessing and a curse.
At "best for retina" CS6 is unusable. (I believe "fuzziness" is the technical term)
I downloaded an app called SetResX that allows you to run your rMBP at it's native resolution of 2880 x 1800. Tons of workspace and beautiful art boards but it is also completely unusable due to the tiny menus and tools that come with that insane resolution.
So at this point, I'm starting to panic a little. I've got a 27" ACD I can plug into, but whats the point of a graphic designer buying a laptop if the only time you can run CS6 is when your hooked into an external display.
"best for retina" was too hot, 2880 x 1800 too cold. So I opened up my display options and chose "more space" and it was just right. Kinda... (the furthest right scaling option)
Don't get me wrong, it's not a perfect solution but you actually get a somewhat larger workspace, menus and tools that are just big enough, and you get rid of a lot of the "fuzziness" that currently plagues non-retina apps at the "best for retina" resolution.
The pixelation still exists in some areas but after diving into a design for more than 20 min you will completely forget about it.
With all that being said, I am impressed. This machine is not only beautiful on the outside, but is a complete and utter workhorse on the inside. Sure it has its flaws, but none of them will stop you from completing your work or getting frustrated in the process. With ML arriving in less than a month and retina updates coming later this year for most of the popular apps on the market, the rMBP will only get better.
As you would expect with an Apple product, everything has been design with a purpose. This machine is the result of years spent refining and perfecting a design ideology.
While nothing is perfect. Apple is getting damn close.
If theres anything else I missed or anything specific you guys want me to take a look at, let me know. Remember these are just the observations and (mostly) unbiased opinions of one graphic designer. Take it for what it is.
P.S. After about 3.5 - 4 hours of constant use, I am at 41% battery out of the box.
P.S.S. took about 1 hour 15 min to go from 41% to 100%
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