What? I have both and there's simply no comparison. They are completely different computers for completely different users.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Notebook Refresh to Be Highlight of WWDC, Non-Retina MacBook Pro to Continue?
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
What? I have both and there's simply no comparison. They are completely different computers for completely different users.
Maybe not for you, but Mine is over 90% full, and I have to keep "bleeding" it off to external drives. I could never use a MBP with 256MB, and 512MB would still be too cramped.
It's the only reason I wish I still had a Tower, Multiple 2TB drives.
----------
Bulky drive? My laptop is less than 1" thick. I don't consider that bulky. I have to look at a Retina sideways to tell it's slimmer.
The Retina is only 1/5 of an inch slimmer. I can live with 0.2 inches of bulk
----------
How do you figure? The 15" Retina models START at $400 more.
----------
I'm aware of this. I got my MBP at the end of 2011 from Amazon, saved $90 on the machine, but also saved $132 on tax. However, starting in 2012, Amazon now collects sales tax.
One thing I LOVED about ordering from Amazon, in addition to the $222 savings, is they give ONE YEAR INTEREST FREE to pay for items like MacBook Pros!! I couldn't have afforded it otherwise.
Interestingly too, now the non-Retina is only available as a stock model in the cheaper configuration, so any upgrades MUST be purchased from Apple. You used to be able to buy the upgrade version from other retailers.
Last edited:
I don't really care about apple vs. samsung. I just hate matte screens. Always have and always will.
today i hope arrive my new rMBP 13 refurb payed 1380 , I wanted to wait haswell, but unfortunately my old macbook white 2008 died 2 weeks ago. now, I'm very conflicted because I think it will be perfect with haswell but I fear that the new models will be available in June pr later and then I should stay a few months without mac. and then for 1380 a rMBP 13 2.5 256mb I do not think I can easily find it. Help!!! My use is lightroom, ps, develop (java & android eith eclipse, jboss and sql server) and i would try some video editing; i think hd4000 is enaught to these application
what do you think about?!
what do you think about?!
The only reason the 13" Macbook Pro is the most popular is because it's the cheapest. I'm sure if there was a 15" model with dedicated graphics at the same price that would be the most popular. If there was a retina model at that price it would be the most popular.
The price is the thing that's driving the popularity. Most people just want an Apple laptop they can afford. This is not a reason for Apple to keep selling outdated technology, they just have to make sure they can bring out something new that fits into a lower price point.
If they don't do this their popularity will gradually decline.
The price is the thing that's driving the popularity. Most people just want an Apple laptop they can afford. This is not a reason for Apple to keep selling outdated technology, they just have to make sure they can bring out something new that fits into a lower price point.
If they don't do this their popularity will gradually decline.
Yep.... While i'm still happy the Macbook Pro non-Ratina will stick around (this includes the 15-inch too? ), it still kind of sits in-between an ultra-book, and a Air, with all the benefits of ports and storage.
However, I think my next Mac would be an Air (if only I can stop playing BioShock 2), otherwise it will have to stay....
That is, some magic happens that can run BioShock 2 on an Air, but since it has no dedicated GPU to switch too, it will probably be struggling.
oh well.
No one has ever heard of compromises ? We all want the latest stuff, or a bigger display at the lower prices, but that will not mean your gonna keep exactly all features, or they would perform as fast as they would anyway.. Something has to give..
Thats just the way the industry is..... Prove me wrong.
However, I think my next Mac would be an Air (if only I can stop playing BioShock 2), otherwise it will have to stay....
That is, some magic happens that can run BioShock 2 on an Air, but since it has no dedicated GPU to switch too, it will probably be struggling.
oh well.
No one has ever heard of compromises ? We all want the latest stuff, or a bigger display at the lower prices, but that will not mean your gonna keep exactly all features, or they would perform as fast as they would anyway.. Something has to give..
Thats just the way the industry is..... Prove me wrong.
True, but I'm not saying they should use Air's LCD in Pro. The drop in image quality is not caused by its higher PPI/resolution, but rather by the fact that Air's LCD needs to be thinner and probably cheaper as well.
Since there's plenty of space in 13" Pro LCD shell, Apple could use a decent 1440x900 panel which would retain the qualities of the current LCDs while bumping the res. I cannot imagine how that could be a problem...
I used to have a 13" Pro and then switched to 13" Air about 6 months ago. Even though I agree that Pro provides neater image, which was good for my occasional PS and IL work, I need to say that I am much more comfortable working on Air, because Pro's resolution is just not sufficient for such use.
I even heard people who use it only for surfing the web complaining about how little fits on the screen!
Actually I think dedicated graphics is important for a lot of people. If they just kept a similar line-up but added dedicated graphics to their whole range including the 'budget' models, that would boost their popularity massively.
If they are moving the whole range across to air/retina stye systems, then making the RAM and SSDs user upgradable would remove the barrier that is forcing a lot of people to stick with standard MacBook Pros.
Upgrading-able RAM down the line should be possible, however going with Apple "current situation" of sticking the chips on the board as a "This is just how we do it" kind of augment, will probably hurt allot of people, and force them to plan ahead.
I mean, I dunno what's gonna happen 6 months down the track.... I know my current situation, but thats all.
I guess, Apple will have to change their thinking of how they can keep the "plug-in sockets" for ram, while at the same time keeping the thinnest they like.
I'm sure, its do-able.... Just not currently.
It is good that they are continuing the model with an optical drive as there are still a enough people that use one. Still be cool to have an optical drive on new retina model. I have seen more then enough people would like the option of the original Macbook Pro size so they could have an extra hard drive and or better battery life as that is worth more then it being a little thinner.
Of course Apple will need to talk about something important otherwise people will be bored. At the same time Apple cannot say something amazing every single time.
Of course Apple will need to talk about something important otherwise people will be bored. At the same time Apple cannot say something amazing every single time.
I'm sure the vast majority of people wouldn't mind their laptops being a millimetre or two thicker for the benefit of being able to upgrade them. If Apple refuse to do that, then they need give us better, more affordable storage options. Why not add a FusionDrive option for laptops? Or if Apple want to stick to SSD then they should use their buying power to make 512GB and 1TB drives affordable options. There is little point having a retina display if you don't have room for your hi-res holiday snaps or your HD home movies. Add an average music collection and most people will fill up a 256GB or even 512GB drive with ease.
You would be much better off getting an external blu-ray writer and plugging it in when you need it. They are pretty cheap now.
You haven't looked at all of them. The current generation is kind of limited. When we still had non LG panel options in some of the higher end displays, some had softer matte coatings than what you have now. The problem with reflective displays if you're dealing with photographs or anything of that sort is that the additive nature of direct reflections kills any subtle separation in values even in dim lighting. In bright lighting it's completely unusable. The newer ones might be better to the point where they would work in subdued lighting. As for 1992 technology, all of that would have been done on CRTs. Even in the early 2000s, they were still widely used due to the price of an lcd of comparable quality. At the time you could buy this sony artisan for $1600-1800, an NEC for a bit less, or an NEC or Eizo 21" lcd for $2000-3000. The Apple displays were also somewhat popular, but their uniformity was much worse.
I tend to be extremely picky when it comes to external players as I believe my laptop or desktop should come with them. However if I had an ultrabook, Macbook Air, Tablet etc... then I would be fine with it because of the nature of the device. For any larger system it feels limited if it does not have a blu-ray drive. Of course this is coming from someone that only owns a computer and it works as my entertainment center. Once I have a large television with a player again I doubt I would worry too much about a drive and an external would be okay for the times I may require it. If I take away the need or want to play movies on my laptop the usage would greatly drop.
In other ways I have moved away from needing discs of any type.
I work in graphic design and find the opposite is true. My old matte screens used to diffuse reflected light across the whole screen, ruining the entire image. Since I switched to glossy I've noticed a massive improvement. Blacks are actually black instead of the light grey I had before. The subtly and range of tones are considerably better as they aren't hidden behind a mask of defuse light.
That said, I do live in England where our skies are covered in grey clouds for 360 days of the year.
I imagine if you lived in a hot country, glossy laptop screens wouldn't be very practical.
Where did I say I need the Optical and the ethernet port?
I said plenty of people need them.
You know what Apple did, they removed the optical and ethernet port, glued in the batteries, soldered the RAM in and you had to pay (Way) more for it while the only thing which is better is the freaking display.
What Apple should have released is the same machine with the retina and leave it there.
I for one don't want a machine which is not user serviceable or user upgradeable at all.
Paying 4-5 times more for Apple's RAM or 2-3 times more for SSD is insane.
You want us to buy a freaking expensive thunderbolt dock to just have all ports, you gotta be kidding me.
If you want portability, buy yourself an MacBook Air or an iPad, let other people decide for themselves if they want all the rest build in instead of taking freaking everything external with them.
I still find it a bit odd when people are serious when asking such questions like just because they do not need it it should mean no one else does. And on another note if they left the Macbook Pro the same aside from giving it more power and the retina screen people would still love it regardless of being ever so slightly thinner.
For the record, I absolutely hate glossy screens. Mirrors belong in the bathroom.
Isn't it great that there is an option for both of us?
The Apple store here in Sindelfingen, the Apple authorized repair center in Stuttgart, Media Markt, Saturn, and any of a variety of local computer stores in my area.