One size to rule them all?

You're on to something.

I'd add to that list, get rid of the eyefone and all those other mini gadgets too, wifi is in the air, everywhere, I don't have a phone, my 17" MBP is the one that 'rules them all' for me, I get everything done simply with it and free wifi. Very zen way of life. Great post!

Thank you.

 

Replacing an 11" travel machine with a 15" beast won't cut it.

Since you're open to external monitors, I'd suggest a compromise... 13 inches. The only question remaining is which of the three available models you want (which depends on what you do with it of course).

 

RE: Server...

Hi,

My recommendation: keep it all, get Mac OS X Server ($20), install it on your iMac (and even your MBP and MBA), and run Open Directory on your iMac Server, Profile Manager, and VPN. This simplifies your administration (everything administered from the iMac to which you connect via VPN when you aren't in your office) while still leaving you with portability (11" MBA), large screen (27" iMac), and a backup computer (15" MBP). Use the iMac server to control Time Machine backups of all machines, software updates of all machines, and network accounts (syncing) for all users. The iMac would also serve any large databases (iTunes, iPhoto, MySQL) to all of the other machines. For fun you can even run your own jabber server (iChat, Messages, XMPP) off of the iMac, your own Calendar, Contacts, and Mail services; and even your own web and wiki sites off of the iMac.

Regards,
Switon

 

I took a similar step a few days ago. The 15" rMBP replaced a big box Mac (MP 1,1) as well as a 13" MBA. I got good money for my 1,1 and no other Apple offering convinced me:

• MacPro: No USB3 or Thunderbolt, high power consumption, expensive (compared to technology included)
• Mac mini: No dedicated graphic card, disturbingly loud under load (at least 2011).
• iMac: 2011 model w/o USB3 but with screen and overheating problems plus a little overpriced in my opinion (even as refurb) - and neither 2011 nor the new model available for order anyway.
• cMBP: thick, screen with significantly more glare or poor antiglare solution, no price advantage vs. rMBP when upgraded accordingly (plus upgrading requires fiddling which i simply don't want anymore).
• Hackintosh: Was enthusiastic in the beginning, but it turned out that it's much more fiddling than i thought it'd be after the initial setup plus i faced some problems, e.g. with TRIM on the SSD or 10.8.2 breaking the system. Finally it's not a completely trivial task to eventually get a _really_ silent system (the rMBP is not audible when idling or under low load conditions).

As i found i'm not using the MBA as often as expected, i figured the rMBP would make for a good desktop replacement while still being a decent mobile unit with a better runtime than my 2011 MBA.

Data is saved on a NAS (Drobo FS) and i'll be adding a decent USB3 solution soon for fast local storage. Synology NAS could be an interesting alternative, but the better performance is paid for with a significantly higher price.

A decent USB3 hub would be nice to have, but i want to avoid the still existing teething problems when a USB3 device is not connected directly to the computer. So far i settled with a USB2 hub for standard devices like e.g. Sound, Keyboard, Mouse and (non USB3) thumb drives.

Thunderbolt-to-Gigabit-Ethernet adapter is a must - wireless is not nearly as stable and fast as copper around where i live. Adapter works flawlessly.

External monitor: On my MP and the Hack i had 3 monitors attached. For some reason one of those does not work with Apple's x-to-DVI adapters and the other is too old by now, so i settled with one external plus the Retina display. In theory up to 3 external displays possible.

Still pondering whether to invest in a Thunderbolt-to-Firewire-Adapter or not.

Magic Trackpad is a very good complement imho - my only wish would be that Apple eventually offers a backlit (external) keyboard... *sigh*

If Apple should present something really interesting in 2013 in relation to Tim Cook's mysterious MacPro announcement, i might rethink.

And i will keep an eye on how Haswell performs and how the new form factor on the iMac will eventually play out.

Even though the head says that i made the right move, the heart misses the small Air machine...

 

Both the wife and moved from fixed desktops and a laptop...to two rMBPs. We are very happy with that change.

 

I went from an air, a mac pro, and a 2010 MBP to 15" rMBP thinking that it would replace the mbp only. It replaced them all. It is a lot thinner than the 2010, and while not as small as the air, it crosses the threshold of 'portable'. After using the screen I can't even look at any other display, I get the 'real estate' I previously used my mac pro/ACD for, and if it's too small I use screen zoom (using control + trackpad, it's an older OS feature whose defaults were changed in Lion, you can get it back in accessibility settings).

 

Nope, sorry. The right tool for the right job. Not gonna pick up lumbers in the convertible.

What maintenance? Turn off auto-update. Update only if you have to and at your convenience. There. Minimal maintenance.