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Now I can consider the new 12 inch MacBook too. What do people think?
 
Now I can consider the new 12 inch MacBook too. What do people think?

I had one, but I lost it...where did it go??? ;)

Two pounds? It's an iPad with a keyboard that runs OS X.

The question is: how fast, or rather how slow, will it run OS X?

We will have to see. The other thing that bothers me is lack of ports. Will Apple make a good high speed hub for that single port?
 
I had one, but I lost it...where did it go??? ;)

Two pounds? It's an iPad with a keyboard that runs OS X.

The question is: how fast, or rather how slow, will it run OS X?

We will have to see. The other thing that bothers me is lack of ports. Will Apple make a good high speed hub for that single port?

It seems to have lower specs than the mba in terms of performance. It's only advantage seems to be its ultra portability. Like you said it's basically an iPad with a keyboard running OS X.
 
Now I can consider the new 12 inch MacBook too. What do people think?

No thanks!

I generally pass on first gen products, the lack of ports bothers me, and 13 retinas are pretty close..

Having said that, I returned the 15 retina for a 13 inch..

Just so much more portable!
 
No thanks!

I generally pass on first gen products, the lack of ports bothers me, and 13 retinas are pretty close..

Having said that, I returned the 15 retina for a 13 inch..

Just so much more portable!

Did you consider the iPad air a first gen product?

Also, does the 13 inch perform just as well as the 15 inch and which cpu do you have on it?
 
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Did you consider the iPad air a first gen product?

Also, does the 13 inch perform just as well as the 15 inch and which cpu do you have on it?

The iPad Air was the fifth iPad. There was really nothing that wasn't evolutionary in the Air.
 
15" rMBP is fine, I carry it along with a 13" Dell each day and only then does it start to get a bit heavy.

But if you don't need the power or screen size, go for one of the 12"-13" ones, depending on your preference for lightness, performance and pixel density. No point lugging around an excess.
 
Did you consider the iPad air a first gen product?

Also, does the 13 inch perform just as well as the 15 inch and which cpu do you have on it?

Nothing was really new about the iPad air, and I had one.

I do some light recording in Logic Pro - and don't really see a difference for what I do. About the only time the quad core came in use was when I converted a lot of .flac files..

I had a 13" retina for a bit before I got the 15", and back then I noticed some stuttering when browsing certain sites (mainly just reddit) and also with my steam library.

The 15" had no stuttering with reddit, but had some with my steam library (I suspect that's a steam issue though)..

I'm not really much of a gamer anymore, so I don't think I'll install anything.

I think the 13" is pretty underrated, and I really think it's kind of the sweet spot for the retinas. The 13" classic was way too big, while this one is finally perfect.

PLUS I really love the Incase icon Tensaerlite sleeve for the 13". I tried a sleeve with the 15" and it was much too awkward/heavy in comparison.

This is the stock 2.6ghz 256GB 8GB ram. Best Buy price matched bhp for $1,399.
 
It just gets hot very easily, even during an OS update the fan will spin high...

And battery sucks compare to the 13", which was jar droppingly impressive.
 
It just gets hot very easily, even during an OS update the fan will spin high...

And battery sucks compare to the 13", which was jar droppingly impressive.

So is the base model 13 inch MacBook pro the best compromise between power, portability and battery life?
 
So is the base model 13 inch MacBook pro the best compromise between power, portability and battery life?

I think it is. But in case, my laptop leave my desk 1% of the time. When I have to travel,most of the time I work in the office, but this happend once in a while. When I travel on vacations, I only take my ipad with me. Dependes of your need of portability.

If you need to take you laptop with you everyday: Retina Macbook 12

If you need to take your laptop frecuently: Retina Macbook pro 13 or Retina Macbook 12

If you need to take your laptop in specials ocassions: Retina Macbook pro 15
 
I switched from an iMac to a laptop as I'm currently traveling constantly. I've also feared that tha 15" is too much, but I'm glad I got it and not a weaker machine.
 
Forgive me if I hit on points that have already been covered. I didn't have time to read the other replies and just want to give my personal opinion and go to bed :).

First the 15 inch it self is very portable, for what it is. Is pretty light and well balanced for carrying. I have no issues taking it from home to work and around the office.

Having said that. The most portable Mac is the new MacBook. It's crazy thin and light. If you throw it in a bag you hardly notice that it's even there.

The other option is the what's become the odd child of the bunch being the MacBook Air. Lighter than the 13in MBP, but not by much. Yet heavier than the MacBook.

Having said all this, it comes down to how much power do you need vs weight your able to carry comfortabley. MB is lightest but slowest of the few. MBA is not as light but has faster CPU however it has no retina. 13in MBP is a little heavier but faster yet. Then the MBP 15in is the heaviest but also the fastest.

In closing all of these are very portable, but there is no point getting the MacBook if you need to do processor intensive tasks, as much as it would be overkill to get a MBP 15 if your just checking email. Get the right tool for the job. Anyway you go is very portable, but you'll regret going ultra portable if it inhibits your work/task at hand.
 
In closing all of these are very portable, but there is no point getting the MacBook if you need to do processor intensive tasks, as much as it would be overkill to get a MBP 15 if your just checking email. Get the right tool for the job. Anyway you go is very portable, but you'll regret going ultra portable if it inhibits your work/task at hand.

Also If you want real screen estate and portability. rMBP 15 is the only laptop that fits.

I would like that apple sales more colors (like the retina macbook). Imagine a Space Gray 15" retina macbook pro with the buttefly keyboard. A total FTW!
 
Also If you want real screen estate and portability. rMBP 15 is the only laptop that fits.

I would like that apple sales more colors (like the retina macbook). Imagine a Space Gray 15" retina macbook pro with the buttefly keyboard. A total FTW!

This could happen. There is a lot of talk of a redesign happening with the next refresh. I think we can safely say it will have more than likely gave the current two thunderbolt ports replaced with USB C thunderbolt. I'm dreading that they change the keyboard to what the MacBook has... But they may offer color options. It would be pretty cool to see that space grey MBP 15 :)
 
I have both the 13 rMBP (2013) and the 15 rMBP (2015). The 15 is a tank. It's not the extra pound. It's the cantilever effect of weight over surface area. It's why the new 12" mac book feels heavier in your hand than the 11" macbook air, even though it weighs .5lbs less. The surface area makes things feel heavier.

I love the 11" macbook air and it spoils you that everything aftter it feels like you're hauling bricks. That said, the sweet spot in performance vs size is with a maxed out 13" rMBP.

But if you need the 4 core horsepower and/or 5k video, the 15" is your only bet.

Of course if you're coming from and older even heavier brick like model (or 17" model) the 15" will feel fine.
 
I went from two 15" MBP`s (primary & secondary) in the field to a 15" Retina & 13" Retina, I am now down to a 13" Retina & 12 Retina. The 13" Retina is really in the "sweet-spot" being fast & powerful for the majority of users, especially those that travel and or are on the go.

The 15" does deliver tremendous performance for it`s size, equally there is trade off, size, weight, noise, battery life etc. Those that do travel should consider if they really need the additional performance. I recently used my 15" Retina as a solely a Notebook off the mains for a couple of days, and the thing that I noticed the most was the temperature, being so much hotter than the 13" and a little uncomfortable on the lap, which is another consideration versus usage and need.

Q-6
 
I had the first 15" rMBP so I don't know if they've went on a diet since then but I remember it basically being non-portable in comparison to an Air or the 13 rMBP. Then again, I'm a minimalist and don't like hauling around anything heavier than necessary. It's obviously leaps and bounds more portable than anything 4-5 years ago. I don't even think the Air's are worth considering since the 13" rMBP is negligibly more expensive and you get much more for your money. I have a late 2013 13" and am tempted by the dedicated GPU and much faster processor of the 15" but am ultimately too scared of the size. Like someone else said, sleeves are awkward on the 15". It's like trying to cover up an elephant.

I think the 13" makes infinitely more sense if you're someone who doesn't need the extra power and the dGPU. And don't buy the 15" for gaming - it can do it, but isn't made for that. Just buy a gaming PC if you want to game. Cheaper and makes more sense. That said, if you need the screen real estate, the extra processor, and the dGPU for creative tasks, then it's a no brainer obviously.
 
I have both the 13 rMBP (2013) and the 15 rMBP (2015). The 15 is a tank. It's not the extra pound. It's the cantilever effect of weight over surface area. It's why the new 12" mac book feels heavier in your hand than the 11" macbook air, even though it weighs .5lbs less. The surface area makes things feel heavier.

I love the 11" macbook air and it spoils you that everything aftter it feels like you're hauling bricks. That said, the sweet spot in performance vs size is with a maxed out 13" rMBP.

But if you need the 4 core horsepower and/or 5k video, the 15" is your only bet.

Of course if you're coming from and older even heavier brick like model (or 17" model) the 15" will feel fine.

What are some example uses for the 12 inch rmb vs 13 inch rmbp?
 
What are some example uses for the 12 inch rmb vs 13 inch rmbp?

Do you mean where the 13" rMBP is better than the 12"? Im sure a lot as the pure grunt of the 13" is probably 2+X of the 12". But we have a background file system cloud sync tool, just that kills an 11" macbook air, much less the 12". When you're using something like join.me or apple screen sharing and trying to do anything else on the 11" air (again, much less the way more anemic 12"), you're pinning the CPUs and the machine feels like molasses.

12" is a great machine if you don't use the CPU much.
 
I have both a 13 and a 15. I carry the 13 around with me to work and travel with it. I consider the 15 my baby and keep it at home and use it after work for the photo editing, surfing macrumors, etc that i have to do. I find it way better to have the giant screen in front of me than my 13. As for carrying the 15 around day to day i haven't done it but it does seem that it would be a bit more cumbersome than the 13.
 
I have both a 13 and a 15. I carry the 13 around with me to work and travel with it. I consider the 15 my baby and keep it at home and use it after work for the photo editing, surfing macrumors, etc that i have to do. I find it way better to have the giant screen in front of me than my 13. As for carrying the 15 around day to day i haven't done it but it does seem that it would be a bit more cumbersome than the 13.
I bring my 15" around. I have a Samsonite bag with a compartment for the laptop. I do notice the weight but the screen size makes it worthwhile.
 
I bring my 15" around. I have a Samsonite bag with a compartment for the laptop. I do notice the weight but the screen size makes it worthwhile.
The screen size is amazing! My backpack I carry fits it well I just haven't really taken it with me.
 
The footprint of the 15" rmbp may seem big, but the big screen is really wonderful. Even if it is the old non macbook pro, the big screen can give you a very good experience. 15 is my choice.
 
The best combo is an iMac 27 with the retina Macbook 12. I think that is a future proof having an iMac. You can always have all your media in your home. Use the portabilit of the Retina Macbook when is neccesary and change it when the upgrade worths it.

iMac 27 ($1799) + Retina Macbook ($1300) = $3100

Retina Macbook pro 15" ($2000) + Ips display ($700) = $2700

But have two computers for 400 dollars, is a FTW.
 
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