Retina MBP 15 is not worth it IMO

[Drask]

Hey there, just sharing my 2 cents.

I bough a rMBP back in August 2012. couple months after it was released. I had to deal with several thing to get rid of the UI lag, for example, running the dock 2D instead of 3D helped me alot. I kept my rMBP over a year until sadly 2 weeks ago it got stolen. Now, don't get me wrong, the rMBP is a pretty awesome machine, an a very good looking one, but I have decided not to get another one for few reasons:

1) Paying 2,200 or more for the last year processor/gpu.

2) Windows in this machine is not a good experience for different reasons, such as the resolution(which you can adjust the DPI for, but many programs break or show in funny ways). This obviously doesn't affect you if you don't need windows.

3) Many programs are not optimized for retina yet.

If you can wait a couple of months, I'd say wait to see what the new rMBP will be like, I do need one now, so I went for a windows laptop with the latest cpu/gpu for under 600 of the rMBP price.

 

[Kirihuna]

Just got my 15" rMBP. 2.8GHz, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD. No problems what so ever.

Battery life kinda sucks, but I use the screen on full brightness so that explains it. I don't have choppyness of any browser (I use Chrome).

Also, Excel (all of Office 2011) looks perfectly fine to me.

 

[BlockEight88]

Just got my 15" rMBP. 2.8GHz, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD. No problems what so ever.

Battery life kinda sucks, but I use the screen on full brightness so that explains it. I don't have choppyness of any browser (I use Chrome).

Also, Excel (all of Office 2011) looks perfectly fine to me.

And if you apply slight pressure here do you hear a creaking noise?

 

[Kirihuna]

And if you apply slight pressure here do you hear a creaking noise?

Image

None at all actually. just tried it.

 

[aiyaaabatt]

And if you apply slight pressure here do you hear a creaking noise?

Image

me neither. I have the 15.4'' rmbp (feb 2013) and I have absolutely no creaking anywhere on my frame. There is some extremely minor creaking (almost faint) on the middle bottom portion of my laptop, but I can't hear it unless my ear is 1-2 inches away.

 

[BlockEight88]

None at all actually. just tried it.

Congrats, glad you got a perfect laptop. Just out of curiosity, do you have an LG or Samsung screen?

me neither. I have the 15.4'' rmbp (feb 2013) and I have absolutely no creaking anywhere on my frame. There is some extremely minor creaking (almost faint) on the middle bottom portion of my laptop, but I can't hear it unless my ear is 1-2 inches away.

Mine is audible if your using it regularly and apply slight pressure to where I circled in the picture. From the research I've done it looks like the screws need to be tightened.

 

[Kirihuna]

Congrats, glad you got a perfect laptop. Just out of curiosity, do you have an LG or Samsung screen?



Mine is audible if your using it regularly and apply slight pressure to where I circled in the picture. From the research I've done it looks like the screws need to be tightened.

I'm sure they're something wrong with it. There is always one thing. But maybe you just had a bad batch. It happens sometimes.

I think I have Samsung? I don't know how to tell.

 

[BlockEight88]

I'm sure they're something wrong with it. There is always one thing. But maybe you just had a bad batch. It happens sometimes.

I think I have Samsung? I don't know how to tell.

Well no need for you to even find out if it looks fine. The LG screens are bad and are subject to the image retention.

I'm just going to return mine and go with the Air. The 15" is overkill for what I need it for anyway. I just wanted it for the screen, not what I actually need it for.

Mine was made April 2013. Perhaps it would have been better if I got one made from July-September.

 

[vpro]

Eternal.

There will always be problems, you just have to play this like the lotto.

Good luck. Spend - spend - spend, isn't this fun? I love it. ^_^

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Notebook has such a small foot print but it's screen bezel is still so chunky, ick. Pops out at me, the next gens better have a superbly reduced screen bezel. Or else.

 

[JeffiJers]

lol @ the 15R not being worth it. I have been a mac user for exactly a year now and i would Never use another laptop other then my 15R.


no lag, no issues & no fan boy.. just an amazing computer.

 

[sonicrobby]

And if you apply slight pressure here do you hear a creaking noise?

Image

I dont on either one of my 15" rMBPs :]

I think they were worth the money (didnt buy them new though)

 

[vpro]

I dont on either one of my 15" rMBPs :]

I think they were worth the money (didnt buy them new though)

Sooo... You're really saying they are not worth the money "new". Nice.

Well they need to improve a couple of gens before anyone should really take them seriously.

 

[sonicrobby]

Sooo... You're really saying they are not worth the money "new". Nice.

Well they need to improve a couple of gens before anyone should really take them seriously.

Maybe to some people. But I will gladly pay $1000 less than retail for a great laptop

Whats wrong with the current gens?

 

[vpro]

Maybe to some people. But I will gladly pay $1000 less than retail for a great laptop

Whats wrong with the current gens?

It always takes this company a few new gens to get it right.

 

[Kirihuna]

It always takes this company a few new gens to get it right.

What exactly is wrong with this current gen? At least for the 15"?

 

[vpro]

What exactly is wrong with this current gen? At least for the 15"?

Well there are a plethora out there, can search the forum to start, or any major search engine in the interweb ^_^ I've had my fair share but I have since sold mine for the 13inch retina macbook i7 maxed. Way better machine for the money.

 

[nealh]

Well there are a plethora out there, can search the forum to start, or any major search engine in the interweb ^_^ I've had my fair share but I have since sold mine for the 13inch retina macbook i7 maxed. Way better machine for the money.

Not sure on 15 in but my 13 in refurb is perfect. I don't think this is a generational issue, all hardware has issues from companies. Go read forums on other laptops.

Apple is not immune at all and their QC is not above anyone else’s. over the last few years CS has gone down as well, which is bad for a premium product. That will be their downfall more than anything, IMHO

 

[JerseyDoug]

My 15" rMBP was a week old yesterday. 8gb, 256mb SSD, Samsung screen. No problems. Happy as a clam.

 

[sonicrobby]

It always takes this company a few new gens to get it right.

Generally yes, but aside from the IR on the LG screens, I see the 15" rMBP flawless. Thats why Im asking for specifics, I just haven't noticed any other problems.

 

[skirmisser]

Have had my 15" rMBP (2.6/16/512) for 13 months now and no issue whatsoever. Samsung screen and Samsung SSD.

Lag has been there but has been getting better with each OS X update (even 10.8.5 improves things a bit on top of the previous updates), and probably 10.9 will mostly fix it from what I gather.

I am using primarily for processing (Nikon RAW) and viewing pictures, as well as gaming and surfing, and there is no going back (to non-Retina) having gotten used to this screen. It's not only the resolution but also the deep blacks, contrast, and more importantly, color reproduction.

Looking forward to holding to it for another 3 years.