Retina MBP UI performance - with video

[surjavarman]

Their review was definitely pretty rushed to get it out first. They also made no mention at all of the inclusion of an HDMI port (lack of which was a topic of debate during the unibody redesign), and they didn't finish battery testing the 2.3Ghz model.

Totally correct. There is no way they could have done a thorough review given the short amount of time that they had it.

Their reviews are of substandard quality and many times they miss out on things initially. They should be taken with a grain of salt. The one that you should look out for is anandtech.

 

[C4FF]

Okay, people really need to listen to this.

This Retina MacBook Pro is a shop floor model, the shop floor models DO NOT HAVE THE UPDATES INSTALLED TO FIX THE LAGGING ISSUES.

Apple have to go through a big update procedure to sort out updates on shop floor models because they work off an image that needs to be updated and checked BEFORE they can okay the update for store use (this happens after customer use).

If you go back to this machine and go into software update i guarantee you the updates WILL NOT BE INSTALLED.

 

[FredT2]

I guess it's up in the air as to the cause of this problem or whether it exists on all units but I can confirm that it's not isolated.

This has put me on the fence about purchasing one of these. If it can't be fixed Apple is going to have a problem on their hands.

I repeat, it has nothing to do with the retina machine, it's in BOTH retina and non-retina MBP's.

 

[Eriksrocks]

If you go back to this machine and go into software update i guarantee you the updates WILL NOT BE INSTALLED.

See my previous post. I ran Software Update and the only update available for the machine (which was having the same problem) was a Java update.

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I repeat, it has nothing to do with the retina machine, it's in BOTH retina and non-retina MBP's.

What is your source for this? Because immediately after it happened I turned around and used a non-Retina MBP behind me and it did not have this problem. If it's not Retina then what is it?

 

[Argentine86]

Hello....mountain lion???

DOES NOONE THINK THAT APPLE IS FIXING THIS WITH MOUNTAIN LION? I'm sure they just released the RMBP within their schedule but in R&D they made it work ideally with Mountain Lion....

 

[millerrh]

See my previous post. I ran Software Update and the only update available for the machine (which was having the same problem) was a Java update.

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What is your source for this? Because immediately after it happened I turned around and used a non-Retina MBP behind me and it did not have this problem. If it's not Retina then what is it?

I also compared a retina and non retina and did not see the issue on the non-retina MBP

 

[C4FF]

See my previous post. I ran Software Update and the only update available for the machine (which was having the same problem) was a Java update.

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What is your source for this? Because immediately after it happened I turned around and used a non-Retina MBP behind me and it did not have this problem. If it's not Retina then what is it?

The reason for this is that when you run software update on a shop floor mac it does not ask the apple servers it asks the in store server, which must not of updated yet. They keep it all in house to avoid downloading the same stuff a million times.

Did you check which updates were installed? Do you know how to do this? Because I can talk you through it so you can go back and check if you want?

 

[FredT2]

What is your source for this? Because immediately after it happened I turned around and used a non-Retina MBP behind me and it did not have this problem. If it's not Retina then what is it?

Me. My experience was quite different from yours. An Apple salesman and I both observed on side-by-side machines, one retina, one not. The phenomenon was identical on both machines.

 

[Marconelly]

I guess it's up in the air as to the cause of this problem or whether it exists on all units but I can confirm that it's not isolated.

This has put me on the fence about purchasing one of these. If it can't be fixed Apple is going to have a problem on their hands.

I don't think it's really that much up in the air at all based on your findings :\ It really seems like intel 4000 is just not up to UI intensive tasks in 2880x1800 resolution, and can't say I'm too surprised either. We really need someone to try the dedicated GPU route now.

 

[Eriksrocks]

Me. My experience was quite different from yours. An Apple salesman and I both observed on side-by-side machines, one retina, one not. The phenomenon was identical on both machines.

Interesting. Let's hope that it indeed is not the Retina then and Apple can fix it with a software update.

I don't think it's really that much up in the air at all based on your findings :\ It really seems like intel 4000 is just not up to UI intensive tasks in 2880x1800 resolution, and can't say I'm too surprised either. We really need someone to try the dedicated GPU route now.

I'm going back to the store tomorrow morning, if this hasn't been investigated further by then I will try all five units they have on display and I'll also try forcing the discrete graphics. However forcing discrete graphics isn't much of a solution to me, unless you are ok with 2-3 hour battery life...

 

[Yumunum]

That's got to be fixable...

Because if my 2011 MacBook Air does better than that, with this way-worse GPU, plugged into a 1080p monitor for a dual-screen setup... then that Pro's GPU should totally handle it's screen.

I think there's good reason to believe this will be fixed.

 

[Jiten]

I agree this will probably be fixed with a simple software upgrade. Nothing to be worried about.

 

[wankey]

On previous models as well as the current ones? I pointed it out to one of the Apple people, and he said he'd not seen it before.

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It was two different machines: one the new retina model and the other the "new" non-retina model.

Previous 15inchers, starting with all Core i7 ones.

 

[Eriksrocks]

Did you check which updates were installed? Do you know how to do this? Because I can talk you through it so you can go back and check if you want?

Sorry, not into it enough to drive back, again, but when I go tomorrow morning at store opening I will check it for you. I'll check ALL of the Retina display units and non-retina display units, actually, assuming I can.

 

[C4FF]

Sorry, not into it enough to drive back, again, but when I go tomorrow morning at store opening I will check it for you. I'll check ALL of the Retina display units and non-retina display units, actually, assuming I can.

If the problem is there the update will not be installed. I know because I used to work at Apple and the image would not accept the update for 3-4 days after release to the general public. It's caused problems before.

 

[Marconelly]

Sorry, not into it enough to drive back, again, but when I go tomorrow morning at store opening I will check it for you. I'll check ALL of the Retina display units and non-retina display units, actually, assuming I can.

Make sure to try with forced dedicated GPU as well

 

[shansoft]

Me. My experience was quite different from yours. An Apple salesman and I both observed on side-by-side machines, one retina, one not. The phenomenon was identical on both machines.

The problem occur when the resolution is extremely high.

The GPU just can't handle it...

Get over it, geeze....

 

[Eriksrocks]

If the problem is there the update will not be installed. I know because I used to work at Apple and the image would not accept the update for 3-4 days after release to the general public. It's caused problems before.

The only reason I am hestitant to believe you is because AFAIK the only update released so far was for a touchpad responsiveness issue... This is quite clearly a GPU/performance issue. I don't see how an update to the touchpad would resolve that. (Unless there's an update that specifically addresses this that I don't know about?)

And yes, I will try forcing discrete GPU when I go tomorrow.

 

[C4FF]

The only reason I am hestitant to believe you is because AFAIK the only update released so far was for a touchpad responsiveness issue... This is quite clearly a GPU/performance issue. I don't see how an update to the touchpad would resolve that. (Unless there's an update that specifically addresses this that I don't know about?)

And yes, I will try forcing discrete GPU when I go tomorrow.

There was a 1.5gb stability update released yesterday.

 

[ladeer]

I don't believe in video like this. It's obviously edited too (transitions in between clips). Even if the OP (most likely) was legit, the quality of the video was simply too low for real analysis.

Tonight I will go to Apple store and video tape it myself and share with you guys the raw file of performance under various modes and report back to you an honest analysis.

Thanks

 

[Eriksrocks]

I don't believe in video like this. It's obviously edited too (transitions in between clips). Even if the OP (most likely) was legit, the quality of the video was simply too low for real analysis.

Tonight I will go to Apple store and video tape it myself and share with you guys the raw file of performance under various modes and report back to you an honest analysis.

Thanks

...and you will likely find the same thing. The video is legit, I experienced the same thing with the one I was playing with today, although that doesn't mean that ALL of them have the problem or that it's not easily fixable.

 

[funnoam]

Okey guys, I think it's time to clear things.

First, I remember when I was in a Virgin Store (in France) last December. I was playing around with an 11" Macbook Air and I saw the exact same glitchy and shuttering animations, like the video posted before. And of course, nobody has ever complain about that on the MBA. I could not explain why the demonstration model keeps lagging like that. It is something ONLY on demonstration macbook. I receive my machine in 2 days, I will post a video in this thread with the same apps opens (or closely) and confirm that this is not a retina problem, this only exist in stores.

 

[Marconelly]

Okey guys, I think it's time to clear things.

First, I remember when I was in a Virgin Store (in France) last December. I was playing around with an 11" Macbook Air and I saw the exact same glitchy and shuttering animations, like the video posted before. And of course, nobody has ever complain about that on the MBA. I could not explain why the demonstration model keeps lagging like that. It is something ONLY on demonstration macbook. I receive my machine in 2 days, I will post a video in this thread with the same apps opens (or closely) and confirm that this is not a retina problem, this only exist in stores.

Yeah, please do post a video. I'm really into UI smoothness, especially when I'm expected to pay $2500. If things are this bad, it would really make me reconsider getting this.

 

[funnoam]

Yeah, please do post a video. I'm really into UI smoothness, especially when I'm expected to pay $2500. If things are this bad, it would really make me reconsider getting this.

Don't worry, I will do that on day one, I am extremely worried too about this issue. This is unexceptable for a $2500 computer and reviewers didn't mention that !

 

[Bradllez]

I am at my local Apple store. They said that they received 4 models for purchase this morning and sold out very quickly. They didn't have any 2.6 models for show and the rep said they just wanted the base models out until they gain more stock.

Anyway, on the base model I was testing. It wasn't lagging at all. On both discrete and basic graphics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeeBrULLNgQ

Video was taken from my iPhone 4, so apologies about shakiness.