Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Retina or Non Retina?

A

AGD

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 15, 2012
2
0
Hi Guys
I need some help here! I am a photographer moving from windows to Mac:)
previous system was Toshiba Sat with HP Ex Monitor this served me well as my main system running CS5 LR etc. but is now on it's way to computer heaven :)

So I have purchased CS6 mac version and was just about order my Retina MacBook Pro with 16 gig ram 512 etc when I came across all these posts relating to bad screens and issues with current CS6!

So my dilemma now is do I for go the retina screen 16gig Ram two thunderbolt ports (one for my HP monitor other back up drive) or buy the standard MacBook with 8 gig ram one thunderbolt port and be able to run CS6.

Can someone who has the Retina clarify if you can run the current CS6 as an acceptable working tool for photography and is the screen issue so bad that I should pass on the retina anyway?
I do feel disappointed as the spec of the new Retina with it's extra ports,ram etc would be great but hey I want to enjoy my move over to a Mac not be sending machines back or not able to use the software I need for the work I do.
Many thanks for any help you guys can give me.

Cheers
Alan
 
AGD said:
Can someone who has the Retina clarify if you can run the current CS6 as an acceptable working tool for photography and is the screen issue so bad that I should pass on the retina anyway?
I do feel disappointed as the spec of the new Retina with it's extra ports,ram etc would be great but hey I want to enjoy my move over to a Mac not be sending machines back or not able to use the software I need for the work I do.
Many thanks for any help you guys can give me.
Click to expand...

First off there are several photography applications that are retina ready. Adobe from the day the retina released indicated a retina update was in the works and they have shown internal versions.

In general non retina applications are usable on a retina. The fonts look bad, images have some pixelation.

Here are some sample images
http://blog.macsales.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/OWC_photoshop_cs6_on_retina_full.png
http://blog.macsales.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/OWC_photoshop_cs6_on_retina.png

There have been at least one round of fixes by Adobe already and lots of websites with various settings that people are experimenting with to get to full functionality.

I'd say its close enough to ready but if you want to wait a month or two that's all it should be at worst. And remember you can always plug into an external monitor.
 
The only way currently to run CS6 and avoid pixel doubling of your images will require you to install SwitchResX and put your MacBook Pro into 2880x1800 mode. This is a much higher resolution mode than is available through your Display preference panel. At this resolution setting, all of the CS6 applications run on a 1:1 pixel ratio. However, your palettes, button and icons are going to be teeny tiny.

Imagine taking all of the pixels from a 27" display and shrinking them down to fit into a 15" diagonal screen. The Retina actually has a slightly higher pixel resolution than a 27" display. Once Photoshop is updated to support Retina, it will look fantastic. Even at 2880x1800, though, images in Photoshop look stunning. I just have a really hard time clicking on things because they are so small.
 
I was in the same boat. I decided for Retina and now I have no regrets. Its so amazing.
 
Okay so am I correct in saying that if I connect the Retina Pro to my HP Ext monitor I would not get the problem of pixel doubling? and only on the Retina screen will I have issues?
As I have already dropped dollars on CS6 do you think Adobe will do a free upgrade when retina ready?
Sorry for my ignorance here but having used windows for many years I am finally taking the plunge and going to Mac.
Many thanks for taking the time to reply.
 
I vote non-retina... for now. I'd wait til its matured, personally. Either way you wont be disappointed.
 
Consider pretty much anything you'll read here on MR regarding rMBP with a sizable grain (or a bucket) of salt. Most people who are happy won't post about how happy they are, so the posts you are reading are very much tilted in the negative direction. I considered those as well, but I just got an rMBP several days ago, and it is one amazing computer.
 
Jaro65 said:
Consider pretty much anything you'll read here on MR regarding rMBP with a sizable grain (or a bucket) of salt. Most people who are happy won't post about how happy they are, so the posts you are reading are very much tilted in the negative direction. I considered those as well, but I just got an rMBP several days ago, and it is one amazing computer.
Click to expand...

I completely agree. It almost swayed my decision too.
 
It's either you get Retina now or wait for the next gen. I don't recommend getting the non-retina because thats gonna last you quite a long time and you prob wont be getting a retina anytime soon after.

Honestly, I can't stand looking at a non-retina mbp screen now.
 
ixodes said:
I agree.

If possible I'd wait until next year if you want the retina model.

Then you'll get one that's even better, more refined and nearly 100% bug free.
Click to expand...

Translation: "I will have my kool-aid later, thanks."
 
Of course buy it, its a retina you do photography.
Eventually CS6 will be retina..

you are creating media on a retina so its totally worth it! if you werent then i would probably just suggest a CMBP
 
both machines are amazing. I was skeptical about the rMBP because of all the horror stories Ive read, but I decided to give it a try since I had 14 days to return it anyway.

Needless to say, Its amazing and I love it. I thankfully have 0 issues with mine thus far. I still think the cMBP is amazing too, especially if you get the High-Res 1680x1050 display.

I put it this way, I was going to get a base cMBP because of the price. Then after thinking, I realize after buying 16GB 1600MHz ram on newegg.com for $110 and the $90 screen upgrade (total $200), I could get the base rMBP with 16GB added ram for $180 and have better resolution.

Also, I didnt want the rMBP because I wanted to add a 2nd HDD in the optibay of the cMBP, but I decided a USB3.0 external HDD would be sufficient enough for my needs. After being on this rMBP, Im so glad I got it. Its amazing.

I had a 2011 High-End MBP w/ High-Res Screen and it was amazing, the rMBP is even more amazing to me. I never need an optical drive and if I do, I have an External Samsung USB DVD-Burner. The 25% reduction in size was nice, but not THAT dramatic if measured in inches, .96 to .71 is it?

I actually like that the USB ports on the rMBP are on opposite sides because I always found that when they are right next to each other (like on the cMBP) fitting two USB items in at once may be tricky or impossible.

Just my thoughts.
 
sofianito said:
Really, where did you get your stats numbers from? I think you watch too much Ghost Lab on Discovery MAX...:D
Click to expand...

That's actually the case for ANY forums like this one - whether focused on Apple, Android, or other hardware. People who are happy don't feel a need to say "I love my _____________", while the people with buyer's remorse or legitimate issues will eagerly post their sagas for all to read. There's been numerous studies that have proven this time and time again...
 
I have the mbpr, and have so far done a few hours in photoshop/illustrator and indesign.
Honestly, I don't see what all the fuss is about the ui looking bad. Sure, its a little pixelated- but does that stop me from knowing what the tool/menu item I'm clicking on is? No.
Once retina support is updated in cs6, it will be even better.

Imho, photo edits in the current non retina supported cs6 are every bit as good as using my old 15in cmbp.
 
I went with the non-Retina, but if upgradeability isn't a concern for you, there is no reason not to get the Retina.
 
Both the wife and I are moving from Windows to Mac. We identical rMBPs to use as desktop replacements and to take on photo trips. After loading our apps (LR, CS6, Nik plugins) plus iWork and a couple of others...we still have over 600GB on each laptop to do photo collection in the field. When we get home we move the edited photos to external drives (thunderbolt RAID 1 pairs) and then do complete backups via Time Machine.

Love the combination of processing power, portability, transport options (wifi, bluetooth, thunderbolt and USB 3), and plenty of internal storage for doing field collection of photos. To me it is a excellent combo for a photographer.
 
The screen on the retina indeed pops out at you... its gorgeous, but it has downsides as does the machine as a whole. For one there is no anti-glare screen option which for some people is a deal breaker (me included).

The problem with the screen is that within OSX you cant change the resolution, only the size of the gui which simulates other resolutions (1440x900, 1680x1050, and 1920x1200)... but its just a simulation, the resolution is still always at 2880x1800 which takes some serious graphics horsepower. If you compared the rMBP to the cMBP under OSX running say a game or some other graphics intensive app with the rMBP at the simulated 1680x1050 res and the cMBP at 1680x1050 native, the cMBP will run circles around it (even though it has lower gpu clocks). However, under bootcamp this is not the case because you can set the actual resolution and you'll have higher stock clock rates... so you have to decide if you want more graphics power under OSX (cMBP) or under windows (rMBP).

The other issue is application compatibility which has already been touched upon. Finally there is the issue of limited upgradeability. You can upgrade the SSD but only with non standard SSD's (im not sure if there are any even on the market yet for the rMBP) for the cMBP almost any 9.5mm 2.5" HDD/SSD can be used, with the rMBP you also dont have a secondary drive bay to use for an optical drive or second HDD/SSD. The cMBP also has more ports, user upgradeable ram, and a replaceable battery.

The rMBP does have advantages though, the screen is beautiful. Its super thin, light and svelte (although the cMBP is still pretty thin but not quite the same). It has a higher clocked gpu, and will probably get you laid by random hipsters.

They are both good machines but I went with the cMBP after careful consideration.
 
Last edited:
Capt Underpants said:
In three years, a rMBP will look brand new, and a cMBP will look old as ****.

Food for thought.
Click to expand...
If you're one to sit & stare at your Mac, admiring whatever it is that excites you then you have a point.

I'm one who's too busy using it as the tool it is to get my work done. I've never found an inanimate object so alluring I choose it based on looks. It's just a computer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back