Better than nothing is to not leave your system somewhere out of your view. I'm surprised by all the stories of people leaving systems on desks in libraries and coffee shops. I didn't even know that MBPs had locks on them when I ordered my rMBP.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
rMBP vs. regular ivy bridge MBP for software development
- Thread starter 73CortinaV8
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Better than nothing is to not leave your system somewhere out of your view. I'm surprised by all the stories of people leaving systems on desks in libraries and coffee shops. I didn't even know that MBPs had locks on them when I ordered my rMBP.
Really? Is this you first laptop ever?
Security locks are present in laptops since decades... rMBP is probably the first one without a security lock...
Apple loves innovations! Indeed, they love so much innovations that they designed the rMBP to last in at most 3 years, either because applecare ends or your laptop is stolen... In the next years, the estimated renewal duration for Apple notebooks will be probably the same as IPhones or IPads...
Really? Is this you first laptop ever?
Security locks are present in laptops since decades... rMBP is probably the first one without a security lock...
Apple loves innovations! Indeed, they love so much innovations that they designed the rMBP to last in at most 3 years, either because applecare ends or your laptop is stolen... In the next years, the estimated renewal duration for Apple notebooks will be probably the same as IPhones or IPads...
It is probably my 8th laptop? I've lost count over the years. I've never used a lock on any of my previous laptops nor was aware that they had lock ports.
No sir. If your are doing iOS development then you first have to get an IPAD, an IPhone, an IPod and then get an annual developer subscription ($199 if I'm not wrong) in order to deploy your apps into those devices. Without the subscription you are stuck to the simulator.
Conclusion: You must be foolish and rich in order to jump into IOS development
----------
For those who want to type fast, change your keyboard's layout to DVORAK
Not that I'm a software developer.... but it's actually pretty cheap to enter the iOS development world
Let's say someone doesn't own no iDevices and doesn't want to buy anything on contract.
rMBP 2.6/16/512: $3200
iPhone 4S: $650
iPad 3: $500
iPod touch 4G: $200
Misc old iOS devices (iPad 1, iPhone 3GS): $500-600
Annual fee: $100
So even if you own nothing, you can have a setup that covers all the currently supported resolutions and CPU/GPUs for $5250ish. I personally already own an iPhone 4S and an iPad 3, so that knocks off > $1000 for me. I am not a programmer... but I do recognize that it's a relative bargain to enter that world. And if you're really on a budget, you can always get a macbook air or an older mac. While it may not be as convenient, it's still possible to code on those
Consider Visual Studio... if you're not a student, you're going to be paying something like $10k just for the software. Now I am a student so I get it free... but still.
Last edited:
Lol,i'm reading all these comments,and i can't believe how much BS it contains. If someone need a reason to buy rMBP,don't convince other they need to spend 3500$ because of "coding in Xcode or better keyboard experience" and doing some photoshop.Really? WTF are u people blabling ?Get a grip ! I'm also in soft dev and i have advice.Get classic MBP ,buy 16 GB RAM,and some 256 GB SSD + 500 gb HDD with owc doubler and u have much powerful laptop than RMBP will ever be with 700$ lower price.If u need higher resolution buy 27" thunderbolt display with money u saved in difference between retina and classic.Your eyes will be grateful.
Kensington lock ports are useless. Kensington themselves admitted their products do not deter others from stealing whatever is being secured, all it really does is make it more inconvenient.Really? Is this you first laptop ever?
Security locks are present in laptops since decades... rMBP is probably the first one without a security lock...
Apple loves innovations! Indeed, they love so much innovations that they designed the rMBP to last in at most 3 years, either because applecare ends or your laptop is stolen... In the next years, the estimated renewal duration for Apple notebooks will be probably the same as IPhones or IPads...
I'd pay more - a lot more - for a remote hardware killswitch ability than the false security presented by one of those ports.
My eyes are fine, thank you.
The extra screen real estate provided by scaling is a godsend. Unlike the 2008 MBP I replaced, the iPad simulator now fits entirely on the screen and I have significantly more room to work in Xcode.
I'd love a 27" Thunderbolt display (and might get one), but I'm hardly going to cart it around with me when I work on-site for a contract development gig. The fact that we're talking about laptops implies that portability is a factor. A Thunderbolt display doesn't help with that.
And that's not even covering the fact that compiles are much faster from an SSD. SSDs are perfect for anything involving lots of small files, ie. source code.
- Jeff
No one is trying to convince anyone, the OP is trying to decide whether he should go with the rMBP or the classic with a pros and cons list.
I don't get your math at all, first you said "Have a much more powerful laptop than the rMBP will ever be" and claiming it to be $700 less. Lets do he math, shall we?
rMBP with 2.6 gz and 16 ram = $3000 (Not sure where you got those $500 extra, this is accordingly to that the OP said he would get).
cMBP with 2.6 gz and 16 ram = $2200 + OWC 512 SSD $500 + 2x8 RAM amazon $97 = $2800. Note that this is without hi-res/anti glare.
So thats $200 less for the cMBP not $700. Do you get a HDD and SDD with the cMBP? Yes. Does that makes it more powerful? No. Also note that the GPU in the rMBP is clocked higher, therefor will perform better than the cMBP.
Do you need any of those to code? No. you could get a macmini and save $2000, as well as you could sell your $40k car and just take the bus instead.
It's about preferences. If you ask me, it's not about the retina display, yea its a very nice feature, but the higher resolution really help when coding in an environment such as xCode.
I disagree, I've recommended the cMBP to some members, and I've recommended the rMBP. I think you'll see that most members here look to help a given member find the best solution for their stated needs.
Fair enough, but I often see in these types of threads (including this one) "Get model X, mine just came and it's awesome / I had the same choice to make".
I guess I don't share your faith in general altruism on these forums. I think you're the exception rather than the rule.
What does that have to do with anything?
Kensington security ports are useless. Those cable locks are better at strangling strangers than keeping your cMBP secure from thieves.
I don't think so, I've seen lots of posts where people saying it depends on what you want in a system. I bought an rMBP for myself but I also bought a cMBP for my cousin. The pricing was the same but I thought the cMBP better fit her needs while the rMBP better fit mine.
The rMBP isn't for everyone, especially for those that are nervous about being early adopters.
Yeah. When I explained my opinion, I was sort of assuming that the reader would understand that it was obviously going to be based on individual priorities.
That said, if you develop software and do it in multiple places - ie. in the market for a laptop - I can't see any reason to not go for a rMBP, except for price. That's a legitimate reason, of course, but each person needs to decide that for themselves.
If you don't need to be mobile, you may as well stick with an iMac, Mac Pro or Mac mini (depending on your horsepower needs).
- Jeff
That said, if you develop software and do it in multiple places - ie. in the market for a laptop - I can't see any reason to not go for a rMBP, except for price. That's a legitimate reason, of course, but each person needs to decide that for themselves.
If you don't need to be mobile, you may as well stick with an iMac, Mac Pro or Mac mini (depending on your horsepower needs).
- Jeff
I have the real MBP and I code on it. I got the hi res anti-glare and it's amazing. I can stare at this screen without eye strain. Honestly the weight isn't that bad.
No this is not how software development works. First you get ideas, development a "problem", and go thru the stages of software development. 80% of developing an application is in the design, the look and feel, what technology are you going to use, the problem, the resolution, etc. 20% of developing an application is actual coding. To develop one application would probably take a month depending on the scope of the project. So you can easily develop applications for one device and make a decent profit.
So you make one application for the iPhone and charge 99 cents for it. 1000 people buy it that's a 1000 dollars (~600 take home) you can easily buy an iPad off that one app alone.
If you make money on what you're doing money is no object but no one starts a project doing everything at once. You start small and work your way up.
So you make one application for the iPhone and charge 99 cents for it. 1000 people buy it that's a 1000 dollars (~600 take home) you can easily buy an iPad off that one app alone.
If you make money on what you're doing money is no object but no one starts a project doing everything at once. You start small and work your way up.
No sir. If your are doing iOS development then you first have to get an IPAD, an IPhone, an IPod and then get an annual developer subscription ($199 if I'm not wrong) in order to deploy your apps into those devices. Without the subscription you are stuck to the simulator.
Conclusion: You must be foolish and rich in order to jump into IOS development
----------
For those who want to type fast, change your keyboard's layout to DVORAK
server-side stuff for high volume real-time data processing - clustered servers, map-reduce type stuff.
Basically processing big data scale internet data.
Used to be a UI developer, though