Roundup of Retina MacBook Pro Reviews

[sennekuyl]

...

And as someone who *can* afford one but who tries to be frugal and is always looking for what has the most 'bang for the buck' I would, again, recommend the base MacBook Air 13". I got one last year and think it's great, and I'm not a casual user...I actually do serious development on it.

Fair enough.

Aye, we will probably go with the MBA rather than MBPr (MAP?) for my wife as she does the majority of the traveling. Mostly she is reviewing docs or emails but can't bring herself to commit to editing on a tablet so the 11 inch MBA will suffice.

I'm prone to desktops but want a non-AIO device between the Mac mini & MP. Can't quite justify the specs of the MP for my use as I like so many others like the latest & have been a frequent updater. The MBPr is tempting though.

 

[JohnDoe98]

People don't want a notebook that is so slimmed-down that half the ports they use turn into adapters they have to constantly lug around, if they even remember to bring them.

And yet the machine is apparently selling like hotcakes... How's that for a reality check?

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You, and Apple are making the assumption that the majority don't use these things. Maybe over time, but like I said, phase them out gracefully without leaving a bitter taste with loyal customers.

Based on how well it's selling I think the assumption is proving true. Also people seem very satisfied with their new RMBPs...

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I didnt say that we need to keep legacy hardware forever. i didn't even say that a dongle was a poor option. I was saying that if these things are being phased out, they should do it gracefully. 3 times I've said that now.

30$ is graceful. I'm happy the machine isn't 20-25$ more so that they could include the dongle in each box.

 

[Renzatic]

Why sit so far away? I'm normally sitting just over 2 feet away from my 24" iMac. For graphic work, I need to see fine detail. Having a retina screen would be a much welcomed upgrade, even though it wouldn't be as high a pixel density as a laptop.

It depends on what I'm doing. If I'm slogging through Modo or PS, I usually scootch up and hunch over in my seat to get a more intimate view of what I'm doing. When I'm that close, I do notice individual pixels. Otherwise, I'm sitting with my feet propped up on my desk, leaning back in my chair, and navigating my computer solely with my mouse. At that distance, my bog standard display is the very definition of retina. Everything blends together nice and smoothly, and there's nary a pixel to be seen.

Yeah, more resolution is always a good thing. I'm just saying that the bump up on the big desktop screens won't have to be quite as extreme as the quad jump the iPad and retina MPB took to get there.

 

[JohnDoe98]

The price argument is simple: the RMBP (henceforth referred to as rump) is the very definition of a boutique computer. It's sleek, powerful, and nice, sure. It's the prime geek badge of awesomeness in computer form. But guess what? You can get something just as powerful, but not quite as thin and pretty for considerably less. You can grab a thick and ugly Sager or Asus high end beast machine laptop. They might be fat as hell, and suck battery power like a wino on a bottle of Night Train, but they'll blow the doors off the rump in raw performance for 2/3rds the price. If you like the thin design, but don't need the power the rump provides, you can grab an air for literally half the price. Or you can always get the recent spec update of the tried and true original Pro for a few hundred less.

The only thing you lose out on is the geek chic factor. None of the abovementioned computers will look quite as fancy sitting on your desk, but if what you need is a computer to get some work done...well...who cares about the fashion statement? Get what you need at a price that won't mean your kids will have to go without their insulin shots this month.

But if you want to get one, then hey, save your cash and go for it. The rump is a great little machine, and looks to be about the best performance you can buy in a package its size. It's enough that even I'm tempted to get one, and I'm about the most stoic and level headed person in the world when it comes to computer choices.

Name one computer with a display that compares to the "rump". Now you might call tat a chic factor, but for many of us who work all day on our computers, we crave the clarity and lack of eye strain after a full day's work. I'm not getting my "rump" to show it off to anyone. I couldn't give a crap what others think. I'm buying it because after experiencing the beauty of Retina on my iPhone and iPad, I don't want anything less on my primary work machine. Reading on my iPad 3 is a joy; I don't expect it to be any different with the "rump".

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It depends on what I'm doing. If I'm slogging through Modo or PS, I usually scootch up and hunch over in my seat to get a more intimate view of what I'm doing. When I'm that close, I do notice individual pixels. Otherwise, I'm sitting with my feet propped up on my desk, leaning back in my chair, and navigating my computer solely with my mouse. At that distance, my bog standard display is the very definition of retina. Everything blends together nice and smoothly, and there's nary a pixel to be seen.

Yeah, more resolution is always a good thing. I'm just saying that the bump up on the big desktop screens won't have to be quite as extreme as the quad jump the iPad and retina MPB took to get there.

Though I'm inclined to agree the difference likely won't be as pronounced on the bigger screens, surely you won't deny that not everyone works as you do. Who are we to judge who can or cannot benefit from Retina?

 

[fitshaced]

And yet the machine is apparently selling like hotcakes... How's that for a reality check?

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Based on how well it's selling I think the assumption is proving true. Also people seem very satisfied with their new RMBPs...

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30$ is graceful. I'm happy the machine isn't 20-25$ more so that they could include the dongle in each box.

I think we're all aware that Apple has many 'conformists' who eat up everything apple make. These initial sales will be largely these users (those who own a MacBook pro because its apple) as well as the media who provide reviews. Real life users may have another view. But sure why would Apple care about them when they sell like hot cakes?

The comment earlier on Apple moving away from pro users seems very true. They want to look after their sheep. Might be a wise business strategy but it shows their limitations.

 

[JohnDoe98]

The comment earlier on Apple moving away from pro users seems very true. They want to look after their sheep. Might be a wise business strategy but it shows their limitations.

You like to think you represent "pro" users, whatever that might mean anyway, but you don't. How about you give us a definition and let's see if you can get the majority here to think it a sensible one. That should give you a quick idea that you don't know what your talking about.

 

[fitshaced]

You like to think you represent "pro" users, whatever that might mean anyway, but you don't. How about you give us a definition and let's see if you can get the majority here to think it a sensible one. That should give you a quick idea that you don't know what your talking about.

I never claimed to be a pro user. I don't own a MacBook pro. I'm merely sharing my opinion on this new product which is the purpose of this thread. Perhaps you don't know what you're talking about?

Also, if I can just add that my view on apple abandoning pro users is more apparent than just this new MBP. Aperture beig neglected, mac pro looking like its on it's way out and the iMac. The iMac is certainly not a pro machine due to its ultra reflective screen. Something this new mbp has as well. They may have the grunt but not specifically designed for pro use.

 

[Renzatic]

Name one computer with a display that compares to the "rump". Now you might call tat a chic factor, but for many of us who work all day on our computers, we crave the clarity and lack of eye strain after a full day's work. I'm not getting my "rump" to show it off to anyone. I couldn't give a crap what others think. I'm buying it because after experiencing the beauty of Retina on my iPhone and iPad, I don't want anything less on my primary work machine. Reading on my iPad 3 is a joy; I don't expect it to be any different with the "rump".

I won't deny that the rump is probably one of the most overall high quality computers out at the moment, nor will I completely dismiss the advantages a retina display provides. But really, we've been reading on lower res screens for decades now. A 15" 1680x1050 monitor might not offer up the stark clarity of the retina display, but that isn't going to make that much of a difference when it comes to an eyestrain headache at the end of the day. For me at least, that has more to do with screen brightness and how close I'm sticking my face to the screen than reading comparatively jagged letters on a relatively lower res screen.

Like anything, it depends on what you're doing with it. Photographers and movie editors will greatly benefit from a retina display. But for reading and office work? It really is more an issue of quality rather than usability. It's nicer to look at, but having it or not won't make or break you.

 

[pacalis]

You can grab a thick and ugly Sager or Asus high end beast machine laptop. They might be fat as hell, and suck battery power like a wino on a bottle of Night Train, but they'll blow the doors off the rump in raw performance for 2/3rds the price. If you like the thin design, but don't need the power the rump provides, you can grab an air for literally half the price. Or you can always get the recent spec update of the tried and true original Pro for a few hundred less.

Some people actually think performance is not just raw processing power but is also defined by a high quality display, long battery life and portability. Crazy.

Isn't that what MBPs are supposed to be? Versitile and low compromise? All things to most people?

More importantly, increasingly tech departments are supporting apple products. Good luck buying a Sager or Asus on someone else's dime.

 

[MacinDoc]

I think we're all aware that Apple has many 'conformists' who eat up everything apple make. These initial sales will be largely these users (those who own a MacBook pro because its apple) as well as the media who provide reviews. Real life users may have another view. But sure why would Apple care about them when they sell like hot cakes?

The comment earlier on Apple moving away from pro users seems very true. They want to look after their sheep. Might be a wise business strategy but it shows their limitations.

I seriously doubt that any "real life user" who buys this machine knowing what its limitations are will be disappointed with it. In terms of specs and price, it's comparable to the best laptops out there. As an example, the MainGear eX-L Super Stock, with the same processor, 1920*1080 screen, GeForce 670M (admittedly an upgrade from the 650 in the rMBP, but then the screen is a much more substantial downgrade versus the rMBP), 8 GB DDR3-1600 RAM, 256GB Crucial SSD and Windows 7 Ultimate is $2800, compared to the base rMBP's $2199. Bumping the eX-L up to the i7 3820 with a 512GB Crucial SSD to match the upper model rMBP increases the MainGear's price to $3399, compared to $2799 for the rMBP.

And if you think sales to the media for review purposes and to a handful of "conformists" (why would you call someone a conformist for purchasing a completely redesigned laptop lacking a number of legacy ports/options?) will make an even noticeable impact on rMBP sales, well, what more can I say? I suspect that once people see retina laptops in the wild, the "retina" factor will do for the rMBP what it did for the iPhone 4 and the new iPad (although the higher entry price will mean that the impact in terms of sheer sales volume will obviously be less).

 

[fitshaced]

I seriously doubt that any "real life user" who buys this machine knowing what its limitations are will be disappointed with it. In terms of specs and price, it's comparable to the best laptops out there. As an example, the MainGear eX-L Super Stock, with the same processor, 1920*1080 screen, GeForce 670M (admittedly an upgrade from the 650 in the rMBP, but then the screen is a much more substantial downgrade versus the rMBP), 8 GB DDR3-1600 RAM, 256GB Crucial SSD and Windows 7 Ultimate is $2800, compared to the base rMBP's $2199. Bumping the eX-L up to the i7 3820 with a 512GB Crucial SSD to match the upper model rMBP increases the MainGear's price to $3399, compared to $2799 for the rMBP.

And if you think sales to the media for review purposes and to a handful of "conformists" (why would you call someone a conformist for purchasing a completely redesigned laptop lacking a number of legacy ports/options?) will make an even noticeable impact on rMBP sales, well, what more can I say? I suspect that once people see retina laptops in the wild, the "retina" factor will do for the rMBP what it did for the iPhone 4 and the new iPad (although the higher entry price will mean that the impact in terms of sheer sales volume will obviously be less).

I wasn't debating the price or the power of this machine so not sure why you posted that.

 

[MacinDoc]

The price argument is simple: the RMBP (henceforth referred to as rump) is the very definition of a boutique computer. It's sleek, powerful, and nice, sure. It's the prime geek badge of awesomeness in computer form. But guess what? You can get something just as powerful, but not quite as thin and pretty for considerably less. You can grab a thick and ugly Sager or Asus high end beast machine laptop. They might be fat as hell, and suck battery power like a wino on a bottle of Night Train, but they'll blow the doors off the rump in raw performance for 2/3rds the price. If you like the thin design, but don't need the power the rump provides, you can grab an air for literally half the price. Or you can always get the recent spec update of the tried and true original Pro for a few hundred less.

The only thing you lose out on is the geek chic factor. None of the abovementioned computers will look quite as fancy sitting on your desk, but if what you need is a computer to get some work done...well...who cares about the fashion statement? Get what you need at a price that won't mean your kids will have to go without their insulin shots this month.

But if you want to get one, then hey, save your cash and go for it. The rump is a great little machine, and looks to be about the best performance you can buy in a package its size. It's enough that even I'm tempted to get one, and I'm about the most stoic and level headed person in the world when it comes to computer choices.

The most comparable Asus out there AFAIK, the G55VW-DS71, is $2183 (with Windows 7 Ultimate and 250GB Intel SSD) compared to the base model of the rMBP, albeit with 12GB RAM, GeForce 660M and 1920*1080 resolution. So although it has more RAM and slightly superior graphics, it has an inferior display and an almost identical price, in spite of its considerably less desirable form factor.

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I wasn't debating the price or the power of this machine so not sure why you posted that.

You seemed to be suggesting that the interest in the machine was just hype. It's not overpriced for what it is. It will sell to professionals to to prosumers, and likely in record numbers. Its market will be limited by its price, just as any other high-performance laptop, so it will not reach the astronomical sales numbers of the iPad and the iPhone, but it may well become Apple's best ever selling laptop.

 

[fitshaced]

The most comparable Asus out there AFAIK, the G55VW-DS71, is $2183 (with Windows 7 Ultimate and 250GB Intel SSD) compared to the base model of the rMBP, albeit with 12GB RAM, GeForce 660M and 1920*1080 resolution. So although it has more RAM and slightly superior graphics, it has an inferior display and an almost identical price, in spite of its considerably less desirable form factor.

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You seemed to be suggesting that the interest in the machine was just hype. It's not overpriced for what it is. It will sell to professionals to to prosumers, and likely in record numbers. Its market will be limited by its price, just as any other high-performance laptop, so it will not reach the astronomical sales numbers of the iPad and the iPhone, but it may well become Apple's best ever selling laptop.

No I didn't say that. I said its wrong to suggest that the speed at which it's selling isn't due to apple crazy fans. It's not an indication of who is buying it.

 

[Macist]

Yet to see one but after seeing the iPad 3 I can't image that the screen will be a joy to use.

That said, while it would be nice to have I don't really see how, as a working commercial and portrait photographer, it's going to help me do better work, win more business, or anything like that. At most, it would simply make working on a laptop a bit more pleasurable.

I have a 27" NEC PA271W professional monitor, which when I'm home I plug into my MacBook Pro. Is the retina going to stop me using that? Almost certainly not.

Retina displays will no doubt be the future but doesn't anyone really have to have one right now?

 

[Renzatic]

The most comparable Asus out there AFAIK, the G55VW-DS71, is $2183 (with Windows 7 Ultimate and 250GB Intel SSD) compared to the base model of the rMBP, albeit with 12GB RAM, GeForce 660M and 1920*1080 resolution. So although it has more RAM and slightly superior graphics, it has an inferior display and an almost identical price, in spite of its considerably less desirable form factor.

I hate it when I might be wrong, and I have to do research to figure out if I am or not. It's all kinds of inconvenient, having to look up lists of prices and everything else and doing all that comparing and contrasting.

So here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to revise my original statement.

Okay, people. If you want a retina Macbook Pro, then get one. The default package isn't much more expensive in comparison to similar models from different manufacturers. Yeah, it costs a couple-three hundred more, but Apple hardware generally does. It's a great computer, and the only thing that sucks about it is you can't upgrade the ram. But if you get 16GB out the gate, the machine can't support any more, so you'd have to get a new computer if you wanted more anyway, upgradeable or not.

Get it if you want a slim computer with retina right at this moment, or wait a year or so for the inevitable arrival of the retina Airs. Or get a Zenbook Prime and hackintosh it if you absolutely need one now.

 

[JohnDoe98]

I won't deny that the rump is probably one of the most overall high quality computers out at the moment, nor will I completely dismiss the advantages a retina display provides. But really, we've been reading on lower res screens for decades now. A 15" 1680x1050 monitor might not offer up the stark clarity of the retina display, but that isn't going to make that much of a difference when it comes to an eyestrain headache at the end of the day. For me at least, that has more to do with screen brightness and how close I'm sticking my face to the screen than reading comparatively jagged letters on a relatively lower res screen.

Like anything, it depends on what you're doing with it. Photographers and movie editors will greatly benefit from a retina display. But for reading and office work? It really is more an issue of quality rather than usability. It's nicer to look at, but having it or not won't make or break you.

You're probably right that the greatest cause of eye strain is the brightness of the screens. We tend to crank up the brightness beyond necessity. That being said, I do think the clarity of the images do play a significant role. Just think what you yourself do when something isn't entirely clear, you tend to squint to bring the image into focus. That is, you (we all) contract your (our) eye muscles to accommodate for the lack of visual acuity. Over the course of many hours our muscles become fatigued, directly contributing to our eye strain.

For my part, I noticed that prior to my iPad 3, I always had my iPad 1 cranked up to max brightness and always got strained eyes after reading for 8 hours each day. With my iPad 3, I now find I'm running it at half brightness and I do have noticeably less eye strain. Things are so sharp, and the contrasts and colors so rich on the display, I no longer feel the need to have the brightness maxed out. I think all these factors somehow combine to improve the overall experience. I'm also quite sure when the images becomes so much sharper and richer, we can actually increase the viewing distance, which helps ease the eyes as well. Often times I feel the need to keep my laptop very close precisely because the small text becomes jumbled and fuzzy. Then again, my computer is 5 years old and the screen was never all that impressive to begin with.

Anyway, since I spend as much time writing as I do reading, and since I don't find the iPad a suitable format to do quality writing on, I am quite pleased with the improved screens currently hitting the market. They may not eliminate eye strain, they may not even make much of a difference (though I highly doubt that), but I figure, at a minimum, if I'm going to be spending that much time in front of a screen throughout my life, I might as well get the best technology has to offer.

All this to say, I'm of the opinion the value of Retina screens lies not in their fashion, but rather in the improved work-environment, which does improve the quality of one's work, though perhaps not in a measurable way.

 

[Renzatic]

snip

On one hand, I will say you definitely have a point. The retina display does make things easier to look at. It's smoother, crisper, more vivid, and helps epecially for reading small text and UI elements. On the other hand, I want to call you out for not increasing the size of your font when you had the chance. If you have to squint at your screen, or strain your eyes in any way, your text was set way too small. You could've saved a ton on aspirins over the years.

All this to say, I'm of the opinion the value of Retina screens lies not in their fashion, but rather in the improved work-environment, which does improve the quality of one's work, though perhaps not in a measurable way.

I think this is where we differ on opinion, and it's really more a difference of the strength of our opinion, rather than the opinion itself. You see it as recently discovered absolute necessity, I see it as...well...nicer than the alternative. It's more than a simple fashion statement, but it's not quite so extreme as "I was a pilgrim in a fuzzy land, until I discovered the high DPI light". It is preferable, but I can easily get by without it. Hell, I've been doing fine without it for about a decade now.

Keep in mind that I did buy an iPhone 4 and an iPad 3 mostly for their retina displays. I'm well aware of the advantages.

 

[petsounds]

And yet the machine is apparently selling like hotcakes... How's that for a reality check?

The only reality check I see you making is that you like to use logical fallacies.

The Retina MBP "selling like hotcakes" is not supportive of the argument that professional users are happy with the Retina MBP, for there is a much wider audience of potential buyers for MBPs than just professional users in markets where Firewire and Ethernet are necessities. Some people may also have rationales which ultimately consider the machine worth the purchase, despite its drawbacks. That does not mean that they endorse the machine's limitations. It just means that customers sometimes put up with a product's faults when the overall product still meets their needs. If Thunderbolt adapters were not available, we might see more backlash from this market segment.

 

[jacktorrance]

The price argument is simple: the RMBP (henceforth referred to as rump) is the very definition of a boutique computer. It's sleek, powerful, and nice, sure. It's the prime geek badge of awesomeness in computer form. But guess what? You can get something just as powerful, but not quite as thin and pretty for considerably less. You can grab a thick and ugly Sager or Asus high end beast machine laptop. They might be fat as hell, and suck battery power like a wino on a bottle of Night Train, but they'll blow the doors off the rump in raw performance for 2/3rds the price. If you like the thin design, but don't need the power the rump provides, you can grab an air for literally half the price. Or you can always get the recent spec update of the tried and true original Pro for a few hundred less.

The only thing you lose out on is the geek chic factor. None of the abovementioned computers will look quite as fancy sitting on your desk, but if what you need is a computer to get some work done...well...who cares about the fashion statement? Get what you need at a price that won't mean your kids will have to go without their insulin shots this month.

But if you want to get one, then hey, save your cash and go for it. The rump is a great little machine, and looks to be about the best performance you can buy in a package its size. It's enough that even I'm tempted to get one, and I'm about the most stoic and level headed person in the world when it comes to computer choices.

And what if you simply value supporting innovation?

I don't want the RMBP so that I can show it off to my friends and colleagues - id that was my intention then my wardrobe would be considerably different. I want it because of the new technology it brings, because I'm an architect and photographer and think that those developments might be well suited to my profession.

 

[chr1s60]

It's certainly not the best price ever. For this price, at the very least, it should have a slightly bigger HD.

 

[K42]

I never claimed to be a pro user. I don't own a MacBook pro. I'm merely sharing my opinion on this new product which is the purpose of this thread. Perhaps you don't know what you're talking about?

Also, if I can just add that my view on apple abandoning pro users is more apparent than just this new MBP. Aperture beig neglected, mac pro looking like its on it's way out and the iMac. The iMac is certainly not a pro machine due to its ultra reflective screen. Something this new mbp has as well. They may have the grunt but not specifically designed for pro use.

Well, I own a MBP, and I develop commercial software on it, so I would consider myself a professional. And I think that you are right.

Mind you, I am NOT a professional photographer or video editor, so these professionals may have different views.

I like OSX personally, but I write software for Windows, as that is where our business happens to be. So OSX is a bonus but not a requirement.

For me, the most important features are:
- good keyboard
- decent, large enough screen that does not act as a mirror.
- fast enough
- robust
- portable... to some extent (see below).
- the ability to connect to a big external screen when at the office.
- USB for simple peripherals like USB sticks.
- Some type of high-speed connection for external disks.

Optical disk and ethernet are not important for me, and I think that it is good thing that Apple decided to sacrifice these. The loss of firewire is somewhat disturbing given a few firewire disks we have lying around here. They all have USB as well, but not all have USB 3. I am also not quite sure about not being able to upgrade the hard disk and the memory. I know that I did this on all previous machines that I owned. But only because it was cheaper to "max out" the machine that way. If I would buy a retina machine, it "just" means that I would have to max it out from the start. So this is mostly a price issue, not an issue of usability.

Portability is a bonus, but it does not have to be ultra-portable. If I travel it is in my backpack. For me, travelling mostly involves NOT walking around, or short distances. It is no issue if it is somewhat heavier or larger.

The choice for the current MBP 17" was made because:
- the matte version met all the requirements above
- it had a larger screen than most other laptops (larger than full HD "widescreen").
- it was more portable than the alternatives with a similar screen.
- money was (obviously) less of an issue, especially since the alternatives with matte screens and comparable build quality were not that much cheaper.

For the new retina machine, the main question is: is the screen good enough? In terms of pixels and image quality sure (that's a no-brainer I guess), but I have serious doubts about it being glossy. And I doubt that I would settle for less than 17".

If the answer to this question is "no", then I would buy an alternative laptop, even if this means less portability. Even if it is more expensive. I will probably buy a cheaper laptop with a glossy and/or smaller screen if I HAVE TO settle for glossy/smaller anyway. I am not going to pay a premium for something I do not want.

The answer might be "yes", buy I'd have to see/use it for some time to know for sure. Given that glossy screens were a disaster for me in the past, I have some serious doubts about this.

And, as my 2011 MBP had to be repaired last year and I had to move heaven and Earth to get Apple to pay for it, I have become less convinced that:
1) I need an "A" brand.
2) Apple still is an "A" brand.

 

[tkhan456]

Anyone actually play with one. It's kind of disappointing. The screen is nicer, but I'd you don't have a MBPR next to a MBP, you don't really notice the MBP is a little blurrier. It also makes. Non-retina apps look pretty terrible and the screen flickers a lot when you try to do major movements like swiping from desktop to desktop. I went cash in hand ready to buy and walked out now needing more time to think.

 

[DaveDaveDave]

Stopped reading when the first review said "inexpensive".

From this I infer that either a) you would design your "dream laptop" explicitly to be expensive, b) or that you actually stopped reading at the very first sentence, "If you could design your dream laptop,"...

 

[r.harris1]

its a mac book "pro" for the pro, and it shud be open to options

You're right - it should have options and luckily it does! You can choose to connect a wide variety of items with the great selection of ports, you can choose or not to connect via Ethernet, you can choose your ram at purchase and eventually, if you want, you'll be able to choose your ssd, among the many current options available to you. As a software development "pro" who has spent more time over the years screwing around with and building machines than is healthy, being able to pick up a tricked out machine and to immediately start using the tool effectively to make money is terrific.

 

[Medic311]

Did anyone notice the yellow tint screen in the CNET video?