so, probably no chance of fitting a retina panel to a regular MBP?

[73CortinaV8]

there was a hack with older MBPs where people were implanting a higher rez panel into them.

the ifixit teardown of the MBPR shows the panel is fused to upper lid, meaning if the panel has to be replaced the whole lid would have to be replaced. So there is little chance that there will be replacement-part panels available anywhere.

And it seems ever so unlikely that the entire MBPR lid would be able to bolt on to a MBP.


Do you think the regular MBP will ever be offered with the retina display?

 

[Stetrain]

Do you think the regular MBP will ever be offered with the retina display?

If by that you mean the non-retina Macbook Pro will eventually be discontinued and the retina model becomes the "regular MBP", then yes.

 

[fs454]

Absolutely not a chance. And no, the retina display will never be offered in the traditional casing with the optical drive. The ODD takes up too much space to offer both adequate cooling of the required hardware to run at 2880x1800 smoothly and sufficient battery life.

 

[73CortinaV8]

Absolutely not a chance. And no, the retina display will never be offered in the traditional casing with the optical drive. The ODD takes up too much space to offer both adequate cooling of the required hardware to run at 2880x1800 smoothly and sufficient battery life.

The MBP and the MBPr have the exact same discrete video card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M, 1GB, so I have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[bossxii]

It would be swapping the entire alum clamshell as the rMBP is like the newer MBA's in the terms of how the LCDs are built. The rMBP has taken it to the extreme where the back of the LCD is in fact the alum clamshell. Even if it would work, you would be cheaper buying the rMBP vs trying to mix and match. Apple may sell the clamshell replacement but it would likely run near $1500. I sell plenty LCD's and clamshells and even the MBA runs up near $700 to $800 for the 2011 version in 13".

Assuming the hinge was identical (which guessing it's not) it maybe possible, but highly doubt it makes any sense financially.

 

[Stetrain]

The MBP and the MBPr have the exact same discrete video card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M, 1GB, so I have no idea what you're talking about.

It also has a larger battery, 95Wh versus 77.5 in the non-retina model, even though it keeps about the same battery life.

 

[maflynn]

The MBP and the MBPr have the exact same discrete video card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M, 1GB, so I have no idea what you're talking about.

The GPU is the same but the structure that houses the display panel is completely different. In fact unlike the regular MBP, the retina MBP has cables going through the hinges, as documented by ifixit.

There's more to retrofitting a screen then just the GPU. It has to physically fit the same enclosure and that's where problems arise.

 

[Zeov]

The MBP and the MBPr have the exact same discrete video card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M, 1GB, so I have no idea what you're talking about.

he's talking about cooling and battery life.. i guess you should read it again.

 

[jcpb]

there was a hack with older MBPs where people were implanting a higher rez panel into them.

the ifixit teardown of the MBPR shows the panel is fused to upper lid, meaning if the panel has to be replaced the whole lid would have to be replaced. So there is little chance that there will be replacement-part panels available anywhere.

And it seems ever so unlikely that the entire MBPR lid would be able to bolt on to a MBP.


Do you think the regular MBP will ever be offered with the retina display?

It's more likely that the classic MBP line will be eliminated in favor of the MBPR-like designs. The writing is on the wall - the days of the classic MBP are numbered. When Apple does announce a 13" version of the MBPR, you can damned well bet the US economy the classic line will be retired a few years later.