... I think that tells you all you need to know about how much of a better deal the 15" is. Significantly better CPU, discrete graphics and a better display, all for the same price as a 13" specced with the i7.
Thanks for the excellent breakdown -- that actually helps a lot (had done similar things but it was not methodical or objective).
So yeah that's some great stuff when you go from 13" to 15", but remember all I want is to extend my display to another monitor. I use my machine constantly but I don't know if any of these things are bankable. Not exactly sure how quadcore or GPU will help Adobe performance aside from theoreticals. Would love to have a better sense of thatAdobe/Apple should start talking again to brag about their mutual compatibility and capableness -- simply so we have some benchmarks and screenshots.
My impression is that adobe engineers are just beginning to know how to use extra cores and GPU really only helps dorky UI tweaks with hardware acceleration in Photoshop. If something made illustrator perform less terribly I'd really consider it. Talking out my butt but I wonder if FPUs need to make a comeback--simple because vector artwork is really a set of math instructions than graphics. Or so my impression is from continuing to misunderstand why illustrator fails to be sufficiently responsive for the 21st century.
When I'm ready, I am leaning 15" because it is slightly more portable than the 2010 MBP. Ethernet loss burns me up though, and gets me back to wondering why I want to drop serious cash on something that has me making sacrifices and continuing to have a kludgy overall system.
To me the smaller display is better a screen. I value portability over screen. I want to not know that I have a computer in my backpack because it's so light and small.
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Quite honestly, I think you should spend a little bit more money and get the 15 inch rMBP. With the latest gen Core i7 Processors, 16GB of DDR3 RAM, and a Dedicated Graphics Card, it is the best deal out there and it is incredibly light with about 4.76 pounds. With the 13 inch rMBP, the maxed out version is slightly lower than the 15 inch and you can't upgrade down the road. Just get the 15 inch rMBP.
You're right. That's a good reason not to get the 13". Still apprehensive of upgrading because of the diminishing value proposition -- but I think I can deal with it and stay put until there are clearer advantages to me. Need to somehow justify this as a work expense...
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BTW, I just want to add, I've been using Apple laptops for years and years, but these new Retina models are so extremely fine (previous version were fantastic also), that there's not anything else even close.
So if I were you, I would be very excited about acquiring one of these (either one will do)
Yep, good to remember that this is all a good thing... Actually better that I'm upgrading from mid-2010 and I'll really notice the difference.
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What's the point of having a lush 13" display if it may well struggle with OP's intensive use case? Essential to check it'll do what's expected comfortably before splashing the cash.
The r15 is best in class and one needn't have such concerns - the r13 OTOH is just a jumped up Air, OP needs to test, test, test or wait for early adopter lab rats to test for him...
Also anyone that spouts marketing guff like "I use Mac because it works every time, all the time." is either a shill, or uses the machine so lightly that they could get by with an etch-a-sketch.
You're right, I do go to Apple Store fairly often but never asked them if they can run an adobe trial... I could dig into a laggy complex illustrator file from a thumbdrive... may look into that.
I'm curious to see how other heavy Adobe users have fared with the rMBP and external monitors. Offhand, reviews tend to deal with the experience of the retina screen or laptop use case experience itself since I guess it's insane to run a rMBP in clamshell mode.
But I can continue to search for people who have tried out what I'm getting myself into... or I can just take the plunge and report my findings. It's an expensive experiment though (exacerbated by the fact that we end up buying more stuff for our stuff).
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I think you should buy what you want, and need. If your current laptop is working fine, then stick with it until the next gen rMBPs are out.
I have a 13 inch rMBP and I love mine. It's just the right size for me, but laptop was quite old. So I didn't want to wait for the next gen.
If you buy one now, you can always sell it when the new ones arrive.
This is good advice -- think of it like getting one, don't max it out, to tide me over. Price is pretty close so I could do that with the 15. We'll see.
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You say your 2010 MBP feels "Kludgy" Have you done any upgrades to it? If not boosting it to 8GB RAM and a SSD will make a world of difference and get rid of the kludge. That way you get to keep the machine you love for longer, and can wait for a while longer before making any decisions. It might also increase the resale value. Got a buyer for mine for £1000, which aint too bad for a laptop that's almost 3 years old.
If like me you're sold on getting a retina screen, then like a lot of people say go for the 15". It's lighter and thinner than what you already have so would make a big difference in portability (I lug my current 15" to work from Nottingham to Sheffield and back every day with no issues, so don't get people who claim the 15" rMBP isn't portable), and you get a way better processor, GPU and more SSD as standard.
Yep. Self upgraded to 8G, have original 256 SDD and swapped optical for 750GB Combo drive. If I could just upgrade so I can run two monitors I'd happily pay good money for that. Unfortunately, that is not possible... hence the dilemma (which would merely be a conundrum if I didn't have to sacrifice a direct ethernet connection, change all my power adapters, shell out a lot of cash, worry about compatibility learn new stuff).
