Why hasn't anybody mentioned that a retina MBA would need to have a discrete GPU to render the massive amount of pixels. Therefore a retina MBA would have to be thicker to accommodate the discrete GPU, the more powerful CPU that would have to accompany it, as well as the massive battery to sustain the long battery life that Apple Macbooks are so well known for. Therefore the MBA would lose its portability, making it another MBP. Therefore a retina MBA would be absolutely pointless.
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.
The retina MBA is not going to happen and here is why.
- Thread starter surjavarman
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
apple moves fast went adding new tech to their product line. look how fast apple brought intel to its entire product line.
Because it's false, and some people on here have an aversion to making blatantly false statements.
The Retina MacBook Pro operates on Intel graphics (the same Intel graphics in the updated MacBook Air) for normal operation - only switching to the discrete graphics when you load an app that stresses the graphics subsystem.
And Ars Technica even used an extension to disable the discrete GPU, nominally to test battery life solely on internal graphics, but they also did a little performance testing - and while there is an obvious performance hit, it wasn't so much of a performance hit that would make something unusable on the Retina that was usable on a non-Retina. (Things like games you're not going to run at full retina resolution anyway - and games that are so graphics intensive that they won't run on integrated graphics on the Retina MBP at 'normal' resolutions wouldn't run on a MBA at normal resolutions.)
This has been discussed on several threads before, although probably without agreement.
You may not need a discrete GPU to render the massive amount of pixels.
Its not really THAT massive. All the MBAs can already drive external displays at 2560 by 1600. The 2012 integrated GPU is already quite powerful and should be able to handle it fine for non-gaming applications. Need more than that, buy a 15" rMBP.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6023/the-nextgen-macbook-pro-with-retina-display-review/7
That's probably what they were talking about.
It WILL happen. it's merely a matter of time. the retina iphone seems to do just fine with current battery tech.
Yes, what that is referring to is when running at resolutions/ratios other than the "recommended" one. Performance suffers when doing that on ANY of the GPU options, integrated or discrete.
But for the native resolution (and the 'recommended' double-scaling,) it's happy.
But for the native resolution (and the 'recommended' double-scaling,) it's happy.
What about those Sharp IGZO displays? I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that these displays are 85% more efficient than current displays.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indium_gallium_zinc_oxide
I'm not saying that it will definitely happen on next refresh, but the technology seems to be catching up with the idea of a retina MBA.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indium_gallium_zinc_oxide
I'm not saying that it will definitely happen on next refresh, but the technology seems to be catching up with the idea of a retina MBA.
Remember: "640K ought to be enough for anybody." - Bill Gates 1981
I rest my case
Except he never said it.
Yes, we all know batter life will improve with:
More efficient processors
More efficient screens
Bigger batteries
I think the OP's point is that that isn't going to happen. At least not to the extent it needs to to maintain good battery life. I'm incliened to agree, at least in the near term. Look at the iPad for example. The first one is how many years old now and has better run times than the 3rd gen.
The issue with bigger batteries is where the heck is Apple going to put them? From what I gather, the MBA is already as slim as it gets and it is pretty much bursting at the seams with components. Battery tech also seems to have more or less stagnated; Apple had to resort to simply packing the new ipad and Rmbp with thicker batteries to power that high-res display, rather than some breakthrough in battery capacity.
That IGZO screen looks promising (and was purported to have been the display of choice had Apple been able to secure sufficient quantities). We will probably start seeing them in the next ipad refresh (and as production increases, see them rolled out to the other laptops).
My other concern - is it worth it? Apple computers (including the ipad) already appear to be as thin as they can get, and Apple seems to be using every trick in the book just to shave off the odd fraction of a mm here and there. I dunno, past a certain point, it's like 'What's the point?" Are people really to start throwing a hissy fit just because it is that slightly thicker than it could have been? Are you really going to go around with a pair of vernier calipers and measure each laptop you want to buy?
Apparently this is what he actually said:
It probably seemed like a reasonable assumption at the time, but then Moore's Law kicked in. Similarly, we will all have "Retina" displays one day, and probably sooner than many people think. It didn't take long for other phone manufacturers to follow suit.
And then, we'll have true "Retina" displays (angular resolution over 200 pixels per degree at normal viewing distance).
Last edited:
The issue with bigger batteries is where the heck is Apple going to put them? From what I gather, the MBA is already as slim as it gets and it is pretty much bursting at the seams with components. Battery tech also seems to have more or less stagnated; Apple had to resort to simply packing the new ipad and Rmbp with thicker batteries to power that high-res display, rather than some breakthrough in battery capacity.
That IGZO screen looks promising (and was purported to have been the display of choice had Apple been able to secure sufficient quantities). We will probably start seeing them in the next ipad refresh (and as production increases, see them rolled out to the other laptops).
My other concern - is it worth it? Apple computers (including the ipad) already appear to be as thin as they can get, and Apple seems to be using every trick in the book just to shave off the odd fraction of a mm here and there. I dunno, past a certain point, it's like 'What's the point?" Are people really to start throwing a hissy fit just because it is that slightly thicker than it could have been? Are you really going to go around with a pair of vernier calipers and measure each laptop you want to buy?
I agree, Apples love affair with thinness is yet another obstacle to a retina MBA. I do think it will happen, just not in 2013
Maybe just a good quality IPS display will work on the MBA instead of TN panels.
I remember reading a recent review at Anandtech about a 13" Sony Viao SE where the guy gushed over the non retina IPS display. And he reviews laptops for a living.
I remember reading a recent review at Anandtech about a 13" Sony Viao SE where the guy gushed over the non retina IPS display. And he reviews laptops for a living.
If apple does release a retina 13" Mbp, won't that obviate the need for a retina Mba? Both would be equally thin, lack an ODD, boast soldered ram and ssd, and the extra space used to address the biggest concern - battery life.
I see the 11" MBA being left alone to serve as a cheap entry-level notebook for people seeking an affordable foray into the apple ecosystem.
I see the 11" MBA being left alone to serve as a cheap entry-level notebook for people seeking an affordable foray into the apple ecosystem.
For people who say that it is simply not possible due to form factor, please refer to newest model of the Asus Zenbook - 1080p IPS screen; same weight/form factor, dGPU, and user replaceable/upgradeable SSD and RAM.
Based on this, the MBA retina WILL happen. Apple is simply dragging their feet knowing darn well people will keep buying Airs regardless. Hopefully, the Zenbook puts a flame under them.
Based on this, the MBA retina WILL happen. Apple is simply dragging their feet knowing darn well people will keep buying Airs regardless. Hopefully, the Zenbook puts a flame under them.
Umm...the asus K93sm is a whooping 18.4" laptop! Apple already has the rmbp totop that.
Umm...the asus K93sm is a whooping 18.4" laptop! Apple already has the rmbp totop that.
You're looking at the wrong laptop. Zenbook = UX31a
all "our' current thinking ..... is based upon "Specualation'
The way I look at tech is, thus... At 2012... I have wireless access to the world.
1912, we were incredulous over the Automobile.....
In 100 years, we have gone from the model T Ford to F1?
when I was a kid,I had to ride my bike to a phonebox to call my mate, now..? I can just Txt .. that was "ONLY" 20 yrs ago...
10-20 years from now? they'll be laughing their ass's off at "Retina".... that'll be like 110 film to Full HDTV today.... 1080p?.. hahaha.. that'll be So .....
The way I look at tech is, thus... At 2012... I have wireless access to the world.
1912, we were incredulous over the Automobile.....
In 100 years, we have gone from the model T Ford to F1?
when I was a kid,I had to ride my bike to a phonebox to call my mate, now..? I can just Txt .. that was "ONLY" 20 yrs ago...
10-20 years from now? they'll be laughing their ass's off at "Retina".... that'll be like 110 film to Full HDTV today.... 1080p?.. hahaha.. that'll be So .....
not really true b.c the leaps we made in 20 years will probably never happen again. 20 years from now, I don't see nearly as catastrophic of improvement