I know I am late to the party, but since my pages are filled with Apple stuff, I felt an obligation to comment on the new MacBook Pro with Retina screen.
First, let me say that I love retina screens! I have one on an iPad and iPhone and they are much better than the screens of prior generation products. However, I am not willing to make the necessary sacrifices to move to this new laptop...even if I LOVE the screen.
The lack of a DVD drive is still a big deal for me. I know I can currently get around some of these issues by using another computer for all of my CD/DVD needs, but I don't really want to.
This idea that everything needs to get thinner and thinner is overrated. The 2011 MBP weighed 5.6 pounds. The new MBP weighs about a pound less. The trade off for that pound is pretty hefty. In addition to losing a DVD drive, you lose the ability to change out RAM, upgrade the battery, upgrade the drive and lose an ethernet port.
Instead, an Applecare warranty, dongles for attaching ethernet, and paying Apple more money than independent sources for RAM and SSD has become the new (almost) requirement. The MacBook Air makes some of these same compromises, but due to the screen it is a smaller overall package that can be easily transported. With a 15 inch screen, you could make it ultra thin and it would still be cumbersome because of the screen size.
I use an iPad for those times I want something ultraportable. If I want to do serious work, I get out the MBP (2011 model) and losing a pound from the size would do nothing to change the way I use the laptop. It still isn't ultraportable and it would still sit in my lap in the same way. I have never felt that the old MBP was too heavy for using for long periods.
Personally, I would have loved to see the Retina in just about any other Mac on the market. The old school MBP with that screen would be near perfect for my needs. However, we don't have that option, so I guess we are stuck with the downsides if you want that screen. For me, the trade off isn't worth it. However, I am sure it will still find a large market.
First, let me say that I love retina screens! I have one on an iPad and iPhone and they are much better than the screens of prior generation products. However, I am not willing to make the necessary sacrifices to move to this new laptop...even if I LOVE the screen.
The lack of a DVD drive is still a big deal for me. I know I can currently get around some of these issues by using another computer for all of my CD/DVD needs, but I don't really want to.
This idea that everything needs to get thinner and thinner is overrated. The 2011 MBP weighed 5.6 pounds. The new MBP weighs about a pound less. The trade off for that pound is pretty hefty. In addition to losing a DVD drive, you lose the ability to change out RAM, upgrade the battery, upgrade the drive and lose an ethernet port.
Instead, an Applecare warranty, dongles for attaching ethernet, and paying Apple more money than independent sources for RAM and SSD has become the new (almost) requirement. The MacBook Air makes some of these same compromises, but due to the screen it is a smaller overall package that can be easily transported. With a 15 inch screen, you could make it ultra thin and it would still be cumbersome because of the screen size.
I use an iPad for those times I want something ultraportable. If I want to do serious work, I get out the MBP (2011 model) and losing a pound from the size would do nothing to change the way I use the laptop. It still isn't ultraportable and it would still sit in my lap in the same way. I have never felt that the old MBP was too heavy for using for long periods.
Personally, I would have loved to see the Retina in just about any other Mac on the market. The old school MBP with that screen would be near perfect for my needs. However, we don't have that option, so I guess we are stuck with the downsides if you want that screen. For me, the trade off isn't worth it. However, I am sure it will still find a large market.
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