“The MacBook I used for years was flagging and in need of replacement. I originally ordered a MacBook Air but cancelled the order since the Chromebook Pixel spoiled me for a Retina Display,” James Kendrick writes for ZDNet. “The 13-inch MacBook Pro arrived 45 days ago and has become my primary desktop system. It has already served me well and I am happy with the purchase.”
“The model I ordered has a 2.6 GHz Intel Core i5 processor paired with 8 GB of memory,” Kendrick writes. “The 256 GB solid-state disk (SSD) has enough free space to keep me comfortable for a good while. This configuration is faster than I thought it would be and it handles all tasks with ease.”
MacDailyNews Take: Apple’s flash storage will do that for you.
Kendrick writes, “The 13-inch Retina Display is simply gorgeous and I am so glad I cancelled the MacBook Air for this model. It helped that Apple recently dropped the price $200 to make the switch more palatable… I am very happy with the MacBook Pro and have no complaints at all, which is unusual for a gadget. There is nothing I wish it did differently or better, and I consider it worth the money I paid.”
Read more in the full article here.
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The value added premium: Old-school MacBook Pro vs. MacBook Pro with Retina display – March 5, 2013
Will Apple kill the 13-inch MacBook Pro? – March 4, 2013
Benchmarks: Apple’s upgraded MacBook Pro with Retina display lineup – February 22, 2013
Apple updates processors, makes MacBook Pro with Retina display, MacBook Air more affordable – February 13, 2013
Apple’s Big 2013 Roadmap: Multiple new iPhones, iPad mini with Retina display, MacBook Pros go all-Retina – January 16, 2013
My son and I each recently bought the 13″ Macbook Pro with retina display, and we couldn’t be more satisfied. About as close to perfect as a computer can be for us. Its so light and fast that my 15″ MBP has been relegated to the one project I have that requires an optical drive.
I hate the smaller screen. My MacBook Air is fine for bedtime reading and taking in the shi++er and giving to temp employees for light use, but I still need the big screen on my MacBook Pro to be able to use Creative Suite.
For you my friend, there is the 27″ Thunderbolt Display. It’s stunning.
The shi**er only requires an iPad unless you type as you crap. 🙂
Easier to watch video on a more codec capable Mac.
I initially bought the 13″ for the form factor before the price drop. Once I realized I could have 2″ more screen, an i7 processor and a discrete graphics chip for $200 and a pound more weight, I took it back.
If I had to decide now that it’s cheaper, it’d be a much tougher call.
I am fortunate to have the 15″ MBP-r with the 2.7 GHz Core i& processor and 16 GB memory. I went for the maximum specifications available when I purchased a few months ago. I wouldn’t trade mine for anything. Now, when I’m editing photos, I still do it on the 27″ iMac. That’s because of the large screen.
By the way, retina replaced a 13″ MacBook Air.
Yeah, the new MBP Retinas are screamers. Wish I had one, but I upgraded my 2009 MBP 13″ with 8 GB of ram and a 480GB mercury pro 6G SSD, and it screams pretty well now too!
Idiotic design combines audio input and output on the same jack. Smooth move, Furguson!
That does seem kinda dumb.
But, my headset has a mic.
So, it really needs to be combined. So, seems kinda smart.
If you are wanting to record something, use a USB device.
My only complaint is that unlike all other Macs, it doesn’t support HiDPI on external monitors. Kind of ironic. If this worked correctly, then with Air Display I could have both my internal and external displays on HiDPI. But it’s been broken since this machine launched. Just a stupid OS bug but Apple won’t fix it.
I am sorta surprised that there aren’t the usual geekhead comments here about how the graphics subsystem on the rMBP13 is too slow for the Retina display – and usually these comments are made by people who have never actually used a rMBP13, much less bought one.
I got mine a couple months ago and it is the most perfect laptop I have ever owned (not my favorite, however – that prize goes to my beloved black Pismo Powerbook). The build quality is breathtaking and it is very fast. I usually run it in 1440×900 and the screen is beautiful and still very readable. The only thing I sorta miss is the IR receiver for the Remote, but I now do presentations using my iPhone as the clicker.
Long live Pismo!!! I still have and use one. People still think it looks cool, and I can replace all of the important components in seconds instead of minutes.