We are in the market for purchasing at least 2 new Mac laptops for work.

I'm even considering a replacement machine for this 5 year old SR.

I've been to an Apple Store (80 miles away) to check out the MBP Retina. And I just visited a BB (local store) to see these models again in person. The MBAs are fun, and the MBPR is really a 15 MBA.

But I'm having a hard time getting excited. The machines really do not feel faster to me than this SSD-upgraded core2duo machine. Apps load fast, safari works fine on both machines, etc. The retina display on the MBP is a little nicer - but didn't totally wow me, and the glossiness of the screen is a real downer.

When I want a super portable internet device, I use an iPad.

So here's my challenge for you: what is it that makes YOU excited about the latest Macs?

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sekker
So here's my challenge for you: what is it that makes YOU excited about the latest Macs?

Not a thing. Seriously.

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Retina display is awesome. everything else is so-so.

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I have an Early 2008 Mac Pro with 8 cores. Only a handful of the very latest MBP's and the very fastest iMac have higher Geekbench scores. And even then, the scores aren't that much higher. So I have to agree that there's really nothing about the latest Macs that excite me. I am, however, thrilled with the latest iPad.

> So here's my challenge for you: what is it that makes YOU
> excited about the latest Macs?

Two Thunderbolt ports.

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mattkime
Retina display is awesome. everything else is so-so.

What aspect of this screen is awesome? I am MUCH more impressed by the difference between the retina display and the normal display on the iPad.

But the difference on the MBP is not so much. Indeed, the matte screen on the high res MBP looks pretty good, too.

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sekker
We are in the market for purchasing at least 2 new Mac laptops for work.

Apps load fast, safari works fine on both machines, etc.
When I want a super portable internet device, I use an iPad.

If all you do is surf the web at work you are lucky.

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sekker

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mattkime
Retina display is awesome. everything else is so-so.

What aspect of this screen is awesome? I am MUCH more impressed by the difference between the retina display and the normal display on the iPad.

Try using one for awhile.

The lack of jaggies on everything down to the tiniest cursor definitely reduces eye-strain. Switching resolution on the fly and still having a sharp image is VERY cool.

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Chakravartin

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sekker

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mattkime
Retina display is awesome. everything else is so-so.

What aspect of this screen is awesome? I am MUCH more impressed by the difference between the retina display and the normal display on the iPad.

Try using one for awhile.

The lack of jaggies on everything down to the tiniest cursor definitely reduces eye-strain. Switching resolution on the fly and still having a sharp image is VERY cool.

Maybe I need to borrow one from a friend. Use it for Pages and grant writing to see the difference.

In my defense, I saw the difference obviously with the iPad. I wonder why it's different for me?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/25/2012 08:38PM by sekker.

They're essentially an incrementally improved version of what came before. Nice improvements, but it doesn't render previous MBP's as trash. You're gonna run all of the same stuff you're running now on 'em. Unless they start washing dishes...

I like the new MBPs (the real ones, not the Retina ones): I just don't like the OS. So if I pull the trigger on a laptop, it will be a refurb that can run Snow Leopard.

USB 3.

...and you can guess the rest.

I'm intrigued.

I haven't bought any Mac iron in a while. I'm the MPBR (MBA15" but will wait until there's an implementation of an MBP 13" with a Retina display and see what's what.

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You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

-An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

There is no safety for honest men
except by believing all possible evil
of evil men.

Pixels were born to be punished. -Frederick Van Johnson

Mister, that's a ten-gallon hat on a twenty-gallon head.

I *love* Sigs. It's Glocks I hate.

I'm finally going to get an Air, specifically because I can get it with 8GB memory. The USB3 ports are great, too. I wish it was a retina display, too, but I need to get something smaller to tote around for the next year or so. Anyway, I was pretty excited about this refresh!

-Tofer

Two T'bolt ports is about it. I agree. It used to be the speed increases, but they've been missing for awhile. Apparently we are close to the max performance without some big breakthrough.

On the other hand, it may be that with cloud computing looming, the problem will be bandwidth.

Until recently, the CPU led the way. Now it seems to be the portable device in the lead, with CPU following.

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Mr. Curmudgeon, on Mountain Lion.

I think the MBP's (non retina), while not earth shattering in any way, represent a great value for what they offer. They have a refined, proven form factor, quick CPU's, and other forward-looking niceties like Thunderbolt and USB 3. I agree, not the most exciting options that I've ever seen, but I can't imagine anyone purchasing one of these would be disappointed after 6 months or a year.

I'm also waiting to see if a 13" MBPR is due to come out this year. I could be in the market if that is the case, although upgrading my MBP has made a difference.

I am disappointed to read that the MBPR will not be upgradeable, so that will certainly be a consideration.

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mrbigstuff
I'm also waiting to see if a 13" MBPR is due to come out this year. I could be in the market if that is the case, although upgrading my MBP has made a difference.

I am disappointed to read that the MBPR will not be upgradeable, so that will certainly be a consideration.

I would say no new MBPs of any shape until Jan 2013.

The MBPR not being "upgradeable" is a bit of a misnomer. Depends on how much you want to spend? Order it with 16 gigs of ram and a 768 gig drive. At least for the next few years, that should be 4X RAM the average user needs, and a 750 gig drive pretty huge. OWC will have larger drives soon if you order a smaller drive... but be prepared to pay as well.

It used to be the speed increases, but they've been missing for awhile.

I think people missed the jump from the 2010 MBPs numbers to the 2011 MBPs numbers. Even tho the GHz went down, the processors all went quad. Just using a number, 2010 MBPs scored like 6000 on geekbench. 2011s jumped to 11,000, faster than 2010 MPs. No, you probably wouldnt see the difference surfing the web or using word, but for users beyond that it was a huge jump. heck, if all your doing is surfing and word, a 4 year old Core2Duo would fly...

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The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs [www.fakesteve.net]

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sekker
I'm having a hard time getting excited. The machines really do not feel faster to me than this SSD-upgraded core2duo machine.

That's strange.

[arstechnica.com]
[www.anandtech.com]

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sekker
what is it that makes YOU excited about the latest Macs?

About the MacBook Pro with Retina display:

performance
screen quality
2 USB 3 and 2 Thunderbolt ports
thinness and case quality
battery life
battery longevity
cool running
quietness
HDMI
built-in support for dictation and Power Nap

Other than those things, nothing really...

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sekker
Use it for Pages and grant writing to see the difference.

Unfortunately, you will not see the difference with Pages yet. The iWork applications have not yet been optimized for the Retina display.

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jdc
I think people missed the jump from the 2010 MBPs numbers to the 2011 MBPs numbers.

This person didn't. I specifically upgraded from a 2010 MBP to a 2011 MBP for that very reason. Have never regretted doing it.

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RIP, Greg the DogSitter. You are missed.