WWDC new MacBook Pro with Retina Display

[bartman (Bart)]

Just watching the WWDC 2012 on ustream....
Mac Book Pro with retina display !!!!!!!!!( 15.4in 2880x1800 220ppi)
Lots of other goodies and improvements too!
Quad core i7, up to 16GB ram, Nvidia gt 650m and 768GB SSD, but no optical disc.
And shipping as of today!
Droooooollllll.....I want one. I think he said $2199 (us)
Just thought I would share!
Bartman
PS Mountain Lion will only cost $19.99 ( I think upgrade cost)!!!!!!

[dannat (Daniel)]

768 Gb SSD ..

[Octane (Humayun)]

Awesome. I'm in.

H

[Poita (Peter)]

It's on the Australian Apple store now.

2880x1800 is a lovely display, $2495 for the 256MB model, 512GB $3199, the 768GB model will cost you $3800 though. No DVD drive in any of the models, but I don't have one in mine currently and don't miss it.

I'd probably put an external drive on there and stick with the 256GB model, I'm running a 256GB SSD in my current MBP and am very happy with it.

[Poita (Peter)]

With an educational discount the base model is only $2279.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by Poita

2880x1800 is a lovely display

You've already seen one in the flesh?

2560x1440 on my iMac has kept me enthralled since I bought it a couple of years ago. With the even higher pixel count in a smaller area on the MBP (15" vs 27") it is going to make a photo-realistic display on a laptop like never before. What a beautiful machine it's going to be. I have a late-model MBA and won't be changing it for the heavier MBP, but will keenly await the Retina display on the new Air if and when it appears.

[PCH (Paul)]

Hi Guys,

I can see that the display resolution is ultra impressive, but other than that, does the term 'retina display' convey some secret computer geek speak significance that bypasses those of us with room temperature IQs...

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by PCH

Hi Guys,

I can see that the display resolution is ultra impressive, but other than that, does the term 'retina display' convey some secret computer geek speak significance that bypasses those of us with room temperature IQs...

Paul - "Retina" is nothing more than a brand name that Apple have applied to iPhone, iPad and now MacBook displays whose resolution is high enough (326dpi on the iPhone) so that the human eye has great difficulty in making out individual RGB pixel groups on screen. At some incredibly shallow angles, you'll still see stepping, but in reality it is oh-so-smooth.

Samsung and others have their own versions.

[DavidTrap (David)]

Looks impressive - unfortunately I bought a new MBP about 3 months ago...

Oh well, something to look forward to in a couple of years when the inevitable upgrade is required!

DT

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

What's more interesting than the new MacBook, as good as it is, is that Apple has taken it to Google by stepping wholly into the mapping work space alongside TomTom. This should be an interesting ride. A company the size of Apple, with its $90 billion war chest and cross-media clout, could make it very uncomfortable for Google in a relatively short period of time. Interesting days indeed.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Bought one for the CEO today, as well as a 27" Thunderbolt Cinema Display for the desk and two new iPad 3's for he and the missus. NOICE He's happy as a piggie in doo-doo.

[skysurfer]

Originally Posted by Poita

It's on the Australian Apple store now.

2880x1800 is a lovely display, $2495 for the 256MB model,

In Holland it is $2279. Strange it is cheaper than in AU.

No CD rom is not a big deal. When you use CDs you can buy a $50 DVD burner on USB.

But the retina display is a mere gimmick, due to the larger distance from the screen than a tablet or smartphone the 220 ppi is a gimmick.
Moreover it will consume more power as it has to drive 4 times as many pixels.

I rather hoped for a tilt-and-swivel touchscreen.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by skysurfer

But the retina display is a mere gimmick, due to the larger distance from the screen than a tablet or smartphone the 220 ppi is a gimmick.
Moreover it will consume more power as it has to drive 4 times as many pixels.

Nope, have to disagree. Looking at the one we bought today it is simply nothing short of sensational. If you're a graphic artist, it is a real boon. If all you use it for is office work, then enjoy far smoother text.

Yes, it will consume more power. That's why this has been offset by using solid state storage - which not only consumes far less than a traditional disk, but takes far less room, enabling the designers to cram more battery in. Before you claim "gimmick" - use one. To me, tilt and swivel is a gimmick if there ever was one. Again - horses for courses. The unit is a killer.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by skysurfer

But the retina display is a mere gimmick, due to the larger distance from the screen than a tablet or smartphone the 220 ppi is a gimmick.
Moreover it will consume more power as it has to drive 4 times as many pixels.

Sorry, I have to disagree. Looking at the one we bought today, the display is simply nothing less than sensational. If you're a graphic artist and involved in prepress, which we are, it is going to be a real boon. Yes, it will consume more power. That's why this has been offset by using solid state storage - which not only consumes far less than a traditional disk, but takes far less room, enabling the designers to cram more battery in. Before claiming "gimmick" - I think that maybe you have to try one for a while first. I guess we'll see every other major laptop manufacturer endorsing the high resolution display shortly - by doing what they always seem to be doing - copying.

[stephenb (Stephen)]

I'm upgrading my MacBook Pro this weekend by coincidence, so I look forward to viewing them in the flesh at the Mac Store in Melbourne.

[bartman (Bart)]

Chris,
would you say that the new MBP is a good work horse for professional photographers (terrestrial or astro) ?.
I was thinking of upgrading my main puter over the last few months, but I dont think it would be much cheaper than buying a new MBP........
Cheers
Bartman

[riklaunim]

I would doubt about "retina" usability to anything on a laptop (using them since X years without it). Also high resolution rendering will probably require more power - and more power will cause more heat, higher power consumption. There is no Ethernet or optical drive...

As most astro apps are for Windows - get a PC laptop For much less you can get a very strong hardware.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by riklaunim

I would doubt about "retina" usability to anything on a laptop (using them since X years without it). Also high resolution rendering will probably require more power - and more power will cause more heat, higher power consumption. There is no Ethernet or optical drive...

As most astro apps are for Windows - get a PC laptop For much less you can get a very strong hardware.

See post 14.

[riklaunim]

Originally Posted by Omaroo

See post 14.

I usually see graphics working on big screens. iMac, Mac Pro or other workstation with insane amount of RAM

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by bartman

Chris,
would you say that the new MBP is a good work horse for professional photographers (terrestrial or astro) ?.
I was thinking of upgrading my main puter over the last few months, but I dont think it would be much cheaper than buying a new MBP........
Cheers
Bartman

Yes, I'm sure of it Bart. It's interesting to note that those who "would" doubt, have almost certainly never actually used one. Whether it's Retina from Apple, or the equivalent (when developed) from others, these high resolution displays are a genuine joy to use. When a display is photo-realistic, rather than being even slightly pixelated, images and text look very different. It looks almost like magazine print. How can anyone say that this advancement is a gimmick?