13" Retina MacBook Pro Announced
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| Mini Goes Retina |
So, what does it offer on the table?
Retina Display
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| The Comparison |
Now, the 13.3" display serves the resolution of 2560 x 1600. That's already more than the 60" HDTV in your home (look at the comparison chart in the left).
The display in 15" retina looks brilliant, although doesn't do much when you use it for everyday tasks. Texts look sharper, and it's a breakthrough for design people, and for photography, I admit... but in my case, the 15" normal screen is already enough.
Besides, when used for surfing the web and opening apps, some users complain that it looks ugly, and scaled. Well, the world isn't ready yet for the display this advanced, I guess...
Dual-Core Processor and 8GB RAM
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| Dual Core Only |
Yes, now it's equipped with Intel's Third Generation (a.k.a Ivy Bridge), although it's saddening that there's only dual-core configuration allowed.
Both $1,699 and $1,999 configuration offers 2.5GHz dual-core i5 processor (Turbo-Boost up to 3.1GHz). By shelling out your wallet deeper, you can get 2.9GHz dual-core i7 that can be maximized to 3.6GHz, thanks to Intel's Turbo Boost Technology.
It's a shame that Apple doesn't include quad-core configuration, though... Most 14" and up premium laptop nowadays already adapt quad-core processors, just saying.
For any configuration, you get 8GB DDR3 onboard memory. Sorry, you won't be able to upgrade, even if you have enough cash. From the 15", it's been revealed that the memory is soldered on the logic board. Once you buy it, you'll never be able to replace it.
SSD
SSD hard drives are still as expensive as hell, but it's blazing fast; much faster than traditional spinning HDDs, and its thin form factor allows Ultrabooks to emerge. Apple has already adapted SSDs in their MacBook Air line, and they're experimenting it in their latest notebook lineup.
The base $1,699 offers 128GB of flash storage, while the higher $1,999 configuration offers twice as much (256GB). Again, for more cash, you can get 512GB or a whopping amount of 768GB of storage. I don't want to imagine how much I need to cash out to get the last one...
No expansion, though... Unless you're willing to buy an external HDD.
Ports
This laptop is intended for multimedia professionals who perform crazy editing stuffs in their laptops. Therefore, Apple has already included 2 USB3.0 ports, and 2 Thunderbolt ports on the surface, as well as a SDXC card slot, headphone jack, and HDMI port. No FireWire, Optical Drive, and Ethernet, although you can always buy the cable for them, and an external SuperDrive.
Oh, and just like its bigger brother, it uses the new MagSafe2 Power Port.
No Integrated Graphics
Yes, indeed a sad and unfortunate flaw. Apple doesn't include the NVidia graphics lineup for this premium notebook. Many people say that the Intel Graphics HD4000 is enough to play standard 3D games, and its performance is comparable to low-end discrete cards. Even so, a laptop which costs more than a $1,500 should at least get a discrete graphics card, just like the 15" which gets the NVidia GT650M.
Others
Just like Apple's other laptops, it gets the same 7-hour battery with Wireless Web (I seldom get that) and Mountain Lion as well as iLife is included in the package. Standard Wi-Fi modem is included, as well as Bluetooth 4.0.
Alright, I guess that's all, Folks. Would you consider getting this premium laptop? Say what you have to say in the comments section below. Thanks for coming and reading, and I hope to see you again soon :D
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