Updated MacBook Pros(apple.com)
apple.com
Updated MacBook Pros
http://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/specs-retina/
26 comments
Stop being a packrat and move cold data to an external drive.
Bonus: now you have your data around even if your laptop breaks.
Once I learned to live with a 64GB macbook air, I realized that 90% of the data I was keeping around was not useful.
It's very liberating.
Yes, I realize 64GB of data is huge, but not for modern machines.
Bonus: now you have your data around even if your laptop breaks.
Once I learned to live with a 64GB macbook air, I realized that 90% of the data I was keeping around was not useful.
It's very liberating.
Yes, I realize 64GB of data is huge, but not for modern machines.
> Stop being a packrat and move cold data to an external drive.
How does lugging around an extra piece of equipment that is inconvenient to handle equate to being less of a packrat? No. Inventing time-consuming and frustrating coping strategies just because newer tech is more limited than the old stuff? That's not a path I'm going to embark on. There is nothing liberating about it.
The restrictions Apple currently imposes on us do not exist because they believe we should throw away our data as a matter of Zen. They exist because SSDs have not caught up yet, though at some point they will.
> Bonus: now you have your data around even if your laptop breaks.
What does breakage even mean in this context? My laptop right now has an SSD for fast system things and an HDD for bulk data. If one of them breaks, the laptop will still be usable and I just put in a spare part. If the laptop is completely destroyed, chances are an external HDD in my backpack will also be.
It's not like carrying an external backup HDD is impossible just because my laptop has adequate onboard storage - it's obviously a false dichotomy.
> It's very liberating.
I absolutely get that shedding ballast is a liberating experience, but it pertains to physical things. I have gotten rid of many, many things in my life that didn't have any real value anymore - including almost all of my books, CDs, and DVDs. The books and CDs are still with me in digital form, which is kind of the point here (the DVDs are, too, but on my home server).
The neat thing about digital possessions is that they can scale very well without encumbering you.
How does lugging around an extra piece of equipment that is inconvenient to handle equate to being less of a packrat? No. Inventing time-consuming and frustrating coping strategies just because newer tech is more limited than the old stuff? That's not a path I'm going to embark on. There is nothing liberating about it.
The restrictions Apple currently imposes on us do not exist because they believe we should throw away our data as a matter of Zen. They exist because SSDs have not caught up yet, though at some point they will.
> Bonus: now you have your data around even if your laptop breaks.
What does breakage even mean in this context? My laptop right now has an SSD for fast system things and an HDD for bulk data. If one of them breaks, the laptop will still be usable and I just put in a spare part. If the laptop is completely destroyed, chances are an external HDD in my backpack will also be.
It's not like carrying an external backup HDD is impossible just because my laptop has adequate onboard storage - it's obviously a false dichotomy.
> It's very liberating.
I absolutely get that shedding ballast is a liberating experience, but it pertains to physical things. I have gotten rid of many, many things in my life that didn't have any real value anymore - including almost all of my books, CDs, and DVDs. The books and CDs are still with me in digital form, which is kind of the point here (the DVDs are, too, but on my home server).
The neat thing about digital possessions is that they can scale very well without encumbering you.
"cold data" from OP was probably a key factor.
They're responding to a different philosophy.
Take music: The main case is generally "I want to listen to music that I like" or "I want to listen to (specific) music from (artist)" of some sort. I have 150GB of music, but neither of those cases require most of it as most of it is only accessed very rarely. The music file storage can stay somewhere else, for occasional reference if I want to pull something esoteric from the collection. "Cloud" or an external drive are great for this.
Wash, rinse, repeat for photos, movies, old software, etc.
And when it "breaks", i.e. that single-point-of-failure HDD fails, as they do often catastrophically without warning, the files aren't lost. It's like keeping your will, the deed to your house, baby photos, etc. in the briefcase/backpack you carry around all day. Fine way to protect them until something happens to that briefcase.
It's liberating dropping 3 pounds from your shoulder, as well.
They're responding to a different philosophy.
Take music: The main case is generally "I want to listen to music that I like" or "I want to listen to (specific) music from (artist)" of some sort. I have 150GB of music, but neither of those cases require most of it as most of it is only accessed very rarely. The music file storage can stay somewhere else, for occasional reference if I want to pull something esoteric from the collection. "Cloud" or an external drive are great for this.
Wash, rinse, repeat for photos, movies, old software, etc.
And when it "breaks", i.e. that single-point-of-failure HDD fails, as they do often catastrophically without warning, the files aren't lost. It's like keeping your will, the deed to your house, baby photos, etc. in the briefcase/backpack you carry around all day. Fine way to protect them until something happens to that briefcase.
It's liberating dropping 3 pounds from your shoulder, as well.
> Take music: The main case is generally "I want to listen to music that I like"
Sure, but that's not the same every day. I don't want to shuffle my music collection around constantly; I'd rather just have it, so if on a trip I'm reminded of $bandname and want to listen to an album, I don't have to futz with downloading it on hotel wifi. To me the cognitive overhead of manually operating some kind of caching scheme, where I purge rarely used files to the archive and then have to page-fault them back in again, is not worth it.
Sure, but that's not the same every day. I don't want to shuffle my music collection around constantly; I'd rather just have it, so if on a trip I'm reminded of $bandname and want to listen to an album, I don't have to futz with downloading it on hotel wifi. To me the cognitive overhead of manually operating some kind of caching scheme, where I purge rarely used files to the archive and then have to page-fault them back in again, is not worth it.
I'd be willing to put money on the general person never needing more than a small portion of their library but for the rare exception, at which point a free Scroble-ing service or YouTube suffice. If you reflect, are you really going back to the depths of your music library to find track 11 off that one less-popular (insert band name) album?
It's simply the philosophy that most of the stuff we keep with us on our TB hard drive laptops isn't actually stuff we need to keep with us.
Obviously Apple considers your philosophy to be an edge case to their intended business model and would rather not offer you moderately priced options to upgrade, which is certainly a shame.
It's simply the philosophy that most of the stuff we keep with us on our TB hard drive laptops isn't actually stuff we need to keep with us.
Obviously Apple considers your philosophy to be an edge case to their intended business model and would rather not offer you moderately priced options to upgrade, which is certainly a shame.
I have a small (256Gb) SSD drive in my Surface Pro 2. I have a 1Tb drive I occasionally carry around with me that has "everything". It's a mirror of my 1TB drive in my desktop at home.
Whilst I love the 10" form factor and the light weight of the Surface there are times where I need something obscure and rarely accessed, and don't have my drive with me. This is frustrating beyond description.
Also not sure about the data loss argument, as I back up regularly.
Whilst I love the 10" form factor and the light weight of the Surface there are times where I need something obscure and rarely accessed, and don't have my drive with me. This is frustrating beyond description.
Also not sure about the data loss argument, as I back up regularly.
Interestingly the data loss argument wasn't aimed at you, but at someone arguing they just needed their laptop with a big HD and nothing else.
There's many options for providing yourself access to the desktop at home from a mobile location, at which point you can access those obscure files.
It does seem that the tablet isn't a great product vehicle at the moment for a Tb portable desktop.
There's many options for providing yourself access to the desktop at home from a mobile location, at which point you can access those obscure files.
It does seem that the tablet isn't a great product vehicle at the moment for a Tb portable desktop.
> Stop being a packrat and move cold data to an external drive.
>Bonus: now you have your data around even if your laptop breaks.
External drives are pretty unreliable. It's more probable the external drive will die before the laptops internal one.
>Bonus: now you have your data around even if your laptop breaks.
External drives are pretty unreliable. It's more probable the external drive will die before the laptops internal one.
>External drives are pretty unreliable. It's more probable the external drive will die before the laptops internal one.
Citation needed.
There's no reason for the external drive to "die before the laptops internal one".
Not only that: you can actually buy the very same drives that are in your laptop for external use if you like.
Citation needed.
There's no reason for the external drive to "die before the laptops internal one".
Not only that: you can actually buy the very same drives that are in your laptop for external use if you like.
Agree, most of the time external drives are cases with USB/eSATA adapters and an "internal" hard drive. The only difference with a PC is that it's easier to drop the external drive.
That was correct ten years ago.
Nowadays the external drives of course contain 3.5" or 2.5" hard drives. But the inbuilt hard discs come with little or no warrenty, are "eco"-drives that are meant to be used only occasionally (not 24x7) and spin with only 5400 rpm.
Internal hard drives for personal/business (desktop, notebook) come with up to 4 or 5 years warrenty and spin with 7200 or 11000 rpm and have a better internal cache.
Nowadays the external drives of course contain 3.5" or 2.5" hard drives. But the inbuilt hard discs come with little or no warrenty, are "eco"-drives that are meant to be used only occasionally (not 24x7) and spin with only 5400 rpm.
Internal hard drives for personal/business (desktop, notebook) come with up to 4 or 5 years warrenty and spin with 7200 or 11000 rpm and have a better internal cache.
You know you can buy the external versions of those 7200 and higher RPM drives, right?
And that contrary to what you said, tons of personal/business laptops come with 5400 HDs. Not much quality HD on a €400 euro laptop or even some Apple models.
And that contrary to what you said, tons of personal/business laptops come with 5400 HDs. Not much quality HD on a €400 euro laptop or even some Apple models.
I use a 2008 15'' MBP, replacing the superdrive with an optibay + SSD and rolling-out my own fusion drive extended the lifespan of this machine to no ends.
I am just slowly starting to consider getting another laptop in 2015, but the fact that the new line of MBP adhere to the soldered-on-and-force-obsolescence philosophy is really putting me off this purchase.
I am just slowly starting to consider getting another laptop in 2015, but the fact that the new line of MBP adhere to the soldered-on-and-force-obsolescence philosophy is really putting me off this purchase.
If I could retrofit a retina display to 2nd hand 2011 model MBP, then I'd replace my old Dell laptop with one today. Unfortunately every model of MBP since I've been wanting to upgrade has been less and less user serviceable or even technically repairable. Which puts me looking at spending a lot of money for the hope of more battery life really.
That's basically my current setup.
The overall system performance improvement of an SSD is worth it alone for an upgrade (or replacing it in your current laptop if you can). It turned my old plastic MacBook into a new laptop for me. I'm surprised no one has mentioned it yet. You will love using your laptop even more, and you can get a small form factor external to complement it.
> My laptop right now has an SSD for fast system things and an HDD for bulk data
I've set up an old laptop on my home network with about 7TB of storage. Plex handles all my video and music needs (so long as I can get a decent internet connection). And teamviewer and dropbox lets me access the rest as I need.
If I need to go on a trip where I won't have good internet, there's more than enough storage for a dozen movies or tv shows or whatever and hundreds of hours of music. I just load it up and delete it when I get back.
It sucks in some ways to set up, and it's a lot of work, but it really does payoff later. And having all my media self-hosted somewhere I can get to from my laptop, my desktop, the web, my phone, my tablet, and chromecast to my tv is actually better than lugging all that around.
If I need to go on a trip where I won't have good internet, there's more than enough storage for a dozen movies or tv shows or whatever and hundreds of hours of music. I just load it up and delete it when I get back.
It sucks in some ways to set up, and it's a lot of work, but it really does payoff later. And having all my media self-hosted somewhere I can get to from my laptop, my desktop, the web, my phone, my tablet, and chromecast to my tv is actually better than lugging all that around.
If you usually have a good Internet connection, one possibility (that I use) is for you to keep most files in Dropbox (or equivalent service) and unsync folders that you don't need. I do this for large data sets that I use periodically, and arrange for my videos and photos to be batched in folders with the year in the file name. If I want to watch a video I made two years ago, I just resync a folder, and it is soon available.
A disadvantage of this approach is that unsynced folders are not in Time Machine backups.
A disadvantage of this approach is that unsynced folders are not in Time Machine backups.
I'm not sure how much longer it'll be around, but this latest refresh still left one non-SSD/non-retina MBP, the 13" model that comes with a 512 GB hdd and upgradeable to 1 TB. Price after upgrade is $1149 (vs. $2299 for a retina model with 1 TB): http://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/specs/. Not an option if you like the 15" screen though.
I have an early 2011 15" mbp.
I always only had a 500gb hd in it.
Recently, its performances have starting becoming inadequate, so I switched its 4gb of ram for 16gb & its hard drive for a 480gb ssd.
It is a night and day difference that should be enough to make me keep it one more year at least. The only really weak part now is the graphic card that may be too weak to support an high size high resolution screen.
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The fact that you are still free to upgrade and mod it awesome. What kind of work do you do that would cause it to break? Just B E C A R E F U L. It's like owning a vintage car. Everybody will be envious.
> The fact that you are still free to upgrade and mod it awesome.
It is, although of course the downside is sheer heft. Compared to the new models, that thing is a huge and heavy aluminum brick. But yeah, I can cope with that in exchange for the convenience of more storage and upgradeability.
> What kind of work do you do that would cause it to break?
I'm just carrying it with me 24x7, basically. This laptop has seen the world, and it shows.
> It's like owning a vintage car. Everybody will be envious.
Doubtful but it's an interesting take ;)
It is, although of course the downside is sheer heft. Compared to the new models, that thing is a huge and heavy aluminum brick. But yeah, I can cope with that in exchange for the convenience of more storage and upgradeability.
> What kind of work do you do that would cause it to break?
I'm just carrying it with me 24x7, basically. This laptop has seen the world, and it shows.
> It's like owning a vintage car. Everybody will be envious.
Doubtful but it's an interesting take ;)
No idea how you use laptops, but I've never needed more than 1TB on mine, let alone more than 256gb and I still have more than 50% free most of the time.
Perhaps it's time to declutter your digital life?
Perhaps it's time to declutter your digital life?
My last upgrade path was to pay $300 to get my MBP completely factory refurbished, then replace the internal HDD with an SSD.
For those wondering, they've upped the base specs and dropped the prices slightly. Nothing completely 'new', per se.
Why doesn't Apple ship MacBooks with optional anti-glare display anymore? Is a third party anti-glare matte screen protector useful?
I would like to use the notebook outside too. Using the iPad outside on a sunny day strains the eyes.
I would like to use the notebook outside too. Using the iPad outside on a sunny day strains the eyes.
>Why doesn't Apple ship MacBooks with optional anti-glare display anymore? Is a third party anti-glare matte screen protector useful?
Because it was not of very high demand, plus it's awful for color accuracy and deep blacks, not to mention that it destroys a lot of the niceties of having a retina screen -- it's literary adding a diffusion material over your screen, that besides reducing glare also makes it more blurry.
Plus, the solution to glare is quite easy: turn the display away from a light source. It being a portable computer, that's quite easy.
Because it was not of very high demand, plus it's awful for color accuracy and deep blacks, not to mention that it destroys a lot of the niceties of having a retina screen -- it's literary adding a diffusion material over your screen, that besides reducing glare also makes it more blurry.
Plus, the solution to glare is quite easy: turn the display away from a light source. It being a portable computer, that's quite easy.
> turn the display away from a light source
Working outside in nature (country side) or on a train/bus (next to a window), a glare display doesn't work well.
I like to work outside under the shadow of trees and the wind constantly blows through the leaves and shake them around.
A business notebook with mate display works fine in such conditions and the colors are good and not blurry at all (one can always attach a high quality monitor).
Working outside in nature (country side) or on a train/bus (next to a window), a glare display doesn't work well.
I like to work outside under the shadow of trees and the wind constantly blows through the leaves and shake them around.
A business notebook with mate display works fine in such conditions and the colors are good and not blurry at all (one can always attach a high quality monitor).
>I like to work outside under the shadow of trees and the wind constantly blows through the leaves and shake them around.
I don't think that describes much of the population. But if it does describe you, just avoid having the sun on your screen. Either find a shade around noon, or keep the display against the sun at other times.
I don't think that describes much of the population. But if it does describe you, just avoid having the sun on your screen. Either find a shade around noon, or keep the display against the sun at other times.
I think a lot of professionals who like the anti-glare have it on their second screens, so it's not a deal breaker as much as it once was. Last time I got a new Mac, I didn't feel like waiting for the special anti-glare screen version to be shipped to my house. I now just make do with the glossy while traveling, and still have a nice matte screen to plug into.
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I think there was low demand for the anti-glare stuff. For what it's worth I've been using my macbook air (2013, 11 in) outside without much issue. I think as long as the screen image is sufficiently brighter than the reflected scenery it kind of looks ok.
For those of you who choose Pros over Airs; why does a Pro serve you better than an Air? Is it because it's your only machine, and you need the hardware to be beefy?
Retina. Once you stop seeing pixels, it's painful to start seeing them again.
Ì'm waiting for the retina iMac/display, because working without external mouse and keyboard never worked for me (and 15" is probably too small for the desktop)
I have mine on a stand, plugged to a large screen, with an external trackpad and a Microsoft Natural keyboard. The next step is to upgrade the display to 4k.
Pity, apple has the best trackpad. My wife is also waiting for the iMac UHD, though I'm tempted to buy a samsung 28" UHD myself.
I second that. My MBPr13, while natively having a screen equivalent to the 800x1280 of the old 13, is now configured to the 1050-line display once found on the 17 inch model and it still looks great.
Once you can't see the pixels, the display becomes infinitely flexible.
Once you can't see the pixels, the display becomes infinitely flexible.
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*distinguishing
Post-1999 life is amazing, isn't it?
I chose an air a while back, and it has been fantastic for a lot of things. However, now I'm considering going back to the pro.
The biggest limitation for me is the single thunderbolt port. If I want to connect to ethernet, a display, or other thunderbolt devices (like an audio interface I have), I can only connect to one. Even on the 13" MBP, I can connect all three since there are two thunderbolt connections plus HDMI. The other biggest limitation has been video performance and CPU performance. I've ran into performance issues with virtualized boxes for local development and also with connecting an external display.
As far as retina, I could care less. It's nice, but not a necessity for me. Also, you get more battery life without it. That said, I'll still be moving to a MBP.
The biggest limitation for me is the single thunderbolt port. If I want to connect to ethernet, a display, or other thunderbolt devices (like an audio interface I have), I can only connect to one. Even on the 13" MBP, I can connect all three since there are two thunderbolt connections plus HDMI. The other biggest limitation has been video performance and CPU performance. I've ran into performance issues with virtualized boxes for local development and also with connecting an external display.
As far as retina, I could care less. It's nice, but not a necessity for me. Also, you get more battery life without it. That said, I'll still be moving to a MBP.
Screen estate on the go (specifically the 15inch). And like what seanmcdirmid said, the retina display looks good.
I'm impressed with the the 15inch retina starting specification. All the 15inch models come with 16GB of RAM for a starting price of £1,600. I always tell everybody if your doing graphical work or video production, get a desktop setup. The Intel isis pro GPU is more than enough for the work I do. extra £300 an average discrete mobile GPU on a laptop is not worth it.
I'm impressed with the the 15inch retina starting specification. All the 15inch models come with 16GB of RAM for a starting price of £1,600. I always tell everybody if your doing graphical work or video production, get a desktop setup. The Intel isis pro GPU is more than enough for the work I do. extra £300 an average discrete mobile GPU on a laptop is not worth it.
I'm still a few years away from replacing this 2012 Air, but when I do it'll be to something with a retina screen because of cramped gross asian characters.
http://i.imgur.com/1RgQSOc.png
http://blog.gatunka.com/2009/11/03/japanese-computers-still-...
http://i.imgur.com/1RgQSOc.png
http://blog.gatunka.com/2009/11/03/japanese-computers-still-...
Comparing only the 13" models, you get 2 Thunderbolt ports so you can use an external display and Thunderbolt Ethernet adapter at the same time. Actually if you use HDMI for your display you can use a Thunderbolt drive as well. The 13" Retina is only .5 lbs heavier than the 13" Air. It still has integrated video but it's a generation better than the current Air's.
Mostly for GPU needs. Also, my 15" Pro must stay cooler because the fan almost never comes on (except doing something GPU intensive). The AIRs around me always seem to have a fan humming, though the noise isn't nearly as bad as it used to be. (I'm on a non-Retina, but that's not a big deal to me)
I got an Air, then I got a Pro and "forgot" to return my Air. My wife reminds me every day.
Hello hyperliner,
This is your wife. We need to have a serious chat tonight.
This is your wife. We need to have a serious chat tonight.
It was a simple choice for me, much better screen and high specs generally without a huge compromise on cost or weight.
I went from an 11in Macbook Air to the 13 MBP retina and I've not regretted it once. I carry my laptop around all day and I've not noticed the extra weight.
I went from an 11in Macbook Air to the 13 MBP retina and I've not regretted it once. I carry my laptop around all day and I've not noticed the extra weight.
Pixel density, better colour gamut, and more peripheral hookups.
(The one thunderbolt on the Air means no Ethernet + Display at the same time, unless you're using a USB adapter... for which there are only two ports)
(The one thunderbolt on the Air means no Ethernet + Display at the same time, unless you're using a USB adapter... for which there are only two ports)
For me yes, it's because it's my only machine and I need good hardware for game development. (13" MBP)
The screen size! The day they announce the 15" Air I'm there.
I asked about this, and it's against the concept of the Air. The reason being that it becomes unportable. Was there a 15" air, I'd have gone for it, but there wasn't, so I went with a 15" MBP.
I like it, but it does get hot, and is quite heavy compared to the airs. I'm happy with it but I think they're missing a trick!
I like it, but it does get hot, and is quite heavy compared to the airs. I'm happy with it but I think they're missing a trick!
Wanted 15" and retina
The best time to buy a Mac is when you need one; if you wait forever you'll never end up buying one. My work machine died less than a month ago; a little bit annoying that this happened but there's always going to be a better, faster, cheaper Mac in the future.
If you bought it less than a month ago there's a pretty good chance that Apple will replace it free of charge (I even got a small refund in one case, when they dropped the price of MacBook Airs at the same time as a hardware refresh).
No the best time to buy one is immediately after they release a refresh.
That is assuming that being on the cutting edge matters to you. If you just need a machine spec'd to accomplish the tasks that you perform on a daily basis, you buy when your old machine can no longer get that job done (and the smart money might even be on an older model at a discount if it suits those needs).
Picked up a new one about 2 months ago just knowing in the back of my mind that something new would be released soon. Glad I didn't miss out on too much =)
Nice but my next laptop will be some Chromebook + ElementaryOS rooted - if all you use is terminal/sublime and browser - Mac is a waste of money.
I understand the appeal of a more or less throwaway computer, but I have to add the Retina screen is outstanding, the OS is good enough and the machines are incredibly well built.
My wife was in a car crash about two years ago and, while the car was totalled, her MBP survived with exactly one scratch.
My wife was in a car crash about two years ago and, while the car was totalled, her MBP survived with exactly one scratch.
That's kind of a weird thing to support that - not that I disagree, I love the build of my MBP... but a) it takes very little to consider a car totaled, and b) as a firefighter/paramedic, the very large majority of the time, even the most serious of car accidents don't result in the vehicle being crushed to the point where a laptop sitting on a seat is destroyed.
Most of the back of the car was crushed into the rear seat area. The laptop was in the trunk, inside a briefcase that ruptured in the crash - the small scratch/dent on the corner of the laptop was probably from a shock against a metal object at that moment.
The fact my wife left the vehicle angry but without even a scratch is a testament to the engineers who designed all cabin safety features. As for the poor laptop in the trunk, well... That's entirely thanks to Apple's design and engineering team. That thing is indestructible.
The fact my wife left the vehicle angry but without even a scratch is a testament to the engineers who designed all cabin safety features. As for the poor laptop in the trunk, well... That's entirely thanks to Apple's design and engineering team. That thing is indestructible.
wow, I bought one less then a week ago for £2200 and now it costs £1999 and has more stuff... did I just gifted them £200 or if I complain I might at least get the new model?
EDIT: thanks all, yes I remember asking the return policy is 14 days. I will do that.
EDIT: thanks all, yes I remember asking the return policy is 14 days. I will do that.
Not sure what the return policy is where you're located. But in the US, I'd just return it within the 14 days and get the new model.
Want to know even a funnier thing? I don't like Apple at all, the last product I bought was an iPhone 3G because I didn't like their business practice but I gave in to the mbp because it's a nice machine and I wanted to expand myself instead of keep developing only on Windows. Guess I was right when I decided to ditch Apple.
>Guess I was right when I decided to ditch Apple.
You came to the conclusion that you "were right when you decided to ditch Apple" because they just put out newer, better models that the one you just bought?
Sure makes sense...
You came to the conclusion that you "were right when you decided to ditch Apple" because they just put out newer, better models that the one you just bought?
Sure makes sense...
Of course it makes sense. Other manufacturers don't release new products until their current line-up is thoroughly obsolete.
The way they achieve that is by releasing stuff that's already obsolete on day of launch, but you can't argue with the ethics!
The way they achieve that is by releasing stuff that's already obsolete on day of launch, but you can't argue with the ethics!
I've been living in the future with my Surface Pro for a while now.
Apple won't catch up to that until they can lock down the supply chain.
Apple won't catch up to that until they can lock down the supply chain.
>I've been living in the future with my Surface Pro for a while now.
So Philip K Dick was right after all, the future is a dystopia?
So Philip K Dick was right after all, the future is a dystopia?
I guess one man's dystopia is another's utopia? Because I'm in the latter ;)
I think Apple has brought us closer to dystopia than anyone with their hardware + software lockin monoculture. At least I can move to other hardware vendors if I don't like Microsoft's hardware. If I want to run OSX I have to buy Apple's hardware (and I do when I have to, but I certainly don't enjoy it).
I think Apple has brought us closer to dystopia than anyone with their hardware + software lockin monoculture. At least I can move to other hardware vendors if I don't like Microsoft's hardware. If I want to run OSX I have to buy Apple's hardware (and I do when I have to, but I certainly don't enjoy it).
What do you find so amazing about the Surface Pro btw?
I love the Surface Pro because it comes with a "full" (not locked-down) OS running on very capable 64-bit hardware in a 10" tablet and all of the desktop apps that I use work great with touch input. (The hardware is i5/4GB RAM/128 GB SSD.)
In addition to all the Windows software that I run on it, I also have a small Ubuntu Server VM within the included hypervisor. Can't wait until the Surface Pro 4 comes out, that's when I'll probably jump to the Surface Pro 3 to get the larger screen and SSD size.
In addition to all the Windows software that I run on it, I also have a small Ubuntu Server VM within the included hypervisor. Can't wait until the Surface Pro 4 comes out, that's when I'll probably jump to the Surface Pro 3 to get the larger screen and SSD size.
If it's less than one week you could probably return it and get a refund or the new model.
I am sure it is still under warranty and you can bring it back to where you bought it and decide to get cash or beefier.
You thought it was worth the price, so what's the problem?
In the "mine is older than yours" category, I still program on a mid-2007 15" MBP! I recently upgraded it to 6GB RAM (I don't know why I waited so long), but I now have those vertical lines on the display that are from the internal connector (or something similar). Drat! Now I feel dumb for upgrading the RAM. The machine isn't bad, but replacing the screen is a no-go given that I could buy one on ebay for the price of a replacement screen. And I agree re: new ones' not being upgradable. I'd rather have a relatively bulkier form factor that's hackable, but Apple disagrees. Also, $2K is a lot for me.
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Am I right in thinking you need to buy the top ($2500) model if you want to do any CUDA work? Or am I misreading the table and all the MBP models have both the Intel and nvidia GPUs?
For CUDA HPC work, you really need a desktop/server Linux machine that you can use remotely from your laptop. Only the highest end MBP has a discrete nvidia GPU.
Yes to the more reasonable px/performance of a desktop/server Linux backend for HPC. OTOH, if you were doing OpenCL instead of CUDA, the i5 would happily run that as an OpenCL target (albeit more slowly), so that you could do compilation/test dev on any newish laptop.
The intel integrated GPUs also support Opencl, though I'm not sure how useful that is.
I agree that is the better setup, however I'm often on a train or other environment where I can't rely on a connection. In that situation a weak CUDA device is better than nothing.
No, you are right. Only the higher end MBP comes with a separate discrete nvidia card.
What is the difference of the high end models compared to the release last fall?
Only thing I can see is a faster cpu, is there anything else?
Only thing I can see is a faster cpu, is there anything else?
Slightly faster CPUs, more RAM for some models and somewhat lower prices.
The real update has to wait because Intel's Broadwell CPUs are delayed until 2015, so they're releasing a minor spec dump today to keep customers happy.
The real update has to wait because Intel's Broadwell CPUs are delayed until 2015, so they're releasing a minor spec dump today to keep customers happy.
Now base 15" model has 16 gigs of RAM, that's actually pretty sweet improvement
Compared to my 2011 MBP I Like the Retina, 16GB is nice as a standard but I have that now (and honestly I don't foresee needing more soon). But man would I trade that 256GB SSD for a 2 or 4 TB HDD in a heartbeat.
Just add an external HDD if you need the storage. Booting and running your OS off an SSD is a major speed improvement over HDD.
I currently have a 2012 MBP/r, but considering getting the Asus NX500. After 2 years of seriously using a mac... I still can't stand it. I feel much more productive in Mint or Windows.
/opinion
/opinion
Thanks for mentioning the NX500 -- I have the 2012 as well, and I have been looking for months for something that could be a better Windows laptop than the rMBP -- I've come up with nothing. I like OSX when I'm a user, but not for working.
The NX500 looks like it might be the one -- but I'm probably filling in the information gaps with hopes and dreams.
The NX500 looks like it might be the one -- but I'm probably filling in the information gaps with hopes and dreams.
summary of changes from macrumors.com:
The new notebooks feature faster versions of Intel's Haswell processors, as all 13-inch models now come with 8GB of RAM standard while all 15-inch models now feature 16GB of RAM. The high end 15-inch model also received a $100 price cut, going from $2599 to $2499.
and this analysis:
Today's minor refresh is primarily a stopgap measure until Apple can launch a more significant update to its Retina MacBook Pro line once Intel's next-generation Broadwell processors hit the market.
The new notebooks feature faster versions of Intel's Haswell processors, as all 13-inch models now come with 8GB of RAM standard while all 15-inch models now feature 16GB of RAM. The high end 15-inch model also received a $100 price cut, going from $2599 to $2499.
and this analysis:
Today's minor refresh is primarily a stopgap measure until Apple can launch a more significant update to its Retina MacBook Pro line once Intel's next-generation Broadwell processors hit the market.
From what I have read, the Broadwell processors will only be ready by Q1 2015 and not the holiday season 2014?
I'll upgrade when I start seeing 32 GB RAM options.
Why do you need 32 GB RAM in a laptop? (not criticizing, just asking) I've found with the speed of these SSDs, memory swap is almost unnoticeable anyway.
While I can't speak for someone else, I find myself in the same place: I have 16GB in my mid 2010 MacBook and it's not enough when you develop with Xcode (incrementally eats memory up to and over 1GB), have an IntelliJ (~1.5GB) up while having one or two ubuntu VMs running (each 4 GB). Add to that the fact that Chrome eats a terrible amount of memory and all these developer tools running at the same time (kaleidoscope, sourcetree, db browser, xemacs, sublimetext, etc) have their demands as well, and I find myself running out of memory all the time. Fast paging doesn't do the trick.
I don't need it now, but I like it when my equipment lasts as long as possible. I've seen other manufacturers creating laptops with 32 GB RAM, so I know that it can be done.
If I'm going to buy a state of the art computer, I want it to have state of the art specs, know what I'm saying? I think it's inevitable that 32 GB RAM on a MacBook will be a thing, so that's what I'm waiting for.
If I'm going to buy a state of the art computer, I want it to have state of the art specs, know what I'm saying? I think it's inevitable that 32 GB RAM on a MacBook will be a thing, so that's what I'm waiting for.
Note for application performance (as opposed to Data Usage), OS X seems to scale a lot better than my Windows 7 system (more effective use of shared libraries? I have no clue). I've got a Dell Desktop with 16 GB of Ram - and, when I have roughly the same app load as my MacBook Air with 8 GB of Ram - the Windows 7 system starts running low on memory (Google Earth is a common culprit), whereas I never seem to have memory pressure with my MacBook Air for baseline application usage.
Obviously, applications that need the data space (as opposed to executable), will greatly benefit (Oracle, Scientific Apps, Analytics, etc...) - but my 2010 MacBook Air continues to be a rock solid performer with an average of 20 Apps running. I will certainly benefit from the greatly increased SSD storage performance, but I'm not really that interested in a 16GB system anymore.
I used to say I was going to hold out for a 16 GB MacBook air to upgrade, but, the reality is 8GB is sufficient for my reasonably power-user-intensive ways.
Obviously, applications that need the data space (as opposed to executable), will greatly benefit (Oracle, Scientific Apps, Analytics, etc...) - but my 2010 MacBook Air continues to be a rock solid performer with an average of 20 Apps running. I will certainly benefit from the greatly increased SSD storage performance, but I'm not really that interested in a 16GB system anymore.
I used to say I was going to hold out for a 16 GB MacBook air to upgrade, but, the reality is 8GB is sufficient for my reasonably power-user-intensive ways.
I agree, I'm not buying a new laptop until it comes stock with 192GB of ram. Shame on Apple.
Does anybody have an estimate for when Airs will get their next refresh?
You can reference mac buyersguide http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#MacBook_Air
Unlikely to have a major upgrade until the Broadwell is out in mid-2015.
Sigh... I'd still like to see real graphics on the 13".
£200 more for 128 -> 256GB SSD on the 13" stings a bit
Does anyone know what the previous prices were?
Archive.org does: https://web.archive.org/web/20140722172840/http://www.apple....
The new base model has double the RAM and a .2ghz bump for the same price.
The new base model has double the RAM and a .2ghz bump for the same price.
Yeah, a small bump, but still nice. It was already rumored that we wouldn't see a new gen of processors until next year.
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I hope they will release 12" Macbook Air this year.
battery life isn't improved?
This is only a minor iteration; they've bumped the processors, but left them at the same TDP, and bumped the RAM. That's about it. Battery life changes will happen when Broadwell Macs show up, late this year or early next depending on how Intel's schedule works out.
if only they could serve warfare tested windows drivers.
I can't believe when people tell me my macbook pro 2009 with 2GB of ram is a "little too cheap" for mavericks or xcode 5. I can't even install windows on it because the superdrive is busted. I managed to install ubuntu, but there's ALWAYS a wifi/touchpad/heating issue.
Not to mention the hardship getting some C++ project working on xcode. (like ogre for instance). Making games on it seems to be a pain since you need to find a way to move around the displaylink.
I won't try to get a mac again. If a computer cannot be nice enough to build C++ projects with, I won't use it. You all are working on web based apps, but I'm clearly not a customer of this.
preference:
1. windows laptop 2. linux laptop 3. mac laptop
It's a shame because the hardware is great, but since apple force feeds you with itunes and doesn't really want you using windows, I'll pass. Their hardware is dedicated to their OSX thingy, and I don't want it.
I can't believe when people tell me my macbook pro 2009 with 2GB of ram is a "little too cheap" for mavericks or xcode 5. I can't even install windows on it because the superdrive is busted. I managed to install ubuntu, but there's ALWAYS a wifi/touchpad/heating issue.
Not to mention the hardship getting some C++ project working on xcode. (like ogre for instance). Making games on it seems to be a pain since you need to find a way to move around the displaylink.
I won't try to get a mac again. If a computer cannot be nice enough to build C++ projects with, I won't use it. You all are working on web based apps, but I'm clearly not a customer of this.
preference:
1. windows laptop 2. linux laptop 3. mac laptop
It's a shame because the hardware is great, but since apple force feeds you with itunes and doesn't really want you using windows, I'll pass. Their hardware is dedicated to their OSX thingy, and I don't want it.
Then don't use xcode as your C++ IDE. Xcode is for developing in the Apple ecosystem, but there are plenty of other options on OSX if that's not your target. Nearly every C++ toolchain and editor available to you in linux is available in OSX as well through brew/macports(/fink).
Also windows can be installed from USB nearly as easily as ubuntu.
Also windows can be installed from USB nearly as easily as ubuntu.
> Then don't use xcode as your C++ IDE.
if the native IDE is not adequate, I don't think I'll find anything else. Most native apple things are cocoa-centric.
also the last version of Ogre3D engine is not even available, because of XCode and how apple builds its stuff. I hate hacking through galaxies of makefiles. I've lost patience :) It's just exhausting to rebuild everything everytime there's a xcode or OSX upgrade. I'm done. Microsoft supports backward compatility much better.
if the native IDE is not adequate, I don't think I'll find anything else. Most native apple things are cocoa-centric.
also the last version of Ogre3D engine is not even available, because of XCode and how apple builds its stuff. I hate hacking through galaxies of makefiles. I've lost patience :) It's just exhausting to rebuild everything everytime there's a xcode or OSX upgrade. I'm done. Microsoft supports backward compatility much better.
Yeah, it doesn't seem like Apple really focuses on any development outside of their platforms (iOS, OS X). It has naturally become a popular choice for web design and development because of the strong graphic design user base. Over time, the community has built a lot of great tools for web dev on the mac, though.
"Their hardware [being] dedicated to their OSX thingy" is actually a great thing for every day use. Their software (OS as well as other pieces) can be testing against very specific hardware and think that is a big part of why it is pretty reliable. That and being unix-based is a big win over windows IMO.
"Their hardware [being] dedicated to their OSX thingy" is actually a great thing for every day use. Their software (OS as well as other pieces) can be testing against very specific hardware and think that is a big part of why it is pretty reliable. That and being unix-based is a big win over windows IMO.
I tried to use OS X as my main OS, but I just couldn't get past what I considered "illogical" and "inconsistent" keyboard acceleration, keyboard navigation and user interactions.
For instance, in Windows and Gnome I can hunt through menus with the keyboard by simply press ALT and then the underlined letter of a menu (then use the arrow keys to look around and press ENTER or SPACE to pick one). This is consistent throughout those environments but on OS X you can't navigate like that, you have to memorize 2,000 hot-key combinations. Microsoft kind of ruined that nice feature with the "Ribbon" but the new keyboard navigation system for the ribbon is still more logical and consistent than what I've seen with OS X.
That's why I like to just put my Unix dev environment in a VM on Windows. I get the best desktop experience (for me) and when I need it, I have Unix.
For instance, in Windows and Gnome I can hunt through menus with the keyboard by simply press ALT and then the underlined letter of a menu (then use the arrow keys to look around and press ENTER or SPACE to pick one). This is consistent throughout those environments but on OS X you can't navigate like that, you have to memorize 2,000 hot-key combinations. Microsoft kind of ruined that nice feature with the "Ribbon" but the new keyboard navigation system for the ribbon is still more logical and consistent than what I've seen with OS X.
That's why I like to just put my Unix dev environment in a VM on Windows. I get the best desktop experience (for me) and when I need it, I have Unix.
Most of us define 'better' as 'what I'm accustomed to', me included. Explains the longevity of weird old editors etc.
But to be truly objective, there'd have to be some argument about ease of learning a system, or even ease of adjusting as the system changes. By that measure, Windows' switch to the 'ribbon' has disrupted a large community accustomed to menu interation etc. I'd call it a big step backward.
But to be truly objective, there'd have to be some argument about ease of learning a system, or even ease of adjusting as the system changes. By that measure, Windows' switch to the 'ribbon' has disrupted a large community accustomed to menu interation etc. I'd call it a big step backward.
The ribbon is definitely a step backwards for people like me. (It works great on a touch device though - yay! for all those people not using Windows on touch devices...)
I decided to advance my vim skills recently though and I'm certainly glad that it got evangelized so much around here because it's pretty awesome for people who like the keyboard.
I decided to advance my vim skills recently though and I'm certainly glad that it got evangelized so much around here because it's pretty awesome for people who like the keyboard.
FWIW - There's an app call CheatSheet[1] for OS-X that will display the foreground app's shortcut keys if you hold down Option for a few seconds.
[1] http://www.cheatsheetapp.com/CheatSheet/
[1] http://www.cheatsheetapp.com/CheatSheet/
With my Mac in repairs, the most painful thing about using anything else (currently Ubuntu) is the mess of keyboard shortcuts.
On Mac, everything starts with Cmd. And it's like the Windows key, in that it doesn't conflict with anything in your terminal or elsewhere. (On that note, the Windows key is the most underused key ever.)
On Mac, everything starts with Cmd. And it's like the Windows key, in that it doesn't conflict with anything in your terminal or elsewhere. (On that note, the Windows key is the most underused key ever.)
You're right - the only Windows key shortcuts I really use are Win+E (opens file explorer), Win+P (switch 2ndary display on/off/make-primary) and Win+Arrow-Key (snap window to edge or maximize/minimize.)
This is the same; there's nothing new; the whole laptop market is dead. There's not a single machine I would buy -- the combination of decent keyboard, screen and user replaceable components is nonexistent now. ThinkPads had good keyboards and replaceable components and (unless you want to go back to T60 times) shitty screens. Now they have shitty keyboard, many don't have replaceable components but the screen is good. The Apple trajectory is not better.
I needed to buy a MacBook Pro 2013 13" retina for live music performances. The 1000$ soundcard has optimized OSX core audio drivers and Win7 drivers.
Danger: Cynical, heavy stereotyping and biasing comment following...
I can work with OSX, nix and Win boxes, no problem, but OSX' interface isn't optimized for simple tasks like cutting and pasting various folders form one to another, where some of them will be overwritten, as there is no merge option and no CTRL+X short cut. Are they nuts? Yeah, I can write a shell script to do it, or I can install XtraFinder and also have Folders on top of Files in lists. But wtf? Is that system designed for idiots and grandmothers? Oh yeah and I love to pay a shtload of money for kinda outdated hardware components... Still some things are cool on OSX. It's snappy, fast and it has a decent shell. The retina display is even usable, when installing the 5$ pupil.io to natively switch resolutions for non-idiots (Actually seeing the resolution as xxx X xxx value instead of Small, Middle, Large)
Enough OS bashing for today.
PS.: Windows sux and *nix as well.
Danger: Cynical, heavy stereotyping and biasing comment following...
I can work with OSX, nix and Win boxes, no problem, but OSX' interface isn't optimized for simple tasks like cutting and pasting various folders form one to another, where some of them will be overwritten, as there is no merge option and no CTRL+X short cut. Are they nuts? Yeah, I can write a shell script to do it, or I can install XtraFinder and also have Folders on top of Files in lists. But wtf? Is that system designed for idiots and grandmothers? Oh yeah and I love to pay a shtload of money for kinda outdated hardware components... Still some things are cool on OSX. It's snappy, fast and it has a decent shell. The retina display is even usable, when installing the 5$ pupil.io to natively switch resolutions for non-idiots (Actually seeing the resolution as xxx X xxx value instead of Small, Middle, Large)
Enough OS bashing for today.
PS.: Windows sux and *nix as well.
You're complaining that the Finder doesn't work like Windows. Well done, it doesn't. Design choices made decades ago mean that Macs work differently - I find a lot of the differences really frustrating when I use a Windows machine, because I'm used to Macs, but that doesn't mean that Windows is for 'idiots and grandmothers'.
Something not conforming to your personal preferences does not mean that it's only suitable for the hard of thinking.
Something not conforming to your personal preferences does not mean that it's only suitable for the hard of thinking.
And I love the fact that the "upgrade path" of Mac users is kind of "buy it, use it until the next gen comes, throw it away". Thats super cool and totally fits into the common starbucks customer, wearing neon colored running shoes while listening music on beats head phones.
Except for the fact that macs maintain their value, so selling your last-gen Mac and upgrading to the new one is pretty cheap, all things considered.
If one can afford it then why not? It's everywhere, not just gadget industry. People buy new models of premium cars when they come out, people buy a new pair of $600 shoes when new collection arrives. Those people don't quite fit to your description of a common Starbucks customer.
Environment anybody? god damn. Do you want to throw away everything when it's still usable, just because it's cool to have the new thing?
I have an ancient 2011 15" MBP, which was also the last user-upgradeable Apple laptop ever, but I remain hesitant to buy a new model. There is just not enough storage in the new ones, or in models that come close to my old one (1TB+) it's prohibitively expensive.
At some point soon, my old MBP will probably disintegrate or get stolen, and it has features I'm not going to get back. I'm used to having my music, my ebooks, my documents, my photos, and my code with me at all times. It's really convenient.