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June, 2025

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Macbook Retina Screen

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JAHrig
Posts: 738 - Karma: 2,649
Hey all. So I was real stoked after checking out the Retina screen at our mac store. Then came home and did some research. I guess none of the parts are upgradable or repairable except by apple. THis means no Upgrading RAM, HDDs or Batterys on your own. They are all saudered (sp?) to the motherboard. This is definitely a turn off for me as I was considering upgrading, but Im not sure if its completely a deal breaker. What are your guys thoughts on this? Here is a link

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/want-to-upgrade-that-retina-macbook-pro-tough-luck/20774
13 years ago
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family_vacation
Posts: 6200 - Karma: 7,840
I bought one.

It meant I had to max out on memory with stupid apple prices, but its still the best laptop available right now.
13 years ago
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JAHrig
Posts: 738 - Karma: 2,649
Yeah I already have a mid 2010 model that works fine for everything. The retina is just so darn pretty! Its just ridiculous that to upgrade my RAM was like 50 bucks on the one I have but I think apple charges what like 300 dollars extra for 8gb? A bit steep. Still very tempting.
13 years ago
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
I think it was $200 for 16, which isn't too bad when it costs $130 for 16gb of decent ram (crucial)
13 years ago
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S.C
Posts: 3071 - Karma: 2,523
Personally, I would just get the non retina because IMO the display isn't that impressive and has too many drawbacks. Just me tho
13 years ago
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7295 - Karma: 18,720
Unfortunately that is how mac is going, they dont want anyone getting the best out of the products without paying apple to do it.

Personally I do not think its worth the money. To the guy who said its the best laptop available at the moment, have a look at this link. http://www.boxxtech.com/products/goBOXX/1840.asp?prodid=1840

Same starting price but much more powerful.

Something else to consider is that if programs are not optimized for Retina display, you will not get the full potential.

Overall its a nice little laptop but certainly not worth the money.
13 years ago
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JAHrig
Posts: 738 - Karma: 2,649
Some good points! Thanks for the input everyone.
13 years ago
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Bloc_chain
Posts: 26051 - Karma: 4,433
i ordered a 2.3/16gb one today. Looking at reviews, this thing is going to be really fast.
13 years ago
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Downtofilm
Posts: 6896 - Karma: 20,395
Wish I had the flow to order one right now, hopefully soon.
13 years ago
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michael_bc
Posts: 1400 - Karma: 814
I ordered a maxed out retina MacBook Pro.

The first one came with a yellow screen, and significantly reduced brightness. I sent it back.

The second one came with a screen so yellow that the white point was off 2000K, and with a dark corner. I sent it back.

The third one came with a reasonable screen, still slightly too warm and not very bright, but with several dead pixels. I give up. Not sure what to do next, but I might wait till they get their act together.
13 years ago
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.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
Why couldnt you just melt the solder holding the ram in with a soldering iron and replace it? Risky? Yes but shouldn't it be possible?
13 years ago
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NPF
Posts: 5153 - Karma: 12,122
work at husky yo
13 years ago
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7295 - Karma: 18,720
Because its pretty well hidden, and they have done some other things like glue in the battery so that the thing can pretty much never be taken apart.

The thing with the new ones is, Apple are making very sure they have a shelf life, so that you have to buy a new one every couple of years. There trying to make it like phones, most people dont think twice about getting a new phone every couple of years, but with a laptop which costs over $3000 maxed out, I think this is bad.
13 years ago
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juicedrummer11
Posts: 1960 - Karma: 1,331

my macbook pro from 09 is still holding up just fine.  still making videos and editing pictures with no complaints or any problems.  my external hard drive is what needs an upgrade tho

13 years ago
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,008
I'd have almost no use for it. I just connect my mac to my Vizio screen for better viewing...
13 years ago
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solitaryman
Posts: 3578 - Karma: 123
So the general consensus on the new retina screen is that it's simply too expensive for the benefits or it's well worth it? I'm obviously looking at purchasing one.
13 years ago
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michael_bc
Posts: 1400 - Karma: 814
After having seen many models, my conclusion is that the screen is not bright enough and the white point too inconsistent to warrant spending $2799 + options.

And gimping the $2199 model by not allowing a 512Gb SSD option is a dick move.
13 years ago
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Boooshank
Posts: 1650 - Karma: 160
Sneaky apple again making you max it out to get what you want.

I like the fact it has a dedicated 1g of video memory for processing stuff. Can't see blowing $2.5k on a computer though.

Mine is on the way out.

The Air is sooo silky.
13 years ago
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Banane.
Posts: 3102 - Karma: 414
Almost bought a retina 15'' , but I can't justify dropping 2.5k for a laptop, like you.

I bought a 13'' mbp and im buying a thunderbolt screen this winter if I still have some cash laying around by then. And the new Air is sick.
13 years ago
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AwR
Posts: 5148 - Karma: 1,899
I thought about this for a long time, but chose a retina due to a dedicated graphics card for editing video.
13 years ago
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1337
Posts: 31080 - Karma: 29,700
Wait for apple to release a cinema display with retina
build an absolutely killer desktop for $1250
pay $1000 for a retina display
????
profit!
13 years ago
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Bloc_chain
Posts: 26051 - Karma: 4,433
ya no lol

30" ACD can be had for under 700 used and have a resolution pretty close to retina, but you actually get to use all the pixels, not the stupid doubling up on pixels the the rMBP does natively (you can enable to full resolution with a script though)
13 years ago
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1337
Posts: 31080 - Karma: 29,700
ehh aren't those glossy as shit?

I was hoping they'd make a nice matte retina one, or I'll just go get a samsung 27" 2560x1440
13 years ago
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
love my hi res matte on my macbook pro, hope I won't be forced to go back to a glossy screen
13 years ago
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Bloc_chain
Posts: 26051 - Karma: 4,433
All ACD's pre LED backlighting were matte

They will NEVER make a matte retina display. Not only are matte displays less sharp and have more muted colors then glossy, but they are also less protected(not covered by glass) and the majority of consumers would rather have a glossy display.
13 years ago
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1337
Posts: 31080 - Karma: 29,700
I guess i work in a windowless room that a glossy screen will make little to no difference
13 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61964 - Karma: 126,873
ha i doubt a retina display is coming out anytime soon, they started on the 3" iphone screen 2 years ago, 10" ipad screen last year and now 15" screen. Next will be imac, probably in year or so then MAYBE a cine display in 2-3 years from now, but i can almost guarantee it will be like 3000 bucks.
13 years ago
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Bloc_chain
Posts: 26051 - Karma: 4,433
highly unlikely, in 3 years the cost of producing such displays will have dropped quite a bit. I am guessing it will cost around 12-1400 if and when it comes out
13 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61964 - Karma: 126,873
Yeah, 3k was a but much, but i bet it will be closer to 2k since the retinia technology is so new.
13 years ago
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agger417
Posts: 10 - Karma: 12
damn cant wait for one
13 years ago
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JAHrig
Posts: 738 - Karma: 2,649
Decided to just upgrade the RAM and Harddrive in my current 15 inch 2010 mbp. Tested the retina out at the mac store and did alot of research. Decided that shit is not worth it at all. Thanks for all the opinions fellows!
13 years ago
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family_vacation
Posts: 6200 - Karma: 7,840
This is my first post on NS via my Retina.

It's worth it.
13 years ago
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Bloc_chain
Posts: 26051 - Karma: 4,433
have fun with your shitty display/cpu/hdd/graphics card/usb 2.0
13 years ago
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
Ehh. I wouldnt say "shitty". The only reason I would want to upgrade to the rMBP is because the USB 3.0 and of course, the retina display screen. For some, that may be worth the extra 1k. But all of those other specs you named off are to subtle for a good reason to upgrade. Especially when the base model has a pretty small internal hard drive. Im not saying I wouldnt enjoy one, but I think they may be over hyped a bit. I might pick one up when/if the price drops, but nothing is THAT appealing for the price.
13 years ago
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Bloc_chain
Posts: 26051 - Karma: 4,433
the rMBP doesnt even have a hard drive, it has an SSD, which is WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY faster then a 5400rpm HDD

You clearly don't care about benchmarks and stats, the rMBP fucking rapes every other macbook that has ever been made
13 years ago
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
^I never said the rMBP was worse than other macbooks. I know its a better machine. Im just saying that you can get everything that the rMBP has in a regular MBP, other than the screen and SSD. Its also considerably more expensive. Ive never dealt with an SSD, or a cinema display screen/retina, but off of a first look, it doesnt seem to be worth it to me. If it is for you, then power to ya. Just my opinion.
13 years ago
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JAHrig
Posts: 738 - Karma: 2,649
Shitty display? I dont know what your looking at but Its still beautiful compared to most any other laptop out there. plus I have a full HD 32 inch monitor to edit on as well. I have never had one problem editing my personal canon footage or even RED footage for the company I work for. I would rather spend my money on something else right now because my machine works perfectly fine. Plus Im not in High school and dont have mommy and daddys Money to spend.

No need to be a douchebag. For my personal situation right now I decided it was not worth it. Have fun with yours if you have one. Im going to wait a while and see what happens, thank you very much.
13 years ago
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JAHrig
Posts: 738 - Karma: 2,649
and plus all my externals are firewire so i really dont give a fuck about the usb ports.
13 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61964 - Karma: 126,873
I think he was referring to the use of usb3.0 vs usb2.0. usb3 is fucking fast, way better than firewire. Also, the new rmbps dont have firewire so if you did upgrade to that, youd have to use esata -> usb3 but thats easy to do.
13 years ago
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JAHrig
Posts: 738 - Karma: 2,649
Ahh ok. well that would be nice. But not enough to tip the scales for me. I will probably wait until my machine no longer functions well enough for the work im doing. Unless I come across alot more money that i dont foresee in my future at this point.
13 years ago
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family_vacation
Posts: 6200 - Karma: 7,840
If your current machine works, then there's no sense in wasting money to replace it.

I usually count on like four years out of a computer, you should still be able to get plenty of use out of your 2010 one.
13 years ago
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JAHrig
Posts: 738 - Karma: 2,649
For sure. The Retina is so damn pretty it got me excited. I just did not anticipate how much I would have to put into it when I first thought about upgrading. Have fun with yours though, hope to see some killer edits bein pumped out!
13 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61964 - Karma: 126,873
Yeah, the retina is amazing for sure. I'm looking forward to a year or two from now when SSDs are standard and 16gb is standard. I hope they remake 17" but i doubt they will :/ i love my 17" mbp
13 years ago
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juicedrummer11
Posts: 1960 - Karma: 1,331
this. my 17"mbp from 09 still gets the job done when im not home for the summer. i love it
13 years ago
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