Originally Posted by RevLinePhoto Still one thing I have trouble with that resolution on a 15in screen is not needed because to see the detail it puts out you need to be much closer to the screen. I feel The strong point for editing photos is having enough desktop space otherwise it feels cramped and small details are harder to see. The SSD and quad core I7 with loads of ram are tempting but for the price you can get a much better iMac or even entry MacPro.

Thats my main issue with the resolution... its great for display, but for editing you'll have to zoom in a bit more than usual and that cramps it up even more

I went to the Apple store today for issues with my iphone. They had a few of these suckers out on the floor for display. It is a damn sexy computer. Very thin, very light and the screen is truely amazing looking. I looked at my website so I was looking at pictures I know. The resolution is not weird at all. Things are not smaller or bigger. It is all scaled the same. The images had amazing color and detail. That is it. It would probably make you think your pics suck all the time.

I priced out what I would get. Upgraded processor 2.7ghz i7? 16gb ram and 512gb drive $3200. It has some things I do not have devices for. USB3 and Thunderbolt. It has no firewire. So this could pose a problem with my big external Lacie drives that are firewire, USB2 and ESATA.
The Lenovo I am lusting after is $3000 without the SSD. It might have more speed out of the video card and it is upgradeable to 32gb ram. It also has a DVD slot or can be used for another HD. It also has all the right holes. HDMI, USB3, ESATA. So really I would need to look at all of the specs side by side on paper. The price is similar. They are both awesome brands and computers. The Apple would weigh in probably 1/3 the weight and it has a 7hr battery life. Not sure what the PC has. I am guessing only a few hrs with the monster processor video card it has. The Lenovo would be a seamless transfer and has a killer display with integrated color sensor. But I look at macs and get a bit of a boner. Even though I can not figure them out.

The girl at apple convinced me that it would be an easy switch and the new macs play well with PCs for file sharing and network stuff. Is this true or was she just giving me the apple propaganda?

The "boner" and "the girl at apple", I can see the connection! Otherwise...

Neil

Originally Posted by Zerodog I went to the Apple store today for issues with my iphone. They had a few of these suckers out on the floor for display. It is a damn sexy computer. Very thin, very light and the screen is truely amazing looking. I looked at my website so I was looking at pictures I know. The resolution is not weird at all. Things are not smaller or bigger. It is all scaled the same. The images had amazing color and detail. That is it. It would probably make you think your pics suck all the time. I priced out what I would get. Upgraded processor 2.7ghz i7? 16gb ram and 512gb drive $3200. It has some things I do not have devices for. USB3 and Thunderbolt. It has no firewire. So this could pose a problem with my big external Lacie drives that are firewire, USB2 and ESATA. The Lenovo I am lusting after is $3000 without the SSD. It might have more speed out of the video card and it is upgradeable to 32gb ram. It also has a DVD slot or can be used for another HD. It also has all the right holes. HDMI, USB3, ESATA. So really I would need to look at all of the specs side by side on paper. The price is similar. They are both awesome brands and computers. The Apple would weigh in probably 1/3 the weight and it has a 7hr battery life. Not sure what the PC has. I am guessing only a few hrs with the monster processor video card it has. The Lenovo would be a seamless transfer and has a killer display with integrated color sensor. But I look at macs and get a bit of a boner. Even though I can not figure them out. The girl at apple convinced me that it would be an easy switch and the new macs play well with PCs for file sharing and network stuff. Is this true or was she just giving me the apple propaganda?

Yep I am really not sure on this one. Either way I am saving up for a new system. I just use my laptop way more than I ever thought I would. My big desktop runs my TV now in my livingroom. I just like sitting on the couch or wherever to do work on the laptop. And when I shoot big events my laptop is the brain of our entire system running many computers and rockin lightroom all day to sort 1000s of pics. A faster brain would be a really nice addition. I might step over onto the dark side and try an apple.

Go for it! The bit of light I can see over on the dark side shows me a throwaway computer in a couple of years. For a pretty picture?!

Power-speed-multi engine-connectivity-flexible storage-no "can't do's"-running wide range of big applications natively, yeah, that kind of thing I understand. But A's gilded cage... I hear the pretty door locking! Droop inducing!

Pretty pictures are another matter. If I can see the same on my display as I see on a top quality fine art A3 print of the same image that I couldn't be happier with, I reckon I'm basically there when it comes to pretty pictures. After that, it's Genuine Fractals/Perfect Resize, and no display can go there!

Neil

Originally Posted by Zerodog Yep I am really not sure on this one. Either way I am saving up for a new system. I just use my laptop way more than I ever thought I would. My big desktop runs my TV now in my livingroom. I just like sitting on the couch or wherever to do work on the laptop. And when I shoot big events my laptop is the brain of our entire system running many computers and rockin lightroom all day to sort 1000s of pics. A faster brain would be a really nice addition. I might step over onto the dark side and try an apple.

I know a lot of people who are able to make really good use of windows software on mac's via Parallels. But in the end until you load up all your stuff onto the computer and see if it works as you want you just won't know.

I've found the people who staff the Apple store to not be any more up on tech. details than the staff at big box stores that sell computers.

I was at an Apple store recently to look at the new macbook. It seems very small and light for all that is packed into it.

The store staff figured out it was an IPS screen when the looked it up, but things like wide or regular gammut, no idea. Support for the mercury engine in photoshop... didn't know "that's a Windows thing"... it's actually display card thing and the previous macbook supported it.

If I was only using the computer for images and video (Photoshop and Premiere) it would be on my short list. But I have a lot of non image work I also have to do and the time to load everything up just to see if it works is just too much work.

Originally Posted by Zerodog The girl at apple convinced me that it would be an easy switch and the new macs play well with PCs for file sharing and network stuff. Is this true or was she just giving me the apple propaganda?

I have no problem with word documents and psd between mac and pc and I switch back and forth every day. When it comes to adobe products mac does seam to perform better with lesser specs however if you own photoshop for windows cs5 and cs6 you will need to purchase another copy or bootcamp windows on your mac. Sadly lightroom can go either way atlease with digital purchse from adobe but not photoshop which is very dissapointing.

BIG IF YOU ARE GETTING A NEW RETINA MACBOOK PRO
Make sure you order exactly what you want because it can never be upgraded I dont remember if it was here or elsewere I foundout every thing is soldered so you cannot upgrade hard drive or ram so make sure you do no skimp on a single thing when ordering.

Originally Posted by RevLinePhoto Make sure you order exactly what you want because it can never be upgraded I dont remember if it was here or elsewere I foundout every thing is soldered so you cannot upgrade hard drive or ram so make sure you do no skimp on a single thing when ordering.

Extortion

Decisions, decisions.

Originally Posted by Zerodog Decisions, decisions.

16GB RAM Limit?

Originally Posted by Zerodog The girl at apple convinced me that it would be an easy switch and the new macs play well with PCs for file sharing and network stuff. Is this true or was she just giving me the apple propaganda?

I recently made the switch from PC to Mac. I go back to the DOS days and installing 11 disk's of Window's 3.11 so PC is really really ingrained in my brain.

I have had the mac for a few months now and it is weird. Without a doubt its a strange beast when being used to PC's but they are pretty damn impressive! I have the version RIGHT before the "NEW" thinner model just announced and im glad i do. The new ones are not upgradeable. RAM is soldered in and the SSD is what it is so you better buy the highest model 1st and be done with it.

Mine came with 4gb ram and 512gb Hdd, i swapped them out for $42 for 8gb ram and a $412 512gb Crucial M4 ssd and holy balls its fast. I just love it.

the biggest thing to get over IMO is the new "Gestures" for their "magic pad" aka touchpad. its no longer the way it was with PC's, now you are using it almost like a tablet.

I love the fact that i have the iphone and new iPad and it all just works in harmony!!! and its going to be even better when they release OS6 and Mountain Lion.

Im a fan with mine... not sure about the new proprietary models that cost in the thousands.

JOe

Down to brass tacks, I suppose...

Here's how I worked it out today, for fun (I have no need to upgrade my current 2011)

Retina display: (maxed due to lack up upgrade ability)
$4,098.00
2.7GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.7GHz
16GB 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM
768GB Flash Storage
Backlit Keyboard (English) & User's Guide (English)
AppleCare Protection Plan for MacBook Pro - Auto-enroll

non Retina: (how I'd build it)
$2,798.00
2.7GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.7GHz
8GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x4GB
750GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
MacBook Pro 15-inch Glossy Widescreen Display

OWC:
RAM 16GB Kit (8GB x 2) $169.99

480gb SSD $599

Total cost: 3566.99

leaving $500, which will easily cover an external monitor, and leave you with a 750GB external hdd (chassis will run ~ $40-$70).. oh and sell your 8gb of stock RAM


So, do you need the retina display.. or not?

For me, the whole point is to not have an external monitor, so that's why I find the retina display so intriguing.

Right now though, I think this machine is too expensive for me. Plus I never buy the first generation of any redesigned Apple product. So I'll reevaluate next year.

My goal is to get rid of my iMac and current MBP and replace it with a 15" Retina MBP. Eventually.

Originally Posted by Zerodog So this could pose a problem with my big external Lacie drives that are firewire, USB2 and ESATA.

You can plug your USB2 drives into the new MacBook no problem. The FW and eSATA are a different story. Its possible there might be Thunderbolt converters for those interfaces though.

I understand the issue about how different it is to use a Mac versus a PC. Lots of stuff to learn. You put me up to a Windows machine and I just get freaked out about how difficult and clumsy they are to use.

The specs described in the above posts are certainly relevant, but not the whole, nor perhaps the most important story. The latest Microsoft products making an entry demonstrate that Apple does not have exclusive monopoly over the bag of exciting tech goodies. The specs/features of particular products of any brand can change very quickly. Apple's distinctive market strategy is enforced consumer loyalty, a oneway street which channels your spending to its products through Apple's particular mode of planned obsolescence, and because changing brands from them you lose too much, both in terms of what you can get with a suite of Apple devices together, and in terms of your investment. What truly advances the benefit of developing tech for the consumer is the Microsoft model of OEMs, where heterogeneous input from a variety of manufacturer sources, and upgradability, extendability, storage and connectivity options are kept wide open, rather than a closed and monolithic (and inbred) model which deeply ties benefits to the consumer to limitations of such options. You pay a rather expensive and binding subscription to Apple for the duration, where Apple is in total control.

Neil

I didn't start this thread to create a mac vs pc debate. I just wanted to talk about the new Macbook Pro, because for those of us already using Macs and happy with our macs, it seems like a very good machine for Photographers who also use macs.

Got mine this weekend...woohoo! Lovin' it.

Eagerly awaiting your review with pictures :)

Originally Posted by jdorseydesign I can't think of a better notebook computer for editing photos.

I can!

But yes I take your point. It's your thread and you're looking for feedback about the new display.

I'm interested in what Apple does, so welcome your thread.

Neil

Originally Posted by jdorseydesign Eagerly awaiting your review with pictures :)

Will do....I'm in the process of weeding out my current MBP, and getting it transfer ready...amazing how much crap I have on it.

Some background: I've been an avid macintosh user well before apple become cool. My 2010 13" MBP with 8gb ram is my only computer, which I will sell when I'm fully up and running on the the 15" MBP-R. I shoot w the D800 and postprocess in LR4 (no CS)...the 13" MBP runs quite smoothly with the large files in LR4.

Also, I probably won't move over to the MBP-R not until Mountain Lion is release to save any possible heartburn when the new OS is released/installed.