Critics fell in love with the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display the day it launched, showering it with more accolades and Editors' Choice awards than any other Apple product. Experts say the latest version is even better, delivering faster performance and longer battery life.
Performance
All the computer that most will ever need. Even in its base configuration, the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display handles everyday computing needs without breaking a sweat thanks to its fourth-generation Core i7 (Haswell) processor. The rest of the base configuration includes a super-fast 256 GB PCIe flash drive and 8 GB of memory. Some are disappointed that the base version only allows for integrated graphics, but testing shows that the integrated Iris Pro solution is capable enough for anything short of high-end gaming. The step-up version (Est. $2,600 and up) adds discrete Nvidia's GeForce GT 750M graphics with 2 GB of graphics memory, along with a faster Core i7 and double the storage and system memory. That makes the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display a competent though not exceptional gaming rig, but perhaps overkill for anything else, at least in the eyes of some reviewers. Depending on the tester and the task, battery life now stretches to near nine hours, or beyond -- a nice boost to the MacBook's already impressive performance in that regard. The speakers are very high quality for a notebook. The Retina display continues to impress, even though its 2,880-by-1,800 screen is now out-pixeled by some Windows competitors, such as the Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus (Est. $1,400) and its Quad HD+ (3,200 by 1,800) display. The MacBook's display is also not touch-enabled, but that's not a big concern as neither is most Mac software.
Ergonomics
Smooth as glass. Apple products have long been praised for their backlit keyboards and responsive glass trackpads, and the latest 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display is no exception. The notebook packs in Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi radios, but there's no way to make a wired connection unless you pick up a separate Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet adapter. The MacBook Pro with Retina Display sports an HDMI connection, and it also includes two speedy USB 3.0 ports and two even quicker Thunderbolt 2 ports.
Design
It's one attractive laptop. Despite its heavy-duty components, the MacBook Pro with Retina Display's all-aluminum body has been shrunk down to almost MacBook Air-like proportions. Cramming the MacBook Pro's heavy firepower into such a compact case requires some compromises, however. One is that very little is user repairable or replaceable -- even less-so than previous models, says iFixit. Its report grouses that everything right down to the headphone jack is now soldered in place. In short, it remains impossible for the average person to replace the RAM, hard drive or battery of the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display.
Support and reliability
Apple's build quality and customer service is unsurpassed, but you pay for it. Apple's superb engineering and friendly customer support leaves users raving. As a result, Apple has landed at the top of PCMag.com's Readers' Choice awards several years running and rates highly in Laptop Magazine's test of tech-support quality. Anybody can bring their notebook to a Genius Bar for expert assistance; the service is free, though you'll need to make an appointment. There's a one-year parts and labor warranty, though technical support over the phone is only provided for 90 days, which is far less than the industry norm, especially for a high-end provider. You can opt to purchase extended Apple Care plans, however, but they are relatively expensive.
Value
A premium laptop at a not-as-premium price. This latest refresh brought more power to the 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display, but also a $200 price cut (in the base model). That's certainly moving things in the right direction. Experts won't say that this laptop is a bargain, but many do say that you do get what you pay for with pricing that's largely in line with what competing high-end Windows laptops command. If you want something that's a little more portable and a little less expensive, the 13-inch MacBook Air with Retina Display (Est. $1,300) is a great alternative. You do give up a little on the performance front, but only a little, and experts say that what it can deliver is more than enough to meet the needs of most users...Buy now...!!!
Saturday, August 23, 2014
15-inch Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display review
Critics fell in love with the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display the day it launched, showering it with more accolades and Editors' Choice awards than any other Apple product. Experts say the latest version is even better, delivering faster performance and longer battery life.
Performance
All the computer that most will ever need. Even in its base configuration, the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display handles everyday computing needs without breaking a sweat thanks to its fourth-generation Core i7 (Haswell) processor. The rest of the base configuration includes a super-fast 256 GB PCIe flash drive and 8 GB of memory. Some are disappointed that the base version only allows for integrated graphics, but testing shows that the integrated Iris Pro solution is capable enough for anything short of high-end gaming. The step-up version (Est. $2,600 and up) adds discrete Nvidia's GeForce GT 750M graphics with 2 GB of graphics memory, along with a faster Core i7 and double the storage and system memory. That makes the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display a competent though not exceptional gaming rig, but perhaps overkill for anything else, at least in the eyes of some reviewers. Depending on the tester and the task, battery life now stretches to near nine hours, or beyond -- a nice boost to the MacBook's already impressive performance in that regard. The speakers are very high quality for a notebook. The Retina display continues to impress, even though its 2,880-by-1,800 screen is now out-pixeled by some Windows competitors, such as the Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus (Est. $1,400) and its Quad HD+ (3,200 by 1,800) display. The MacBook's display is also not touch-enabled, but that's not a big concern as neither is most Mac software.
Ergonomics
Smooth as glass. Apple products have long been praised for their backlit keyboards and responsive glass trackpads, and the latest 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display is no exception. The notebook packs in Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi radios, but there's no way to make a wired connection unless you pick up a separate Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet adapter. The MacBook Pro with Retina Display sports an HDMI connection, and it also includes two speedy USB 3.0 ports and two even quicker Thunderbolt 2 ports.
Design
It's one attractive laptop. Despite its heavy-duty components, the MacBook Pro with Retina Display's all-aluminum body has been shrunk down to almost MacBook Air-like proportions. Cramming the MacBook Pro's heavy firepower into such a compact case requires some compromises, however. One is that very little is user repairable or replaceable -- even less-so than previous models, says iFixit. Its report grouses that everything right down to the headphone jack is now soldered in place. In short, it remains impossible for the average person to replace the RAM, hard drive or battery of the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display.
Support and reliability
Apple's build quality and customer service is unsurpassed, but you pay for it. Apple's superb engineering and friendly customer support leaves users raving. As a result, Apple has landed at the top of PCMag.com's Readers' Choice awards several years running and rates highly in Laptop Magazine's test of tech-support quality. Anybody can bring their notebook to a Genius Bar for expert assistance; the service is free, though you'll need to make an appointment. There's a one-year parts and labor warranty, though technical support over the phone is only provided for 90 days, which is far less than the industry norm, especially for a high-end provider. You can opt to purchase extended Apple Care plans, however, but they are relatively expensive.
Value
A premium laptop at a not-as-premium price. This latest refresh brought more power to the 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display, but also a $200 price cut (in the base model). That's certainly moving things in the right direction. Experts won't say that this laptop is a bargain, but many do say that you do get what you pay for with pricing that's largely in line with what competing high-end Windows laptops command. If you want something that's a little more portable and a little less expensive, the 13-inch MacBook Air with Retina Display (Est. $1,300) is a great alternative. You do give up a little on the performance front, but only a little, and experts say that what it can deliver is more than enough to meet the needs of most users...Buy now...!!!
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