Apple 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro hands-on!
Apple 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro hands-on!
Apple just introduced its second Retina display MacBook: the 13-inch MacBook Pro, which starts at $ 1,699 and is shipping today. Just months after the 15-incher was gifted with a display that packs more pixels than your existing HDTV, the 13-inch sibling is receiving similar treatment. Unveiled today in San Jose alongside the iPad mini, the intensely dense 13-inch MBP is true to the rumors -- there's a 2,560 x 1,600 panel, a pair of Thunderbolt ports, a full-size HDMI socket and a MagSafe 2 power connector. Unfortunately, those yearning for a Retina-equipped MacBook Air won't find their dreams fulfilled just yet, but you can bet that holdouts will most certainly g ive this guy a look.
For starters, it's wildly thin. No, not manilla envelope thin, but thin enough to slip into most briefcases and backpacks without the consumer even noticing. Outside of that, it's mostly a shrunken version of the 15-incher let loose over the summer. The unibody design is as tight as ever, with the fit and finish continuing to impress. In my estimation, this is Apple's most deliberate move yet to differentiate the 13-inch MacBook Pro from the 13-inch MacBook Air. On one hand, power users longing for a highly portable laptop can rejoice; on the other, this could be seen as reason for Apple to restrict the use of Retina displays to its Pro range for the foreseeable future.
Compared to the 1,280 x 800 resolution of the non-Retina 13-inch MBP, the new display is particularly stunning. Text has never looked more crisp, and colors are stupendously vibrant. Of course, apps, websites and graphics that haven't been optimized for Retina still look lik e utter rubbish, and as more Apple machines transition to these panels, the outcry is going to get even louder. But, hopefully, it'll light a fire under developers to get with the program. 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display hands-on!
Without question, this machine raises the bar for the ultraportable category. You could easily argue that this is the sexiest, most capable Ultrabook on the market -- after all, there's n othing stopping you from loading Windows 7 (or, soon, Windows 8) onboard and calling it a day. For Mac users in the market for a laptop upgrade, this guy should absolutely be considered. It's engineered to be a workhorse without being a burden in terms of size, and those who frequently find themselves latched onto Gogo from the coach cabin will appreciate its stature.
Inexpensive it isn't, but neither is the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display. That said, we're elated to see Apple throwing its power users a bone. With the introduction of the iOS-ified Mountain Lion, coupled with Apple's reluctance to even acknowledge the existence of the Mac Pro, has made us fear for the future of its pro-oriented gear. The 13-inch MBP with Retina is a not-at-all subtle nod to loyalists willing to shell out for the best technology Apple can build, and we're admittedly amped to put this thing through its paces in the coming days.
For more from this event, follow along in our liveblog!
Engadget