Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display Notebook Review - Part II

Macbook Pro With Retina Display Test

Another laptop could work out from this horrible day capacious battery. But the MacBook Pro with Retina display is greedy enough - obviously, the main consumer in this case is the display. Test result with minimal impact on the components of good: in this mode, the laptop is able to last a really long time.

But in a more realistic scenario - when viewing Full HD-video with a maximum brightness of the display - the result is reduced by more than half, to six and a small hours. Typically, the scenario of wireless Internet surfing gives about the same results. So Apple announced 7:00 should more or less correspond to reality, subject to the average brightness of the display and running in the background without heavy applications. In practice will probably 5.6 hours, which, in general, too bad.

Apple is the only company not switched to the matrix with a 16:9 aspect ratio - as in the classic MacBook Pro, set the display to AMBPwRd 15.4''. Similarity to the "normal" MacBook on this part. Retina display is not only better resolution - 1440x900 2880h1800 against - but also quality. This is the only laptop Apple, which used IPS-matrix. Display, as in all the MacBook Pro, covered with glass, but in this case, added a very effective anti-reflection coating significantly reduces the intensity of glare.

Anti-reflection coating MacBook Pro wRd significantly reduces the brightness of illumination. Compare this with the usual glossy display or screen -covered glass Gorilla Glass

The matrix does not put records on the part of the brightness. According to our measurements, the luminosity of the white box in the center of the display at the maximum level of illumination was a little more than 280 cd / m ². Bright, but, they say, without fanaticism. In any case, the work in the sun will prevent Blick glass - so turn up the brightness to the skies just do not make sense.

But the luminosity of the black field in the same conditions is only 0.4 cd / m ² . And on the bottom half of the range of variation of light luminosity is so low that our device - Datacolor Spyder4 - do not adequately measure it.

Accordingly, the contrast reaches almost 700:1, which is quite a lot even for mobile IPS-matrix, much of notebook TN - it's just an impossible height.

Some manufacturers to raise the overall brightness use a "transparent" color filters, which are "domeshivayut" in extra white color component. Because of this color range is obtained insufficient. The Apple did not use this trick, so that coverage is almost the sRGB - indeed, even in conventional MacBook Pro 15 color range is about the same.

Another thing is that through the use of IPS-matrix color subjectively perceived better than in the case of TN: excellent viewing angle IPS-display avoid color distortion due to the different angle of view on different points of the display.

Overall, the display is good in almost every way - except for the fact that he is still noticeable glare. However, with a matte finish highest resolution "retinoic" display, obviously, would not give such a sharp image, so that the model is not even available as an option.

Do not forget the developers and about the sound: in Apple at every opportunity, do not miss the opportunity to tell that in the MacBook Pro with Retina display used the best speakers you have ever put in a notebook with an apple on the cover. We have not had the opportunity to compare the head-at least to the MacBook Pro 15. But what the speakers sound really great - it's a fact.

Despite the very serious stuffing, laptop weighs quite moderate - a little more than the mass of 2 kilograms. The Classic MacBook Pro 15 is for about a pound heavier than the MacBook Pro 13 a few tens of grams.

Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display
Processor	Intel Core i7-3610QM: 2,3 GHz (up to 3.3 GHz mode Turbo Boost)  4x256 KB L2  6 MB L3  four cores
Graphics Controller	Automatically switchable graphics: Intel HD 4000 integrated in the processor  NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (GK107), 1 GB GDDR5
Screen	15.4 inches, 2880h1800, technology IPS  glossy coating with anti-reflection layer, LED-backlight
Random access memory	8 GB DDR3L-1600 (soldered on the motherboard, there is no expansion slots)
HDD	256 GB SSD (Apple SM256E)  Non-standard form factor
Optical Drive	None
Jack flash cards	SD (SDHC / SDXC)
Interfaces	2 x USB 3.0  2 x Thunderbolt  1 x HDMI  1 x headphones (mini-jack 3,5 mm)
Wi-Fi	802.11a/b/g/n (Apple AirPort Extreme - Broadcom BCM4331)
Bluetooth	4.0 (Broadcom BCM20702)
Network adapter	10/100/1000 (Broadcom BCM57100, running through an adapter connected to the Thunderbolt)
Sound	Two speakers, two microphones
Food	Pack of 6 different size flat items 92.6 Wh (8460 mAh, 10.95 V)  power supply 85 W (20 V, 4.25 A)
Other	Metal body and cover, backlit keyboard, a light sensor, the webcam
Size in mm	359x247x18
Weight, kg	2.015
Operating system	Mac OS X 10.7.4
Official manufacturer warranty	12 months
Price range in the U.S.	From $ 2199 to $ 3749

For younger configuration is only one option - increasing the memory. But you can not build up the drive - it is necessary to choose the version with a more powerful processor, which immediately is $600 more expensive.

	Younger configuration	Older configuration	Options
Processor	Core i7-3610QM	Core i7-3720QM	Core i7-3820QM (+ $ 250)
Memory	8 GB	8 GB	16 GB (+ $ 200)
SSD	256 GB	512 GB	768 GB (+ $ 500)
Price	$1199	$1879	$2149

In the U.S. the price traditionally do not include taxes, which vary from state to state. In Euro, by the time when the notebook will appear in the domestic market, prices should be roughly in line with European - the same numbers, but in euros instead of dollars. But while there is no official supply, the price can be almost anyone. 

Conclusion

Excellent display, great sound, serious performance, good battery life, comfortable keyboard with backlight, communication connectors to suit every taste - all in a fairly compact and lightweight metal body. Apple has got to make the perfect laptop for every day.

The only sadness for those who are not willing to pay about $2 000-$3000 for flagship Apple laptop, for quite some time will have to be content with the "usual» MacBook Pro, which in the past year, we have looked archaic, but in the era of ultrabook and does steel whisk to some endangered species such as horse-drawn carts or cards Memory Stick.

As for alternatives, there are only two - and both have significant drawbacks. Say, a 15-inch Samsung 900X4C compact and weighs considerably less, but its performance is lower and the quality of the image display leaves a lot, lot better. In the Sony VAIO SE establish serious processors and graphics cards, as well as IPS-panel displays, albeit not "retinoic." But this laptop loses visual appeal and battery life.In fact, even if we forget about the resolution 2880x1800, direct competitors MacBook Pro with Retina display is simply not.