After the 15-inch MacBook Pro the turn of the 13-inch screen to enjoy a high-definition Retina and an overhaul of its design, for a very pleasant, in this case we are talking about Apple Retina Macbook Pro 13.
Cadet MacBook Pro, 13-inch finally gets its Retina display and an overhaul of its design, for a very pleasant.
The promise
In June, after nearly four years without much change, Apple dazzled us with a MacBook Pro 15 inch Retina display, the machine has been redesigned and refined, with an impressive high-definition screen. The 13 inch was forgotten, temporarily … The wait is over, and the youngest of the range of business laptops Apple now has, too, all the modern comforts. Display “ultra HD” in 2560 by 1600 pixels, a very lightweight design and configuration extremely solid, with the notable exception of the graphics chip the all new Apple Retina Macbook Pro 13.
Reality
Apple continues to sell the “old model” MacBook Pro, but if you look more closely, except for the optical drive, graphics chip and can be easily opened, it now offers more attractive in- beyond the price much more affordable. New star, so this is the Apple Retina Macbook Pro 13. On the paper and in a backpack the difference with the previous generation models and classical feel – It weighs 1.62 kg against approximately 2 kg for its big brother. Besides the gain in thickness, 1.9 cm against 2.54 earlier, allows it to slip easily into a bag. It seems so fine a quick glance could almost be mistaken for a MacBook Air, which is expected now this way, adopts it as a Retina display.
Strong and well endowed taken
Side finish, this Apple Retina Macbook Pro 13 managed faultlessly. The backlit keyboard is very comfortable although softer than previous generations and always as responsive touchpad with gestures more fingers. Still, it will be difficult or impossible to change components yourself, we think including RAM, delivered to its maximum with 8 GB of storage or series, an SSD efficient, but relatively low capacity, 128 or 256GB on the model tested. For the latter, if you’re a pro, the solution is to have a berry production or external drives for storage or archiving daily, once the tools, and a little music pictures are installed on the disc. Although the model tested to 256 GB already provides enough to see ahead. Moreover, we appreciate the two USB 3.0 ports, alas quickly occupied, two Thunderbolt ports, where devices jostle least, HDMI port, convenient for projections or to watch a movie on TV and finally the SDXC card reader, making it more of a consumer device and professionally. Note that Mac OS X 10.8.2, which comes with the laptop version supports high speed USB 3.0 protocol, which provides speeds of about 420 MB per second, which is very significant.
A screen for amazing but graphics chip a little light
At the core of this new Apple Retina Macbook Pro 13 the resolution is stunning. You must have posted pictures or watching an HD movie on it to take the full measure, even open a browser and surf the Web can already understand what respects the details are more precise and fine. Retina displays the desktop and windows with 1280 points per 800 with seamless fluidity. The dual core processor of the latest generation Core i5 and Intel HD 4000 graphics chipset can run intensive in Apple Retina Macbook Pro 13.
Even though it will not count for running too recent games. Even 1280 x 720, tests with Resident Evil showed little more than 42 frames per second and about 34 i / s Last Remnant. In other words, play is possible, but not fully, not in high definition.
Play with the display is not without consequence
New Apple Retina Macbook Pro 13 is about 30% more efficient than the previous 13-inch MacBook Pro. Warning, as indicated by the settings in Mac OS X, change the resolution “may affect performance.” In the some tests with Photoshop – seeking much RAM itself amputated shared memory graphics chipset. First in 1280 x 720 points and 1680 x 1050 points in the maximum resolution.
Applying the same filter tool in Adobe pro and took 14 seconds with the first definition with the second and 16 for a 100 MB file Repeating the same operation with a 200 MB file, we obtained 27 second in 1280 by 720 pixels and 35 seconds in 1680 by 1050 pixels. So there is indeed an impact on performance. The solution could be the compromise 1440 pixels by 900, which offers both more workspace and details performance that are hardly affected, although this decrease is, after all, quite on.
Good point, the Boot Camp drivers for Windows can now display much more comfortable in the text and icon magnifying enjoy the view without that everything is unreadable.
Resource still
Apple Retina Macbook Pro 13 has fared well with tests Final Cut Pro. Was observed and optimal resolution gain between 15 and 20% performance, according to tests, compared to previous generations of MacBook Pro 13 inch. Uses related to the OS, namely Mountain Lion (10.8.2) also have a small jump, which is much related to the optimization of the operating system / hardware platform that the new generation of integrated SSD. And a set of duplicate files, which requires processor power and writing speed of the disk occurs at least two times faster on the new MacBook Pro. It is hard to understand really Apple MacBook Pro still provides traditional mechanical disks with 5400 rpm / minute.
Autonomy for all
Power, therefore, enough to do everything; autonomy as it does not hurt. Productivity, surfing, music streaming, Word, Mail, etc.., We get about 6 hours of battery life for Apple Retina Macbook Pro 13, see a little more cutting the keyboard backlight and reducing screen brightness. Video playback, it is a little over 5 hours of battery that held small 13 inches.
The verdict
If the 15-inch model is a portable workstation that can compete almost head-on with an iMac, 13 inch can claim this role. If a machine is still pro “entry level”, it is especially since the demise of the MacBook, the laptop family to do everything except 3D game. However, with so much power a screen and a battery as flawless as high, hard not to be tempted. Even though the price will be probably wince a little.
This was all regarding the complete review of Apple Retina Macbook Pro 13, stay tuned for more updates.
