MOTU and MacBook Pros: Retina vs. standard

[TinenTech]

It seems like the current non-retina display Apple MacBook Pros will be the last ones featuring built-in Firewire, Ethernet, and optical drives. That was enough to make me ignore the new Retina models, which only have USB 3 and Thunderbolt connectors...not to mention the extra bucks.

But now that I've looked at them more seriously, I can see the advantage of the higher-res screen...not only that it "looks better", but that you actually have much more screen real estate (if you scale it down, you have smaller windows, but more of them...kind of like working on an iPhone).

I have an old Traveler Mk 1, and am a little worried about some of the reports on these forums about TB-FW adapters. Any drive problems when recording 16 tracks through these?

And, I'd like to know how people like using DP on a Retina screen if it's scaled down.

Thanks.

[FutureLegends]

Hey!

I got the retina... Amazing screen, amazing computer. Also, if you have it with you alot, it's much lighter. The difference is actually quite huge. You don't realise it until you pick up an old MacBook Pro...
They just lowered the price and bumped the processor on the rMBP as well...

I have a MOTU 828mk3 and it seems to be working just as well via the TB -> FW adapter as it did on my old computer via FW directly. I have to use an additional FW800 to FW400 adapter as well though.

I highly recommend the retina. Just get it with 16gb ram and as big drive as you can afford as they are not upgradeable after you buy.

[TinenTech]

Hmm. It's $2700 over here to get a 15" rMBP with 16GB RAM /512GB flash. I can get a refurb with 8GB/256 for $1700 (list $2199)...or, a standard 15" MBP that I can upgrade to 16GB and 512 flash from OWC for about $2000 total (and have a 500 GB HD to use as an external drive in the bargain).

It's hard to decide...but it is clear that ThunderBolt is the future for us. I wonder when MOTU will offer a TB audio interface? Maybe like Universal's Apollo where the onboard DSP can be used in DP sessions?

When I record remotes, I'm lugging a rack with optical preamps and compressors and interface anyway, so the 2 fewer pounds is hard to feel...especially if it comes at the expense of it running hotter.

Have you had any problems with the retina screen burn-in problem some have reported?

[FutureLegends]

Yes, still TB is crazy expensive.

I'm carrying mine with me wherever I go so the weigh/size saving is really a sweet thing. If you go by car only when you bring it, it's not so important, I guess.

I haven't had any issues with the screen or fans or anything. It's simply been the best Mac I've ever used.

If I could only afford buying some TB harddrives it would be even better...

[gspin]

I am in the same boat: deciding between a 15" rMBP and the normal 15" MBP. Would definitely go with the SSD in the normal one.

I must say, I find it hard to justify going for the better display of the retina considering the annoyance of having to use 2 adapters with my Metric Halo 2882 (TB>FW800>FW400).

Any more advice?

cheers

gspin

[gspin]

Well just reporting back on my 2.6 Ghz Retina MBP (16 GB RAM/512 GB SSD).
Can only say the performance is lightyears ahead of my 2009 Quad Core Mac Pro...
Lightning fast and the display really is worth it.

My only complaint: the Retina seems to switch off the Motu Audio System when going to sleep. I have to go DP Setup menu and restart MAS. Should I adjust the retina's Energy Saver setting or do something else?

Cheers

gspin

[daniel.sneed]

AFAICT, for years, a general rule of thumb is *no energy saver on any DAW setup*.

[gspin]

Yeah, a pretty obvious one. Funnily my Mac Pro somehow did not react the same way. Anyways, tis a small price to pay!

Thanks

gspin

[gspin]

It turns out that switching off Energy Saver options does NOT solve the issue. My Motu Audio System still switches off.

Any other suggestions?

cheers

gspin

[stubbsonic]

I went for the retina version and have absolutely no regrets. Here's why:

1. SSD is super-fast.
2. Display is great.
3. The built in speakers sound better. This shouldn't be a big deal, but I find that I use them pretty often, so I appreciate them more than I expected.
4. Processor is super-fast.

On the cons side, there are just some features that while I don't use them often, I do miss them:

1. There's no dedicated line-input.
2. No optical drive.
3. No firewire

What's funny about the first two is that they went through all this development to make a thinner laptop (which I really don't care about AT ALL). So now I have a thin, powerful laptop; but need to hook up superdrive and an audio i/o. Fortunately, I don't need them that often, but it is more to shlep.

[daniel.sneed]

It turns out that switching off Energy Saver options does NOT solve the issue. My Motu Audio System still switches off.[...]

Weird and disturbing, to say the least.
Hope you get this sorted out soon.
In such situation, I would investigate deeply around the OS energy options.

[gspin]

I will take another look. It isn't a huge issue from a practical standpoint, in the sense that it simply requires "rebooting" MAS after the retina has gone to sleep.

By the way, I do find my retina takes a long time to wake up!!