WWDC 2012: Hardware

So we got big news last week from Apple.  In addition to the first in depth look at iOS 6, (soon to be seen on iPhones and iPads everywhere), and another, deeper look at Mountain Lion (more on that in our next post), we got a whole new spread of brand new laptops.  In addition to the processor upgrades and basic spec upgrades of the entire line of machines from the MacBook Airs to the MacBook Pro, we got a look at the future of Apple’s laptops: The New MacBook Pro with Retina Display… and it was awesome.

The New MacBook Pro Retina is a complete redesign. Based on the body type of the MacBook Air, Apple has done away with the optical disk drive, the old school hard drive, and firewire.  What we’re left with is an unbelievably thin, beautiful case with full flash memory, (available in 256GB, 512GB, or 768GB for a premium price), 8GB RAM upgradeable to 16GB and most importantly, a drop-dead gorgeous retina screen.

The thing about the retina screen (this is the same screen on the iPhone 4 and 4s, and on the New iPad), is that it literally has to be seen to be believed.  I read a review that really put it all into place.  In it the review talked about how he went to the optometrist when he was a kid, and was outfitted with a pair of glasses.  For the first time, he saw everything clearly… crisp and sharp.  And that’s what this new retina display does… it makes all other displays look fuzzy by comparison.  So you combine that display with the most cutting edge processors available, top of the line RAM, thunderbolt ports, super quick flash memory, and the lightest, cleanest form factor you’ve ever seen in a pro laptop, and what do you get?  An awesome, stunning, powerhouse of a machine; but it doesn’t come cheap… starting at $2,199 it can go all the way up to $3,750 if you max it out, and you can add another $100 if you need a superdrive along with it.

Hey, what can I say, beauty doesn’t come cheap.

More on the WWDC in my next post. Till then– MacWhisperer out.