Macbook Pro Retina ANGER

[Trubore]

Guys, just want to say, I'm loving the macbook more and more everyday. Such a wonderful machine. It is expensive, but I haven't been sorry for one moment.

The OS can't even be compared to Windows, its just so much more intuitive to use. Still getting used to it, but so far so good.

 

[ChocolateBadger]

The trackpad used on Apple products is amazing. I find it strange that the multitude of Windows OEM's combined with Microsoft haven't tried to improve gesture support to at least match Apple's trackpad. I tried using two finger scrolling today on a HP laptop and gave up after a few seconds. It was sluggish and unresponsive when compared to my MacBook. The rest of the hardware on my MacBook is much of a muchness. Most of it is the same as a Windows laptop wrapped up in a very cleverly designed/expensive chassis. But for me, the trackpad is the killer feature.

My Asus VivoBook S400C's track pad comes pretty damn close.

 

[[)roi(]]

Guys, just want to say, I'm loving the macbook more and more everyday. Such a wonderful machine. It is expensive, but I haven't been sorry for one moment.

The OS can't even be compared to Windows, its just so much more intuitive to use. Still getting used to it, but so far so good.

OS X is the reason I stay hooked on Macs (thankfully they also make great hardware)

Ps. This forum is a great place to find out how to best set up your Mac; software, navigation tips, ... (There has been quite a few threads on this subject, but don't hold back if you have any questions)

 

[[)roi(]]

My Asus VivoBook S400C's track pad comes pretty damn close.

Certainly doesn't sound like it?

Touchpad

The generously sized touchpad of 10.5 x 7.5 cm appeals with its very good gliding traits and allows using the ultrabook comfortably. "Blind" use proved to be problematic because there are no dedicated mouse keys. Consequently, the finger will often stray too far left or right due to the lack of palpable zones and incorrect inputs are inevitable. However, this is a general problem of touchpads lacking dedicated mouse keys.

A much bigger nuisance results from the mouse replacement's interaction with Windows 8. We experienced innumerable unintentional inputs in the test because unintentional swiping changes the "classic" Windows view to the "Metro" (tile) interface. Thus, using the touchpad without looking is only possible to a very limited degree. However, it is generally possible to work well with the touchpad although an external mouse would certainly be recommendable for more reliable and less error-prone inputs.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Asus-VivoBook-S550CM-CJ038H-Ultrabook.90830.0.html

 

[ChocolateBadger]

Certainly doesn't sound like it?

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Asus-VivoBook-S550CM-CJ038H-Ultrabook.90830.0.html

What part of S400C sounds like S550CM? I'm talking from personal experience as I happen to have both my Asus and a Macbook air at my disposal. As for multi gesture use on the touch pad. They feel the same with swipes, swiping in and with pinch zooming. Take it from someone who uses it on a daily basis and not some nitpicking reviewer who has sat down with it for an hour.

 

[Space_Chief]

What part of S400C sounds like S550CM? I'm talking from personal experience as I happen to have both my Asus and a Macbook air at my disposal. As for multi gesture use on the touch pad. They feel the same with swipes, swiping in and with pinch zooming. Take it from someone who uses it on a daily basis and not some nitpicking reviewer who has sat down with it for an hour.

I booted my NEC LaVie into Ubuntu (Kaspersky Rescue Disk) to do some AV scanning. While the scanner did its magic I surfed the web on Konqueror. The mouse pad performs gracefully under Linux. There is no difference for me when it comes to using that mouse pad under Linux and rMBP 15's/MBP 15 2010 mouse pad under OSX.

 

[[)roi(]]

What part of S400C sounds like S550CM? I'm talking from personal experience as I happen to have both my Asus and a Macbook air at my disposal. As for multi gesture use on the touch pad. They feel the same with swipes, swiping in and with pinch zooming. Take it from someone who uses it on a daily basis and not some nitpicking reviewer who has sat down with it for an hour.

Btw this thread is about Macbooks, so let's stop this discussion Ok?

Asus or any typically PC manufacturer have never been known to make a successful touchpad -- most people hate touch pads, until they get their first Mac.

Ps. You could have Googled a review yourself, clearly (if you look) you will find many that don't agree with you:

We are disappointed by a few aspects of the VivoBook S400C: notably the battery life and touchpad gestures, but the overwhelming sense is that the S400C is a very good laptop.

http://m.techradar.com/reviews/pc-m...d-netbooks/asus-vivobook-s400c-1125415/review

/EDIT
Btw I get to work on far too many PC laptops, notebooks in my interaction with clients. Still haven't found any that even come close to the quality (and yes it's not only Dell and HP)

 

[[)roi(]]

I booted my NEC LaVie into Ubuntu (Kaspersky Rescue Disk) to do some AV scanning. While the scanner did its magic I surfed the web on Konqueror. The mouse pad performs gracefully under Linux. There is no difference for me when it comes to using that mouse pad under Linux and rMBP 15's/MBP 15 2010 mouse pad under OSX.

Are you insinuating it's all Microsoft's fault -- personally I believe it's a bit of both. PC touch pad have a reputation for poor quality. This will of course be rectified at some point, but atm it's certainly doesn't match up.

 

[Space_Chief]

Are you insinuating it's all Microsoft's fault -- personally I believe it's a bit of both. PC touch pad have a reputation for poor quality. This will of course be rectified at some point, but atm it's certainly doesn't match up.

I'm not insinuating anything. I'm reporting on my findings. Maybe it is MS' fault. Maybe because of the extra "intutition" built in by MS the project sucks for many people.

I'll be honest there is no significant difference for me under Windoze. The gestures on Windoze and of course the opposite direction of scrolling - Linux uses same scrolling direction as OSX. As said I don't use multiple gestures. I've been using GUIs since 1992 and I haven't had reason to use mgs. I know CAD designers who've been using GUIs since the late 80s and they too don't consider mgs.
I still prefer mice to the MBPs touchpad or other touchpads.

I've been using OSX since 2006 and Windows since 1992. Windows has a lot of faults. Cheaper PC vendors have a lot of faults too. But there are premier PC makes which surpass Apple in build quality, reliability, weight, performance and so on, although these machines are usually more expensive than Apple machines. I like OSX and Macs, but I also like other PC makers. I'm not a type of guy who'd put an Apple sticker on their car. The best tool for the job is how I see things.

(I use Right Click on the Mouse in OSX.... )

 

[[)roi(]]

I'm not insinuating anything. I'm reporting on my findings. Maybe it is MS' fault. Maybe because of the extra "intutition" built in by MS the project sucks for many people.

I'm sure everyone can agree: Windows 8 certainly doesn't represent some of Microsoft's best work -- so it's very likely that has a big part to play in this area.

I'll be honest there is no significant difference for me under Windoze. The gestures on Windoze and of course the opposite direction of scrolling - Linux uses same scrolling direction as OSX. As said I don't use multiple gestures. I've been using GUIs since 1992 and I haven't had reason to use mgs. I know CAD designers who've been using GUIs since the late 80s and they too don't consider mgs.
I still prefer mice to the MBPs touchpad or other touchpads.

I've been using OSX since 2006 and Windows since 1992. Windows has a lot of faults. Cheaper PC vendors have a lot of faults too. But there are premier PC makes which surpass Apple in build quality, reliability, weight, performance and so on, although these machines are usually more expensive than Apple machines. I like OSX and Macs, but I also like other PC makers. I'm not a type of guy who'd put an Apple sticker on their car. The best tool for the job is how I see things.

...and I've been there for the long run, so I've had the benefit to see both at their worst and in their heydays.

Multi touch gestures are invaluable when you're working with full screen apps, with multiple spaces and multiple displays. Agreed with most single application users like: CAD and other more standard use cases, MTGs will seem unnecessary.

There will always be use cases where a mouse is better than a touchpad, but similarly the other way round.
In my workflow I tend to switch between touchpad and a Wacom Cintiq (a mouse similarly can never compare with a Wacom). Ps. The only time I prefer a mouse now is for a bit of 1st person gaming.

/EDIT

(I use Right Click on the Mouse in OSX.... )

Me too; switching between multi OSs in VMs makes this absolutely necessary (two finger taps just doesn't cut it for me, even for OS X)

Ps. I've never been one to put stickers on anything -- it keeps the logo it came with (yet all temporary stickers are removed)

 

[Space_Chief]

I'm sure everyone can agree: Windows 8 certainly doesn't represent some of Microsoft's best work -- so it's very likely that has a big part to play in this area.

...and I've been there for the long run, so I've had the benefit to see both in their heydays.

Multi touch gestures are invaluable when you're working with full screen apps, with multiple spaces and multiple displays. Agreed with most single application users like: CAD and other more standard use cases, MTGs will seem unnecessary.

People have worked successfully in multiple spaces or switching between many applications before the advent of mtgs. So I don't think they're invaluable unless we're using the word to mean helpful

Anyhow, just reporting on my experiences. For basic stuff (>95% of what people do) - such as clicking links, drag and drop, scrolling, switching between apps, the mousepad under Linux works very well.

 

[Space_Chief]

Ps. I've never been one to put stickers on anything -- it keeps the logo it came with (yet all temporary stickers are removed)

Haha. Believe it or not, Intel also bundled stickers with their SSDs. "My SSD Rocks!"

 

[d0b33]

I'm also angered!, angry that I missed this deal!

 

[[)roi(]]

People have worked successfully in multiple spaces or switching between many applications before the advent of mtgs. So I don't think they're invaluable unless we're using the word to mean helpful

stop splitting hairs -- computers were usable before most things, and yes that even accounts for the mouse.

Becoming accustomed to something makes its invaluable -- yet if you really want to to be portrayed as priggish; then Yes I agree we could do without it (much like we could do without a mouse)

Anyhow, just reporting on my experiences. For basic stuff (>95% of what people do) - such as clicking links, drag and drop, scrolling, switching between apps, the mousepad under Linux works very well.

...comme ci comme ça

 

[[)roi(]]

Haha. Believe it or not, Intel also bundled stickers with their SSDs. "My SSD Rocks!"

... and they've been binned just like the Apple ones.

 

[skimread]

The thing is that with tablets and low quality windows laptops flooding the market if you want a the best spec build Win laptop the costs in this country will be in the 25K+ due to the being so rare. Because Mac only sells quality i was able to get a brand new, one month ago introduced model with 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD and retina screen for 15K. In this country getting an equivalent windows Pc at the same price would be much more difficult.

 

[[)roi(]]

The thing is that with tablets and low quality windows laptops flooding the market if you want a the best spec build Win laptop the costs in this country will be in the 25K+ due to the being so rare. Because Mac only sells quality i was able to get a brand new, one month ago introduced model with 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD and retina screen for 15K. In this country getting an equivalent windows Pc at the same price would be much more difficult.

Congrats re your new Mac; are you a 1st timer?

The PC market is still struggling with the turmoil created by market impactors like: MBA form factor, Apple / Android tablets and the Windows 8 mess.

They're all a little confused IMO, and aside from that are grappling with the difficultly of producing equipment that is deemed to be quality whilst still making it affordable. Apple's use of aluminum has made it far more challenging to portray plastic as quality, and changing production lines over to alternative materials (especially metals) is not an easy thing to accomplish.

The ship will be righted at some point -- assuming of course that Apple / Google / ... doesn't pull another curved ball out of the bag.

 

[Space_Chief]

stop splitting hairs -- computers were usable before most things, and yes that even accounts for the mouse.

Not in complicated GUI modes. There is a major difference between jumping easily between desktops / spaces / applications and actually accessing information and manipulating data on screen with a pointing device. Working in Photoshop or a CAD application with just a keyboard would be incredibly difficult. Working without mtgs is not difficult at all. Touch a keyboard button or shortcut and you have all your windows open, Alt-Tab and you're in a different app. For many people, who've learned this, mtgs are useless. But a pointing device is not.

Becoming accustomed to something makes its invaluable -- yet if you really want to to be portrayed as priggish; then Yes I agree we could do without it (much like we could do without a mouse)

...comme ci comme ça

One can become just as unaccustomed. But try to retouch a picture without a pointing device and just a keyboard. Well it's possible sure, just extremely difficult and time consuming. It is possible to move the mouse cursor with the keyboard. It's also possible to turn the pages of a book with ones' bare feet but using hands is so much easier.

So I respectfully disagree.

And also let's not forget that most people who use Macs, don't need mtgs. Most are not using multiple desktops/spaces/apps/work areas. Most have several tabs open and are running Facebook, Twitter and listening to iTunes in the background.

 

[Space_Chief]

The thing is that with tablets and low quality windows laptops flooding the market if you want a the best spec build Win laptop the costs in this country will be in the 25K+ due to the being so rare. Because Mac only sells quality i was able to get a brand new, one month ago introduced model with 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD and retina screen for 15K. In this country getting an equivalent windows Pc at the same price would be much more difficult.

That was an edu discount and also a possible mistake from IC. These machines are once again expensive.

But in the long run you do save. No AV or a cheap basic (free) AV required. Less junk to install. Less MS rubbish. Less bloatware. A really nice screen. An SSD which most manufacturers in SA don't include.

 

[skimread]

That was an edu discount and also a possible mistake from IC. These machines are once again expensive

even without the discount for 20k its hard to find in retail stores equivalent for the same price.

20k might be expensive but the equivalent windows laptop is that much more expensive.