Questions about the Mac? Get them answered here.

No, it doesn't. There is no IR sensor on the front of the new Retina MBP. There is also no battery indicator on the side so you have to open it up and use the one in the Menu Bar. Very annoying.

• Answered by John I
• Jun 16, 2012
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It is the best decision you would ever make in your life...your life productivity will increase multi-fold using Apple MacBook Pro Retina. I recommend the following:
1. Buy the max hard disk space available if you plan to download your pictures and videos from your iPhone and iPad AND old emails. I bought a 256GB hard disk and have only 16GB left. FIrst analysis is how much space you will occupy in the new MacBook and decide accordingly. You cannot upgrade later.
2. You don't have to install Parallels at all.
3. iWork is great, but you don't have Access. If you need Access, then I suggest you install NeoOffice. Cost is US$ 10 per year. It has everything and more than Office Professional and it will work flawlessly on Retina Display. I evaluated all the other Free Office softwares and chose NeoOffice.
4. I have Parallels and my old Office 2003 Professional, but seldom use it. I use NeoOffice everyday, but miss the feature that iWork would offer me to upload all iWork files automatically on iCloud! I already have bought Keynote and plan to buy Pages and Numbers soon. Unfortunately Apple has stopped trial versions of iLife. I wish they would allow trial before purchase.
5. I do miss Outlook and the ease of emails in Outlook. Mail in Apple is not great. Other than Outlook, you can give up Office.
6. Of course you have one more choice - you can choose Office for Mac including Outlook - NO Access -, over iWork.
I hope this helps.

• Answered by Ruumi D
• May 21, 2013
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I have the 13 inch macbook retina and I absolutely love everything about it. I have had the non retina MacBook Pro and while it was a great machine the macbook retina beats it hands down. The ssd on the retina pro is so much faster and the retina display is amazing. I originally purchased the 15 inch but it was just to bulky and uncomfortable even on my lap. There is just a pound difference so it wasn't the weight but the size. You will not miss the two inches. How much storage do you need? I have 256GB ssd but I also like you have an external hard drive. The non retina pro has an optical drive but that wasn't an issue for me. Lets face it, optical drives are on their way out. I have an apple super drive and have used it one time. If it was me you won't go wrong with either one but the way I look at it your already going to spend money so why not just get the best and in my opinion and experience the MacBook Pro is better than the air as far as the build and size you will love the MacBook Pro. Go with the retina if you can. You won't regret it.

• Answered by Rhonda S from Little Rock
• May 5, 2013
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I've had everything Mac has to offer. My uses are about like yours, with the addition of using a dictation/transcription program. I also do some streaming of movies & such. While I have a big desktop iMac, a couple of 15 inch Macbooks and a couple of iPads, I find I use the 13 inch Air much more than any of the others.

It's the ultimate in portability (just as good as an iPad), unobtrusive on my desk at work (where the Microsoft darkside holds sway), and the external CD drive works great. It's by no means necessary with all the developers who let you download their software directly, but I just like having the CD/DVD option.

Anyway, I don't think you'll be disappointed if you spring for the Air. I haven't been.

• Answered by Kay J from Port Orchard
• Oct 28, 2012
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Personally, don't bother with 10.8- Snow Leopard has been tagged as a very and reliable stable operating system for many into photography, music and high processor-demanding applications.

Your system is plenty for Snow Leopard but might take a hit on Mountain Lion. I/m running an early 2010 MBP and experienced issues immediately with ML, but none with SL

Hope this helps

• Answered by Christopher G from Fayetteville
• Apr 29, 2013
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