Relative resolutions. "By default, the new MacBook Pro ships in a pixel-doubled configuration, meaning you actually get an equivalent to a 1440-by-900-pixel res

Relative resolutions. "By default, the new MacBook Pro ships in a pixel-doubled configuration, meaning you actually get an equivalent to a 1440-by-900-pixel resolution. This offers no actual increase in desktop space over that of the current standard non-retina MacBook Pro, but the increased pixel density means that items onscreen can appear much sharper than they did before." [1] The point of having the pixels is so that stuff looks sharper. 1680x1050 is a lot more screen real estate = more job for the windowing system to display everything nicely. Same thing for running it at full 2880x1800 resolution. [1] http://www.techhive.com/article/257796/run_a_retina_macbook_pro_at_full_2880_by_1800_resolution_induce_eye_strain.html http://www.techhive.com/article/257796/run_a_retina_macbook_...