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Bear in mind that higher resolution display != smaller UI elements. It gives you that option of course, but for most people the benefit is that fonts, icons and

Bear in mind that higher resolution display != smaller UI elements. It gives you that option of course, but for most people the benefit is that fonts, icons and images look so much crisper and more readable. You're definitely not the only one who thinks it's overkill. I've shown my retina iPad and MacBook to a few people who don't get the fuss at all. I guess this reaction could be due to a) not caring much about aesthetics, b) bad eyesight, c) not spending the time to get familiar with it and use it for some actual tasks. Myself, I think the screens are amazing, and each time I go back to my 23" 1920x1080 monitor is a little painful.

300bps 13y ago
I've shown my retina iPad and MacBook to a few people who don't get the fuss at all...Myself, I think the screens are amazing Over a decade ago, I bought one of those Sharper Image ion air purifiers. I told all my friends how great it was - totally silent but really cleaned the air and left it with a fresh scent. About a year later I started reading scientific assessments and reviews of it. It in fact did nothing to clean the air and the "fresh clean scent" it put out was potentially harmful ozone. It was then I realized that I was as able to fall for marketing hype as much as anyone else. That made me much more wary.
- anoncow 13y ago
  The air purifiers were misleading. Better resolution is not. That said, applications/OS should be able to use the resolution. UI elements should become crisper not smaller.
- steveridout 13y ago
  I know what you mean, that it's easy to fool yourself and fall into marketing traps. But in this case of monitor resolution, there is a very noticeable difference (to me at least) between current desktop monitors and retina ones. If in 5 years some company tries to push the trend even further with 8K extreme retina or something like that I'm sure I'll be on your side, but for now, please, bring on the 4K desktop displays! (Actually, when it comes to TVs I do think we're getting into overkill territory with 50" 4K displays, when for typical TV viewing distances 1080p is fine)
  - jowiar 13y ago
    With regards to TV, one of the big effects of HD was that TVs got larger, but viewing distance remained constant. With 4k, at standard TV-viewing distances, it doesn't really make much difference below 100 inches or so. On the other hand, I want one on my desk.
Kurtz79 13y ago
Completely agree, we should remember that resolution is one thing and definition another, although they are clearly related. I think that anybody should be able to tell the difference between Retina and a non-Retina device side by side. At home I have a set-up with a Macbook Retina and an external 1080p monitor as you do, and the difference is quite noticeable when I visually switch between the two. I agree that there is a physical limit to improving the definition of monitors, but I don't think we have quite reached it yet.

300bps 13y ago

I've shown my retina iPad and MacBook to a few people who don't get the fuss at all...Myself, I think the screens are amazing Over a decade ago, I bought one of those Sharper Image ion air purifiers. I told all my friends how great it was - totally silent but really cleaned the air and left it with a fresh scent. About a year later I started reading scientific assessments and reviews of it. It in fact did nothing to clean the air and the "fresh clean scent" it put out was potentially harmful ozone. It was then I realized that I was as able to fall for marketing hype as much as anyone else. That made me much more wary.

anoncow 13y ago
The air purifiers were misleading. Better resolution is not. That said, applications/OS should be able to use the resolution. UI elements should become crisper not smaller.
steveridout 13y ago
I know what you mean, that it's easy to fool yourself and fall into marketing traps. But in this case of monitor resolution, there is a very noticeable difference (to me at least) between current desktop monitors and retina ones. If in 5 years some company tries to push the trend even further with 8K extreme retina or something like that I'm sure I'll be on your side, but for now, please, bring on the 4K desktop displays! (Actually, when it comes to TVs I do think we're getting into overkill territory with 50" 4K displays, when for typical TV viewing distances 1080p is fine)
- jowiar 13y ago
  With regards to TV, one of the big effects of HD was that TVs got larger, but viewing distance remained constant. With 4k, at standard TV-viewing distances, it doesn't really make much difference below 100 inches or so. On the other hand, I want one on my desk.

Kurtz79 13y ago

Completely agree, we should remember that resolution is one thing and definition another, although they are clearly related. I think that anybody should be able to tell the difference between Retina and a non-Retina device side by side. At home I have a set-up with a Macbook Retina and an external 1080p monitor as you do, and the difference is quite noticeable when I visually switch between the two. I agree that there is a physical limit to improving the definition of monitors, but I don't think we have quite reached it yet.