Sorry I liked and like the G4 Cube.
I agree on the first aluminum Macbook with no FB. We had all the USB people saying USB is as fast. Some of us posted tests proving that was NOT the case. File Copy time wise here was sometimes 2 to 1 faster with FW 400.
I don't have as much of an issue with the Optical drives especially on the Portable machines BUT No audio Input on a PRO machine? What does PRO mean? Pros are used for Audio and Video. Also the RAM soldered in bugs me. But what bugs me the most is a Desktop where you do NOT have to make it that thin with no drives and in the case of the 21.5" no changeable RAM. People say you can take it apart and change it. Yes, but did you check the video? Heat Guns to take apart a DESKTOP?
Apple, you are cutting out your PRO and even Higher end customers. Very stupid. If you want touch Tablet, why not just get rid of it all and make it all iPad and kill off the computer as a computer with no input for me to do my audio is totally worthless. How many external devices do I need to lug around in the field with me to do my work?
Also NO WIFI as yet keeps up with Wired networking. Why is it an PAY option on the RMbp? An option that takes away one Thunderbolt port.
I will almost bet $$$ that very soon the Non Retina MBP will be history and all non reparable non pro notebooks will be the only thing in Apples line.
APPLE YOU ARE BLOWING IT.
I think you nailed it. I am not a professional audio engineer, but an extremely dedicated hobbyist. I spend probably around 20 to 30 hours a week doing various things with audio engineering. I may even prefer it over my actual job (Technology Consulting), hard to say for sure. Anyway, it's a major drawback for me and I have turned a number of people away from this option because of the problems I have had.
It's too bad, the OS seems to be pretty solid and the hardware is gorgeous, just lacking some components as far as I am concerned. I definitely should have researched it better before I bought the rMBP, but I am not sure what I would have done instead. I did want the 500 GB drive and 16 GB of RAM.
The machine totally smokes, doesn't seem to have any top end that I can detect.
Oh well, I made my choice, so I now I live with it.