Analyzing the MacBook Pro with Retina display | ExtremeTech

The new “Retina MacBook Pro” is an attractive machine, but it does come with a big caveat. A lot of users wisely order the base configuration of a notebook from the manufacturer, and subsequently upgrade its memory and storage capacity using aftermarket parts. This is done to avoid the massive price markup the OEM places on such parts (specifically, RAM and HDD/SSD storage in this case). Before buying a Retina MacBook Pro, take note of the following - it’s an appliance, through and through. You or your tech savvy friends will not be able to fix any hardware component of this machine. Apple has stepped back into the 80’s where all of their components were custom built. From the article:

For a start, you can forget about replacing or upgrading any component in the new MacBook Pro.