You should say retina a few more times. You do know there's no magical trickery apple is doing there, it's just an IPS screen with a higher than usual resolution. Ofcourse that going from 2560x1600 on 13/15" to probably 1920x1080 @ 24/27 is gonna look like shit.I have a MacBook Pro (Retina Display) and a Thunderbolt display. The thing that's most jarring is the look of the Thunderbolt display compared to the Retina Display laptop. I am not sure exactly what magicery is going on with the Retina Display, but it makes the Thunderbolt look pretty dull and lifeless by comparison. I would honestly wait until Retina Display Thunderbolts become available, or look for a far superior monitor for the price. After all, the Thunderbolt Display is 2+ year old tech and IMO ripe for refresh.
Thunderbolt Display: Everything We Know | MacRumors
It's far more than simple screen resolution. The color has significantly more depth to it.You should say retina a few more times. You do know there's no magical trickery apple is doing there, it's just an IPS screen with a higher than usual resolution. Ofcourse that going from 2560x1600 on 13/15" to probably 1920x1080 @ 24/27 is gonna look like shit.