My thoughts about the new Macbook pro line:
I am new here, but I am following this forum for some time now. I did some research using sites like: anandtech; wikipedia and other sites.
So my thoughts: I think the line-up will be more or less the same as last year. I expect the same number of laptops as now. I know some sites say there will only be 4, but Apple has choosing these before with a reason and think they will keep it. Also on the forum you read a lot of people buying BTOs and these come with some good margin.
So:13 inch and a 13 inch BTO, 3 times a 15 inch and of course the 17 inch.
Old 13 Inch 13 inch 15 inch 15 inch 15 inch 17 inch
Processor P8600 P8800 I5-520M I5-540M I7-620M I7-620M
Speed 2.4 GHz 2.67GHz 2.4Ghz 2.53GHz 2.66Ghz 2.66GHz
TDP 25W 25W 35W 35W 35W 35W
Price ($) 241 241 225 257 332 332
New
Processor I7-2629M I7-2649M I5-2520M I5-2540M I7-2620M I7-2620M
Speed 2.1GHz 2.3GHZ 2.5GHz 2.6GHz 2.7GHz 2.7GHz
TDP 25W 25W 35W 35W 35W 35W
Price 311 346 225 266 346 346
So except the 13 inch the new version of the old chip will be used. Same TDP and prices more or less the same. Quad core uses to much power and therefore will not be used. The speed indication which apple uses is in line. Starting at 2,1 GHz till 2,7 GHz for the fastest with this line up. The i3 chip for the 13 inch (only i3-2310M) uses to much power: TDP 35 W instead of 25 W like it uses now) so this one will not be used
The 13 inch is a problem, but that was also last year the case. I think the main problem is the price of the chip. It is much more expansive then the old processor at introduction. This is probably because the IGP is included in this chip, but last year it was not good enough the leave the 320M out of the 13 inch. So Apple decided to keep the old chip with the 320M. This year with the better IGP there is the possibility they leave the graphics card out on the standard 13 inch.. The new Nvidia 520M will probably be the new card for the BTO and maybe the normal one.
So margin is under pressure (especially for the 13 inch) because of the higher price of the chip, so some possibilities. Higher price point, but think they will try to keep the price stable as much as they can. Use another chip, maybe an old Arrendale chip, but it will be much more favourable to have the same chips so you can also use the same memory and get purchase advantage. So the price needs to come from other parts and therefore the super drive (SD) needs to go. If it will on all formats? I am not sure, but it is a opportunity to sell the laptop for same price and sell an add-on (like screen, SD box like air etc.) separately. This parts generate a lot of margin. Chance to include more battery, save weight and you nearly never you have to use it. I would leave it out.
For the other formats, the Nvidia 525M will probably the choice, because it is the updated 4 series, which was the updated 3 series of Nvidia (Which was used 330M). The 5 series uses most of the parts of the 4 series according to Anand and so TDP will probably be the same. No battery loss for Apple which is very important.
Casing will keep as it is, but SSDs are used. Some say it is hard to make it work with two parts (SSD and HDD), but this is a computer manufacturing and software developing company so they will make it work. There are some sites who did also make it work (using Unix methods for instance), so I expect no problems. It is the way it will go, like Jobs said.
Screens no updates.
One more thing and that is also which will decide the introduction date: Light Peak. It is so quiet about the technology from Intel. Normally, like the new SNB chips, the reviews and other stuff is already on the net before they introduce it. So two possibilities: A) it is far from ready B) Apple will use it first. I hope option B.
If this is the case then it depends when LP and the SNB dual core chips are available.
1: LP and SNB are available next month, then it will be end feb.
2: LP not yet ready and apple will introduce it then maybe march/April. But no later because then option 3 will (and needs to be) chosen.
3: LP not ready then depends SNB and Nvidia are ready for mass production which is probably end feb.
What do you think? Some strong points or not?
I am new here, but I am following this forum for some time now. I did some research using sites like: anandtech; wikipedia and other sites.
So my thoughts: I think the line-up will be more or less the same as last year. I expect the same number of laptops as now. I know some sites say there will only be 4, but Apple has choosing these before with a reason and think they will keep it. Also on the forum you read a lot of people buying BTOs and these come with some good margin.
So:13 inch and a 13 inch BTO, 3 times a 15 inch and of course the 17 inch.
Old 13 Inch 13 inch 15 inch 15 inch 15 inch 17 inch
Processor P8600 P8800 I5-520M I5-540M I7-620M I7-620M
Speed 2.4 GHz 2.67GHz 2.4Ghz 2.53GHz 2.66Ghz 2.66GHz
TDP 25W 25W 35W 35W 35W 35W
Price ($) 241 241 225 257 332 332
New
Processor I7-2629M I7-2649M I5-2520M I5-2540M I7-2620M I7-2620M
Speed 2.1GHz 2.3GHZ 2.5GHz 2.6GHz 2.7GHz 2.7GHz
TDP 25W 25W 35W 35W 35W 35W
Price 311 346 225 266 346 346
So except the 13 inch the new version of the old chip will be used. Same TDP and prices more or less the same. Quad core uses to much power and therefore will not be used. The speed indication which apple uses is in line. Starting at 2,1 GHz till 2,7 GHz for the fastest with this line up. The i3 chip for the 13 inch (only i3-2310M) uses to much power: TDP 35 W instead of 25 W like it uses now) so this one will not be used
The 13 inch is a problem, but that was also last year the case. I think the main problem is the price of the chip. It is much more expansive then the old processor at introduction. This is probably because the IGP is included in this chip, but last year it was not good enough the leave the 320M out of the 13 inch. So Apple decided to keep the old chip with the 320M. This year with the better IGP there is the possibility they leave the graphics card out on the standard 13 inch.. The new Nvidia 520M will probably be the new card for the BTO and maybe the normal one.
So margin is under pressure (especially for the 13 inch) because of the higher price of the chip, so some possibilities. Higher price point, but think they will try to keep the price stable as much as they can. Use another chip, maybe an old Arrendale chip, but it will be much more favourable to have the same chips so you can also use the same memory and get purchase advantage. So the price needs to come from other parts and therefore the super drive (SD) needs to go. If it will on all formats? I am not sure, but it is a opportunity to sell the laptop for same price and sell an add-on (like screen, SD box like air etc.) separately. This parts generate a lot of margin. Chance to include more battery, save weight and you nearly never you have to use it. I would leave it out.
For the other formats, the Nvidia 525M will probably the choice, because it is the updated 4 series, which was the updated 3 series of Nvidia (Which was used 330M). The 5 series uses most of the parts of the 4 series according to Anand and so TDP will probably be the same. No battery loss for Apple which is very important.
Casing will keep as it is, but SSDs are used. Some say it is hard to make it work with two parts (SSD and HDD), but this is a computer manufacturing and software developing company so they will make it work. There are some sites who did also make it work (using Unix methods for instance), so I expect no problems. It is the way it will go, like Jobs said.
Screens no updates.
One more thing and that is also which will decide the introduction date: Light Peak. It is so quiet about the technology from Intel. Normally, like the new SNB chips, the reviews and other stuff is already on the net before they introduce it. So two possibilities: A) it is far from ready B) Apple will use it first. I hope option B.
If this is the case then it depends when LP and the SNB dual core chips are available.
1: LP and SNB are available next month, then it will be end feb.
2: LP not yet ready and apple will introduce it then maybe march/April. But no later because then option 3 will (and needs to be) chosen.
3: LP not ready then depends SNB and Nvidia are ready for mass production which is probably end feb.
What do you think? Some strong points or not?
so this will propably will be like the air. Then the 15 inch should also be updated because else the 13 and the 15 will have the same resolution. BTO options as standard most probably option?
