2012 Macbook Pro Redesign

[CountSessine]

OTOH, if you DON'T need or want an ODD or ethernet port, why not get yourself an Air? The entire purpose of having two lines is to meet the needs of two fundamentally different types of users, not to simply make one line more expensive with zero practical differences.

I build software for a living. Compiling C++ is a big CPU burden. I've been making do with a work computer with 4 cores (a ThinkPad) while I wait for Apple to deliver on this new generation of MBPs. So no, I don't really have much use for an Air, with its gimped CPU+GPU.

The PRO designation does MEAN something - at least for those of us who actually USE the features the Pro line has which the Air line does NOT have.

I think it CAN mean something - it just doesn't mean what you seem to think it means. What did "PRO" mean 5 years ago? PCI slots? PCMCIA cards? 10 years ago? An RJ-11 adapter with a built-in modem and fax? How about 15 years ago? An old parallel port? ADB? Magneto-optical drives? Would you like Apple to jam a few of those back into the MBP? Just in case?

Just what do you want Apple to do here? My work laptop (a ThinkPad which I desperately want to swap out for MacBookPro9,X when it's available) has an RGB adapter on it. What the ****? It actually has a cutting-edge Display Port, and right next to it it has an old RGB adapter - the cutting edge of 1980's tech! Is that really what you want? How does anything move forward? How do we become more productive in 5 years time without leaving at least some of the old stuff behind? There's no Thunderbolt or USB3 on my ThinkPad (a fairly recent model), but it actually has an RGB connector!

I NEED an ODD to give quick run-off copies of demo videos to my clients when I am on the road. I do NOT need the hassle of having to dig adapters and externals out of my bag and plug them in (thus significantly increasing my footprint) while my clients are waiting for me to proceed with my presentation.

So you're already carrying adapters around, otherwise you just have to hope and pray that your clients have a projector that accepts Display Port, and they'd probably better have a Display Port cable and a mini Display Port adapter lying around too, right?

It is FAR more impressive to just whip out my MBP, run my demo, and if the initial presentation is positively received, burn a quick copy to DVD for them to present to their board for final approval.

Writing your demo to a cheap-o SD card that you can just give them would be even more "impressive". SD cards are also an order of magnitude faster both to write to and to read from) than a crummy DVD-R. And you'd never have to say, "hey guys - do you have a flat, stable surface that I can set my computer on for 15 minutes while I burn my demo to this janky old DVDR for you? Oops-a-daisy! Burnt another coaster! Why don't you guys go to another meeting while I finish this up for you?"

I'm not trying to tell you your business here. I'm just sick of all the crybabies in this forum tantruming. "Oh boo hoo! Apple is forsaking the 'PRO' market! SCSI ports are the only way I could ever possibly get my job done! No laptop without a SCSI port is "PRO"! No computer without a SCSI port is "LEET"! I'm going to be out on the unemployment line tomorrow and Apple is going to go bankrupt! I'm going out and buying a PC!"

One other thing: I can guarantee you the weight difference between a MBP with ODD and ethernet, and an MBP w/o, is not going to be 1.6 lbs. An internal ODD weighs less than 4 oz., and the 1/8" difference in thickness the lower case assembly would need to accommodate the ODD and a gigabit ethernet port is not going to add 21 extra oz. either. The TOTAL difference in weight between a design with ODD and ethernet, and a design without - all other factors except case thickness being equal - would probably turn out to be less than 6 oz.

Depends on the new design. The current 15" has a very wide bezel around the monitor. Apple could probably put a 16" display in it - the 15" MBP is actually about 16" in size. Could they instead shrink the MBP to a true 15" by eliminating the bezel?

They'd have to make the chassis smaller, and that means that stuff inside it needs to be smaller. Getting rid of the ODD gives them the freedom to consider that, without making the battery any smaller or making the logic board smaller (and probably eliminating the discrete GPU).

If they used the elimination of the ODD as an opportunity to shrink the chassis, then yes, it's actually possible that the MBP could lose a lot of weight, both because of the lost aluminum in the case, and the lost glass in the monitor.

Conversely, carrying an ODD in external form will add more weight to be handled by my 52 year old back than a built in ODD will. So, NO, I will NOT be thanking anyone for a lighter Mac that just forces me to carry a bunch of heavier add-ons that were once built in.

Well, assuming that you really do want to stick with old DVDR's, you probably wouldn't buy a DVDR drive made out of aluminum and glass. My external DVDR is made out of cheap, light plastic. Light as a feather.

And a quick question: how the heck will adding a thunderbolt display to my MBP help with my need for an ethernet port on a Mac PORTABLE? Am I supposed to haul around the thunderbolt display along with the external ODD? I thought you were concerned about my aging back?

Read my other messages here. Your usage pattern is atypical. For every travelling salesman selling stuff to people who only have ethernet ports, there are a lot more people who want the mobility of a light computer to use in coffee shops and airports, but then want to 'dock' them at work and at home where we have extra monitors, USB devices, keyboards, mice, etc.

The MBA wouldn't be a bad fit for this if it didn't have a gimped CPU/GPU and little to no RAM. You can always carry around an ODD and an ethernet adapter with you in your sales job. I can't plug in a faster GPU or CPU.

 

[skaertus]

The new Rumors about the MBP is the reason why Apple is going downhill without Steve, and not up.

Innovation is not removing ports, ODD and making the case slimmer. Anyone can do that...that takes no intelligence, skill or ability.

Real innovation would be to remove the ODD, increase battery size, increase memory+HDD space WHILE keeping cpu temps low and the laptop running cool.

ANYONE can slap together components in a small case and call it a day. It's even easier by not including half the components(dedicated grfx cards).

Apple thinking of removing ethernet+FW...Good luck in your bankruptcy goals of 2014

You're joking, right?

The approach is Steve Jobs was always minimalistic: less is more. Make products thinner, lighter, and a piece of design. It was under Steve Jobs control that Apple removed the floppy disk drives from the iMacs.

And of course the new, redesigned MacBook Pro (which Apple is going to release probably in June) was not conceived in the few months after the death of Steve Jobs. It was certainly conceived much earlier, and the decisions on its design were taken while Steve Jobs was still alive.

Of course anyone can make the case slimmer by removing the ODD and ports... but why hasn't anyone done that before Apple released the MacBook Air? Innovation is not to make computers faster and more powerful. Innovation, real innovation, is to make up new concepts.

 

[mrmarts]

Rumours can mean nothing too, maybe the new macbook will remain the same not lose the optical drive not gain a retana display, and stick to for me the useless thunderbolt which it promotes, and what about the anti glare screen rumours are going quiet on that. Than we have the more wilder rumours you know liquid casing, oled screens don't they deserve attention too.

Finally one more thing maybe on the day of question tim cook will enter the stage with no steve jobs trademark clothes which we have all grown weary of and maybe will focus more on the iPhone 5 and ios6, than maybe in the remainder of the time cook and his team mates will focus on Mountain lion and its iphonish features and say its once again at price everyone can afford.

and maybe when the time comes i am proven wrong which i hope so given this long wait!!!!

 

[Stetrain]

Writing your demo to a cheap-o SD card that you can just give them would be even more "impressive". SD cards are also an order of magnitude faster both to write to and to read from) than a crummy DVD-R. And you'd never have to say, "hey guys - do you have a flat, stable surface that I can set my computer on for 15 minutes while I burn my demo to this janky old DVDR for you? Oops-a-daisy! Burnt another coaster! Why don't you guys go to another meeting while I finish this up for you?"

Brilliant.

 

[skaertus]

Rumours can mean nothing too, maybe the new macbook will remain the same not lose the optical drive not gain a retana display, and stick to for me the useless thunderbolt which it promotes, and what about the anti glare screen rumours are going quiet on that.

Retina Displays are already here. Suppliers already have them, as reported by CNET (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57434966-37/retina-macbook-screens-already-here-and-pricey/).

Of course these screens were ordered by Apple. And of course these screens will be put in the forthcoming 13" and 15" MacBook Pros. And, anyway, if Apple doesn't buy them, somebody will, because they are already available to equip 13" and 15" laptops. We'll have Retina Displays very soon.

 

[lionmanpt]

Peace

Take it easy people......

Everyone is already discussing so intense and we do not know what will happen.

Here in Europe (as you know) we are going through an terrible crisis. My concern is that we still have money to buy the new Macbooks.

I am sure Apple will present us with a unique product years ahead of it's competition.

Although Steve Jobs will always be present in history, let us never forget that no one is irreplaceable. Let us show some faith on the new generation, there are a lot of amazing engineers and lots of creativity out there.

A company isn't one person, but a result of a teamwork.

My only wish is to have an amazing product already available on the 11 of June (I do need a MBP)

 

[mond]

People still Want Ethernet, there is NO Replacement

Both of these points are pretty valid and one the forum seems to blindly ignore.

1. Laptops already exist that are extremely thin that still have ethernet ports.
2. Dropping the ethernet port actually is really irritating. It is quite useful in a number of environments. The biggest benefit on wired connections is the speed and reliability gain, and considering we are going to be using network/cloud hosted assets more often, I'd think that having it available without a dongle would be beneficial.
On the other hand, Apple's answer to everything seems to be "we have an adapter for that". And while this is what they will probably do, it is also very annoying. Mac users literally have to carry an accessory bag around with them.

Exactly. Well said.

Everything Apple does is based around the idea of simplicity and innovation. Why wouldn't they drop it? The Airs have done just fine with them, and let's be honest, having a hard wired connection to the internet isn't a 'Pro' feature. It's an 'old' feature.

This is just as bad an argument as the guy who compared the MBP to the iPhone & iPad.

It still has many many uses which there is no replacement for. Read above, or my post which you replied. There are MANY reasons why it is still essential & will continue to be for a long time.

The main issue is there is no replacement, it is still the STANDARD by which all networking is done, & it is VERY useful for a huge amount of people.

Saying it's "simplifying" it in itself is not an argument. You could say "Apple is going to remove the screen because it's making it too thick. That's great, Apple is just innovating!" Which is absolutely ridiculous.

Apple won't use some bizarre top down ethernet pop out thing, it isn't their style. So the only way for them to make it thinner is to get rid of the ethernet port and provide a dongle. Even the new Thinkpad doesn't have ethernet. I use ethernet every day but would much rather take a thin and light MBP with a dongle than what we have currently.

The dongle is a mild inconvenience, and the people that use them regularly (like me) can just leave them attached to the ethernet cable at their desk.

bizarre? apple has done PLENTY of bizarre things. + i don't think it's bizarre, what it is is innovative (you know apple isn't the only company in the world that has innovation; it's a human trait, not a corporate one).

Most MBP's don't really have enough USB (assuming the dongle is USB) ports to plug ethernet in with a dongle. I already use all 3 ports on my machine, and have the ethernet plugged into the ethernet jack. Do you think they'll add more USB ports if they ditch the ethernet port?

Another good point.

So on top of your USB to GB ethernet adapter (which you have to hope continues to work w/ patches & requires more translation drivers, that you don't lose it, that it doesn't break off, etc..), you end up needing to carry a USB hub to plug into the port. Oh, well you have a powered USB device too? Well the hub has to be powered now then. So you have a Ethernet adapter, USB dongle, & Power cord hanging off the usb dongle.

Not light, simple & portable anymore. Now it's a mess of wires and crap hanging off crap hanging off crap plugged into crap. How is that simpler than just having a ethernet port? it's not.

Tldr. Ugly laptop in the picture.

Congratulations!!

You are Apple's favorite kind of customer.

There are other use cases for MBPs+ethernet when traveling between offices or even within the same office. Some offices have unreliable wireless and using ethernet in meeting rooms is sometimes the only option. Similarly when visiting someone else's office, it is often more efficient to connect to ethernet than it is to figure out the guest WiFi password if they have one.

Exactly.

I didn't miss the point. People have been whining about the lack of ethernet ever since the mock-up showed up. Completely ignoring the fact that we're about to get the most innovative laptop in years, but that's no big deal. Also by definition, ahead of the curve IS innovation. It is promoting something new as opposed to something established. You can call removal of the ethernet port as ahead of the curve, or innovative but you would only be arguing semantics. USB 3.0 doesn't use up the same amount of CPU as 2.0 And for clarifications sake the next generation of wireless (ac) is FASTER than gigabit ethernet. So far, no one has a valid argument for ethernet's removal. They simply don't want to have a dongle. That's an extremely weak argument.

Whining? The word you're looking for is complaining. People who whine drone and have no valid argument. The argument for Ethernet is the compelling one, the argument against it is the one w/ no legs to stand on.


And considering the upvote/downvote ratio on this thread the majority of people are the ones who want Ethernet; not the other way around.

 

[thundersteele]

If they think people like myself will pay £1500 for a laptop without a dedicated GPU, they can think again.

Well, they have gone with this option in the past. The 2009 15'' low end MBP came with integrated graphics only. I'm not sure how well that worked out with the sales numbers.

 

[mrmarts]

Retina Displays are already here. Suppliers already have them, as reported by CNET (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57434966-37/retina-macbook-screens-already-here-and-pricey/).

Of course these screens were ordered by Apple. And of course these screens will be put in the forthcoming 13" and 15" MacBook Pros. And, anyway, if Apple doesn't buy them, somebody will, because they are already available to equip 13" and 15" laptops. We'll have Retina Displays very soon.

so is this a 100% guarantee that we will see them.

 

[StuLax18]

And considering the upvote/downvote ratio on this thread the majority of people are the ones who want Ethernet; not the other way around.

You just joined today. Are you actually expecting me to believe you've seen the upvote/downvote of every post in this thread regarding ethernet?

Maybe you were just lurking this whole time.

 

[neilpryde23]

And considering the upvote/downvote ratio on this thread the majority of people are the ones who want Ethernet; not the other way around.

While I do want the ethernet port to stay, just remember that people are much more likely to vote and voice out against the removal of ethernet than people who wouldn't mind having it removed, even if ethernet-supporters are the minority just because they have a very strong opinion about it. It's similar to the ODD debate where those who need it are going to voice out their concerns much more than those who would prefer having it removed but would rather not argue online about it (because arguing online can be tiresome lol) or are indifferent. Therefore, the actual proportion of macbook pro customers who absolutely want ethernet to stay may be very different, and is most likely less, than what is perceived in these forums.

 

[tmanto02]

I don;t give a **** if they drop ethernet if they introduce 802.11ac!

Bring on gigabit ethernet!

 

[MrGando]

Maybe retina will be a high-end option for the MBP, thus keeping the baseline costs down. ( Ala hi-res screen right now )

 

[MDFang]

Maybe retina will be a high-end option for the MBP, thus keeping the baseline costs down. ( Ala hi-res screen right now )

If it were to be optional, would I want it? I'm not one who really needs/wants the most crisp and clear display. As long as I can view everything on it in the same fashion as on an average monitor, I'm fine.
Would getting a "retina"-worthy display be worth it in the long run, ie future-proofing?

 

[Tritons]

If it were to be optional, would I want it? I'm not one who really needs/wants the most crisp and clear display. As long as I can view everything on it in the same fashion as on an average monitor, I'm fine.
Would getting a "retina"-worthy display be worth it in the long run, ie future-proofing?

If it were to be optional I believe they would make stock resolution higher then it is right now, may be 1680x1050 and then you can pay 100$ extra to get retina.

 

[cloud 9]

LOL at people thinking PRO means something, it only means you'll lose more money if you buy PRO.

I want the graphic card to play games and do some heavy photoshop, that's what PRO means for me.

I'm not against losing Ethernet, it's an outdated connection, and I can't remember the last time I had used it in my home.
BUT at work we have wifi AND ethernet, and ethernet is still very much needed in the work environment!

 

[kot]

I'm not against losing Ethernet, it's an outdated connection, and I can't remember the last time I had used it in my home.

Oh yeah? Please tell me how your wireless router gets internet in the first place.

Please tell us a story how you setup networks in a big office building using wi-fi only (i'm not even mentioning mission-critical server environment) and how fast and reliably it operates in such an environment.

Wifi is not a replacement for Ethernet, it is a complement for SOHO use. Casual, if you want. Networks are built on Ethernet, not on WiFi. Wifi are wireless extenders of Ethernet networks.

You can't call a machine a PRO machine if it can't do networking. Casual toy for youtube and facebook probly. You've got networking in EVERY, I mean EVERY notebook which is not an ultrabook.

 

[GuitarG20]

Oh yeah? Please tell me how your wireless router gets internet in the first place.

Please tell us a story how you setup networks in a big office building using wi-fi only (i'm not even mentioning mission-critical server environment) and how fast and reliably it operates in such an environment.

Wifi is not a replacement for Ethernet, it is a complement for SOHO use. Casual, if you want. Networks are built on Ethernet, not on WiFi. Wifi are wireless extenders of Ethernet networks.

You can't call a machine a PRO machine if it can't do networking. Casual toy for youtube and facebook probly. You've got networking in EVERY, I mean EVERY notebook which is not an ultrabook.

I agree with this person, but not for any of these reasons. I agree with this person because when the wifi in my dorm fails (about once a week for 4 hours or so) i jack into ethernet and set my computer up as a wireless access point for all of my friends.

 

[cloud 9]

Oh yeah? Please tell me how your wireless router gets internet in the first place.

Please tell us a story how you setup networks in a big office building using wi-fi only (i'm not even mentioning mission-critical server environment) and how fast and reliably it operates in such an environment.

Wifi is not a replacement for Ethernet, it is a complement for SOHO use. Casual, if you want. Networks are built on Ethernet, not on WiFi. Wifi are wireless extenders of Ethernet networks.

You can't call a machine a PRO machine if it can't do networking. Casual toy for youtube and facebook probly. You've got networking in EVERY, I mean EVERY notebook which is not an ultrabook.

Oh c'mon, can't you read an entire message? I said i RARELY use it in a home setting but it's necessary in a work environment!

I buy wifi from my internetprovider, i don't care how they fix it, THAT's the service I bought, i have't used ETHERNET since the last three years AT HOME.

L2 read

 

[MadTester]

LOL at people thinking PRO means something, it only means you'll lose more money if you buy PRO.

I want the graphic card to play games and do some heavy photoshop, that's what PRO means for me.

I'm not against losing Ethernet, it's an outdated connection, and I can't remember the last time I had used it in my home.
BUT at work we have wifi AND ethernet, and ethernet is still very much needed in the work environment!

Agreed but until someone comes up with something radically different to replace ethernet then we're unfortunately stuck with ethetrnet... How about Thunderbolt networks

 

[kot]

i have't used ETHERNET since the last three years AT HOME.

You seem to not understand it. You ARE using ETHERNET at home if you're using WiFi since your WiFi router most likely is connected with its WAN ETHERNET port to your ISP's cable.

So no, it's not outdated. Without Ethernet you won't be getting good internet at home.

If only and ever Wifi becomes as much reliable, fast, secure and with the same range as an ethernet cable, then I will happily dump Ethernet in favor for wireless. But Wifi in its current form is a cripple in comparison to Ethernet. Sorry.

By the way. With a cheap $2 gadget I could render your wifi network at home unusable. And you couldn't do anything about that. That you call reliable?

 

[Beachguy]

How am I supposed to look at a laptop which Apple tells me is built for professionals when I can't even do networking with it?

You can. It's just not built on the side- you use a supplied adapter. We had MBAs at my last job, and we were all ethernet, with the connection from the Thunderbolt Display.

 

[RodPinto]

So much crap about having/not having ethernet! Just give me the new MacBook pro, with a decent dGpu, retina display and everybody will have to get adapted to it! If you don't want changes, just go To the Apple store now and buy the 2011 version! Simple!!!

 

[Fabricman112]

I hope there will be an option ODD to extra HDD.. and the option to max out all other (i7 3770, maybe a 680m, 16-32GB 1800MHz RAM etc...) but I want my RJ-45 and a really competitive 15" screen (120Hz IPS)
if it´s gonna be a Macbook PRO, we need some PRO options , I can´t see why a high-end verison shouldn´t be available, cuz some of us are eventually gonna upgrade all we can...

 

[kot]

You can. It's just not built on the side- you use a supplied adapter. We had MBAs at my last job, and we were all ethernet, with the connection from the Thunderbolt Display.

Why keep wireless built-in then? You could use a USB dongle.