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2012 Macbook Pro Redesign
- Thread starter Funkymonk
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Apple focuses a lot on simplicity and ease of use for consumers. Two separate storage discs would go against this philosophy. I highly doubt they will pursue this approach. It would also mean holding on to obsolete technology (HDDs), which is not Apple like.
This is really the only thing I want... 13" Pro badly needs an option for high-res antiglare. Will definitely buy another one if they give it this option vs forcing you to upgrade to the 15 or 17, the 13 is still a Pro model... no need for it to not receive it.
I still don't see them doing SSD only like some are mentioning, prices still haven't come down to a level that makes it easily affordable and cost effective for manufacturers to completely switch over too (nevermind the rape you in the butt markup Apple charges anyway for their current SSD's). I mean I have a 500gb HD on my MBP, go price out a 400gb+ SSD... you can easily spend north of a grand, even some of the cheaper 256gb SSD's start at around $400 or so.
I think they will use some type of hybrid setup, small SSD for the OS and HD for everything else. Then again it's Apple were talking about, they could easily just decide to stick with normal HD's and nobody would really be surprised lol.
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The dual SSD and HDD configuration is available for the iMac. It's actually a new idea and it is a good one. That would be very nice for speed and battery life in a Macbbok Pro.
Ivy Bridge is hopefully a sure thing. Beyond that I don't know what to expect.
It would be really great if they upgrade the display panel, and it would be an absolute DREAM if that upgrade was to something like Super-AMOLED. This is just an "I wish" statement though, not something I expect to see in the next two years, at least. After all, I don't think any of AMOLED notebook PCs have made it past the demo/prototype stage yet. And Apple doesn't even use AMOLED in the iPhone (which I'd also love to see).
On a realistic note, if Apple does upgrade MBP panels this year -- and that's a HUGE "if" -- I think it'd most likely be to something like RGBLED.
I love the 16:10 panel sizes though, so I hope that sticks around. My current MBP is a 15" but I'd get a 13" if they make offer a resolution higher than the current 1280x800 option available (1440x900 seems reasonable since the 13" MBA already offers it). I've used a 1366x768 panel and it was just too small, so I've stuck with the 15" for now.
I think there will be a significant resolution bump to the whole Mac line eventually but I'd be stunned if it happens in 2012.
It would be really great if they upgrade the display panel, and it would be an absolute DREAM if that upgrade was to something like Super-AMOLED. This is just an "I wish" statement though, not something I expect to see in the next two years, at least. After all, I don't think any of AMOLED notebook PCs have made it past the demo/prototype stage yet. And Apple doesn't even use AMOLED in the iPhone (which I'd also love to see).
On a realistic note, if Apple does upgrade MBP panels this year -- and that's a HUGE "if" -- I think it'd most likely be to something like RGBLED.
I love the 16:10 panel sizes though, so I hope that sticks around. My current MBP is a 15" but I'd get a 13" if they make offer a resolution higher than the current 1280x800 option available (1440x900 seems reasonable since the 13" MBA already offers it). I've used a 1366x768 panel and it was just too small, so I've stuck with the 15" for now.
I think there will be a significant resolution bump to the whole Mac line eventually but I'd be stunned if it happens in 2012.
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this is what i think will emerge as the new 2012 lineup.. disregard the dates above..i wrote the 2011 ones down just to help in estimation & prediction.. also probably the 2-3 USB3 ports is a longshot so disregard that too. but otherwise i believe this is a fairly accurate way of how the 2012 macbook lineup would be.
Because i think the challenge for apple in 2011 was the lines between air & pro were clearly blurred with customers having to think carefully what they really need(SSD or faster processors, etc). With my suggested lineup, i believe it gives clear distinction to the two lines. Based on this specs, anyone who want to do pro/creative work will not even think a second on purchasing the MBA. At the same time, if you just want to get a laptop for your mom, or dad or sis you would not even think a second on MBP. So the two lines can co-exist harmoniously without one canibalizing the sales of the other unnecessarily. I just could not decide between 7200 or SSD for the MBPs but i'd say there's 50% chance for both. 5400rpm really shouldn't be in considering negligible costs(compared to 7200) and unforgiving comparisons with MBA's SSD.
I hear a lot of you suggest the removal of the 13" MacBook Pro, but it's actually the most bought (if not only) MacBook model among students here in Denmark. I haven't seen anyone with a MacBook Air yet even though it's been available for some years now, and since the 15" costs 50% more and weights more, the 13" Pro seems like a prefered model. Pro also makes it possible to do some more demanding things like playing games or having enough memory for different stuff compared to Air. So I am pretty sure that it's dumb to eliminate this screen size model for MacBook Pro.
I see these changes coming for the next generation of MacBook Pros
• remove optical disc drive
• remove battery indicator (am I the only one disliking this?)
• better resolution (doesn't have to be retina)
• combination of SSD and HDD (for better battery stability)
• tapered design or thinner body (if the rumors suggest a complete design overhaul it means at least one of these things, because the there's currently nothing to improve about the design in my opinion)
• Upgrades to cpu, gpu etc.
I'll buy a MacBook Pro 13" for the next release (unless it's not a complete overhaul but internal update) which will suit well for me starting at the university after summer hopefully and my current laptop is beginning to die. But I don't want to hype myself with this overhaul, because Apple always surprises with little. How can we know for sure a new upgrade will happen at april/may?
I see these changes coming for the next generation of MacBook Pros
• remove optical disc drive
• remove battery indicator (am I the only one disliking this?)
• better resolution (doesn't have to be retina)
• combination of SSD and HDD (for better battery stability)
• tapered design or thinner body (if the rumors suggest a complete design overhaul it means at least one of these things, because the there's currently nothing to improve about the design in my opinion)
• Upgrades to cpu, gpu etc.
I'll buy a MacBook Pro 13" for the next release (unless it's not a complete overhaul but internal update) which will suit well for me starting at the university after summer hopefully and my current laptop is beginning to die. But I don't want to hype myself with this overhaul, because Apple always surprises with little. How can we know for sure a new upgrade will happen at april/may?
Here's what I would like to see:
DISCRETE GPU in 13"
That's all.
Here's what I think will happen:
Quad core option for 13" mbp and air
No cd/dvd drive to accomodate case redesign, made thinner like the air
Intel HD 4000 so no discrete gpu in 13" but 15/17 will have discrete (discrete gpu would hammer smaller 13" battery.)
End of firewire. Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 standard
SSD/HDD combo since no dvd drive. SSD for OS, HDD for media storage
8GB RAM standard
Longer battery due to die shrink (more efficient and powerful cpu)
Increased resolution on 13"
I wonder what the redesign will look like. I can't see the current design being improved on much. It's pretty flawless as is.
DISCRETE GPU in 13"
That's all.
Here's what I think will happen:
Quad core option for 13" mbp and air
No cd/dvd drive to accomodate case redesign, made thinner like the air
Intel HD 4000 so no discrete gpu in 13" but 15/17 will have discrete (discrete gpu would hammer smaller 13" battery.)
End of firewire. Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 standard
SSD/HDD combo since no dvd drive. SSD for OS, HDD for media storage
8GB RAM standard
Longer battery due to die shrink (more efficient and powerful cpu)
Increased resolution on 13"
I wonder what the redesign will look like. I can't see the current design being improved on much. It's pretty flawless as is.
All I'd like to see in the 2012 13" MBP:
The high-res screen is a given, considering MBA 13" already offers it. I also believe that SDD is the future and the new line-up will offer it as an optional.
The real question is whether they will ditch the DVD drive in order to gain enough room to squeeze in a discrete GPU and perhaps better battery life. In my opinion, the 13 MBP needs discrete graphics to differentiate itself from the 13 MBA. The 2011 line-up was already too close in terms of performance. The 2012 13" MBP needs a step up in performance.
- 1440x900 Anti glare screen
- SDD
- No DVD drive
- Discrete GPU
- Better battery life
The high-res screen is a given, considering MBA 13" already offers it. I also believe that SDD is the future and the new line-up will offer it as an optional.
The real question is whether they will ditch the DVD drive in order to gain enough room to squeeze in a discrete GPU and perhaps better battery life. In my opinion, the 13 MBP needs discrete graphics to differentiate itself from the 13 MBA. The 2011 line-up was already too close in terms of performance. The 2012 13" MBP needs a step up in performance.
I think all of us "Heavy MBP users" want ONE THING the most. BETTER COOLING. The fans are fine but I hate having hot air being blown out of the keyboard and into my hands. When I play WoW or Minecraft for more than an hour my keyboard gets so hot.
How about: A way of the air passing through the USB ports. Sounds stupid?
Mmmm possibly.
How about: A way of the air passing through the USB ports. Sounds stupid?
Mmmm possibly.
How would the USB ports function as a vent when something is plugged in? A few accessories makers have made expresscard fans that suck air out of the expresscard slot but they were never effective. Not sure how your keyboard is blowing air onto your hands. The MBP does not vent itself that way and the last time I opened mine up, the keyboard was actually partially sealed with some kind of (kapton?) tape.
Cooling is definitely a problem though. I wish Apple would just drill holes in the underside, how often do people look down there anyway?
Cooling is definitely a problem though. I wish Apple would just drill holes in the underside, how often do people look down there anyway?
I had this computer...
I had a 486 DX4 100 beast with a SB 32 AWE sound card. It was a massive upgrade from my previous 386 33MHz or something. Before that I had a 286 with a TURBO button that would let me run at 16 or 8 MHz. It was TOO FAST for some games hence you could switch off the turbo and run at 8 MHz.How would the USB ports function as a vent when something is plugged in?
Sensor? When a device is plugged in it automatically stops blowing air.
Not sure how your keyboard is blowing air onto your hands. The MBP does not vent itself that way and the last time I opened mine up, the keyboard was actually partially sealed with some kind of (kapton?) tape.
I must have said it wrong. I mean the key's heat up.
Cooling is definitely a problem though. I wish Apple would just drill holes in the underside, how often do people look down there anyway?[/QUOTE]
Totally!!!!
Sensor? When a device is plugged in it automatically stops blowing air.
Not sure how your keyboard is blowing air onto your hands. The MBP does not vent itself that way and the last time I opened mine up, the keyboard was actually partially sealed with some kind of (kapton?) tape.
I must have said it wrong. I mean the key's heat up.
Cooling is definitely a problem though. I wish Apple would just drill holes in the underside, how often do people look down there anyway?[/QUOTE]
Totally!!!!
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So, Apple had an extended return policy for "christmas presents", namely anything bought between october 29 and december 25 can be returned until january 9.
Apple would hurt itself a lot if they announced a new product before january 9, since people might choose to return their macbook/pro/air/imac/macpro and get the new product. Now January 9 is approaching, so there's a bigger chance that we will soon hear about new products.
The MBP upgrade seems far away, but the 15'' Air was rumored for early 2012, and the 11'' and 13'' Airs might also be in for an update... however that would be non-Ivy machines. Besides CPU bumps that would be minor, the Air could get more RAM - 4 GB for the base 11'' model and maybe an option to upgrade to 8 GB. And of course the 15'' Air, if it exists
Apple would hurt itself a lot if they announced a new product before january 9, since people might choose to return their macbook/pro/air/imac/macpro and get the new product. Now January 9 is approaching, so there's a bigger chance that we will soon hear about new products.
The MBP upgrade seems far away, but the 15'' Air was rumored for early 2012, and the 11'' and 13'' Airs might also be in for an update... however that would be non-Ivy machines. Besides CPU bumps that would be minor, the Air could get more RAM - 4 GB for the base 11'' model and maybe an option to upgrade to 8 GB. And of course the 15'' Air, if it exists
The above post makes sense.
I believe Apple will update the MBAs sometime in March but they won't have Ivy Bridge. Probably its going to be a spec bump, nothing more, along with a 15inch MBA.
Then, in April or May, they will come out with the MBP update, with ivy bridge, as well as other major upgrades (just look at all the rumors).
It makes sense not putting ivy bridge into the Airs right now because the 13 and 15 inch Airs would cannibalize sales of the MBP.
Anyone think this?
I believe Apple will update the MBAs sometime in March but they won't have Ivy Bridge. Probably its going to be a spec bump, nothing more, along with a 15inch MBA.
Then, in April or May, they will come out with the MBP update, with ivy bridge, as well as other major upgrades (just look at all the rumors).
It makes sense not putting ivy bridge into the Airs right now because the 13 and 15 inch Airs would cannibalize sales of the MBP.
Anyone think this?
usb 3.0? they've waited this long to not put it into the line up, why would they do it now? thats why they have thunderbolt, its apples "solution" to 3.0. sad but true and i doubt we will ever see it.
That's a very good point. It would make sense to give the Pro machines a few months head start with Ivy.
Yeah, it really is sad that Apple has not put USB 3.0 on anything yet. It is by far more useful than Thunderbolt, at this point at least.
That is because, Intel didn't include any USB 3.0 drivers for its chipsets yet, which are expected to "finally" arrive with the Ivy Bridge chips.
Really? I might have to get it then even if they DO remove the Disc Drive....how much, in USD, is a decent disc drive that works with MACs these days?