2012 Macbook Pro Redesign

[GuitarG20]

I don't know if they would have to squeeze the battery. I've got a 15" MBP and when i am working on battery, i am on integrated pretty much all the time. Actually I use my dedicated GPU almost isolated on BC Windows, where i'm playing bf3. It's not like a dedicated GPU would destroy the 7 hours battery life while surfing ; its running on integrated anyway then.

I wouldn't debate you, except that I have to use gfxCardStatus to keep on integrated because programs that don't need it (skype, mostly) activate the dedicated card. And unfortunately, Apple has to cater to the average user. The average user doesn't have gfxCS, nor can they be bothered to care. All they will do is complain when their computer doesn't get the battery life they want (just look at every other new thread.) Apple has to cater to everyone now, even the people not technically inclined. That's why I don't think they will do it.

Plus, they need to continue to differentiate between the 13,15, and 17.

 

[Shuri]

I wouldn't debate you, except that I have to use gfxCardStatus to keep on integrated because programs that don't need it (skype, mostly) activate the dedicated card. And unfortunately, Apple has to cater to the average user. The average user doesn't have gfxCS, nor can they be bothered to care. All they will do is complain when their computer doesn't get the battery life they want (just look at every other new thread.) Apple has to cater to everyone now, even the people not technically inclined. That's why I don't think they will do it.

Plus, they need to continue to differentiate between the 13,15, and 17.

Well i use gfxCS as well. I also think the Mac often switches too early to the dedicated.
I don't know if its so hard for a user (who really isn't into technics) to understand: Slower, but longer battery life and faster, but more battery drain. So i'd like to see Apple to implement manually switching GPUs natively. They could even add a little recommendations if the Mac "thinks" it needs more power and asks the user to confirm that.
Cars with automatic gears also got a sport and comfort (or equal) setting, which has similar effects (faster accelerating, but uses more gas) so i don't see people getting mad, because they have to care about it.
They could make the way, MacOS changes the GPU more accurate, then the problem would be eliminated, too.

But i don't know what the new Ivy Intel HD will be like: Maybe its much faster than the present one and we don't have to worry about it anyways, except for really high performance tasks (which actually do better on a 15")

 

[bdodds1985]

just give me at least two usb ports with some space.

 

[myrtlebee]

If they drop the ODD and bring in the thinner, tapered form you can kiss the MacBook Pro line goodbye and say hello to a merged lineup of simply MacBooks - 11", 13", 15". The 17" will be dropped. This would be my guess for their ultimate direction with their notebooks within the next few refreshes... probably not the early 2012 refresh, but I would guess this would happen sometime in the summer or early fall.

Branching out to the other Macs, the MacPro gets the axe while the iMac is redesigned thinner and "chin"less. I wouldn't put it past them to phase out the Mac mini as well. After all, you can only claim to be in a post-PC era for so long and still offer ~10 PC models (5 product lines and multiple sizes).

(And... iPod Classic is eliminated in September and the current Apple TV box is let go for a Apple TV set to be released before the holidays)

These are simply guesses, of course.

 

[FuFuFu]

I don't think Apple is dropping their Pro line (laptops and desktops). Developing an OS is very expensive, so why they should kill the pro market as target for it?

Yeah they didn't show much love to macbook pro and mac pro in the last years. Just some CPU, GPU Upgrades and glossy screen only for a long time.
I hope features like instant on are coming to macbook pro lineup to.

The "Back to the Mac" is hopefully not just software ...

 

[Callumbear845]

I'm praying that the retina display rumors come true. My iPhone 4S has spoiled me. When ever I look at my computer monitor, I see the potential for incredible crispness and clarity. The new 28nm GPUs will help with that, if they are ready in time.

 

[bumzo1]

For 2012 I would really like the Macbook pro to:

1. ditch the disk drive, we all know apple has been preparing for it with the Mac app store and who even uses them very often anymore? If you need one they're only about $30 for an external one.

2. With the extra space, add an extra set of RAM slots (4 total) that can each hold up to 16gb 1600mhz RAM

3. also add another HDD slot and allow for the ability to have an SSD HDD combo much like the iMac

4. in the higher model have the next generation AMD GPUs with 2gb of VRAM

5. Add a second thunderbolt port in the 15" allowing for dual external monitors without needed 2 thunderbolt displays

6. Add at least one USB 3.0 port

7. Upgrade the wifi card to the new broadcom 802.11 b/g/n/ac

8. Ivy bridge processors of course

9. bump the resolution in the 15" to 1920x1200 IPS panel

10. and after all that fill the remaining space with a bigger battery to power all of this stuff

I realize that not all of these things are feasible but if Apple made a MBP like this I'd buy one on launch day. Either way I'll be buying the next iteration, I've been without a laptop for too long!

 

[Callumbear845]

For 2012 I would really like the Macbook pro to:

1. ditch the disk drive, we all know apple has been preparing for it with the Mac app store and who even uses them very often anymore? If you need one they're only about $30 for an external one.

2. With the extra space, add an extra set of RAM slots (4 total) that can each hold up to 16gb 1600mhz RAM

3. also add another HDD slot and allow for the ability to have an SSD HDD combo much like the iMac

4. in the higher model have the next generation AMD GPUs with 2gb of VRAM

5. Add a second thunderbolt port in the 15" allowing for dual external monitors without needed 2 thunderbolt displays

6. Add at least one USB 3.0 port

7. Upgrade the wifi card to the new broadcom 802.11 b/g/n/ac

8. Ivy bridge processors of course

9. bump the resolution in the 15" to 1920x1200 IPS panel

10. and after all that fill the remaining space with a bigger battery to power all of this stuff

I realize that not all of these things are feasible but if Apple made a MBP like this I'd buy one on launch day. Either way I'll be buying the next iteration, I've been without a laptop for too long!

That is almost exactly what I want. Just change the 1920x1200 IPS to a 3360x2100 retina IPS display. That would be perfect.

 

[TheloniousMiles]

Regardless of how groundbreaking the new MPB will be, I'll be getting one to replace my 2006 model. I think 6 years is long enough.

 

[floobie]

For 2012 I would really like the Macbook pro to:

2. With the extra space, add an extra set of RAM slots (4 total) that can each hold up to 16gb 1600mhz RAM

9. bump the resolution in the 15" to 1920x1200 IPS panel

These two hadn't occurred to me yet. But, I would quite like to see both of these things happen. 4 RAM slots would make putting 16gb in there a lot cheaper.

And, I'd love to see some IPS displays on the Macbook Pros. It has generally struck me as odd that iPhones, iPads, and iMacs all have them, but none of the notebooks do. And a bump to 1920x1200 would be quite welcome.

I too will be buying whatever they release. I've set aside the money already. The current 15" Pro is already a massive step up from what I have, but I'd like to maximize the longevity of my next computer. So, since my Macbook is still quite functional, I can wait a bit longer.

 

[thundersteele]

These two hadn't occurred to me yet. But, I would quite like to see both of these things happen. 4 RAM slots would make putting 16gb in there a lot cheaper.

Waste of space on a mobile device. Also, by the time these models are out, 2x8 GB will cost the same as 4x4 GB.

 

[FuFuFu]

4 RAM would give us max. 32 GB RAM thats awesome.

Retina won't come ... but yeah 15" with 1920 * 1200 and 17" with 2560 × 1600 would be great too.

Also I don't see Tim Cook doing that, it costs to much ...

 

[grahamnp]

Waste of space on a mobile device. Also, by the time these models are out, 2x8 GB will cost the same as 4x4 GB.

Yes, that is true.

Also, the percentage of customers who need 32GB in the small form factor and are willing to forego the performance of a desktop are small. I would rather Apple not design the laptop for these people. 4 DIMM slots are expensive and they take up a lot of space relative to other components inside, Apple could do a lot with that space and money.

 

[VI™]

What Apple does with the MBP decides what my next purchase(s) will be. Right now, I'm waiting on the new 17". If Apple does slim the body down, that's great and it'll probably be my next buy. If Apple doesn't, I'll probably buy a 15", sell my current MB, and buy an 11" MBP. I'm hoping they slim down the 17" as I want something I can play games on as well. It sucks gaming on a desktop at home after coming home from sitting infront of a desktop at work all day and a 15" notebook isn't ideal for gaming.

The smaller notebooks will be used primarily for tethered shooting with a camera.

 

[mzjin]

What Apple does with the MBP decides what my next purchase(s) will be. Right now, I'm waiting on the new 17". If Apple does slim the body down, that's great and it'll probably be my next buy. If Apple doesn't, I'll probably buy a 15", sell my current MB, and buy an 11" MBP. I'm hoping they slim down the 17" as I want something I can play games on as well. It sucks gaming on a desktop at home after coming home from sitting infront of a desktop at work all day and a 15" notebook isn't ideal for gaming.

The smaller notebooks will be used primarily for tethered shooting with a camera.

You need an iMac. Wait for an Ivy Bridge one with an even faster GPU.

 

[slapple]

Retina won't come ... but yeah 15" with 1920 * 1200 and 17" with 2560 × 1600 would be great too.

Also I don't see Tim Cook doing that, it costs to much ...

It wouldn't be the cost that prevents 1920x1200 in 15" and 2560x1600 in 17". It would be the fact that those resolutions would make things look TOO tiny on a non-retina screen. The 1680x1050 15" and 1920x1200 17" already look tiny to a lot of people.

 

[SurferMan]

7. Upgrade the wifi card to the new broadcom 802.11 b/g/n/ac

That's something I didn't think of nor see others mention. Yeh the MBP's have always had a crappy wifi setup, pretty poor reception even in the house. Meanwhile my gf's $300 netbook picks up our signal no problem on our dock, which is past our florida room and past our pool lol.

 

[GuitarG20]

That's something I didn't think of nor see others mention. Yeh the MBP's have always had a crappy wifi setup, pretty poor reception even in the house. Meanwhile my gf's $300 netbook picks up our signal no problem on our dock, which is past our florida room and past our pool lol.

that's weird... my MBP has been able to pick up and lock onto my house's wifi from a block away, and I live in a stone house...

 

[VI™]

You need an iMac. Wait for an Ivy Bridge one with an even faster GPU.

I have a desktop with OS X on it already. An iMac would have me sitting at a desk still and probably isn't faster than what I have now.

It's extremely un-portable.

 

[Toughbook]

I read a couple of weeks ago that Apple snatched up all the remaining 470 SSD's that Samsung had. It was close to a million of them. This makes me wonder what they are planning with all these? They have a load of 470's and also the newer 830 models.

 

[punchwalk]

Just thought I'd throw out something that I hope that MBP does NOT have in 2012:

Get rid of the stock 5400rpm drive. 7200rpm notebook HDDs have been around for several years (no less than five, but probably much more); there's just no excuse for Apple to sell it as a BTO "upgrade," especially with SSD's becoming more and more accessible these days.

I also wonder if Apple will be arrogant enough to keep charging a $200 upgrade charge for 8GB of RAM when you can get 16GB for around the same price now. It's no wonder most people on this site (including me) upgraded with 3rd party RAM after the purchase.

 

[ermir4444]

I dont think Apple will include a SSD/HDD combo with the new Macbook Pro. Traditional hard drives are not ideal for portable computers due to their moving parts, noise, weight, and power draw and above all slower speeds. SSD are much more suitable for portables and their price is decreasing quickly. I think the next MacBook Pro will come standart with SSD starting from 128 GB.

I am wondering if they will use traditional 2.5" SSD or the Blade style SSD ala MacBook Air. Based on their purchase of Anobit i'd say they will opt for the latter. That is great because with the omission of the superdrive and tradition HHD Apple will be to make the notebook much thinner and lighter and cram more batteries inside it.

I'm looking forward to the next redesign...

 

[greygray]

The 13" MBP is about to get the boot, IMHO. New mobile line up:

11" MBA
13" MBA
15" MBP
17" MBP

All computers to carry HR displays, IB, one TB port, 2 x USB 3 and SD (except 11").
MBP to carry above, plus:
*one x FW 800
*discrete graphics
*dual drive, SSD/HDD setup
* NO ODD!
[*17" + one TB and USB3]

I largely agree with this, except with the 13" MBP staying and maybe the addition of a 15" MBA, with the recent rumors of a thinner MBA/MBP. And, I think the ODD will stay for the MBPs.

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What Apple does with the MBP decides what my next purchase(s) will be. Right now, I'm waiting on the new 17". If Apple does slim the body down, that's great and it'll probably be my next buy. If Apple doesn't, I'll probably buy a 15", sell my current MB, and buy an 11" MBP.

11" MBP?

 

[cmChimera]

It wouldn't be the cost that prevents 1920x1200 in 15" and 2560x1600 in 17". It would be the fact that those resolutions would make things look TOO tiny on a non-retina screen. The 1680x1050 15" and 1920x1200 17" already look tiny to a lot of people.

You misunderstand what retina display is. A pixel doubled 1680 x 1050 15" would look the same just much sharper. Just like the iPhone did with the iPhone 4's retina display. Did anything seem smaller to you there?

 

[Hellhammer]

You misunderstand what retina display is. A pixel doubled 1680 x 1050 15" would look the same just much sharper. Just like the iPhone did with the iPhone 4's retina display. Did anything seem smaller to you there?

Software still needs to support it, though. You can't just make something use twice the pixels while keeping the physical size the same, things don't scale like that. With iPhone, it was easier because Apple could cease the sales until retina support was there, but OS X apps are way more complicated and some are not even updated anymore.