I like your signature! I think they might come out with a 15 inch MBA and then a redesign in 2 years. then of course the spec bump to ivy bridge for all the portables.FACT:does not do full redesigns often. When the do, it's typically for good reasons (components are smaller and they can shrink the form factor, etc.).
Therefore:
Option 1) Ifthinks it will be 3-4 years until they can ditch the optical drive and ethernet port (the two most size-limiting things in the current design), they may do a redesign now.
Option 2) Ifforesees ditching the OD and ethernet sooner, they will probably stick with the current design for now.
Option 3) A compromise might see a redesign for the 13" and perhaps low-end 15" MBPs that ditch the OD and ethernet, allowing for a slimmer form factor (perhaps going back to the "MacBook" moniker). Then they could keep the high-end 15" and 17" as their "Pro" models with no major redesign, or perhaps with slimmer screens which would not effect the unibody.
I think Option 3 is likely. The fact is that they CANNOT ditch the optical drives yet if they want to keep true "Pro" machines. A great many people still use or even need ODs (uber-nerds on forums such as this not withstanding). But for some people an OD might not be necessary, yet they want more power and functionality than the "Air" line.
This brings back the MacBook, the in-between line. And if gives a good reason for that line's resurrection--greater performance (and probably huge battery life) vs the MBA, in a smaller form factor than the MBP. In this scenario, you'd have 2 products in each of the 2 notebook lines--easy, slick, with the purpose and functionality of each easy to see.
Add to this the fact thathas not added a completely new product to their notebook line since the MBA a few years ago. Completely new products generate a lot of buzz, which
loves to do. Resurrecting a redesigned MacBook would probably renew interest in all of their notebooks.
At any rate, all I really want personally is the current 17" MBP with updated Ivy and GPU, though I'd certainly welcome a slimmer screen and a dedicated SSD for the OS. But I really wishwould prioritize making Lion usable rather than spending all their time on iOS.
The fact is that they CANNOT ditch the optical drives yet if they want to keep true "Pro" machines. A great many people still use or even need ODs (uber-nerds on forums such as this not withstanding). But for some people an OD might not be necessary, yet they want more power and functionality than the "Air" line.
FACT:does not do full redesigns often. When the do, it's typically for good reasons (components are smaller and they can shrink the form factor, etc.).
Therefore:
Option 1) Ifthinks it will be 3-4 years until they can ditch the optical drive and ethernet port (the two most size-limiting things in the current design), they may do a redesign now.
Option 2) Ifforesees ditching the OD and ethernet sooner, they will probably stick with the current design for now.
Option 3) A compromise might see a redesign for the 13" and perhaps low-end 15" MBPs that ditch the OD and ethernet, allowing for a slimmer form factor (perhaps going back to the "MacBook" moniker). Then they could keep the high-end 15" and 17" as their "Pro" models with no major redesign, or perhaps with slimmer screens which would not effect the unibody.
I think Option 3 is likely. The fact is that they CANNOT ditch the optical drives yet if they want to keep true "Pro" machines. A great many people still use or even need ODs (uber-nerds on forums such as this not withstanding). But for some people an OD might not be necessary, yet they want more power and functionality than the "Air" line.
This brings back the MacBook, the in-between line. And if gives a good reason for that line's resurrection--greater performance (and probably huge battery life) vs the MBA, in a smaller form factor than the MBP. In this scenario, you'd have 2 products in each of the 2 notebook lines--easy, slick, with the purpose and functionality of each easy to see.
Add to this the fact thathas not added a completely new product to their notebook line since the MBA a few years ago. Completely new products generate a lot of buzz, which
loves to do. Resurrecting a redesigned MacBook would probably renew interest in all of their notebooks.
At any rate, all I really want personally is the current 17" MBP with updated Ivy and GPU, though I'd certainly welcome a slimmer screen and a dedicated SSD for the OS. But I really wishwould prioritize making Lion usable rather than spending all their time on iOS.
I disagree. I believe the ODD is a consumer option at this point, not a pro option. I could see them doing the opposite, keeping the ODD in the lower end models only, if at all.
As a "professional", wouldn't you prefer more power and longer battery life in a smaller package, with the option to carry a $40 bus-powered ODD if you need one, than sacrificing all that space for a rarely used piece of hardware?
You understand that "Pro" is just a marketing name, right? It doesn't imply that only Professionals buy these machines - I bet that 90% of Macbook Pros are sold to what you would call a consumer.
The people in your class would better served with a MBA then.....perfect for them and more portable than the MBP. Unless they use it for something else when they get home.Exactly. Most of the people in my class (finance undergrad) have a MacBook Pro. The most they do with them is note taking/internet/video conferencing. Things you can easily do with a 200$ netbook. And above all i have never ever seen anyone use the optical drive.
The people in your class would better served with a MBA then.....perfect for them and more portable than the MBP. Unless they use it for something else when they get home.
So...
Let's get this party started
What can we expect?
when do you think they will release it? i got a 13" Macbook Pro i7 in May. I have a accidental warranty on it but that up at the end of May. So if "something happened" to this one that cost more then 60% of the cost of this to fix it they will give me a new one or gift card with the cost of this one minus the warranty. so if its going to come out after may i will have to go with out a computer till it comes out
Why not be moral and not let "something happen" to your perfectly functioning MacBook Pro?
Part of the reason we have the problems we're having is because of attitudes you're showing above. Fraud drives insurance premiums way, way up for us honest people.
Please make the correct choice. You'll sleep better, anyways.
lol...you have a point......but I would have still bought my MBP even if it didn't say Pro.Yea i agree and thats what i use. I think the MacBook Air is the perfect choice for a student considering that it is lighter and thinner than the 13" Pro and the battery life is great too. On the other hand I think its the term "PRO" that attracts the general customers towards the Pro because lets face it, everyone wants to be a Pro.![]()
lol...you have a point......but I would have still bought my MBP even if it didn't say Pro.
At one time it was the Professional's choice for video and sound editing.....but it is the choice of everyday consumers choice now.
going to upgrade to the 15" and buy another longer warranty its a win win win
Hmmm why bring religion into the picture?^. Besides your reasons were not convincing at all. I don't think you have any idea what goes into production of a single computer.
The "Pro" tag has become meaningless really. It's been years that Apple has become mainly a consumer-orientated brand, not a professionals-orientated brand (which is perfectly fine for me).
That being said, I'm 100% against resurrecting the MacBook line as an in-between half-breed between MBA and MBP. It's totally unnecessary, and it's no wonder Apple killed it. The MBA 13" and MBP 13" are already way too close in terms of processing power to squeeze yet another machine in there.
What we need is the MBP family to muscle up...
- The MBA is perfect for what it's aimed to be: a premium laptop for mobile-orientated consumers.
- Now we need the MBP to become a laptop for power-orientated consumers. In my opinion, ditching the DVD drive (to gain extra room for more juice) is the way to go.
My Macbook Pro battery lasts about 6 hours of normal (for me) use. It does not need more battery life. If I am going to be using a app or a process that is going to task my system then I will hook it up to power. I would guess most true power users would do the same. But I do use my DVD drive. I was at my son's football practice watching a DVD movie I got from Netflix. There was no wifi so only a DVD would do.The "Pro" tag has become meaningless really. It's been years that Apple has become mainly a consumer-orientated brand, not a professionals-orientated brand (which is perfectly fine for me).
That being said, I'm 100% against resurrecting the MacBook line as an in-between half-breed between MBA and MBP. It's totally unnecessary, and it's no wonder Apple killed it. The MBA 13" and MBP 13" are already way too close in terms of processing power to squeeze yet another machine in there.
What we need is the MBP family to muscle up...
- The MBA is perfect for what it's aimed to be: a premium laptop for mobile-orientated consumers.
- Now we need the MBP to become a laptop for power-orientated consumers. In my opinion, ditching the DVD drive (to gain extra room for more juice) is the way to go.
I'm looking at a MBP now for gaming, but I could actually care less whether it has an optical drive or not.