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I'm gonna hate Apple if the redesign is 2013. I kinda need a new laptop now, but am making do with my crappy hp one for the meantime.
 
FACT: :apple: 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) If :apple: thinks 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) If :apple: foresees 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 that :apple: has 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 :apple: 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 wish :apple: would prioritize making Lion usable rather than spending all their time on iOS.
 
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FACT: :apple: 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) If :apple: thinks 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) If :apple: foresees 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 that :apple: has 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 :apple: 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 wish :apple: would prioritize making Lion usable rather than spending all their time on iOS.
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.
 
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.

Apple has shown recently that they might not care about Pro machines. One need only look at all the questionable press around the current situation with the Mac Pro and media professionals, or the similarly critical press about Final Cut Pro X.

That said, what if the MBA remained the MBA, and the MBP dropped the OD, eliminated the 13" model and became the Macbook line.
No Pro to speak of whatsoever! This idea may be incredibly unpopular on this forum, (and also unlikely). But my point is that any assumptions about Apple's need to maintain Pro machines for Professionals is shaky at best given recent evidence.
 
FACT: :apple: 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) If :apple: thinks 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) If :apple: foresees 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 that :apple: has 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 :apple: 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 wish :apple: would 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?
 
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.
 
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.

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.
 
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.
 
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.

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. ;)
 
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
 
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.
 
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.

going to upgrade to the 15" and buy another longer warranty its a win win win
 
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.
 
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.

Uh...no.
 
going to upgrade to the 15" and buy another longer warranty its a win win win

Actually, it's a "lose lose lose":

First "lose": the honest people who buy accident insurance to cover, well, accidents. Fraud causes the cost of insurance to soar! That's stealing, pure and simple.

Second "lose": the environment. I'm quite sure you have no idea just how much energy it takes to create millable blocks of aluminum, not to mention the energy and labor cost of building a new notebook to replace the one you willingly destroy in the name of fraud.

The third, and most important "lose": your soul. You really don't think that willingly lying and stealing for your own profit won't affect you - either while you're living in your earthly coil, or after you leave it?

If you fall into a habit of lying and stealing now, it will become a habit that will curse you in the rest of your life. Trust me, lying thieves eventually get found out for who they are, and then _nobody_ will want to deal with you, in either business or personal realms.

And never forget that The Boss laid down ten very specific commandments, "Thou shall not steal" and "Thou shall not bear false witness" being among them. If you're arrogant enough to think that there is no Creator of this universe / multiverse, or that He doesn't care what people do in His creation, just mull over the quadrillions upon quadrillions of fundamental particles out there.... ...maybe just maybe pissing off Whomever was smart and powerful enough to create all of them isn't in your best interest, correct?
 
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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.
 
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.

Really? I design CPUs. I've manufactured aluminum components. And yes, I don't want to see people a) at least, become total slime balls, and b) at worst, put themselves in incredible jeopardy.

If you don't think that increased insurance premiums due to fraud, or the waste of destroying a perfectly good computer, or just the WRONGNESS of lying and stealing for personal gain aren't convincing arguments, then you should contemplate the situation longer.
 
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.
 
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.

Did you really say ditch the dvd drive "to gain extra room for more juice"? What a great idea! Glad this forum doesn't control the MBP line...
 
If Apple drops the MBP, I'm dropping Apple. The MBA is just a jumped up iPad and the MacBook was a very good line of laptops which shouldn't have been discontinued. If Apple now stops producing the only proper laptop they have left, I have no reason to make my next computer a Mac.

If Apple do upgrade the MBP, I hope they don't cripple it the same way they've done in their low end machines like the Mac Mini by removing important features like disk drives.
 
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.
 
I own MBA and a Mac Mini, and I certainly don't feel crippled in the least. I'm looking at a MBP now for gaming, but I could actually care less whether it has an optical drive or not.

I am not even sure a MBP is the best choice for WoW full-time, but I can't stand the idea of going back to a PC laptop. I don't want a desktop, because I'm over hardcore gaming and like to play from my couch while watching TV with the family.

Either way, the idea that removing an optical drive is "crippling" seems absurd when a $40 USB drive "uncripples" it and most users do not use an optical drive 95% of the time I'd guess.

Now to decide whether I should wait for the redesign or not, I just don't know as I am not all that patient :p
 
But everything is going to be stripped down in the 2012 model isn't it? Optical drives are out, and the body is going to be more slim aka: air. But my question is, are they going to focus on the 15" and 17"? Is there even going to be a 13.3"??I'm very curious.
 
I'm looking at a MBP now for gaming, but I could actually care less whether it has an optical drive or not.

Considering you just said that you could care less about the optical drive, I guess you currently care at some level then? ;)
 
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