2012 Macbook Pro Redesign

[PeterJP]

Hi,

if a US$ 499 iPad can have a 2048x1536 screen, why can't a US$ 1,799 MacBook Pro have a 3200x1800 screen, for instance?

• Because complexity increases exponentially with the surface area for screens ?
• Because complexity increases exponentially with resolution ?
• Because price increases with complexity ?
• Because 3200x1800 would still only be the quadruple of 1600x900, which is not enough for the 17" model ?
• Because it would be strange to have an 11" and 13" (and maybe 15") retina, but a normal screen on the high end model ? That would make the high end model kind of low end, wouldn't it ?

Plenty of reasons why I believe an MBP can't have a retina screen.

Though I'd love it if the Airs would get one


Peter.

 

[skaertus]

Store down! Yeah I know probably just maintenance but I can dream well tonight not knowing for sure.

Yes, probably... I don't think Apple is going to unveil a brand-new MacBook Pro, with a new design, without a press conference...

 

[skaertus]

Hi,

• Because complexity increases exponentially with the surface area for screens ?
• Because complexity increases exponentially with resolution ?
• Because price increases with complexity ?
• Because 3200x1800 would still only be the quadruple of 1600x900, which is not enough for the 17" model ?
• Because it would be strange to have an 11" and 13" (and maybe 15") retina, but a normal screen on the high end model ? That would make the high end model kind of low end, wouldn't it ?

Plenty of reasons why I believe an MBP can't have a retina screen.

Though I'd love it if the Airs would get one


Peter.

Yes, that's all true.

I really have hope that the MacBook Pros/Airs will get a retina display this year. There should be a reason why Apple is experimenting with higher resolution graphics on its soon-to-be-launched OS X Mountain Lion.

I also thought that a retina resolution for a MacBook would be too much. But then Apple releases the new iPad, with a resolution which I thought it was unthinkable of in a US$ 499 device. Does it make sense to have a US$ 499 device with a 2048x1536 resolution and a US$ 2,499 device with a 1920x1080 resolution? Doesn't the high-end, almighty 17" MacBook Pro already look low end in comparison to the new iPad?

And then, sooner or later, retina display would be unavoidable on Macs. Fonts on Mac OS look much blurrier than on Windows, and Apple won't adopt ClearType because it distorts fonts on the screen so they look sharper. The only way to get fonts to look sharp on the screen without distorting them is to increase the resolution, so it's the logical way to be followed.

I don't think 3200x1800 is enough for the 17" model, but perhaps Apple axes the 17" MacBook Pro when it unveils a new line of MacBook Pros.

 

[Fleet would mac]

But we may not forget that Apple has just put a gorgeous 10" IPS screen with a 2048x1536 resolution on an iPad ...

... if you're lucky enough to get a good one, that is. God save us from all those yellow tint / pink tint / backlight bleeding issues that new retina screens on the macs would no doubt be subject to! Not to mention that Apple seem to be having problems getting enough retina displays for just the iPad, even without the extra burden of having to also find the capacity develop even bigger variants for other product lines.

For me, retina technology hasn't yet reached a sufficient level of maturity for it to be employed across the board. No doubt that day will come. The question, however, is when?

 

[anthonylambert]

Upgrades may have to wait for Mountain Lion to go final.....

Has anyone thought that upgrades to Mac Book Pro may have to wait for Mountain Lion to go final.....

If it has a new retina display it may need Mountain Lion to actually work!!!

So the release may be delayed due to software.

Hmmmmm........

 

[Boe11]

Has anyone thought that upgrades to Mac Book Pro may have to wait for Mountain Lion to go final.....

If it has a new retina display it may need Mountain Lion to actually work!!!

So the release may be delayed due to software.

Hmmmmm........

Considering we'll probably see a peppering of Mac releases over the next 6 months (MBP, iMac, MBA, MP?), I don't think this will be a factor. They could couple the ML release with any one of these product lines.

 

[cmChimera]

... if you're lucky enough to get a good one, that is. God save us from all those yellow tint / pink tint / backlight bleeding issues that new retina screens on the macs would no doubt be subject to! Not to mention that Apple seem to be having problems getting enough retina displays for just the iPad, even without the extra burden of having to also find the capacity develop even bigger variants for other product lines.

For me, retina technology hasn't yet reached a sufficient level of maturity for it to be employed across the board. No doubt that day will come. The question, however, is when?

I think you mean unlucky enough to get a bad one. The issue is not as common as you make it out to be, and there's nothing to suggest it will be an issue in a new Macbook. Secondly, Apple sells way more iPads than Individual Macbook Pros, which explains the supply shortage. This also shouldn't be an issue on Macs.

Has anyone thought that upgrades to Mac Book Pro may have to wait for Mountain Lion to go final.....

If it has a new retina display it may need Mountain Lion to actually work!!!

So the release may be delayed due to software.

Hmmmmm........

Lion has Hi-Dpi mode. It wouldn't require 10.8 to work.

 

[cmChimera]

I don't think 3200x1800 is enough for the 17" model, but perhaps Apple axes the 17" MacBook Pro when it unveils a new line of MacBook Pros.

Or has a higher resolution for 17"?

 

[PeterJP]

Hi,

... if you're lucky enough to get a good one, that is. God save us from all those yellow tint / pink tint / backlight bleeding issues that new retina screens on the macs would no doubt be subject to! Not to mention that Apple seem to be having problems getting enough retina displays for just the iPad, even without the extra burden of having to also find the capacity develop even bigger variants for other product lines.

Apple is just debugging the screens and the supply chain with their consumer products right now... When that is done, the real machinery (Macs) will go retina


Peter.

 

[sth]

Lion has Hi-Dpi mode. It wouldn't require 10.8 to work.

Not only that, they actually tweaked the HiDPI mode in the 10.7.x minor relases. To me, that is the biggest indictation that we might see at least one HiDPI Mac model before Mountain Lion is released (and my guess is the 15" MacBook Pro).


If I were to speculate on the upcoming MacBook Pros:

Pretty sure:
- Ivy Bridge CPUs
- QuadCore 15" first
- DualCore 13" later

Very likely:
- New design
- No optical drive
- SSDs by default

Possible:
- HiDPI display
- nVidia GeForce 600-series (28nm) GPU

Unlikely:
- 3G or LTE connectivity


In case of a redesign, the 17" will probably get updated last (like on the Unibody switch).

 

[Exana]

Not only that, they actually tweaked the HiDPI mode in the 10.7.x minor relases. To me, that is the biggest indictation that we might see at least one HiDPI Mac model before Mountain Lion is released (and my guess is the 15" MacBook Pro).


If I were to speculate on the upcoming MacBook Pros:

Pretty sure:
- Ivy Bridge CPUs
- QuadCore 15" first
- DualCore 13" later

Very likely:
- New design
- No optical drive
- SSDs by default

Possible:
- HiDPI display
- nVidia GeForce 600-series (28nm) GPU

Unlikely:
- 3G or LTE connectivity


In case of a redesign, the 17" will probably get updated last (like on the Unibody switch).

Looks like it will be. GeForce 600 series is more than possible.

If you're always chasing the newest processing architecture, you're in a losing race. I want ivy bridge for USB 3.0. Plus I have a 2010 MacBook pro, so I'm missing out on thunderbolt, hd webcam, Sata III and whatever this 2012 version brings. Overall pretty big upgrade for me.

I'am in the same situation. So upgrade will worth. And if the 2012 MBP 15" is not what I expect, I will go for a low prices 2011.

 

[sth]

Looks like it will be. GeForce 600 series is more than possible.

If they go for the HiDPI display, I think they'll have no other choice, really. But in case the retina display doesn't make it into this year's models, I wouldn't really bet on it - they have often been sluggish on GPU upgrades in the past (the 2011 models were a notable exception).

 

[Meever]

I don't give a rat's ass about touch screens or new form factor. I just want USB 3, 1650x as standard with a option for 19xx and a substantial gpu upgrade.

This is suppose to be a "pro" machine. Consumer gimmicks like touch screens need not apply.

 

[yanksrock100]

In response to high res displays, I would think it would be more likely for the 13 AND 15 to have a super high resolution, and a minor bump for the 17, since people won't be as close to the screen.
Also, people say they can't imagine the smaller sized MacBook pros having a higher resolution than bigger size(17), so it won't happen. But what I say is, doesn't a 10 in, $499 apple device already have a higher resolution than a $1799 MacBook pro? (15 in) I can't see apple leaving it this way before 2013 begins. Watch there be a retina display on the MacBook Pros, 13 and 15 inch

 

[Exana]

If Apple did not put a 28 nm GPU with this update, I will wait next one. I think Apple will not use single SSD. They will use mSATA mini SSD (20 or 30 GB) for Intel Rapid Storage Technology witch acts like a cache for an classic HDD. It cost less and allow to have speed and large data storage.

BTW, HD Graphics 4000 handle 4K screens flawless. My Thinkpad A21p already have a 15" screen 1600x1200 ten years ago. So driving four times higher resolution is easy for any nowadays GPU or iGPU.

For screen, Apple will perhaps go for 16/9 (no more 16/10) and use 1600x900 for 15" (more pix), but 17" will drop few (from 1920x1200 to 1920x1080).

 

[that1guyy]

I don't give a rat's ass about touch screens or new form factor. I just want USB 3, 1650x as standard with a option for 19xx and a substantial gpu upgrade.

This is suppose to be a "pro" machine. Consumer gimmicks like touch screens need not apply.

No one is talking about touch screens. The only thing even close was mention of a hidip "retina" screen, which has nothing to do with touching. Do you even think when you type?

 

[Ohrstrom]

No one is talking about touch screens. The only thing even close was mention of a hidip "retina" screen, which has nothing to do with touching. Do you even think when you type?

Actually there has been mentions of touchscreen, just happened to be a couple of pages ago(and other threads about the design and features), and as his post isnt quoting anyone, mentioning how hed prefer it not to have touchscreen is not entirely out of order?

 

[Argentine86]

First Macbook!

I decided last year that I would buy a Macbook Pro for my next laptop this year. I currently have a 2007 Dell Studio 1535 (POS!...) came with Vista64 terrible...) and now Win7, had since mid college. Decided I'd like to switch to Mac finally....

I've had iPhones since 3GS (now 4S) and also iPad (3rd gen). Really been enjoying the apple iOS software. So been waiting for the new rumored Pro to come out! I might just be one of the first to preorder.

I just need to see the options (RETINA ANTI GLARE PLEASE! lol) and cover my eyes on the final price

 

[Skullbussa]

... if you're lucky enough to get a good one, that is. God save us from all those yellow tint / pink tint / backlight bleeding issues that new retina screens on the macs would no doubt be subject to! Not to mention that Apple seem to be having problems getting enough retina displays for just the iPad, even without the extra burden of having to also find the capacity develop even bigger variants for other product lines.

For me, retina technology hasn't yet reached a sufficient level of maturity for it to be employed across the board. No doubt that day will come. The question, however, is when?

Neither mine nor my wife's iPad 3 have any such issues. If they do, exchange them for a good one. Problem solved.

 

[skaertus]

Has anyone thought that upgrades to Mac Book Pro may have to wait for Mountain Lion to go final.....

If it has a new retina display it may need Mountain Lion to actually work!!!

So the release may be delayed due to software.

Hmmmmm........

That's true, I had thought of it... unless Apple releases an update to OS X Lion allowing retina displays. And, anyway, it's been only 170 days since the MacBook Pro was updated for the last time. Isn't it a bit early for it to get a new update? Perhaps Apple will update the Pro in June.

 

[psykick5]

That's true, I had thought of it... unless Apple releases an update to OS X Lion allowing retina displays. And, anyway, it's been only 170 days since the MacBook Pro was updated for the last time. Isn't it a bit early for it to get a new update? Perhaps Apple will update the Pro in June.

No. The last "update" was hardly an update. 100Mhz speed bump and the low end not having a crappy video card. That was it. I don't count it as an update.

 

[cmChimera]

That's true, I had thought of it... unless Apple releases an update to OS X Lion allowing retina displays. And, anyway, it's been only 170 days since the MacBook Pro was updated for the last time. Isn't it a bit early for it to get a new update? Perhaps Apple will update the Pro in June.

That's NOT true. Lion already allows for hidpi screens....

 

[east85]

The current physical design of the Macbook Pro is perfect. If they give it a tapered air shape I'm going to be pretty pissed off at Apple. If anything they should keep the same general shape, just slim it down height wise. That's it. God I hope they don't ruin the pro, now that Steve Jobs isn't at the helm I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[Sangdushi]

I'm guessing only 15" and 17" pro will be released. Anything smaller is an air. They should also just rebrand all of them to simply MacBooks.

 

[PeterJP]

Hi,

The current physical design of the Macbook Pro is perfect. If they give it a tapered air shape I'm going to be pretty pissed off at Apple. If anything they should keep the same general shape, just slim it down height wise. That's it. God I hope they don't ruin the pro, now that Steve Jobs isn't at the helm I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Remember that Steve Jobs was the man behind the Air ? I think he'd update the Pro to a tapered design sooner rather than later, including kicking out the optical drive.

On the other hand, I also very much think it makes sense to keep a clear distinction between the pro and the Air. User upgradeable vs fixed config, to keep it simple. If the Pro 13" loses its optical drive and gets a blade SSD, I don't see any reason why they should keep it next to an Air 13". My guess is that, if these two would become too similar, the Pro 13" would be killed and the 15"+17" would stay high end machines with a discrete GPU, but without retina display.


Peter.