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2012 Macbook Pro Redesign
- Thread starter Funkymonk
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I don't think it's very typical for them to do both in one day. Not really sure though.
I wouldn't be surprised in the least if the new Macbook Pros were announced this coming Tuesday.
The sandy bridge MBPs were announced (and available for order) about a week before the processor's official release last year. We could be taking delivery of our new MBPs on the 23rd
The sandy bridge MBPs were announced (and available for order) about a week before the processor's official release last year. We could be taking delivery of our new MBPs on the 23rd
I've been thinking about a possible redesign of MacBooks these last few days and I've come to some conclusions based on some facts I've noticed. I've separated the facts from my interpretation of such facts (below):
Fact 1: The last time the MacBook Pro had a major overhaul was in October 2008 (three years and a half ago). The MacBook Pro had launched in January 2006 (between two and a half to three years before).
Conclusion: A redesign is to be released soon.
Fact 2: Apple reported not-so-strong Mac sales for the 1st quarter of 2012 (its market share in the U.S. was 10.6%, below the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2011).
Conclusion: Apple must update its line of computers (especially the laptops, which are its best-selling models) soon in order to keep demand high.
Fact 2: BestBuy and other resellers are experiencing shortages of the 15" MacBook Pro.
Conclusion: An updated version of the MacBook Pro is on the way.
Fact 3: Intel announced its Ivy Bridge processors to be launched on April 23.
Conclusion: A MacBook Pro equipped with an Ivy Bridge processor may be launched from April 24 onwards.
Fact 4: Apple has just released the new iPad, with a retina display capable of a 2048x1536 resolution, for as low as US$ 499.
Conclusion: The technology for high resolution displays is there, and it should not be very expensive. Apple may be able to put retina displays on its Macs too.
Fact 5: Intel Ivy Bridge processors will support resolutions up to 3840x2160. Intel expects these high pixel displays to be massively adopted as soon as in 2013.
Conclusion 1 to Fact 5: If new MacBook Pros come with an Ivy Bridge processor, they will be able to have retina displays. If Apple doesn't put a retina display on its new MacBook Pros this time and decide to wait for the next update of the MacBook Pro (which may only be released in the end of the year or perhaps in 2013), its competitors (such as Sony) may do it before.
Conclusion 2 to Fact 5: If an integrated graphics card can have a 3840x2160 resolution, NVIDIA or AMD may well be able to produce video cards which handle a much higher resolution. These video cards may equip MacBook Pros and iMacs in the future.
Fact 6: OS X 10.7 Lion already supports HiDPI. It may be a hidden feature, but it is supported.
Conclusion: With OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion to be released later this year, why would Apple include support for retina displays in the OS X 10.7 Lion if it does not intend to lauch a retina Mac before the release of Mountain Lion? Perhaps a MacBook Pro with retina display is due for a release in the coming weeks...
Does all of these make sense to you?
Fact 1: The last time the MacBook Pro had a major overhaul was in October 2008 (three years and a half ago). The MacBook Pro had launched in January 2006 (between two and a half to three years before).
Conclusion: A redesign is to be released soon.
Fact 2: Apple reported not-so-strong Mac sales for the 1st quarter of 2012 (its market share in the U.S. was 10.6%, below the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2011).
Conclusion: Apple must update its line of computers (especially the laptops, which are its best-selling models) soon in order to keep demand high.
Fact 2: BestBuy and other resellers are experiencing shortages of the 15" MacBook Pro.
Conclusion: An updated version of the MacBook Pro is on the way.
Fact 3: Intel announced its Ivy Bridge processors to be launched on April 23.
Conclusion: A MacBook Pro equipped with an Ivy Bridge processor may be launched from April 24 onwards.
Fact 4: Apple has just released the new iPad, with a retina display capable of a 2048x1536 resolution, for as low as US$ 499.
Conclusion: The technology for high resolution displays is there, and it should not be very expensive. Apple may be able to put retina displays on its Macs too.
Fact 5: Intel Ivy Bridge processors will support resolutions up to 3840x2160. Intel expects these high pixel displays to be massively adopted as soon as in 2013.
Conclusion 1 to Fact 5: If new MacBook Pros come with an Ivy Bridge processor, they will be able to have retina displays. If Apple doesn't put a retina display on its new MacBook Pros this time and decide to wait for the next update of the MacBook Pro (which may only be released in the end of the year or perhaps in 2013), its competitors (such as Sony) may do it before.
Conclusion 2 to Fact 5: If an integrated graphics card can have a 3840x2160 resolution, NVIDIA or AMD may well be able to produce video cards which handle a much higher resolution. These video cards may equip MacBook Pros and iMacs in the future.
Fact 6: OS X 10.7 Lion already supports HiDPI. It may be a hidden feature, but it is supported.
Conclusion: With OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion to be released later this year, why would Apple include support for retina displays in the OS X 10.7 Lion if it does not intend to lauch a retina Mac before the release of Mountain Lion? Perhaps a MacBook Pro with retina display is due for a release in the coming weeks...
Does all of these make sense to you?
I wouldn't be surprised in the least if the new Macbook Pros were announced this coming Tuesday.
The sandy bridge MBPs were announced (and available for order) about a week before the processor's official release last year. We could be taking delivery of our new MBPs on the 23rd
This would be brilliant. I really want to see the specs on the new 15".
Good post! I agree, if they didn't expect to have retina Macs before ML, why else have a HiDPI mode?
Apple can't use retina for MacBook Pro 13 and 15" because any panel manufacturer is able to produce such kind of screen nowadays. There are only some engineering samples. They are very fat and have a high power consumption.
Apple may switch to 1600x900 16/9 15,6" panels.
Apple may switch to 1600x900 16/9 15,6" panels.
Actually last I saw, they moved the announce date to the 23rd per Digitimes, hardly a reference authority, full scale availability to manufacturing officially still the 29th. Guess what manufacturer is one of Intels biggest customers come release announcement? 2+2
Apple announces the new MBP on the 23rd, goes to quarterly earnings on the 24th does make sense
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2402974,00.asp
Looks like we "might" get a retina display. Also for the ssd I think it may be standard at a 512gb. Apple did acquire a company which produces SSD drives a while back. Im not sure if they are use this company either way the price will get driven down soon enough, maybe apple will be able to achieve this by equipping the pro with a 512? Either way, I can live with a smaller drive, but maybe they will include a second drive slot for those who need the extra space.
The latest report on the news board is that these IGZO screens use 90% less juice than conventional LCD's.
That's quite telling, with there being strong availability in the coming months.
I would also love to, but I don't think that's going to happen. SSD drives are still very expensive, even though Apple has acquired a company which produces them. The new iPad has just been released, and it offers a maximum of 64 GB. It would be feasible to think of SSDs with 128 or 256 GB in a MacBook Pro, but 512 GB is very unlikely. Still, would Apple consider replacing 500 and 750 GB HDDs for 128 and 256 (or even 512) SSDs? There would be a considerable downgrade in disk size, and not everybody would be happy with it. It is possible, but I guess not in the coming weeks.
What do you mean? Why wouild Apple announce the MBPs on the 23rd with the earnings on the 24th?
Wait ... why does it make sense? It makes more sense if they wait until after quarterly earnings.
Traditionally the big update happens early in the year and a slight spec bump occurs later on. I don't think you're right.
While true, i don't think Apple can pull it off now. If they wait till summer then sure but now... i just don't see it.
The remaining of the post was pretty obvious and is general knowledge. This point, however, isn't. Great catch!
You think that it's unlikely that they will offer an option that they already offer with this generation?
Of course they will offer it. The real question is how much this time. 1,200$ was too much and nobody bought it. Mass production will bing prices down though.
It depends on the amount of "Apple tax" they put, but it could be as low as 500$ given the price of SSDs right now.
he means as astandard disk, not 1 that you pay 1000 dollars for, lika apple currently wants for their lottery-ticket mediocre drive.
It certainly sounds like Intel is giving us a hint about the Retina Displays on MBPs. I'm sure Apple wants to be the first one like on the iOS devices but I'm not sure the foundries are ready for such large screens. It might be a while before we'll see it but if it comes out next month, my credit cards are definitely ready for it.