Apple Predicted to Discontinue 17-Inch MacBook Pro

[Rodimus Prime]

Screen inches and real-estate have nothing to do with each other. Pixels. Only Apple links pixel count and screen size, and again, a 15" 1920x1200 display would offset the loss of the 17" to begin with.

That is pixel size but I find that on the smaller monitor the windows are made to be a little larger to make up for the smaller elements on the screen so they eat up more pixels.

And you've been able to connect 2 external monitors to the MacBook since it shipped with the 9400m, back in 2008. Just need to be creative about how you do it.


Daisy chaining with thunderbolt isn't the only way.

Using USB power external monitors is not a solution I really care for.

Again, screen size and screen real-estate have nothing to do with each other. The 13" MBA is quite the proof of that, being able to have as much stuff on screen as the 15" MBP, albeit, without the fischer price look.

Again yes they do.

Just because you have the same number of pixels does not mean the stuff is going to be the same size. People tend to zoom in more on the smaller screens and as such eat up more space.

 

[314631]

Regardless of the opinions out there, there are some creative professionals that PREFER to use a 17" MBP for work, plain and simple. Regardless of sales numbers, hardware trends etc. I choose to use a 17" MBP as my primary production machine and have chosen this hardware as such for the past 8 years ~ what's wrong with that? I will never use a 15' screen for graphic design, if that's the direction Apple is heading then they have certainly turned their back on a base that helped bring them the success they enjoy today.

You'll prefer the 15" MBA to a 17" PC laptop running Windows 8

 

[BTW]

There won't be an 17" Macbook Air for sure. Look for all new 11", 13", and 15" Macbook Air systems coming soon.

 

[dmovieman]

Just when I was considering going for the 17' MacBook pro for my next upgrade. I am hoping this one does not turn out to be true.

 

[Yumunum]

As long as the 15" models started coming with the high-res screen upgrade as a standard (the same way the 13" Air has the amount of pixels as the base 15" Pro) then the impact on consumers should hopefully be lessened.

 

[Jiten]

17 inch user here. Been buying the 17" since the Powerbook G4 days. Although I agree that a new retina display may even out the play field between the 15 and 17 in terms of screen real estate, there are a lot more things Apple can do with its large chassis then just house a big screen.

Anyway, despite of our anxiety, we can only wait and see. If Apple decides to push one with the 17" then good, if not, lets see if the 15" retina indeed offers a similar experience at a smaller package.

I remember worrying about moving from my 15" Powerbook G4, which was an office productivity machine, to a 13" Macbook Air due to the smaller screen despite of being the same resolution. But to my surprise the 13" Air worked for me just find. Perhaps I will have the same experience moving from the 17 to 15 if Apple indeed forces that change. Though I one of the many pros who supported Apple back then, I feel somewhat disenfranchised with all this discussion about Apple waning commitment to our segment of the market.

 

[cozza]

I upgrade my systems every 3 years. I went from a mid-2007 15" MBP to a 17" MBP in 2010. One reason I went with the 17" is because the card slot was no longer an option for the 15". I was glad I did. I've always needed the extra slot for an additional gigabit adapter. I need to connect to two different gigabit LANs for packet inspection, testing and system management. I've really liked having the extra screen real estate with the 17" inch paired with an external 23" screen.

If the 17" is discontinued then I really hope that thunderbolt docks become available before next year. The only one I've seen any press for is the Belkin express dock. It is meant to go on sale later this year. I've had mixed results with other Belkin products so another reason for concern.

I'm sure the majority of the professional 17" users chose it similar for the reasons I did. I could get by with a 15" if there is external hardware available to support my needs. Any new hardware will then be an additional cost that I would otherwise not have to worry about with a new 17".
Mainly I would really miss the 17" screen size. A 15" with a "retina" display could make up for that in part.

 

[Krazy Bill]

Why not tick off professionals even more?

Soon all Apple products will be shipped with "Hello Kitty" stickers.

 

[Athonline]

As a programmer, you should realise that screen inches means nothing. They could simply come out with a 1920x1200 15" and you'd see the same code for multiple classes or pages as you do on your current 17".

And in fact, they should. Bout time they raised the PPI on their screens.

I agree that they should raise the PPI in the screens of 13-15inch models.

No it is not the same, while the interface is relative to the screen resolution, do not forget that same resolution to smaller screen = higher pixel density. I do not want to see the same let's say 100 lines of code in a font 12 that is more or less in "real life size" same as a font 14 in my 17inch. Let's take Word for example, even in 24" monitor I use a 100% preview of the page, in my MBP I find it to "small" for late night reading. Another such example is a movie, play a 720p movie in a 22" inch 1080P monitor and in the 17" inch 1080P display, in both occasions you get the same 1080P resolution, but in the monitor it is "naturally" bigger, as pixels are larger thus better for viewing that movie with friends....

You see there is what we call "UI scaling" relative to the resolution, but that is most of the time poorly optimised for the professional who will be using that X application for countless hours a month.

See? Being able to view the same code theoretically, is not practically the same.

 

[*LTD*]

LTD, in this thread you stated just the opposite re: consumer and professional focus:

Quake 4, Complete with Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Arrives on the Mac App Store


So which is it, does Apple focus on consumer or professional products?

Prosumer. Both.

 

[KurtangleTN]

Depends which professional market you're talking about. Lots of professionals don't need 17" laptops or Xeon based workstations with ECC RAM.

It's not just the Xeon or ECC ram it's about expandability, user serviceability, and yes some people need a lot of power.

SLRs are getting higher and higher MP count, the new Nikon D800 has a 36MP sensor that forces huge RAW files that require a very powerful computer to seamlessly edit.

About the 17" - a lot of professionals enjoy having a desktop on the go. That's what the 17" is. People whine and bitch about a pound heavier than the 15" but that doesn't really matter to most of these people. They are taking them in coffee shops, hotels, etc and using them for long periods of time. It's a desktop replacement/substitute. Something a lot of people rely on to make their money.

 

[doctor-don]

Just like all iPads have a single screen size option, so should all Apple laptops. This will allow to streamline inventory management and improve profit margins.

You might have missed the article about the 7-inch iPad.

 

[Burger Thing]

I certainly hope that Apple won't kill the 17" MBP. I love the advantages in Screen real estate over the smaller models. And frankly, when I travel I give a frack I if it is slightly heavier or bulkier. It is in my bag anyway. But what I do care about is the fact that I have a nice screen in front of me, when I do some editing in the hotel room or somewhere else.

And those who claim, that Apple could simply raise the resolution on the 15" MBP to match the 17" and therefore make the 17" obsolete, seem to be somewhat confused. Yes, technically the Screen Estate would be the same. However, things on screen would be on many occasions way too small, to be practical. It might be ok, if you are a Unix Sys Admin and and do some coding here and there, but personally I can't really imagine to do some precise Picture, Movie or Special Effects editing on a microscopic level.

And also, you do realize, that at the same time, the screen of the 17" MBP could get a better resolution, too, and you would end up again with more screen real estate, so this argument is flawed somehow

 

[systole]

And also, you do realize, that at the same time, the screen of the 17" MBP could get a better resolution, too, and you would end up again with more screen real estate, so this argument is flawed somehow

Precisely why I hope there is a "retina" 17" as a current 17" user. For users with app intensive workflows, the name of the game tends to be screen real estate, with a high PPI. The problem with the current 17" is the lack of accessories. It's been a while since incase offered a hardshell, or a new messenger that fit a 17".

 

[thekev]

I was referring to the OP's original estimate. Sorry for any ambiguity I was basing my view on his numbers not an itemised account.

I just read it again. It sounds like an estimate. Apple does publish some data, but I can't find such a detailed breakdown, and the article doesn't mention sources or references. What annoys me is when people on here wish to see a certain product discontinued because they do not understand its purpose. There are way too many armchair executives. Regarding numbers, it's not as simple as looking solely at how many units were moved. The 15 and 17" models most likely carry some amazing margins, so even after development costs, they could still be good. They also don't seem to be in heavy decline, but more outpaced by the growth of other machines.

A lot of these analyst reports are just riding rumors and trends, but the articles generated for macrumors are most likely dumbed down versions given the amount of data to digest.

SLRs are getting higher and higher MP count, the new Nikon D800 has a 36MP sensor that forces huge RAW files that require a very powerful computer to seamlessly edit.

Addressing this point alone, 36MP is nothing new. We had the early 30-39MP digital backs out in 2006 or so. It's just it absolutely sucked on a laptop. I don't know if you recall, but it was super common to see digital techs with capture carts equipped with a quad G5 or mac pro as opposed to a laptop. The software has become slightly more demanding than it was then, but pre i7s, it sucked editing on a laptop. The bigger towers still have a lot of excellent features, but the increasing price ceilings, variable ability of software to harness their power, and slipping intel schedules have probably hurt their volume.

It's not 100% people buying a lighter computer in lieu of something like a mac pro. It's often that there's not a compelling reason to change machines due to lack of real development. Intel definitely isn't helping with Ivy Bridge E pushed back so far as well. I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see it in computers before Q3 2013. They're listed as coming out in Q2. If it slips to late Q2 and takes a little time to ramp up, we won't see anything until late in the year. I have to wonder how far the refresh cycles will eventually slip.

 

[celo48]

My bro has one. It is huge! I bet the rumor is true.

 

[groovebuster]

When the 17" Macbook Pro and the Mac Pro are dumped in the near future, that will be the personal experience for me of hell freezing over.

It was us pros who made Apple survive all the years. But shareholder value driven companies have a very short memory, no matter how much money they are raking in. A good product line up does not only have bestsellers, it is also about the overall coverage of a market.

Apple is playing with fire here. Pro users have always been the most loyal customers.

Consumers are totally different story...

 

[trajan2448]

That would be a disaster for many pros. The very install base that stuck with Apple through thick and thin now abandoned because they're not making enough profits??? Bad karma.

 

[Macman45]

When the 17" Macbook Pro and the Mac Pro are dumped in the near future, that will be the personal experience for me of hell freezing over.

It was us pros who made Apple survive all the years. But shareholder value driven companies have a very short memory, no matter how much money they are raking in. A good product line up does not only have bestsellers, it is also about the overall coverage of a market.

Apple is playing with fire here. Pro users have always been the most loyal customers.

Consumers are totally different story...

But where do we go if they do dump the 17"? I'm not buying a Windows laptop...that would be my hell freezes over moment.....Okay, my Pro is only 7 months old but would be upgraded when a year old normally....It's a great work tool and anybody who says an MBA can take its place is deluded....I have 13" MBA...it's fast, and a great little machine, but with 256GB of space? Just not enough capacity or real estate....You are correct in stating that Apple are playing with fire here....Question remains though.....where to if they discard them?

 

[groovebuster]

But where do we go if they do dump the 17"?

There are good Laptops with that screen resolution running Windows. They might be not as pretty, but they also get the work done. And Windows 7 isn't that bad anymore for a Windows. Have to work with it too almost on a daily basis.

After all you are working with tools on a computer. And they look the same today, no matter which OS they are running on. Of course there are some things I would miss from my Macs regarding my workflows, but overall there is nothing that would by a road block in any way...

Apple really became an evil money machine... Just that makes me uncomfortable meanwhile to use their products. It seems meanwhile that you have to figure out for yourself now which platform is the lesser of two evils: Mac or Windows. And honestly, I am not sure anymore...

 

[nzacl0]

And here was I hoping that one day they'd introduce a 19" model. I use my macbook pro as a semi desktop replacement and it's great, hate to have to go to something smaller.

 

[147]

There are good Laptops with that screen resolution running Windows. They might be not as pretty, but they also get the work done. And Windows 7 isn't that bad anymore for a Windows.

muahahhahaha. You sure are funny. Windows 7 is a nightmare, though I regularly have to use it too (under torture).

After all you are working with tools on a computer. And they look the same today, no matter which OS they are running on. Of course there are some things I would miss from my Macs regarding my workflows, but overall there is nothing that would by a road block in any way...

I disagree. It's not because the app itself is the same that the overall experience is. Don't forget that all apps use a lot of "api's" from the os, like the print dialog, or save, etc. All these participate in the experience. What about Mission Control/ exposé, spaces, launchpad...? The multitouch gestures? Etc...

Apple really became an evil money machine... Just that makes me uncomfortable meanwhile to use their products. It seems meanwhile that you have to figure out for yourself now which platform is the lesser of two evils: Mac or Windows. And honestly, I am not sure anymore...

Well I never had any doubt, that's perhaps why I'm not disappointed. They're both the same, period. And so is Google. And all the others. The "think different" campaign was great marketing stuff, but bullsh**. Just look: it's only since a year that Apple is at last starting to donate a little bit of its hoard of cash to some non-profits. Same for Environmental concerns: it's only starting to consider it. Same for workforce concerns. Etc. Those are really great stuff that I think have a lot to do with the arrival of Tim Cook.

To conclude: I have a 17" SR MBP (2007) and I am eager to upgrade, so pleeeeaaaaaaaaase keep it on for at least this revision!! I love all the screen real estate I can get!!

 

[nutjob]

And here was I hoping that one day they'd introduce a 19" model. I use my macbook pro as a semi desktop replacement and it's great, hate to have to go to something smaller.

They're actually replacing it with a 30" model.

----------

When the 17" Macbook Pro and the Mac Pro are dumped in the near future, that will be the personal experience for me of hell freezing over.

It was us pros who made Apple survive all the years. But shareholder value driven companies have a very short memory, no matter how much money they are raking in. A good product line up does not only have bestsellers, it is also about the overall coverage of a market.

Apple is playing with fire here. Pro users have always been the most loyal customers.

Consumers are totally different story...

Yeah "pro" users bought the iMac/iBook/iPod in droves and saved Apple. lol

 

[comatory]

...I've always needed the extra slot for an additional gigabit adapter. I need to connect to two different gigabit LANs for packet inspection, testing and system management. (..)

I was just wondering what would happen if you used Apple USB LAN adapter. Does it behave like another LAN card?

 

[steve-p]

I disagree. It's not because the app itself is the same that the overall experience is. Don't forget that all apps use a lot of "api's" from the os, like the print dialog, or save, etc. All these participate in the experience. What about Mission Control/ exposé, spaces, launchpad...? The multitouch gestures? Etc...

What about them? Windows has a sort of dock and a spotlight clone which is adequate for launching stuff. It's fairly quick to switch between all open windows because Alt Tab works better, and the side by side maximized windows thing is pretty useful. Print and save dialogs are not a big deal. I wouldn't choose Windows either, there are plenty of things I do hate about it and I would rather never give Microsoft another penny, but I still agree with groovebuster. For anyone who uses their MBP as an essential tool to make a living, if the same core applications they need are available, it is certainly possible to switch after a learning curve, same as it's possible to switch the other way. Where the problem lies is where the same software is not available. Right now, anyone deciding for example whether to buy Adobe products or Aperture for digital photography with large laptops in mind for mobility is more likely to go with Adobe because it's not tied to OS X and therefore more futureproof. Anyone who already went the Aperture route is probably rather concerned. Also, people probably just don't want to switch. I don't, I want another 17" MBP. Plan B is probably the Hackintosh route. Plan C is the unthinkable switch.

To conclude: I have a 17" SR MBP (2007) and I am eager to upgrade, so pleeeeaaaaaaaaase keep it on for at least this revision!! I love all the screen real estate I can get!!

If you were that eager, perhaps you wouldn't still be using a 5 year old laptop, and other people too, and sales would be higher.