Apple Registers New Macs and iPads in Eurasia Ahead of WWDC on June 5

[Freida]

Absolutely. The current one is the definition of an iToy! It's pretty, but useless. Crap keyboard, trackpad is too big (and palm rejection not good enough), there's no matte screen option, RAM is limited to 16GB (the competition do 32GB or 64GB), storage options are too expensive, there's no Ethernet port. And before anyone goes comparing the Ethernet port to a CD drive, Ethernet ports are still widely used in the real world as you can't always rely on a wireless connection or if their is one it won't always give you access to the resources you need to do your work, you need a wired connection for that. And if anyone mentions dongles/adaptors, bend over I have a pile of them you can have!!

Hilarious post. Its 2017 and you are asking for ethernet? Jesus, that port is long dead in portables.

For the tiny tiny percentage of people who needed (clearly you) there is the thing you don't like. For the rest of us, it is a dead port that doesn't need to be brought back.

 

[Rogifan]

It'll definitely get mentioned. Its a developer conference there is no way they are going to miss the opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to the pro market/pro hardware.

I do think it will be only a cursory mention though, firstly because there isn't going to be much to talk about probably be a bump to Kabylake and secondly because they've got updates for four operating systems and apparently new iPad models to fit in.

Would be a big disappointment if they spent a large part of the keynote talking about minor hardware updates.

Hence why I don't think a spec bump will get stage time. Spec bumps are expected but also can be considered underwhelming so why waste stage time when there's plenty of software updates to discuss?

 

[Stella]

Looking around office full of MacBook pros - everyone is plugged into Ethernet.

Wifi is too slow when consuming a lot of data.

Hilarious post. Its 2017 and you are asking for ethernet? Jesus, that port is long dead in portables.

For the tiny tiny percentage of people who needed (clearly you) there is the thing you don't like. For the rest of us, it is a dead port that doesn't need to be brought back.

 

[shaunp]

Hilarious post. Its 2017 and you are asking for ethernet? Jesus, that port is long dead in portables.

For the tiny tiny percentage of people who needed (clearly you) there is the thing you don't like. For the rest of us, it is a dead port that doesn't need to be brought back.

Pretty much every work laptop has an Ethernet port. It's far from dead. It's all about having the option in the first place.

 

[StevieD100]

A developer conference is not the right time or place to discuss software improvements?

Yes it is but this is a thread discussing CPU changes and NOT what is going on at WWDC.

 

[danskin]

Looking around office full of MacBook pros - everyone is plugged into Ethernet.

Wifi is too slow when consuming a lot of data.

If your office is full of MacBooks plugged into Ethernet, then I'm sure they are all stationary. A cheap dongle will do the trick. If you wanna take the computer around, unplug the dongle. It's 2017 and carrying the Ethernet port with you around is just dumb.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Hence why I don't think a spec bump will get stage time. Spec bumps are expected but also can be considered underwhelming so why waste stage time when there's plenty of software updates to discuss?

You keep saying that like Apple has never wasted stage time -- long lengths of it -- for seemingly bland things like Apple Store updates, diversity employment updates, Apple Campus construction updates, Apple fitness testing videos, App Store apps. Why do any of those things that seem underwhelming? Because it's something Apple wants to highlight.

When the MBP was released last year it got a lot of flack for using older processors. So if Apple is updating that surely it wants people to know and what better way than with the huge audience and press WWDC brings? I'm not saying Apple will do it, but I don't see how you can be so sure Apple definitely won't do it. It does make sense to make a few seconds mention of it.

Last year Apple spent 4 or so minutes talking about the App Store to devs. Surely devs already know how big the App Store is. Talk about underwhelming.

 

[Rob_2811]

Hence why I don't think a spec bump will get stage time. Spec bumps are expected but also can be considered underwhelming so why waste stage time when there's plenty of software updates to discuss?

We'll see I think it will get mentioned though.

Yes it is but this is a thread discussing CPU changes and NOT what is going on at WWDC.

Sorry the thread title lead me to believe that it might relate to WWDC...

Apple Registers New Macs and iPads in Eurasia Ahead of WWDC on June 5

 

[profets]

Looking around office full of MacBook pros - everyone is plugged into Ethernet.

Wifi is too slow when consuming a lot of data.

Pretty much every work laptop has an Ethernet port. It's far from dead. It's all about having the option in the first place.

If your office is full of MacBooks plugged into Ethernet, then I'm sure they are all stationary. A cheap dongle will do the trick. If you wanna take the computer around, unplug the dongle. It's 2017 and carrying the Ethernet port with you around is just dumb.

Or how about a dock of some sort (via thunderbolt or USB-C)? I can't imagine (if I'm carrying a laptop back and forth to work) to sit it and plug in multiple devices/wires.

 

[adamberti]

Count me as an iMac update believer. Apple has been giving 'relatively' big discounts for businesses buying stock models of iMac's and MacBook's / MacBook Pro's - until May 31st only. Any CTOs, Mac Mini's and Mac Pro's not included.

I don't thank we'll get the big iMac refresh, but I have never seen Apple Retail offer this kind of discount, EVER. Something is up....

 

[wallysb01]

Apple ships without Kabylake: What a disappointment, it doesn't have a Kabylake processor!
Apple ships with Kabylake: What a disappointment, they only updated to Kabylake!

Well, they need to fix the battery issue. Of the people I know that have the 15 MBP, all of them complain about the battery.

I'm crossing my fingers for non-touchbar 15". That one thing, without nerfing the internals like the nTB 13", would get me pretty close to buying one.

 

[DVD9]

There hasn't been hope since 2012. Apple discontinued the 17" laptop in 2012..... It's been 5 freaking years! why are people still mentioning that suitcase of a laptop.

http://www.macworld.com/article/1167248/macbooks/apple-discontinues-17-inch-macbook-pro.html

Because a new 17"Macbook Pro would weigh less than a 2011 15"Macbook pro.

A 17"model is what I want. The 2012 15" I own is too small. I have no desire to purchase another 15". I'll keep using the one I have now and replacing the keys as they wear out.

 

[No Nickname]

There hasn't been hope since 2012. Apple discontinued the 17" laptop in 2012..... It's been 5 freaking years! why are people still mentioning that suitcase of a laptop.

http://www.macworld.com/article/1167248/macbooks/apple-discontinues-17-inch-macbook-pro.html

Really? Tell us something we don't know Captain Condescension. If you're not interested in the question then don't reply.

I'm happy to entertain the thought of a new 17". They're obviously still being made by some manufacturers so there is still a market for it.

 

[Rob_2811]

Really? Tell us something we don't know Captain Condescension. If you're not interested in the question then don't reply.

I'm happy to entertain the thought of a new 17". They're obviously still being made by some manufacturers so there is still a market for it.

It might seem condescending but there is honestly about as much chance of them bringing back the Powerbook G4

 

[KPOM]

magsafe and ports! magsafe and ports!

Legacy ports aren't coming back. It would be nice if they had a Griffin-style MagSafe charging cord, though.

 

[MacsRgr8]

THIS!

BUT:
Same model number also means no visible outside changes. No new ports for example.
If they really would do a spec bumb in all the desktop macs, then they would have to keep the old usb ports...

Besides that, the older desktops ship with sierra since last year!

Or, same Macs but with updated (Magic) Keyboards?

 

[Eightarmedpet]

Looking around office full of MacBook pros - everyone is plugged into Ethernet.

Wifi is too slow when consuming a lot of data.

Looking around office full of MacBook pros - everyone is using wifi.

Ethernet isn't needed when workload is 90% creation.

 

[frankc92]

Ugh. If the new MBP is anything beyond a processing speed bump I'm going to be a bit irked. Picked up a refurb 2016 in Feb and of course I had to get the topcase/display replaced due to various issues recently. Bleh.

 

[Dozer_Zaibatsu]

This will be disappointing for many, if they update only the processors to Kabylake

It is almost certainly nothing other than that. Not after they redesigned the form factor last year. Has anybody thought there was even a likely chance it would anything else?

Maybe the official retirement of the Air models?

Ideally some movement on price in a better direction. The Air would be redundant if there was a MB starting for less.

 

[Rob_2811]

Ugh. If the new MBP is anything beyond a processing speed bump I'm going to be a bit irked. Picked up a refurb 2016 in Feb and of course I had to get the topcase/display replaced due to various issues recently. Bleh.

I dont think it will be. They only released the 2016 models in October, its not like they will have spent the last seven months redesigning them again.

Would not be well received.

There was a rumour about them patenting their own USB C version of Magsafe so maybe we'll hear something about that.

 

[manhattanboy]

I hope they improve the pricing. Looking forward to what they launch

I'm sure Apple will improve their pricing to boost their profits. Unfortunately I do not think that is what you want

Hilarious post. Its 2017 and you are asking for ethernet? Jesus, that port is long dead in portables.

For the tiny tiny percentage of people who needed (clearly you) there is the thing you don't like. For the rest of us, it is a dead port that doesn't need to be brought back.

The ethernet port is essential for a desktop, but agree that it is optional for laptops. You pretty much have to assume anything you do on a laptop is being sniffed by a poisoned or hacked AP.

 

[unobtainium]

Looking around office full of MacBook pros - everyone is plugged into Ethernet.

Wifi is too slow when consuming a lot of data.

Yeah, I use Ethernet all the time too. With an adapter. You plug it into the Ethernet cable at your desk and leave it there. Problem solved.
[doublepost=1496245358][/doublepost]

I dont think it will be. They only released the 2016 models in October, its not like they will have spent the last seven months redesigning them again.

Would not be well received.

There was a rumour about them patenting their own USB C version of Magsafe so maybe we'll hear something about that.

They won't change anything about the appearance. Price drop, processor bump and improved batteries are my predictions.

 

[Rob_2811]

Yeah, I use Ethernet all the time too. With an adapter. You plug it into the Ethernet cable at your desk and leave it there. Problem solved.
[doublepost=1496245358][/doublepost]
They won't change anything about the appearance. Price drop, processor bump and improved batteries are my predictions.

I don't see Apple actually doing anything with the batteries, they might have increased battery life if that is something that comes with Kabylake.

 

[drewyboy]

Well, the sales numbers makes clear that the MacBook Pro is a huge succes. But sales records aside, I'me more interested in what it can do for me. I'm a professional user, I simply make money when working with the latest MacBook Pro 15 inch and I can honestly state that this machine is quite powerful. It has no issues dealing with huge amount of hi-res tiff files simultaneously with batch commands and more. The usb-c connection with thunderbolt 3 is a great step forward i.m.h.o.

I understand some of the criticism, but many criticasters out there can easily be addressed as hysterical.

Sales does not equal customer satisfaction. The question is, success by who's standards? I'm playing a little devil's advocate here because companies always bend numbers to their marketing story. It could simply be there were tons of people and businesses that have held out and this is what they got. Maybe they aren't happy with the purchase but they simply couldn't wait any longer.

So point being, it could be pent up demand that couldn't wait any longer but aren't necessarily happy with their purchase. I wouldn't say that's success.

Now in reality, it's probably somewhere in the middle. I've had a few people I know say they love it all the way to the opposite side of they had to swallow it whether it was a corporate purchase or they are too far into the Apple ecosystem.

 

[dwaite]

Redesign, no
But current rivals are putting in much better GPU and RAM into their laptops, just a simple Kaby lake processor update won't cut it.

Apple's design is power constrained because they want to be able to use Thunderbolt 3/USB 3 for power. Other than the battery storing < 100Wh, they made the best laptop they could given that constraint. This constraint is consistent with other Apple laptops (the shipping 87W power supply is actually the largest of any laptop I've seen by Apple).

I'd argue that switching from a single port strategy to say a 120W magsafe charger would in fact be a full redesign.

Cramming a Nvidia GPU in is simply impossible, because Nvidia doesn't make a part power-efficient enough to work. The GTX 1050 for instance is a 75W TDP part, vs the AMD chips being 35W TDP parts.

Likewise, you can use DDR4 ram, but it will use more power in use and a ton more power while idle. To compensate you lose features like instant on and power nap, and my money is on Apple's research showing not enough people wanting to pay extra for the 32GB to be worth sacrificing the experience. Heck, the MacBook doesn't have a 16GB option and this is something Apple could accomplish without a new Intel part or sacrificing battery life.