Apple Said to Ship New 'Ultra-Thin' 13" and 15" MacBooks by June-July

[OS X Dude]

What will actually happen:

• The thinnest Macbook Pro ever
• Available in Space Gray, Silver, Gold and Rose Gold
• 2x USB-C, no headphones jack
• iPad Pro style speakers
• iPad Pro screen without touch capabilities
• "We got rid of the last mechanical parts. That's right. For the first time, we introduce a fanless Macbook Pro..."
• ...with Intel's latest throttling Skylake mobile processors.
• POSSIBLY some sort of SD card slot but I expect them to phase it out as SD cards get faster not to kill off their own super-expensive SSD updates.

The MacBook Pro will not be fanless, not unless Apple incorporate liquid-cooling into the chassis.

I agree with the USB-C ports, but I'd like to think they'd be the Thunderbolt 3 variant which uses C ports and covers all connectivity options - that'd be a very neat implementation that maximises compatibility (except for older USB devices).

The headphone jack is anybody's guess, given what's potentially happening with the iPhone 7. I think Bluetooth headphones are a harder sell on computers for some reason, but I also can't see that stopping Apple from removing it from the Mac in the name of product and ideology cohesion.

I agree that they'll kill the SD card off if it's made even thinner, but I hope that they keep it. Same goes for MagSafe.

The colours are pretty much a given as well, although Rose Gold might be less certain.

 

[Jethrox]

FYI in case you did not know. You can use your iPhone to tether a connection to your Mac. My wife does this all the time with her MBA.

Yes, but I would pay more to have it built in....of course I would like my iPad to make phone calls too...it's got the connection so why not?
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Apple is killing me with their delay. I want a mac for my next computer, but at the same time, the Dell XPS 15 is a gorgeous and well-built computer available today for insane specs.

15" 4K touch display
Aluminum and Carbon Fiber body (it is awesome to hold)
Skylake CPUs w/ nVidia discrete grpahics
Thunderbolt 3 via USB C
Upgradable memory up to 32GB

etc...

The hardware is just incredible. Apple should be selling this type of machine now.

I agree and I would buy one in a second, maybe two. But Apple seems to want you to have three "essential" devices no two...they do more market polling than Trump!
They could have the best notebook on the market: MacBook SuperPro!
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I'd love to see Apple simply cram the macbook pro 15 into the body of a macbook air 13" LOL and I'd love to see the macbook pro 13" stuffed into the 11" macbook air frame!
I hope the new thinner notebooks are pros and not airs.
What about you guys?
For me the ergonomics of the pro line bothers my wrists, yet the Air line is super ergonomic.

I agree, smaller is better for me on the go...at home I'll hook up with my twins for a immersive experience.

 

[evrybdy]

I'm glad we aren't the only ones that feel Apple is missing the point. Stop with these thinner laptops that have limited RAM upgrades, ports, etc..

NOT to mention, they overheat and in general feel cheaper every release.

 

[saytheenay]

I have had enough of the anorexia obsession. If they remove and/or require a dongle for the headphone jack, mini display port and usb 3, I am on my last round of Apple hardware. Especially since every time they compromise, it seems the solution is much worse. Bluetooth audio will never be the same quality connection as wired. Enough is enough.

Funny how history repeats itself--they did the same idiotic decision making in the 90s after they ousted Steve and they are doing it again.

My 2013 MacBook Air is perfect for me--tried 15" rMBP and I can't handle the lag. I would much rather have performance than retina.

 

[Phoenixx]

Wow, another example of Apple's obsession with size. Someone needs to talk to their management about what Freud would say this means.
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I'm glad we aren't the only ones that feel Apple is missing the point. Stop with these thinner laptops that have limited RAM upgrades, ports, etc..

NOT to mention, they overheat and in general feel cheaper every release.

Apple isn't a premium brand anymore. It's cheap Chinese manufactured product with a nice case and screen, to keep up the ILLUSION of a high quality premium product. A classic example of this is the Mac Mini. Same case, but the internals have been gutted. For the largely uninformed buyer who doesn't know the direction Apple has gone, they could easily think it is an upgrade from the earlier model, but it isn't. Any time a computer manufacturer is more concerned about the screen of their computers, or how large they are, rather than how powerful they are, its a bad sign.

 

[pmau]

NOT to mention, they overheat and in general feel cheaper every release.

Mz 2006er MacBook Pro with Tiger 10.4 was the best laptop from Apple I ever owned.
They cut down features after that.

I even had a 3G PCI Express data card with an external antenna, that was pretty awesome at that time.
No driver issues, fast as hell and designed for its features, not to be thin and limiting.

PS: Quicktime even played videos in the Dock to simply show off

 

[Classzero]

This forum..., yesterday people were moaning there was no Mac related news and how dated the hardware is - now it's Apple can't make decent laptops anyway/it'll be under powered/who needs thin? People are never satisfied it seems.

Personally I'm buzzing, my 2012 unibody pro is still going strong despite people in this thread claiming it apparently should've had heat-related failure by now. Would love to move to a retina screen and faster GPU.

Now to decide between upgrading my laptop to a new Pro in June, or sticking with my current laptop and expand my content consumption arsenal With a 9.7" iPad Pro...

I would love to buy your 2012 MBP, this would be a big upgrade to my 2010 and the last year I liked any MBP

 

[bladerunner2000]

For my situation, I don't care about a thinner design...I want a high performance laptop (rMBP) that can handle editing 4K video with a larger/efficient enough battery. If that means a thicker (or same) design, so be it. I'm not using it for personal use so the whole 'thin' design means nothing to me if I can't work efficiently. .02

In order for that to happen, Apple would need to respect it's customers.

 

[Ankaa]

Yes, Apple needs to combine the iPad and notebook like other companies...make a truly mobile device with a touch screen, pencil and a real operating system!

God please no.

I've seen one of my colleagues using a surface (normal iPad sized, not one of those huge ones) with an external keyboard, a MOUSE, and a desktop OS the other day ... the things on the screen were so tiny and having to use a mouse completely defies the point of a tablet.

Please, no hybrids. There's a reason why touch laptops still don't sell that good.

Why don't people get that hybrids always mean compromises. I prefer the best possible solution for different tasks over sacrifices for the sake of covering all possible uses any time!

 

[jerryk]

I wonder if they will make the case really small and light, and add an external GPU option.

 

[FrozenInferno]

Thinner, thinner, thinner means batteries get smaller, smaller, smaller. I really wish Apple would drop this obsession with making paper thin devices and instead use the space gains to increase battery capacity. I'm no longer impressed by thin devices, I want battery life.

And not having the option to do your own upgrades like RAM and whatnot in these newer notebooks is a ridiculous also. I hope my 2011 MacBook Pro lasts for many more years to come because I don't want to be handcuffed with a computer I can't upgrade at my leisure.

 

[bruinsrme]

I wouldnt be surprised if they come out tmwjth a specially chipped hub and more exclusive cables that offer better performance.

 

[scott911]

I just bought a 13" pro yesterday knowing it was on the don't buy list. So of course, I'm fixating on seeing it obsoleted. But I'm actually wondering if the new unit will be worse.

Sure, new one will finally have skylake, and they'll offer more reasonable capacity and memory - but if the case is thinner - and they accept the other disadvantages that come with style over substance - that's not what I want out of a "pro".

 

[BeefCake 15]

Real Macs have curves!

 

[toke lahti]

Real Macs have curves!

...or sharp edges for your palms..?..

 

[ALVN]

I just bought a 13" pro yesterday knowing it was on the don't buy list. So of course, I'm fixating on seeing it obsoleted. But I'm actually wondering if the new unit will be worse.

Sure, new one will finally have skylake, and they'll offer more reasonable capacity and memory - but if the case is thinner - and they accept the other disadvantages that come with style over substance - that's not what I want out of a "pro".

Hi Scott! I´m just thinking about doing the same thing as you. I need a rMBP, with an i7 CPU, and 16gb RAM, and I cannot wait till WWDC.
I´ve been waiting for so long and seeing what rumors are saying and what people are rumoring...
Thinking about of buying the 13" model in the way it is, and how it looks, and the ports it has, I think it´s a good one.

Waiting for a new restyling model, with new ports and new stuff, it´s a thing I would not bear.

What do u think about my situation?

 

[K.Haderach]

I am also in need of a laptop... like now... and those big RED warning signs from Mac rumor is the only thing keeping me at bay.

I work close to a BestBuy that has an Apple section in it. I visit is weekly and just the other day, I almost pulled the trigger on the Macbook 12" for 999. It was all that I could do to resist.

I am waiting for the release of the new macs. My spidey sense tells me that the delayed gratification will be worth it...

 

[name99]

Please make them as thin as possible, but not any thinner than that.

NO NO NO. Make them thinner than is possible!
I want to own an impossible Mac!!!

 

[navaira]

I need to be able to cut bread with my iMac. Nothing less (more) will do.

 

[jerryk]

Hi Scott! I´m just thinking about doing the same thing as you. I need a rMBP, with an i7 CPU, and 16gb RAM, and I cannot wait till WWDC.
I´ve been waiting for so long and seeing what rumors are saying and what people are rumoring...
Thinking about of buying the 13" model in the way it is, and how it looks, and the ports it has, I think it´s a good one.

Waiting for a new restyling model, with new ports and new stuff, it´s a thing I would not bear.

What do u think about my situation?

If you really cannot wait until June then you have no choice.

But, if you can wait, you can decide between the new unit and it's new features, and a refurbished or clearance older unit. Refurbished 15 inch MBPs are up to $500 cheaper than new, today. Just imagine how much cheaper they will be with a major refresh
[doublepost=1461508060][/doublepost]I am in the market for a new MPB, but will wait to see what the refresh delivers. I want a 13 inch because it is more portable. But if apple can make a 14 inch that is about the size of a 13 inch, like the Dell XPS 14. I will get that.

 

[jhudgins]

hope it comes with a 4k camera sticking out.

No, it will be 480P :/
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Don't do this to me, Apple. Please. If you really make that thin of a MacBook Pro in a 15" form with Skylake, I will throw all of my money at you. Please include some USB 3.1 and C ports, keep the MagSafe, keep the battery life, force touch, and I will be satisfied with this year with Apple.


EDIT: And most of all, no butterfly keyboard

I will be surprised if it retains the same keyboard. Apple is conditioning us for a future touch keyboard with haptic feedback. I think it's safe to assume it will get the butterfly treatment.

 

[jdiamond]

Can you believe that by WWDC, it will have been nearly 1,500 days since Apple had a significant update to Macbook Pros? Let's hope it's been worth a wait as long as a presidency...

 

[gpat]

The butterfly keyboard design is fine, it just needs a bit more key travel, something it could get on the Pro line.

 

[LordVic]

We'll see, (wow this post isnt that new is it)

I'm looking forward to seeing what Apple can bring. I'm hoping at work to have BYOD policy in place soon, and wouldn't mind a MacBook Pro (though I have to use windows) to replace my aging desktop.

But, I need power. I need RAM. I need storage speed. I'm a database admin/ analyst / software thingamabob (spell check actually recognized that word, AMAZING) and I need standard ports (USB-A 3.0).

But with the really long time between MacBook Pro refreshes, even a spec bump, I worry that they are working on a brand new design. And their design in the last couple years of their Computer hardware has been about "Slimming down" and removing. They really aren't aiming for "pro" uses anymore. Their Mac Pro was a let down. Their iPad pro's, while functionality great iPads, are still just functionally iPads. they killed their enterprise servers, and most of their software has moved out of the "PRO" full feature rich, down to "prosumer".

this has me worried that we'll see the MacBook Pro's continue with this legacy. Making it thinner by using lesser performing parts to shave a MM or two. Just look at the MacBook v MacBook Air for a prime example. As i've always said, the Macbook and MacBook air 11" share an almost identical footprint, but instead of making the Air a better device, They made the MacBook by cutting the internals. The 23" iMACs are all using Laptop ULV components just to keep them cool enough to fit inside that unnecessarily thin desktop. Heck, even their top of the line 27" iMac with the i7 has to throttle excessively because "THINNER IS BETTER" mentaliy

Don't do that with the pro. Keep the Pro in Pro. Keep it quad core. Keep it with 8-16gb RAM options. Make it START with an SSD option, while having a full array of ports and expansion. those of us looking for powerfull device are perfectly willing to have a slighty heavier machine if it means not requiring ALSO having a desktop.

But I've lost a lot of confidence in Apple.

 

[maxsix]

Apple's extreme addiction to thin designs is laughable. Even more bizarre is the way they've let quality collapse while bragging about everything they do.