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

[K.Haderach]

I was hoping to purchase my first Mac laptop and decided to wait due to the "Don't Buy" suggestion here on this site... grrrrr... I really want one for xcode... came so close to getting one of the new MacBooks from Best Buy for $999... but am holding out....

 

[Larry-K]

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

I think they'll need to be thinner than that.

 

[Fancuku]

I think they'll need to be thinner than that possible

Fixed for accuracy

 

[Totally]

Not nitpicking, but ethernet ports hasn't existed on the rMBP since 2012, when it was first introduced.

If you have to say you're not not picking, it means you are lol.

 

[AppleHater]

This has to be said.

MacRumors users do not represent the wants and needs of the general public.

I can't stress this enough. People always complain about stuff becoming thinner and lighter. Well guess what, the typical Apple customer...

* Doesn't edit 4K video in Final Cut.
* Doesn't use his or her MacBook to play the latest, most demanding games in Windows.
* Doesn't perform advanced calculations or heavy 3D rendering
* Doesn't need to stare into their laptop display more than 10 hours a day w/o charging.

Most people don't need more power or battery life, at the expense of a thicker computer. I assume most people hardly use more than 10 per cent of the processing power of a modern computer. There is basically nothing the average Joe couldn't get done by using a 2013 or later MacBook Air or Pro. These computers have way more power and battery life than most people really need. Nowadays, even eight year old 2008 MacBook Pro's are able to use the latest operating system, so additional performance is hardly reason enough to upgrade for most people.

You know what will make people upgrade?

* Lighter laptops, which are easier to bring around
* Thinner laptops, which are better looking and easier to bring anywhere.
* New designs, possibly new colors.
* New features (I'm not talking about new ports which will hardly be used, I'm talking about for example Retina Displays, which is the one thing you're using every single second on a laptop computer.

Feels like many people are hoping for a THICKER MacBook Pro, with Quad-Core i7 Thislake or Thatlake, even Xeon processors, dedicated 4GB VRAM GPU, liquid cooling and 64GB RAM, and this or that.

Well, I'm sorry I can't see it happening. Why do you think the 17" MBP was removed from the lineup? It being top-of-the-line simply made it expensive, so it didn't cater to a large enough market to warrant it's existence. It was probably too big and heavy as well, for most people. Heck, hardly the Mac Pro seems to be selling (although maybe a bad example seeing as it hasn't been upgraded in a long while).

It should be obvious, Apple is no longer catering to the Pro market, they are aiming for marketshare.

As long as current performance and battery life is maintained, while making the computer thinner and lighter with new features, I for one will be interested.

Oh, so called general public will care if they start miss-typing every other word due to super thin keyboard that ignores usability for the sake of aesthetics. Anyone will take ultra long battery life over 2mm thinner notebook.

 

[Flex77]

With their new emphasis on iPads as a replacement for personal computers (which I personally think is ridiculous) I could even imagine Apple to reduce their MacBook line up to just two devices:

1.) A 12" rMB with smaller bezels that inherits the resolution of the 13" rMBP (1280x800 @2x)
2.) A 14" rMBP with smaller bezels that inherits the resolution of the 15" rMBP (1440x900 @2x)

Combine this with two or three configs each and a slooow phase out of the MacBook Air over the next two to three years (until rMB hits a price point around $ 1000) and bam, there you have it.

Another scenario would be for the rMB to go 12" and 14" and the rMBP to go 14" and 16". This way they would meet in the middle, which would mirror the new setup of the iPad lineup (Mini, regular, regular Pro, big Pro).

 

[Stella]

Pro machines are not supposed target regular customers...

If someone fits your description as set out below they should not be buying a Pro machine in the first place.

You are right though - Apple are increasingly targeting the regular users with their supposedly 'Pro' machines... and dumbing down the hardware in the process.

This has to be said.

MacRumors users do not represent the wants and needs of the general public.

I can't stress this enough. People always complain about stuff becoming thinner and lighter. Well guess what, the typical Apple customer...

* Doesn't edit 4K video in Final Cut.
* Doesn't use his or her MacBook to play the latest, most demanding games in Windows.
* Doesn't perform advanced calculations or heavy 3D rendering
* Doesn't need to stare into their laptop display more than 10 hours a day w/o charging.

Most people don't need more power or battery life, at the expense of a thicker computer. I assume most people hardly use more than 10 per cent of the processing power of a modern computer. There is basically nothing the average Joe couldn't get done by using a 2013 or later MacBook Air or Pro. These computers have way more power and battery life than most people really need. Nowadays, even eight year old 2008 MacBook Pro's are able to use the latest operating system, so additional performance is hardly reason enough to upgrade for most people.

You know what will make people upgrade?

* Lighter laptops, which are easier to bring around
* Thinner laptops, which are better looking and easier to bring anywhere.
* New designs, possibly new colors.
* New features (I'm not talking about new ports which will hardly be used, I'm talking about for example Retina Displays, which is the one thing you're using every single second on a laptop computer.

Feels like many people are hoping for a THICKER MacBook Pro, with Quad-Core i7 Thislake or Thatlake, even Xeon processors, dedicated 4GB VRAM GPU, liquid cooling and 64GB RAM, and this or that.

Well, I'm sorry I can't see it happening. Why do you think the 17" MBP was removed from the lineup? It being top-of-the-line simply made it expensive, so it didn't cater to a large enough market to warrant it's existence. It was probably too big and heavy as well, for most people. Heck, hardly the Mac Pro seems to be selling (although maybe a bad example seeing as it hasn't been upgraded in a long while).

It should be obvious, Apple is no longer catering to the Pro market, they are aiming for marketshare.

As long as current performance and battery life is maintained, while making the computer thinner and lighter with new features, I for one will be interested.

 

[JohnPhamlore]

As far as the "general public" goes, I think they tend to keep their PCs / laptops just as long if not longer than members of this forum. Look at all the people still running unsupported Windows XP machines still.

 

[longofest]

If Razr and Dell used software that was as good as Apple, it would be no competition. Fact of the matter is is that Apple dominates in the software portion (As well as keyboard and touchpad, which are two of some of the most important aspects of a laptop for me), while every other company blasts them with hardware. If a company can merge these two benefits of these two sides, it'll be no competition.

The software does set apart Apple, but Dell's keyboard and trackpad on the XPS 15 are quite good - specifically the trackpad. Its the best non-Apple trackpad I've ever tried.

 

[furi0usbee]

USB C is just too thick! USB FU to the rescue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Oppenheim]

Wow. Unless you subscribe to Apple's locked down hardware approach, you're "missing the point" and should get a PC??? Really?

Sorry, but I'm not drinking that koolaid.

I'd happily trade away thinness for a more powerful laptop with user replaceable parts. Find you need more RAM? Whack some in. SSD full? Put in a bigger one. Something broken? Replace it. That's how it used to be. Before Apple became totally and utterly focused on milking the consumer market for every last cent. This has got nothing to do with Apple's unified hardware/software philosophy.

You need to read up on Apple and how it arrived where it did. Seriously.

If you want to get out your little screwdriver and "upgrade" with parts you bought online, Apple isn't for you. You're lost and are paying too much for something you don't need.
[doublepost=1458672560][/doublepost]

Yet I'm still to hear of a valid reason it no longer has a place on new devices other than 'its old'.

Its an older technology that's still to be consistently matched by wireless, modern Headphones. As far as I'm concerned I couldn't care less about the age of the technology if it's still delivering a consistently higher level of audio quality than its competitors.

Besides one of its main advantages is its universal compatibility. 3.5mm inputs on speaker Systems are far more prevalent than Bluetooth alternatives, even in professional working environments. Yes it will be replaced at some point, but is rather but a machine that's grounded in the working environments we currently use versus ones in the future.

In other words, "it's tradition".

Tradition is not a good enough reason on its own to keep something.

Your tradition argument aside, I will argue that the 3.5mm connector is flimsy, is unattractive and goes against the grain of the MBP's design. Wired headphones are pointless in 2016 - the wires are ugly and unnecessary. We can and have done better. It's remarkable that wired headphones have lasted this long.

The MBP is a professional machine. Audio professionals work in all-digital studios. The best sounds are rendered through speakers, not crappy headphones off of flimsy, unreliable and fragile 3.5mm jacks.

 

[Harthag]

Bring back a matte screen option Apple, then I'll take you seriously again. That's all I want. Couldn't stand the mirror screen any longer and sold my 13" 2015 MBP for a new X1 Carbon with matte 1440p screen. A 16:10 matte hi-res screen will sell like hot cakes. But nope, Johnny Consumer wants thin and shiny.

 

[MacRazySwe]

Pro machines are not supposed target regular customers...

If someone fits your description as set out below they should not be buying a Pro machine in the first place.

You are right though - Apple are increasingly targeting the regular users with their supposedly 'Pro' machines... and dumbing down the hardware in the process.

That's the thing, Pro-machines used to target the Pro market. This is not as much the case anymore. I don't think an iPad Pro is "Pro" in any possible way. It's only an iPad and it can hardly do anything else than my phone already does, other than using an Apple Pencil.

If rumors turn out to be true, there may be an iPhone Pro as well, this autumn. Although we don't know much, I doubt it will be worthy of the Pro-badging.

The Pro-moniker lately has just been a way for Apple to upsell. The new iPad Pro adds $100 to what is essentially the same device. The iPhone Pro will probably do the same.

As for the laptops, we will have to wait and see - but I there is a great risk the same thing will happen. I think the MacBook Air will be removed, left will be the USB-C only rMB and a new rMBP which takes on the wedged design and port configuration of the MBA. If you need a USB-port and SD-card reader, Apple will force you to buy the Pro-model, much like you are forced to buy the iPad Pro if you need the Smart Connecter and Pencil support.

Not what I want, but what I think will happen.

Oh, and to some other users (not you Stella). Chromebook suggestions? Are you out of your ****** minds? Why don't you start by reading my previous post a bit more carefully. The general public does not equate to my personal computer use. God - the stupidity.

 

[ChrisCW11]

MacBooks so thin and light you just wish you could touch the screen and have it respond like a tablet.

 

[Psyfuzz]

You need to read up on Apple and how it arrived where it did. Seriously.

If you want to get out your little screwdriver and "upgrade" with parts you bought online, Apple isn't for you. You're lost and are paying too much for something you don't need.
[doublepost=1458672560][/doublepost]

In other words, "it's tradition".

Tradition is not a good enough reason on its own to keep something.

Likewise, 'breaking tradition' is not a good enough reason to discard something.

It's not about 'tradition', it's that it's unparalleled in consistent quality and availability - until competing technologies can match it in those areas, forcibly removing it out is only going to annoy. If it truly is redundant tech the reason should't still be a mystery to us apparently unenlightened people, truth is there is no reason.

 

[oosamon]

With their new emphasis on iPads as a replacement for personal computers (which I personally think is ridiculous) I could even imagine Apple to reduce their MacBook line up to just two devices:

1.) A 12" rMB with smaller bezels that inherits the resolution of the 13" rMBP (1280x800 @2x)
2.) A 14" rMBP with smaller bezels that inherits the resolution of the 15" rMBP (1440x900 @2x)

Combine this with two or three configs each and a slooow phase out of the MacBook Air over the next two to three years (until rMB hits a price point around $ 1000) and bam, there you have it.

Another scenario would be for the rMB to go 12" and 14" and the rMBP to go 14" and 16". This way they would meet in the middle, which would mirror the new setup of the iPad lineup (Mini, regular, regular Pro, big Pro).

IVY: "At 14" it is the largest retina display we've ever had on our 13" retina macbook pro."

 

[justin216]

I cringe every time I load Apple.com now and see the new iPad Pro banner -- Super. Computer.

Now, for disclosure, I own an iPad Pro 12.9", and it's great for what it is, but the lack of Mac updates really make that descriptor hit a sour note.

All of the necessary chips are out now, except new GPUs from AMD or nVidia, if they decide to keep discrete GPU an option in the 15" high-end model. The Intel Iris Pro 580 is looking so promising, I don't know that I even care about dGPU for this next model.

Just annoying that my rMBP 15, which is the currently-sold model, is still running a 2013 platform. In 2016. Yeah, it's technically running the refreshed Haswell from 2014, but that's not that much better...

I suppose I'd be less "salty" over it if there weren't all of these competitors shipping Skylake. Feels like by the time Apple finally rolls out Skylake en-masse, we'll be about time for the Kaby Lake refresh.

 

[Oppenheim]

Likewise, 'breaking tradition' is not a good enough reason to discard something.

Note how I qualified my statement by adding "on its own". Which you conveniently ignored.

Don't get me wrong, I value tradition and continuity with the past. I swear by it. But I hate change for the sake of change. 3.5mm jack Bourbonism is holding us back and interferes with the machine's design.

 

[jkmoses]

That super thin USB-C MacBook is pretty but severely underpowered and the lack of ports is annoying.

If Apple redesigns the MacBook Pro to be thinner and lighter, I hope they don't nerf its power and expandability.

Have you even used one?

 

[happyslayer]

A lot of hate for the butterfly keyboard, but I really like it on the Macbook. I have a feeling that the people that are complaining, never really used it long term. It's actually pretty great.

I completely agree. After using my MacBook the last 11 months I kind of hate the Air and Pro's keyboards. (Wife and daughter's respectively)

Also the latest iMac keyboard is like the rMB so I am pretty sure all macs and MacBooks and Pros will get it.

Sorry to tell all of you that

 

[brewmonkey]

And then a couple weeks later, Kaby Lake will be available making your 1 month old, shiny, new RMBP, a generation behind in CPU terms.

Based on Intel's recent behavior, I'll believe that Kaby becomes 'available' in that time frame only when I see it.

 

[Jimmy James]

But what about ultra thin desktops? Oh yeah, we have those. With laptop drives.

 

[Glideslope]

So what's going to be the difference between the Air and MacBook lineups?

The lines continue to blur............

 

[ProjectManager101]

They need to fire Jon ivy the.
[doublepost=1458663841][/doublepost]
And people would be suckered in to buy one.

My older brother did something super smart ages ago. When the first generation 15" came out ages ago he waited for everyone to give away the G3 Pismo. He told me, usually Apple when come with a new line, the previous model of the previous line is the one fully functional with all aspects and the first one of the new line... because is new is actually very crappy. And that was it, he got about 4 Pismos super cheap for his production company and they were awesome. That was when the titanium powerbooks came out.

So, it will be a good time to get the actual line of mac book pros onces the new ones comes out.

 

[freddiecable]

Well. Too early to tell right? I have a MBA i7 that works great still but is almost 4 years old and I'm ready for an update. I love the 12" MB retina and would like to have a slightly bigger one. So depending on how this rumor plays out I would probably get a bigger laptop. I would not mind having a 15" Mac Book with slim footprint and a medium strong CPU. I don't care that much for a lot of connections but only one is simply too little for me.

Oh cool. U planning to get 15?