Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple to Introduce New Macs at October 27 Event
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Totally agree. It would have been a great addition to the 5D4. Also, selfishly, as a 1DX2 owner, I was hoping the 5D4 would get CFast so the increased demand would bring the high prices (of CFast) down.
Cheers,
Bryan
I want a freakin' medal for pouring through this thread... but a few observations...
BIG issues for people seem to be USB-C and the SD Ports, followed by headphone jacks and SSD drives. I'd be sad for the demise of Magsafe, which has saved my expensive investments MANY times (2 MBPs in the household)... The Dell Vostro that my son uses, the power jack is a MONSTER plug that has been bashed far too many times, with a chunky, ugly, badly designed transformer.
But I am running an Mid-2010 Mac Pro purchased in November 2011 - which shows even then Apple's sluggish attention to the line. I am a Graphic and Web Designer and don't need the absolute highest performance. The Machine is well pampered and in fine condition, runs well for six years old, tho I do see some sluggish moments - mostly to do with HD access. (And why in steaming hell is MS Word slower and slower to launch than Adobe InDesign? ... I digress... ) But many of the enthusiastically touted "magical" features of the last several OS updates are not supported on my machine. But other than the base hardware ( and price ) the New Mac Pro is now apple's least advanced machine. I was recently in an Apple Store, and the one Pro on display had almost no non-apple pro-class software on it. No Adobe Creative apps, no Pro Tools, no Autodesk, no Maya... Shows a lot of interest in this market segment, no matter what you might consider a "Pro" user.
But I still love the beast, as it's a BEAST, and I can tear it down damn near to the motherboard, and pack it with all the RAM, storage and PCI Cards I can afford, a full suite of connectors. When the thing finally has a fatal fail - will most likely "cross-grade" to a tricked out iMac to get a large display and more up-to-date tech... and save a little scratch. Reminder Apple quit their Apple Display, no successor even rumored.
Apple will do what they see fit to reach the markets they're interested in. They will toss and introduce ports and technologies as it suits where they want to guide the industry toward. Their approach has always been to offer us what they think we need, as opposed to what we think we want... sometimes they guess wrong. Hockey puck USB mouse, anyone? I also HATE the Magic Mouse, since I have full size man-hands (...in the "dead tech drawer" next to the aforementioned hockeypuck with the ZIP and Jazz drives and USB A-B cables... *nasty laugh* )
But Apple hasn't even TALKED about the Mac Pro since they introduced it 2013. That's not sekret planz or even benign neglect, that's actual disinterest. Not a priority, folks. We're not a big enough market to devote a lot of attention too. Most of us they point us at iMacs or MBPs, or even the iPad Pro – which I do admit is some freakin' spiffy kit. The tiny sliver of pros that need the absolute top performance and configurability are defecting to Windows for available workstation class machines.
So what to expect?
Almost certainly the bulk of attention to the laptop lines. MacBook and Macbook Pro's with the Air starting to fade out as the MBs invade their space. The obsession with thinness will likely to continue, shoving ports off the platform.
The iMac and Mac Mini MAY get updated, even upgraded - expect good, but not top-end processors, or graphics chipsets. The trend towards more consolidation will likely continue - decent chance for Thunderbolt with USB C, and lightning.
Mac Pro? Longshot outside chance of a processor update. I wouldn't bet the &%$#ing rent money that it even gets mentioned.
BIG issues for people seem to be USB-C and the SD Ports, followed by headphone jacks and SSD drives. I'd be sad for the demise of Magsafe, which has saved my expensive investments MANY times (2 MBPs in the household)... The Dell Vostro that my son uses, the power jack is a MONSTER plug that has been bashed far too many times, with a chunky, ugly, badly designed transformer.
But I am running an Mid-2010 Mac Pro purchased in November 2011 - which shows even then Apple's sluggish attention to the line. I am a Graphic and Web Designer and don't need the absolute highest performance. The Machine is well pampered and in fine condition, runs well for six years old, tho I do see some sluggish moments - mostly to do with HD access. (And why in steaming hell is MS Word slower and slower to launch than Adobe InDesign? ... I digress... ) But many of the enthusiastically touted "magical" features of the last several OS updates are not supported on my machine. But other than the base hardware ( and price ) the New Mac Pro is now apple's least advanced machine. I was recently in an Apple Store, and the one Pro on display had almost no non-apple pro-class software on it. No Adobe Creative apps, no Pro Tools, no Autodesk, no Maya... Shows a lot of interest in this market segment, no matter what you might consider a "Pro" user.
But I still love the beast, as it's a BEAST, and I can tear it down damn near to the motherboard, and pack it with all the RAM, storage and PCI Cards I can afford, a full suite of connectors. When the thing finally has a fatal fail - will most likely "cross-grade" to a tricked out iMac to get a large display and more up-to-date tech... and save a little scratch. Reminder Apple quit their Apple Display, no successor even rumored.
Apple will do what they see fit to reach the markets they're interested in. They will toss and introduce ports and technologies as it suits where they want to guide the industry toward. Their approach has always been to offer us what they think we need, as opposed to what we think we want... sometimes they guess wrong. Hockey puck USB mouse, anyone? I also HATE the Magic Mouse, since I have full size man-hands (...in the "dead tech drawer" next to the aforementioned hockeypuck with the ZIP and Jazz drives and USB A-B cables... *nasty laugh* )
But Apple hasn't even TALKED about the Mac Pro since they introduced it 2013. That's not sekret planz or even benign neglect, that's actual disinterest. Not a priority, folks. We're not a big enough market to devote a lot of attention too. Most of us they point us at iMacs or MBPs, or even the iPad Pro – which I do admit is some freakin' spiffy kit. The tiny sliver of pros that need the absolute top performance and configurability are defecting to Windows for available workstation class machines.
So what to expect?
Almost certainly the bulk of attention to the laptop lines. MacBook and Macbook Pro's with the Air starting to fade out as the MBs invade their space. The obsession with thinness will likely to continue, shoving ports off the platform.
The iMac and Mac Mini MAY get updated, even upgraded - expect good, but not top-end processors, or graphics chipsets. The trend towards more consolidation will likely continue - decent chance for Thunderbolt with USB C, and lightning.
Mac Pro? Longshot outside chance of a processor update. I wouldn't bet the &%$#ing rent money that it even gets mentioned.
I think most people agree that CF cards are far more durable than SD. CF cards are also significantly faster, so even in those two outstanding bodies you listed, most working pros will download form the CF card first. But, to each their own.
Cheers,
Bryan
Mixed feelings. It's certainly going to be dongle hell to start with, but maybe this will be the last time we have to play that game. USB-C is already a crossplatform standard so, hopefully, it will become ubiquitous - unlike MiniDP, FireWire and atrocities like mini-DVI.
...there's only a limited portion of the case edge that adjoins the logic board, anything else needs daughter boards and ribbon cables which are space-inefficient and add points of failure.
My dislike of dongles is balanced by my dislike of the "port salad" you get on PC hardware - one of everything, two of nothing (apart from USB & even then its a hodge-podge of USB2, USB3 and USB + always-on power).
Also, USB-C to USB-A, DisplayPort and (in the near future) HDMI will just be cables, not dongles, and USB-C docks that will give you a 1-cable desktop connection including power are already cheaper than Thunderbolt ones.
Now, there's a bone of contention.
IMHO Apple should have avoided that problem by dropping lightning in favour of USB-C for the iPhone 7 rather than muddying the waters with lightning-based headphones. When they introduced lightning there wasn't anything else suitable - now there is. Introducing lightning connectors to the Mac just so people can use their earpods is just dumb.
Also, the headphone jack on MacBooks doubles as the optical SPDIF output. I'd have found this very annoying except my Logitech Z5500 speakers of mass destruction have just died (lead-free solder claims another victim, I fear).
+1 I used to be a pretty good touch typist with an IBM mechanical keyboard, but my speed improved significantly moving to an Apple keyboard and I'm fastest now on the current MBP and bluetooth keyboard. While I have only played with the Macbook's thin keyboard I'm actually looking forward to a similar one on the new MBP. I'm confident that with little training I will type faster still. Less travel with good feedback == less effort == more code and fewer errors. That's the trend for me so far anyways. Granted, no travel like with an iPad keyboard, forget about it. I can type fairly quickly on one but I don't like to, need the travel.
New cables (rather than dongles) are available? You mean like USB-C to USB-A? You're right, not the end of the world. Guess I'll have to pick up a few USB-C thumb drives as well.
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Didn't we already go though this when Apple unilaterally moved to completely sever all serial ports for a USB only iMac?
I won't miss any ports that get removed. There will be dongles available for those that need them, and I'm sure that I'd probably get one or two of them.
What I'm also sure of is that given my usage up to this point with all of the other portable systems I've owned/used (Macs and PCs) I will probably (with the single exception of an RJ45 dongle) only use those dongles once or twice during the life of the system. The rest of the time, they will be sitting in the cell phone pocket of my backpack (another product "feature" that I never used as intended.)
Meanwhile, I will continue to do my job. Continue to sleep at night after the sun sets, wake up in the morning as the sun rises, and go about my life dealing with more important things, like what I'm going to have for dinner tonight. I think I'll have bar-b-q chicken and garlic mashed potatoes ... no, wait ... rice! No ... yes! ... no! ... ok, rice. Maybe.
What I'm also sure of is that given my usage up to this point with all of the other portable systems I've owned/used (Macs and PCs) I will probably (with the single exception of an RJ45 dongle) only use those dongles once or twice during the life of the system. The rest of the time, they will be sitting in the cell phone pocket of my backpack (another product "feature" that I never used as intended.)
Meanwhile, I will continue to do my job. Continue to sleep at night after the sun sets, wake up in the morning as the sun rises, and go about my life dealing with more important things, like what I'm going to have for dinner tonight. I think I'll have bar-b-q chicken and garlic mashed potatoes ... no, wait ... rice! No ... yes! ... no! ... ok, rice. Maybe.
Actually if you look on Amazon, SanDisk has a lot more USB-C drives than they show on their official site, why that is? I dont know. They actually have USB-C/3.0 drives, which are ugly as sin, but I digress.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=usb-c+flash+drive
Either way, if you're like me, you have a few USB 3.0 drives and are not quite ready for USB-C. Can't expect people to jump on board quite yet, but in time. My mid-2012 Macbook Pro still had Firewire ports on it...that was only 4 years ago. However, Apple has changed to a more forward thinking company and seems to want to forget the past?
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
I have to agree with you on many points. I am also running a MacPro (2008 though) and it is still good enough for me. I have upgraded over the years, and I value that ability.
Once Apple decided that the Mac Pro should not be upgraded in 2013 with the cylinder, I decided that my next machine would be a Mini since it offers the same expandability as the new Mac Pro (only over thunderbolt) but was cheaper and I don't need the crazy graphics cards for what I do. But then 2014 came along and Apple decided that soldered RAM and Dual Core processors would be the future for the Mini. So I couldn't bring myself to buy the neutered mini. Thus, I am still chugging along on that 2008 Mac Pro.
If a Mac Pro gets introduced that has a PCI slot, or a Mini gets introduced that has a quad core i7 option, then I will consider upgrading. If not, I will just keep what I have since it is working, and I don't really need anything more than that...
Is anyone making a portable HD (2-4TB) that uses USB-C? Is it possible to buy a cord that plugs into existing USB3 HD like Seagate Backup Plus but that has USB-C on the other end to plug into the laptop?
I have a 12" Macbook Retina and I have the original 15"rMBP from 2012. I've been waiting to upgrade the 15" but recently travelling with the 12" the USB-C port was annoying. Having to use a hub in order to plug in an external HD and keep the power supply going to I could let LR create 1:1 previews for a few hours was just cumbersome. I guess the new rMBPs will have multiple USB-C ports so that is a plus but having to have adaptors for each of those ports is probably more annoying than packing around my hub.
I also have almost trashed my 12" because of the USB-C power by tripping over the cord. The Magsafe has saved my 15" multiple times. I would hope Apple could keep the Magsafe and not move everything to USB-C. If they are moving to USB-C everywhere then this laptop better be extra thin and lighter to make the USB-C sacrifice worth it. Obviously things will improve as more devices use the USB-C format and drives and things come with USB-C cords but for the first year or two with the 12" it has been a PITA.
I have a 12" Macbook Retina and I have the original 15"rMBP from 2012. I've been waiting to upgrade the 15" but recently travelling with the 12" the USB-C port was annoying. Having to use a hub in order to plug in an external HD and keep the power supply going to I could let LR create 1:1 previews for a few hours was just cumbersome. I guess the new rMBPs will have multiple USB-C ports so that is a plus but having to have adaptors for each of those ports is probably more annoying than packing around my hub.
I also have almost trashed my 12" because of the USB-C power by tripping over the cord. The Magsafe has saved my 15" multiple times. I would hope Apple could keep the Magsafe and not move everything to USB-C. If they are moving to USB-C everywhere then this laptop better be extra thin and lighter to make the USB-C sacrifice worth it. Obviously things will improve as more devices use the USB-C format and drives and things come with USB-C cords but for the first year or two with the 12" it has been a PITA.
Now that design and the available ports on it, would have my money.I'm not expecting the MBA to change substantially. It will likely take the place of the 2012 MBP. They'll bring the ports up to date, and possibly add a Lightning port in place of MagSafe which I imagine they will phase out across the lineup. And it will possibly get a processor upgrade, but no screen upgrade.
And in keeping with the 2012 MBP legacy placeholder, it will be the only MB that retains the SD card slot for those who need it, and quite possibly the only MacBook that retains a USB 3 port. Maybe something like this:
For the obvious reason, they weren't profitable (or profitable enough, for them). Otherwise they would still be around. The problem is it's a thoroughly tested niche. Maybe it would be better if they had never had one. Then at least it would be an unknown.
You make a good point. I consider getting audio out of the MacBook Pro especially 5.1 via SPDIF optical or over HDMI to be a basic requirement of a laptop. It should be achievable without having to hijack one of the USB-C ports. This is my biggest beef with the suggested rumours. I think USB-C shows great potential. '1 port to rule them all' type thing - but I shouldn't have to sacrifice one of those mega 'port of all ports' to get something as rudimentary as sound out of it. I regularly have my current MacBook Pro connected to Monitor speakers via 3.5mm jack. I don't want to have to stick a dongle in the side of the thing to output sound.
There will almost certainly be a headphone jack because
- The leaked case clearly showed it (together with the 4 USB-C)
- It's used by many as a digital out
- Apple wouldn't have conducted a usage survey if they'd already decided to drop it
- Waterproofing and space aren't as much of an issue as they are for the phone.
- The leaked case clearly showed it (together with the 4 USB-C)
- It's used by many as a digital out
- Apple wouldn't have conducted a usage survey if they'd already decided to drop it
- Waterproofing and space aren't as much of an issue as they are for the phone.
I get that people "want it and want it now," but everyone here knows the MacBook was released and the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro were updated in 2015, right? And then the MacBook got a spec bump in 2016?
Yeah, it's been over a year since the last updates. But if we get a shiny new MacBook Pro redesign, it's worth the wait, yes?
I notice there's always a lot of pent-up "Apple hasn't updated this product line, they've abandoned it, blah blah blah"... right before they do the update. It's like they're good at marketing or something.
Yeah, it's been over a year since the last updates. But if we get a shiny new MacBook Pro redesign, it's worth the wait, yes?
I notice there's always a lot of pent-up "Apple hasn't updated this product line, they've abandoned it, blah blah blah"... right before they do the update.
It's like they're good at marketing or something.I'm going to add what is likely said over and over in the 700+ posts so far. Please, please be a meaningful update to all Macs. Pretty please. Innovation is totally hot. My worry is that Apple will give us the same old highly conservative iteration and call it "courage." Mobile-First and AI-first are really cool and all that, but in the here and now my Macs (yes, more than one) are the core of my work life. I don't want to go to Dell and Windows 10, but there is a point where same old with a little upgrade is not enough to justify the higher Mac cost. Did I mention the pretty please part?