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Apple to Release Thinner MacBook Pro at WWDC

BK. said:
If they don't remove it from their desks, why on earth would it need to be made thinner and lighter?

Logic failure. Oop.
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I was referring to the removal of ethernet and the superdrive, I reread my post and realized I didn't specify that. Appreciate the sarcasm though.


WardC said:
Some people like Mac Pros, too. And the old Matte Cinema Displays, as well.
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I am more so stating this for the average consumer. The Mac Pro, while gladly accepted by many, is not aimed directly at the average Apple customer.
 
JohnDoe98 said:
What's insane to me is that the few people who might genuinely need ethernet might think that everyone else should be prevented from benefiting from thinner, lighter, more aesthetically pleasing designs. Face it, there will not be two assembly lines, one producing an ethernet model for a couple % of the users who need it, and one producing everyone else's laptops.

And Apple shouldn't include the adapter for free, again for the exact same reasons. Most users wouldn't want to subsidize other people's adapters. If you can afford a laptop that is 2k, you can afford the adapters.
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Most people also don't need quad cores, or the capability for 16 GB or RAM, much less 32. If you want a computer that suites the needs of the average guy sitting on the couch surfing the web, get an iPad. Your line of argumentation is not at all compelling.
 
Beliblis said:
If they're really gonna introduce this on WWDC, I expect them to also introduce a Mac Pro – IF(!) they decided to continue the Mac Pro line.

No Mac Pro on WWDC = Mac Pro is dead.
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I think the Mac Pros are going to be updated online but not shown at WWDC because they don't have displays. WWDC 2012 is going to be about visuals thus the MBP and iMac being shown at WWDC.

I'd also expect to see Apples Airports refreshed to 802.11ac around the same time.
 
I've yet to see confirmation that Ethernet is gone!

roadbloc said:
No Ethernet? I don't see this going down well. Thunderbolt hasn't been adopted enough for it to replace Ethernet.... yet. Will it do in the future, I'm not too convinced about that either. So far, to me, Thunderbolt has been FireWire 3.
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Maybe I missed that someplace, lots of rumors of course but frankly nothing that makes sense. In any event to accommodate a full up laptop processor they will need a certain thickness to handle heat removal. So I tend to see these reports as garbage.

I will take a wait and see approach myself.
 
Adapter

So if Apple makes Thunderbolt to 4x USB2/3 + 2x FireWire + LAN + Thunderbolt adapter with short build-in TB cable for let's say $ 199 I will be OK with this solution.
 
wallysb01 said:
Most people also don't need quad cores, or the capability for 16 GB or RAM, much less 32. If you want a computer that suites the needs of the average guy sitting on the couch surfing the web, get an iPad. Your line of argumentation is not at all compelling.
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That's why most of those people are not buying 15" MBPs. That's why the best sellers are iPads, MBAs, etc.

Look, we are talking about people who either want or need the 15" MBP. Of that population specifically, how many do you honestly think need or depend upon Ethernet and cannot make do with the USB 3 adapters that are likely to be released alongside these new Retina MBPs? Give me an estimate or approximation, of what you think this population might be. Then tell me if it's really worth designing the new Retina MBPs with them first in mind.
 
This is all speculation until Tim does the demo. The key thing I would expect from a Pro laptop is expandability. I want to be able to take off the bottom and upgrade or replace RAM and the HD or SSD. If the unit is going to be sealed, well, you might as well buy an Air.

I wouldn't mind losing Ethernet on a laptop. I haven't used it on a laptop in years. I would expect it on a desktop - especially if Apple seeks further acceptance in an enterprise environment. I'd miss an internal optical drive because I have software DVDs and want to rip my old music CDs to iTunes. That's why I got a refurbished Early 2011 MacBook Pro so I don't have to worry about losing those features. By the time I need to upgrade my Mac, I probably won't need those features any more.
 
The ethernet cable and firewire cable connectors are probably on the side where the DVD used to go. If not, why not have that as a BTO option?
 
I don't care. It's already thin enough to be too thin for many carrying cases.

I just want it to be faster (duh) and have half of the ports on the right side for convenience (like the old MacBook Pro did).
 
uclamacguy said:
The ethernet cable and firewire cable connectors are probably on the side where the DVD used to go. If not, why not have that as a BTO option?
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Because those laptops would be thicker and require an entire separate assembly line. Too expensive.
 
nuckinfutz said:
I feel like computers should be balanced. Which means that Apple needs to be looking and seeing where they can design their computers to affect the largest group of people.

DVD drive usage is waning. Wireless has become the standard for home users. Why not simplify and take the money that was used on the ODD and apply that towards things like SSD and higher quality display that everyone can use?

Then make sure that there are accessories that help me reach back and connect to legacy systems.

Thunderbolt to ADB!!!! FTW
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Isn't this what the Air is for? If they want to make a 15" Air and cut the MBP, or effectively merge them into a single Air/Pro line, so be it. That is their choice, and they should do what they think will make the most money. However, the Air is little more than an iPad with a built in keyboard. The MBP contains more serious functionality. Thus, between the mobile product lines, what will likely appeal to the most people is offering something closer to the MBP and an iPad. And that might be what they are trying to do. Making sacrifices where they think they can, but they may lose people on the fringes of both the Air and Pro user bases if they try to merge them. A light-Pro may not be pro enough, while a power-Air may just be to bulky. Broad appeal of a single product has its place, but do specialized products for diverse user groups. Apple should be careful if this is the route they choose.
 
Wife Connectivity?

I'm all for removal of ethernet port but for one reason..

I have MBP for past 3 years and only time I use ethernet port is when my internet stops working and customer care ask me to hookup my macbook to the modem.

How does Apple expect everyone to setup their new wifi device...I think it comes down to paying $50 bucks more for the adapter the way I read it.
 
xcfmx said:
Here's how you get slim ethernet. Remember the Xjack?
[/URL]
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If you changed the Ethernet port to something smaller that needed an adaptor, you might as well change it to a USB 3 port. Because this smaller Ethernet port would not serve any purpose while not used as an Ethernet port, whereas a USB 3 port could serve as a USB (1,2,3) port while not used as an Ethernet port. And whether you carry a mini-Ethernet to Ethernet adaptor or USB 3 to Ethernet adaptor with you, does not really matter.
 
sachisme said:
I'm all for removal of ethernet port but for one reason..

I have MBP for past 3 years and only time I use ethernet port is when my internet stops working and customer care ask me to hookup my macbook to the modem.

How does Apple expect everyone to setup their new wifi device...I think it comes down to paying $50 bucks more for the adapter the way I read it.
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A USB 2 Ethernet adaptor is perfectly fine for non-pro tasks like setting up your router or doing diagnostics on it. It costs $29, but you can buy cheaper non-Apple branded ones too.
 
JohnDoe98 said:
That's why most of those people are not buying 15" MBPs. That's why the best sellers are iPads, MBAs, etc.

Look, we are talking about people who either want or need the 15" MBP. Of that population specifically, how many do you honestly think need or depend upon Ethernet and cannot make do with the USB 3 adapters that are likely to be released alongside these new Retina MBPs? Give me an estimate or approximation, of what you think this population might be. Then tell me if it's really worth designing the new Retina MBPs with them first in mind.
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Professional people willing to fork out so much for a pro computer (and so much more than what they would have paid for at the competition) for their work that allows for out of the box interface with the most common network protocol on the planet in corporate, university, small business or conference settings (or for that matter on any occasion where ethernet comes very handy as quick ad hoc networking between computers, router set ups, places with poor wifi reception etc. etc.) dongle and hassle free? I would say about 70-80% and I am being modest here.

What's the retina to do with anything anyway? This is a completely bs non point. All the more so if this is a first gen retina computer it should be a millimeter thicker to allow for better thermals from the gpu to drive it.

The things you read to justify ANYTHING apple does, reminds me of the old joke that if apple come out with a pile of crap and call it the iturd and slap a $2000 on it, sure enough you are going to find quite a few people coming here and saying that it's ushering in a new era of human computer interaction, or how iconic the design is, or that competitors products are **** anyway at least apple are being upfront about it. :D
 
Let's bring presumptions to something more believable:

1.) 13" Macbook Pro's are most popular because they're the most affordable.

2.) These rumors are all just that = rumors.
 
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