Apple Updates Entire MacBook and MacBook Pro Lineup With Kaby Lake CPUs and Faster Graphics

[Tayobi]

I am slightly confused, are you saying any/all of these ports have been dropped on the updated Macbook Air or are you just saying that you are happy to own a Air instead of a Macbook?
I can't find any tech specs for the updated Air, and am slightly worried that they started to drop ports on it, to make the other machines more attractive.

Last time I checked, I didn't see any of the ports that I must have on the new notebooks that got updates:
https://www.apple.com/macbook/specs/
https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/specs/

Yes, I mean I am happy to own a Air rather than a MacBook or MBP. I can afford anything of them but chose the Air eventually because it is light and has all the ports that I need.

USB-C might become main stream some day. But USB-A is still more popular now. And when that day comes, I can always but a adaptor to use with my MB Air. Meanwhile I can enjoy my notebook dongle-free for another year or two.

 

[KPOM]

Last time I checked, I didn't see any of the ports that I must have on the new notebooks that got updates:
https://www.apple.com/macbook/specs/
https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/specs/

Yes, I mean I am happy to own a Air rather than a MacBook or MBP. I can afford anything of them but chose the Air eventually because it is light and has all the ports that I need.

USB-C might become main stream some day. But USB-A is still more popular now. And when that day comes, I can always but a adaptor to use with my MB Air. Meanwhile I can enjoy my notebook dongle-free for another year or two.

That's not the case. USB-A can't be converted to USB-C. Only the other way around. There are plenty of cheap non-Apple USB-C to A adapters.
[doublepost=1496892937][/doublepost]

Last time I checked, I didn't see any of the ports that I must have on the new notebooks that got updates:
https://www.apple.com/macbook/specs/
https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/specs/

Yes, I mean I am happy to own a Air rather than a MacBook or MBP. I can afford anything of them but chose the Air eventually because it is light and has all the ports that I need.

USB-C might become main stream some day. But USB-A is still more popular now. And when that day comes, I can always but a adaptor to use with my MB Air. Meanwhile I can enjoy my notebook dongle-free for another year or two.

So you would rather carry around a 3lb notebook than a 2lb one with an adapter that weighs about 2 ozs? How is that more convenient?

 

[jwloader]

FYI - some of the first 2017 MBP Geekbench 4 benchmarks are appearing over at Primate Labs. The 2017" MBP 15" Intel Core i7-7920HQ @ 3.10 GHz comes in at 4798 for single core and 15432 for multicore

10-15% bump from the 2016 MBP 15" Intel Core i7-6820HQ @ 2.70 GHz - as expected.

https://browser.primatelabs.com/v4/cpu/3048253 (MacBookPro14,3 - 2017 MBP)
https://browser.geekbench.com/v4/cpu/3027412 (MacBookPro13,3 - 2016 MBP)

Obviously synthetic benchmarks aren't the be-all-and-end-all but a good indicator nonetheless...

 

[KPandian1]

[QUOTE="So you would rather carry around a 3lb notebook than a 2lb one with an adapter that weighs about 2 ozs? How is that more convenient?[/QUOTE]

Show me how ports that already existed on the Mac metal frames add 1 pound to a Mac laptop of any kind in the line up!

 

[samuie]

You should give them a call. I bought mine on 5/11. I spoke with Apple last night and they are allowing me a return (by 6/19) outside of the normal return window so I can get the new one. It would be nice to be able to make an exchange in store but I think it is great they are letting me return it so I can get the update.

I bought it from a reseller

 

[Val-kyrie]

Interesting, that's what I heard too. A lot of people say Early 2018 for CoffeeLake. I heard from some sources CannonLake wasn't going to come to MBP. Not sure of the validity of that. Though CannonLake sounds awesome.

You are correct. Coffee Lake is supposed to be the mobile equivalent of Cannon Lake, but on a 14nm process instead of Cannon Lake's 10nm process due to yield issues.

It appears Coffee Lake has been pushed out to Feb 2018 and a Kaby Lake refresh will occur in its place in September. The refresh is supposed to double to the core count on the 15W U-series processor used in the MacBooks from 2 to 4 cores and will be released in time for the back to school season. Let's see if Apple actually releases the new CPUs or is just buying old (1st gen) surplus (Kaby Lake) CPUs from Intel to boost its margins. Unfortunately, I doubt Cook and Co. will update the MBs because that would mean the 13" MBP would have the same core count as the 15" MBP--a marketing disaster. Again, Mac users will likely get left behind in September.

On the bright side, it is being reported that Coffee Lake will have Hyper-Threading on its 6 core CPUs to compete with Ryzen. Thanks AMD!

 

[slimothy]

You are correct. Coffee Lake is supposed to be the mobile equivalent of Cannon Lake, but on a 14nm process instead of Cannon Lake's 10nm process due to yield issues.

It appears Coffee Lake has been pushed out to Feb 2018 and a Kaby Lake refresh will occur in its place in September. The refresh is supposed to double to the core count on the 15W U-series processor used in the MacBooks from 2 to 4 cores and will be released in time for the back to school season. Let's see if Apple actually releases the new CPUs or is just buying old (1st gen) surplus (Kaby Lake) CPUs from Intel to boost its margins. Unfortunately, I doubt Cook and Co. will update the MBs because that would mean the 13" MBP would have the same core count as the 15" MBP--a marketing disaster. Again, Mac users will likely get left behind in September.

On the bright side, it is being reported that Coffee Lake will have Hyper-Threading on its 6 core CPUs to compete with Ryzen. Thanks AMD!

Wow that was a lot of good information in one post. Possibly the most informative I've read this month on MR lol.

So I'm not fully knowledgeable on the wattages on the MacBook Pros or which series (like U-Series, for example) is used in which machine. What implications will this have for the 15 inch MacBook Pros? I'm trying to decide if waiting for CoffeeLake will be worth it or if I should hop on the 2017 MacBook Pro 15 inch.

 

[Val-kyrie]

Wow that was a lot of good information in one post. Possibly the most informative I've read this month on MR lol.

So I'm not fully knowledgeable on the wattages on the MacBook Pros or which series (like U-Series, for example) is used in which machine. What implications will this have for the 15 inch MacBook Pros? I'm trying to decide if waiting for CoffeeLake will be worth it or if I should hop on the 2017 MacBook Pro 15 inch.

I would not expect another significant update to the current MB(P) lineup until February or March 2018 when Coffee Lake becomes available. There might be a spec bump in September, but I am doubtful.

The biggest change with Coffee Lake would be an increase in CPU cores--possibly 4 on MB and 13" MBP and 6 in 15" MBP. It is unclear if Intel will integrate the TB controller into the chipset with Coffee Lake or if it will still require a separate controller.

There is a rumor of a possible new 15" MBP in the Fall, but rumors for that are scarce.

The only wildcard now is AMD's mobile Ryzen APUs which release this Fall. Apple could tack on a TB controller to the APU (similar to what they do with current Intel CPUs) to maintain TB3, but Apple's next move is anybody's guess.

Personally, if you need a Mac, Kaby Lake is what you want at a minimum. This comprises most of Apple's current lineup, including the 15" tbMBP.

If you don't need a Mac, you may want to wait to see:

1. how eGPU support shapes up. This may affect your choice of portable Mac.
2. if CPU cores are increased with Coffee Lake, especially if you use software that can utilize more threads.
3. if RAM capacity is increased (to 32GB)
4. HDMI and Display Port support. Will Coffee Lake bring HDMI and DP to current specs?
5. If Apple increases battery capacity.

 

[slimothy]

I would not expect another significant update to the current MB(P) lineup until February or March 2018 when Coffee Lake becomes available. There might be a spec bump in September, but I am doubtful.

The biggest change with Coffee Lake would be an increase in CPU cores--possibly 4 on MB and 13" MBP and 6 in 15" MBP. It is unclear if Intel will integrate the TB controller into the chipset with Coffee Lake or if it will still require a separate controller.

There is a rumor of a possible new 15" MBP in the Fall, but rumors for that are scarce.

The only wildcard now is AMD's mobile Ryzen APUs which release this Fall. Apple could tack on a TB controller to the APU (similar to what they do with current Intel CPUs) to maintain TB3, but Apple's next move is anybody's guess.

Personally, if you need a Mac, Kaby Lake is what you want at a minimum. This comprises most of Apple's current lineup, including the 15" tbMBP.

If you don't need a Mac, you may want to wait to see:

1. how eGPU support shapes up. This may affect your choice of portable Mac.
2. if CPU cores are increased with Coffee Lake, especially if you use software that can utilize more threads.
3. if RAM capacity is increased (to 32GB)
4. HDMI and Display Port support. Will Coffee Lake bring HDMI and DP to current specs?
5. If Apple increases battery capacity.

Interesting. I believe waiting for the CoffeeLake would be worthwhile. However, do we think that a 10nm die would be used in the one right after that? Which would make people want to wait for that one. Also I am hearing possible rumors of a whole MacBook Pro redesign in 2018. Wondering if this could be true as well. 6 core 15" would be awesome.

 

[Val-kyrie]

Interesting. I believe waiting for the CoffeeLake would be worthwhile. However, do we think that a 10nm die would be used in the one right after that? Which would make people want to wait for that one. Also I am hearing possible rumors of a whole MacBook Pro redesign in 2018. Wondering if this could be true as well. 6 core 15" would be awesome.

Yes. After Coffee Lake is Ice Lake on 10nm, if Intel doesn't change its plans again. That is where Intel's mobile and desktop CPUs should once again share the same process.

I would love a MBP redesign in 2018. I can't stand this iteration; mostly the useless touch bar which over complicates simple functions, the overly large trackpad which makes typing uncomfortable, the lack of any port but USB-C/TB3, and the undersized battery.

 

[skaertus]

Interesting. I believe waiting for the CoffeeLake would be worthwhile. However, do we think that a 10nm die would be used in the one right after that? Which would make people want to wait for that one. Also I am hearing possible rumors of a whole MacBook Pro redesign in 2018. Wondering if this could be true as well. 6 core 15" would be awesome.

2018 seems to be a little too early for a redesign. The last redesign was in October 2016, the last one before that was in June 2012, and before that, in October 2008. I would say another redesign could happen between mid-2019 and mid-2020, depending, of course, on how laptops in general will evolve. 2019 for a complete redesign for both the MacBook and the MacBook Pro lines seem feasible.

 

[slimothy]

2018 seems to be a little too early for a redesign. The last redesign was in October 2016, the last one before that was in June 2012, and before that, in October 2008. I would say another redesign could happen between mid-2019 and mid-2020, depending, of course, on how laptops in general will evolve. 2019 for a complete redesign for both the MacBook and the MacBook Pro lines seem feasible.

Agreed
[doublepost=1496952133][/doublepost]

Yes. After Coffee Lake is Ice Lake on 10nm, if Intel doesn't change its plans again. That is where Intel's mobile and desktop CPUs should once again share the same process.

I would love a MBP redesign in 2018. I can't stand this iteration; mostly the useless touch bar which over complicates simple functions, the overly large trackpad which makes typing uncomfortable, the lack of any port but USB-C/TB3, and the undersized battery.

That would be neat. I might go ahead and just pick up one of these new Kaby Lakes just to hold me off until 2019ish. That sounds like it will be a good year for processors.

 

[macintoshmac]

Is it just me, but I am feeling that my 2015 15-inch MBP is having more and more value now, with all the necessary ports, and the last-of-its-kind island keyboard.

It is not just you. It is a lot of people out there as well, who have a notebook that works flawlessly, has a plethora of ports, a fantastic battery life, everything you could ask for in a notebook.

While we make merry at having ports for tom dick and harry, users of the new 2016 and the 2017 machines smile at the much better screen, speakers, and the blazing fast IO that makes everything snappier, not just Safari. The computers run more efficiently, albeit not very much more powerfully. But hey, we have ports to compensate for all that is better on the new notebooks.

For the record, MBP 2015 does not have a VGA port which a Dell provides and in many instances, it is needed. MBP 2015 also does not provide expansion slot as a Dell (workstation series) provides. So... even the 2015 wasn't too good, speaking of ports and options.

You are better off with a tower computer that has all the ports you want, including PS/2 for keyboard and mouse.
[doublepost=1496955561][/doublepost]

I use that bar, but more so I use the touchID which is amazingly quick to log into the system.
In regards to "that bar" I used it the other day when I was giving a lecture and had to jump back and forth between slides when someone asked a question. Amazingly easy to scroll through an entire PowerPoint and then press the one you want. I am hoping that more Apps eventually utilize that bar. If Apps can't think of how to use that bar, then Apple should have the menu system duplicated down into that bar. It would be nice to be able to touch through menu options rather than using the trackpad and dragging through them.

This. Menu on TB might become an experience in its own right, the perfect touch MacBook. Still, the whole shebang is in its nascency and Apple isn't playing it too eager unfortunately. I expected Touch Bar to get a lot of love in 10.13, making it far more useful, etc. But... bean counter and hair force had other plans.

 

[asiga]

I'd love a more affordable 15'' Mac too. The 15'' MBP now costs $600 more than the 13'' with TB. But I don't care about the TB, and even about the quad core CPU they put on the 15''.
I'd like to have a bigger display just to have more content on the screen, but I'm a developer I don't work with graphics or videos so I don't really need a quad core or a fast GPU
I could buy a refurbished unit, but they 15'' models are still pricey

If they made a 14'' Macbook with a similar price to the 12'' version I may buy it. I don't care about the single port and I could live with the low performances of the fanless CPU

You seem to confirm my guess: There would be market interest for a MacBook with an screen bigger than 12''. I'm not too worried about price because MacBooks have a great long life for me. What I really care is not price, but buying a machine whose specs, features, and design I can be happy with for 5 years or so. And if look at the current MacBook product line (MBP included) I cannot find any model I can be happy for 5 years:

- The 12'' MacBook has the perfect weight, but the display is too small, and having only one USB-C port is an stupid limitation they will raise sometime in the future, so a couple of years from now I'll want to move to either a bigger display or a MacBook with at least two USB-C ports.

- The 13'' MBP is perhaps the one I like the most. But it has the same weight as my current MacBook Air. Yes, the MBP is faster than the MBA, but I'd prefer lower performance with lower weight (without reducing the display to 12'').

- The 15'' MBP has the perfect display, but I would only justify its weight if it had an NVIDIA GPU. With an AMD GPU, I'd rather prefer to have the same performance of the 12'' MacBook but with a 15'' display, so that I could have a very light 15'' laptop.

 

[Tayobi]

huh?
it's the wires, not the adapters that are making it less portable.

or- if somehow you're fine with the wires and only annoyed by an adapting plug, just get the wire you need instead of buying an adapter plug.

like, you can get a wire with USB-A on one end and USB-C on the other.. for 7 bucks.


https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Type-USB-C-Black/dp/B00S8GU2OC

https://www.amazon.com/Snowkids-Bra...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=V9PDTP9JK3K26WDV3S4Q

etc..
[doublepost=1496726821][/doublepost]
ouch, really?
i too was under the impression low power ram was coming with Coffee Lake.

i must of mis-read something.. or correctly read some bad info
; )

Perhaps I didn't make it clear, it's not a matter of price of those cables. It's just trouble having to buy them when the USB-A cables are working fine and compatible with other devices I have. Not to mention flash memory don't use cables so you need an adaptor. Carry extra things just isn't convenient.
[doublepost=1497099256][/doublepost]

then get these and leave them on the ends of the cables..


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View attachment 702896
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or is that too expensive? or too cumbersome to carry around?

if your main concern is convenience then use wireless connectivity as often as possible..

"Who wants a stylus? You have to get them out, put them away, you'll lose them, yuck" - Steve Jobs iPhone 2007 Presentation

Adaptor is not a stylus of course but the idea of convenience is similar. Why would I want to carry something extra, plug and unplug them and could possibly lose it?
[doublepost=1497100479][/doublepost]

That's not the case. USB-A can't be converted to USB-C. Only the other way around. There are plenty of cheap non-Apple USB-C to A adapters.
[doublepost=1496892937][/doublepost]
So you would rather carry around a 3lb notebook than a 2lb one with an adapter that weighs about 2 ozs? How is that more convenient?

The 2.03 lb notebook you are talking about has a 12 inch display; the 2.96 lb one has a 13.3 inch display, duh.

https://www.apple.com/ca/macbook/specs/
https://www.apple.com/ca/macbook-air/specs/

Even if you care not about the thickness, pick notebooks with the same size to compare. Like this one, 3.02 lb, 13.3 inch display, add the dongles:

https://www.apple.com/ca/macbook-pro/specs/

How is that not more convenient?

And we are talking size and weight of the notebooks here. Speed isn't that important for what I use the notebook for.

 

[KPOM]

Perhaps I didn't make it clear, it's not a matter of price of those cables. It's just trouble having to buy them when the USB-A cables are working fine and compatible with other devices I have. Not to mention flash memory don't use cables so you need an adaptor. Carry extra things just isn't convenient.
[doublepost=1497099256][/doublepost]

"Who wants a stylus? You have to get them out, put them away, you'll lose them, yuck" - Steve Jobs iPhone 2007 Presentation

Adaptor is not a stylus of course but the idea of convenience is similar. Why would I want to carry something extra, plug and unplug them and could possibly lose it?
[doublepost=1497100479][/doublepost]

The 2.03 lb notebook you are talking about has a 12 inch display; the 2.96 lb one has a 13.3 inch display, duh.

https://www.apple.com/ca/macbook/specs/
https://www.apple.com/ca/macbook-air/specs/

Even if you care not about the thickness, pick notebooks with the same size to compare. Like this one, 3.02 lb, 13.3 inch display, add the dongles:

https://www.apple.com/ca/macbook-pro/specs/

How is that not more convenient?

And we are talking size and weight of the notebooks here. Speed isn't that important for what I use the notebook for.

The two notebooks you compare have vastly different screens. As for the 12" MacBook it is smaller and lighter than the 11.6" MacBook Air that Apple previously sold, and has a much better screen.