Unfortunately, it's sacrificing functionality for sleekness (which is not new to Apple, go back to the hockey puck arthritis mouse on the first iMac).
No optical drive (which I'm fine with) and no 2.5" hard drives...
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Apple's 15" Ultra-Thin Notebook Due in March 2012
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Unfortunately, it's sacrificing functionality for sleekness (which is not new to Apple, go back to the hockey puck arthritis mouse on the first iMac).
No optical drive (which I'm fine with) and no 2.5" hard drives...
Since it doesn't look like a redesign, I will go with a 15" Air. Start it at a 256 GB SSD with an option for a 512 GB SSD. Drop the price for everything else by $100. So you have
11" - $899, 11" high end - $1099, 13" $1299, 13" high end - $1499, 15" $1699
Would it be too cheap to make the 256 to 512 option $300, on the 15"?
11" - $899, 11" high end - $1099, 13" $1299, 13" high end - $1499, 15" $1699
Would it be too cheap to make the 256 to 512 option $300, on the 15"?
Other OEMs don't release products using currently-unannounced Intel chips. Apple sometimes does.
A 15" Air would be cool, if it's true, I can't wait to see what they did with it, as far as design goes. Will it have the little holes that's a trademark of the 15" and 17"? Will it have a better GPU, battery and SSD with the extra space?
I chose the 15" pro because I'm a little old school I guess. The current MBP is thin enough for me and I really like the extra ports and optical drive, even though it's a bit passe to have those things these days. Is the optical drive a waste of space? Probably, but I know I can stick a DVD in there to burn or watch or load an older piece of software for OSX or a VM.
I chose the 15" pro because I'm a little old school I guess. The current MBP is thin enough for me and I really like the extra ports and optical drive, even though it's a bit passe to have those things these days. Is the optical drive a waste of space? Probably, but I know I can stick a DVD in there to burn or watch or load an older piece of software for OSX or a VM.
I don't know why people come up with childish statements like this.
Apple decide to stop fitting optical drives in their machines. Yes, fair enough, it's up to them what they fit or don't fit, but why should the statement "Apple killed the XXX" have to be used.
Guess what.....
I have a job.........
I could go online tonight and order the top of the line MacBook, the top of the line iMac or even a top of the line fully loaded MacPro.
But I don't...............
Why?
Because I don't want one. Just because you don't want something does not mean it's because you are jealous that you can't afford it.
That's the thing children say in the school yard to try and show off to their friends.
While it is nice to claim that we can get everything from icloud as far as storage etc. which means theoretically we'd need less storage on our Macs, I think it will take a while before people let go of a real HD.
Until the overall WiFi access is truly everywhere, like gas stations, I bet most people want their stuff with them accessible at all times without internet connections etc..
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The Sandy Bridge chips have built-in AES functionality. Also, Lion comes standard with FileVault2, which is 256-bit AES. Would that fit within your company's IT policy?
Definitely interested in what might be offered here. If it's any good I think I might look into selling my little old 13" MB here and buy one. Granted it's probably going to be pretty damn expensive so we will have to see.
Still, the idea of a 15" Air sounds awesome.
Still, the idea of a 15" Air sounds awesome.
Article: HT4790
OS X Lion provides a new version of FileVault: FileVault 2 uses full disk, XTS-AES 128 encryption to help keep your data secure. With FileVault 2 you can encrypt the content of your entire drive.
User-replaceable RAM and SSD (SSD already is, make the bottom unscrewable and use unsoldered RAM, possible even on the 11") and the 13" Pro can be phased out. Figure out a sleek way to use external graphics (maybe on Thunderbolt) and the 15" can be killed out as well. And with an high screen resolution, the 17" can go buh-bye as well.
They need to play clever on an external solution for graphics and storage though. Something like $300 for a dock with a 500GB HD and a discrete VGA, connected via Thunderbolt.
They need to play clever on an external solution for graphics and storage though. Something like $300 for a dock with a 500GB HD and a discrete VGA, connected via Thunderbolt.
Storage
I am thinking along these lines too, but I do not know if Apple will do this because it adds an element of complexity that needs to be hidden from the end user. For example, when installing a new app, to where is it installed? Will the end user see two hard drive options or will OS X select where to install it? Where will VMs be stored? What happens if the end user wants to install an app but the SSD is filled up because it has a low capacity (e.g., 60 GB)? Does this require a software/firmware modification for the new hardware?
Personally, I would like to see such an option, so this is just thinking aloud. The complexity posed by a simple task such as installing an app raises some questions in my mind, especially if one thinks about non-technical users, such as my father, who still needs assistance installing apps with only one hard drive option.
Good points. I think it might be possible for Apple to offer one form factor for the MacBook line but still offer different configurations. (Of course, this would mean Apple would have to remove the ODD from all MBs.) For example, the entire MacBook line (13", 15", 17") would assume a MBA form-factor, but the consumer would decide if they wanted to order the model with a dual-core and integrated graphics or a quad-core with discrete graphics (here's to hoping for a 13" with discrete graphics). This would simplify Apple's lineup but still allow for some differentiation.
A separation between the lower- and upper-end models could be further accentuated if Apple also included additional storage via an SSD/HDD combo on the upper end. This would provide for the basic needs of the consumer while adding much needed storage for professionals.
I am thinking along these lines too, but I do not know if Apple will do this because it adds an element of complexity that needs to be hidden from the end user. For example, when installing a new app, to where is it installed? Will the end user see two hard drive options or will OS X select where to install it? Where will VMs be stored? What happens if the end user wants to install an app but the SSD is filled up because it has a low capacity (e.g., 60 GB)? Does this require a software/firmware modification for the new hardware?
Personally, I would like to see such an option, so this is just thinking aloud. The complexity posed by a simple task such as installing an app raises some questions in my mind, especially if one thinks about non-technical users, such as my father, who still needs assistance installing apps with only one hard drive option.
Good points. I think it might be possible for Apple to offer one form factor for the MacBook line but still offer different configurations. (Of course, this would mean Apple would have to remove the ODD from all MBs.) For example, the entire MacBook line (13", 15", 17") would assume a MBA form-factor, but the consumer would decide if they wanted to order the model with a dual-core and integrated graphics or a quad-core with discrete graphics (here's to hoping for a 13" with discrete graphics). This would simplify Apple's lineup but still allow for some differentiation.
A separation between the lower- and upper-end models could be further accentuated if Apple also included additional storage via an SSD/HDD combo on the upper end. This would provide for the basic needs of the consumer while adding much needed storage for professionals.
I don't expect Apple to be in any hurry to adopt USB3. Thunderbolt is a strategic technology for Apple. 3rd parties will be more likely to develop Thunderbolt accessories to the extent that USB3 is not widespread. Apple will adopt USB3 if and only if the market drags them kicking and screaming to it.
Ivy Bridge is virtually a certainty for any new Apple laptop to be released in March 2012.
Dockability is already available for all current Apple laptops by means of Thunderbolt. We already see this with Apple's new Thunderbolt Display.
Even though the picture shown is the MBA chassis, I still contend there will be a slimmer, but not-an-Air redesign [of the Pro].
Whether this purported March '12 project is this or not, I have no idea, but I will say a 15" Air does not preclude a '12 release of a thinner 15" Pro.
I think the MBPs will thin down symmetrically (like the current case design), vs. having the taper of the MBA, they'll lose the optical, keep the user upgradable RAM to 8GB (of not 16), and have a hybrid SSD/HDD setup standard (providing high performance plus larger storage), and of course, keep the higher quad CPUs and decent discreet GPUs.
I'm very much in the market for a new machine, and I was pretty set on a 15" Pro, but a thinner more portable machine with a decent GPU and I'll wait!
Whether this purported March '12 project is this or not, I have no idea, but I will say a 15" Air does not preclude a '12 release of a thinner 15" Pro.
I think the MBPs will thin down symmetrically (like the current case design), vs. having the taper of the MBA, they'll lose the optical, keep the user upgradable RAM to 8GB (of not 16), and have a hybrid SSD/HDD setup standard (providing high performance plus larger storage), and of course, keep the higher quad CPUs and decent discreet GPUs.
I'm very much in the market for a new machine, and I was pretty set on a 15" Pro, but a thinner more portable machine with a decent GPU and I'll wait!
This is exactly what I want...but in 13"~ Anyone know if there is even a possibility? This will be my first MAC, and this is always what has held me back.
Exactly! I have ~2GB of pics backed up on 4 removable HDs sitting in my safe deposit box. Can't remember the last time I burned a pic on a CD or DVD.
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Winblows 7 is a cluttered heap of trash that optically tries to emulate OS X, and in typical MSFT fashion, fails to deliver anything close.
Not really, due to the inherent cost of TB manufacturing, not to mention its even less widespread than USB3.
Furthermore, USB3 has the benefit of old-version compatability which TB does not. A machine does not require USB3 to use the device, its only used to get full speed out of it.
The reason for the lack of adoption in either technology though comes down to the fact that its generally simply not needed. Mice, keyboard, printers, and all assortments of dongles (3G/4G/Bluetooth) - none of them really require the bandwidth that USB3 offers. Flash drives are typically to slow and don't make use of the full speed either (they can, but become much more expensive).
For external HDD/SSD access, "PCs" have employed eSATA for ages, which allows high speed full-protocol access at minimal costs. Thunderbolt allows RAID arrays, but eSATA is basically better for a single drive.
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It's funny how needs change.
When I bought my current laptop (13" MacBook Pro) three years ago. I wanted a small laptop for work and home since I was then using the laptop in the living room/bed room a lot.
Now I almost never use a computer at home (for leisure). I use my iPad and the appleTV. Sometimes when I write longer e-mails I do boot up a computer.
If I would buy a laptop today I would by a larger then 13" screen since I don't carry it around in the house as much so it's more used as a desktop replacement.
For work I could use a 15 or 17 display but I'm holding of buying a new laptop until they make them thinner by removing the DVD player. I rarely use a DVD player and when I do I'm fine with having an external one. Lugging one around all the time seem unnecessary and removing it should clear up some space for even more batteries. I also want SSD storage for the next laptop.
When I bought my current laptop (13" MacBook Pro) three years ago. I wanted a small laptop for work and home since I was then using the laptop in the living room/bed room a lot.
Now I almost never use a computer at home (for leisure). I use my iPad and the appleTV. Sometimes when I write longer e-mails I do boot up a computer.
If I would buy a laptop today I would by a larger then 13" screen since I don't carry it around in the house as much so it's more used as a desktop replacement.
For work I could use a 15 or 17 display but I'm holding of buying a new laptop until they make them thinner by removing the DVD player. I rarely use a DVD player and when I do I'm fine with having an external one. Lugging one around all the time seem unnecessary and removing it should clear up some space for even more batteries. I also want SSD storage for the next laptop.