Does Apple even care about notebooks anymore?

[Appleaker]

I suggest you wait. They are going to have it redesigned. Apple don't want to make a Macbook Pro with the same look as the Macbook. Jony Ive may be working with new material. This unibody has been going on for like forever.

In many respects it will follow the same design language as the MacBook, it won't use a new material I believe you're referring to the rumored injection-molded hinges?
[doublepost=1469973276][/doublepost]

But is that a bad thing?! Change for the sake of change is never a good thing.

Imagine the internals they could have crammed into the original unibody, if they'd ditched the CD drive but kept the thickness.

Yes but those MBPs are bulky compared to the Airs at the time. Whereas, these models aren't as bulky compared to the MacBook maybe because we have reached a time where it isn't as important in the lento because people really don't mind as much nowadays, although I think weight is still an aspect that people want improving. Not changing the form factor is not challenging and Apple want to challenge themselves, however this always seems to result in compromises. Having said that, we're at a point where if they were to redesign the internals and keep the external body, it would result in better battery life as well as more space on the logic board and therefore maybe even a dgpu for the 13" (unlikely though).

 

[jerryk]

A new rMBP will appear sooner or later. But, if you need one now, just buy one now. This is a work machine, not a seasonal fashion accessory.

 

[Count Blah]

I'm holding out hope that the iPhone SE gives some incentive for Apple to release an updated unibody - Seeing as how they STILL sell the 4 year old 13" unibody - because there is still demand for it!!!!!!

 

[Spudlicious]

Well, there's no definite indicator of Apple's stance, but....

They're still producing MacBooks.

The MacBooks are still selling at a good profit,

and Apple announced a new notebook just one year ago

and a redesigned MBP has been leaked for this year

and they rebranded OS X.

It seems to me that Apple's been doing more for Mac laptops recently than they have in 2013 or 2014.
My hypothesis is - yes, they do care.

Spot on, I reckon. Apple are a business corporation, not somebody's hobby interest. If they can make notebooks and sell them at a worthwhile profit they'll do just that, and if any product line doesn't meet the worthwhile profit criteria they'll drop it.

 

[excxpt]

I will be needing a MacBook for university this September, however I might be able to hold out for a month or so. I finally saved up enough money from a part time job and was wondering if I should wait for the rumoured update?

Also, is there likely to be a price increase once the new models are released?

 

[oldmacs]

I'm holding out hope that the iPhone SE gives some incentive for Apple to release an updated unibody - Seeing as how they STILL sell the 4 year old 13" unibody - because there is still demand for it!!!!!!

I'm also in this bandwagon! Macbook SE! The non Retna macbook has sold incredibly well well into its 3rd and 4th years on sale.

 

[maflynn]

because there is still demand for it!!!!!!

well, the question is how much demand (I have no idea). For instance, Apple killed the 17" MBP but based on what I saw (and continue to see here), there is demand for such a product, yet Apple opted to discontinue it.

There are rumors or expectations that Apple will kill off the MBA, the more I think about it, the more I believe they'll keep that going because of the price point it serves.

The 13" cMBP is an odd duck in that its several years old, I do question how well its selling at this point, but only Apple knows.

 

[cardfan]

With the rumors along with Sierra beta, you pretty much know new ones are coming when it goes gold.

Why has Apple waited so long on the MBP? They really haven't. They were updated last year. Although I'd agree that at least processor updates should be more frequent.

Mac sales? I dunno..part of me feels like it's a self fulfilling prophecy. You got Cook saying why buy a PC. And they hardly market Macs at all. The average consumer IMO knows very little about a Mac, why you'd want one, or how to use it. If ever there was a time to make a grab for share it was when iphone was peaking along with Windows 8 negativity. We've seen this play out with 4" phones and ipad mini. Apple abandoned 4" for a period and basically neglected the ipad mini after marketing so hard as to why they made sense. The demand for bigger phones and these killing the market for 7" tablets dominated the blogs prior to that. Apple's actions only helped make that true.

The 5k issue. I love the resolution. But it's really hurt what they could put out. No macs (especially the mac pro) are capable of running it besides the imac which is why you won't see them releasing a 5k monitor. 4k had a life in there somewhere while we're waiting in 5k limbo land.

Something missing. The mac mini is left behind with no 4k screen option from Apple. Apple focused on the imacs for these consumers and the 27" for those who want more. I enjoy the maxed out 27" imac i have, but I'd have really loved an option for a quad core tower, having a better choice of video cards, being able to upgrade, and hook a monitor to.

 

[Appleaker]

I'm also in this bandwagon! Macbook SE! The non Retna macbook has sold incredibly well well into its 3rd and 4th years on sale.

The percentage of consumers who want a 4" iPhone compared to those who want a thicker MBP is a lot larger, therefore the SE made sense. But there's always hope for them to do something with it.
[doublepost=1470051813][/doublepost]

With the rumors along with Sierra beta, you pretty much know new ones are coming when it goes gold.

Why has Apple waited so long on the MBP? They really haven't. They were updated last year. Although I'd agree that at least processor updates should be more frequent.

Mac sales? I dunno..part of me feels like it's a self fulfilling prophecy. You got Cook saying why buy a PC. And they hardly market Macs at all. The average consumer IMO knows very little about a Mac, why you'd want one, or how to use it. If ever there was a time to make a grab for share it was when iphone was peaking along with Windows 8 negativity.

The 5k issue. I love the resolution. But it's really hurt what they could put out. No macs (especially the mac pro) are capable of running it besides the imac which is why you won't see them releasing a 5k monitor. 4k had a life in there somewhere while we're waiting in 5k limbo land.

Something missing. The mac mini is left behind with no 4k screen option from Apple. Apple focused on the imacs for these consumers and the 27" for those who want more. I enjoy the maxed out 27" imac i have, but I'd have really loved an option for a quad core tower, having a better choice of video cards, being able to upgrade, and hook a monitor to.

There are Macs that are capable of running 5K. Of course the Mac Pro can do it, along with the 2015 15" MacBook Pro. Regardless of whether they can or not, if the rumours are true regarding the integrated GPU then it won't matter. The only reason they can't run it is because it cannot be transmitted over a single cable (although they both have 2 TB2 ports). TB3 fixes that.

The Mac mini has got more disappointing over the years but I think if they are going to keep it around we'll see a surprise redesign and update to it (and then they won't update it for 2 years). Unfortunately it's Apple meaning it will reduce in upgradeability.

 

[oldmacs]

The percentage of consumers who want a 4" iPhone compared to those who want a thicker MBP is a lot larger, therefore the SE made sense. But there's always hope for them to do something with it.

Sure, but the Non Retina pro was apparently one of their biggest sellers in 2013 and 2014 (possibly even early 2015) despite it being hopelessly outdated. Its not about wanting a "thicker" Macbook pro, its about the other things that it offers.

 

[Appleaker]

Sure, but the Non Retina pro was apparently one of their biggest sellers in 2013 and 2014 (possibly even early 2015) despite it being hopelessly outdated. Its not about wanting a "thicker" Macbook pro, its about the other things that it offers.

Yeah I know I was just summarising what it is for the average consumer - a thicker MBP with a non-retina display and DVD drive. I think most people have got used to the lack of upgradeability, but personally I love it on the non-retina MBP. I think it was just one of their biggest sellers because it is the entry level pro and still enough for a lot of people, as well as the benefits it offers. But the point is it sells, however I think it will be replaced by the 2015 retina 13" shortly after the redesigns are released.

 

[Spudlicious]

I will be needing a MacBook for university this September, however I might be able to hold out for a month or so. I finally saved up enough money from a part time job and was wondering if I should wait for the rumoured update?

Also, is there likely to be a price increase once the new models are released?

That might depend on where you are, currency fluctuations are unpredictable.

 

[tubeexperience]

Does this answers your question?

 

[grahamperrin]

a clue

Top of the page, https://buyersguide.macrumors.com//#Mac

 

[buster84]

I need a new MacBook and am tired of waiting. I don't like the MB Air because of the horrible screen. I don't like the MB a little small underpowered and one port no thanks and the MB Pro hasn't been updated in ages. Anyone have a clue when the new MB Pro will be released?

At this point I'd suggest buying a PC unless you need OSX, I was also waiting for a new 15 MacBook Pro but gave up. I ended up with a very nice zen book with skylake thunderbolt 3, nvme 512gb SSD 4K 15.6" screen, 960m, and more. I never really like Windows past 7, but Windows 10 has grown on me and not its not so bad.

I have lots of Apple products but not that I've been pushed away Apple will have to release top of the line products to Bring me back. Tim cook is obviously trying to force people to clear out his old stock by making people wait. If he said a new one was on the way people would wait, which is exactly what he doesn't want since he's making old tech and selling it at top dollar prices increasing there profit margins even more.

I have the strangest feeing that this is just the beginning to a long road of this continious terrible behavior as long as Tim Cook is in charge.

 

[Appleaker]

Does this answers your question?

I think that ad is actually going to boost sales a bit because a lot of people aren't aware of the multitasking features as they have never shown it off in an ad before. I wish they did the same for the new MacBooks.

 

[lympero]

No.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Of course Apple cares about notebooks, they are currently doing a complete redesign with new silicon on their MacBook Pro line up, this is taking some time as Apple wait for all the chips etc it wants to use to be available, rather than just push out some below par collection of parts like everyone's else.

I for one am perfectly happy to be patient because Apple make a real effort to get it right before releasing things, of course preaching patience to the people on macrmours is likely to get me lynched but there you go. I can't stand this pathetic whining about how long things take, it takes as long as it takes.


If you need a computer now buy one, if Apple don't make what you want buy something else.

 

[tubeexperience]

Of course Apple cares about notebooks, they are currently doing a complete redesign with new silicon on their MacBook Pro line up, this is taking some time as Apple wait for all the chips etc it wants to use to be available, rather than just push out some below par collection of parts like everyone's else.

I for one am perfectly happy to be patient because Apple make a real effort to get it right before releasing things, of course preaching patience to the people on macrmours is likely to get me lynched but there you go. I can't stand this pathetic whining about how long things take, it takes as long as it takes.


If you need a computer now buy one, if Apple don't make what you want buy something else.

If you look at laptops like the Dell XPS 13 9350 and the Dell XPS 15 9550, you'll see that they are anything but sub par.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

If you look at laptops like the Dell XPS 13 9350 and the Dell XPS 15 9550, you'll see that they are anything but sub par.

I did have a look at the reviews and they were perfectly acceptable machines but nothing special.

 

[tubeexperience]

I did have a look at the reviews and they were perfectly acceptable machines but nothing special.

Well, you know what? MacBook Pro Retina is nothing special, at least not anymore.

 

[Fishrrman]

tubeexperience wrote (regarding new iPad):
"Does this answers your question?"

My questions:
Where's the finder?
How do I make a folder?
How do I open more than one window at a time?
Can I use my mouse with it?
How do I plug in my audio interface?

 

[buster84]

If you look at laptops like the Dell XPS 13 9350 and the Dell XPS 15 9550, you'll see that they are anything but sub par.

Agreed, a lot of people who compare Mac tech usually compares it to the low end pc laptops (600-800) range. If your willing to pay 2k for a 15" just look at the huge difference that can be had with an xps, or zenbook ect...

Well, you know what? MacBook Pro Retina is nothing special, at least not anymore.

Pretty much, my new 15' zenbook has a higher resolution 4K, and it's touch screen lol. Not that I need it, but the fact that it's there feels like I got more for my money. Apples MacBook pros need there retinas updates to 4K or 5k the iMacs but I doubt it'll happen since you need good gpus for that and Apple only has gpus in there 15 models at even higher premium prices.

 

[tubeexperience]

Agreed, a lot of people who compare Mac tech usually compares it to the low end pc laptops (600-800) range. If your willing to pay 2k for a 15" just look at the huge difference that can be had with an xps, or zenbook ect...



Pretty much, my new 15' zenbook has a higher resolution 4K, and it's touch screen lol. Not that I need it, but the fact that it's there feels like I got more for my money. Apples MacBook pros need there retinas updates to 4K or 5k the iMacs but I doubt it'll happen since you need good gpus for that and Apple only has gpus in there 15 models at even higher premium prices.

I remember that when the MacBook Pro Retina came out, there was nothing like it on the market. It's one of Job's last golden eggs. Of cause that was 2012.

Today in 2016, the best all-around laptop that you can buy is Dell XPS 13/15.
http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Systems/Dell-XPS-13-and-15-Notebook-Review-Raising-Bar

 

[buster84]

I remember that when the MacBook Pro Retina came out, there was nothing like it on the market. It's one of Job's last golden eggs. Of cause that was 2012.

Today in 2016, the best all-around laptop that you can buy is Dell XPS 13/15.
http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Systems/Dell-XPS-13-and-15-Notebook-Review-Raising-Bar

I remember 2012 because it was the year i was disappointed in myself lol. I bought a 2011 model 1 month before the new one came out and i missed the return date by 3 days. It was the first time i ever bought a mac so i just chocked it up as stupid me, but now its truly sad that apple is no longer aiming for excellence anymore. I just hope apple at least opens up OSX to be installed on other computers before they continue to slow down and fall way behind; Id easily pay $299 for OSX to be installed on the pc of my choice.