Haswell in June: Refresh vs. Redesign (merged)

[thekev]

Why would anyone expect a redesign beyond possible engineering tweaks? I suspect the rmbp models will displace the older style within 2-3 cycles, but I wouldn't expect another redesign for several years. Right now power management is becoming increasingly aggressive, but I don't expect them to thin things out even further unless sub 20W becomes the norm for notebook cpus in more of an Soc form factor. Touch screen also doesn't make much sense unless you go to a totally different hinge design. Apple has never made back to back changes like that, and with the notebook market softening, it's unlikely that other oems are going to force their hand there.

 

[Rodster]

Why would anyone expect a redesign beyond possible engineering tweaks? I suspect the rmbp models will displace the older style within 2-3 cycles, but I wouldn't expect another redesign for several years. Right now power management is becoming increasingly aggressive, but I don't expect them to thin things out even further unless sub 20W becomes the norm for notebook cpus in more of an Soc form factor. Touch screen also doesn't make much sense unless you go to a totally different hinge design. Apple has never made back to back changes like that, and with the notebook market softening, it's unlikely that other oems are going to force their hand there.

So you think the cMBP will still be around for another 2-3 cycles?

 

[Spink10]

So you think the cMBP will still be around for another 2-3 cycles?

I think at least in 2013.

 

[yanksrock100]

I think we can all agree there is no chance of any redesign of the rMBP.

 

[Spink10]

I think we can all agree there is no chance of any redesign of the rMBP.

yup

 

[theuserjohnny]

Any thoughts or clues on whether Haswell will bring a refresh (spec bump) vs. redesign (major chassis/screen/size/weight changes)?

I am planning on waiting and picking up a Haswell spec rMBP 15, but I don't know if it's going to be the same form factor or improved. Even if it's the same form factor, I hope they will bump the base specs and SSD size for the same price.

What do you think will happen? Any rumors?

Also is there any word or rumors on touchscreens?

You can throw the idea of a redesign out the window. Apple likes to redesign their computer line up every 3-4 years. The new designs that we've seen thus far with the rMBP and iMac are basically the birth of the new design that'll carry us for the next 3-4 years.

What is expected is just a spec bump w/ the processors. Processor speeds won't be that big of a major jump from what we've seen but do expect a jump in the integrated graphics. However, despite what Intel had shown off at CES the integrated is still no match for an actual GPU but it is a step in the right direction.

 

[thekev]

So you think the cMBP will still be around for another 2-3 cycles?

There are too many factors to say for sure. With prior redesigns, they didn't keep the old ones around. In this case the new ones may be significantly more costly to produce while maintaining Apple's desired margins, and production seems to be somewhat limited. Going forward this could still create a backlog early on in product cycles, especially as Apple continues to expand in China. Everyone on these boards claimed Apple would eol the 13" macbook pro some time ago with the air being available. It was clearly popular enough to justify its existence. Anyway I'm not really sure. If I had to guess, I'd say it'll disappear within 3 cycles. Apple doesn't really do specialized hardware, so it's always about what the largest quantity of people will buy and what they can supply in that quantity.

 

[yusukeaoki]

Nothing will be changed other than speed bump for 2013.
Thats how they always been and I believe thats how they will be.

 

[Lancer]

IMO given what Apple has done with the iMac and Mini I think the next MBP could be DVD free and in all likelihood the MBP and MBPr will merge into one line form-factor, maybe with the option of Retina LCD so allowing lower cost base models. They will probably also run SSD with now HDD option and there is a good chance the RAM could be non-user upgradeable.

JMHO going on the recent past models Apple has released.

 

[beavisqueef]

Thanks for the input guys. I am perfectly fine with just a spec bump. Im waiting for haswell because i dont need a new laptop (just want). The power savings will be nice and the 15 rmbp form factor is already good.

This is the last mac i owned: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Macintosh_6100

 

[RAPTORSKI]

I have never personally owned a Mac before but I have gotten so sick of Windows over the years, that I just might switch to a rMBP 13" in 2013.

Will probably have to purchase by June or August at the latest if I am going to go ahead and do so, therefore I truly hope Apple updates their Macbook Pro line up with Haswell soon.

 

[leman]

Any thoughts or clues on whether Haswell will bring a refresh (spec bump) vs. redesign (major chassis/screen/size/weight changes)?

They had a redesign literally a few month ago. I don't see it happening for some time.

 

[luffytubby]

What the demand for a new colors.. like the old.. blacbook?

Perhaps like the slatelook of the Iphone 5?

 

[Spink10]

No way 13" cMBP goes - most popular model - why? One of the main reasons - $1200 (people want a Mac but cant afford to pay a lot of $ - the 13" cMBP is just cheap enough to be within reach). Until they can charge less for the rMBP it would not be in their best interest (though Apple doesnt care) to leave the 13" cMBP. IMHO

 

[dusk007]

From a pure parts cost perspective it seems unlikely that the 13" rMBP is so much more expensive than an Asus Zenbook UX31A.
It is a bit more on the battery. The CPUs used cost the same. The 1600p screen might be initially more expensive than a 1080p but not all that much. The Zenbook sells for less than the cheapest 13" cMBP.

Apple has the volume which brings economies of scale on every part. They can sell those 13" rMBP easily at the same price as the current cMBP. The parts produced at great volume for the rMBP are unlikely to be all that more expensive.

It would also distance them more from the Windows notebooks from Samsung, Asus, ...
Some people would miss the cMBP because of the lack of a optical drive and no cheap upgrades. Apple might actually make more money of this lack of upgradeability. I think in the long run they will converge. They could easily sell them at a low enough price already. They may not want to given that they can yield more profit on selling the rMBP at a higher price and keeping the rest happy with a cheap notebook.
If they only sold the rMBP I think they would loose some sales and overall marketshare. I doubt their marketing research will tell them it is a good idea this time around.

 

[Stetrain]

They could easily sell them at a low enough price already. They may not want to given that they can yield more profit on selling the rMBP at a higher price and keeping the rest happy with a cheap notebook.

I think one of the main reasons that the 13" RMBP had its price set so high was because they just couldn't get enough of the high res displays to meet demand.

They know how popular the 13" cMBP is at the $1200 pricepoint. Even if they could have sold the 13" RMBP for similar prices, it would have constantly been out of stock because they can't make enough of them to meet that sort of volume.

I think one good piece of evidence for this is how many discounts we've seen for the 13" RMBP. I don't remember seeing such consistent $200+ discounts on new recently-released Macs before. I think we'll see an official price drop for the 2013 models.

 

[beavisqueef]

price drop would be great. Or at least get more for same price, like starting with a larger SSD base. Also I wonder what they will do with GPU, because the IntelHD 4600 bundled with the haswell CPU is rumored to be on par with the nvidia 650m.

 

[chelch]

price drop would be great. Or at least get more for same price, like starting with a larger SSD base. Also I wonder what they will do with GPU, because the IntelHD 4600 bundled with the haswell CPU is rumored to be on par with the nvidia 650m.

Then you can expect to say "bye-bye" to the GPU... Battery life is going to be the big selling feature of 2013 rMBPs...

 

[A7ibaba]

Im expecting internal redesign.Battery will not be glued and will be user replaceable.Also think they will arange internal components to be more fited

 

[Spink10]

Im expecting internal redesign.Battery will not be glued and will be user replaceable.Also think they will arange internal components to be more fited

doubt it - that would be a move away from the current direction. Though I would like that also

 

[NMF]

Bookmark this post.

rMBP - Spec bump. Scrolling on the 13" will be (almost) completely fixed. Not "perfect" until Broadwell, however. Prices drop $100-$200 for each model.

cMBP - Goodnight, sweet prince. RIP. 2012 cMBP resale prices remain awesome.

MBA - Say hello to the new most popular MacBook. Better screens, possibly with the new lamination technique. At a minimum there will be better color reproduction. Same prices, new minimum SSD size is 128GB.

~fin~

 

[MTD's Mac]

Bookmark this post.

rMBP - Spec bump. Scrolling on the 13" will be (almost) completely fixed. Not "perfect" until Broadwell, however. Prices drop $100-$200 for each model.

cMBP - Goodnight, sweet prince. RIP. 2012 cMBP resale prices remain awesome.

MBA - Say hello to the new most popular MacBook. Better screens, possibly with the new lamination technique. At a minimum there will be better color reproduction. Same prices, new minimum SSD size is 128GB.

~fin~

This is a pretty likely roadmap, IMO. There's nothing that can be done to rMBP besides a spec bump or slight price drop. However, don't forget that any/all of these refreshed models might ship with OS X 10.9 in June/July/Aug...

 

[InfinitiG]

Bookmark this post.

rMBP - Spec bump. Scrolling on the 13" will be (almost) completely fixed. Not "perfect" until Broadwell, however. Prices drop $100-$200 for each model.

cMBP - Goodnight, sweet prince. RIP. 2012 cMBP resale prices remain awesome.

MBA - Say hello to the new most popular MacBook. Better screens, possibly with the new lamination technique. At a minimum there will be better color reproduction. Same prices, new minimum SSD size is 128GB.

~fin~

thats absolute CRAP////dream on kid

 

[NMF]

thats absolute CRAP////dream on kid

Crap, eh? We'll see.

 

[Spink10]

I think it absolutely accurate if they drop the cMBP which in my opinion is a 50/50.