Elimination of the speaker grills. I constantly get particles stuck in there. I would love to see some type of thin aluminum that would actually act as a speaker cone similar to those drivers you place on a glass table and it becomes a speaker. I don't know about how well the implementation would work but it would be very a practical feature.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
How can Apple top their current design/build?
- Thread starter macDonalds
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I don't see any room in the 13in for one but I'm no computer engineer. But if they can do it without removing the CD drive go for it.
Then I rather see them remove the CD drive to either put a larger battery in it or make it smaller/lighter (get rid of the giant bezel on the screen).
I have 0 use for an optical drive on the road, still would use one at my desk with an external but never out and about. I do realize everyones needs are different though, I almost got an Air but I like the added power, battery, ports, storage, RAM, and cheaper cost of the 13in MBP.
i like the mbp 17, but i would add the following
hdmi (w/ audio) (actual port, no adapter needed)
blu-ray (reader would be enough)
stronger gpu
If they can add just 2 of these features I would buy 1 for sure.
hdmi (w/ audio) (actual port, no adapter needed)
blu-ray (reader would be enough)
stronger gpu
If they can add just 2 of these features I would buy 1 for sure.
HI guys,
The current unibody macbook pro is no real apple-designed mac book pro. A real macbook pro should have one color. The unibody with it´s black glossy screen just looks like a notebook of Samsung, I´m so dissapointed that apple has failed in this case. The most beautiful notebook ever is the macbook pro 1.-4. generation. From my point of view it just looks perfect.
The current unibody macbook pro is no real apple-designed mac book pro. A real macbook pro should have one color. The unibody with it´s black glossy screen just looks like a notebook of Samsung, I´m so dissapointed that apple has failed in this case. The most beautiful notebook ever is the macbook pro 1.-4. generation. From my point of view it just looks perfect.
I agree. I love my MacBook, but I still think that my co-worker's older MacBook Pro with the all-silver interior is the best looking machine Apple's ever made.
And let me second the idea of better spacing for the USB ports. I had to go out and get the slimmest USB stick I could find because I could never have both my old one (which was of normal size) and another USB device plugged in at the same time. Poor design there.
Ideal macbook
USB 3
Dual Raided SSD option (insanely fast)
Cover the top with solar panels
Matte Option
Not one, but TWO clickable buttons (I've been a mac use my entire life and this still bothers me)
Display port to HDMI capability so you can conect display to hdtv and get audio.
Add some contextual buttons (a small screen on the lower half, that has button and info show up related to which program is open. (sort of a mini built in olympus keyboard)
Blu-ray player
Spread keyboard out over entire length of computer.
USB 3
Dual Raided SSD option (insanely fast)
Cover the top with solar panels
Matte Option
Not one, but TWO clickable buttons (I've been a mac use my entire life and this still bothers me)
Display port to HDMI capability so you can conect display to hdtv and get audio.
Add some contextual buttons (a small screen on the lower half, that has button and info show up related to which program is open. (sort of a mini built in olympus keyboard)
Blu-ray player
Spread keyboard out over entire length of computer.
Try using one; the big one is not portable!
Or we could do it like those Japanese phones and make the whole screen the speaker.
This is essentially the 'security by obscurity' argument. OS X is alreadly security-certified for use ... the acceptability problem is within the local institutional "we won't support it" fiefdoms, and Apple's apathy results in them not even taking away the easiest excuses from the naysayers (eg, CAC card integration).
Thanks, but I'd prefer to have enemy Governments using M$.
In the meantime, I'm suffering from BS like not being able to use USB thumb drives due to Windows security flaws .. the IT groups simply accept the loss of capability & convenience instead of being T'ed off enough to risk changing. The cultural attitude is a helpless "Grin and Bear it".
For example, just received this message through ~20 minutes ago; my comments are in blue...
This is a reminder ...
(No, its not a "reminder": it is the very first notice sent out to the workforce)
...installing the HBSS Common Agent on
selected workstations from 1200-1300 hours {today}
All workstations that have Symantec client security installed need to be on
line and MAKE SURE THAT OUTLOOK IS CLOSED during this one hour time period.
(and how do I figure out if this means 'me'? No help here)
During this process there will be a 5 minute count down before the reboots
and you will be reminded to save your work.
(and guess why there's that special warning for our Email application?)
Once the Symantec antivirus corporate edition is successfully installed the
next step will be to install the HBSS Common Agent which does not require a
reboot
(...but something else will invariably require a reboot...which was mentioned in passing above. So much for Powerpoint)
(No, its not a "reminder": it is the very first notice sent out to the workforce)
...installing the HBSS Common Agent on
selected workstations from 1200-1300 hours {today}
All workstations that have Symantec client security installed need to be on
line and MAKE SURE THAT OUTLOOK IS CLOSED during this one hour time period.
(and how do I figure out if this means 'me'? No help here)
During this process there will be a 5 minute count down before the reboots
and you will be reminded to save your work.
(and guess why there's that special warning for our Email application?)
Once the Symantec antivirus corporate edition is successfully installed the
next step will be to install the HBSS Common Agent which does not require a
reboot
(...but something else will invariably require a reboot...which was mentioned in passing above. So much for Powerpoint)
Not really. The current approach has just been to throw another and another and another layer of "security" measures on top of the mess that is Windows. The result is that I have occasional freeze-ups daily, and a cold boot now takes around 4-5 minutes despite being a Core2Duo, and a complete shutdown can be 5-10 minutes. Yes, I said 5-10 minutes for a shutDOWN.
They could, and that would be helpful, but implimentation on a laptop's keyboard would be ... ahem ... interesting. Expect some rushed users to slam the lid shut and break something.
Wholeheartedly Endorsed.
-hh
Of course apple can top their current design. I'm sure similar questions were asked when apple released their older laptops. Either issues of functionality that was missed when designing the laptop or changing the aesthetics. I figure though that this design for the laptop will be with us for a few years. Just look at how long the prior generation case lasted for. Except for some minor revisions it was the same look and feel since the powerbook.
This current design is going to be a classic and stick around for many years. However there are some refinements Apple can make as time goes on.
- The MBP will slowly become more thin and light as Apple makes the board smaller and smaller.
- Speeds will slowly increase as Apple follows Intel's roadmap. RAM will likely stay at an 8gb max for some time, just like it did at 4gb.
- I think it is possible Apple will begin selling a range of colors similar to the nano-chromatic iPods. (unlikely, they seem to like to keep things more subdued in the MBP line. Too bad, I'd like this option)
- The optical drive is going to go soon. Either in this next revision or the one after. Its replacement will be downloads, software distributed on SD, the external superdrive and remote disk software.
- No new ports are coming. If Apple wanted to mess with HDMI, Esata et al they already would have. There are going to be fewer ports going forward, not more. The MBA is Apple's vision of the future, not some port studded monstrosity of a Dell. USB and FW will be updated to their replacements as time goes on. (USB3 and FW3200)
- No new buttons on the trackpad. No number of buttons could be as flexible as a large multitouch pad like they have now.
- GPU will continue to be a middle of the road part, Apple doesnt want to deal with the heat and expense of top of the line GPUs.
- Built in WWAN support either antennas and an empty miniPCI slot (unlikely due to space constraints) or a Gobi chip or somesuch built onto the board. I hope that they look beyond their partnership with AT&T (who's 3g network is garbage in the major cities) and make provisions for both CDMA, HSPA and (dreaming here) WIMAX.
In my perfect world, Apple would leverage the removal of the optical drive to make room for a user upgradable 2.5" bay. (Or 2 in a really perfect world) While also reducing weight and thickness now that the 'size inflexible' optical drive is gone. It would have the option of several colors (anodized, like the Nanos). Blue, red, black, green, pink etc. It would have a Gobi chip that could support wireless broadband on a good network. (Vzw/Sprint)
That is just about the only thing that would drive me to upgrade from my current 09 17". It is otherwise absolutely perfect.
- The MBP will slowly become more thin and light as Apple makes the board smaller and smaller.
- Speeds will slowly increase as Apple follows Intel's roadmap. RAM will likely stay at an 8gb max for some time, just like it did at 4gb.
- I think it is possible Apple will begin selling a range of colors similar to the nano-chromatic iPods. (unlikely, they seem to like to keep things more subdued in the MBP line. Too bad, I'd like this option)
- The optical drive is going to go soon. Either in this next revision or the one after. Its replacement will be downloads, software distributed on SD, the external superdrive and remote disk software.
- No new ports are coming. If Apple wanted to mess with HDMI, Esata et al they already would have. There are going to be fewer ports going forward, not more. The MBA is Apple's vision of the future, not some port studded monstrosity of a Dell. USB and FW will be updated to their replacements as time goes on. (USB3 and FW3200)
- No new buttons on the trackpad. No number of buttons could be as flexible as a large multitouch pad like they have now.
- GPU will continue to be a middle of the road part, Apple doesnt want to deal with the heat and expense of top of the line GPUs.
- Built in WWAN support either antennas and an empty miniPCI slot (unlikely due to space constraints) or a Gobi chip or somesuch built onto the board. I hope that they look beyond their partnership with AT&T (who's 3g network is garbage in the major cities) and make provisions for both CDMA, HSPA and (dreaming here) WIMAX.
In my perfect world, Apple would leverage the removal of the optical drive to make room for a user upgradable 2.5" bay. (Or 2 in a really perfect world) While also reducing weight and thickness now that the 'size inflexible' optical drive is gone. It would have the option of several colors (anodized, like the Nanos). Blue, red, black, green, pink etc. It would have a Gobi chip that could support wireless broadband on a good network. (Vzw/Sprint)
That is just about the only thing that would drive me to upgrade from my current 09 17". It is otherwise absolutely perfect.
I agree with a lot of what you said, but have some caveats.
1)They shouldn't get rid of the optical drive from a "mainstream" machine just yet. A modular drive bay would be fantastic, but it wouldn't fit in with the smooth design of the MBP unless they had totally different chassis for the different options... (e.g. you wouldn't want a slot if you have an ssd in there...)
2)More ports are GOOD! All I ask for is a USB/eSATA hybrid port on the other side of the machine. Is that so hard
?I agree with a lot of what you said, but have some caveats.
1)They shouldn't get rid of the optical drive from a "mainstream" machine just yet. A modular drive bay would be fantastic, but it wouldn't fit in with the smooth design of the MBP unless they had totally different chassis for the different options... (e.g. you wouldn't want a slot if you have an ssd in there...)
2)More ports are GOOD! All I ask for is a USB/eSATA hybrid port on the other side of the machine. Is that so hard
Is that what you want, or is that what you really think Apple will do?
They have a history of dropping legacy technologies just a little faster then the rest of the market and they have a history of putting the most minimal possible selection of ports on their machines.
a nice glossy black finish for the exterior as option to the aluminum based one would be great.
i didnt like that matte black macbook, it looked nice but wore off fast, a shinier glossy black similar to the iPhone 3G/s would look pretty slick.
higher resolutions on the 13" & 15"
optional optical drives; maybe include an external usb or fw800 with Blu-ray.
extend the battery andadditional internal storage and better raid support.
desktop class processors; dual core and quad.
more options for graphic processors
a bit better internal speakers that dont rattle, pop or blow out even with the slightest use.
oh and like mentioned early displayport that supports audio aswell, give it the full capacity of its usability.
so far i like the design and layout of the black/silver
i didnt like that matte black macbook, it looked nice but wore off fast, a shinier glossy black similar to the iPhone 3G/s would look pretty slick.
higher resolutions on the 13" & 15"
optional optical drives; maybe include an external usb or fw800 with Blu-ray.
extend the battery andadditional internal storage and better raid support.
desktop class processors; dual core and quad.
more options for graphic processors
a bit better internal speakers that dont rattle, pop or blow out even with the slightest use.
oh and like mentioned early displayport that supports audio aswell, give it the full capacity of its usability.
so far i like the design and layout of the black/silver
It would be nice, but you can't cheat physics here. Better speaker response will mean a bigger machine.
Use at low volume is fine. For other situations, I have a nice pair of in-ears (Etymotic ER6) that I keep in my charger bag.
regarding the glowing apple, itd be really neat if they replaced it with a mirrored apple similar to the time capsule and iphone.
maybe even with a glowing edge around it if they really wanted to keep the lighted effect.
maybe even with a glowing edge around it if they really wanted to keep the lighted effect.
They should put the Apple logo onto a gyroscope device (or maybe just a small external screen similar in function to the iPhone screen) so that no matter which way you turn the laptop the Apple is always the right way up ... on some models the logo is upside down when the screen is open and on others it's upside down when the screen is closed.
They should put the Apple logo onto a gyroscope device (or maybe just a small external screen similar in function to the iPhone screen) so that no matter which way you turn the laptop the Apple is always the right way up ... on some models the logo is upside down when the screen is open and on others it's upside down when the screen is closed.
Next is spinning apple logo to match peoples chains
HI guys,
The current unibody macbook pro is no real apple-designed mac book pro. A real macbook pro should have one color. The unibody with it´s black glossy screen just looks like a notebook of Samsung, I´m so dissapointed that apple has failed in this case. The most beautiful notebook ever is the macbook pro 1.-4. generation. From my point of view it just looks perfect.
I respectfully disagree. After seeing one of the previous gen MBPs in person, I personally believe that mine looks MUCH nicer. There's something about the black bezel that I love.