I completely agree, 16:9 for laptops is just not something that I want to ever happen. Vertical screen space is very valuable!
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iMac and MacBook Pro Upgrades in First Half of 2011?
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I completely agree, 16:9 for laptops is just not something that I want to ever happen. Vertical screen space is very valuable!
When I read the article, I assumed they would go back to a 17" iMac, kind of like how they introduced an 11" MacBook Air, something smaller and cheaper (Apple's version of cheaper) for the more general public of people who have not yet switched over to a Mac.
Their were many stories on black friday that claimed that iPad's (9.7") and MacBook Air's (11") were both a huge success, maybe a smaller iMac will have the same success.
Very interesting to see what the iMac update will be. For my purposes a 30" is likely too large/costly, but a spec upgrade in the 27" might lead me to finally pick one up and opt for a lower spec 13" mbp over what I have now.
I'd say that's at least reasonable, minus the flash memory in large quantities, maybe a 64 gig stick as boot, with HDD for storage as an option.
I'd like to see the superdrive go away in the 13" MBP, but stay in the stock MB and bigger MBPs, as they have room, and that would actually give some differentiation between the 13" models. Hopefully a res bump for the 13" at least as an option. 1920x1200 on the 15" doesn't do much for me though, my vision is pretty good, but screens like that hurt my eyes without some sort of resolution independence.
The optical drive is outdated in a way, but at the same time, it is easily the cheapest way for distributing mass quantities of information, certainly less expensive than 8GB flash drives. I know apple is early to adopt some things, but I don't think we will be seeing SSD/Flash stock in any machine, save the airs for a little bit. That's basically their experimentation with it. So far, it's going well, but the $/GB is still too high for mass implementation, especially when many customers expect 500GB of storage space, which runs $1400 in SSD form (at apple's upgrade price)
Why not the MB?
Personally I don't want an air cause I don't need it that portable (but I definitely want more portable than the 15") and I don't want an MB cause I want three ports, the nice features like the backlit keyboard and nice casing of the MBP (well worth the little extra. I will never go with another plastic macbook if I can avoid it. They crack way too easily plus I hate white).
If they are going to get rid of any 13" I'd say the MB, followed by the MBA as my second choice (if you really need that much portability, I'd go with the 11". For the size difference I really don't think it's worth the higher price for the 13" MBA over the 13" MBP). The 13" MBP is the *last* one I'd drop if one had to be dropped.
I was kinda miffed when I bought my 2007 MB that you couldn't get a 13" MBP. I'd be miffed if they took that away again and went back to the if you want the more powerful laptop you have to sacrifice size entirely (Granted the MBP is not that much more portable but honestly it seems more like they upped the specs of the MB vs. lowered the specs of the MBP). Oh well, I shouldn't care (for now), I just got a new MBP that should last me a few years.
So four models?
So I was originally thinking it meant they were adding a model, but then people were saying it took away a model so I guess when they say model, are they just talking 13 vs. 15. vs 17 or is it by processor?
If the latter ... I wonder if they are getting rid of the 13" (I really hope not, or at least I hope they bring it back when it's time for me to upgrade my MBP) or the 17"? I'd say most likely of the two, judging from what I read here, it would be the 17" (basically cause I hear the 13" is their most popular model... it would seem silly to discontinue your most popular model. And if they are reducing the amount of models then that means they aren't changing/replacing it). Isn't the 17" the least bought one?
So I was originally thinking it meant they were adding a model, but then people were saying it took away a model so I guess when they say model, are they just talking 13 vs. 15. vs 17 or is it by processor?
If the latter ... I wonder if they are getting rid of the 13" (I really hope not, or at least I hope they bring it back when it's time for me to upgrade my MBP) or the 17"? I'd say most likely of the two, judging from what I read here, it would be the 17" (basically cause I hear the 13" is their most popular model... it would seem silly to discontinue your most popular model. And if they are reducing the amount of models then that means they aren't changing/replacing it). Isn't the 17" the least bought one?
Well I cant cause its in bluray-I want full 1080p on my mac- I'm not asking for much just an external superdrive that can burn and run blurays or even let us use windows external bluray drives if we want to enjoy that big bag of hurt
Honestly guys, I think we're all freaking out over nothing. Apple will probably only offer one 13" model and 2 15" models.
Or something like that.
Or something like that.
Well I cant cause its in bluray-I want full 1080p on my mac- I'm not asking for much just an external superdrive that can burn and run blurays or even let us use windows external bluray drives if we want to enjoy that big bag of hurt
...And why can't you just go buy an external blue ray player drive? Does OSX not recognize it or something?
Another option to consider (don't shoot me) - torrent.
I'm not condoning illegal downloading or anything, but bittorent is a ridiculously efficient way to distribute large amounts of data. I think 1080p movies are pretty much the ideal file for that sort of filesharing protocol.
I agree with you 100%.
I very rarely use any of my optical drives.
And reports are saying that RW optical discs only have a three year shelf life. So much for backups.
Well if they use the Slimline SSD modules in a similar fashion to the way they did in the air instead of 2.5inch drive bay that could free up the room needed in the 13"MBP to have a discrete GPU and still keep the Superdrive.
Maybe if they did that they might offer the choice between a superdrive or timemachine drive bay.
I think the 13" MBP is the most popular portable they have ever made. They have sold serious amounts of it. For that reason, I highly doubt that they will kill it off.
Um...the 13" and 17" are two different class of machine. Of course the cheaper option is going to sell more; it's cheaper. The 17" MBP has Mac Pro like expandability (with the express card slot) and can exceed the iMac in that regard (but not raw power, since the iMac has true quad core).
I hope Apple discontinue the 13" and 17" Macbook Pros.
Why?
Well, since the 13" MB and 13" MBP are pretty much the same (apart from case design and prices) they might as well discontinue one of them.
We don't really need 3x13" laptops. 2 is fine (1 portable, 1 performance)
It's possible apple could implement a 1920x1200/1080 15.4" panel into their 15" MBP, leaving the heavier/bulkier 17" redundant. It's just a possibility, since apple are moving onto higher res (higher density) displays.
Here's what I think...
11.6" MBA @ 1366x768 and i3 (late 2011 refresh)
13" MBA @ 1440x900 and i3 (late 2011 refresh)
13" MB @1440x900 and i5 (early 2011 refresh)
15" MBP @ 1680x1050/1920x1200 option and i7 quad? (early 2011 refresh)
What I would love is if they bump up the displays a little more.
11.6" @ 1440x900
13" @ 1680x1050
15" @ 1920x1200
I'm probably just dreaming though. Also, this could be a problem for some with poor vision. I'm still waiting for resolution independency too.
Actually, if the report is to be taken as truth and there will be four MacBook Pro models, then it's most likely that there will be one 13" model, two 15" models, and one 17" model. As it stands, two 13" models and three 15" models makes no sense.
When you looked at Apple's notebook line prior to the current generation of MBP (ignoring the Air), each model builds upon the previous model in some logical progression. The base 13" MBP added external improvements to the MB while the upper 13" MBP added internal improvements. The base 15" added external improvements to the upper 13" while the middle and higher progressively added internal improvements, while the 17" was an externally improved version of the upper 15". As it stands now, the upper 13" MBP is an overpriced upgrade that doesn't need to exist and the upper 15" model may as well exist as a BTO option. Eliminating the "useless" models streamlines the MacBook/MacBook Pro line with the same progression of internal vs external enhancements.
Also, I disagree about the screen resolutions. First of all, the 11.6" screen is 16:9, so it 1440x900 would just look weird. Also, it's just unnecessary (at least IMO) for such resolutions. I know there are competitors that offer 1080 15" screens, but those screens are 16:9, which people seem to be vocally against, and 15.6", resulting in a slightly wider computer.
Maybe the 13 MB and MBP have hit a roadblock the 13 MBA is comparable to performance with the MBP supposedly. They may not have a solution / agreement for a the gpu. So the MBA can pick up were they left off and have some cpu speed bumps and storage bumps to larger capacity. Apple loves profits the SSD are only going to get cheaper which will widened apples profit margins.
maybe have a 14 MBP is needed for a dedicated Graphics card.
Just A thought.
maybe have a 14 MBP is needed for a dedicated Graphics card.
Just A thought.
OS X doesn't do blu-ray, at least not without too much of a hassle for it to be worth it.
As for your earlier post about optical being archaic, I can see where you're coming from, however, blu-ray is a sight to be seen on a reasonably large screen. But that does make it slightly less useful on a computer, so I really can't argue that it doesn't need to be put in computers.
Look, what I'm saying is that if they were going to get rid of one, my bet would be either the 17 or the 13. Getting rid of the 15 would leave too much of a gap of sizes... though come to think of it, if we are going by processors then the 15 has two models.. maybe it is one of those models that is getting axed...
(anyways, ignoring the possibility that they'll reduce choices of processor in the 15" or 17", which is quite plausible come to think of it)
The argument for it to be the 17" is that it does not sell well enough and that the 13" is their most popular seller (sure, part of that is cheaper, but also part of that is not everyone wants a huge laptop. Go to the MBP forum and find the poll on which computer people thought the ideal MBP. The 17" got the least amount of votes. And since this was just based on people's preferences and not their budget...).
Of course, one could also argue though that there are other options for the 13" that people could go to (I don't like the options myself, but get rid of the 17", they don't have anything comparable. Get rid of the 13", there are still other options. In fact one could argue that there are too many options in that size and apple has ended up competing with itself with the three choices). They could also argue that maybe the plan is for the 13" MBA to be the one to appeal to those that originally wanted the 13" MBP. Maybe the next update to the 13" MBA will make it more comparable in specs.
Actually, I'm going to say my guess is they get rid of the i5 17" (but keep the i7 in the 17"). I mean it's supposed to be the power horse of the bunch and not budget minded so maybe they figured you want the 17", you want the faster processor.
(of course this is all assuming that by model we mean processor speed. Cause if it is just by size of laptop, if they are introducing four models, that means they are adding a size).