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.
iMac and MacBook Pro Upgrades in First Half of 2011?
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
When did the first unibody MBP come out? Will it have been 3 years in the spring/summer of 2011?
Well. It is safe to say the macbooks as well as the mini will get the update first before the imacs due to the fact Intel is phasing out the Core 2 line.
The imacs already have a the Core series which is fairly modern as well as dedicated GPU's.
The imacs already have a the Core series which is fairly modern as well as dedicated GPU's.
Here's what I think:
1. The brand 'MacBook' will not be removed. Without the name 'MacBook', the 'MacBook Pro' name would not exist.
2. Apple will discontinue the 13" MBP and re-re-brand it back to 'MacBook'. Why? Just incase - and I emphasise 'just incase' - Apple decides to keep the optical drive and use the new processors, they will need to use the Intel graphics. Therefore they can give an excuse for not providing quality graphics because it's for the consumers.
2.2 I agree the plastic MacBook will be discontinued.
3. The 4 MBPs to be built in 2011 is probably either TWO 15" and TWO 17" OR THREE 15" and ONE 17". I think it's going to be the former.
4. I do not wish to comment on the specifications. With Apple, anything can happen, including keeping the optical drive.
5. Final prediction: 3 MacBook 13", 2 MacBook Pro 15", 2 MacBook Pro 17"
And for those wondering, the 13" MacBook Pro isn't really a pro. See it as a marketing strategy.
1. The brand 'MacBook' will not be removed. Without the name 'MacBook', the 'MacBook Pro' name would not exist.
2. Apple will discontinue the 13" MBP and re-re-brand it back to 'MacBook'. Why? Just incase - and I emphasise 'just incase' - Apple decides to keep the optical drive and use the new processors, they will need to use the Intel graphics. Therefore they can give an excuse for not providing quality graphics because it's for the consumers.
2.2 I agree the plastic MacBook will be discontinued.
3. The 4 MBPs to be built in 2011 is probably either TWO 15" and TWO 17" OR THREE 15" and ONE 17". I think it's going to be the former.
4. I do not wish to comment on the specifications. With Apple, anything can happen, including keeping the optical drive.
5. Final prediction: 3 MacBook 13", 2 MacBook Pro 15", 2 MacBook Pro 17"
And for those wondering, the 13" MacBook Pro isn't really a pro. See it as a marketing strategy.
This 'news' item is one of those funny ones we see on MR from time to time, that I'm not sure why it was put there.
"We got wind that a new MBP might be coming out sometime between now and 2012"
Any time now...
"We got wind that a new MBP might be coming out sometime between now and 2012"
Any time now...
Price point for mainstream market?
When I read this sentence:
"iMac that features a new panel size and a price point for the mainstream market."
I thought to myself:
1. Economy improving (so they say, but yet still not seeing it).
2. Most external monitors sold are around 17-19" (I have a 19" LG connected to my 2008 macbook)
3. Mainstream price point for a Windows desktop (with decent specs) is $700-$900
4. Desktops becoming less mainstream due to notebooks, tablets, and smart phones. (In fact I was in a marketing class and even notebooks are passe due to smart phones and tablets for most people)
So I said ok, a 17-19" Core i3 (which is quad core if you look at the activity monitor) with 4-8gb ram, 500gb hard drive, super drive, wireless keyboard and track pad (mouse ok, but would really like trackpad) at a price point of $850-$950 would be all I need. Keep the 4 USB's, mic/ear, and display port. I will hook up my LG to give me dual monitors and then I will be sweet for a while.
I mostly need the power and ram to run parallels (3 church apps and OneNote, not available on OS X) and also do video editing. Other than that my macbook will become for traveling when I need more than just my ipad. Although my ipad is really becoming all I need on the road.
I already stopped using Entourage and do not plan to go to Outlook.
When I read this sentence:
"iMac that features a new panel size and a price point for the mainstream market."
I thought to myself:
1. Economy improving (so they say, but yet still not seeing it).
2. Most external monitors sold are around 17-19" (I have a 19" LG connected to my 2008 macbook)
3. Mainstream price point for a Windows desktop (with decent specs) is $700-$900
4. Desktops becoming less mainstream due to notebooks, tablets, and smart phones. (In fact I was in a marketing class and even notebooks are passe due to smart phones and tablets for most people)
So I said ok, a 17-19" Core i3 (which is quad core if you look at the activity monitor) with 4-8gb ram, 500gb hard drive, super drive, wireless keyboard and track pad (mouse ok, but would really like trackpad) at a price point of $850-$950 would be all I need. Keep the 4 USB's, mic/ear, and display port. I will hook up my LG to give me dual monitors and then I will be sweet for a while.
I mostly need the power and ram to run parallels (3 church apps and OneNote, not available on OS X) and also do video editing. Other than that my macbook will become for traveling when I need more than just my ipad. Although my ipad is really becoming all I need on the road.
I already stopped using Entourage and do not plan to go to Outlook.
I was thinking that sometime in the next couple of years that the capacity of flash memory would increase along with a price decrease to the point that the Macbook air would replace the other laptop lines completely.
However, the capacity of 2.5" drives continues to increase. I'm aware of 1TB drives at 5200rpm and 750GB at 7200rpm.
I'd imagine that the macbook pro line will be around as long as 2.5" drive capacity continues to outpace flash drives in capacity and price. Perhaps the macbook line will go away first leaving the air and the pro models fro some time. But that would be still a year or two away I'm guessing.
As for the next update, I wonder if there has been enough time since Apple's acquisition of liquid metal for that technology to enter into the design of the MBP?
However, the capacity of 2.5" drives continues to increase. I'm aware of 1TB drives at 5200rpm and 750GB at 7200rpm.
I'd imagine that the macbook pro line will be around as long as 2.5" drive capacity continues to outpace flash drives in capacity and price. Perhaps the macbook line will go away first leaving the air and the pro models fro some time. But that would be still a year or two away I'm guessing.
As for the next update, I wonder if there has been enough time since Apple's acquisition of liquid metal for that technology to enter into the design of the MBP?
Here's what I think:
1. The brand 'MacBook' will not be removed. Without the name 'MacBook', the 'MacBook Pro' name would not exist.
2. Apple will discontinue the 13" MBP and re-re-brand it back to 'MacBook'. Why? Just incase - and I emphasise 'just incase' - Apple decides to keep the optical drive and use the new processors, they will need to use the Intel graphics. Therefore they can give an excuse for not providing quality graphics because it's for the consumers.
2.2 I agree the plastic MacBook will be discontinued.
3. The 4 MBPs to be built in 2011 is probably either TWO 15" and TWO 17" OR THREE 15" and ONE 17". I think it's going to be the former.
4. I do not wish to comment on the specifications. With Apple, anything can happen, including keeping the optical drive.
5. Final prediction: 3 MacBook 13", 2 MacBook Pro 15", 2 MacBook Pro 17"
And for those wondering, the 13" MacBook Pro isn't really a pro. See it as a marketing strategy.
I'm going to agree with the removal of plastic MacBooks. I hate them. They're more prone to cracking from being dropped, and they're ugly IMO. They're just about the only product from Apple that i actually HATE.
If they stick with the plastic model, they need to get rid of the white. The white model discolors so easily.
New Mac's in the next six months - who didn't see that coming.
I am so glad that I did not wait and bought my 15" a few weeks ago. I was actually concerned that future MBP's might do the horrible 16:9 ration like the MA, iMacs and all other PC panels do. The standard resolution of the 15" is perfect for my 50+ year old eyes.
As for 4 MBP and an new size iMac. I can see getting rid of the MB and having 11, 13, 15 and 17" MBP models (hopefully with 16:10 ratios) and either adding a 24" iMac (1900 x 1200 which they never should have gotten rid of) or a smaller 19" model.
The 13" MBP is their best selling mac so that should not get major changes except a processor bump.
I am so glad that I did not wait and bought my 15" a few weeks ago. I was actually concerned that future MBP's might do the horrible 16:9 ration like the MA, iMacs and all other PC panels do. The standard resolution of the 15" is perfect for my 50+ year old eyes.
As for 4 MBP and an new size iMac. I can see getting rid of the MB and having 11, 13, 15 and 17" MBP models (hopefully with 16:10 ratios) and either adding a 24" iMac (1900 x 1200 which they never should have gotten rid of) or a smaller 19" model.
The 13" MBP is their best selling mac so that should not get major changes except a processor bump.
Whatever happened to the black MacBook? I know a few people with them. If they do keep the plastic, they should at the very least bring back that option imo.
This is exactly what I was thinking. I think most people on this thread are misinterpreting the report of 4 MBP models. I think there was an older rumor on here that also suggested as much. Makes sense as dropping the optical drive on their pro line will be risky so give people atleast one option with optical drive still built in.
My only worry (because it is apple) is that instead of boosting specs as we are all hoping for they will just make the computers 1/10 of an inch thinner and call it 'magical'. Ugh!
Not necessarily. Look at Jeep and Dodge. There is no longer a Cherokee in the US but there is a Grand Cherokee. Dodge no longer has the Caravan (short wheelbase) but still uses the name Grand Caravan.
I wish Apple would take a clue from Mini. Apple has the mini and there is the Mini Cooper. Now Mini makes the expanded Cooper Clubman. I wish Apple would make an expanded mini.
Wow, what a bold prediction: updated MBP's and iMacs in the next seven months...
It's almost a certainty for the MBP's.
I wonder about a redesign, though. My guess is that Apple sticks with the current MBP design for a while longer. My guess is the iMac keeps the same design for one more update before getting a somewhat significant redesign.
It's almost a certainty for the MBP's.
I wonder about a redesign, though. My guess is that Apple sticks with the current MBP design for a while longer. My guess is the iMac keeps the same design for one more update before getting a somewhat significant redesign.
It's a Retina Display !
I'm over 35, need reading/computer glasses for close work - and I love the 15" 1920x1200 screen on my T61p.
Resolution independence in Win7 is good enough with TrueType fonts that I can either increase font size systemwide, or leave the system at 100% and use scaling present in many applications.
For Aperture and Photoshop, I leave the system at 100%, and the shrunken toolbars leave more room for a nice, sharp image.
If a "retina display" is a good idea for a phone, why not for a laptop?
I'm over 35, need reading/computer glasses for close work - and I love the 15" 1920x1200 screen on my T61p.
Resolution independence in Win7 is good enough with TrueType fonts that I can either increase font size systemwide, or leave the system at 100% and use scaling present in many applications.
For Aperture and Photoshop, I leave the system at 100%, and the shrunken toolbars leave more room for a nice, sharp image.
If a "retina display" is a good idea for a phone, why not for a laptop?
The problem was that they had the audacity to charge $100 extra for the option of black plastic. The same exact computer but with black plastic was that much more. I can see if it was golden with real gold electroplating but that was ridiculous.
Umm Optical drives will be around for a loong time. One is not going to download Final Cut pro anytime soon. Legally
The best "upgrade" for the iMac line would be to fix the inherent internal design problems that are causing so many defective displays.
This looks to be both a "heat issue" (with the design limitations of trying to cram the works of a computer into such a small space, and keep it quiet while doing so) and a "display panel issue" (the LED backlit display design seems to be _more_ prone to problems, both heat-related and shipping-related). Perhaps we'll see Apple go _back_ to using a non-LED display for the time being.
This looks to be both a "heat issue" (with the design limitations of trying to cram the works of a computer into such a small space, and keep it quiet while doing so) and a "display panel issue" (the LED backlit display design seems to be _more_ prone to problems, both heat-related and shipping-related). Perhaps we'll see Apple go _back_ to using a non-LED display for the time being.
Mine are worse than yours, and, I still love the 17" high-res 1920x1080. You just have to work a little closer. I have a 24" LCD for long periods at the desk.
I would definitely go for -- if it meant two drive bays, one for ~ 160GB SSD and one high-capacity (1-2 TB) HDD. Just add an MBA outboard optical drive as needed.