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Is it safe to buy now or is there an update coming?

S

scaramoosh

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 30, 2014
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If the update is in the Spring I'll get one now, but I keep seeing rumours about the Air and Macbook pro updates coming soon.... I know they're not this version but do we know if there is definitely not going to be an update this year for the Macbook?

Thanx.
 
This update, if it involves the new Intel Skylake processor, will be a good one. However it's still unconfirmed if Apple will use Skylake on this update.
 
rambo47 said:
This update, if it involves the new Intel Skylake processor, will be a good one. However it's still unconfirmed if Apple will use Skylake on this update.
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How good of an update? What can we expect as far as CPU goes?

Also is that really the only thing we expect to get updated? The CPU? Cause I really want atleast a 13inch model.
 
Phonzoxd said:
How good of an update? What can we expect as far as CPU goes?

Also is that really the only thing we expect to get updated? The CPU? Cause I really want atleast a 13inch model.
Click to expand...

It is mainly about the GPU being a 40% increase on the M, you'll barely notice the CPU improvement, maybe it'll have better battery performance and heat.
 
scaramoosh said:
If the update is in the Spring I'll get one now, but I keep seeing rumours about the Air and Macbook pro updates coming soon.... I know they're not this version but do we know if there is definitely not going to be an update this year for the Macbook?

Thanx.
Click to expand...

My guess is that the Air will be discontinued in April, and the sell-down of that glut of inventory will be the only news for Spring. The new MacBook wouldn't be updated before next Christmas by which time the Air's will be gone and Apple will have built up inventory for the RMB.

BJ
 
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rambo47 said:
I'd hate to see the Air dropped unless the new MacBook offers a 13" screen option. I'm not a fan of the 12" screen.
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There's more real estate on the rMB 12" then ever was on the 11" or 13" MBA due to higher resolution :)

I think BJ may be correct there's at least another year of milking the MBA, which is a shame

We only have one left in our family now and that's 3 years old with a failed SDD, fortunately I have a spare SDD so we can get a little more out of it before we pass it on to grandparents so they can play solitaire LOL
 
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Queen6 said:
I doubt they will as it`s still a big seller, it a cheap entry point into OS X, and it owes Apple absolutely nothing especially if the do not change the design.

Q-6
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Was in an Apple Store today and the bezel around the Air screen is huge, it looks like a kids laptop.

They either need to update the Air or get rid of it....I still think it becomes the iPhone 5C of the MacBook world.

BJ
 
I'm gonna wait for next year I think, the 5300 just isn't good enough, but the Skylake GPU is pretty great and that Laptop would suit all my needs, where this years doesn't.

Everything is perfect from this years, it's just that GPU that needs the upgrade since I do like to play games from time to time. The new one can play pretty much anything at 30FPS... so that's great, where the one currently cannot even run most things.

I just hope they keep the same form factor, I don't need ports or anything like that, an SD slot would be nice though.
 
Same here, I think I will wait for the next model. I also agree on an SD card slot being nice!
 
nordique said:
Same here, I think I will wait for the next model. I also agree on an SD card slot being nice!
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Personally, I don't see an SD slot coming its way at all. I'd pray for a microSD slot, but even that is a near 0% possibility.
 
scaramoosh said:
I'm gonna wait for next year I think, the 5300 just isn't good enough, but the Skylake GPU is pretty great and that Laptop would suit all my needs, where this years doesn't.

Everything is perfect from this years, it's just that GPU that needs the upgrade since I do like to play games from time to time. The new one can play pretty much anything at 30FPS... so that's great, where the one currently cannot even run most things.

I just hope they keep the same form factor, I don't need ports or anything like that, an SD slot would be nice though.
Click to expand...

There is no guarantee that Apple builds a Skylake version of the RMB.

For all we know, sales of the new MacBook may be exceeding expectations as-is, and if Apple decides to keep the Air around as an active part of its notebook lineup then giving that line Skylake exclusively adds differentiation. Remember, where the RMB's place is in the assortment:

Pro: Powerful workhorse
Air: Powerful ultrabook
RMB: Sleek portable

The closer the RMB gets to the Air, the less important the Air becomes. Giving the RMB a Skylake processor is counter to their marketing strategy, same as what they did with the Retina display. Apple needs to give salespeople a very clear line of differentiation, a story to tell that makes the RMB and the Air dissimilar enough as to justify one over the other. If both lines have Retina displays and Skylake processors, then the only story for a salesperson to pitch in the stores is screen size and form factor and that's not enough.

BJ
 
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i would wait for no other reason than to see if apple gets the keyboard problems that some have reported here worked out.
 
boltjames said:
There is no guarantee that Apple builds a Skylake version of the RMB.

For all we know, sales of the new MacBook may be exceeding expectations as-is, and if Apple decides to keep the Air around as an active part of its notebook lineup then giving that line Skylake exclusively adds differentiation. Remember, where the RMB's place is in the assortment:

Pro: Powerful workhorse
Air: Powerful ultrabook
RMB: Sleek portable

The closer the RMB gets to the Air, the less important the Air becomes. Giving the RMB a Skylake processor is counter to their marketing strategy, same as what they did with the Retina display. Apple needs to give salespeople a very clear line of differentiation, a story to tell that makes the RMB and the Air dissimilar enough as to justify one over the other. If both lines have Retina displays and Skylake processors, then the only story for a salesperson to pitch in the stores is screen size and form factor and that's not enough.

BJ
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On top of all that where is the physical space to start putting a cooling system etc etc in the current rMB footprint to suit all these hopes for 2016

I don't see it somehow more like a tweaked MBA until it finally dies or becomes a phoenix with a retina screen lol
 
gooser said:
i would wait for no other reason than to see if apple gets the keyboard problems that some have reported here worked out.
Click to expand...

What keyboard problems? I have none.

JediZenMaster said:
There is always an update coming.
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True, but methinks the RMB won't be updated for several years. The big reasons are:

1. The RMB is a niche product, it's for a small segment of the notebook population that wants to overpay for underpowered performance in a super sleek form factor. Specialized products like this have a long lifespan, they aren't changed frequently because the ROI simply isn't there. This isn't an iPhone which gets overhauled every 24 months and tweaked every 12. This isn't even an iPad which gets overhauled every 3-4 years. It sells at a far lower rate than both of those products.

2. The RMB is still best-in-class for what it excels at. And with no reasonable competition in the space, Apple has no incentive to change it at all.

3. If Apple makes the RMB superior or equal to the Air then they have a whole heap of problems on their hands. First, they'd have to add multiple screen sizes to the RMB and make an entire line out of it. Next, it would mean the discontinuance of the Air. The end result would be that their most popularly-priced notebook would be 20-30% more expensive without a bunch of ports that corporations require and limited SSD capacity without anything else beneath it in the food chain. It's financial suicide.

Look for the Air to get the Skylake upgrade because it's a performance enhancement for a budget workplace machine. Look for the Air to not get a Retina display because that's a premium enhancement and the Air is not one of the premium machines. Look for the RMB to remain unchanged until 2017. That's what a businessman would say. And Apple is a business. A very big one.

BJ
 
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gooser said:
what keyboard problems? look around here. several people have reported problems.
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A handful of people coming to an electronics discussion forum to complain about their personal defective unit happens all the time, doesn't mean there is an epidemic or a global issue.

3% of all consumer electronics manufactured are defective and require correction or a customer return. The 97% who are perfectly happy have no problems and therefore don't come to discussion forums to complain. There is no "keyboard issue" with the Retina MacBook. Those with defective units should simply exchange them for a new one.

BJ
 
boltjames said:
A handful of people coming to an electronics discussion forum to complain about their personal defective unit happens all the time, doesn't mean there is an epidemic or a global issue.

3% of all consumer electronics manufactured are defective and require correction or a customer return. The 97% who are perfectly happy have no problems and therefore don't come to discussion forums to complain. There is no "keyboard issue" with the Retina MacBook. Those with defective units should simply exchange them for a new one.

BJ
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i hope you're right on your percentages.
 
gooser said:
i hope you're right on your percentages.
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3043324-slide-s-3-apple-macbook-retina.jpg


That's an industry metric, that goes for all consumer electronics. 3% would be high for Apple, probably down around 1.5%.

Keep in mind that the RMB keyboard is an entirely new 'butterfly' design so if defectives are in the 3% to 5% range that wouldn't be unexpected. After all, there are what, 90 keys on each unit.

BJ
 
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