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Kuo: Redesigned MacBooks With Apple Silicon to Launch in Second Half of 2021
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July starts the second half of the year. I'm thinking a WWDC '21 announcement, myself. I also think we'll see the smaller (24"?) redesigned iMac in March or so.
Apple does not 'need' iOS App Dev to help for M1 Macs to gain market traction... they will probably gain marketshare over the next year or two with M1 Macs regardless of this influx of iOS App Dev. M1 optimized Mac apps are quickly taking shape.
The M1 Macbook Air will be all the computer most users actually need in a laptop.
This does not even have all of the ones I am aware of.
List of apps with native Apple silicon support
However you ARE required to pay the cost of a touch panel, plus Apple's ~32% margin, if MacBooks suddenly have touch. Every single buyer will have to pay for the desires of the few.
The ergonomics of touching a laptop screen are awful, why would you want to do it? The iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard works because it floats closer to where your hands rest for the keyboard.. and it can be easily detached and used as a tablet. But a touchscreen on a standard hinge with non-detachable display? Completely useless and ergonomically senseless, IMO.
Apple plans to release additional MacBook models with Apple Silicon in the second half of 2021, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, as part of the company's two-year transition away from Intel processors across its Mac lineup.
In a research note today, obtained by MacRumors, Kuo said that these MacBook models will feature a new design. Kuo did not specify which models these will be, but he previously claimed that redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with Apple Silicon would launch in the late second quarter or third quarter of 2021.
Other rumored Apple Silicon Macs include a redesigned 24-inch iMac and a smaller version of the Mac Pro tower.
Apple's first Macs with its custom M1 chip, including the new MacBook Air, lower-end 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini, began arriving to customers last week. Models that continue to use Intel processors for the time being include the 13-inch MacBook Pro with four Thunderbolt ports, 16-inch MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro, and Mac Pro.
Kuo added that demand for the new iPad Air has been better than expected. Looking ahead to 2021, he expects that the iPad's growth momentum will come from the adoption of new technologies such as Mini-LED backlighting and 5G support. Kuo expects a new low-priced iPad to launch in the second half of 2021 — presumably the ninth-generation iPad.
Kuo also expects third-generation AirPods to launch in the late second quarter of 2021. He has previously claimed that the design of the third-generation AirPods will be "similar to AirPods Pro," but likely without active noise cancellation.
Last, Kuo predicted that the "new Apple Watch shipment's momentum in 2021 will benefit from innovative health management functions and improved form factor design," but it is unclear if he is referring to the Apple Watch Series 6's new casing options like blue aluminum or to redesigned Apple Watch Series 7 models.
Article Link: Kuo: Redesigned MacBooks With Apple Silicon to Launch in Second Half of 2021
I'm not a content creator, and mainly use my 2014 15" rMBP for content consumption. Youtube, Netflix, very light photoshop. Nothing too crazy. What I love best about it is the big screen, great build quality, and MacOS.
I'm REALLY hoping that they make a larger 16" macbook air. With the M1 chip, it has more than enough power to handle things I'm wanting to do, and drive a high pixel density screen. Just put the best screen they can put in it, upgrade the speakers a bit, and they'll have a real winner. It would be awesome if it was fanless, but a small fan would be fine too.
Watching 1440p or 4K Youtube videos makes my MBP sound like a jet engine. I imagine the M1 is much more efficient at decoding Youtube.
The cost difference of a touch panel vs non-touch panel is fairly negligable (the retail price difference of touch vs non-touch on Chromebooks was around $30 a year ago).
I generally agree, except for Ram. I went with 16 gb in my 2014 rmbp 15, and it's still running great. I'm going to wait until the next 16" upgrade comes, and will upgrade. I think I can hold out a year or two.
Outside of RAM, I generally agree. I go with the smallest SSD, and lower processor.
I personally expect Apple to roll out the first 16" MacBook Pro with the more powerful "Apple Silicon" with 8 high-performance cores, 4 high-efficiency cores and 16 GPU cores around May 2021. And it will include a 32 GB memory option and up to 2 TB of SSD storage. It will look kind of like the current MacBook Pro 16", but will have four USB4 (aka Thunderbolt 3.0 compatible) ports, thinner bezels on the screen, and a new 1080p web cam.
That would dilute the value of Apple products in the market and also potentially create too many SKU’s which is what hurt Apple during the days of Sculley in the late 90s and someone feel free to correct me about the Apple history part.
Make the Touch Bar optional, Apple.
forums.macrumors.com
I bet, if the Touch Bar was optional, the bulk of purchases would not include it. So what is this practice called, when a company forces you buy a $200 unneeded add-on toolbar?
This is my Touch Bar setup, Apple
Here is my touch bar: and when Fn pressed: It is fixed like this for all applications. I knew I have no use for Touch Bar back when I was buying MBP. Months in, I have no intention to use Touch Bar. I can write a full page describing usability deficiencies it presents to me. (one posted...
forums.macrumors.com
I bet, if the Touch Bar was optional, the bulk of purchases would not include it. So what is this practice called, when a company forces you buy a $200 unneeded add-on toolbar?
In the case of the 16” MacBook Pro the price would have still been the same either way.Make the Touch Bar optional, Apple.
This is my Touch Bar setup, Apple
Here is my touch bar: and when Fn pressed: It is fixed like this for all applications. I knew I have no use for Touch Bar back when I was buying MBP. Months in, I have no intention to use Touch Bar. I can write a full page describing usability deficiencies it presents to me. (one posted...
I bet, if the Touch Bar was optional, the bulk of purchases would not include it. So what is this practice called, when a company forces you buy a $200 unneeded add-on toolbar?
I doubt the new look of Big Sur necessarily says anything about preparing the terrain for touch input. Indeed, I saw an interview with Apple execs about Big Sur where they discussed, at length, the decision to harmonise the visual experience between iOS and Mac OS a little more. But it was about enhancing the familiarity between the two platforms, which makes a lot of sense from a halo effect point of view. There's nothing to lose in making Mac OS "feel" more visually related to iOS, especially to help bridge the gap for customers who've bought into iOS via iPhones but don't usually buy Macs.
Of course, we can always choose to not believe what they're saying if we want. After all, we all know there are examples where Apple said no way are we doing something, and yet ended up eventually doing it. But it's an overstretch to assume this is a rule that always applies. In this case, I think the rational arguments for not adding multitouch to Mac OS do happen to line up with what they're saying... and also with what they're doing with the evolution of their product lines.
Again:
- How does it make sense for multitouch to become a major commonly used input method for Mac OS apps, when people will continue to use desktop machines like Mac Minis or Mac Pros that don't even have a touch display at all? Do you then have to sell them touch-capable displays in order to offer full official support of all Mac OS features?
- How do you prevent your OS from becoming a fractured and confusing user experience, when some apps might go all-in on it to the point that it's harder not use multitouch input... while other apps might just add some cursory optional touch input?
- Tablets (and phones) have inherent ergonomics such that you _can_ use them as a flat surface device where touch input is completely natural. And they can (at least in the case of tablets) also be reoriented easily to work in a keyboard/trackpad/mouse alignment. How do you bring these same ergonomics to laptops, with their fixed design of a thin display with inherently flexible hinges?
-What happens to form factors like the iMac if Mac OS multitouch support really takes off, so apps like Photoshop end up feeling worse to use without it? How do you square that circle in terms of design and ergonomics? Do you try to design an all-new iMac that can slide down to a flat table configuration, so people can use it that way without destroying their shoulders and necks? How would such a solution even practically work in the real world, especially when on the other hand you have iMac users who just want as big a display as possible?
End of the day, it's easy for any of us punters to just say that something seems inevitable - we don't have to think through any of the consequences. But when you actually look in detail at the real implications, then you realise maybe it's not. I'm glad Apple seem to be taking these considerations into account very seriously, instead of just sleepwalking into minefield of compromises.
Of course, we can always choose to not believe what they're saying if we want. After all, we all know there are examples where Apple said no way are we doing something, and yet ended up eventually doing it. But it's an overstretch to assume this is a rule that always applies. In this case, I think the rational arguments for not adding multitouch to Mac OS do happen to line up with what they're saying... and also with what they're doing with the evolution of their product lines.
Again:
- How does it make sense for multitouch to become a major commonly used input method for Mac OS apps, when people will continue to use desktop machines like Mac Minis or Mac Pros that don't even have a touch display at all? Do you then have to sell them touch-capable displays in order to offer full official support of all Mac OS features?
- How do you prevent your OS from becoming a fractured and confusing user experience, when some apps might go all-in on it to the point that it's harder not use multitouch input... while other apps might just add some cursory optional touch input?
- Tablets (and phones) have inherent ergonomics such that you _can_ use them as a flat surface device where touch input is completely natural. And they can (at least in the case of tablets) also be reoriented easily to work in a keyboard/trackpad/mouse alignment. How do you bring these same ergonomics to laptops, with their fixed design of a thin display with inherently flexible hinges?
-What happens to form factors like the iMac if Mac OS multitouch support really takes off, so apps like Photoshop end up feeling worse to use without it? How do you square that circle in terms of design and ergonomics? Do you try to design an all-new iMac that can slide down to a flat table configuration, so people can use it that way without destroying their shoulders and necks? How would such a solution even practically work in the real world, especially when on the other hand you have iMac users who just want as big a display as possible?
End of the day, it's easy for any of us punters to just say that something seems inevitable - we don't have to think through any of the consequences. But when you actually look in detail at the real implications, then you realise maybe it's not. I'm glad Apple seem to be taking these considerations into account very seriously, instead of just sleepwalking into minefield of compromises.
This will be a painful wait for me. I have been holding out with my 2014 15" MBP, telling myself this would be the year to upgrade. Just got the M1 Air for my GF. It's a wonderful machine, but just smaller than I want. Now it's seems likely that I'll have to wait well into next year before they update the 16" model. No way I'm buying the 2019 Intel version.
I know. As a consumer, I would have loved the M1 to launch in fancy new boxes. But as a CEO of Apple, think about it: they could have launched the M1 in a Coke can, and it would still have sold like hotcakes. They know this. Hell, I know this and I'm an idiot. So why not get a bit more milage out of the current hardware design if you can? Plus, it makes sense (and cents) to align a hardware refresh with a completely different form factor (rumored 14" and 16" MacBook Pros). Also, the hardware refresh will give those who didn't jump on the first M1 Macs something be excited about, virtually cementing their purchase, while also making early adopters a bit remorseful that they missed the first hardware refresh in years - the net of which is increased sales all round. It's classic Tim Cook product rollout cadence and part of why they are a trillion dollar company. Plus, it gives everyone something to discuss/debate the nest 12 months. By the time new designs arrive, people will be so worked up that literally any hardware redesign will seem like "magic."
That said, as I've mentioned before, I'm excited to see what the first post-Ives-era computer hardware design yields. I'm sure they would have to be pretty far down the path if they are to launch new boxes in (even late) 2021. While the stock may not yet adequately reflect, Apple is en Fuego right now. Haven't seen them as prolific in years. Feel familiar. Feels good.
Same, the MacBook design is a bit boring at this point, with huge bezels too.
but the power of this years macbooks was tempting.
I don’t think it’s going anywhere. They JUST redesigned it and in a very un-Apple way admitted the prior design was probably not a great idea. They basically had to come back with a very belated apology to the pro community.
Odds are high the reduced size is going to be from the reduced cooling and airflow needs for the CPUs themselves.
I’d rather have an iPad running macOS than a MacBook with a touch screen.
On that note I still don’t get touch screens on laptops at all. My last company issued Surface Books to pretty much everyone but developers (we were all on Macs) and of the few people who used the touch screens it was an initial novelty that went away pretty much after the first time the screen was cleaned.
People here beg for it but I have basically never seen anyone make heavy use of it in real life (much like the TouchBar, lol.)
On that note I still don’t get touch screens on laptops at all. My last company issued Surface Books to pretty much everyone but developers (we were all on Macs) and of the few people who used the touch screens it was an initial novelty that went away pretty much after the first time the screen was cleaned.
People here beg for it but I have basically never seen anyone make heavy use of it in real life (much like the TouchBar, lol.)
I get the feeling that they will introduce a Mac Pro Mini but it will not be the Mac Pro replacement (an indication of the performance that the Mac Pro will have but without the same expandability) - that will be the last thing that will come out at near the end of the 2 year transition period. I expect them to keep the PCIe slots as they have a full time contingent of pro consultants within Apple now making their voices heard (and there are lots of pro PCIe card addons other than video cards themselves).
Remember Apple now has a growing media business themselves...
for me the desktop experience doesn’t feel right using iOS, I imagine connecting an iPad to a 4K monitor and it feeling like a true desktop experience, one device, tablet on the go, desktop when docked, OS changing to suit or on request.
I can’t recall where you landed from the redesigned iMac thread, so do you expect it to remain a 27” form factor?
If the rumors are true about the 21.5” moving to 24”, it seems like a logical next step to scale up the 27”. While Apple absolutely could still differentiate and market the 27” on other factors, most consumers will look at that screen size.
Issue is, I’m not sure what they go to other than 32” 6K non-XDR. A 30” inch screen would be appreciably less sharp at 5K than a 27” display and I don’t see them going to a custom in-between resolution.
I've never understood this very common sentiment (I don't want a feature so it shouldn't be included for anyone that does). Making it touch screen doesn't mean you have to use it. When other people want a feature that you don't, that isn't a valid reason for it not to be included. Just don't use it.