Be more flexible with the design. Things don't have to be so thin that there's no room for a discrete graphics card. Leave the optical drive in there. Why does Pro mean no drive for some people. Having external drives doesn't seem very pro to me. Just seems cluttery. Bring the price down. $2096 Aus dollars is a lot for an i5 in particular especially when the opposition can sell for upwards of 800-1000 less for some models. My 2 cents.
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.
MacBook Pro 2011 predictions
- Thread starter shyam09
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
OK, then please tell me which part is really troublesome for PROSUMERS. The fact that Light Peak might become some sort of docking station connector?
I have a bunch of localtalk connectors lying around here. Apple made them pretty useless.
Like I said, there is enough reason to keep in USB for now. But if we get 256GB iPod down the road, and Intel, Apple and Sony all support Light Peak, I somehow doubt that we going to sync this device with a USB cable at that point.
Look, TBH, the best you could hope for in the next refresh is Sandy Bridge, and a design refresh, but that's about it. SSDs will be a BTO option, albeit cheaper. They're way too expensive to be stock. But, expect better battery life. The removal of the the ODD is a possibility, but highly unlikely until the CD is well and truly dead. Apple risks losing out in the Prosumer market if it does so. Maybe the iTunes 10 logo is a sign of things to come. We won't know until the keynote. Light Peak isn't going to be added. Not for at least another year, when there's some solid support for it. But then again, Jobs is adept at surprising us. Maybe the removal of the ODD will be BTO. I don't know. Highly unlikely though, as that would be too much trouble for the sake of just removing the ODD and adding a HDD bay. And it would cost a bomb, not to mention.
Your looking at this as a one side view, you are totally forgetting about the THOUSANDS of other devices pros use that DO use USB, and as for ethernet, you think it too should be scrapped just because you don't use it? Forgetting about just how much of a standard ethernet is these day's! In fact VERY few laptops lack ethernet ports. And SD will take over over the OD function!
hmm, ok, lots of people still use DVD's you know, like content creators, Apples market... And just what do you feel the display port should be replaced with then also? Cause you think that should be ditched too?????
If we followed your plan then the computer would have one light peak port and you would need to buy lots of adapter cables to make all your existing devices work.
Your looking at this as a one side view, you are totally forgetting about the THOUSANDS of other devices pros use that DO use USB, and as for ethernet, you think it too should be scrapped just because you don't use it? Forgetting about just how much of a standard ethernet is these day's! In fact VERY few laptops lack ethernet ports. And SD will take over over the OD function!
And just what do you feel the display port should be replaced with then also? Cause you think that should be ditched too?????
If we followed your plan then the computer would have one light peak port and you would need to buy lots of adapter cables to make all your existing devices work.
I did not say that all these ports would go down the drain now. And I have said several times that I expect that USB will be available in the next release.I do expect however that in the somewhat longer run a number of these ports will get dropped. Apple has a long history of dropping older ports in favor of newer ones. At the time, many thought that Apple was insane dropping the floppy disk drive. They were also early with dropping the modem port.
Quite some people in this thread have expressed that they hardly need the optical drive. I am also wondering how many still use the ethernet port. And how many use a wireless mouse. And how many need a display adapter anyway when they are on the road.
I suspect that the firewire port will be missed the most. Of which the current macbook pro has... 1. Yes it may be a drag to take along an adapter for it, but I am not going to bet that Apple is going to keep it around for a very long time.
Well, we will see.
Actually, we have precedent which shows that your position here is more than a little shaky; maybe you weren't up-to-speed way back then (and thus don't remember) but the 3.5" 1.4 MB double-sided 'floppy' disk(ette) was FAR from "dead" when those drives disappeared from Macintosh. In fact, taking it out was a trend-setting decision, back when Apple was rather bolder than today. I think removing the ODD would be very similar. A few people would be seriously inconvenienced. A few more would grumble and then get on with their lives. And the vast majority wouldn't be especially bothered. It would certainly free up space inside the unit -- whether for an SSD + HDD combination, improved graphics card, or whatever -- and how could that not be a Good Thing?Aamir said:
cheers,
Henry
I agree, as there are plenty of USB optical drives available today, and for very cheap. When Apple first removed the 3.5" floppy, people were up in arms because external floppy drives were not common place back then, so people didn't really have any viable alternative.
I removed my optical drive and installed a second hard drive instead. Oh, I definitely use the optical drive, which is why I have a USB DVD burner. But I don't use it often enough that it should be internal to the machine.
Folks that use the optical drive very regularly, I'm betting they don't use it at the coffee shop or on a park bench. They use it in their home, or at work, so making it an external peripheral really doesn't inconvenience them any.
hhahahahaha
how many people use ethernet????? Jesus. And as for the constant BS crap about getting rid of the optical drive some of you constantly bang on about.
Lets say this, Apple sold 3.47 million computers April to June 2010, 71% of these sales were laptops.
So all the handfull of the what must be 30 people on here saying to get rid of the OD, I would really appreciate if it you could try and open your minds just a tiny little bit and realise that there are MILLIONS of Apple laptop users around the globe apart from yourselves which none of you can speak for so please stop thinking you do....
The old 'I don't use it so no one does' argument is not one you can really win or use constructively.
src:
http://www.macworld.com/article/152825/2010/07/apple_3rdquarter_results.html
But if you didn't have one you'd make provisions to do without it.
It's really that simple.
You have used it? As in once or twice in the past year? Or you use it daily on the go? I've used mine on the go before too.... probably twice in the four years I've owned it.
hhahahahaha
And as for the constant BS crap about getting rid of the optical drive some of you constantly bang on about.
Lets say this, Apple sold 3.47 million computers April to June 2010, 71% of these sales were laptops.
So all the handfull of the what must be 30 people on here saying to get rid of the OD, I would really appreciate if it you could try and open your minds just a tiny little bit and realise that there are MILLIONS of Apple laptop users around the globe apart from yourselves which none of you can speak for so please stop thinking you do....
The old 'I don't use it so no one does' argument is not one you can really win or use constructively.
src:
http://www.macworld.com/article/152825/2010/07/apple_3rdquarter_results.html
you really compare all the mac users with the users on this board? that's not quite a good argument.
the trend shows that you do not really need a odd often. there are some purposes (watching dvd, installing software, etc.) but those are going to become more and more meaningless. perhaps the odd will not be gone this release. but it definitely will be gone in the next or the one after that.
Eh what? The LAST thing I would ever do is compare the majority of Apple users with the people on this board because whats spoken on here just like your comment is BS speculation.
Like what facts do YOU have to backup your so called 'trend for no ODD being needed'????? I bet you have none just like everyone else......
All your basing your 'opinion' on is personal use and the posts from 30 or so people on an internet forum, you feel that's more then enough to in one go label the majority of the millions of MacBook users as people who never need an ODD.Go ahead, remove the ODD
I would be glad if Apple decided to remove the ODD. Yes, my rationale is that I don't use it! What other rationale would I use? I download most of my movies and software. When I need a DVD drive, I wouldn't mind paying $50 for a cute little external. Let's let the CD/DVD drive go the way of the tape deck.
Since the introduction of the G4 TiBook, Apple has done such a terrific job squeezing so much into these little metal slabs. How much more could they do if they suddenly reclaimed a good 20% of that space?
I would be glad if Apple decided to remove the ODD. Yes, my rationale is that I don't use it! What other rationale would I use? I download most of my movies and software. When I need a DVD drive, I wouldn't mind paying $50 for a cute little external. Let's let the CD/DVD drive go the way of the tape deck.
Since the introduction of the G4 TiBook, Apple has done such a terrific job squeezing so much into these little metal slabs. How much more could they do if they suddenly reclaimed a good 20% of that space?
Eh what? The LAST thing I would ever do is compare the majority of Apple users with the people on this board because whats spoken on here just like your comment is BS speculation.
Like what facts do YOU have to backup your so called 'trend for no ODD being needed'????? I bet you have none just like everyone else......
quite funny... you should really watch your language.
apple creates the app store for mac. that means you can download apps anytime. you do not need cds to install software anymore if this platform is successful.
apple offers streams. that means you can watch movies without dvds.
please tell me why, in your opinion, odds are important for the majority of mac users. and do not argue with professional photo/video/data editing. you should not use a notebook for such purposes.
oh yeah... btw... i have an odd...
I think it's safe to say the optical drive doesn't seem to have much life left on Apple's mobile line. It's the start of a new decade and 2011 is a good year to kill off the compact disc.
You need to remember your not a business analyst telling Steve Jobs what the market wants from Apple.
As for streaming, no, it costs too much and BB speeds aren't there yet plus you have BB usage caps, this argument has been done before, I think it was before you joined this site actually.
People like to own there media and they don't offer HD content which yes you cannot play on a Mac, but you cannot link your laptop to an HD TV and get HD film's.
Also the last time I checked none of Apples software was offered as download, neither is Office for Mac, all the other apps people use, Windows, Windows games etc etc etc etc..... you can't make a family video and email it off to the granny unless your SP will let you send 5GB emails? And granny can download it..
And I refuse to argue with an idiot so they can bring me down to their level. Which is what you are because you are stating professionals should not use a notebook for such purpose
I can tell you haven't been on this forum very long......hhahahahaha
And as for the constant BS crap about getting rid of the optical drive some of you constantly bang on about.
Lets say this, Apple sold 3.47 million computers April to June 2010, 71% of these sales were laptops.
So all the handfull of the what must be 30 people on here saying to get rid of the OD, I would really appreciate if it you could try and open your minds just a tiny little bit and realise that there are MILLIONS of Apple laptop users around the globe apart from yourselves which none of you can speak for so please stop thinking you do....
The old 'I don't use it so no one does' argument is not one you can really win or use constructively.
src:
http://www.macworld.com/article/152825/2010/07/apple_3rdquarter_results.html
I am glad that I got you laughing.
Ethernet != Internet. This year I have not encountered any hotel or conference centre that did not have WiFi.
I do not pretend that I speak for all Mac users. I can only try to convey my own views. I even wrote "Speaking for myself". If you do not like that, so be it, but bold italic is not going to help.
In fact, you are now suggesting that your own views do agree with the majority of mac users. You could very well be right, but it is not an argument.
You need to remember your not a business analyst telling Steve Jobs what the market wants from Apple.
As for streaming, no, it costs too much and BB speeds aren't there yet plus you have BB usage caps, this argument has been done before, I think it was before you joined this site actually.
People like to own there media and they don't offer HD content which yes you cannot play on a Mac, but you cannot link your laptop to an HD TV and get HD film's.
Also the last time I checked none of Apples software was offered as download, neither is Office for Mac, all the other apps people use, Windows, Windows games etc etc etc etc..... you can't make a family video and email it off to the granny unless your SP will let you send 5GB emails? And granny can download it..
And I refuse to argue with an idiot so they can bring me down to their level. Which is what you are because you are stating professionals should not use a notebook for such purpose
Well, in that case: I have not been on this forum very long either. But I have used Macs since 1991. That probably makes me a double idiot.
If you do not want to argue with Yin or me, be my guest. But please do not try to tell us what we should say here. There is a reason why this is called a "forum".
IMHO, I agree that based on what has already been said, there is no arguments that the optical drive is not wanted by the majority (at least that is true here at MR). However, after taking a moment or two to brainstorm on the possibilities of what Apple will do if they do indeed remove the ODD, it "frightens" me instead of bring me the excitement of watching the change unfold. The following is the reason why I feel this way.
It is agreed upon amongst most members on this forum that the removal of the ODD will mean having more space to work with. However, it is important to note that the slot-loading ODDs leave a retangular hole in the right side of the MBP. Obviosuly, with a lack of ODD, they'll have to close up this hole or should we say do a slight "re-design" or adjustments to their MBP assembly line. I would think that this change should be "fairly easy to change" on the assembly line, but maybe Apple may take this chance to do a more thorough "re-design" since the lack of an ODD will result in more space.
I know that many people are hoping this will mean that Apple will add in a high-end GPU. However, I think Apple will still be using mid-level dedicated GPUs & with their obsession with thinness & making smaller & smaller products as well as offering an increase in battery life with every iteration of their products, I can instead see a switch to a "smaller" form factor by going with 16:9 screens (which seems to be the norm these days) instead of 16:10 screens for 13" & 15" MBPs (maybe even extend to 17" MBPs). That will shrink down the current MBP form factor & keep up with their motto of going thinner & smaller with each new revision of the product line.
If the above unfortunately happens, is that a good thing? I'm sure we will find out if it does happen.
However, after taking a moment or two to brainstorm on the possibilities of what Apple will do if they do indeed remove the ODD, it "frightens" me instead of bring me the excitement of watching the change unfold. The following is the reason why I feel this way.It is agreed upon amongst most members on this forum that the removal of the ODD will mean having more space to work with. However, it is important to note that the slot-loading ODDs leave a retangular hole in the right side of the MBP. Obviosuly, with a lack of ODD, they'll have to close up this hole or should we say do a slight "re-design" or adjustments to their MBP assembly line. I would think that this change should be "fairly easy to change" on the assembly line, but maybe Apple may take this chance to do a more thorough "re-design" since the lack of an ODD will result in more space.
I know that many people are hoping this will mean that Apple will add in a high-end GPU. However, I think Apple will still be using mid-level dedicated GPUs & with their obsession with thinness & making smaller & smaller products as well as offering an increase in battery life with every iteration of their products, I can instead see a switch to a "smaller" form factor by going with 16:9 screens (which seems to be the norm these days) instead of 16:10 screens for 13" & 15" MBPs (maybe even extend to 17" MBPs).
That will shrink down the current MBP form factor & keep up with their motto of going thinner & smaller with each new revision of the product line. If the above unfortunately happens, is that a good thing?
I'm sure we will find out if it does happen. ---- has to be one of the most stupid comments on this forum.....
FYI Ethernet = Networking.
My bold italic comment was aimed at others as well as yourself.
I can tell you what I like, you said it's a forum. And can this Yin not speak for themselves? Or are you the same person?
If Apple removed the ODD they will make the computer much thinner and then use less powerful CPU's and use the space to extend battery life only and they may even use less powerful GPU's as well. That'll be the reality if the ODD goes, everyone knows it, you can dream all you want but this same argument has been done to utter death, re-generated and then battered to death again for the last 2 years at least. You all want more powerful GPU's, quad core etc etc and Apple never gives it.
Bluray is DOA. Nobody is buying it. Unlike CD and DVD, there is ZERO computer software being distributed on bluray disc. BD movies aren't selling too well either, and their retail price, at double the cost of a DVD, isn't helping.Goodbye compact disc Hello Blu-ray disc.
By the time Blu-ray would have caught on, we'll all be streaming our movies without any physical media at all. Comcast is getting ready to roll out 100 Mbit residential service in my neighborhood. 100 Megabits!
Blu-ray is a dead-end technology.