There are a few things nobody has even mentioned. I am going to write about several things that I predict and/or wish to see on the new MacBook Pro lineup, which will likely be released Feb - Apr. 2011.
1. SSD standard. Apple will ditch the conventional hard drive on all models and move to using blade SSD based storage like the MacBook Air on all models of MacBook Pro. These will be available in 129GB, 256GB, and 512GB sizes. It will not be like the SSD Apple uses now in the MBP which is a hard drive 2.5" form-factor, it will be designed for ultra-low profile and small size/weight.
2. MUCH Better Power-management, 30-day sleep, instant-on. Just like the MacBook Air, the new MacBook Pros will feature instant-on from sleep and the ability to sleep up to 30 days. The current MacBook Pros can only sleep a few days on a full charge before the battery is completely drained. The new MacBook Pros will be able to sleep for weeks, even over a month, and be able to wake and work for several hours after being hibernated for extended periods of time.
3. Thin, super-slim, new case design/form factor and super-light weight. Apple will take the design of the MacBook Air, its super-thin profile and redesign the MacBook Pro case chassis from the ground up, giving it ultra-thin profile and super low weight. Expect a MacBook Pro only weighing about 3.5 - 4lbs max, about a third lighter and 50% thinner. Apple will probably not ditch the Optical Drive, but do not count this out. Apple is going to online downloads for software, and with the introduction of the App Store in January, Apple may decide that there is no longer a need at all for an ODD on the MacBook Pro, and make this an external option for those who need the drive.
4. Something not mentioned. Two words. RETINA DISPLAY. Apple has been experimenting with this breakthrough hi-resolution display technology, and with OS X Lion or future updates, Apple may introduce resolution independence for the OS, allowing for displays with ppi of up to 300 or higher. Think, iPhone display, but 15" in size, super high resolution, over twice as many pixels in the current hi-resolution MacBook Pro displays. This may be a far-off thing, it may not happen now, but this is where Apple is headed with their displays, definitely, in the future. Hi-resolution, large-size, IPS Retina Displays for laptops. If Apple doesn't go this route, they will start the 13" at 1440x900, the 15" will all be 1680x1050 with possibly a 1920x1200 option, and the 17" will remain at 1920x1200.
5. Of course, Sandy Bridge will be the processor architecture adopted in the new MBP with the possibility of the first quad-core options being offered in a Mac notebook. Don't count this out. Processor speeds could top out at 3.2GHz with a 2.8GHz quad-core option. I am not doubting that this will be something new and breakthrough for Apple, and they will eventually introduce a quad-core Sandy Bridge notebook.
6. It would be nice, but I would like Apple to build some kind of 3G or 4G connectivity into the MacBooks, like there is on the iPad 3G. This will allow for wireless connectivity anywhere without having to tether. But, this is probably not going to happen. Just doesn't look like it.
That's all for now. Hope I kinda shared some of my insight on this topic. These are just my ideas...but some of them I think are pretty firm as to the direction Apple is going with the new MBP lineup. Steve said the MacBook Air is just a "glimpse of things to come" and that these are the "First of our new generation of MacBooks".
Have a Merry Christmas everyone, best wishes, and keep the Mac spirit alive!
