MacBook Pro Lineup Set For 'Most Significant Overhaul in Over 4 Years'

[moep]

"console-class GPU performance for thin and light notebooks"

Hopefully we're not talking about the class of GPU performance that currently resides in consoles launched in 2013. Just sayin'

Sadly yes, the 35W Polaris GPU will be roughly on par with a GTX960m and the chip in the PS4. AMD confirmed this with information hidden in the footnotes of their official slides.
More info in my posting history and on http://alteredqualia.com/texts/notebooks/

It'll be faster than what we have but nothing to write home about.

 

[Appleaker]

With TB3, I hope there is official support for external GPUs

There probably won't be official support but drivers are already available.

 

[Dydegu]

We're getting closer. I can almost taste it.

 

[skitidetdu]

still waiting to see what happens with mac mini - hopefully a step forward this time...

 

[gsmornot]

Gonna be an expensive end to the year. iPhone 7, Apple Watch 2 and a new MacBook Pro.

Same here. I'm looking around to see what I can sell to put some funds together. Ha.

 

[Loco Emperor]

Make it touchscreen and I'll switch from windows 10

 

[redheeler]

still waiting to see what happens with mac mini - hopefully a step forward this time...

Same goes for the Mac Pro... It's in worse shape than the MacBook Pro.

 

[bladerunner2000]

If the RAM is still soldered and the battery glued and non-removable, it's still a failure and the best MacBook is still the 2012 non-retina model.

 

[Appleaker]

Sadly yes, the 35W Polaris GPU will be roughly on par with a GTX960m and the chip in the PS4. AMD confirmed this with information hidden in the footnotes of their official slides.
More info in my posting history and on http://alteredqualia.com/texts/notebooks/

It'll be faster than what we have but nothing to write home about.

I think the one they'll use will be a custom one seeing as the R9 m470x is not 35W, and a rebrand of thre m485x. This means the performance may be even worse.

On theiMac side, performance will go up to around a 980m with the RX 490m or even higher if there is a 495m.

 

[Mark-Technology]

Make it touchscreen and I'll switch from windows 10

What's with all the boners for touchscreen. It's so stupid on a laptop, especially a Mac where the trackpad is so freakin good already. But if you like getting smudges on your screen, go right ahead.

 

[Loge]

Smaller footprint implies smaller bezels but retaining 13" and 15" displays.

 

[Mark-Technology]

Smaller footprint implies smaller bezels but retaining 13" and 15" displays.

God I hope so. The bezels on the iMac are so bad, the MBP are pretty bad too, just make it edge to edge or closer. Would look so sleek. I understand why they are there, but do they have to be so ****ing big still.

 

[HatMine]

The USB-C is what worries me about this otherwise great MacBook Pro update. If it only has USB-C, no less than five standards (MagSafe, USB-A, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort/Thunderbolt 2, SD card slot) are being dropped all at once. Many people (myself included) who use these Macs aren't ready for that yet.

I completely agree. If it only has USB-C ports, and perhaps not even a headphone jack, then in what way is it a "PRO" device? Sure, you can use adapters, and they may even include one, but I'm not the type of guy to carry an armful of adapters with me wherever I go.

Let's pray for the SD-card and Headphone jack, at the very least!...

 

[Mark-Technology]

Supposing you want to buy everything apple releases each year and want to be updated with the technology

"updated with technology of 2-3 years prior"

 

[barkmonster]

The USB-C is what worries me about this otherwise great MacBook Pro update. If it only has USB-C, no less than five standards (MagSafe, USB-A, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort/Thunderbolt 2, SD card slot) are being dropped all at once. Many people (myself included) who use these Macs aren't ready for that yet.

The best compromise would be to keep all current ports, but replace the MagSafe port with a USB-C port that allows both charging and USB-C functionality.

 

[redheeler]

If the RAM is still soldered, it's still a failure and the best MacBook is still the 2012 non-retina model.

This I don't agree with. The 2012 non-Retina is now behind in many areas, and you're still stuck at a 16 GB limit which the 15" rMBP comes standard with (and is available BTO on the 13"). Hopefully they make even the 13" come standard with 16 GB.

 

[Rob_2811]

The USB-C is what worries me about this otherwise great MacBook Pro update. If it only has USB-C, no less than five standards (MagSafe, USB-A, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort/Thunderbolt 2, SD card slot) are being dropped all at once. Many people (myself included) who use these Macs aren't ready for that yet.

MagSafe isn't a standard..

 

[baryon]

The USB-C is what worries me about this otherwise great MacBook Pro update. If it only has USB-C, no less than five standards (MagSafe, USB-A, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort/Thunderbolt 2, SD card slot) are being dropped all at once. Many people (myself included) who use these Macs aren't ready for that yet.

It's going to suck for anyone who actually uses any of the ports on their computers (I assume most MacBook Pro users do). There is no other option than to buy the expensive adapter and work through that. So pretty much the only thing you will ever plug into your MacBook Pro will be the adapter, and everything will go through that. Then by the time every non-USB-C product you own has gone obsolete and been replaced, your computer will have gone obsolete too anyway, so you'll never have benefitted from the USB-C ports.

The thing is, if you buy a top of the line, brand new Mac today, it will come with regular USB ports, with the exception of the MacBook which I wouldn't really call a worthy example of what a computer is supposed to be. Due to this, most accessories will also come with regular USB ports until the day most new computers come with USB-C. That day has not come yet. And when it does come, it will take years before USB-C becomes widely adopted. So I think it's safe to say that any computer that only has USB-C ports today is at a major disadvantage for its entire useful life.

Of course USB-C is great, it's literally one type of port to replace all ports, finally, we've been wanting this for a long time. But Apple always likes to adopt things before everyone else does, which is why early Apple adopters never get to enjoy their early adoptions. This is not an issue if we just wait it out though.

I'd say never buy a first generation Apple product: it costs more, it's incompatible with current tech, it has unnecessary limitations (only 1 USB port on first MacBook Air and current MacBook, no 3G on first iPhone, etc) and it's untested so will probably fail a lot more (first retina MBPs had lots of display issues). The 2nd or 3rd gen will be cheaper, better tested, and by then the tech will have become more widespread and compatible. But for this to happen, the 1st gen has to come out, people have to buy it, etc... Just don't be those people.

 

[Mark-Technology]

If the RAM is still soldered and the battery glued and non-removable, it's still a failure and the best MacBook is still the 2012 non-retina model.

Is it really though? Do you upgrade/change your ram every night you get home from work? It's not that big a deal. We have to sacrifice some things for Apple's "thinness boner".

Be happy we're getting a remotely powerful overhaul. They can stick the ram underneath the display if they want for all I care.

 

[mw360]

"extraordinary VR experiences" from the new low-power architecture.

It MBP could support Oculus and Vive, I would definitely get one with the high-end graphics card. If not, I will take the cheapest version and save the money for a PS VR.

How ironic would it be if the new MBP has the GPU required for Oculus, but fails to possess the necessary 2 USB ports.

 

[Loge]

I'd say never buy a first generation Apple product: it costs more, it's incompatible with current tech, it has unnecessary limitations (only 1 USB port on first MacBook Air and current MacBook, no 3G on first iPhone, etc) and it's untested so will probably fail a lot more (first retina MBPs had lots of display issues). The 2nd or 3rd gen will be cheaper, better tested, and by then the tech will have become more widespread and compatible. But for this to happen, the 1st gen has to come out, people have to buy it, etc... Just don't be those people.

Not always the case, the first unibody MBPs had very few issues, and that was a very significant update.

 

[roksraka]

Instead of making it thiner, they should focus on improving cooling and serviceability. I use my 15" MBP for a lot of 3D modeling and rendering, graphic design etc., and the CPU will melt anytime now...

 

[littyboy]

I miss the old days when the baseline 15" had a dedicated GPU. Sigh, Tim Cook's greed always kicks in.

 

[ValO]

Sjeez, everybody was screaming for a new MacBook Pro . Now that it is in sight, most of you are just wining....
If Apple would have released a MacBook Pro with just updated internals and the same design, it wouldn' t be ok. Now there is talk of a new design and updated hw. Still neh neh neh....

 

[1Zach1]

Smaller footprint implies smaller bezels but retaining 13" and 15" displays.

Seems Apple is starting to move all their devices to smaller footprints, hope they push that through the entire line of products.