My opinion is that a Macbook Pro 13'' would be much more Pro if it had a dedicated GPU rather than a Superdrive, a rather basic, non-optimized and heavy part of the laptop. So I believe that either Apple will end up pulling the SuperDrive out from the MBP 13''. Maybe in 2 or 3 revisions.
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MacBook Pro to disappear towards the Air way?
- Thread starter ratzzo
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Well said. It's clear that Apple is doing just that: keeping the Pro line there for users who want and need its features, whilst having the Air for those who don't need them and so would appreciate a thinner, smaller design. I just hope they continue to keep them distinct from each other, whilst sharing design traits.
I have used every port and feature on my current MacBook Pro many times and I plan to do the same with my new one when it arrives. I'll definitely invest in a Thunderbolt external drive when they reach a good price/storage balance.
Yeeaaappppp. But I think Apple will ditch it, or make it external I mean I thought we would NEVER see quad core CPU's and look what happened!!
I will say however, as has already been mentioned. Make the computer thinner and you can guarantee to kiss bye bye to any powerful components! Have you even seen Alienwares M11X? Even that's thick. And I cannot see the first get Ivy Bridge changing that either.
Please have this be the last thread about ditching the optical drive
I think it's rather ridiculous to assume that just because a vocal minority of the MacRumors community don't feel they have a need for an optical drive, that translates into the vast majority of Mac users not needing or wanting an optical drive. The MacRumors community is not exactly a representative sample of the entire customer base of Apple for its Macs. That's like going to an audiophile forum and assuming that since a few people there tell me they can only use a DAC and $1000 cans, EVERYONE must share that opinion.
Many people still need an optical drive, as most software still comes on a disk, or people like to transfer their music from CDs or watch DVDs or burn DVDs/CDs. The amount of people that say that optical drives should be ditched represent a small percentage of the Mac-owning population, but the frequency of threads such as this make it seem as if the OD is the boogeyman of computing or something. Is there not something else to be concerned with, such as why you spent such a large sum of money on a product that you deem to be inefficient and unworthy of your high praise?
I think it's rather ridiculous to assume that just because a vocal minority of the MacRumors community don't feel they have a need for an optical drive, that translates into the vast majority of Mac users not needing or wanting an optical drive. The MacRumors community is not exactly a representative sample of the entire customer base of Apple for its Macs. That's like going to an audiophile forum and assuming that since a few people there tell me they can only use a DAC and $1000 cans, EVERYONE must share that opinion.
Many people still need an optical drive, as most software still comes on a disk, or people like to transfer their music from CDs or watch DVDs or burn DVDs/CDs. The amount of people that say that optical drives should be ditched represent a small percentage of the Mac-owning population, but the frequency of threads such as this make it seem as if the OD is the boogeyman of computing or something. Is there not something else to be concerned with, such as why you spent such a large sum of money on a product that you deem to be inefficient and unworthy of your high praise?
Even if they remove the optical drive, I doubt they'll make the laptop much thinner. In my opinion that's just wasting the space you just gained. Now there is much to be said of the slim form factor of the air, but the extra space would be better used increasing battery life or some other feature. i for one would love to see the drive replaced with a battery or two. maybe tack a good 2-3 more hours of battery life.
Of course, I don't think that people just want it taken out, rather have something else put in. I'm using a blackbook but I'm looking at a 2010MBP right now and it's very thin for everything that's inside of it. I bet if they removed the drive they could either stuff even more battery in there (which would be great) OR put new technology in there (I have no idea what they would add though).
I can't wait to try this...pretty cool. i have it with my MBAIR and its way cooler than a CD!
I think a thinner and lighter MBPRO would be awesome, but if you look at the 17MBPRO its ALREADY pretty darn light and thin for being packed with power.
Not quite, I was just pondering whether the MBP line will eventually shift into MBA, which in all fairness would be perfectly normal seeing where laptops are headed towards.
This has been my desire as well. It's an idea I believe could gain a lot of support if promoted by Apple's stellar marketing.
I'm especially in favor of adding just 2mm in thickness along with suitable side vents and a higher efficiency thermal management system for cooler operation under heavy loads.
I agree with each and every point you've made.
I could do without the optical drive. I have an external drive that I can use for those moments once or twice a year when I want to pull something off of a CD or DVD.
I don't need the MacBook Pro to be any thinner or lighter. I hope that Apple continues to differentiate between the ultra portable mba and portable mbp lines. People have different priorities. Merging the two would be a mistake in my opinion, because there are physical limits to how much processing power / batteries you can pack into any given space, and Apple would inevitably have to ditch their power users. Considering Apple's past production decisions, and the impressive demand that there seems to be for the mbp, I would be surprised if they made such a horrible decision.
I don't need the MacBook Pro to be any thinner or lighter. I hope that Apple continues to differentiate between the ultra portable mba and portable mbp lines. People have different priorities. Merging the two would be a mistake in my opinion, because there are physical limits to how much processing power / batteries you can pack into any given space, and Apple would inevitably have to ditch their power users. Considering Apple's past production decisions, and the impressive demand that there seems to be for the mbp, I would be surprised if they made such a horrible decision.
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I want an optical drive. It's a big convenience and it's still useful to be able to provide a cheaper and more stable backup than USB flash. Besides, sharing is still a factor. Sorry, but I'm not interested in sharing files on a flash memory stick or over a broadband connection that takes several minutes to upload 500MB or 1GB when I can quickly and efficiently burn a 50-cent disc.
Overall, I'd like to see Apple make some minor changes to the MBP ditch the Ethernet in favor of a second Thunderbolt port and just use wired Ethernet when necessary on a dongle; ditch USB 2 and Firewire in favor of three USB 3 ports. Intel's revised chipset next year should make that possible in a stock configuration. You get more standardized, more compatible, faster ports, and they use smaller holes in the case which means the weak spot around the Ethernet and Firewire ports is eliminated.
But is there really anything else wrong with, say, the 15 inch MBP?
Overall, I'd like to see Apple make some minor changes to the MBP ditch the Ethernet in favor of a second Thunderbolt port and just use wired Ethernet when necessary on a dongle; ditch USB 2 and Firewire in favor of three USB 3 ports. Intel's revised chipset next year should make that possible in a stock configuration. You get more standardized, more compatible, faster ports, and they use smaller holes in the case which means the weak spot around the Ethernet and Firewire ports is eliminated.
But is there really anything else wrong with, say, the 15 inch MBP?
This seems like a pretty good idea, but I can't really see Apple doing it. They don't like so much inconsistency in their product lines.
Some/most of us are advocating a computer that uses the space take up by the optical drive for MORE power or MORE features not less. I do think a MBP w/o an optical drive would be thinner but I don't think it would be MBA thin because (as someone pointed out) of the heat factor. I think realistically it may axe firewire and ethernet (though I hope not) because of their size and (relative) replaceability with TB.
Personally I'd love a 13" MBP which was the same thickness/design but w/o an optical drive and instead had a dedicated GPU, slightly larger battery, and one of the those "blade" style SSDs. I just don't think Apple will do exactly that. I think'll do a redesign and when has Apple ever redesigned something thicker than the last model? (OK the iPhone 4 is debatable, but still)
Taken literally, all Apple would have to do is remove the macbook "white" and lo and behold... the Air becomes the next generation of macbooks
It certainly didn't happen with the last macbook "pro" refresh.
I would love an IBM(Lenovo) Thinkpad style user configurable optical bay. But then thinkpads are function over form. Macbooks form over function.
There is also that a lot of folks dont care about portability, battery, weight etc. They use their Macbook Pro as a desktop replacement. Its a good looking computer that folds up and stows away nicely. Even if it always sits in the same place it take up hardly any room. Certainly less room dominating than an iMac. It appears to me that a lot of folks dont understand that you dont need a notebook to use wireless! Seriously! I would not be surprised if a huge market segment of MBP (and air) buyers are simply going that way to avoid unsightly grey wires snaking across their flat.
These arguments about thinner or thicker form factor, discrete graphics etc only apply to us geek-folk.
There is also that a lot of folks dont care about portability, battery, weight etc. They use their Macbook Pro as a desktop replacement. Its a good looking computer that folds up and stows away nicely. Even if it always sits in the same place it take up hardly any room. Certainly less room dominating than an iMac. It appears to me that a lot of folks dont understand that you dont need a notebook to use wireless! Seriously! I would not be surprised if a huge market segment of MBP (and air) buyers are simply going that way to avoid unsightly grey wires snaking across their flat.
These arguments about thinner or thicker form factor, discrete graphics etc only apply to us geek-folk.