MacBook Pro Update Due for Launch as Soon as Tomorrow?

[ValSalva]

+1, I am pretty sure APPLE would love to update their MBPs ASAP but sometimes engineering obstacles do exist in ANY company.

at least they will still release their MBPs before starcraft II(talk about vaporware) comes out.

I think Apple wants the CPU from Arrandale but without the lousy Intel integrated graphics. That would mean essentially a new chip. Intel has done this before for Apple with the MB Air. Apple may be waiting until this customized iX chip is available in quantity.

The current Core 2 Duo laptops are still very good but 10 months into their life cycle they are very much overpriced.

Core 2 Duo has been very good to Apple

 

[Eric S.]

I think Apple wants the CPU from Arrandale but without the lousy Intel integrated graphics. That would mean essentially a new chip. Intel has done this before for Apple with the MB Air. Apple may be waiting until this customized iX chip is available in quantity.

That is very unlikely also. Arrandale is a two-die solution, a 32nm IC with cpu/southbridge and a 45nm IC with gpu/memory controller. Removing the gpu would leave three options: a) leave the 45nm IC with only the memory controller, b) develop a separate memory controller just for Apple, c) somehow integrate the memory controller into the 32nm IC. All of these are pretty unlikely.

What Intel did for Apple with the MBA was to create a smaller version of an existing cpu, which they then made available to all their customers. Integrated graphics is a key feature of Intel's marketing strategy for Arrandale and I don't think they want to move away from that for Apple or anyone else. And besides, if Apple doesn't want to use the integrated gpu, they can just not use it and include a dedicated gpu. That's a lot easier than a custom chip.

 

[john123]

That is very unlikely also. Arrandale is a two-die solution, a 32nm IC with cpu/southbridge and a 45nm IC with gpu/memory controller. Removing the gpu would leave three options: a) leave the 45nm IC with only the memory controller, b) develop a separate memory controller just for Apple, c) somehow integrate the memory controller into the 32nm IC. All of these are pretty unlikely.

What Intel did for Apple with the MBA was to create a smaller version of an existing cpu, which they then made available to all their customers. Integrated graphics is a key feature of Intel's marketing strategy for Arrandale and I don't think they want to move away from that for Apple or anyone else. And besides, if Apple doesn't want to use the integrated gpu, they can just not use it and include a dedicated gpu. That's a lot easier than a custom chip.

Actually, even though I agree that it's a tech nightmare, I suspect this is precisely what we've been waiting on and is the reason we don't have Arrandale laptops right now. The first rumor stories of this nature started coming out in January, and the fact that we're now in April without a refresh is about the most compelling indicator to me that it probably had some validity to it. Contrary to what I'd think reading through people's bitching on the forums, Apple isn't sitting with stock of Arrandale MBPs in boxes with their thumbs up their asses. There's a good reason for the delay, and since they could have shipped Arrandale machines *before* the iPad announcement, I suspect the holdup is indeed technological.

 

[nj-mac-user]

Anyone notice Best Buy's Macbook Pro inventory as of late? Now all of the 15" MBP's are either "Backordered" or "Available Online Only". Best Buy obviously knows an update is coming very shortly, and not June/July shortly. Their inventory dwindles down like this right before every update.

 

[DontMacTheGyver]

Anyone notice Best Buy's Macbook Pro inventory as of late? Now all of the 15" MBP's are either "Backordered" or "Available Online Only". Best Buy obviously knows an update is coming very shortly, and not June/July shortly. Their inventory dwindles down like this right before every update.

They need place for iPads...

 

[sommer182]

Best Buy Stock No Sure Thing

Anyone notice Best Buy's Macbook Pro inventory as of late? Now all of the 15" MBP's are either "Backordered" or "Available Online Only". Best Buy obviously knows an update is coming very shortly, and not June/July shortly. Their inventory dwindles down like this right before every update.

I think I've seen this same post once a week since I started watching this website and waiting for a new MBP--about six weeks ago. Oh well, hope springs eternal. I don't NEED a new computer until June, so I'll keep waiting. And waiting. Good thing I'll have a new iPad to wait with me.

 

[paul the 6th]

well my trusty laptop (a 5 year old samsung r65) has just died like 2 weeks ago so I'm now waiting to see if apple update the mbp anytime soon.

is it something they'll make a big deal of on the apple website or will the tech specs be revised quietly without much promotion? Just trying to suss where to keep an eye out when the update hits

 

[rajbonham]

is it something they'll make a big deal of on the apple website or will the tech specs be revised quietly without much promotion? Just trying to suss where to keep an eye out when the update hits

I think they will update the Apple homepage announcing it when it happens. If I remember correctly, that's about all they do. Of course, sites such as MacRumors will have all the news of it as well. I don't think their computer updates get near as much attention in the mainstream media that an iPhone update or iPad would get.

 

[Cuju]

well my trusty laptop (a 5 year old samsung r65) has just died like 2 weeks ago so I'm now waiting to see if apple update the mbp anytime soon.

is it something they'll make a big deal of on the apple website or will the tech specs be revised quietly without much promotion? Just trying to suss where to keep an eye out when the update hits

Just follow these forums and you'll definately know when there's a MBP update lol.

 

[AttilaTheHun]

Just follow these forums and you'll definately know when there's a MBP update lol.

tomorrow?

 

[silky2woods]

I have officially given up on a new MBP!!. It is MaxiPad mania out there!! What a waste.
There is no chance of an update until first week of June.
Going to Apple refirb store and buying a halfass MBP that came over on the on Mayflower.

 

[odarky]

With iPad launch this Saturday, I hope Apple will focus on the new MBP. I think it will be out by June 2010 (1 year give or take).

My early 2008 Blackbook is getting old...

 

[BadCatOS]

Apple is focused on the iPad now. It will not dare steal any spotlight from the iPad so no new computers until after the iPad launch. They desperately need to update the laptops, but we all here know that. I need a computer for my new job, but dont want to buy the old one when new one's are overdue.

 

[rajbonham]

Apple is focused on the iPad now. It will not dare steal any spotlight from the iPad so no new computers until after the iPad launch. They desperately need to update the laptops, but we all here know that.

I totally agree with this. My only question is, how long after the iPad launch tomorrow? I'm thinking the second or third Tuesday of April, just after all the iPad buzz has died down.

I seriously doubt anything would happen this Tuesday, considering everyone (media, etc.) will be talking about their new iPads early next week.

 

[Vantage Point]

Yesterday I was at the Apple store getting some training on for my first mac, 27" iMac. Anyway, I started talking to one of the guys in their business group that I knew from a few previous visits. I told him that I got tired of waiting for a MBP and decided to go for the iMac. I went on to say that the new MBP's were well overdue - a record lag and that Apple is the only company that doesn't offer a laptop with a iX CPU. He gave a slight nod of agreement. I then went on to say that my guess is that it is likely one of three reasons, supply for new parts, technical challenges, or the iPad mania. Well before I finished rattling off those three he broke in and said, 'nothing is going to happen before the iPad dies downs. That is the push'. He further went on to say his guess is that may take about four weeks for that.

Since I just bought a mac he has no reason to BS me. I know he doesn't know anything but his comment about the iPad is identical to what a Apple specialist said to me a month ago, 'it's all about the iPad these days'. That is the mindset coming from management to the floor people and it makes sense.

I know this is not news but disappointment is based on expectations and if you expect it to be another month or so, then maybe, just maybe, you will be pleasantly surprised and get it sooner. But, I think it is safe to sleep late next Tuesday

 

[satcomer]

I keep trying to convince my fellow Mac people that it makes no sense for apple to come out now for a Mac Book Pro. They most likely will announce one in late May to mid July. So my saying is no MBP to at least WWDC.

I am sorry to say this but in makes the most common sense because Apple needs a fresh MB line for back to school sales.

 

[KPATT18]

I keep trying to convince my fellow Mac people that it makes no sense for apple to come out now for a Mac Book Pro. They most likely will announce one in late May to mid July. So my saying is no MBP to at least WWDC.

I am sorry to say this but in makes the most common sense because Apple needs a fresh MB line for back to school sales.

Wouldn't it be nice of Apple to lower the prices significantly on existing stock so those of us waiting could then make a economical decision? At least it would give the appearance that Steve Job's gave a crap about us. As a business owner waiting and waiting puts a bad taste in my mouth. Honestly I'd probably still wait but I wouldn't have to look at that stupid "The new Macbook Pro family" page any more.

 

[enberg]

I totally agree with this. My only question is, how long after the iPad launch tomorrow? I'm thinking the second or third Tuesday of April, just after all the iPad buzz has died down.

I seriously doubt anything would happen this Tuesday, considering everyone (media, etc.) will be talking about their new iPads early next week.

Newsweek and NYT ain't gonna make much of a laptop refresh no matter when it happens. New models of existing hardware isn't really news.

 

[coldpower27]

Wouldn't it be nice of Apple to lower the prices significantly on existing stock so those of us waiting could then make a economical decision? At least it would give the appearance that Steve Job's gave a crap about us. As a business owner waiting and waiting puts a bad taste in my mouth. Honestly I'd probably still wait but I wouldn't have to look at that stupid "The new Macbook Pro family" page any more.

Apple isn't isn't about cheap products, they won't lower the prices, if you want a reduction you can go to the refurb store.

 

[GTWH]

I keep trying to convince my fellow Mac people that it makes no sense for apple to come out now for a Mac Book Pro. They most likely will announce one in late May to mid July. So my saying is no MBP to at least WWDC.

I am sorry to say this but in makes the most common sense because Apple needs a fresh MB line for back to school sales.

Nobody can say for sure when the refresh will happen but unless there is a technical issue with the new MBPs I can't see Apple waiting any longer than sometime in April to refresh, after the Ipad launch has happened. There are too many retailers with very low or no stock to wait until June and I can't see Apple choosing to have resellers unable to get new stock for the next 2-3 months. That's not to say that there isn't some kind of shortage of current MBPs, maybe production has been swithched to the new model and there has been some technical issue with them or something. I know people will say low stock is not an indication of an imminent refresh because resellers wont order new stock because they dont want to end up with large numbers of the old models but to me the resellers wouldn't choose to have no stock. If they are worried about having stock of the old model left when the refresh happens then they would just order lower quantities more frequently, if needed.

 

[Eric S.]

Wouldn't it be nice of Apple to lower the prices significantly on existing stock so those of us waiting could then make a economical decision? At least it would give the appearance that Steve Job's gave a crap about us.

Yes it would be nice, but it has never been the Apple way.

 

[neutrino23]

That is very unlikely also. Arrandale is a two-die solution, a 32nm IC with cpu/southbridge and a 45nm IC with gpu/memory controller. Removing the gpu would leave three options: a) leave the 45nm IC with only the memory controller, b) develop a separate memory controller just for Apple, c) somehow integrate the memory controller into the 32nm IC. All of these are pretty unlikely.

What Intel did for Apple with the MBA was to create a smaller version of an existing cpu, which they then made available to all their customers. Integrated graphics is a key feature of Intel's marketing strategy for Arrandale and I don't think they want to move away from that for Apple or anyone else. And besides, if Apple doesn't want to use the integrated gpu, they can just not use it and include a dedicated gpu. That's a lot easier than a custom chip.

Can you explain why Apple would not want this integrated GPU? I mean, why not use this and add a better GPU that you can switch to if desired? How is this different from all the other Arrandale laptops that have been released in the last month or two?

How bad is this integrated GPU? If I'm on battery and mostly Keynote or Pages documents will I notice a difference?

 

[dpastern]

+1, I am pretty sure APPLE would love to update their MBPs ASAP but sometimes engineering obstacles do exist in ANY company.

at least they will still release their MBPs before starcraft II(talk about vaporware) comes out.

hahaha yeah, StarCraft II is becoming a joke. Drag it out and out...it's been 3 years since they announced it, and they'd been supposesedly working on it for like 2 or 3 years before announcing? Come on...it's not like it's a hardcore 3D game...of course, then they split it into 3 games to rip us more off, and then remove LAN play. And then no open beta, just a select few. You don't fix bugs that way let me tell you. I think I'll give StarCraft II (and Diablo III for that matter) a BIG miss...

Can you explain why Apple would not want this integrated GPU? I mean, why not use this and add a better GPU that you can switch to if desired? How is this different from all the other Arrandale laptops that have been released in the last month or two?

How bad is this integrated GPU? If I'm on battery and mostly Keynote or Pages documents will I notice a difference?

I hope they do a dedicated GPU. The inbuilt Intel GPUs are gonna be weaker than a wet paper bag lol...

Dave

 

[andrew8404]

I gave up on waiting and finally gave it and purchased a new Macbook at Microcenter for 799. Can't argue with that!

 

[DontMacTheGyver]

I gave up on waiting and finally gave it and purchased a new Macbook at Microcenter for 799. Can't argue with that!

We're all complaining about Apples' business strategy, but see:
It works fine, thousands of people buy the old, overpriced stuff or choose something from the portfolio range...
As long as the profit contribution rate is above a certain percentage, there will be no refresh. They can't eat the huge piles of old hardware lying around after a refresh...
Once, I made the same descision and today regret it...