MacBook Pro Updates Still to Come, But What Can We Expect?

[devilcm3]

So there are some things that do not make any sense. Let me lay them out for you:

First of all, what would be the real reason for Apple to delay the release of the new Pro machines? This is the really interesting question here. The aforementioned reasons can not be the whole story behind this.

I'd like to point out a few additional reasons why Apple delayed the launch. All of the listed features [which were mentioned in the news post] could have been released at WWDC.

1. IGZO displays. These things just faded a little bit in the background rumor-wise - at first glance.
But wait a second: A reason why the release has been delayed is the low supply of display panels (see news post).
Apple has problems with getting the LCD technology which they had time to produce for more than a year now? That simply does not make any sense at all.
What makes considerably more sense is, that Apple will switch to IGZO Displays because they offer superiour quality and incredibly lower power consumption -> providing more battery life and allowing the 13" MBP to become thinner.
The 15.4" displays with IGZO technology are in production by Sharp for just a few weeks. I'd call this a bottleneck right now. It fits very well in the prediction by KGI.

2. Thunderbolt 2: Apple just gave a sneak peak of what they have been working on in terms of Mac Pro. One feature was very apparent: Support for 4K displays.
As of right now, the Retina MacBook Pros only support Thunderbolt 1, which does not offer the throughput which 4K displays require.
Thunderbolt 2 on the other hand will provide just that.
So, let me ask you: What would be the point in introducing a new Mac Pro with support for 4K displays and later on introducing a MacBook Pro without support for this technology? Apple would be foolish not to include this technology [Thunderbolt 2] in the new Retina MacBook Pro!
This is because Apple will very likely introduce a 4K cinema display as soon as the new MacPro goes on sale.
To provide such a display at a sufficient price Apple needs the effect of Economies of Scale.
Therefore they need as many potential customers for such a display as they can. The new Retina MacBook Pro has to incorporate 4K support with Thunderbolt 2 to do so! The downside: Thunderbolt 2 will not be ready until fall but Apple has to incorporate this tech due to the reasons I just mentioned. Before you ask: Yes, the new Retina MacBook Pro GPUs will offer support for 4K displays; in fact, if you bump up the current rMBP to the highest resulution (1920x1080) it already renders nearly 4K resolution (1920x1080 times two in every direction). So GPU-wise it is already possible, but the connector is not ready yet -> delay.

These are my two top reasons for the delay. Hit the like button if you agree. Flame away if you don't.

1. Apple is using Samsung and LG to produce LCD panels at the moment, unless Sharp is ready to license their technology or outsource their production theres no way they could match demand of the MBP worldwide.
Sure Apple can stockpile IGZO MBPs, but that would only fulfil the surge of demand when the new MBP is introduced, but subsequent demands? i don't think so.
I don't believe Sharp production line is as big as Samsung AND LG combined.


2. The reason why Mac Pro needs a TB2 to support future apple displays because it doesn't have a God damn display attached to it.
Not all retina owners need a TB display, you can go ahead and ask rMBP 15" owners here, that doesn't warrant a reason to delay the launch by several months

 

[wizard]

I would really love a 13.1 or 13.9 model. 15.1 just seems too big for me. its going to be used for programming only so no need for a huge screen

Interesting because I find big screens to be very useful for programming. Lots of room for code, debuggers and other IDE features. As it is it might be worth looking into the new Xcode 5 features being discussed at WWDC. I'd prefer a larger screen even if Xcode has been optimized for a smaller screen.

 

[devilcm3]

I don't think we will see IGZO displays until next year and regarding TB2.. couldn't that be easily put in a silent upgrade alongside the Mac Pros?

What does Apple plan to sell during the BTS period? Just Airs?

they are betting on oblivious customers who doesn't realise the MBA spec upgrade

that would be a butthurt to all students when they know apple refreshed the MBP line after BTS

 

[wizard]

I don't think we will see IGZO displays until next year and regarding TB2.. couldn't that be easily put in a silent upgrade alongside the Mac Pros?

What does Apple plan to sell during the BTS period? Just Airs?

MBPs are still perfectly viable machines. It isn't like the competition has access to processors to make laptops of this class with Haswell. If you want a "pro" machine for college most likely you go with the current model or wait until after the school year starts.

As it is the new Airs really are killer machines and would be highly recommended for many students. I'm not sure why you are knocking Airs in this regard, for many students they are perfect back to school computers. They are vastly improved over last years models in every way.

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they are betting on oblivious customers who doesn't realise the MBA spec upgrade

that would be a butthurt to all students when they know apple refreshed the MBP line after BTS

Baloney! If you are a college student you should be reasonably intelligent and be able to make the right decisions based on available info. You either buy the current machine or wait. The real value for students though is in the new AIRs which are excellent for on the move students.

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Regardless of when the haswell processors come out, Apple cannot release new computers during the back to school sale.

Why not?

Last year the sale went from June 11th to September 21st. So either apple will delay the beginning of the sale, extend the length of the sale or shorten the sale to make sure the above case does not occur.

Or maybe there is no sale at all.

They really can't push the sale back too long as then they will miss out on a fair number of purchasers, don't feel they would pull back the end date as they are already 10 days behind when the sale started last year. Not sure what they will do about this.

Let third party discounters handle "sale" pricing. The world is not fixed Apple has many options here. They could easily tie the sale to specific models. Frankly due to the "old" nature of the MBP they could give this machine a nice stiff discount which many students would appreciate.

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The 13" rMBP will use 28W Haswell chips with Iris 5100 graphics. There are four SKUs (not just one): 4158U, 4258U, 4288U, and 4558U. These will be faster than the current rMBPs, but probably not dramatically faster. The thinner rumour is plausible.

There is no way that TB2 will be ready in time for the 2013 rMBP.

I would not be surprised to see Apple introduce a 17" rMBP.

The problem is these chips are not due to September. So if you have to wait that long you might as well wait for TB 2 which could be seen as a key "pro" feature.

As for performance in a 13" MBP I'm not sure I can agree with you there either. These Iris chips should dramatically improve the 13" MBPs graphics capability. In a nut shell if you are in the market for a 13" MBP they are well worth the wait.

 

[Mr. RPG]

MBPs are still perfectly viable machines. It isn't like the competition has access to processors to make laptops of this class with Haswell. If you want a "pro" machine for college most likely you go with the current model or wait until after the school year starts.

As it is the new Airs really are killer machines and would be highly recommended for many students. I'm not sure why you are knocking Airs in this regard, for many students they are perfect back to school computers. They are vastly improved over last years models in every way.

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Baloney! If you are a college student you should be reasonably intelligent and be able to make the right decisions based on available info. You either buy the current machine or wait. The real value for students though is in the new AIRs which are excellent for on the move students.

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Why not?

Or maybe there is no sale at all.


Let third party discounters handle "sale" pricing. The world is not fixed Apple has many options here. They could easily tie the sale to specific models. Frankly due to the "old" nature of the MBP they could give this machine a nice stiff discount which many students would appreciate.

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The problem is these chips are not due to September. So if you have to wait that long you might as well wait for TB 2 which could be seen as a key "pro" feature.

As for performance in a 13" MBP I'm not sure I can agree with you there either. These Iris chips should dramatically improve the 13" MBPs graphics capability. In a nut shell if you are in the market for a 13" MBP they are well worth the wait.

I thought the Iris Pro graphics chipsets were coming out in July?

 

[wizard]

Frankly you are nuts if you believe what you have posted.

Numerous messages say they would only buy a current Mac if only they had a 500 GB HD or whatever. The magic of SSD is speed not capacity, yet.

Secondary storage is often about capacity. Speed is nice if you can get it but secondary storage is useless if it doesn't meet your basic needs. These days it is very difficult to get by with 256GB. All it takes is a couple of virtual machine images and an IDE to plug up your drive.

Get a couple of USB sticks at 64 GB each if you need it, or an external HDD of 1-2 TB which is USB3 bus powered.

Like that is an elegant and well thought out solution. It isn't like I don't use those devices either as I have one drive just for ITunes. It is not a solution for productive use of your machine though.

The SSD's are now 128/256 GB minimum which is larger than even HDD's from one generation ago!

So? A generation ago we used command line tools instead of IDEs, I really don't want to go backwards here.

You are getting more than you deserve or expect, but are whining because it's not even more!

The above sentence reflects very poorly on you as a person. There is nothing wrong with having expectations. As to trying to tell somebody else what they deserve this is a public forum so I will just say have fun with your donut.

The new thing is a "sufficient" SSD, unlimited cloud storage, and massive, unprecedented capacity and speed and power, external storage. Get on board!

Rocketman

You really don't have a clue here. What is sufficient for you is not likely to be enough to even get started for those that actually use their machines to enhance their mental capabilities.

 

[1=1?]

update the **** **** non-rMBPs you dicks. If I want to perform electronic music live I don't want to have to tote around a $3500 retina macbook pro and if I want to not pay the insane markup on the hardware I should be able to risk actually working on my own computer. You don't own it once I buy it, as much as you want to.

 

[wizard]

I thought the Iris Pro graphics chipsets were coming out in July?

Not from what I understand though it isn't easy to get accurate info on this. The info I came across though was from a couple of weeks ago before Intel had their dog and pony show. If they made a comment to the effect that such chips would come in July then I missed it.

 

[Mr. RPG]

Not from what I understand though it isn't easy to get accurate info on this. The info I came across though was from a couple of weeks ago before Intel had their dog and pony show. If they made a comment to the effect that such chips would come in July then I missed it.

I've seen July and Q3. Would hope it would be the beginning of the Q3 quarter.

 

[haruhiko]

update the **** **** non-rMBPs you dicks. If I want to perform electronic music live I don't want to have to tote around a $3500 retina macbook pro and if I want to not pay the insane markup on the hardware I should be able to risk actually working on my own computer. You don't own it once I buy it, as much as you want to.

$3,500 Retina MacBook Pro?????

 

[wizard]

If they do manage to update the rMBP, what will the price be? The intro model is 1499. And any chance they'll bump up the storage from 128 to 256?

If they can do Haswell, 256 GB, and better battery for even the same price, and before the end of August when school starts, I'm sold. Otherwise, new Air for me.

Get the AIR with the 500 GB option! It is a rationally priced upgrade and would result in a long life span for the machine.

As to the 13" rMBP I wouldn't bother at all with a 128 GB model and would think hard about a 256 GB model. It is too easy to run out of space for one. And two SSDs work better with a little extra free space to spread wear across and helps with trim and other management features.

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I've seen July and Q3. Would hope it would be the beginning of the Q3 quarter.

Well that would put them in the September time frame. It sucks for students to some extent but it really isn't Apples fault though some seem to think it is. This is why I could see them also waiting for TB 2 chips. It just makes sense in a MBP class machine and September could be the fall Intel is talking about.

In any event there are a lot of students on this forum expressing grief over the lack of a Haswell based MBP. To that I have to say toughen up guys, you can't have everything. On the flip side the new AIRs are probably better machines for most students anyways.

 

[alexgowers]

I think it will be introduced pretty soon 2-3 months along with the mac pro. They have to keep the current mac books selling so have not announced it.

I hope we still get a non retina mac book update too, even haswell is fine if nothing else. I like many need a huge hard drive on a PRO machine, with room to change it out for bigger. Though new transfer speeds are tempting around the 800 mark is quick.

I can understand they want to sell retina but I can't see the advantage when apps look worse from 3rd parties. most apps are 3rd party that a PRO uses anayway?

So basically retina is a no go for years to come yet there is becoming a big hole for us PRO users.

Bugger.

Haswell in the old pro will do me please apple.

Oh and don't suggest the Airs they aren't barley powerful enough to do audio processing.

External drives are also pointless, you don't drop 2k on a super thin portable device then have to lug around a usb drive that will probably die with half your data on. I love the idea that SSDs bring but I just wish for an expansion slot or something that allows you extend the only part of a mac that is lacking.

The data costs are DROPPING massively so it would make sense that this would be an area to provide expansion. Apple could have easily developed the socket chip they are using to a standard even a proprietary one.

 

[toke lahti]

I just want a 17" - I don't know what I'm gonna do in a year or two when my current one gets too old.

Me too. I'm also waiting for mini with dGPU coming back.
17" would have room for second storage and hot enough GPU for 4k. 4k in 17" would mean about 275 PPI, which shouldn't be too impossible or expensive for Apple...

 

[malachiman]

$3,500 Retina MacBook Pro?????

The top model here in NZ without BTO is $4200

 

[guillemn]

The new macbook pros have to be compatible with the new Thunderbold 2, because will be the only way to attach it to the new Thunderbold 4k display.

Which is the sense for paying a retina laptop and hook a non retina external display on it? No-sense. Apple has to solve this, and will soon.

 

[gnasher729]

The new macbook pros have to be compatible with the new Thunderbold 2, because will be the only way to attach it to the new Thunderbold 4k display.

Which is the sense for paying a retina laptop and hook a non retina external display on it? No-sense. Apple has to solve this, and will soon.

Dream on.

Plenty of people have a retina MBP and one or two large non-retina monitors attached. £200 for two 1920x1080, £1000 for two 2560x2440 monitors. So how much do I pay for a non-existant 4K display?

And please, it's Thunderbolt, not Thunderbold.

 

[Scapal]

dGPU-less MBP15?

I'd love to see the next-gen nvidia mobile GPUs in there. The 7-series are out now.

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/notebook-gpus

please drop them in the 15" MBP and rMBP and iMac please.

I really wonder whether they might have a 15"MBP with Iris Pro 5200 and no dGPU. Being a dev guy and not a gamer nor video editor, I'd rather have this with whole day batteries than seeing a dGPU drain them.

Also, from OSX perspective, given the power of the Iris Pro, to decide when to switch to the dGPU is not so easy anymore, would that be a manual switch again?

 

[Pegamush]

£200 for two 1920x1080, £1000 for two 2560x2440 monitors. So how much do I pay for a non-existant 4K display?

well, the asus 4k 31" display was just announced a week ago.. at 3799$
but i can't imagine apple to sell a display anywhere around that price.

 

[jafingi]

My thoughts on what to expect: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1596426/

 

[Pegamush]

My thoughts on what to expect: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1596426/

they did it before, a 15" base model without dedicated gpu, i don't remember which iteration, i guess 2008-2009. so it makes sense to me!
for sure they'll drop the non-retina mbp, since that's their only machine to still have a disc drive! (if we exclude the "current" Macpro)

 

[ValSalva]

well, the asus 4k 31" display was just announced a week ago.. at 3799$
but i can't imagine apple to sell a display anywhere around that price.

No, because Apple has never had expensive cinema displays before

 

[mrxak]

Normally I'd think July or August, but yeah, it'll probably be with 10.9. Maybe September at the earliest.

I am really curious what's going to happen with the rMBP. I don't expect I'll need a new laptop for several more years, but the rMBP is a sweet piece of technology and I'd love to see it develop. A focus on battery life is exactly what I like, and if I was in the market for a new laptop, the rMBP would be my first pick.

 

[potatis]

A black version would be cool. They used to have black MacBooks, and those were the thing to have.

Seeing OSX 10.9 drop the black 2D dock in favor of a grey one makes me think the MBP will drop the black bezel...

 

[tonyshaker]

No Man

A few minutes to start from hibernation? It should take a couple of seconds, and the MacBook Pros don't have spinning hard drives they use all flash storage.

Your comment sounds like it has come from 2003

No Mate not all the macbook pros have flash the retina display ones have ssd the normal pros have 5400rpm

 

[iBug2]

well, the asus 4k 31" display was just announced a week ago.. at 3799$
but i can't imagine apple to sell a display anywhere around that price.

Apple will probably release a much smaller monitor at that resolution since the OS supports HIDPI already. No need to tweak the UI. Asus' monitor is 140ppi, which around the same as non retina macbooks.