MacBook Pros Due in Early March, Additional Enhancements?

[macthetiger85]

Unless they can put in a 512GB SSD and still keep the price of a 15" to $2,199.

The MacBook Air 64GB if i'm not mistaken has 4 16GB chips on its custom board that goes into the logic board.

It's not necessarily that the SSD would be standard but maybe using that same technology having an 8GB chip soldered on the logic board as the boot disk and a built in HDD or SDD as configured where the boot disk is now.
Faster loading time, less energy for generic use and amazing standby battery without compromising on the price.

The question is will it fit on today's MacBook Pro Logic Board and if not, what will be deleted to make room for it?

 

[AAPLGeek]

Sweet!

9to5Mac has posted a few details (but their source could be just making it up) :

MacTrast claims that Apple is set to unveil major upgrades to their MacBook Pro line of notebooks including better displays, better battery life, and updated designs. First the report claims that the entire line will become 15-20% lighter due to a new “stronger, lighter, and more scratch resistant” aluminum material. The new laptops are said to be made through a new build process also that is “similar to injection molding.”

Next, the report’s sources claim that the new MacBook Pros will pack a new battery technology that allows for 20% more battery life all around. They say the new 13 inch will have 12 hours of battery life, 15 inch will have 11 hours of battery life, and the 17 inch will also feature 11 hours of wireless productivity. As for the weight, the report claims the 13 inch will go from the current 4.5 pounds to 3.7 pounds (close to the 13 inch MacBook Air), the 15 inch will drop from 5.8 to 4.6, and the 17 inch will drop from 6.6 to 5.3 pounds.

Next, the report claims that the 13 inch model will have a built-to-order option to allow for a matte display, and a better display at 1440 x 900 resolution will also be an option. The report claims that the 13 inch model will keep the slot loading disc drive in its current location, but they claim the CD drive will be an option on the 15 inch model. Users could choose to use the space for SATA storage or an extra hard drive. They also claim the 15 inch will get a third USB port.

They claim the 17 inch will get a new expansion slot in addition to a new graphics card option. Now pricing.

Base pricing is said to be as follows: $1099 starting for the 13″ MacBook Pro, $1549 for the 15″ MacBook Pro, and $2099 for the 17″ MacBook Pro, with Apple clearly being quite aggressive here on those price points.

Just a note: We find these claims to be pretty extreme/out of the ordinary ($1549 for a Mac?) so we’d recommend not putting any confidence in the report just yet. However, MacTrast has 170K twitter followers…

 

[elhungarian]

My debit card is ready.

congrats on using "debit" and not credit.

 

[macthetiger85]

Sweet!

9to5Mac has posted a few details (but their source could be just making it up) :

IF (big if) that's true, possibly liquid metal?

 

[sevimli]

Unless they can put in a 512GB SSD and still keep the price of a 15" to $2,199.

Keep dreaming...

 

[ms.annette]

congrats on using "debit" and not credit.

Thanks. lol

 

[Yebubbleman]

AppleInsider reports that production of the new MacBook Pros are already underway and that volume shipments will begin as early as the first week of March. The MacBook Pros have been due for a refresh and supplies have begun to constrain. An interesting additional note from the rumor site, however, hinted that Sandy Bridge may not be the only change in the laptop model. Apple is reportedly making some additional enhancements, though no specifics were given.

Many have suggested that the new MacBook Pros may take cues from the recently refreshed MacBook Airs.

Article Link: MacBook Pros Due in Early March, Additional Enhancements?

We may have the record for most MacRumors posts for a given Mac refresh.

It's about time.
I can't imagine them making it thinner unless they remove the superdrive. I actually use mine, so I'm glad I have my MBP how it is.

The 2.5" hard drive is exactly as thick as the superdrive at its (the superdrive's) thickest point.

Definitely agree. My SuperDrive in my iMac died. I've been crying for the past few weeks.

Had that happen on a few Macs, I definitely found myself upset at the loss and at Apple for using such a crappy optical disc drive because it looked sleeker than the spring-loaded pop-out drives used by every other laptop manufacturer.

I bet they call it Facetime HD when it does come out. I bet the iSight name will die with the new MBP and the iMac refresh.

Safe bet. There's literally no difference between "FaceTime Camera" and "iSight Camera". Though it makes me wonder about iChat's video-conferencing ability and its future...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like the FaceTime cameras are lower megapixel than the iSight cameras.

Don't believe so, but I could be wrong on that.

Not another ODD thread, and yet I contribute...I'd opt out only if they fill the space with something useful.

Please no...too much of that in the 5,000 other 2011 MacBook Pro threads.

congrats on using "debit" and not credit.

I'll have to use debit, alas...oh well, at least I'll do my paying off in advance.

 

[aCondor]

Advice should now be:

If you can wait for MBP, wait.
If you need a MBP now, wait.

 

[KPOM]

Sweet!

9to5Mac has posted a few details (but their source could be just making it up) :

Those specs sound really nice. A 13" MacBook Pro at 3.7lbs would be very attractive. I wonder, though, if it would be "too close" to the 13" Air? The new Airs are a big hit, and presumably the Air has a higher margin than the Pro. As an Apple shareholder, I want the Air to become the most popular MacBook model. (Of course, as a Mac user, I was more than happy to be one of the few MacBook Air users from the Rev A and Rev B days).

 

[zim]

I bet we see the DVD drive dropped in the next 5 years.. I see this as a major modification so most likely not in this revision although, I'd give up the DVD drive for additional drive space and an external DVD drive.

 

[KPOM]

congrats on using "debit" and not credit.

If you pay off in full, it doesn't really matter. Actually, the credit card costs the merchant a little less than a debit card since the people who don't pay off in full subsidize those of us who do.

 

[GarfieldH]

Really looking forward to this, can't wait to get a new refreshed MacBook Pro!

Garf

 

[cmaier]

I bet we see the DVD drive dropped in the next 5 years.. I see this as a major modification so most likely not in this revision although, I'd give up the DVD drive for additional drive space and an external DVD drive.

How much drive space do you need? There are some massive laptop drives nowadays.

 

[AidenShaw]

Wow is that annoying on the mobile site. The thumbs up image is just a link with text saying to click this to view image.

Might want to fix that macrumors.

Use the "report post" link to get the moderators' attention....

 

[ms.annette]

If you pay off in full, it doesn't really matter. Actually, the credit card costs the merchant a little less than a debit card since the people who don't pay off in full subsidize those of us who do.

ehh??

I learned my lesson with credit cards.

 

[Funkymonk]

I want the following to come on the base model 13" and I'm sold:

i5 sandy bridge
Amd graphics
128gb ssd
Thinner and lighter
longer battery life
Get rid of the optical drive
Something stronger than the current aluminum which dents so easily
$1099

If not, I'll buy a second hand 11" mba from craigslist.

 

[jvmxtra]

Advice should now be:

If you can wait for MBP, wait.
If you need a MBP now, wait.

Clutch!!!!

 

[tjwaido]

I bet they call it Facetime HD when it does come out. I bet the iSight name will die with the new MBP and the iMac refresh.

Why call it FaceTime HD when Apple could call it iSight HD? Also, isn't FaceTime software and the iSight hardware? So why change anything but upgrade it to a better version.

 

[chrmjenkins]

Sweet!

9to5Mac has posted a few details (but their source could be just making it up) :

Part of their statement doesn't make sense. Using the ODD space for SATA storage is the same as using it for a hard drive. That's redundant. Also, why offer no ODD on the 15 but not the 13 or 17.

Finally, is 15" no ODD only? The current 15" can have the drive swapped.

To another point, why only mention the 17 having a new graphics option? They all will.

 

[sladey]

I would be interested in them, but as Apple is starting to feel more like a hardcore monopoly than Microsoft ever did.... With no Blu-Ray and locking down program sales on iphone/ipads, censoring software that can be used on devices.

I am starting to think of getting an HP Beats laptop or maybe a Sony Vaio as a replacement for my MBP.

You obviously don't care about having a stable operating system and can afford to crossgrade and re-learn your other software.

 

[ten-oak-druid]

No dual camera for 3D ichat?

 

[zim]

How much drive space do you need? There are some massive laptop drives nowadays.

I was just saying that if they gave it as an option then I would go with additional internal space over a DVD drive... I can never have too much drive space. I believe that the Air is Apple's idea of the perfect laptop and the MacBooks are in transition to that format.

 

[Mr. Gates]

8 gig standalone operating system flash chip

1.5 TB Main Hard Drive

No Optical drive -- Its a USB Accessory if needed (and Really -- Is It??)

I will go out on a limb ans say it has at least one cool port or peripheral.


Well,... I hope

 

[Full of Win]

I bet we see the DVD drive dropped in the next 5 years.. I see this as a major modification so most likely not in this revision although, I'd give up the DVD drive for additional drive space and an external DVD drive.

I'd say something more like in the next 5 months, not years.

 

[shartypants]

I know, I know, you can pull the display off and it is actually the next iPad

Seriously, I just hope they come out with the quad core MBP soon.