March 1st as Possible Date for New MacBook Pros?

[craigijohno]

My call is that this update is not going to be the new MacBook Pro, this is just going to be a speed bump. We will see I full refresh in October.
This is how the previous two generations we changed, speed bump early that year, then full refresh in time for holiday season, shipping by default with the new OS.

Perhaps, but the last update was only a speed bump, which would hopefully indicate a decent refresh this time. With these Sandy Bridge chips they're supposed to begetting that should indicate quite a significant increase in capability, especially at the 17" end

 

[aiqw9182]

It won't be dropped from the 13" MacBook Pro, people don't know what they're talking about. The 13" MacBook Pro might drop "Pro" from it's title, but the end result computer will essentially be the same if that happens. Either way, it should be fine for your son.

If they remove the ODD from the 13" then there's room for a discrete GPU. If they remove the ODD from the 15" and 17" there's more room for stronger components/dual hard drives/ssd,hdd combo/etc.

The potential benefits of removing something that takes up this much space is unlimited.

Also:
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/02/07/apple-to-eliminate-retail-box-software-inventory/

All signs are pointing towards Apple removing it. The last reason Apple saw to keep the optical drive was for installing software and that's now coming to a close with the Mac App Store. The reason there was remote disk was to install software but you still needed an ODD to do it, not anymore. They'll keep the external one available for those who need it and slowly fade that out as time goes on, for everyone else, they'll enjoy the benefits of it being removed.

 

[mirko.meschini]

If they remove the ODD from the 13" then there's room for a discrete GPU. If they remove the ODD from the 15" and 17" there's more room for stronger components/dual hard drives/ssd,hdd combo/etc.

The potential benefits of removing something that takes up this much space is unlimited:

Also:
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/02/07/apple-to-eliminate-retail-box-software-inventory/

All signs are pointing towards Apple removing it. The last reason Apple saw to keep the optical drive was for installing software and that's now coming to a close with the Mac App Store. The reason there was remote disk was to install software but you still needed an ODD to do it, not anymore. They'll keep the external one available for those who need it and slowly fade that out as time goes on, for everyone else, they'll enjoy the benefits of it being removed.

I agree... with no-odd there's room for:

1- SSD stick like MacBookAir
2- Discrete GPU with dissipation room
3- 10-20% battery increase

I hope they will use this more space for these things and not for make a thinner macbookpro that has no sense for professional users.

 

[aiqw9182]

I agree... with no-odd there's room for:

1- SSD stick like MacBookAir
2- Discrete GPU with dissipation room
3- 10-20% battery increase

I hope they will use this more space for these things and not for make a thinner macbookpro that has no sense for professional users.

I'm not really sure how much thinner Apple can make them... the ethernet port has no room to go anywhere with the Firewire 800 port not far behind. I could see them making it taper down in the front like the new MacBook Air's though.

 

[grahamnp]

@^^^ The ethernet port has plenty of space left. The tapered edges of the MBP hide the 1/3rd of its true thickness. Admittedly, giving it more space would require quite a redesign.

How long before product releases are the keynote/event usually announced? If there is no accompanying event, it probably means that changes are not huge so I wouldn't expect IPS, an aspect ratio change or the removal of the ODD.

Also, if 6 series chipset flaw is not delaying Apple, it probably means that Apple is one of the unamed manufacturers that Intel said would continue to work with the defective product.

 

[Dr McKay]

My 17 inch screen is 16:9 and with the 1920x1080 resolution I wouldn't say it looks cramped.

My friend has a 13 inch Viao Z, and that's running at 1920x1080. That looks pretty nice when you see it.

My old Laptop was 1600x900 pixels and it isn't anything as bad as people are making it out to be. You're acting like its unworkable.

 

[aiqw9182]

@^^^ The ethernet port has plenty of space left. The tapered edges of the MBP hide the 1/3rd of its true thickness. Admittedly, giving it more space would require quite a redesign.

How long before product releases are the keynote/event usually announced? If there is no accompanying event, it probably means that changes are not huge so I wouldn't expect IPS, an aspect ratio change or the removal of the ODD.

Also, if 6 series chipset flaw is not delaying Apple, it probably means that Apple is one of the unamed manufacturers that Intel said would continue to work with the defective product.

Generally about a week but I wouldn't be expecting an event regardless of how much they change.

As for the thickness, the tapered underside will always be there, just like it is on the MacBook Air.

 

[Oz.]

Holy hell, now I'm going to have to repeat myself again because you still don't get it:

1600x900 - 13" (same height as before, more width)
1920x1080 - 15" (more height by 30 pixels and more width)
2048x1152 - 17" (more width, loss of height by 48 pixels still higher than 1080p)

I'd love to see how you edit your full screen 1080p videos on a 1920x1200 display. You'll have about 120 vertical pixels left that will likely be used by the dock and menubar and absolutely zero room for any video controls. The only part of the video you will be seeing is in a corner of your screen if you are using anything like Final Cut or Premiere.

1920x1080 it's a must and a bigger display on the 15" model.

 

[phobic99]

The GPU is going to make or break this thing for me. I know I'm getting my hopes up but I really want (another) 13" MBP. The only other laptop I'm even considering is the Lenovo Y470 with its GT 555M, which doesn't come out until May. I really doubt Apple will put in such a power sucking GPU but... I can dream, right?

 

[Superken7]

Numerous Apple store people have told me that they don't know any sooner than we do. And it's a rare occasion that anything is released on the same day it's announced anymore. There's usually at least a 1-2 day delay because boxes reveal specs.

My dream list for the next MacBook Pro update:

1) SSD shipping by default (no more spinning hard drives)
2) SSD in packages like the MacBook Air (reduced space)
3) Death of the optical drive (more reduced space, no one uses it on a regular basis anyway)
4) Larger battery
5) 13" gets 1440x900 as default screen resolution
6) 15" gets 1680x1050 as default screen resolution
7) All LED screens are now IPS like the iPad/iPhone 4
8) 13" gets discrete graphics (because of #2 and 3 giving increased space for cooling)
9) Bluetooth 3.0 (just for good measure)

Yep, that'd be a pretty worthwhile update. Of course, since it's Apple, we'll get about 1/2 this stuff by 2013, but of course the world will have ended by then. =/

AMEN !! I truly hope I get at least a redesign making them lighter. And at least SB i3 for the 13''. If I get that, I'm happy. If on top of that we get Sandy Bridge i5 option for the 13'' and no DVD for better weight, I'd kiss their ass XD

I'm kinda desperate for the update because I have a 7yo thinkpad thats kinda slow for nowadays use, so... lets hope we get them in March! =D =D

 

[Mailia]

I have a question to all the people wishing for SSD and non-ODD MacBook Pros: Why haven't you all bought Airs? They pretty much made them for you.

 

[phobic99]

I have a question to all the people wishing for SSD and non-ODD MacBook Pros: Why haven't you all bought Airs? They pretty much made them for you.

CPU/GPU combo, plus the extra ports don't hurt. I've almost bought one twice since I've sold my iPad but I'm holding out to see what the next MBP will have.

 

[aiqw9182]

I have a question to all the people wishing for SSD and non-ODD MacBook Pros: Why haven't you all bought Airs? They pretty much made them for you.

Does the Air have an as powerful CPU and GPU as the MBP's? Does the Air have a firewire or ethernet port? Is the Air expandable to 8 GB's of RAM? Does the Air have a 15" or 17" screen?

No? Didn't think so. If you think the only thing that makes a MacBook Pro a MacBook Pro is the HDD and the ODD then you are sorely mistaken.

 

[Mailia]

Does the Air have an as powerful CPU and GPU as the MBP's? Does the Air have a firewire or ethernet port? Is the Air expandable to 8 GB's of RAM? Does the Air have a 15" or 17" screen?

No? Didn't think so. If you think the only thing that makes a MacBook Pro a MacBook Pro is the HDD and the ODD then you are sorely mistaken.

No, the MacBook Pro is defined by being a powerful and useful machine, which the Air mostly isn't. Apple cannot drop all the computers in their lineup with proper HDDs that can actually hold stuff. What machine should you buy if you actually work with large files? The regular MacBook?

 

[Erasmus]

I have a question to all the people wishing for SSD and non-ODD MacBook Pros: Why haven't you all bought Airs? They pretty much made them for you.

If you can't see the difference in power between a MBP and MBA (hard disk and optical drive aside) then the computer Apple makes for you is called a MacBook.

 

[Erasmus]

No, the MacBook Pro is defined by being a powerful and useful machine, which the Air mostly isn't. Apple cannot drop all the computers in their lineup with proper HDDs that can actually hold stuff. What machine should you buy if you actually work with large files? The regular MacBook?

What all the sensible people are suggesting is that the MBP keeps its normal HDD for storing media and most other files, but ALSO gets SSD storage to hold the operating system, applications, and whatever you require fast access to.

The only way I can see Apple moving to all SSD storage on MBPs is if somehow they manage to put in 512GB at least in without changing the present pricing structure. And that's just not going to happen. A dual storage solution is the best of both.

 

[aiqw9182]

No, the MacBook Pro is defined by being a powerful and useful machine, which the Air mostly isn't. Apple cannot drop all the computers in their lineup with proper HDDs that can actually hold stuff. What machine should you buy if you actually work with large files? The regular MacBook?

No? No to what? That's exactly what I said when I responded to you.

So only HDD's can hold files? That's funny. 512 GB SSD's exist. They're expensive, but they exist should Apple want to use them. Apple could also do a dual HDD/SSD if they remove the ODD which I suggested before.

 

[Mailia]

So only HDD's can hold files? That's funny. 512 GB SSD's exist. They're expensive, but they exist should Apple want to use them. Apple could also do a dual HDD/SSD if they remove the ODD which I suggested before.

Why would you get a 512 GB SSD to hold files, unless you're made of money? They're really expensive and if you order a 13" Mid-2010 MBP with one of those, it's pricier than the computer itself ($1450 vs. $1199). The only reasonable option is the HDD/SDD and even that sounds doubtful.

 

[triceretops]

Remote Disc lets you install software using another computer with a DVD drive on your local network. You don't need to buy the $80 USB SuperDrive if you don't use it that often.

But that method isn't exactly speedy.

Family of Apple: Upgraded G4-400 G4-867 15" Ti 17" Macbook Pro 2x 15" Macbook Pro 13 MacBook Air an assortment of iPods iPhones all around.

 

[aiqw9182]

Why would you get a 512 GB SSD to hold files, unless you're made of money? They're really expensive and if you order a 13" Mid-2010 MBP with one of those, it's pricier than the computer itself ($1450 vs. $1199). The only reasonable option is the HDD/SDD and even that sounds doubtful.

For one, a 512 GB SSD is around 1000$ and Apple won't even have to pay that much since they buy in bulk. Besides the fact the 512GB SSD wouldn't be for a 13" MBP. An 128 GB SSD and 256 GB for the 13". Then 256 GB for low end 15" models and the 512 GB SSD for higher end machines that have enough markup so they can do it.

Stop looking at Apple's last year SSD upgrade prices.

You are saying a dual SSD/HDD is doubtful with no reason to back up your claim. You are claiming that Apple can't use SSD's while using Apple's April 2010 SSD upgrade prices.

To answer your question as to why someone would buy a 512 GB SSD to hold files, people buy it because they want the speed of an SSD with the space of a HDD. It's not that complicated. This is ignoring the fact that the majority of people don't need that much internal space. If they do it's more than 500GB anyway and they'll use an external HDD.

 

[omenatarhuri]

I think SSD + HDD is much more feasible than just SSD (or just HDD in the long run).

 

[Kehletten]

Yay, a Danish blogger Man I hope theese rumors proves to be true

 

[Thunderhawks]

Please, please, please drop the damn optical drive. Apple was once a leader in this regard, being first to drop floppy drives. Please be a leader again and drop the optical drive. With the App Store open, the time has come.

Yes, this will and really should happen!

Although I am old school and always want to have a solution for everything thrown at me, I have to admit I rarely use the CD/DVD Drive.

It's a false security feeling.

Even giving copies to people doesn't happen via burning DVD's etc.

So:

Better display
SSD drives with additional slots to add via sticks
Better battery live
1 FW 800 (until it's really dead)
Faster chips etc.

Then the next revision with Lightpeak and USB 3

Larger apps available via sticks and done!

 

[mscice]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Mobile/8C148a)

This March release is NOT a redesign. The one after it will be a full redesign. Guaranteed.

I agree with this, I think a full redesign will be when Lion comes out, since Lin will be on a stick.

I believe March release will be just sandy bridge + ssd... but with apple you don't know haha.

Im still on a 2008 early MPB.... im waiting on a full redesign and cdrom dropped. I see no point in buying a new laptop with a cd rom again in it. I use that thing like once every 6 months.

 

[Adidas Addict]

Well I have just sold my late 2010 macbook air, so am in position to buy