More Claims of MacBook Pro Adopting MacBook Air Form Factor in 2012 Redesign

[gnasher729]

I think your numbers are way off. Apple has said that the Air has been a big success and is one of their best selling Macs.

20 to 1 would mean much less than 250,000 MBAs worldwide in the last quarter. Considering that Intel seems to think that MBA-like notebooks will be the saviour of the industry, that doesn't seem right.

In my household, the split would be 1 MBP and 1 MBA (once the old MacBook, bought in May 2006, stops working).

 

[Yebubbleman]

What are you apologizing for, exactly? I didn't agree or disagree with anything.

Merely pointed out most laptop buyers don't fit that particular use case.

First off, I disagree with that sentiment (and no one has pointed out to me any data beyond the populace in these forums as any kind of evidence). But that's irrelevant. My point was that remote disc is annoying to use and is no real substitute for a conveniently placed internal optical drive. And I was saying, in advance, that I'm sorry if you didn't/don't agree with that particular sentiment.

Just when I thought the best laptops in the industry could not get any better, they do. Looking forward to replacing my aging 2010 13" MBP soon.

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic here. If you are, I applaud and +1.

If you're not, then I laugh at you calling your 2010 13" MacBook Pro "aging", as it's not THAT much weaker at doing anything then the current 13" MacBook Pros are; hell, in terms of graphics, it's still better. Unless you're the type that buys a new Mac every two years, in which case, I laugh at you for finding that machine already obsolete. Otherwise, I'm assuming you're making fun of those who make such silly assertions in which case I applaud and +1 you sir.

 

[AlphaNOmega4eva]

Macbook Pro becomes, "Macbook", or Apples keeps Pro and Air

This is what I think is going to happen to the Macbook Pro 2012.

1. The optical disk drive is going to be gone. There is no question about this one because of what is written in this article:
("They're all going to look like MacBook Airs," one person familiar with the new MacBook Pro designs told AppleInsider.)

2. At this time, technology is not available to make a Macbook Air be as equal or powerful as a Macbook Pro, because it is simply too thin. A Macbook Air would require an ultra low voltage cpu while a Macbook Pro would use a standard voltage cpu. With the optical disk drive removed, Apple would certainly be able to make the 2012 Macbook Pro be more thinner and lightweight, but not as thin as a Macbook Air.

This means 2 things will possibly happen:
A. A thinner, lighter Macbook Pro, with no ODD, dedicated graphics, and a standard voltage cpu, could eliminate the need for the Macbook Air. Therefore, there will be no more Macbook Air, only the Macbook Pro.

B. Apple refreshes the 2012 Macbook Air with an ultra low voltage cpu, Intel integrated graphics, and flash storage, along with the redesigned 2012 Macbook Pro (no ODD, dedicated graphics, standard voltage cpu, Retina Display.

Therefore, there will be no merging between the Macbook Air and the Macbook Pro. Either Apple makes a thinner, lighter Macbook Pro, and removes the Macbook Air. Or Apple makes a thinner, lighter Macbook Pro, and keeps the Macbook Air.

 

[mirko.meschini]

2012 MacBookPro

I hope MacBookPro's to remain a separate line of notebooks, with expandable RAM, 2,5" standard drive, more ports (at least 2 tb and 3 usb3) and the actual design (max 1mm thinner).
Things I can accept to lose from Pro's (13-15-17) with this redesign: ODD, Ethernet+FW800 (replaced by the second thunderbolt and adapters), the ability to carry in 12,5mm drives (now not standard) and stop. Differences between 13" Air and 13" Pro are many: 35W processors (there should be a 2,1Ghz Quad Core, with 650MHz GPU in this TDP class, when the 17W ones max at 2.0GHz dual core with 350MHz GPU), mSATA SSD + 2,5" standard drive, RAM up to 16GB instead of 8GB, and the ability to run intensive tasks for a long time whitout run fan at incredible speeds, more battery life.

The optimal solution for me would be to merge the 13-15-17 into a 14-16 line, but I doubt this happening. A thinner 14 with the same weight of 13, mSATA SSD + 2,5" drive and a discrete low-end GPU (in the high-end configuration, look at new mini) can be an alternative for all 13" and part of the actual low-end 15" users. A thinner 16" without ODD can carry in one mSATA and two 2,5" drives, and it can replace high-end-15 and 17 models, so there's a continuos line from 11 to 16. But it's only my hope. I can be happy if they mantain 13-15-17 pro line, where pro should be pro and not Air.

 

[Hornhonker]

20 to 1 would mean much less than 250,000 MBAs worldwide in the last quarter. Considering that Intel seems to think that MBA-like notebooks will be the saviour of the industry, that doesn't seem right.

In my household, the split would be 1 MBP and 1 MBA (once the old MacBook, bought in May 2006, stops working).

The Win7 MBA like box that arrived last week is only $100 less than the entry
level MBP and has received about as much customer attention as the Air, that is next to none. Most customers seem to feel they just don't get enough hardware options and horse power per dollar with an Air like computer. Quite a few times the 2G of non-upgradeable ram (in the Air) has been a deal killer.

 

[RBR2]

I hope MacBookPro's to remain a separate line of notebooks <snip>

The numbers may be changing, but it seems like a lot of people who have purchased MBAs already have a MBP and want something easy to lug around (same profile with the iPad). Even though the MBA is gaining in processing capability, there are obviously compromises to keep the size and weight down which would leave many users still needing a MBP. The great thing about the MBA is simply that it is small and light enough that you don't really have to think much about whether you want to take it to a meeting or whatever.

----------

The Win7 MBA like box that arrived last week is only $100 less than the entry
level MBP and has received about as much customer attention as the Air, that is next to none. Most customers seem to feel they just don't get enough hardware options and horse power per dollar with an Air like computer. Quite a few times the 2G of non-upgradeable ram (in the Air) has been a deal killer.

Some more RAM would certainly help the MBA and RAM is cheap enough now that there really is no excuse for not putting at least 4 GBs in it.

 

[twoodcc]

i'm excited to see what they release. it better be good! i'm mainly excited about higher resolutions

 

[neversink]

Improve the Air and improve the MBP -- BUT DO IT SEPERATELY....

Can't stand it when people pronounce what there should be and shouldn't be in a device. How can you be so presumptuous to think you know everyone's needs? Everyone's needs are different.

Yes, i would like to see USB 3, but do not get rid of Fire wire 800 or USB 2. ALL my $3,000 worth of external hard drives are either USB2 or Fire Wire80o or eSata (which i would love to continue to use.)

So I would like to see an e-Sata port, thunderbolt, USB 3 and USB 2 ports. I do not want to see the merging of the Air and the MBP at the expense of the MBP.

We power users who work in the field need that optical drive also.

I will have to go hackintosh if Apple thinks there is only one type of user. I hope this is not the case.

 

[Cubytus]

The numbers may be changing, but it seems like a lot of people who have purchased MBAs already have a MBP and want something easy to lug around (same profile with the iPad). Even though the MBA is gaining in processing capability, there are obviously compromises to keep the size and weight down which would leave many users still needing a MBP. The great thing about the MBA is simply that it is small and light enough that you don't really have to think much about whether you want to take it to a meeting or whatever.

I don't know where have you seen that a 13" MBP is not "easy to lug around". I have yet to find a reason why ppl would buy two laptops since a laptop is intended to be moved often anyway.

Yes, i would like to see USB 3, but do not get rid of Fire wire 800 or USB 2. ALL my $3,000 worth of external hard drives are either USB2 or Fire Wire80o or eSata (which i would love to continue to use.)

+1.
Looks like you'll need at least a 17" to be able to use the eSATA equipment, unless some sort of TB-based adapter comes out. But all these adapters are in themselves compromises, parts waiting to be lost along the way. I could understand using a smaller port for external display since DVI or VGA are physically so large.

What I don't understand and find downright cheap from Apple is to not include common accessories anymore. Remember how the iBook and PowerBook G4 had their VGA adapter? And that the white MacBook included the assorted Apple Remote?

 

[steve119]

I'm personally happy I have just got my macbook pro in time then.

I have only had this baby for a month, and already eaten a third of my drive space, so until SSD can get to the current sizes of SATA for the same price I'm happy to stay where I am. and no offence, but why should I have to carry external hard drives? thats defeating the purpose surely of buying a pro?

Oh, and I use my DVD drive to back up my films and pictures!!

Btw, I'm in no way slating macbook air owners, if they are happy with what they have then thats fine, but my personal tastes and requirements needed a bit more!

and RBR2 I kind of agree with you that mac pro users may want something to lug around more easily, but then surely the answer would BE is to buy an iPad?

 

[neversink]

Thank you Steve for being so lucid with your response...

I am in total agreement with you. For those of us who use our computers for WORK and not just play, then we need things like an optical drive and storage. I can't get enough storage. I always lug five portable drives with me and now with the new cameras, my files are getting bigger and BIGGER... or should I say larger and LARGER. I need power, processing, RAM, storage. I need to also bring third party external batteries wherever I go.

Would I rather carry around a lighter Air. You bet. But not until I can get all my work done efficiently, quickly and securely......

I need something I can take to the Serengeti and not worry about storage space. Unfortunately, until I can cheaply and quickly beam all the mega gigabytes of storage I produce from the middle of nowhere, I am stuck with a heavier Mac Book Pro.

Apple - Please improve these products but please don't water down the MBP -----

I wish we could all go back to analog. It was a simpler world!!!!!!!

 

[KnightWRX]

I am in total agreement with you. For those of us who use our computers for WORK and not just play, then we need things like an optical drive and storage.

Grand sweeping generalization there. I use my MBA for WORK and not just play like you say, and I have no need of an optical drive or internal storage.

Weren't you the one saying people shouldn't assume to know about the needs of others ? Goes both ways you know...

 

[Cubytus]

I use my MBA for WORK and not just play like you say, and I have no need of an optical drive or internal storage.

I guess you'd be happy with an Apple thin client, if it existed ?

Weren't you the one saying people shouldn't assume to know about the needs of others ? Goes both ways you know...

I think his comment was more about a majority of MBP users don't have lean requirements such as yours, and that removing a features only a few don't actually need would be foolish.

 

[KnightWRX]

I guess you'd be happy with an Apple thin client, if it existed ?

Nope, as that wouldn't permit me to perform my work at all. What does lack of an optical drive or smaller internal storage have to do with thin/thick clients ?

Why did you even bring this up ? It makes no sense... because I don't use DVDs or massive amounts of data locally on my MBA for my line of work, I don't need software running locally... ? I just don't get how you inferred that.

I think his comment was more about a majority of MBP users don't have lean requirements such as yours, and that removing a features only a few don't actually need would be foolish.

No, his comment was about how a MBP is for work and an Air is for play. That's what he said. If that is not what he meant, then he shouldn't have typed his post that way.

 

[Cubytus]

Nope, as that wouldn't permit me to perform my work at all. What does lack of an optical drive or smaller internal storage have to do with thin/thick clients ?

Why did you even bring this up ? It makes no sense... because I don't use DVDs or massive amounts of data locally on my MBA for my line of work, I don't need software running locally... ? I just don't get how you inferred that.

In my mind, not needing internal storage means you're running everything off the cloud, à la chromebook. Glad if you can, but here in Québec and in Canada at large, unlimited, permanent, true high speed / low latency access is a myth.

 

[KnightWRX]

In my mind, not needing internal storage means you're running everything off the cloud, à la chromebook. Glad if you can, but here in Québec and in Canada at large, unlimited, permanent, true high speed / low latency access is a myth.

Your mind is confused and wrong. Not needing massive internal storage != not needing internal storage. And. Not needing internal storage != running everything off the cloud.

And again, nothing to do with what the poster said at all.

I don't even know what you're saying with Quebec and Canada and ... unlimited (wha ... ?).

You sound very, very confused. You're conflating so many things together that have no real link and your posts are far from coherent.

 

[homeboy]

("They're all going to look like MacBook Airs," one person familiar with the new MacBook Pro designs told AppleInsider.)

You got it right.


The Macbook Air was nothing but a beta and test bed for the future of computing and now that even PC makers have jumped on the wagon with endless copies of the Macbook Air there is no question that the future of laptop swaps HDDs for SSDs and ditch the optical drive.


The Macbook Air will be dropped but the low voltage specs will remain so that is serves as an entry level laptop for students. It will simply be called Macbook, while a slightly thicker version of it will be the Pro with beefier CPU and SSD capacity.

 

[Muscle]

no redesign

 

[Cubytus]

Your mind is confused and wrong. Not needing massive internal storage != not needing internal storage. And. Not needing internal storage != running everything off the cloud.

And again, nothing to do with what the poster said at all.

I don't even know what you're saying with Quebec and Canada and ... unlimited (wha ... ?).

You sound very, very confused. You're conflating so many things together that have no real link and your posts are far from coherent.

Running off the cloud entirely is just a major inconvenience since you can't possibly expect the same kind of latency out of local storage, and Internet access, at least in Québec, Canada, is both very expensive to OCDE standards, and spotty at best. I bet local storage isn't going to die anytime soon, at least for frequently-accessed applications and files. You just can't buy a hi-def movie on iTunes and expect it to be sync'ed to all you devices, using gigs out of a capped DSL connection.

Same goes with SSDs; even considering price hikes due to bottlenecks in HDD manufacture, they are simply too expensive for most people, per-gig. Even as I do consider myself to be half power-user, half-enthusiast, had to postpone installing an SSD since the right capacity seems too expensive. It's not practical to have to think about which music and which docs I may need at a given time using the Mac. So, for now there's a faster platter-SSD inside.

 

[KnightWRX]

Running off the cloud entirely is just a major inconvenience since you can't possibly expect the same kind of latency out of local storage

And you're talking about this why ? Not what I or the other postwer was talking about. Are you talking to yourself ?

 

[timokeshi606]

The only thing I want for the next macbook pro is 1,5 TB of internal hard disk space. I'm just tired of plugging in and out my external drives. But with this rumor around now I am affraid it won't happen within the next 4 to 5 years until SSDs this size are well-priced.

 

[talmy]

As one who uses the DVD drive and has enough data on the system that it would require an obscenely expensive SSD, I decided not to wait. My daughter's MacBook is dying and I need to hand down my 13" Al MacBook, so I just bought a 15" MacBook Pro with the high-res, anti-glare display. When it is time for it to be replaced, I'll be ready for the latest Air with a TB SSD and no optical drive.

 

[biscuitsxluv]

I might just return my 17 inch... the 17 is like a brick compared to my 13. I hate that it lacks portability but understood that it's also a desktop replacement. It's still sitting in the box because I'm contemplating.... I might hold out but if I do I might not be able to sell my 13 for a reasonable price.. Just got offered 900 for my 13.
Decisions, decisions... argh.

 

[Cubytus]

And you're talking about this why ? Not what I or the other postwer was talking about. Are you talking to yourself ?

I was talking about what "not needing internal storage" might mean. This quote lacked the word "massive" in between, hence my analogy about a cloud-based laptop.

I might just return my 17 inch... the 17 is like a brick compared to my 13. I hate that it lacks portability but understood that it's also a desktop replacement. It's still sitting in the box because I'm contemplating.... I might hold out but if I do I might not be able to sell my 13 for a reasonable price.. Just got offered 900 for my 13.
Decisions, decisions... argh.

What year is your 13"? If it's a MacBook (late 2008), $900 is incredible. Just be aware of what sounds too good to be true.
For a 2010 model, that would still be an excellent deal of you sold it at this price.
For a 2011, I feel it's more reasonable, especially if it includes upgrades such as bigger HDD, RAM, etc. I sold a mid-2010, stock one, showing cosmetic wear for $700.

 

[FluJunkie]

and I have no need of an optical drive or internal storage.

Weren't you the one saying people shouldn't assume to know about the needs of others ? Goes both ways you know...

Your mind is confused and wrong. Not needing massive internal storage != not needing internal storage.
I don't even know what you're saying with Quebec and Canada and ... unlimited (wha ... ?).

You sound very, very confused. You're conflating so many things together that have no real link and your posts are far from coherent.

Note you didn't say "massive internal storage". You said "I have no need of an optical drive or internal storage." Given one of those two things is marked by a complete absence in the MBA, it's not unreasonable to conclude, based entirely on what you wrote, that you don't need the other either.

Someone here is being needlessly opaque, and it's not the gentleman (or woman) from Quebec.