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

[Bear]

Meh. I'm buying a Dell Inspiron next time. I need a CD-ROM to browse my encyclopaedia software.

Looks like your another one who has never heard of the external super drive.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC684ZM/A

If you have software you use all the time that requires CD's or DVD's to be used, then an external drive is annoying.

And to aurichie, you need a way to find out how to avoid needing the CD's. Would copying the CD images to your computer do that? Or maybe you need newer software that knows how to load all its data on your system. Or maybe it already has that option and you missed it?

 

[CmdrLaForge]

At that point, Apple should get rid of the "Pro" moniker since such a thin machine will most likely require sacrifices in power and expandability that will make it useless to anyone who has a compute-intensive workflow.

Even if Apple could fit a proper mobile GPU and sufficiently powerful CPU, the constraints of such a thin design will mean either clocking them down to a useless extent or having a laptop underside that routinely hits over 70ºC.

In addition, it would follow that Apple would adopt a MBA style of SSD. If that happens, the great ability to fill the MBP with 2.5" drives (or even just the ability to easily upgrade/replace one 2.5" drive) will be gone and the product will be virtually useless.

Now, before everyone goes "flame on" on my post, remember that I'm just speculating and assuming the worst. Thunderbolt has the potential to make a MBAir-style laptop useful, but the lack of available/affordable thunderbolt accessories is worrying and constantly having to carry external TB accessories just to recoup lost functionality is horribly backwards.

However, if Apple thinned down slightly, removed the optical bay and migrated to a (normal 2.5 "SATA) SSD+HDD setup then I'd call that progress. I mean, who uses optical drives anymore?

I have to say that you mirror my worst fears and that this could become true.

 

[knewsom]

Looking forward to the refurb deals on the (soon to be) former MBP 15" and 17" linuep!

 

[thekeyring]

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Its 2012. Good luck in your dreams mate. Dvd drive no chance.

IT's 2012: DVDs, Blu-Rays and CDs are still sold. It's not like I want a floppy drive - just current MacBook Pro functionality.

 

[tigress666]

I'm not enthusiastic about this rumor. It's not even the lack of OD, I guess I could deal with that.

But, the biggest thing that stands out to me is I'm skeptical that if they make it that thin and go to solid state drive only, that the computer either will have very little onboard storage or alternatively it's going to be very expensive (SSD's still are not cheap for a reasonable sized hard drive). As I like my laptop to be my desktop as well, the absolute minimum I'd want is a 256 GB drive, something that already is expensive in SSD. ANd honestly, I'd want more if I were buying a new computer (That's what my computer has now and it's almost full. At least though I can cheaply replace that hard drive on my own with fixit.com and newegg.com).

Second big thing is what other people are pointing out (doesn't really relate to me cause I have a 13" so no dedicated graphics card anyways but I'd still cringe at taking away even the option of buying a mac laptop with one) is the fact that that thin most likely you aren't going to have a dedicated graphics card.

Also, I wonder what speed processor they would use.

Basically, I would not be enthused at them making it like an air at the expense of not having an option if you don't need that thin (Cause honestly, my 13" is not that big really) but want more power/capability/ability to be your sole computer and not just a secondary one.

 

[haydn!]

If this happens, I'd expect Apple to drop the 'Air' name and return simply to MacBook for the 11" and 13" models and MacBook Pro for 15" and 17" models.

 

[kolax]

I hope they make the hard drive and RAM user-upgradable.

 

[kingtj]

re: optical drives

Honestly, when is that going to happen? If you realize your machine has no built-in optical drive, you should probably be copying your content from optical discs to the laptop's hard drive, to prepare for needing it on the go.

You can use a free program like Handbrake to do that for your DVD movies and videos, or iTunes will happily copy music from physical music CDs. Software installation CDs or DVDs could be installed from a USB optical drive in advance too, 99% of the time.

If you're worried about ease in exchanging files with other computer users when you're out and about? You can use a USB flash drive (which are offered in capacities as large as 64GB these days) to handle most of those situations, or just copy it over a wi-fi or ethernet network if that's an option.

I've got a 17" Macbook Pro myself, and I don't think I've ever had a single time where I used its optical drive in some situation where there wouldn't have been room to attach an external one? Like I say, I think this would mainly apply to things like watching a DVD movie on the laptop on a plane flight ... and that's just a matter of preparation, so you don't need to even worry about taking the disc itself with you anymore.

 

[Robert Mizen]

...

Sounds like it could be interesting. My company is looking to purchase Macbook Pros for the staff.

But if they drop discrete graphics, or give us cruddy ssd options. like 256gb or pull any stunts in reducing its "Pro" level usage i am goner.

I will either opt to buy a current level Macbook Pro as it would last long time. Hell i still got a Macbook White 2008 (with its cute 1gb ram and intel gma graphics). But still serves well as a web, light games and media. Or i will end up having to buy some other laptop which will allow me to hack OSX on it. Discrete Graphics is a must.

 

[Cheebo]

What is the point of omitting the optical drive from the 17 inch MacBook Pro? No matter how thin and light you make it, it will never be a thin-and-light.

Because Apple thinks physical media will soon be a thing of the past, they don't cling to the past. Remember the floppy? Apple will cut a product line without blinking twice.

With stuff like Netflix/Hulu and digital downloads there is no point to dvd/br's and all software can be easily put on the app store.

 

[nutmac]

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If they do this, they NEED to be able to offer more than 256GB in storage, or they cannot be primary machines for a lot of people. And external TB drives do not solve this problem. Then portability is gone.

I think this will be just a matter of time (economies of scale). 512 GB SSD has been an option on MBP (at $1000+). Of course, some users will need more than 512 GB.

I'd love a snap-on external hard disk, securely attaching to a TB port and match MBA aesthetics.

 

[The Samurai]

Bring it on.

Ideal machine:

- 8GB (upgradable) RAM
- 512GB flash storage (although likely to be 256GB)
- Quad Core i5/i7
- Better battery life (thanks to Ivy)
- Not bothered about graphics
- Aesthetics of a MBA

 

[Stella]

Sure the Air looks very nice - but a MBP based upon an Air? Is this form over functionality?

Is the redesign going to sacrifice the FW port?

Dedicated graphics card?

Sucks if you need high capacity storage.

The Air in its current form is not a Pro machine - the MBP better be more than just a 15" Air.

 

[Tadros]

If this is true...

this is really bad. Why mess with the "Pro" line? 15 inch and 17inch aren't really meant for consumers. Prosumers and Pros use these laptops. Hence MacBook "Pro." I don't want to lose functionality just for my laptop to look cooler. And with the prices of SSD's get out of my face! I rather keep my 750GB 7200RPM hard drive rather than lose that for a 60GB SSD... And I'm in the audio/video field, I use my DVD Burner all the time, why should i have to buy an external DVD Burner when I am buying a "Pro" laptop? This makes no sense! And notice that MacBook Air's don't have as many connectors? They already took the express card slot away from the 15inch MBP, so now lets get rid of Firewire and give you one USB port? And "Pro" machines don't use on board graphics! I love the graphics card on my MBP, if you get rid of all this, there is really no point in buying a "Pro." Might as well go back to Windows =(

Apple is getting really stupid lately with it's consumers initiative. Obviously you want to get more customers so you want some changes, but don't alienate your hardcore customers who have been with you for years...

Notice the Mac line is just the Macbook Air, the MacBook Pro, the iMac, Mac Mini, and the practically dead Mac Pro? If these machines are going to cost this much, then they need to also perform! If you want more customers, add a mid line product to your catalogue, don't cut the MacBook and then dumb down the MacBook Pro.

I say, redesign the MacBook Pro all you want, but don't compromise performance and connectivity for "elegance." I for one will be keeping my 2011 MacBook Pro for as long as possible if this happens, and will probably have to make a Hackintosh for my next comp!

 

[mwayne85]

Instead of a second HDD, you're most likely going to have more space for battery and a larger capacity SSD.

I'm torn about not having the ODD built in to a laptop. I would need to get an external CD/DVD Burner, although it could last more than one laptop. On the minus side, what if you need the ODD and there's no place to set it down next to the laptop?

A larger battery would be fine. I think a larger capacity SSD is pretty much out of the question considering the price of them. But a second HDD would (almost) solve people's issues in terms of running out of space on their SSD.

I understand peoples' frustrations with ODD. People still use DVDs, they burn them for clients, probably want to have a movie to bring with them on a plane trip or something, etc. But like it or not, it's clearly something Apple's slowly doing away with. They got rid of it on their Macbooks (Discontinued the white Macbook) and the Mac Mini. It's only a matter of time before it's gone altogether.

On top of that, I don't know a single Macbook Air owner who misses their optical drive, even the ones who use it as their primary machine.

 

[jonnysods]

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I have a 750gb drive in my 15". I cannot afford a 750gb SSD!

Having said that, I would love a thinner mbp without an optical drive.

 

[Dan--]

If they do this, they NEED to be able to offer more than 256GB in storage, or they cannot be primary machines for a lot of people. And external TB drives do not solve this problem. Then portability is gone.

What I want is essentially a 2011/12 13" Macbook Pro, but with Ivy Bridge (and a matte screen). I suppose I could make due without an optical drive, and just use an external at home, but I need the processing power for Aperture and need the HD space (also for Aperture). That's not something the Airs are particularly good at.

As others have said, it might not be so bad if they ditch the optical, and go hybrid with drives - say a 60 GB SSD for the OS, plus options for a 2nd drive, be it SSD or mechanical so we can get some decent storage in it.

And we need RAM. Lots of RAM.

Otherwise, these just ain't gonna fly as a Macbook Pro replacement.

 

[CmdrLaForge]

Sure the Air looks very nice - but a MBP based upon an Air? Is this form over functionality?

Dedicated graphics card?

Sucks if you need high capacity storage.

Apple follows form over functionality now for a while. This would be in line. Just think about glossy screens. Ive just wanted to a have a standard look over the line.

 

[AidenShaw]

No way Apple will make the whole line of laptops like the Air, I know to many people that use the 15 inch MacBook Pro as a primary machine, myself included and would go nuts with solid state drives and no optical drive. My music collection alone wouldnt fit on the high end MacBook Air!

An interesting solution would be to have a BTO option for a large spinning hard drive in addition to the standard solid state hard drive.

The two-drive models perhaps would come with smaller batteries, so the customer could choose between storage and battery life.

Of course, "choice" is a bad word at Apple, so it's unlikely.

If they can pull off the whole external GPU thing, that could open a whole range of possibilities.

Exactly why is it so disappointing that the Apple T-Bolt display doesn't have a GPU, an internal drive slot, and eSATA ports. It could have been ground-breaking, instead of "meh".

um, and how many BR DVD rips can you fit on that 256gb SSD?

Eight max, assuming that you have nothing else on the disk.

Looks like your another one who has never heard of the external super drive.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC684ZM/A

OK for people who rarely use the optical while mobile, really sucks if you frequently need it.

 

[Macintosh-HD]

I hope they will give the smaller "pro" models a decent GPU instead of that Shittel they currently have.

 

[ChrisA]

Pretty much guarantees I wont be getting a new Macbook pro.

If they some how make/allow user replaceable parts, then I will change my mind.

Those days are long gone. You can't make a small, compact computer using cheap "standard" parts. Every part must be custom designed or you have to have wasted air space inside the machine.

 

[guzhogi]

Regarding the optical drive, Apple is going towards downloading content. The only physical media Lion is available on is a USB drive. And all other Apple software now is only available on the Mac App Store. Plus, the Mac Mini & MacBook Air don't have optical drive bays. So I will not be surprised if Apple dropped the optical drive completely next MBP refresh.

 

[nick_elt]

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Its 2012. Good luck in your dreams mate. Dvd drive no chance.

IT's 2012: DVDs, Blu-Rays and CDs are still sold. It's not like I want a floppy drive - just current MacBook Pro functionality.

You can still buy a delorean too ....

 

[ncaissie]

SSD's are currently to expensive. I wouldn't want anything less than 750GB HDD. Especially with itunes and the videos within it.
I just got the 15" pro and while I like the air look and feel I'm not ready to give up on the DVD drive which should be BR for the cost of the Pro. My wife’s $900 laptop has a BR player in it. We do watch movies on it and other laptops when we go places like camping.

 

[BornAgainMac]

I wonder if Apple will kill the iMac. Heck, I can see Apple just having Macbook Airs with integrated graphics as their only Macs someday.