My 2012 Apple notebook lineup prediction

[TSE]

11" MacBook Air - $999
1366x768 LED Display
Mid-Range Dual-Core AMD Piledriver CPU
4 GBs of RAM (8 GBs optional, +$100)
128 GB SSD (256 GB SSD Optional, +$200)
Mid-Range AMD Piledriver GPU
6 Hour Battery

13" MacBook Air - $1099
1440x900 LED Display
Mid-Range Dual-Core AMD Piledriver CPU
4 GBs of RAM (8 GBs optional, +$100)
128 GB SSD (256 GB SSD Optional +$200)
Mid-Range AMD Piledriver GPU
8 Hour Battery

13" MacBook Air - $1399
1440x900 LED Display
High-End Dual-Core AMD Piledriver CPU
8 GBs of RAM
256 GB SSD (512 GB SSD Optional, +$300)
High-End AMD Piledriver GPU
8 Hour Battery


15" MacBook Pro - $1799
1600x900 IPS Display
Mid-Range Quad-Core Ivy-Bridge i5 Processor
4 GBs of RAM
500 GB 5400 RPM HD + 16 GB QuickLoad SSD
AMD Radeon 7550M HD + Intel HD Graphics 4000
9 Hour Battery
4.7 pounds

15" MacBook Pro - $2199
1600x900 IPS Display
High-End Quad-Core Ivy-Bridge i7 Processor
8 GBs of RAM
750GB 5400 RPM HD + 16 GB QuickLoad SSD
AMD Radeon 7750M HD + Intel HD Graphics 4000
9 Hour Battery
4.7 pounds

17" MacBook Pro - $2499
1920x1080 IPS Display
High-End Quad-Core Ivy-Bridge i7 Processor
8 GBs of RAM
750GB 5400 RPM HD + 16 GB QuickLoad SSD
AMD Radeon 7750M HD + Intel HD Graphics 4000
9 Hour Battery
5.8 pounds

Notes:
-Redesigned MacBook Pros, optical drive is gone
-Apple Optical Drive - $79
-13" MacBook Pro is gone
-IPS Displays consume more energy
-Apple picks up AMD for the MacBook Air - less CPU power than Sandy Bridge, way more GPU Power, slightly less energy consumption
-Move to AMD allows Apple to lower prices, further compete with Intel Ultrabook ripoffs
-QuickLoad SSD - MacBook Air-like SSD, OS installed on it. Boots as fast as Airs.

 

[aCondor]

Looks good. I think you're spot on with the removal of the 13" MBP. Product cannibalization between 13" MBP and 11/13" MBA.

 

[thundersteele]

Agree on the 13'' going away. Based on the persistent rumors, I think that there will be a 15'' Air, while keeping the 15'' and 17'' MBP without significant redesigns.


Other thoughts:

a new entry level macbook, maybe based on the 13'' MBP, at or below $999. It wouldn't fit well with the 11'' Air and the rest of the lineup, but who knows.

One the MBPs, how about replacing the touchpad with a touchscreen? Not sure what exactly this would be good for...

 

[some idiot]

I'd buy that high-end 15" MBP in a second, but I don't see it happening.

Still can't decide if I should hold out in hopes of something like that or just take the safe route and buy a current MBP and upgrade it as needed.

 

[Spadoinkles]

Because we're really interested.

 

[TSE]

Because we're really interested.

Apparently you are since you are 1. coming on a MacRumors forum and 2. replying to this thread.

 

[oiuh151]

13" MBP is going to stay for the sole reason that Intel will be introducing 35W quad core chips that will put the Pro above and beyond anything a 13" MBA can handle. As well as the possibility of a discrete GPU being added with the optical drive removed.

Oh and also why would Apple keep the 13" MBA at 16:10 while moving everything else to 16:9? The 13" would have a 1600x900 resolution if it were 16:9.

 

[Callumbear845]

I like it, but I think that at 16 GB QuickLoad SSD is too small. Apple should just put in a 128 GB boot drive. It will be more effective that just a cache drive.

 

[TheRdungeon]

I like it, but I think that at 16 GB QuickLoad SSD is too small. Apple should just put in a 128 GB boot drive. It will be more effective that just a cache drive.

Yeah but costs would balloon, 128gb still isn't big enough for a pro unit. I think the 16-32gb fast boot thing would be great

 

[Steve's Barber]

13" MBP (#1 seller) gone.... LOL!

I hope you don't read palms for a living.

 

[Spencer Reynen]

13" MBP (#1 seller) gone.... LOL!

I hope you don't read palms for a living.

I would hate to see it go, but it is very likely going to happen.