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New Entry-Level Mac Notebook Expected to Adopt Retina Display, Likely Launch at WWDC in June

mozumder said:
A12 processor.
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That essentially would be in a iPad Pro Or if Apple wanted to add one an iPadBook.

There will likely be an "Apple ARM" chip in the upcoming > $1,000 Macs, but that is likley to be in the same role as it appears in the iMac Pro ( as the SSD controller ) and/or as the touch bar driver. However, not as the primary macOS CPU. That doesn't make much sense. Balkanlizing the mscOS development isn't going to help in the big picture. It isn't going to make Macs any less expensive.
 
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It really needs a Retina display. Imagine seeing it in a store next to a MacBook/Pro with a Retina display. It'd be a hard sell.

I'd love to see the 12" and 13" MacBooks drop more in line with the classic MacBook Air entry level pricing, and see the Pro line step it up just a little in terms of pro hardware and features. Differentiate the lineups a little, make them live up to their names.
 
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If this is true and it's an updated Air, who is gonna the 12 inch MacBook for almost double the price?!
They should just cut the ridiculous price of the 12 inch and everyone would be happy...
 
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Perhaps a good time to simplify the lineup.

The MacBook stays as the ultra light portable for another year at least.

We get a 12" MacBook Pro that's a bit thicker with the retina display resolution of the current 13" - leaves an obvious range simplification of 14" and 16" models which are thicker and with higher resolution retina displays (ie 14" adopts same resolution as 15", and 16" gets 4k?)

We'd also squeeze quad core Iris Graphics Coffee Lake into the 14" and hex core with Radeon Vega into the 16"

More room for battery, and better (patented?) keyboard.
 
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They’re still keeping the air around? AND giving it a retina screen? AND making it cheaper? Wow I did not see that coming. But I guess it makes sense—if they want that $800-$1000 laptop market, this is probably the most profitable way to keep it.
 
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deconstruct60 said:
The sub $999 price point isn't going away at all. Kuo's rumor seems more likely of the MBA (or whatever Apple name the entry point) going down to $799-899 more likely. ( $300-500 Chromebooks and MS Windows S models are whipping Apple pretty bad for price constrained buyers. MBA 11 used to dip in that down in that zone a bit. There is no reason now that the same screen tech and chasis couldn't go down there now at 13").
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Chromebooks are a threat to Windows, not Macs. Windows S is a failure that MS made it free to upgrade to real Windows. No other laptops using Windows S that I k ow of other than the Surface notebooks.

Remember netbooks? People were demanding Apple to do netbooks. Apple didn’t budge, and the rest is history.

If we want to see cheaper laptops, what I expect is for Apple to introduce some sort of Ax powered “Mac”. Apple has been hanging the “outdated” MacBook Air at $999 for so long, showing they are not interested in playing race to the bottom for pricing.
 
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This is the sign of a mature market: addressing every possible niche. Just like there are different, yet basically identical versions of cornflakes, we'll have the MacBook Air Performa and the MacBook Air Quadra lines for entry level and ultra-pro respectively.
 
Nimrad said:
Still hoping for bezel-less design where it makes the most sense: MacBooks.
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+1, except it might make Tim too excited.
The current lack of inspiration makes them look at the competition that isn't moving either. Hence a retina screen. Wauw.
 
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Well, to be honest I think that Apple is a little bit embroiled...

Now they have MacBook Pro, MacBook at MacBook's Pro price point and lighter than Air, which supposed to be lightest MacBook.. But hey! MacBook Air have better hardware (well, not all of it) and is cheaper with crappy display.

I think it would be better if Apple COMPLETELY change their notebook strategy

MacBook Pro 13" and 15" (or even 17" like in old days) for $1299 for basic model (just like now)

MacBook Air - Which should be current MacBook, change the name, Air means light/slight and thin (again, like the current MacBook, so this hardware should be call Air). Add one more USB-C?Thunderbolt 3 and drop the price point from $1299 to $1099

MacBook - Current MacBook Air in the same design but with higher resolution display, one USB-C and USB 3.0 for $949 or like now $999. This wolu be for people that starts their adventure with Apple or even for education. Why 1 USB-C - to be ready for new, why 1 USB 3.0 - if its for students, it's very possible that they don't have money for newest hardware and will not change pendrive's/printers/scaners just because courage...

So - you want to Pro machine? Get MacBook Pro. You want ultra portable hardware? Get MacBook Air. You want budget Apple device? Get MacBook?

If they add retina to Air and better CPU, I can't see people will buy current 12" MacBook for $300 more. Same screen, similar size and weight, worse CPU for more money - sounds cool. If the difference is $150 and with one more USB-C port, that may be worth it.

Huh?
 
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Would everyone agree this has to be sub $1000
Even just by 1 dollar at $999 to be able to be classed as "Entry Level" ?
 
WBRacing said:
I really want a new MBPr to replace my 2015 MBPr as I under spec'ed it when I bought it but:
  • No HDMI - used a lot for presentations and I am not going to start carrying around dongles. My bag is full enough.
  • No magsafe - This has saved my laptop from flying across the room on no less than 5 occasions.
  • A gimmicky touchbar that I'd be paying a premium for.
  • "That" keyboard...
The pro moniker is frankly laughable at the moment.
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Just to put another perspective on things.
I really want a new MBPr to replace my 2012 MBPr (maxed out), but:

- still only a quad-core (I'd be upgrading nothing)
- still only 16GB (I'd be upgrading nothing)

What I'm totally hyped about and think really is Pro:
- 4 TB3 ports -> (120GBPS of external bandwidth completely transformable into anything you could want!), meaning any pro can connect anything they want. You don't get ports you don't need/won't ever use. Else you wouldn't need to cram gazillion ports on it, or make a separate photography/presenter/whatever version.
- 3000mb/s+ SSD speed (fastest in the industry)
- touchbar (works wonders in pro apps such as FCPX in LPX)
- 4GB video RAM (oh yes)

what I (personally) don't think has anything to do with pro:
- HDMI (I only use it when i watch movies on TV. I can live with a dongle here). It doesn't support any contemporary resolutions really, it's like including a VGA/DVI on 2012 Laptop at this point (and the argument for VGA/DVI in 2012 was the same actually). I can't even run my packed pixels Retina off SSD because it doesn't support it. Let alone 4K and HIDPI monitors. (Or even TVs for that matter). In 2-4 years, this port will be useless, just like VGA/DVI would be in 2012 retina.
On the other hand, if you have a super-highspeed TB3 port, you can make it into any standard you want even after 5 years.
And CPU/RAM (obviously) won't be dated in 5 years (judging by how things are now)
- I don't think laptop for doing a lot of presentations needs to be Pro in terms of CPU/RAM/SSD. It needs to be portable. Would make sense to make a 12" MacBook with HDMI.
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-BigMac- said:
My 2018 release predictions

Late April
Mac Mini/new ‘value’ Macbook

WWDC
Refreshed iMac/entry level iPad/ MacOS 12/ “one more thing” = Modular Mac Pro preview

‘iOS’ September Event
iOS12/ new iPhones/new FaceID ‘bezelesss’ iPad Pros

*Macbook pros silently spec bumped around WWDC
Click to expand...

I hope the specs means Hexa for 15" finally. It's long overdue
 
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