New Macbook Pro 13 specs?

[Monkeyat]

I live in Paris and I've just got out from Fnac (a major electronic store) where I saw half of the first floor closed for work. Normally, there is 1/4 of the first floor for Apple in this store. Than, talking with an Apple attendant about the WWDC and the possible Mac news, he told me: "I can't tell you, even because I know nothing. But do you see all this mess around here ? Well, next week half of the floor will be for Apple!"

So, I just don't think we'll see just a "small" upgrade coming next Monday...

P.S.: Fnac first floor is for computers only, so no sense in showing up a new iPhone there... if that happens it will be shown at the street level floor.

 

[koyoot]

You do realise if you buy a custom order mac that sticker changes to whatever specs you have ordered so if somebody ordered 8GB of RAM from Apple it could very well say 512MB on shared with the video card.

They aren't bothered if you add in RAM after, the specs on the sticker are for the specs it originally came with.

That makes sense.

Anyway, IMO everything is Legit, especially when you look at the USB, and Bluetooth 4.0, which wasn't included in even last spec bump in MBP.

Mac OS X is connected to Lion. ML is coming in summer, some people say that in Late summer, and from what I see in calendar we have still spring.

Don't worry guys. Even if there is no redesign, which was obvious from engineering point of view, there at least should be BTO option for "Retina" Display.

Edit:

Than, talking with an Apple attendant about the WWDC and the possible Mac news, he told me: "I can't tell you, even because I know nothing. But do you see all this mess around here ? Well, next week half of the floor will be for Apple!"

That's because Apple will upgrade most of it's Mac line on WWDC.

 

[PVisitors]

The 13" always gets screwed. The 15" will be drastically better though. May I remind everyone of all the rumors from more reliable sources:

More Reports of NVIDIA Graphics Chips in Next-Generation MacBook Pro
ABC News specifically claims that Apple will be using NVIDIA graphics chips in the new MacBook Pro reportedly set for introduction at next month's Worldwide Developers Conference.

Apple to Release Thinner MacBook Pro at WWDC
Bloomberg confirms a report from earlier today that Apple is preparing to release thinner MacBook Pro models with Retina displays.

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But why make a fake of something so disappointing? Wouldn't it be more exciting to make a fake of something utterly fantastic?

Because a spec list is ridiculously easy to fake and will also suit the purpose of driving 1000s to the site for ad revenue.

Good post though. You forgot the Wall Street Journal reported it too. All fundamentally better sources than some chinese source taking a picture of 'leaked' specs.

 

[realeric]

Apple is going back to 1997.

 

[hleewell]

The upscaling wouldn't be noticeable due to the nature of a quadrupled pixel density.

I don't know, my friend, I have an iPad 2 and recently played around with iPad 3. Those jpegs on sites like CNN, BBC, and hundreds others look mushy and blocky. 1080p looks kinda bad on the high res 27" iMac for example. This is also exacerbated by the fact that you have to sit quite close to the monitor.

 

[GREEN4U]

Makes every sense that retina isnt there. We dont need it on laptops because the distance from screen is much bigger than ipad or iphone.

And also with integrate graphics it is very possible retina is exclusive to mbps with dedicated GPU

IMO 13mbp shouldnt be called a pro at all. No quadcore, no dedicated gpu.

This is why I'm glad you don't work for Apple.

 

[ValSalva]

The interesting thing is that lion already had hi-res icons and so forth last year. The plans for higher resolution are definitely there.

The plans for HiDPI are definitely there but OS X is far from complete for full time usage in HiDPI mode. I can see Apple briefing developers on HiDPI mode at WWDC regarding upcoming hardware for release next year to give them time to update their apps though.

It's just too soon for retina displays. It's the wave of the future but it's not ready for prime time. OS X isn't fully ready, third party apps aren't ready, battery technology isn't ready, and it's still to expensive. Next year...

 

[heisenberg123]

I live in Paris and I've just got out from Fnac (a major electronic store) where I saw half of the first floor closed for work. Normally, there is 1/4 of the first floor for Apple in this store. Than, talking with an Apple attendant about the WWDC and the possible Mac news, he told me: "I can't tell you, even because I know nothing. But do you see all this mess around here ? Well, next week half of the floor will be for Apple!"

So, I just don't think we'll see just a "small" upgrade coming next Monday...

P.S.: Fnac first floor is for computers only, so no sense in showing up a new iPhone there... if that happens it will be shown at the street level floor.

retailers know zero, ziltch, nada, even apple retailers are just people too stupid to get real jobs

 

[Glideslope]

This is why I'm glad you don't work for Apple.

Well, you can say that about them now. You will someday see an iPad type device with a flip top that functions as todays MBP's.

It is not "if", it is "when".

 

[intervenient]

I can't help feeling that all the people clamoring for Retina displays don't actually understand what's going on, aside from a doubling of pixels.


Laptops aren't supposed to be so close to your face. Yes, the Pro 13s resolution is weak, but a "Retina" laptop probably is a little unnecessary.

 

[PVisitors]

The plans for HiDPI are definitely there but OS X is far from complete for full time usage in HiDPI mode. I can see Apple briefing developers on HiDPI mode at WWDC regarding upcoming hardware for release next year to give them time to update their apps though.

It's just too soon for retina displays. It's the wave of the future but it's not ready for prime time. OS X isn't fully ready, third party apps aren't ready, battery technology isn't ready, and it's still to expensive. Next year...

Maybe so, but I still can't help feeling disappointed with Apple if this rumour is the case for sticking with 1280x800. I would have thought that we would have seen 1440x900 at least, with x1080 preferable.

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I can't help feeling that all the people clamoring for Retina displays don't actually understand what's going on, aside from a doubling of pixels.


Laptops aren't supposed to be so close to your face. Yes, the Pro 13s resolution is weak, but a "Retina" laptop probably is a little unnecessary.

More screen estate is a pretty cool reason, no?

 

[hleewell]

I know this could be that business strategy up selling a product to the consumers. You want Retina Display MacBook, spend more on the 15" model. The 13" wait another 2 years.

The 15" is great if somebody needs a desktop replacement. But most folks like myself who oftentimes needs to carry a laptop from country to country, backpacking etc, the 13" is a wonderful compromise between portability & processing power. The 15" with its wide sides accommodating the speaker grille look massive on my lap, kinda defeats the purpose of having a "lap"-top

The MBA 11" is a very desirable item, small and light, but it can't play a HD clip. And the aspect ration of the screen is strange, making it look crammed when looking at scrolling blogs.

How does that song go again? "You can't always have what you wanted..."

 

[pgiguere1]

Even if the 13" MacBook Pro will be a transitionary product while the 15" gets the thinner design and Retina display, it still irks me they stuck with 1280x800... again. It was ridiculous the last time they updated it. The 13" MacBook Air already had 1440x900 at the time. To do that again is just pathetic.

It would only make sense if there's a price drop on the model with those specs. Renaming it simply "MacBook" would also make sense if there's a price drop and new designs (whether in includes a new 13" Pro or not) are introduced.

Such a model would compete more with PC laptops, and could convince new switchers. The most popular screen size/resolution combo on PCs is 15" at 1366x768, which is a considerably lower pixel density when compared with the current 13" MBP.

I know the $999 11" MBA is supposed to be the "new" $999 white MacBook, but it's really not the same. People feel limited by the 64GB of storage, tiny screen and 2GB of RAM. While the white MacBook has never been a beast, it had balanced specs and was perceived as a "complete" computer for the average user.

With the current lineup, people rarely consider the 999$ 11" MBA and will more often consider the $1199 13" MBP (or $1299 13" MBA) as the cheapest option they are interested in. Even though most people would agree that the old white MacBook had a worse value than the 13" MBP, it still sold pretty well which shows there was an interest in cheaper Mac laptops.

I think keeping the "old" 13" MBP design at a 999$ price would make sense, it would be a much better replacement to the discontinued white MacBook thant the 11"/64GB/2GB/ MBA is, and I'm sure it would attract a lot a new switchers on a budget.

This slide and the teasing during the recent D10 Tim Cook interview can't be just about the next iPhone. We're already in mid-2012 and the new iPad was already announced when both happened.

 

[macNewbie02]

I can't help feeling that all the people clamoring for Retina displays don't actually understand what's going on, aside from a doubling of pixels.


Laptops aren't supposed to be so close to your face. Yes, the Pro 13s resolution is weak, but a "Retina" laptop probably is a little unnecessary.

sorry, but that's just nonsense in my opinion. No offense. The text looks blurry on the MBP, which will be fixed on retina era.

 

[intervenient]

Maybe so, but I still can't help feeling disappointed with Apple if this rumour is the case for sticking with 1280x800. I would have thought that we would have seen 1440x900 at least, with x1080 preferable.

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More screen estate is a pretty cool reason, no?

Did you get more screen real estate on the iPad? No, everything just became sharper. A display size is a display size is a display size.

 

[dropkinn]

the way i see it is its either fake. or bottom of the range. Apple could sell this for 999 or 850 in their education store. It would sit below a retina display macbook air. I believe the specs havent changed much because on the 13", lets face it, theres no room. There is not enough room to accomodate two hard drives in the optical drive bay, unlike on the 15in if the board were smaller. Also the smaller platform=smaller battery=not enough for a retina display. I dont think this photo proves anything if it is in fact real. but i think it displays apple devotion to the air in the 13" category. I think we will see two variations of the 15" as well. One based on the older design at a lower price point, for schools and the like. this isnt the first time apple would have done so may i point out. Still today you can buy an iPhone 3gs or an ipad 2. I wouldnt be surprised to see them available as education only such as the white macbook did for a time.

 

[Dangerous Theory]

anyone else notice optical audio out? Seems odd that Apple would finally add this technology considering how long it's been around. Not complaining if true though, love the my high definition optical headphones.

 

[Pegamush]

as i see it:

1)the MBP line will remain as today, just spec bumped. those are the powerful and versatile machines.
2)a new 15" mba will come, completing the range of thin, light, ODD-less laptops.

everyone's happy.
my job is done here.

edit. anyway expect high def (so called retina) display to come with a price, just as a bto.

 

[intervenient]

sorry, but that's just nonsense in my opinion. No offense.

How is that nonsense? You hold an iPhone a foot away from your face. Your MBP is definitely farther than that.


Yes, the screen could be improved, but people acting like their eyes don't function because the screen is so bad are being a little too dramatic. The resolution of the 13 inch Air is perfectly fine for most people. Put that on the MBP and everything would be fine.

 

[Pegamush]

anyone else notice optical audio out? Seems odd that Apple would finally add this technology considering how long it's been around. Not complaining if true though, love the my high definition optical headphones.

it's been around since 2006 -.-

 

[thekev]

Even if Retina display is a BTO option, it doesn't explain the other disappointing specs:

- Why keep the superdrive?
- Why keep the same form factor and weight? It's only 0.8 lbs less than my 15" Powerbook G4 from 2005!

Weight is mostly a factor of internal components here. They have to maintain some rigidity, and I don't think they're going to switch to stick ssds like the Airs. They could probably drop a few ounces if they went to something like carbon fiber for the shell, but the manufacturing and recycling process for it are both pretty bleh from an environmental perspective. I'm not sure about aluminum. I know it can be recycled. I'm not sure how its effectiveness compares to carbon fiber. The only reasons I mentioned carbon fiber are that it doesn't conduct as much heat and it would reduce weight.

good call, so it will have a retina screen after all

Some of you guys still don't get it . These rumors really mean nothing, and Apple has never competed on specs. They make what they make at that time. Right now the high res should be the standard option rather than a $100 upgrade. That would put it in line with the 1920x1080 screens offered by others. The vertical dimension would be the same. Apple currently uses 16:10 as opposed to 16:9 in their laptops. I don't whether this will continue. They could release nothing more than a spec bump. Lots of disappointment would be posted on here. They'd still sell computers, as many people buying them already decided on a Mac. They're just determining which one. If you're lacking a reason to upgrade, wait until Haswell and see if Intel leaves up to their early marketing hype.

It wouldn’t take much to make a document and copy a barcode and statement from the current MBP from Apples documents. Reprint it and take a photo with your phone.So it could be faked.

Some people are convinced based on nothing.

 

[Xcallibur]

I don't know, my friend, I have an iPad 2 and recently played around with iPad 3. Those jpegs on sites like CNN, BBC, and hundreds others look mushy and blocky. 1080p looks kinda bad on the high res 27" iMac for example. This is also exacerbated by the fact that you have to sit quite close to the monitor.

Arhh, I think that may be because your viewing the lower quality graphics alongside the high quality graphics, so the lower quality graphics look considerably worse?

 

[PVisitors]

Did you get more screen real estate on the iPad? No, everything just became sharper. A display size is a display size is a display size.

Retina on iPad and HiDPI mode on the Mac are entirely different things.

And technically you did. If you have an iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 to hand try and view the same amount of content on both screens. It's not possible, the iPhone 4 will show more content because you can read the text clearer. Even so, this is still an entirely different principle to how HiDPI will work on the Mac.

 

[Monkeyat]

retailers know zero, ziltch, nada, even apple retailers are just people too stupid to get real jobs

Yep, he told me he knew nothing! But he knows the half of the store is getting Apple for next week....

 

[PVisitors]

Did you get more screen real estate on the iPad? No, everything just became sharper. A display size is a display size is a display size.

Retina on iPad and HiDPI mode on the Mac are entirely different things.

And technically you did. If you have an iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 to hand try and view the same amount of content on both screens. It's not possible, the iPhone 4 will show more content because you can read the text clearer. Even so, this is still an entirely different principle to how HiDPI will work on the Mac.

You can fundamentally view more things on a higher resolution screen. It isn't all about the physical size of a screen.