New MacBook Pro Part Numbers Suggest Updated Models Coming Soon

[ZballZ]

Even after a redesign I wouldn't expect the MBP to be much lighter or smaller, as some suggest.

The MacBook Pro is just that ... a Pro. It is not a top-priority to make it light and mobile - there's already a product for that! The Air. It's a priority to make the Pro top-of-the-line. A fast processor, good discrete gfx, large hard disk or SSD ... they will most likely just speed bump, so they can keep calling this macbook top-of-the-line.

 

[azentropy]

All I want is a quad core 13" MacBook Pro.

That is what I'm hoping for, but it is pretty unlikely for this release.

 

[Detektiv-Pinky]

The point is that most people don't need them anymore, certainly not while traveling or on a couch. This "let's never take anything out" mentality is the reason many PC notebooks are over 1.25" thick, and have VGA ports.

Most people don't even own a computer (or a couch)...

 

[GuitarDTO]

My 2011 MBP is one of the best purchases I have ever made. A 13" with similar specs to the 15 and the 17 are about the only thing I would ever want more than my current 15".

 

[oiuh151]

All I want is a quad core 13" MacBook Pro.

That is what I'm hoping for, but it is pretty unlikely for this release.

Ivy Bridge is going to have 35W quad-cores suitable for the 13" MBP. We'll see them next year.

 

[some idiot]

Redesign or not, it would be foolish to buy a Macbook Pro or Macbook Air without Ivy Bridge. Particularly the 13" model without a dedicated graphics card. Ivy Bridge will have much better graphics, slightly faster CPU and quite substantially better power consumption.

You think so? I'm going to buy a 15" MBP in hopes of it keeping me satisfied for the next 4-5 years, and I can't decide if I should just get one now since they're already really great, or wait for Ivy Bridge. I don't need one, but I wonder if the new ones won't come out and I'll wish I had waited.

Is Ivy Bridge really going to be that revolutionary?

 

[Cheffy Dave]

Sigh, no thin-e-thin Pros

Sticking with the MBA

----------

You think so? I'm going to buy a 15" MBP in hopes of it keeping me satisfied for the next 4-5 years, and I can't decide if I should just get one now since they're already really great, or wait for Ivy Bridge. I don't need one, but I wonder if the new ones won't come out and I'll wish I had waited.

Is Ivy Bridge really going to be that revolutionary?

In a word, yes!

 

[oiuh151]

You think so? I'm going to buy a 15" MBP in hopes of it keeping me satisfied for the next 4-5 years, and I can't decide if I should just get one now since they're already really great, or wait for Ivy Bridge. I don't need one, but I wonder if the new ones won't come out and I'll wish I had waited.

Is Ivy Bridge really going to be that revolutionary?

For the 15" and 17" MacBook Pro's? Not really to be honest if we're strictly talking about Ivy Bridge.

The 13" MBP will see the biggest improvements next year from Ivy Bridge with the improved OpenCL capable GPU and quad-core CPU's.

 

[ipoppy]

OMG iForgot about MBP existence...because all that iPhone 4"ass" etc

I will buy one but need to be redesign the way like MBA, which is without optical drive.

 

[AriX]

The MacBook Pro model numbers usually have been prefixed with a MA/MB/MC so this time using a "K" is not just unusual but a first for the MBP lineup. You can see the previous MBP model #'s here.

No, those are two different things - you're talking about the model number/part number. The numbers mentioned in the article are codenames.

For example, my iPhone 4S that's coming tomorrow is model number MC921LL/A. But its codename is n94. Its identifier is iPhone4,1.

 

[Winnychan213]

You think so? I'm going to buy a 15" MBP in hopes of it keeping me satisfied for the next 4-5 years, and I can't decide if I should just get one now since they're already really great, or wait for Ivy Bridge. I don't need one, but I wonder if the new ones won't come out and I'll wish I had waited.

Is Ivy Bridge really going to be that revolutionary?

If you are buying the 15 inch, that means you are using the dedicated graphics, which might not be as matter if you are buying the 13 inch which only provides the integrated graphics. The ivy bridge is going to be better at graphics, which you already have, its going to be faster but then you don't really need the latest cpu to do what you are doing right now and lastly the battery life shouldn't be your top priority because you are using dedicated graphics anyways.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

It's funny Apple was so successful with the iMac at the desktop that includes all things needed in a single piece of computing machinery - whereas PCs tended to be cluttered with cables and appendices.
Now you are proposing the opposite directions for mobile computing - I don't find this appealing.

The iMac is a perfect example of why this is the right direction. When the iMac was launched, it jettisoned the floppy drive, which was considered unconscionable at the time. Nobody misses it now.

Optical media is next. Do you honestly think it has a long life span ahead?

 

[tinkafoo]

Am I the only one hoping Apple will make a MacBook Pro with an IPS panel? Then again, I guess I like living a life of disappointment.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

because many people still use them, and moving it external would give everyone what they want (kinda). you could still have it for software installs, burn disks and such, but don't have to have it taking up space all the time. Also, I think it should be included unless they are going to use that extra space for something other than just making the machine thinner, the size is already at a point where it doesn't bother me so if they take the optical away I want it (the space) used for something productive. If they just shrink the machine then they should be at least giving an external drive with it.

1. Most people don't need or want one
2. They're cheap

So sell them separately. Don't jack up the price for everyone else.

 

[oiuh151]

If you are buying the 15 inch, that means you are using the dedicated graphics, which might not be as matter if you are buying the 13 inch which only provides the integrated graphics. The ivy bridge is going to be better at graphics, which you already have, its going to be faster but then you don't really need the latest cpu to do what you are doing right now and lastly the battery life shouldn't be your top priority because you are using dedicated graphics anyways.

Of course there is the very likely chance of a redesign next year to go along with Ivy Bridge.

But again, if all we're strictly talking about is Ivy Bridge (in relation to the 15" and 17" MBP's) then the only improvements you will see is battery life and a ~17% clock for clock performance increase over Sandy Bridge.

 

[blue22]

I err, therefore I am...

No, those are two different things - you're talking about the model number/part number. The numbers mentioned in the article are codenames.

For example, my iPhone 4S that's coming tomorrow is model number MC921LL/A. But its codename is n94. Its identifier is iPhone4,1.

Thanks for the correction, I overlooked that detail between codename vs. model number

 

[TheBMill]

Wheres the Mac Pros?

 

[WestonHarvey1]

Wheres the Mac Pros?

Need new Xeons.

 

[reallynotnick]

Am I the only one hoping Apple will make a MacBook Pro with an IPS panel? Then again, I guess I like living a life of disappointment.

No I am hoping for a 13in with a matte 1440x900 IPS screen with a much smaller bezel, quad core Ivy Bridge, USB 3.0, and remove the optical drive to put a dedicated GPU in, and make it all 4lbs.

Yeah it's a pipe dream for next summer but here's hoping!

 

[oiuh151]

Wheres the Mac Pros?

You should be asking Intel where the suitable Xeon Sandy Bridge processors are. You're waiting on Intel right now. The estimated release date for those CPU's is Q4 2011 so they should be here relatively soon.

 

[Maschil]

All I want is a quad core 13" MacBook Pro.

keep dreaming!!!

 

[oiuh151]

keep dreaming!!!

He won't have to for much longer.

https://www.macrumors.com/2011/09/1...-to-allow-for-smaller-quad-core-macbook-pros/

 

[arkmannj]

Why?

Why to which statement?

The fight remark was made mostly in jest.

The External optical drive, I shared my view point on other posts.
Which I fully understand that for your personal uses of a computer you may or may not agree with. but for my uses and many other people, an optical drive really is necessary and unless Apple is going to lower the price proportionate to the cost of buying one by not having the drive, then it should still be provided in one way or another.

 

[wallysb01]

All I want is a quad core 13" MacBook Pro.

I'm not sure this will be possible. All the 4 core processors run higher TDPs than the duals (I guess that's a duh). And the 13" may simply not have the ability to cool those 4 cores.

This brings up the problem with tapered designed MacBook Pros. Right now the Airs are limited to <20 TDP processors. The 13" Pros get up to 35 TBPs, and the 15/17 get up to 45 TDP. Unless Ivy Bridge can get significantly more performance using less power, I just don't see how the MBP can get thinner and MORE powerful.

Maybe we can hope for thinner MBPs with similar power, or the same thickness and much more power. But I for one don't want to see it get thinner and be limited to lower performance Ivy Bridge CPUs, plus lose the Optical. The thickness now is just not a problem, nor is the weight. I just don't see the need, especially if you're leaving processing power on the table (not to mention the possible inability to upgrade RAM or swap hard drives).

 

[DCJ001]

@yyc engineer: 1 TB?
No, I don't think so. Apple always takes quite long to get the amount of RAM as standard that probably all of us already have in their MacBook Pros ;-)

I don't think that he was talking about RAM.