New MacBook Pros Said to Launch in 2017 With Price Cuts and Up to 32GB of RAM

[tampageek]

There can only be one reason for Apple to announce a price cut. They're way below early sales estimates for the newer model, and/or the older models that are still being sold right next to them are moving faster. I've also noticed that refurbs are flying out of there.

Clearly the bubble Apple exec's live in has burst, and if they have to tell stockholders next qtr that their new Mac's are a flop there will be hell to pay. I doubt that ports will come back but they certainly should if they want to continue to call it "pro."

 

[544263]

I was planing to buy the new MacBook Pro but daaaaaamn it's so over price and I want to upgrade the specs to 16g and 1 tira but after I saw the price am so over my limits
I have 2011 MacBook Pro and it's like a cow it's to slow to use I need a new MacBook Pro for college

Dude if speed is your problem all you need is a SSD and RAM, *NOT* a new macbook. The 2011 books are almost as fast as the latest models, all you have to do is put in an SSD and enough RAM. We kept purchasing the 2011 and 2012 models over and over again for the company, because it doesn't make sense to spend 2-3x the money for literally equally fast, non-upgradeable new macbooks. Using a 2011+ macbook without SSD is like driving a forumla 1 car inside the centre of a city and complaining it's so slow ;-)

If you want a lighter, smaller book and a retina display, that's a different story of course.

p.s. In case you own the 15" model with dedicated GPU i'd recommend to swap it for a mid-2012 though, because of the frequent GPU problems with the 2011 models ...

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Some people have to justify their purchases to bosses or significant others.
If you were planning to spend $1200 on a 2015 13" rMBP or expanded Air you've already out on a limb explaining why a $600 PC with the same processor and RAM wasn't good enough for you. Now you have to explain away another $300 price hike - plus $200 or so in cables and adapters. These things add up. But, hey, lucky me has the cash, so I'm alright Jack.

Stop the press:

Has Dell raised the prices of the XPS 13 series?

I'm now seeing (on the US site) $1400 for the "new" XPS 13 with QHD screen, 15W i5, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD (broadly comparable with the $1500 13" MBP) - The Dell has Kaby Lake processors but HD, not Iris graphics (probably a zero-sum game) but I'd certainly pay $100 extra for Apple over Dell. The XPS 15s are still cheap c.f. the MBP 15 (but I don't think their GPUs are in the same class)

That puts things in a different context - considering that the XPS 13 and MS Surface Book (which has always been "overpriced") are probably the main competitors.

Looks like the industry may have been waiting to see who blinked first on price.

Since you're comparing the Dell XPS 13 to the MBP 13", you forgot to mention the Dell includes Thunderbolt 3 PLUS 4K display, normal USB ports, SD card reader, and next-gen processors that Apple won't come out with until next year at the soonest. Thankfully, Dell has't crippled their notebooks with only useless ports.

 

[ZapMyPRAM]

Enough of this crap! -regarding the article- I know its a rumors page but i had enough of it. I mean it. Its been a long time for the update of the product and now this rumor is making lots of people wondering wether to buy this new mac or not. Now we have rumors of fastest memory, better prices -there probably will be rumors of a 5k display, faster ssd, faster gpu and better processors.

Ok. Just guys tell you something If you need it just buy it. Its a great computer Is not worth to keep waiting in a year or two there always is going to be a better computer with price drops, 32, 64 or more ram

In my opinion apple has lost the horizon since the release of the iPhone. Don't get me wrong its a great product but apple is not innovating anymore the way they use do it. In the case of this computer I might get a 15 inch one too but they don't care about selling computers since the refresh rate each product is HUGE. The name PRO used to be something valuable for apple. In the present just a marketing thing.

 

[Greg B]

I wish some of you would cancel your orders so I wouldn't have to wait 4-6 weeks for shipment!

 

[Hank Carter]

Wirelessly... like 99% of printer/scanners for the last several years.

Horsefeathers. Most printers and scanners are not wireless.

 

[Joseph Rash]

Have you replaced with HDD with an SSD, an upgraded the memory?

After I did this to my 2011 MBP several years ago, it felt like a new machine. For non graphical tasks, it still runs fast enough ( software development etc ).

Yeah I did in the last 2 years I changed the ram to 8G instead of 4G and replaced the HDD to a SSD it was working fine but after one year the laptop fell from the table and was working really bad and the motherboard was damaged because of the fall

 

[iReality85]

I doubt that ports will come back but they certainly should if they want to continue to call it "pro."

Looking at it purely objectively, USB-C is where the industry is heading anyway in terms of connectivity. It's a combination of ever-slimmer devices plus consolidation of ports. Really the only holdout at this point is HDMI. It's a good thing, but the interim time period sucks (i.e. lack of products), combined with Apple being ahead of the curve in adoption of said standard.

 

[tampageek]

The Air line is the new base model Pro. Continuation of the same 15w processor, performance on par with the last gen rMBP but more efficient.

So conceivably, rather than admit they were wrong and completely misjudged their customers, Apple COULD introduce a "MacBook Pro Plus" which would have legacy ports and USB-C. I don't think MagSafe will return.

 

[Joseph Rash]

Dude if speed is your problem all you need is a SSD and RAM, *NOT* a new macbook. The 2011 books are almost as fast as the latest models, all you have to do is put in an SSD and enough RAM. We kept purchasing the 2011 and 2012 models over and over again for the company, because it doesn't make sense to spend 2-3x the money for literally equally fast, non-upgradeable new macbooks. Using a 2011+ macbook without SSD is like driving a forumla 1 car inside the centre of a city ;-)

If you want a lighter, smaller book and a retina display, that's a different story of course.

I did that 2 years ago but it fell from the table and now it's like not working fine I can't even upgrade to the latest system and working poorly every minutes it crashes

 

[Zaft]

Brands are not monopolies.

Brands? Intel owns the CPU industry.

 

[ryanlindner]

This macbook is just a let down. Time to move to windows. Apples days are numbered. I mean did anyone see the MS Studio! Thats what the iMac should have been. It so sad.

 

[tampageek]

Looking at it purely objectively, USB-C is where the industry is heading anyway in terms of connectivity. It's a combination of ever-slimmer devices plus a consolidation of ports. Really the only hold out at this point is HDMI. It's a good thing, but the interim time period sucks (i.e. lack of products), combined with Apple being ahead of the curve in adoption of said standard.

The reason people want the 'latest' tech is because it offers the best experience 'currently' available. The new Mac's don't do that. Furthermore, by the time the rest of the world catches up to Apple's sales disaster this generation of machines will be ready for replacement. By all accounts, we're looking at 2-3 years if not longer for USB-c to be industry standard - if at all. Don't forget, there are a lot of businesses that are not going to spend money to replace perfectly good and working USB legacy devices.

 

[544263]

I did that 2 years ago but it fell from the table and now it's like not working fine I can't even upgrade to the latest system and working poorly every minutes it crashes

ah okay i see, sad to read that. - did you have the GPU checked? does it work more stable after re-installing OSX or when booting off a fresh system (e.g. from USB or external HDD)?

 

[Sunrisesammy]

Now we get price cuts, now we get 32GB of RAM? What the hell is going on at Apple?

About a week ago Schiller said they don't build the MacBook for price they build it for experience. Has he changed his mind ... is he now building for price and an even a worse experience?

Maybe they try to recoup (R&D) costs?

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Looking at it purely objectively, USB-C is where the industry is heading anyway in terms of connectivity. It's a combination of ever-slimmer devices plus consolidation of ports. Really the only holdout at this point is HDMI. It's a good thing, but the interim time period sucks (i.e. lack of products), combined with Apple being ahead of the curve in adoption of said standard.

Being "ahead of the curve in adoption" and removing all legacy makes for a useless device until standards catch up.

 

[inhalexhale1]

Just the way it goes for refreshed generations. We should see $400-$600 cuts across the board in the form of new entry-level MacBook Pro with touch bar models next year.

I could see this happening at an event alongside an iMac update/redesign.

 

[544263]

I did that 2 years ago but it fell from the table and now it's like not working fine I can't even upgrade to the latest system and working poorly every minutes it crashes

some things you can try:

a) make it run on dedicated GPU always: go to settings -> Energy Saver -> untick "Automatic graphics swicthing" and reboot. helped on one device for me, removed the crashes, stable ever since. this helped on macbook pro 15" mid-2012, there seems a bug with the HD4000 driver that made it crash frequently.

b) make it run on the integrated GPU only: try gfxCardStatus and make it run only on HD3000. - helped on 2011 macbook for me, avoiding the dedicated GPU which is likely problematic on 2011 devices (both early and late, more common on early 2011). also helps for battery life.

 

[lysingur]

He made an unsubstantiated assertion as to the design/quality flaws relating to 1st generation products, of which he provided zero evidence when compared to later iterations. The 1st gen rMBP had no widespread design flaws, nor did the iPad Pro, nor did the 6+ (unless you consider it succumbing to attempts to bend it a flaw). Way to miss my point, and way to expect me to need to prove a negative. You're amazing.

The evidence you provide is anecdotal yet your assertion is universal. It's amazing that you don't know what's wrong with your argumentation even when others point it out for you.

MBPR Mid 2012, which I own, does have a widespread flaw, which is image retention. You can search this very forum to find out how widespread it was. So even the evidence you provided in your reply to me is erroneous.

 

[ateslik]

Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller, in an email to MacRumors reader David, explained that for Apple to make a notebook with support for more than 16GB of RAM, it would have to use a memory system that consumes too much power.

Oh noes! Whatever you do don't keep it the same thickness and add more battery life! Especially if it also means more ports, less adapters, better graphics card, and more RAM! THE HORROR!

At this point I'm violently going the other direction. Give me a MB PRO with 2 FW 400, 2 FW 800, eSATA, 4 USB-A, 4 USB-C, 2 HDMI, SD Card Reader, Magsafe, headphone jack, Nvidia graphics, 32Gb DDR4, has 24 hour battery life, weighs 8 pounds and is a frickin' INCH THICK! CAN WE GET A MOCKUP IN THIS JOINT!!!!

 

[zack793]

I know the 32GB would make many MacRumors users happy.

I'd love to see a price drop for SSDs. Granted, 2TB SSD are still very expensive, I don't know that they're $1200-$1400 expensive.

2 TB PCIe SSD are really expensive. Observe. And that's a bigger form factor that is used in the new macbook pros.

 

[544263]

The evidence you provide is anecdotal yet your assertion is universal. It's amazing that you don't know what's wrong with your argumentation even when others point it out for you.

MBPR Mid 2012, which I own, does have a widespread flaw, which is image retention. You can search this very forum to find out how widespread it is. So even the evidence you provided in your reply to me is erroneous.

didn't Apple replace those displays? you kept it?

 

[shk718]

This is a BIG screw up for Intel. You know Apple's chip designers are getting ready to hop in and do what Intel can't.

 

[harami]

I have a MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011). Was eagerly waiting to upgrade. But there are some major flaws that prevent me from upgrading to this version. Disappointed least to say.
a) The MacBook pro is often connected to a display monitor - with the use a full size keyboard and a mouse. So the finger touch ID bar blah blah is practically useless at work. While on the road , the touch bar is fun, but how much pro-work do you or can you get done on a 13inch screen, anyways, to take full utility of this feature.
b) lack of an ethernet port and reliance on adapters. Most medical institutions have poor wi-fi or almost worthless wireless connections. What most have though is good ethernet. Now, even after paying 2000$ i still have to carry a freaking happy halloween dongle pi$$es me off. i really don't care how thin this stupid computer is but come-on how hard is it throw in an ethernet port.
c) Cost! wow!...really Apple! who wants to pay 3000$ for the first iteration of a touch bar that one is hardly going to use at work when connected to an external display.

 

[Fidgetyrat]

Oh noes! Whatever you do don't keep it the same thickness and add more battery life! Especially if it also means more ports, less adapters, better graphics card, and more RAM! THE HORROR!

At this point I'm violently going the other direction. Give me a MB PRO with 2 FW 400, 2 FW 800, eSATA, 4 USB-A, 4 USB-C, 2 HDMI, SD Card Reader, Magsafe, headphone jack, Nvidia graphics, 32Gb DDR4, has 24 hour battery life, weighs 8 pounds and is a frickin' INCH THICK! CAN WE GET A MOCKUP IN THIS JOINT!!!!

Im with you. I was so fed up with this last MBP release I got the refurb high end 13" for $1600. Upgrading from a late 2008 MBP the size was a bit alarming at first. I didn't expect it to be SO thin and to think that the NEW one is even thinner?

Personally, I don't care about Thin. If I wanted thin I would have gotten a MacBook or an older Air. PRO models should not value thinness and portability but rather power and productivity. Personally keeping legacy ports around for years after they are needed is still the Pro way to go. Increasing battery capacity, expandability over thinness any way.

I'm glad I got the 2015 model because it has all the ports I need (I still don't own a single Thunderbolt anything so even those ports are useless to me). And the keyboard <3