New Macbooks / Macbook Pro soon?

[Tallest Skil]

Ahhh I hope it will be a major overhual though! But that would definitely not be possible for Oct. haha

Who says? They've had six and a half years to work on a new design, and it's been seven months since the last update. If they're doing anything, they have time.

 

[Apple-Muck]

Ahhh I hope it will be a major overhual though! But that would definitely not be possible for Oct. haha

It will be a major redisign ! I guess there's not so much doubt about that anymore ! Question is when ? ...Ooh ...I love the guessing part Keeps places like this alive !

 

[iMacmatician]

It will be a major redisign ! I guess there's not so much doubt about that anymore ! Question is when ? ...Ooh ...I love the guessing part Keeps places like this alive !

Release dates change quite a bit, while features don't change much from rumor to rumor.

I'm hoping for October 14, and if there's no new notebooks then, I don't know what I'll do.

 

[snake101st]

Posted by arthursiew in the Macbook forums:


New MacBooks to arrive in Early October!
"Field checks confirm that shipments of new MacBooks have begun, with a sharp production ramp planned for Sept and an introduction planned for early October. The most distinctive features of the new MacBook appear to be a very thin aluminum casing, an LED-backlit display and an aggressive entry-level price point."

http://www.streetinsider.com/Analys...rates+Buy+Rating+on+Apple+(AAPL)/3987780.html

 

[Apple-Muck]

I would consider one redesign not enough for an event unless there is major software (iLife, iWork) unveiled at that event. So I would say an event could easily contain two redesigns and small software (like glass trackpad functionality).

You've got a point there !... The new iMac was also released last year on a special event in August but it was with some software( iLife or iWork if i recall it correct ?)

 

[steamed.hams]

Owned much? Also, next to pretty much every other Apple product, the Macbook Pros look the most outdated, and personally, ugly.

Yes. I was owned by a list of links with vague and flaky "information."

When new notebooks werent released in july, it was sure to be august...then definitely at the september event...oh wait...it's gotta be october!!!

 

[MowingDevil]

Owned much? Also, next to pretty much every other Apple product, the Macbook Pros look the most outdated, and personally, ugly.

Are you kidding? I love the MacBook Pro along w/ the Mac Pro & the Cinema displays. Not a fan of the Air or iMac's new looks. The iMacs would be much classier if they looked more like the Pro line imo.

 

[AppliedMicro]

I've got the feeling that if Apple does update the laptops in Oct then it will only be a minor speed bump, possibly a small jump in RAM, boost HD capacity and perhaps an updated GPU from nVidia

Most of Apple's updates are minor speedbumps anyway, so that shouldn't come as a surprise. I still wouldn't rule out major overhauls for october.

Sometimes, I find the rumor mill a bit amusing. I mean... How often does Apple actually come up with complete overhauls and/or new designs and form factors for their Mac lines? The answer is quite simple: At a rate of about one (!) "new" Mac line per year. Look at current models and since when they have been available in pretty much its current form factor, discounting minor speedbumps/upgrades/alterations and the Intel switch:

MacBook Air: 2008
iMac Aluminum*: 2007
MacBook: 2006
Mac mini: 2005
iMac rectangular all-in-one: 2004
iBook G4*: 2003
PowerBook Aluminum / MacBook Pro: 2003
PowerMac G5: 2003

* mainly different case material and slightly alterations

If this is any indication, we might see just one or two majorly overhauled and/or "new" Mac lines during the next 16 months (MacWorld expo 2010). The MacBook Pro will certainly be one of them, adopting the new keyboard style and rounder/organic form factor. The MacBook might follow suit with LED screens and Aluminum case. It's the only "plastic" Mac left in Apple's lineup. I am still not too convinced of this happening soon, as it might blur the lines between consumer (MacBook) and premium products (Air, Pro) too much. Maybe add one "fancy new thing" into the mix (Mini successor, tablet? Even though I'm not sold on the tablet idea), and that's what I would expect for the upcoming 16 months in terms of Mac hardware... Peripherals might also see some updates, of course (new CDs?).

 

[steamed.hams]

Posted by arthursiew in the Macbook forums:


New MacBooks to arrive in Early October!
"Field checks confirm that shipments of new MacBooks have begun, with a sharp production ramp planned for Sept and an introduction planned for early October. The most distinctive features of the new MacBook appear to be a very thin aluminum casing, an LED-backlit display and an aggressive entry-level price point."

http://www.streetinsider.com/Analys...rates+Buy+Rating+on+Apple+(AAPL)/3987780.html

Aggressive entry-level price point??

niiiice

 

[AppliedMicro]

If I had to guess, I'd say:

October 14th event: New MacBook Pro, Pro Apps (the idea being that this will be a "Pro" event)
January 2009, MacWorld: New MacBooks, iLife, iWork

Think about it... MacWorld is traditionally more of a consumer event. A redesigned MacBook (non-pro) should provide a stronger sales momentum for the first quarter next year (2nd fiscal quarter), after back-to-school and holiday seasons...

 

[CWallace]

While we (Mac Pro owners) trudge through a year and a half without so much as a speed bump, the laptops are updated three to four times in the same period.

A good reason for that is workstation/server architectures are much more stable then mobile ones - in no small part because they are so much more powerful, but also because rapid and constant change is not welcome in most datacenters

 

[andrewdale]

If I had to guess, I'd say:

October 14th event: New MacBook Pro, Pro Apps (the idea being that this will be a "Pro" event)
January 2009, MacWorld: New MacBooks, iLife, iWork

Think about it... MacWorld is traditionally more of a consumer event. A redesigned MacBook (non-pro) should provide a stronger sales momentum for the first quarter next year (2nd fiscal quarter), after back-to-school and holiday seasons...

Throwing the tablet idea out of the window?

 

[iMacmatician]

Yes. I was owned by a list of links with vague and flaky "information."

Not really. This is a rumors site and some of the rumors I linked to (actually most) are from reliable sources. Do you want a letter from Steve Jobs about the release date? Yes, you were owned.

When new notebooks werent released in july, it was sure to be august...then definitely at the september event...oh wait...it's gotta be october!!!

Since April, they were only "delayed" once, from Q3/September to October (twice if you count Q3 » September as a delay).

In any case, the statement that the next notebooks (not the ones after that) will be redesigned is consistent among the rumors, whenever that may be.

 

[steamed.hams]

Completely incorrect. This is a rumors site and some of the rumors I linked to (actually most) are from reliable sources.

Exactly. Rumors. Speculation.

 

[iMacmatician]

Exactly. Rumors. Speculation.

And yet… rumors are more reliable than speculation. Rumors come from sources that have (or at least say they have) insider sources. Speculation comes from sources that have no insider sources whatsoever. So generally rumors > speculation.

In fact, I'd like to know why you and others believe (and for a while, I think) that the upcoming update will be a minor one with a redesign next year. Come to think of it, the timeframe for that minor update has changed over the months. July » September » October. Sound familiar?

 

[AppliedMicro]

Throwing the tablet idea out of the window?

I'm not sold on the idea of a tablet Mac.

Without any doubt there are some applications where a tablet comes in really handy.

But are you going to input text in these machines? Conventional keyboards are hardly outdone in this regard. I do surprisingly well on my new iPhone but typing on it is still way more tedious and slower than on a dedicated mechanical keyboard (anyone disagree?). A stylus is no viable alternative either... also, Microsoft seems way ahead in terms of Apple in handwriting recognition.

Without an adequate means of inputting text, the whole tablet concept is rather overrated. It sounds / looks better than it actually is, in everyday use. I'd also guess that some of the more sucessful tablets are actually convertibles.

I think, Apple has already placed its bets for the ultraportable market with the iPhone / iPod touch and the MacBook Air. While the iPhone fits into every pocket, the MacBook Air offers portability without compromising on keyboard input and screen real size. An in-between sized "tablet" would compromise on all of these, let alone computing performance!

OK, the MacBook Air doesn't fit the bill (almost literally) for some, because of its somewhat steep price. I think, Apple's will lower the Air's price point considerably. They'll have to! I think it's a little something of future things to come from Apple: Greater portability, more and faster wireless connectivity, less wires, more content and software sold via internet, less need for optical drives.

I would exactly be surprised if the Air or something "Airesque" will have replaced the current MacBook in the consumer market in the next five years or so.

 

[akm3]

I'm not sold on the idea of a tablet Mac.

Without any doubt there are some applications where a tablet comes in really handy.

But are you going to input text in these machines? Conventional keyboards are hardly outdone in this regard. I do surprisingly well on my new iPhone but typing on it is still way more tedious and slower than on a dedicated mechanical keyboard (anyone disagree?). A stylus is no viable alternative either... also, Microsoft seems way ahead in terms of Apple in handwriting recognition.

Without an adequate means of inputting text, the whole tablet concept is rather overrated. It sounds / looks better than it actually is, in everyday use. I'd also guess that some of the more sucessful tablets are actually convertibles.

I think, Apple has already placed its bets for the ultraportable market with the iPhone / iPod touch and the MacBook Air. While the iPhone fits into every pocket, the MacBook Air offers portability without compromising on keyboard input and screen real size. An in-between sized "tablet" would compromise on all of these, let alone computing performance!

OK, the MacBook Air doesn't fit the bill (almost literally) for some, because of its somewhat steep price. I think, Apple's will lower the Air's price point considerably. They'll have to! I think it's a little something of future things to come from Apple: Greater portability, more and faster wireless connectivity, less wires, more content and software sold via internet, less need for optical drives.

I would exactly be surprised if the Air or something "Airesque" will have replaced the current MacBook in the consumer market in the next five years or so.

The Air with Penryn becomes the new Macbook...Interesting.

 

[iMacmatician]

I think, Apple has already placed its bets for the ultraportable market with the iPhone / iPod touch and the MacBook Air. While the iPhone fits into every pocket, the MacBook Air offers portability without compromising on keyboard input and screen real size. An in-between sized "tablet" would compromise on all of these, let alone computing performance!

If the tablet (not mini-tablet) uses iPhone OS, it would be underfeatured for its size and computing power. If it uses Mac OS X, then its specs may not be enough for Mac OS X and apps (iLife).

 

[ikkeson]

The strange thing in all of this is that there are rumors about the macbook being shipped as we speak, but there aren't any new pictures surfacing about this. We all saw that 1 pic of the alu MacBook, but that's it. Any site that could post a pic of even the boxes being shipped, would be Site Of The Day, but nothing. Kinda strange to me.

 

[MowingDevil]

If this is any indication, we might see just one or two majorly overhauled and/or "new" Mac lines during the next 16 months (MacWorld expo 2010). The MacBook Pro will certainly be one of them, adopting the new keyboard style and rounder/organic form factor. The MacBook might follow suit with LED screens and Aluminum case. It's the only "plastic" Mac left in Apple's lineup. I am still not too convinced of this happening soon, as it might blur the lines between consumer (MacBook) and premium products (Air, Pro) too much. Maybe add one "fancy new thing" into the mix (Mini successor, tablet? Even though I'm not sold on the tablet idea), and that's what I would expect for the upcoming 16 months in terms of Mac hardware... Peripherals might also see some updates, of course (new CDs?).

Why is everyone so convinced the "new keyboard style" is coming to the Pro? I don't get it, I think it is awkward and far from comfortable. It doesn't even have the esthetic appeal the Pro's does. Can't see it happening, sorry. Having the pro's keypad is one thing that distinguishes itself from the Air & MB. They'll keep it.

ps Isn't the Mini still plastic too? That could get an aluminum overhaul, Steve knows its long overdue.

 

[Brien]

I disagree. EVERY other Apple product uses the new Keyboard. Mac Pro's ship with it. It'll be in the new MBP, almost a certainty.

 

[bimmer]

New Macbook and Macbook Pro are coming soon

Here is a link that confirms the shipments and gives some additional rumors regarding the MBP

http://37prime.wordpress.com/2008/09/15/new-macbook-and-macbook-pro-are-coming-soon/

 

[Habusho]

Nice, perfect timing, I just sold my MBP yesterday mwahahha.

 

[SchneiderMan]

Here is a link that confirms the shipments and gives some additional rumors regarding the MBP

http://37prime.wordpress.com/2008/09/15/new-macbook-and-macbook-pro-are-coming-soon/

shipments to where??

 

[MowingDevil]

Here's another link:
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/09/15/next_gen_macbook_shipments_begin_ahead_of_sharp_ramp.html