Next gen MacBook Pro wishlist:

[project_2501]

What do you think Apple's New Year's Resolutions should be?

Here's my list for them:

• Bring back usable reliable keyboards for the Macbook Pro
• USB-A ports, too useful too often
• 32GB + RAM
• Less customer-hostile secrecy about problems, be open transparent and people will respect you
• 2015 pricing ... Not £2500 for basic work laptop

 

[jerry70450]

For me, essential:
- Hexcore
- 32GB
- NO Touchbar
- NO FaceID
- Fixed keyboard reliability issues

Very desirable:
- User replaceable RAM and SSD

Desirable:
- Magsafe
- SD card slot
- Not thinner than current
- What the hell....4K display

why not face id?

 

[turbineseaplane]

why not face id?

+ 1 - I'm definitely in the camp that wants FaceID on the Mac.

IMO, there is no better place for FaceID than on the computers, especially since the hit rate on successful authentication would probably be nearly 100% and the convenience factor would be stunningly great - much much more so than TouchID is on the Mac.

 

[jerry70450]

+ 1 - I'm definitely in the camp that wants FaceID on the Mac.

IMO, there is no better place for FaceID than on the computers, especially since the hit rate on successful authentication would probably be nearly 100% and the convenience factor would be stunningly great - much much more so than TouchID is on the Mac.

Definitely, you'll be staring directly looking at the screen anyways
[doublepost=1519072948][/doublepost]This is my wish list that will never happen:

• SSD starting at 512gb all the way to 2tb
• 4k display with hdr 10 bit color and adaptive refresh rate (freesync 144hz or 240), edge to edge, wider color gamut
• 3rd gen butterfly keys with more travel, less noise and more reliability
• 99.5 wH battery
• 1080p or higher facetime camera
• face ID
• touch bar ABOVE standard function keys with heptic feedback
• trackpad and apple pencil compatability maybe (with a trackpad that big might as well use it like a walcom tablet)
• sd card reader uhs-ii
• 6 thunderbolt 3 ports with usb C 3.2, latest displayport and hdmi standard with
• 3.5 headphone jack
• maybe a magnetic usb c cable?
• RAM starting at 32 gb goes up to 64 gb
• CPU with 6 cores/12 threads
• top of the line vega graphics
• bt 5.0
• maybe touch id AND face id recognition at the same time?
• reasonable pricing but with what I just listed, looking at $5000+
• It's thin enough but maybe some apple magic and make it lighter?
• come with more icloud free storage for ~5 years, maybe 50-100 gb?

 

[The Mercurian]

why not face id?

+ 1 - I'm definitely in the camp that wants FaceID on the Mac.

IMO, there is no better place for FaceID than on the computers, especially since the hit rate on successful authentication would probably be nearly 100% and the convenience factor would be stunningly great - much much more so than TouchID is on the Mac.

Massive invasion of privacy. You know FaceID can track your facial features right? So you guys are comfortable with your laptop knowing exactly which ads you are looking at and for how long are ye? Potentially - reading your expression as you read a web-page? etc.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Massive invasion of privacy. You know FaceID can track your facial features right? So you guys are comfortable with your laptop knowing exactly which ads you are looking at and for how long are ye? Potentially - reading your expression as you read a web-page? etc.

Is Apple doing that right now or are you just suggesting that it's a concern to keep in mind?

I'm certainly concerned about privacy issues, but it's a very difficult trade off discussion in the very connected and advancing world we are living in.

One could make a very strong argument that Siri is, at least in part, so far behind due specifically to the privacy choices & tradeoffs Apple has made.

There is no reason at all that Apple couldn't implement Face ID while restricting its usage specifically to authentication. If you're saying you can't trust your computer manufacturer, there are many other things to be worried about already, way beyond Face ID concerns.

 

[richinaus]

Is Apple doing that right now or are you just suggesting that it's a concern to keep in mind?

I'm certainly concerned about privacy issues, but it's a very difficult trade off discussion in the very connected and advancing world we are living in.

One could make a very strong argument that Siri is, at least in part, so far behind due specifically to the privacy choices & tradeoffs Apple has made.

There is no reason at all that Apple couldn't implement Face ID while restricting its usage specifically to authentication. If you're saying you can't trust your computer manufacturer, there are many other things to be worried about already, way beyond Face ID concerns.

I trust Apple more than the government and they have a huge amount more information on me than Apple..........

Anyway, my expectations [not Wishlist as I gave up on these in 2016 ]

As they are at present with,

Hexcore CPU
VEGA M GPU
improved keyboard [same mechanism, tweak the engineering]
better battery
FaceID

I feel those who want the touch bar removed, or 32gb ram or any other workstation type features will be disappointed.
As far as I can see Apples business model never changes. Once you can see this then your expectations can be reduced.

All Apple machines are developed for a majority user. I am a minority user with needs at the iMac pro level [which I have and am very happy with]. The laptops are what they are, mobile devices that can get a certain amount of work done.
Steve Jobs made it super clear on the direction of Apple with the truck analogy of a desktop vs laptop vs tablet use, and they have followed through on that.

It is extremely clever approach to their product line, and certainly sucks a lot of money from me, as I have them all.

Imac Pro - heavy processing and GPU related work [3D visuals etc]
MacBook Pro - mobile working - modelling etc light rendering if required.
Ipad - sketching, content reviewing etc
Iphone - mobile communication

I don't really expect this model to change much as each product has its place. Those [and I used to be in this category] hoping for this to change will always be disappointed in the direction of Apple in any of these categories.
Basically the only way it will change, is if they decide there is a business case [like the iMac pro] to extend the category.
Hence there maybe a workstation MacBook Pro [powerbook], but I can't see it happening as the current spread is nearly perfect in terms of use + category. Of course some will always be on the periphery of these or blurring the needs of mobile vs desktop.

 

[jerry70450]

I trust Apple more than the government and they have a huge amount more information on me than Apple..........

Anyway, my expectations [not Wishlist as I gave up on these in 2016 ]

As they are at present with,

Hexcore CPU
VEGA M GPU
improved keyboard [same mechanism, tweak the engineering]
better battery
FaceID

I feel those who want the touch bar removed, or 32gb ram or any other workstation type features will be disappointed.
As far as I can see Apples business model never changes. Once you can see this then your expectations can be reduced.

All Apple machines are developed for a majority user. I am a minority user with needs at the iMac pro level [which I have and am very happy with]. The laptops are what they are, mobile devices that can get a certain amount of work done.
Steve Jobs made it super clear on the direction of Apple with the truck analogy of a desktop vs laptop vs tablet use, and they have followed through on that.

It is extremely clever approach to their product line, and certainly sucks a lot of money from me, as I have them all.

Imac Pro - heavy processing and GPU related work [3D visuals etc]
MacBook Pro - mobile working - modelling etc light rendering if required.
Ipad - sketching, content reviewing etc
Iphone - mobile communication

I don't really expect this model to change much as each product has its place. Those [and I used to be in this category] hoping for this to change will always be disappointed in the direction of Apple in any of these categories.
Basically the only way it will change, is if they decide there is a business case [like the iMac pro] to extend the category.
Hence there maybe a workstation MacBook Pro [powerbook], but I can't see it happening as the current spread is nearly perfect in terms of use + category. Of course some will always be on the periphery of these or blurring the needs of mobile vs desktop.

Honestly IDK why they couldn't just have put the touch bar above the function keys and called it a day. you could have 2 options - either standard keyboard shortcuts, and customized keys for even greater productivity and you wouldn't piss a bunch of customers off

 

[Glmnet1]

Honestly IDK why they couldn't just have put the touch bar above the function keys and called it a day. you could have 2 options - either standard keyboard shortcuts, and customized keys for even greater productivity and you wouldn't piss a bunch of customers off

Because Apple is all about letting go things they no longer deem necessary. With the touch bar replacing most of the functionality of the function keys, it's redundant to keep both. It would also put the touch bar at a weird distance from where your hands are when typing.

Sure it annoyed a few users, just like every single change does, but I don't think it bothers the majority at all.

 

[richinaus]

Honestly IDK why they couldn't just have put the touch bar above the function keys and called it a day. you could have 2 options - either standard keyboard shortcuts, and customized keys for even greater productivity and you wouldn't piss a bunch of customers off

The physical escape key was a big deal to me, not so much the function keys [but can understand how others are effected here], but I think overall it was a gimmick idea still that had some minor function benefits.

Apple seem to gear everything towards their own software and done appreciate the effect they are having on productivity in different apps. As in the touch bar does add some function to all their products but none whatsoever to the apps I use.

I doubt it is going anywhere......

 

[Uncle Scary]

My wishlist:
17" screen
old style keyboard - butterfly keyboard does not give me any feedback
function keys - touchbar does not really work for me
smaller touchpad - never thought the old touchpad was too small, but sometimes accidentally hit the larger one
magsafe
motherboard that does not die every couple of years

 

[groove-agent]

My wish list would be:

* increase thickness a touch, add a reliable keyboard, larger battery, user replaceable SSD/ memory
* bring back the function keys, put the touch bar closer to the screen
* 32 GB RAM
* shrink the bezel

... and as long as we're dreaming:

* antiglare option
[doublepost=1519099440][/doublepost]FaceID is basically an expensive replacement for touchID. Considering relatives have been able to trick FaceID, I would trust touch id more.

There could be some future use for FaceID though. Animojis are neat, but pure fluffery.

+ 1 - I'm definitely in the camp that wants FaceID on the Mac.

IMO, there is no better place for FaceID than on the computers, especially since the hit rate on successful authentication would probably be nearly 100% and the convenience factor would be stunningly great - much much more so than TouchID is on the Mac.

 

[Sam Luis Obispo]

Massive invasion of privacy. You know FaceID can track your facial features right? So you guys are comfortable with your laptop knowing exactly which ads you are looking at and for how long are ye? Potentially - reading your expression as you read a web-page? etc.

Would you advocate for mechanical switches that can turn off the camera and microphone (instead of allowing [trusting] software to turn these on and off)?

 

[DeepIn2U]

I'd settle for:

- a keyboard that doesn't suck
- return of a MagSafe-style power connector

To be honest I think you're more likely to get your wishes than I am mine

What's really sad is Apple used to be THE BEST in the industry for keyboards over a decade ago and since then Lenovo has been eating Apple's and making pies and sauce with their laptop keyboards. The ThinkPad T460s/470s are getting very close to the exotic styling as well as sleek/thinness as well (almost besting their X1 Carbon lineup in sleek/thinness at a MUCH cheaper cost as well).

Does anyone at Apple fully type their emails, documentation, thesis or contracts using the current generation MB/MBP and touch-type without the NEED to look at their keys? Oh I forgot they use SIRI and wait a LONG time to go back and correct (after the entry latency) ... or they use desktop keyboards like on iMac.

Why is everybody bitching about the keyboard. I think it's great except for the loud noise.

I guess many of us are very fast touch typers of old school days - cutting our fingers on typewriters and x86 generation computer keyboards. Most of the younger generation hunts and pecks on physical keyboards for laptops/desktop keyboards along with touchscreen keyboards may not care too much as their typing speeds are not affected with the late 2016/mid 2017 MBPs.

Since this generation MBP/MB have such a minimal travel and rebound when striked, it affects the force already registered into muscle memory in our fingers to effectively type fast. I'm not joking. I stopped by Yorkdale Apple Store on Thursday and tested online typing test that I know I average over 70wpm with minimal errors and I barely managed 30wpm! it was like a tween stuttering and tripping while walking ... my brain couldn't think through a sentence fluidly in real time as I could read it to type. Previously I hadnt' believe the keyboards where THAT bad.

why not face id?

Apple hasn't shown (Touch ID gen 1 to gen 2, Thunderbolt gen 1 to 2, camera's on MB/MBPs) quick transition from generation 1 to generation 2 of their headlining hardware features faster than 8mths - projected revision of MBP from iPhone X launch timeframe.

 

[vemac575]

Steve Jobs resurrection. EVERYTHING would be fixed. Steve Jobs: Making Apple great again, since... The beginning.

 

[The Mercurian]

Would you advocate for mechanical switches that can turn off the camera and microphone (instead of allowing [trusting] software to turn these on and off)?

No. I'd advocate for not including the feature, or at least making it optional. I don't want topay for a feature I don't want to use. See the TouchBar - drove up prices of the 2016/2017 models by couple of hundred $

 

[Ries]

10nm CPU
Function row back incl esc key
Keys with actual travel
reduced trak pad size
Screen res 2 times 1680xwhatever it runs now
OLED

 

[The Mercurian]

10nm CPU

Why do you care about the size of the silicon? The hex core chips that are upcoming are on 14nm. You won't see 10nm for laptops for a long while yet.

 

[CmdrLaForge]

Let me add that I want a bezel free design. An object has 3 dimensions. Apple only works in reducing the thickness, which is already fine.

Also I would like to see:
12" MB
14" MBP quad core
16" MBP six-core

With overall same dimensions as today.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Let me add that I want a bezel free design.

That would be nice!

 

[greenmeanie]

I am willing to bet the GOV is.

Is Apple doing that right now or are you just suggesting that it's a concern to keep in mind?

I'm certainly concerned about privacy issues, but it's a very difficult trade off discussion in the very connected and advancing world we are living in.

One could make a very strong argument that Siri is, at least in part, so far behind due specifically to the privacy choices & tradeoffs Apple has made.

There is no reason at all that Apple couldn't implement Face ID while restricting its usage specifically to authentication. If you're saying you can't trust your computer manufacturer, there are many other things to be worried about already, way beyond Face ID concerns.

[doublepost=1519152002][/doublepost]Then you need to dump the camera.

That would be nice!

 

[Ries]

Why do you care about the size of the silicon? The hex core chips that are upcoming are on 14nm. You won't see 10nm for laptops for a long while yet.

Because (according to rumors):
- They will contain the hardware fix for meltdown and spectre
- Use less power
- Contain a iGPU twice as fast as current models
- Basicly not being a broadwell node refresh/refresh/refresh/refresh/refresh/refresh/refresh
- They crammed 2 extra cores into the same TDP for those hex cores with the same node, that has a cost somewhere.

I belive in a intel 9th gen laptop late 2018.

 

[MBX]

If by next-gen you mean a real new re-design cycle that will most likely come in 2020 then:

- 6+ CPU cores
- 32GB Ram
- At least 6-8GB HBM2 GPU
- Trackpad size remaining same but Apple pencil support
- 15'' without TouchBar version
- Bezels reduced drastically on the screen but no damn notch. Would also reduce the footprint of 15'' more.
- Battery power 100% increase if possible to real-world usage of 8 hours instead of only about 2-4 if video editing, etc.
- Face ID
- ProMotion screen tech

 

[The Mercurian]

Because (according to rumors):
- They will contain the hardware fix for meltdown and spectre
- Use less power
- Contain a iGPU twice as fast as current models
- Basicly not being a broadwell node refresh/refresh/refresh/refresh/refresh/refresh/refresh
- They crammed 2 extra cores into the same TDP for those hex cores with the same node, that has a cost somewhere.

I belive in a intel 9th gen laptop late 2018.

Yeah but there will always be a next great thing. I don't believe we will see those models until mid 2019 at earliest. They still have no released coffee lake updates and they are not going to cannibalise their sales by quickly releasing the cannon lake chips.

 

[Koh Phi Phi]

I bought the MBP 15" touchbar on launch day in fall 2016... It's been a good machine, but certainly not my favorite Apple laptop among the many I've owned over the years. I feel that this generation of MBP have missed the mark in a few areas.

• Get rid of touchbar:
  It's a gimmick and, after using this puppy daily for over a year, I still havent used a real use to it. Has anybody use an actual benefit to this thing? The only good thing about it is the finger print reader.
  
  
• 4K screen:
  Because 4K streaming is becoming more common, and because many other high-end laptops already offer it.
  
  
• Smaller bezels:
  They are good right now, but hopefully we could shave an extra 1/4 of an inch here and there? Not a big deal through.
  
  
• Keyboard more reliable:
  One of my keys (letter "b" to be precise) doesnt click properly. This is a known issue reported by many users in forums. Besides, while I liked the keyboard, it was always a bit too clicky, wooden and loud for me. A little tiny bit more of travel would have been preferred.
  
  
• Reduce the size of the freaking trackpad:
  My palms rest on the sides of the oversized trackpad, thus forcing me to type at an forced angle. Besides, there really is no need for such a humongous pad at all. Who on Earth uses the entire real estate of that monster?
  
  
• Keep the current case:
  Im OK with its current size, weight, all USB-c port selection, aesthetics, etc. None of this needs to change.
  
  
• Battery needs to improve:
  I cant squeeze more than 5 hours or real-world working usage out of my MBP 15".
  
  
• Typical evolutionary spec upgrades:
  Intel 8th generation, newer GPU, blah blah. The MBP has always been plenty powerful, so it just needs to keep up with 2018 components.
  
  
• And, for the love of God... bring the price down to reasonable levels!
  I paid $2,800 plus taxes for my MBP 15" touchbar. I felt that it was at least $400 or $500 over where it should have been specs-wise. On top of that, upgrades in SSD were absurdly expensive (+$400 for an extra 512GB of SSD?!). The 2012 generation was priced fairly, but the 2016 generation was overpriced across the entire family, 13" and 15" alike.