Next MacBook and MacBook Pro Updates in June?

[zaphodb42]

Intel must be crazy!!

What would be the reason behind pumping out new and improved technologies, such as Penryn, only to phase them out within a year? Understandable if Intel wants to get rid of the old ones and replace em with new ones, then Apple will be right behind that. But these "Pro" updates are "POOR" at the least, what ever happened to the G5 laptop? I'm still using a 12" PowerBook and love it, but it is only 1.5GHz, these Pro updates only raised L2 cache(on some machines), and a processor boost of 0.4GHz at most(LED backlit, no remote, multi-touch trackpad[I want to touch my screen!!], base models brought up RAM/ROM). Mainly, I don't see justification in these updates, simply Intel wanting to phase out a chip is fine, but if Apple keeps releasing new notebooks every time Intel's got something new, when will it even out and, when should someone be able to buy a MacBook(Pro) without having it as well phased out and replaced by another?

It seems more is going on that we obviously don't know. If Apple pushed Intel to make the chip for the Air, then for the PRO machines why are they simply updating every time Intel does? These are wonderfully powerful machines with endless possibilities, but I think Apple may have to just give us some crazy computers soon. iMac is a perfect example, they are changing their whole line of computers to look different. They waited to phase over to Intel then they changed the look to a big iPhone, without the touch. I could be wrong but the iMac looks exactly like and upside down iPhone, the home button is the iSight. Will these June updates look like iPhones as well, or have more than a multi-touch trackpad, which i have on my PowerBook from 2004?

SDK?? Where the hell?!? February isn't over but...

 

[nikto]

Hmmm, I will be interested to see if the case is redesigned, maybe *ehems* Bluray drives?

Yeah, I'm with you on the blu-ray. I don't really care about the case design, but there are some key things that didn't happen in the latest update of the macbook pro to justify upgrading. For me at least.

 

[IndyUK]

Hallelujah!

That's great news. I had been holding out for yesterday's update but just couldn't bear buying the MBP laptop with that old keyboard.

Can't wait for a June redesign with all the new features (Montevina, magnetic latch, new keyboard to bring it up to date with MB & MBA, high res screen for 15"?).

Brilliant news. I was thinking of buying a rival pro laptop in the meantime; now it'll be worth waiting.

 

[mondesi43]

Great. Another wait. Another excuse why I should not buy MacBook Pro just yet. Just waiting for my bank balance to increase with interest that I gonna save...

People need to stop waiting and buy when they 'need' a new device. If you want the latest and greatest, buy it on launch date because it's not going to be the latest and greatest in 6 months. There's always something faster/cheaper/prettier in the future.

 

[asdavis10]

I can hear the cries already from all those who just bought the new MB and MBP's. LOL. Suck it up fanboys.

 

[ruckus]

I know this has been said, but people should expect computers to be updated fairly frequently.

But why does it matter anyway? Having that extra 200 MHz doesn't mean jack. Its what you use the computer for that is important, and a couple of revisions won't make much of a difference either way in most industries.

I know there are people out there that have the "latest and greatest" bug and either buy every revision, which is fine, or are on a perpetual waiting for the next best thing cycle.

I just feel bad for the waiters, because if you need the machine, just buy one already! If you can't stand something better out in the wild than what you have, how can you buy anything? A car? A house? A dishwasher?

Edit: BTW, there will be a revision after the next revision. And one after that. Oh, and one after that one too. Probably another after that as well.

 

[11800506]

They DID do a case re-design. They called it the Macbook Air.

Oh, you want a DVD burner? You want firewire? Ok, you want a faster hard drive? Got it.

Oops, now we're back up to Macbook Pro size. Sorry!

The processor isn't the problem these days. The Macbooks (and pros) are about as small and sleek as you can get without removing components. And that's what they did with the Air. Don't expect them to start taking stuff out of their other laptops.

Unless you're not talking about shape, but just the look. What do you want? Fins? A purple stripe? Seriously, what? I see a millions "case re-design!" posts and not ONE of them ever makes a suggestion as to what they'd actually want.

Personally, I think your answer is right here:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GZHZ_enUS229US229&q=Macbook,+laser#

There. Go for it.

I think what most people are hoping for in a case redesign is possibly a tapered design like the macbook air, a magnetic latch design, a larger touchpad for multitouch and a redesigned macbook-style keyboard (Although that is the main reason some people don't want a case redesign).

 

[danemo]

All of these negative post will be the people who went out and bought a MPB for no reason yesterday and now they are pissed that updates will be coming every 3 to 4 months.

But this appears to be the future of Apple= revising lines with each chip upgrade. So no one- from now on- will get more than 4-6 months of "the latest and greatest".

There really is no reason to moan about technology moving forward. From now on, the significant upgrades will likely be design revisions.

In this regard, yesterday was a minor update. The June Montevina upgrades touted here will also be minor, unless they incorporate new design features (mag-latch, blu-ray).

 

[gkarris]

I can hear the cries already from all those who just bought the new MB and MBP's. LOL. Suck it up fanboys.

(goes to cancel refurbed MacBook order...)

Item: MacBook 2.2 Black, Refurbed
Status: Shipped.

, angry, angry, angry...

And if the new MacBooks in June are Aluminum and look like the MacBook Air...

(runs off crying.....)

(check my location and signature - that's life for me...)

 

[Small White Car]

I think what most people are hoping for in a case redesign is possibly a tapered design like the macbook air, a magnetic latch design, a larger touchpad for multitouch and a redesigned macbook-style keyboard (Although that is the main reason some people don't want a case redesign).

To me, those are all features. To me:

Changing trackpad, adding firewire 800, mag-latch -> Features Added
iBook to Macbook -> Case Re-Design

The things you list are all reasonable, but I don't consider them case re-designs. I'm trying to figure out what the "redesign the case" people are asking for.

EDIT: I'd consider the keyboard change to be a re-design, but I'd think they'd just say "change they keyboard," right? Surely asking to re-design the case MUST mean something more to these people, right? Is "tapered edges" really the answer? Doesn't seem like much.

 

[hypoxic]

Anyone know if there's an iMac upgrade in the works? I wanna buy one, but I don't wanna buy one if there is a new model coming in a month or so.

 

[dlewisdm]

this isn't news.

'Hey there is a computer and it will be updated in the future!!! What a concept!'

Obviously it will be updated. Is it really worth posting right now?

ha ha ha. I couldn't have said it better. The only purpose posting this now serves is starting another endless thread about people waiting for the next update to the MBs and MBPs.

I can see the headlines now:

5/12: "Apple to release updated MacBook Pros June 17th?" This headline is followed by four weeks of baseless rumors, "inside information", optimistic fools hoping for everything from a 20" MBP with a completely redesigned case to a drink holder, and pessimistic haters claiming that the upgrade is worthless and they were the smartest people alive for buying their three year old laptop when they did.

6/16: "New Macbooks tomorrow?" Rumors abound with screen shots of coded inventory systems that everyone claims to have the key to. macrumors posts triple.

6/17: "Apple releases leopard print Apple TV box." New flurry of posts and hate mail for Apple and Steve Jobs. This continues for about three days until the rumors begin for the 6/24 release date.

Next 4-6 Weeks: See above, but with slightly varied product.

8/12: "Apple releases new MB and MBP." Only update is to Montevina and a slightly bigger HDD and the wishers (see 5/12 above) start bashing Apple and Steve Jobs and the haters (see 5/12) revel in their pain, still holding to the belief that their PowerBook is comparable with current models.

8/13: Cycle starts all over again


Save yourself some heartache people...buy now if you want one. If not...well, have fun...

 

[zaphodb42]

Case-redesign

I want to MacBook touch. Forget this multi-touch trackpad, key shortuts will solve that for now, a more intuitive experience where no need to think is implemented to touching the screen and other areas of the computer you wouldn't think to interact with previously. iMac isn't going to be the only product on their line that looks like the iPhone, unless the Cinema Displays will look like em as well....

 

[ruckus]

(goes to cancel refurbed MacBook order...)

Item: MacBook 2.2 Black, Refurbed
Status: Shipped.

, angry, angry, angry...

And if the new MacBooks in June look are Aluminum and look like the MacBook Air...

(runs off crying.....)

That MacBook you ordered is a nice computer. Why would you be upset about an update 4-6 months down the road anyway? Use your new computer for a year, sell it, then pick up a new one 2 revisions from now, maybe even 3.

But seriously, the one you just ordered will handle the tasks you ordered it to do pretty much as good as the next revision will.

And I'm willing to bet the macbooks don't go aluminum. Not at their price point. The gap is narrowing between the macbook and the macbook pros, and there needs to be distinctive difference between the two. One of those is the casing.

 

[jragosta]

I Think so. I mean, Montevina is just the "Code name" for the Platform which incorporates a New Chipset (Northbridge) which allows for Faster Front-Side Bus 1066MHz vice the 800Mhz that the Santa Rosa Platform utilizes. Also, Montevina allows for use of DDR3 800Mhz vice DDR2 667MHz. Lastly, Montevina uses PCI express 2.0 Spec, vie PCI express 1.0 Spec. Really, its not much of a difference but allows for better power management and Higher bandwidth to devices such as Video Cards, Sound Cards etc.

Overall it should be a nice upgrade. This platform will still use the Intel Core 2 Duo (Penryn) but with a faster FSB of 1066MHz.

It will be a decent upgrade, but not earthshaking. Montevino is essentially an improved Penryn. The next MAJOR upgrade will be Moorestown (early 2009, IIRC). Moorestown offers an integrated memory controller (and, optionally, video and wireless on the CPU chip) which will significantly improve performance and power consumption.

No one outside of Cupertino knows that's going to happen, but if I had to bet, it would be that the major redesign will wait for Moorestown. Given the reduction in chip count, you have the possibility for making the pro line considerably slimmer than it already is - which is clearly an Apple objective.

 

[plan4]

personally, i'm glad to hear this. i was looking forward to the introduction of the multi-touch trackpad, but more as a curiosity. frankly, nothing about the latest "upgrade" was impressive (in the 15" models). the speedbump in the processor is negligible, the hdd size increase was already an option, and not an interesting one, as the 7200 rpm drive was more valuable to me. i find it rather irritating that the led backlighting is available as an upgrade on the 17" rather than a standard feature on a computer costing almost $3000.

there are two features that for me represent the next real upgrade (and they have nothing to do with case design or keyboards):

1. inclusion of a blu-ray drive. my next computer must be high-def capable

2. 1900 x 1200 resolution 15" screen. see above. this is already an option on other manufacturers laptops. i don't see why apple doesn't offer it at least as an upgrade. as someone who works with hd, it would be nice to view clips natively.

frontside bus increase, etc is nice, but i have no complaints about the speed of my current mbp. now that the high-def format war is over, it's time to fully incorporate the technology into the computer.

 

[jragosta]

Anyone know if there's an iMac upgrade in the works? I wanna buy one, but I don't wanna buy one if there is a new model coming in a month or so.

Yes. There's an iMac upgrade in the works.

No, I can't tell you when it's coming, but I can give you the advice that rational people use. If you need a computer now, buy it. If not, don't.

 

[mgargan1]

Personally, I think this is a great thing. And, in all honesty, think this is good for apple. This will cause people to purchase new systems before they normally would.

For instance, mr. powerbook g4, still has a great system, but is thinking about a new machine... well, now he has more options and instead of waiting for july or august, he can pick up one whenever he wants.

 

[Achiever]

People need to stop waiting and buy when they 'need' a new device. If you want the latest and greatest, buy it on launch date because it's not going to be the latest and greatest in 6 months. There's always something faster/cheaper/prettier in the future.

Amen to that. A voice of reason in a forum full of Veruca Salts.

 

[bmorris]

Dont Tell Me Things Such As This.

 

[notnek]

So does this mean the notebook forums will be saturated with 'should I buy now or wait?' threads for the next 4 months?

June is only 4 months away? Sweet. I hate winter.

 

[jragosta]

2. 1900 x 1200 resolution 15" screen. see above. this is already an option on other manufacturers laptops. i don't see why apple doesn't offer it at least as an upgrade. as someone who works with hd, it would be nice to view clips natively.

Yes, that would be nice, as would Blu-Ray. Now that the HD wars are over, Apple needs to get Blu-Ray in ASAP.

But as for screen resolution, there may be other issues. OS X is now resolution independent, so that's not a problem. In the past, however, Apple held off on the highest resolution screens because they didn't offer the quality Apple wanted. Sure, you got high resolution, but at the expense of color accuracy or brightness or contrast. I don't know if that's the case today (I haven't looked at any 15" screens), but if it is, I'd agree with it. I personally prefer quality to specs. After all, you're not really going to see the difference between native 1900x1200 and 1440x900 on a 15" screen, anyway (unless you have incredible vision). You WILL see the difference between a good quality screen and a poor one.

 

[jragosta]

June is only 4 months away? Sweet. I hate winter.

My daffodils are blooming. Does that help?

 

[Compile 'em all]

They DID do a case re-design. They called it the Macbook Air.

Oh, you want a DVD burner? You want firewire? Ok, you want a faster hard drive? Got it.

Oops, now we're back up to Macbook Pro size. Sorry!

The processor isn't the problem these days. The Macbooks (and pros) are about as small and sleek as you can get without removing components. And that's what they did with the Air. Don't expect them to start taking stuff out of their other laptops.

Unless you're not talking about shape, but just the look. What do you want? Fins? A purple stripe? Seriously, what? I see a millions "case re-design!" posts and not ONE of them ever makes a suggestion as to what they'd actually want.

Personally, I think your answer is right here:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GZHZ_enUS229US229&q=Macbook,+laser#

There. Go for it.

Industrial design changes over time. Technology improves, things get smaller, and things that were not possible become possible.

The macbook pro NEEDS a redesign. The current design is beautiful and all but it is exhausted.

 

[nja247]

The June Montevina upgrades touted here will also be minor, unless they incorporate new design features (mag-latch, blu-ray).

I believe that a new chipset coupled with faster, efficient chips is more of an upgrade than what was offered yesterday. Yesterday was slapping slightly better chips in the same old chipset.