The iMac doesn’t have enough depth for most ports. This is very different on an MBP, where the ports are on the side. That iMac is also not a Pro model.
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Redesigned MacBook Pro Models With 10-Core Apple Silicon Chip Said to Launch as Early as This Summer
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You could most likely get away with the current MacBook Air. It’s screaming fast, great for multi-tasking for an entry-level laptop, and renders graphics quickly. Photoshop is also optimized for Apple Silicon. You could also wait for the late 2021 or early 2022 MacBook Air, which should have an M2 processor.
The 14” is likely to be quite a bit more expensive than the Air. It’s going to have a more premium design, specs, etc. Overkill for most people today but also very versatile in terms of future-proofing.
If the M1X on the new MacBook Pros has 10 high-performance CPU cores, 2 high-efficiency CPU cores, 16 GPU cores and supports 16, 32 or 64 GB of RAM, Intel will be more done than a burnt steak, in my humble opinion. 😏
Yeah, the depth is a challenge, but they could easily have added the ports to the side of the machine where the Ethernet jack is. An HDMI port could be implemented vertically.
In theory I agree that Pro machines get the better features, but take the AirPods Pro for instance. They aren’t even Apple’s best headphones, and aren’t intended at all for professional AV users. So the term has lost much of its meaning.
I'd be willing to bet this model will support multiple external displays.
The real question would be whether the HDMI port (if that rumour/leak is to be believed) is hardwired or not.
Only the headphone jack is on the side, and that’s sort of for temporary use. I don’t think a cable that permanently hangs out to the side is what they want. So, the bottom, maybe.
We’ll see how they solve this on the bigger iMac.
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MacRumors read the Bloomberg story wrong. It says “as soon as early this summer” – surprised nobody here has caught this. So, WWDC announcement and shipping the following month just like the products announced in the April event.
For sure. The port discussion is relevant to the 14”/16” MBP though, since Apple’s recent track record indicates they’re unlikely to add any ports back once they’ve been removed. They’ve surprised us with the butterfly keyboard, though.
Oh yeah, that’s what I meant to say. Aesthetically I doubt they would put anything but the headphone jack on the side, so bottom is a definite possibility. Would be very sleek and useful (imagine HDMI-IN!) The fact that they didn’t include any USB-A ports in the iMac does not bode well for that extremely convenient feature coming to the super-thin MBP though.
Yea that's my fear. I will need 1TB and 16Gb Ram. That's gonna cost me dearly. In the past, I've only bought 256GB of storage but I am tired of carrying around my external drive. I need 1TB in my life.
Bottom mounted ports on a display are a nightmare to use, and I'm not sure a waterfall of cables directly below the screen fits many people's idea of "sleek".
I'm guessing they want to catch the "back to school market," so release in late July/Early August.MacRumors read the Bloomberg story wrong. It says “as soon as early this summer” – surprised nobody here has caught this. So, WWDC announcement and shipping the following month just like the products announced in the April event.
Well, sleeker than putting it on the side or top. But probably not a priority for Apple, which is still obsessed with looks. That’s why I’m so skeptical of the MBP getting any additional ports. But I really hope to be proven wrong.
It's true that "Pro" with Apple often really just means "premium", but regardless, the 24-inch iMac is clearly geared towards more of a consumer audience than the 16-inch MacBook Pro. So I wouldn't read too much into their iMac port choices.
Bottom ports might work if they bring back the 2013 Mac Pro feature of lit ports. Put the iMac at a slight angle, and have the ports light up as you touch somewhere in that general area.
Sides and top would be terrible for cable strain, and yes would look even worse (although they'd at least be possible to access without having eyeballs on stalks.
I'm not sure any of those reasons are applicable as either pro/con for ports on the MBP. It's flat on a desk, and the sides are easily accessed.
Conversely, I hope the rumours/'leaks' prove to be wrong, because losing TB3 port(s) to "gain" useless (to me) ports like HDMI means I won't be upgrading my 'spare' machine (currently a 2018 MBP15). You can trivially adapt TB3/USB-C to HDMI. You can't trivially adapt HDMI to anything except DVI or VGA.
And instantly watch that machine become ineligible for accidental damage coverage.
I'd probably go for the Pro as i'm more of a "I want the latest and greatest product".
I'm hoping it starts around 1299/1499 but that's probably gonna be way too low for Apple. Then again, the 14" is bound to be the lower end model of the two that get released if im correct.
Yes, because famously, you can't tilt an iMac display, and only an Apple Certified Professional® can set it up in your home.
I’m probably the only one but I really hope there’s an intel 11th gen option
Unless it tilts close to 90º (i.e. to be face up like an airport kiosk) you're still going to be lifting it up i.e. so it's not sitting flat on the stand.
I know this because I have two Dell displays that have downward facing ports. They're quite adjustable - way more than any iMac or Apple display pre-XDR. I have to rotate them 90º to access the ports reliably (or, as you suggest, just turn the whole thing on it's side and balance it in one hand while trying to wrangle the cord in the other).
The 16 inch MacBook Pro was the last best Mac. I’m happy being able to run any operating system any app I want. M1 was apples way of locking you in.
Fair, but again, I think part of the problem would be solved by lighting. Make the port shape easy to see, and 90 degrees shouldn’t be needed.