Skylake CPUs for next MB. (merged)

[mtneer]

No. I want the macbook to charge wirelessly. So the power would go over the air and not through the aluminium as a conductor.

I can imagine that such a contraption would be a slight convenience. But, my gosh, the efficiency of such a solution will be atrocious. I can't imagine someone beaming energy in 360-degrees of volume, for only a small portion to be actually charging the device and the rest disappearing into walls, windows and furniture.

 

[Aquamite]

I can imagine that such a contraption would be a slight convenience. But, my gosh, the efficiency of such a solution will be atrocious. I can't imagine someone beaming energy in 360-degrees of volume, for only a small portion to be actually charging the device and the rest disappearing into walls, windows and furniture.

Make it 120º.

 

[t0mat0]

Beam forming?

 

[asiga]

Considering what Apple has done to the 21inch iMac today, it's clear my next Mac will be a Retina MacBook. I hope they'll update it soon to skylake and to 16GB RAM. I'm disappointed they didn't update it today.

 

[kfscoll]

Considering what Apple has done to the 21inch iMac today, it's clear my next Mac will be a Retina MacBook. I hope they'll update it soon to skylake and to 16GB RAM. I'm disappointed they didn't update it today.

I'm genuinely curious here -- why do Apple's updates to the 21" iMac impact your decision whether to get an rMB? They're obviously very different machines suited to very different purposes.

 

[freddiecable]

Skylake 'is out in the wild' and that should mean it's getting closer to MacBooks and MBP's!

 

[kazmac]

I'm genuinely curious here -- why do Apple's updates to the 21" iMac impact your decision whether to get an rMB? They're obviously very different machines suited to very different purposes.

I can certainly understand their decision. I know I was very disappointed to see the 21.5" retina not keep a discreet video card to push those pixels and still have to pay above and beyond for half way decent internals. The 21.5" is barely one step up from the Mac Mini now (nice screen.) And the high end Mini looks like a much better deal to me.

If the 2nd gen rMB comes with a larger screen and 16gb ram, I may consider it as the replacement for my 2010 21.5 iMac too (with a nice monitor.) I don't like the idea of having to pay more to get a machine that is decent. I loved the rMB but the screen is too small for me.

 

[asiga]

I'm genuinely curious here -- why do Apple's updates to the 21" iMac impact your decision whether to get an rMB? They're obviously very different machines suited to very different purposes.

Because the "new" 21'' iMac doesn't have a performance much higher than a rMB, and in that case I prefer the rMB: it's fanless, it's lighter, it's nicer. However, I'd wait until the rMB gets the same CPU and RAM as the MS Surface Pro 4.

Btw, I just configured an iMac with what I consider a mid-range desktop, and it's over $4000. For that same price you get a better machine if you choose a Mac Pro.

So, the iMac, with this "update" becomes fully out of the game for me: if I want low-end, I go to the rMB. If I want high-end, I'd go for the Mac Pro. If I want mid-range, there's no Mac for that currently.

 

[HellasLEAF]

How much longer must we wait for the proper version of that gorgeous MacBook retina to come out.

My 2011 air has been a champ but I can't fit anything else into storage and external can only do so much.

If they could get out the real one for that ridiculous price that would be swell

 

[Vanilla Face]

How much longer must we wait for the proper version of that gorgeous MacBook retina to come out.

 

[toddzrx]

How much longer must we wait for the proper version of that gorgeous MacBook retina to come out.

My 2011 air has been a champ but I can't fit anything else into storage and external can only do so much.

If they could get out the real one for that ridiculous price that would be swell

What's your version of a "proper" MacBook? Not flaming; just curious.

 

[HellasLEAF]

What's your version of a "proper" MacBook? Not flaming; just curious.

One which specs match its price. I get the premium placed on Apple products. Heck, I usually pay it. But they are asking too much for the product my opinion and with sky lake around the corner..

 

[toddzrx]

One which specs match its price. I get the premium placed on Apple products. Heck, I usually pay it. But they are asking too much for the product my opinion and with sky lake around the corner..

Right...I get that. What would the specs be?

 

[fob]

Right...I get that. What would the specs be?

Skylake, ddr4, usb-c with 3.1 and tb3 maybe double up on thatone , a 14 inch option...Wait this could be the thinner rmbp redesign everyone wants.

12 mb, 14/16 rmbp. Three SKUs cover entire macbook line. Retire all non retina models. Much simpler.

 

[toddzrx]

Skylake, ddr4, usb-c with 3.1 and tb3 maybe double up on thatone , a 14 inch option...Wait this could be the thinner rmbp redesign everyone wants.

12 mb, 14/16 rmbp. Three SKUs cover entire macbook line. Retire all non retina models. Much simpler.

Agreed, except I think we'll see both a 14" rMB and a 14" rMBP. Key distinctions being processor power, fan-less for the rMB, and less ports. I think they'll keep MagSafe for the Pros too.

 

[AirdanMR]

Skylake, ddr4, usb-c with 3.1 and tb3 maybe double up on thatone , a 14 inch option...Wait this could be the thinner rmbp redesign everyone wants.

12 mb, 14/16 rmbp. Three SKUs cover entire macbook line. Retire all non retina models. Much simpler.

What about 12 / 14 rMB and 14 / 16 rMBP? That sounds nice too, maybe you want a bigger screen but don´t need the extra power of the rMBP.

The rMB is a sweet device, but Intel / Apple have to solve a few things in the upcoming versions, specially the thermals of the Core M to avoid throttling so the user get better overall CPU and GPU experience in the long term use. The actual performance is not that bad, the problem is when it overheats and the performance drops.

Thunderbolt 3 should be mandatory for any device launched from now on. And a price drop it is needed too, maybe in a couple of years it would match the AIR so 1000$ for the 12 rMB and 1100$ for the 14-inch.

That would sell like hotcakes.

 

[Cape Dave]

Skylake, ddr4, usb-c with 3.1 and tb3 maybe double up on thatone , a 14 inch option...Wait this could be the thinner rmbp redesign everyone wants.

12 mb, 14/16 rmbp. Three SKUs cover entire macbook line. Retire all non retina models. Much simpler.

Pure genius! Well done! Elegant simplicity at its finest!

 

[xmichaelp]

Because the "new" 21'' iMac doesn't have a performance much higher than a rMB, and in that case I prefer the rMB: it's fanless, it's lighter, it's nicer. However, I'd wait until the rMB gets the same CPU and RAM as the MS Surface Pro 4.

Btw, I just configured an iMac with what I consider a mid-range desktop, and it's over $4000. For that same price you get a better machine if you choose a Mac Pro.

So, the iMac, with this "update" becomes fully out of the game for me: if I want low-end, I go to the rMB. If I want high-end, I'd go for the Mac Pro. If I want mid-range, there's no Mac for that currently.

What? The iMac should be about 3x as fast CPU and GPU wise.

 

[Trey M]

Skylake, ddr4, usb-c with 3.1 and tb3 maybe double up on thatone , a 14 inch option...Wait this could be the thinner rmbp redesign everyone wants.

12 mb, 14/16 rmbp. Three SKUs cover entire macbook line. Retire all non retina models. Much simpler.

Totally agree with most of your post. DDR4 should be on the 2016 rMB models but we'll have to wait and see. I think usb-c/tb3 combo port is a no-brainer for Apple since they have lead the charge on Thunderbolt devices and this functionality is built into Skylake, giving Apple the perfect opportunity to introduce yet another compelling reason for usb-c adoption.

I also think we will likely see a 14-inch model (roughly same size as 13'' MBA) of the rMB that will replace the MBA line; whether or not it has 2 usb-c ports is also to be seen. I think it'd be a logical move so you could charge with one port and use your accessories with the other, but given that Apple has advertised the rMB as a 'one port design' so heavily, it's really 50/50 at this point.

I don't think we'll see a 16'' model, however. I think we'll see 12/14'' from the rMB line and 13/15'' from the rMBP line. It would cover all different user preferences. Apple has shown it's moved away from laptops larger than 15'' and I really don't think they'll go back. I hope they would, but I doubt it at this point. I think it's very likely for us to expect a 14'' rMB in 2016, however a rMBP redesign might not be in the books for 2016. All in all, it'll likely be a pretty exciting year for Apple laptops in 2016.

Oh, and some have argued that the Macbook has always just been one model, hence discrediting the likelihood of a 14'' model release. Just throwing this out there-- I'm betting they'll call them the rMacbook and the rMacbook+. Just a thought!

 

[itsOver9000]

Just throwing this out there-- I'm betting they'll call them the rMacbook and the rMacbook+. Just a thought!

Doubt it. They don't have MacBook Pro and MacBook Pro Plus or MacBook Air and MacBook Air Plus to differentiate between the screen sizes.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

I think usb-c/tb3 combo port is a no-brainer for Apple since they have lead the charge on Thunderbolt devices and this functionality is built into Skylake, giving Apple the perfect opportunity to introduce yet another compelling reason for usb-c adoption.

It still requires an additional chip, which increases cost. They may also use TB3 as a MBP feature the first couple of revisions. Still hoping though!

I think it'd be a logical move so you could charge with one port and use your accessories with the other, but given that Apple has advertised the rMB as a 'one port design' so heavily, it's really 50/50 at this point.

Initially the MBA also only had one USB port. It wasn't until Rev. D that it got a second USB port. So it will come, but likely not until Rev. C I would guess.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Considering what Apple has done to the 21inch iMac today, it's clear my next Mac will be a Retina MacBook. I hope they'll update it soon to skylake and to 16GB RAM. I'm disappointed they didn't update it today.

I agree. Skylake has been out for a while now. I had hoped that the next apple mac hardware refresh would include Skylake on the rMB. I fear we'll have to wait until Q1 in 2016 now.

 

[Trey M]

Doubt it. They don't have MacBook Pro and MacBook Pro Plus or MacBook Air and MacBook Air Plus to differentiate between the screen sizes.

Fair, but they also didn't have any 'Plus' moniker until late 2014 with the 6+. Which is well after the MBP or MBA have had a (significant) revision. Similar to how they brought the 'Air' moniker to the iPad, I'm thinking they might do the same with 'Plus'. But that's just my 2 cents, of course it's a shot in the dark.

 

[RubberShoes]

14" is never happening. The entire point of a retina display was to allow Apple to fit the 13" MBA resolution into a 11" footprint. DDR4 isn't happening cause Skylake m series only supports LPDDR3 1866 (so we'll get that instead, look at the current rMBP lineup) and Thunderbolt3 is coming, because Apple basically pioneered the whole venture and Skylake introduced the Alpine Ridge controller that supports it.

I am really hoping we see this update this month but I wouldn't be surprised if it's pushed back. The lack of USB-C/TB3 on the iMac refresh, and the fact that they were updated without an announcement make me think Apple might hold off.

 

[toddzrx]

14" is never happening. The entire point of a retina display was to allow Apple to fit the 13" MBA resolution into a 11" footprint.

Huh? That doesn't even make sense. Are you referring to the 13" rMBP?

Even then, what does a retina screen (pixel density) have to do with screen size? Apple now has them across their entire lineup. I'm hoping they do a 14" rMB next year when they kill off the Air.