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Skylake CPUs for next MB. (merged)
- Thread starter dubydoo
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so i asked Tim and yes the next one will come with HD 515
I wasn't saying there won't be an update, just that Apple won't make a big spectacle of it. Just like with the annual MacBook Air updates, they just show up in the store one day.
I want to replace my 2010 13" Air with a rMB, but I'm holding out hope that 2016 will bring a little performance upgrade. Not that I need major performance but the first gen is a little underpowered for my taste. I don't NEED a replacement yet, so I'm comfortable holding out for a little while.
I respect that, but I just don't think Apple is going to upgrade anything, major or minor, this soon after the RMB's release. Especially when you look at how long-in-the-tooth the Pro and Air are right now. Methinks those are bigger priorities at Apple right now, not the newly released niche notebook.
BJ
That is actually the opposite of common sense...
The rMB has been positioned as what Apple sees as the future for notebook users-- while you're right in previous posts saying that probably 95% of consumers don't know "what a Skylake is", when has Apple released a brand new notebook then not updated it for over 20 months (which is what you're implying by 2017)?
Clearly, a Skylake upgrade which improves performance, potentially battery life, likely welcomes in TB3/usb-C combo port, etc. is enough justification for a new revision release. Plus, we're talking about Apple, who would love nothing more than to release an upgrade to talk about how fantastic the product is and how it is better in every way than the Surfacebook
Yeah, it won't be a big deal, and it'll likely get a small amount of stage time (if any). But I would bet my savings account that Apple will release a rMB revision in 2016.
I know I'll be buying one if they release TB3 combo port as well as fixing keyboard quality control issues. Unless they release redesigned MacBook Airs (last week's rumor) since I'd prefer a slightly larger screen.
My point is that since processing power isn't what the RMB is about to begin with, and since its target audience doesn't care about ever millisecond of speed or they wouldn't have considered one, that upgrading just the processor doesn't seem congruent for Apple's strategy for the RMB. It already has all-day battery life. So an extra 10% isn't a game changer.
You are right about Apple seeing this product as "the future of notebooks" so if the future is about size and weight and not about horsepower then Apple would upgrade the RMB only when something appears to assist in those key goals. If it makes "portability" better, then it'll be added quickly. Otherwise it'll take its time. If we were discussing a new battery or a new alloy that reduced weight by 30% we'd be having a very different conversation.
Like you, I'd like a bigger screen. That and an HD camera. A fancy new processor with a sexy new name isn't going to sell one extra unit from the stores because no one in the RMB demographic believes that it's going to make it any faster to get to Facebook or YouTube. It's already very good at that.
BJ
It just doesn't make sense not to upgrade to current chips when they are available and provide significant performance boost at the equivalent price -- unless cutting cost by using out-dated chips is the goal.
The goal was to make the future of laptops. Core m chips allowed for that in terms of power consumption, heat and size, as well as performance. How does that equate to increased performance not being desirable?
There are several competing products out there (surface, surface book and more), that have and will continue to update their chips. Why should Apple not do the same? Even casual customers will pick up on such headlines in casual news.
And, although many (myself included) do not consider MB increadibly underpowered, it may the Mac that will benefit most from an under-the-hood update! Not to mention possibility for single-cable docking with TB3.
Apple, especially under Tims lead afaik, follow a continuous treadmill of updates, with updated products once a year for most products. Delayed updates are otherwise associated with limited improvements in new hardware, which is not the case for MB and Skylake.
I'm sure this would NEVER happen at Apple.
(he said out loud, then muttered something about 5400rpm and 16GB
)No, I kinda see both sides of the issue. My personal take is that the current version of rMB will drop in price to become the new entry model, Air removed from the market and a new faster and/or larger version of rMB will be introduced as Macbook Plus or whatever they call it. This plus refresh of the Pro line. Back to the four laptops idea: small and large machine for consumers, small and large machine for pros.
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I'm sure this would NEVER happen at Apple.
(he said out loud, then muttered something about 5400rpm and 16GB
No, I kinda see both sides of the issue. My personal take is that the current version of rMB will drop in price to become the new entry model, Air removed from the market and a new faster and/or larger version of rMB will be introduced as Macbook Plus or whatever they call it. This plus refresh of the Pro line. Back to the four laptops idea: small and large machine for consumers, small and large machine for pros.
Apple is notorious in holding back on storage size not to mention the 5400rpm drives, but usually up to date on chips?
Chips follow a natural update cycle, while drive size and speed is a compromise in price (and upgrade prices).
It wasn't like the MBA, when it launched in 2010 or whatever, was all about the processor power. Quite the opposite in fact.
Yet they still updated the MBA yearly with the most current chips. It's a computer company; that's what they do. They can likely cut the cost of the rMB even with updated Skylake chips. Any first gen product Apple sells, aside from iOS devices, typically carries a premium over the 2nd, revised model.
Yet they still updated the MBA yearly with the most current chips. It's a computer company; that's what they do. They can likely cut the cost of the rMB even with updated Skylake chips. Any first gen product Apple sells, aside from iOS devices, typically carries a premium over the 2nd, revised model.
I've been out of the loop a bit since selling my second rMBP 15". While it was great I needed to go back to a desktop so built a Skylake gaming rig, but since doing that I've really missed having and using my Macbook. So I'm thinking now that I don't need a lot of power the rMB really suites my needs: Highly portable, great screen - perfect for web browsing, email and watching stuff, as well as the great integration with my iPhone.
But I don't want to buy this Broadwell based Mac when Skylake is out, is there any news of a timeframe yet?
Also I'm all for moving with the times but can someone seriously explain why there's only a single Type C connector? That seems like a really foolish decision. If they'd just put an extra one on the other side it would have been perfect! Is there a chance they will include a second Type C in the refresh?
But I don't want to buy this Broadwell based Mac when Skylake is out, is there any news of a timeframe yet?
Also I'm all for moving with the times but can someone seriously explain why there's only a single Type C connector? That seems like a really foolish decision. If they'd just put an extra one on the other side it would have been perfect! Is there a chance they will include a second Type C in the refresh?
It's a highly contested viewpoint, but in my opinion Apple will be in no rush to put Skylake into the RMB considering it only reached a critical mass in-stock position in August, a mere 4 or 5 months ago. And, as you've already discovered, the tiny incremental bump in processor speed is wasted on a notebook like the RMB which is predicated on size and weight, not squeezing out every last millisecond of multitasking time. Apple makes other notebooks for that purpose.
The reason for the single USB-C connector is multi-faceted, the biggest reason being that in order to keep thickness, weight, and power consumption down they removed all the nasty HDMI, USB, SD, and VGA ports and out-boarded them to their adapters. Many don't view these as 'adapters' in the tradtional sense; they're actually mini docking-stations and quite convenient. An extra USB-C connector is also counter to the philosophy of making "the future of notebooks" which is wireless. Most of us live very comfortably using our single USB-C port for charging and use wireless for our Mouse (Bluetooth), Speakers (Bluetooth), browsing (wi-fi), file management (Dropbox), etc. In fact, the only condition in which I need more than the solo USB-C port is when I'm making a Powerpoint presentation and need to hard-wire in to a projector or HDTV. It's great that outside those 5 days a year I'm not forced to drag around all those ports for the other 360 days.
So if you're thinking of getting an RMB, get it now, don't wait. Even when Skylake makes it out, the real-world impact on a non-performance machine like the RMB will be marginal. And check out the Apple USB-C adapters, you'll find they complete the single-port mystery very nicely.
BJ
Thanks for the reply BJ, you've made some really good points.
I'm sure the performance difference will be marginal but I'm not looking to buy it until perhaps March and if there's a significant redesign of the Pro to make it a bit lighter then it's always an option. So guess I'll wait and see but this laptop does appeal to me.
Having a second Type C would also mean being able to charge from either side, but I do agree virtually everything outside of charging and the occasional data transfer is done wirelessly for me now. Still feel it's perhaps the one thing that's kept it short of being perfect for me, plus if it breaks, you're screwed.
How is it for typing on? I've heard some not so positive opinions on it. I really liked typing on my rMBP and I'm pretty used to typing on my mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX Reds.
don't get hung up to BJ's posts too much, he's always repeating those mantras all of the time:
- that the rMB is a niche product, designed as a second computer for a businessman
- that there will not be a new rMB until 2017
- that MBA and rMBP are old designs, and that's why people buy the rMB more (curiously, this statement contradict the first in a quite pecurliar way but anyway)
Of course, everyone is entitled to an opinion but it should be noted that his are not based on a statistical data analysis and therefore should be read with a grain of salt.
I wouldn't have written that if these statements hadn't appeared literally in every thread about the rMB I read.
I don't have reliable statistical data, either, but it's a fact on how marketing works ithat every product has its lifecycle. In order to maintain the interest in the product, companies do "facelift" and then they claim the computer (or a car if you want) is new. Common sense -in 2016 a computer cannot comprise of parts from 2015 and claimed new. That would lead to decrease of sales. So, even though those points are correct - that the computer is designed for those who are not performing have tasks - we may expect an upgrade to the new sky lake chips, new ssd or something else.
If such thing does not happen, I will publicly admit on 31.12.2016 23:59:59 that BJ was right
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