Slimmer 13" Retina MacBook Pro, Dual Mic MacBook Air Expected at WWDC

[old-wiz]

While the regular posters here can discuss the pros and cons of Ivy Bridge vs Haswell and HD4000 vs HD5000 and thickness and "last year's technology" and a host of other things, most people buying Macs don't really know or care about that. They go into the store, look at an MBP or an MBA play with it, talk to the salespeople, see if they can afford it, and decide. Way too many don't even know the difference between an HDD and a SSD or even what Ivy Bridge is!

There are advantages to keeping the cMBP, regardless of Ivy Bridge or Haswell - it performs well enough for many people and the price is reasonable. I'd not be surprised it they drop it but not until the cost of the SSD is comparable to the price of a HDD.

 

[Winter Charm]

If it's thinner without sacrificing battery life, I'm game, otherwise not so much!

I'd much rather they keep the current thickness and improve the battery life...

Or, they keep the same battery life, and put discreet graphics in the 13" retina MBP.

I'd buy a 13" pro, if it came with amazing discreet graphics.

 

[skaertus]

While the regular posters here can discuss the pros and cons of Ivy Bridge vs Haswell and HD4000 vs HD5000 and thickness and "last year's technology" and a host of other things, most people buying Macs don't really know or care about that. They go into the store, look at an MBP or an MBA play with it, talk to the salespeople, see if they can afford it, and decide. Way too many don't even know the difference between an HDD and a SSD or even what Ivy Bridge is!

There are advantages to keeping the cMBP, regardless of Ivy Bridge or Haswell - it performs well enough for many people and the price is reasonable. I'd not be surprised it they drop it but not until the cost of the SSD is comparable to the price of a HDD.

Most people don't know what Ivy Bridge or Haswell is. But people do understand if Apple announces the laptop as having 7 hours of battery life (as Ivy Bridge allows) or more than 10 hours (as Haswell will provide). Other manufacturers will market 10+ hours of battery life for their Haswell laptops and Apple would be behind if it keeps with the Ivy Bridge line providing "only" 7 hours of battery. So, while the technical terms don't really make a difference to consumers, the outcome certainly will.

People who need upgradeable parts and who would choose the cMBP due to this reason are more likely to pay attention to such technical details. These people may turn down the cMBP at this price if they feel it is not worth to have an expensive Ivy Bridge anymore. They may search for a Windows laptop to replace the cMBP, and there are plenty of manufacturers willing to provide such machines at a competitive price.

 

[sseaton1971]

Just to state a personal opinion, the mid-2012 cMBP is the best machine Apple makes, imho. I'm running one with 2 Crucial M4 512GB SSDs and it's pure awesomeness. Ethernet, USB 3.0, Thunderbolt, FW800, SD card... Couldn't be better, really. I've got the high-res matte screen, too. Brilliant machine. Would be a real shame to sacrifice the upgradeability for a higher-res screen that genuinely means nothing to me. From my point-of-view, that's enough reason for Apple to maintain the cMBP. I'm not saying they will, but they should...

I agree that the cMBP is a good machine. I have a 2011 MBP 15" with an OWC SSD, and I am very happy... even without USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt. My next machine will be a Retina, though. I don't need built-in Ethernet, FireWire, or an optical drive. Adapters and external options will be fine for my use.

 

[fpsBeaTt]

17" Retina MacBook Pro. I don't want to be forced to get another 15"

 

[devilcm3]

I really wish Apple would return to focusing on user upgradeability as opposed to "thinner and lighter". I do understand why Apple does it. So that people will buy there products more often. If you can't upgrade the MBP or iMac or whatnot therefore extending it's lifespan you have to buy a whole new one more frequently as the old one becomes "obsolete". I want my Mac to still run at decent speeds 6-7 years down the road before I have to think of upgrading. Not every 3-4 years or maybe less. Apple should have kept the retina MBP in the form factor of the "classic" MBP and used the optical drive bay as a second hard drive bay. That way people can put in two drive if they wanted. Simply leave the optical drive bay empty by default so that anyone who wants to put in a second HDD or SSD can do so. And we would be able to use standard size 2.5" HDD or SSD instead of proprietary ones. Same with Ram. Don't solder it to the motherboard. Keep it user upgradeable too.

Yes all this is available to do with the "classic" MBP but there's not retina display available for that. You have to sacrifice all that to get retina. Put the two together and maybe have retina as an option just like the matte screen is an option. Anyway just my two cents.

because the average user ( majority report ) is stupid enough to not know or don't care about upgrading once they bought their macs

 

[skaertus]

because the average user ( majority report ) is stupid enough to not know or don't care about upgrading once they bought their macs

Well, I'm no average user, and I don't think I'm stupid, but I just don't care enough about upgradeability to make it a deciding factor in buying a laptop. I wish Apple had done the rMBP upgradeable, but I'm not giving up on the great screen because of that. If I wanted an upgradeable and customizable machine, I would buy a Windows PC, and not a Mac.

 

[Mal67]

The PowerBook 100 was made by Sony.

There are a few photos on the internet that trolls love to post with carefully positioned Braun products made by Dieter Rams that supposedly prove how Apple copied him. A few photos from normal angles:



This one you will find hard to figure out, the Braun T1000 radio:
Image

Hint: It has a cover, probably to protect it during transport. With that cover, you can't see it's a radio.

I really like the look of this radio. It's the sort of radio I would have loved to have had when I was younger.

 

[devilcm3]

Well, I'm no average user, and I don't think I'm stupid, but I just don't care enough about upgradeability to make it a deciding factor in buying a laptop. I wish Apple had done the rMBP upgradeable, but I'm not giving up on the great screen because of that. If I wanted an upgradeable and customizable machine, I would buy a Windows PC, and not a Mac.

yup, my thoughts exactly.

 

[iZac]

I'd prefer them to keep it the same size and dump a proper GPU in it...

 

[bigpoppamac31]

Well, I'm no average user, and I don't think I'm stupid, but I just don't care enough about upgradeability to make it a deciding factor in buying a laptop. I wish Apple had done the rMBP upgradeable, but I'm not giving up on the great screen because of that. If I wanted an upgradeable and customizable machine, I would buy a Windows PC, and not a Mac.

Well I'd never buy a Windows PC. You couldn't even give me one cause I woulnd't take no matter how good the specs are. If it's running Windows it's crap in my book. But sadly that's the one upside to a Windows PC. It's upgradeable. The Macs more and more are not. Apple panders to the throw away crowd yet they say they are "green" and environmentally friendly. I guess my next Mac (a refurb likely) will be my last cause it will have to last me the rest of my life somehow.

 

[mschmalenbach]

I'm looking to get a new MBP in the next few months.

I don't want Retina, and I don't need it. I would like to see discrete graphics, but it's not a deal-breaker to not have it. I do value processing power, and the ability to operate virtual environments (e.g. Win 7 Pro). Oh, and battery life for those long flights...

I'm not paying all that extra money for a snazzy high res display.

So, Apple, do you want to keep me as a customer, or do I buy an appropriate non-Apple laptop and do a Hackintosh job on it? Oh, and for Pete's sake, please sort OSX 10.8 out, OSX has gone backwards IMHO since 10.6.

 

[DamoTheBrave]

That's wrong. Both MBA and 13 MBPr have maximum RAM of 8GB

Don't know re the air but the mbp can handle 16 can't it?? The non retina mbp can.

 

[skaertus]

Well I'd never buy a Windows PC. You couldn't even give me one cause I woulnd't take no matter how good the specs are. If it's running Windows it's crap in my book. But sadly that's the one upside to a Windows PC. It's upgradeable. The Macs more and more are not. Apple panders to the throw away crowd yet they say they are "green" and environmentally friendly. I guess my next Mac (a refurb likely) will be my last cause it will have to last me the rest of my life somehow.

Don't be so dramatic. A computer is a tool, and you should use the one that better suits your needs. Be it a PC or a Mac.

 

[Toltepeceno]

The Ivy Bridge-E processors haven't even launched yet, let alone Haswell.

Then what are these?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...CH&Description=haswell&N=100006676&isNodeId=1

 

[Eidorian]

Then what are these?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...CH&Description=haswell&N=100006676&isNodeId=1

Perhaps they meant Haswell-E.

http://vr-zone.com/articles/long-li...-a-midterm-refresh-is-on-the-cards/33920.html

SATA Express comes out next year on Z9x.

 

[3282868]

Wait, I'm confused now. So, which Intel chips are due for a notebook and for a [hopeful] Mac Pro refresh? Haswell-E Xeon for the Pro, which isn't due till September, no?

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Don't know re the air but the mbp can handle 16 can't it?? The non retina mbp can.

The Pro's should handle 16.

Actually, I stand corrected. According to Apple's tech spec's, 8GB seems to be the maximum with the top model rMBP supporting 16GB RAM. That surprises me.

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_pro

It kills me they're still selling the Mac Pro's at $2499+, with the 12-Core base at $3799. Three year old systems. Still powerful cores, but the hardware specs are embarrassingly sub par for that price. SATA II, USB 2.0, no Thunderbolt, mediocre graphics cards, no eSATA, no HDMI, Bluetooth 2.1+.

I find this interesting:

Up to 8TB of internal storage1 in bays 1 through 4 using hard drives or solid-state drives in the following capacities:
1TB or 2TB hard drives

I have all 4 bays with: 2TB, 2TB, 3TB, 3TB. 10TB's, no issues in OS X or Windows. Hmmm.

 

[Eidorian]

Wait, I'm confused now. So, which Intel chips are due for a notebook and for a [hopeful] Mac Pro refresh? Haswell-E Xeon for the Pro, which isn't due till September, no?

Haswell desktop (LGA 1150) and mobile are available currently. Ivy Bridge-E is not due until the fall.

 

[Lunfai]

Wait, I'm confused now. So, which Intel chips are due for a notebook and for a [hopeful] Mac Pro refresh? Haswell-E Xeon for the Pro, which isn't due till September, no?

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The Pro's should handle 16.

The ones for notebooks are out: That's the original Haswell line up. There are some processors that aren't out till later in the year, but the right ones should be released an announced by 4th June. (Tuesday).

IvyBrige-E is shipping this year which is what the Mac Pro is hopefully waiting for. Haswell-E is slated for next year. Look at the chart.

 

[skaertus]

Haswell desktop (LGA 1150) and mobile are available currently. Ivy Bridge-E is not due until the fall.

Which are the mobile models available? As far as I am concerned, Intel has only released quad-core models equipped with GT2 graphics cards, all of them with a 47W TDP, except for the i7-4702MQ and i7-4702HQ, both of which have a 37W TDP.

 

[Eidorian]

Which are the mobile models available? As far as I am concerned, Intel has only released quad-core models equipped with GT2 graphics cards, all of them with a 47W TDP, except for the i7-4702MQ and i7-4702HQ, both of which have a 37W TDP.

Quad core first for mobile and desktop. They have been launching like this since Clarksfield/Lynnfield in late 2009.

 

[3282868]

Ah, thanks gents. So Ivy Bridge-E Xeon for the fall, Haswell-E Xeon next year. I assume Ivy Bridge will bring USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt to the Mac Pro.

Wonder if Apple will release more processors for a configurable tower for those who don't need server processors.

 

[Eidorian]

Ah, thanks gents. So Ivy Bridge-E Xeon for the fall, Haswell-E Xeon next year. I assume Ivy Bridge will bring USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt to the Mac Pro.

USB 3.0 is just a third-party controller away. It would just be attached over PCIe. Thunderbolt is unlikely.

 

[3282868]

USB 3.0 is just a third-party controller away. It would just be attached over PCIe. Thunderbolt is unlikely.

Yeah, have a CalDigit PCIe USB 3.0 card. No Thunderbolt? Wow. That would floor me. I know quite a few in film and other professions who could use Thunderbolt connections for displays and external HDD's, etc. If Apple releases a new top line system as the only Mac without Thunderbolt, well, I'll be speechless.

Are the Mac Pro's still using Westmere chips?

 

[skaertus]

Quad core first for mobile and desktop. They have been launching like this since Clarksfield/Lynnfield in late 2009.

The models I've seen are the following:

Core i7-4930MX (57W)
Core i7-4900MQ (47W)
Core i7-4800MQ (47W)
Core i7-4702MQ (37W)
Core i7-4702HQ (37W)
Core i7-4700MQ (47W)
Core i7-4700HQ (47W)

They are all quad-core, and their TDP range from 37W to 57W. All these models are equipped with HD 4600 (GT2) and not with GT3 (Iris), which will bring the most significant boost to graphics power. My question is: will Apple put these processors, even being quad-core and equipped with GT2, inside the upcoming 13" and 15" rMBP so they get released next week during WWDC? Or is there something else Intel will launch this week?