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

[deconstruct60]

I call BS on Apple simply letting the cMBP linger. There are three possibilities for it, and lingering isn't one of them:

1 - Price drop. Seems most likely to me -

The easiest way to do that is to let the specs linger. Apple is going to get a better deal on pricing from Intel on the now much less popular v2 (Ivy Bridge ) CPUs than for v3 ( Haswell). They can pass that lower cost along as lower priced cMBP 13".

I'm not sure lingering was meant to cover all aspects including pricing.

If cMBP 13" dropped to $999 that would help them get their laptop sales back on a higher growth path. ( they'd be squeezing price out of more components than just CPU though).

But frankly that is a bad sign for long term prospects. It is evidence that Apple is loosing grip on their value offering.

2 - Spec Bump.

Given the mini shares major components ( CPU , drives , etc. ) with the MBP 13" that makes alot more sense. It may be that the cMBP 13" lingers a bit until the mini also gets bumped later in the year. ( Not sure Intel is releasing the v3 part that the mini and a suitably enhanced cMBP 13" needs right away). Initially it may look like the cMBP got left behind but it would leapfrog later in the year.

3 - Killed.

While possible, it doesn't seem very probable. The fact that a high fraction of customers are choosing the cMBP 13" over the MBA 13" and rMBP 13" seems a huge bozo move to kill off one of your best selling ( if not the best selling Mac) for other Mac which can't compete with another Mac let alone other PC offerings. If Mac sales were still on a higher than industry average growth path that would be moderately risk move, but they aren't. Mac growth is way off what it has been for last 2-3 years. It is wrong time to kill of products people are voting with the pocketbooks as being the correct ones to sell.

 

[Lunfai]

Yes, he does change his predictions because Apple is changing it's plans. Do you really think that everything which happens in the course of one year is fixed? This is not how it works!

Thank god someone has sense. If anything no one should take his predictions with a grain of salt, but his insights is far more reputable then most other analyst, and offers a 'preview' of what's to come in price of uncertainty of accuracy.

However, I can't believe people would think anyone would trust this guy 100%, we have said he's trustable, but not 100% accurate. No one but apple knows.

 

[ValSalva]

What's the point of slightly slimmer 13" rMBP case? Is it worth the added cost to change the manufacturing process? Apple has left the cMBP case exactly the same since 2008.

The rMBP case is slim enough. Any slimmer and battery life would suffer. And Apple has already been spending more on manufacturing and thus making less profit over the past year.

This part of the rumor makes no sense to me.

 

[iMcLovin]

The Air should get retina, or something else that makes it worth buying. I was planning of getting a new Air, but if all I get is a better camera, then I´ll wait.

 

[newdeal]

I don't understand the dislike for the retina display. I personally think it's gorgeous and worth a few extra bucks. And after looking at it, I can't ever see myself going back to a non-retina screen.

Not saying the retina display isn't nice just that I would rather have 15 hours of battery life than retina and 10 hours

 

[Mums]

I remember years ago when new hardware was something to lust after. As Apple's focus continues to shift to iOS, I imagine lust-worthy hardware upgrades will be few and far between.

Yeah - that made me cringe because it seems true. It's like it's not Apple anymore. What about computers you can actually use to produce content? We're not all social media drones.

 

[3282868]

I'm waiting for the paper thin OLED newspaper systems that change as news develops a la "Minority Report":

 

[deconstruct60]

What's oxymoronic about my statement he clearly predicted last year correctly

No he did not. From the link that you provided ( and still left below).


" ... Kuo believes that Apple will wait until next year to re-simplify its notebook lines with Intel's Haswell platform, at which point the company will merge the MacBook Pro and this new MacBook model, leaving a set of four models: 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Airs and 13-inch and 15-inch MacBooks. ... "


Now is the projecting that they will not do that. That means even he is stating that his old prediction was wrong. Granted he is reputable in that he is correcting his flawed predictions. But his prediction was wrong. You stated it was correct (implicating his correctness makes him highly reputable ) . Being wrong does not enhance a reputation as being very reliable. Kuo is far more accurate than many other so called analyst that can't seem to find they own butts with both hands. However, that particular prediction isn't doing any better than the other random joe blow "analysts"

Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2012/06/0...ird-macbook-line-with-retina-display-at-wwdc/

 

[cube]

Maybe the cMBP will not get updated waiting for Iris Pro, that would be the right thing if it's the only way to get it in.

 

[Nik]

Now is the projecting that they will not do that. That means even he is stating that his old prediction was wrong. Granted he is reputable in that he is correcting his flawed predictions. But his prediction was wrong. You stated it was correct (implicating his correctness makes him highly reputable ) . Being wrong does not enhance a reputation as being very reliable. Kuo is far more accurate than many other so called analyst that can't seem to find they own butts with both hands. However, that particular prediction isn't doing any better than the other random joe blow "analysts"

Wait a second. A year ago it looked like the SSD prices would continue to drop substantially because they did the year before. But, the SSD prices remained -as nobody could have known in advance- at a rather high level.
Therefore, Apple can not replace the Non-Retina MBP with the Retina ones because storage is still very expensive. His statement is wrong from todays perspective, but back then it could have very well been Apples plan [to replace the cMBP with the rMBP].
Seriously, you can not judge the analyst by KGI if the environment changed and the SSD prices remained at the high level which crossed Apples plans entirely.

The good thing is: We shall see on June 10th if he is right or not.

 

[Mactendo]

"continued strong sales of the machines..."
"stagnation of the non-Retina MacBook Pro line..."

 

[Lunfai]

No he did not. From the link that you provided ( and still left below).


" ... Kuo believes that Apple will wait until next year to re-simplify its notebook lines with Intel's Haswell platform, at which point the company will merge the MacBook Pro and this new MacBook model, leaving a set of four models: 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Airs and 13-inch and 15-inch MacBooks. ... "


Now is the projecting that they will not do that. That means even he is stating that his old prediction was wrong. Granted he is reputable in that he is correcting his flawed predictions. But his prediction was wrong. You stated it was correct (implicating his correctness makes him highly reputable ) . Being wrong does not enhance a reputation as being very reliable. Kuo is far more accurate than many other so called analyst that can't seem to find they own butts with both hands. However, that particular prediction isn't doing any better than the other random joe blow "analysts"

I was referring to last years predictions, if he truly predicted how Apple sold the cMBP this year an entire early then someone should get him a throne made of gold.

I said he's reputable for his claims, 'good claims'. Not perfect, please get a dictionary as this is just getting absurd. Also; looking at this post he seems to have gone back to his original claim.

Analyst aren't always correct, that is their job, to analyse data and 'predict' the future. Who says he can't reflect changes, your not paying him personally for any data. However, he is better then average joes as his past has foretold.

 

[Daniel L]

But how many predictions does he make that aren't no brainers? Seems to me he's guessing just like everyone else.

If Kuo is guessing, he's a very good guesser.

Correct: 4th gen iPad, iPad mini, and iPhone 5
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/07/2...closely-follow-next-generation-iphone-launch/

Correct: rMBP
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/06/0...ird-macbook-line-with-retina-display-at-wwdc/

Correct: Discontinued 17" MBP
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/04/23/apple-predicted-to-discontinue-17-inch-macbook-pro/

Correct: iPhone 4S
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/09/1...-of-september-no-sign-of-redesigned-iphone-5/

Correct: iPod Touch
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/07/22/apple-planning-to-introduce-white-ipod-touch-later-this-year/

Correct: Discontinuation of Macbook
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/07/1...-macbook-in-favor-of-entry-level-macbook-air/

 

[jake1776]

Abandoning 17" was a mistake

The only way forward is 17" Retina cMBP.

I know that not many people bought them ... but anyone watching movies knows that the 17" MBP is the ONLY computer that Hollywood ever used in its movies. Just for product promotions ALONE ... Apple made a huge mistake by discontinuing a computer that was the flagship of the entire design. I bought two (including the last one from 2011) and I can't imagine going back to 15".

 

[Moonjumper]

Haswell apparently gives a major improvement in battery life. Maybe Apple are trading a little of that by having a smaller battery so that they can bring the 13" thickness down to the same as the 15". It does seem a bit out of place for the smaller device to be thicker, and it would only mean a relatively small reduction in battery size.

 

[deconstruct60]

I guess that by not upgrading the cMBP to Haswell it would give customers more reason to justify the rMBP.

If Apple is drinking Cupertino kool-aid to think that something like that would be effective than it is probably more so along the lines of not upgrading the cMBP to Haswell will put the MBA 13" on a more even playing field. It has the same price. The CPU/GPU would be on par or better in many benchmarks due to better Turbo ability and throughput of Haswell.

The MBA has same limitations on soldered RAM and SSD as the rMBP 13", but would not be asking customers to part with $200-300.


It is still grossly flawed in that customers are far more effective as picking "winning" Mac designs out of a given product line than Apple is. The rMBP and MBA had a chance to compete against the cMBP and they lost.

It makes sense for Apple to wait to update the cMBP later if they can't get the right Core i5 v3 upgrade right now. It may be Q3 till it shows up. But to leave it behind for 6-12 months is a bozo move. Macs, including the cMBP 13" , are in a more highly competitive context they ever had been in before. It is not just competing with Windows. Tablets ( iOS and Android) are encroaching also. ). To purposely leave a product open to counter attack is more than goofy. It isn't just the other 13" Macs that are going to eat into the cMBP 13" target market.

 

[Nik]

Haswell apparently gives a major improvement in battery life. Maybe Apple are trading a little of that by having a smaller battery so that they can bring the 13" thickness down to the same as the 15". It does seem a bit out of place for the smaller device to be thicker, and it would only mean a relatively small reduction in battery size.

Yes, that sounds plausible.
But, I think making the 13inch Retina even slimmer and therefore not allowing longer battery life would be a bad decision.
Having a 13inch Retina MacBook Pro with 10 hours of battery life would be absolutely incredible!

 

[ValSalva]

Haswell apparently gives a major improvement in battery life. Maybe Apple are trading a little of that by having a smaller battery so that they can bring the 13" thickness down to the same as the 15". It does seem a bit out of place for the smaller device to be thicker, and it would only mean a relatively small reduction in battery size.

But all that trouble and expense for 1mm? It's really that important?

 

[deconstruct60]

I know that not many people bought them ... but anyone watching movies knows that the 17" MBP is the ONLY computer that Hollywood ever used in its movies. Just for product promotions ALONE ...

Whatever is paid for is placed on the screen. It can't possibly be a "great product" if its primary purpose is as a movie prop. That is a lame product, not a great one.

 

[Stetrain]

What's the point of slightly slimmer 13" rMBP case? Is it worth the added cost to change the manufacturing process? Apple has left the cMBP case exactly the same since 2008.

The rMBP case is slim enough. Any slimmer and battery life would suffer. And Apple has already been spending more on manufacturing and thus making less profit over the past year.

This part of the rumor makes no sense to me.

The 13" rMBP is thicker than the 15" rMBP currently. I'm guessing that changes in the display and/or battery will let them make the 13" match the 15".

It probably isn't really much trouble, it's more like making the 13" rMBP how they wanted it from the beginning.

 

[Nik]

But all that trouble and expense for 1mm? It's really that important?

Where could they shave off another 1-2mm? By the looks of it a USB Port just barely fits inside those machines.

 

[Serban]

The 13" retina will be slim like 15" model.And the macbook air will be 0.11" across the board.

 

[skaertus]

This is the third report of Kuo on this issue, and the second time he changes his mind. But this time I have to say the report makes more sense than ever. If Apple is going to refresh its laptop lines in WWDC, which I hope it does, than the outcome is probably going to be the one Kuo is describing. That's how I see it.

The predictions of Kuo are as following:

- Both rMBP and MBA lines will be upgraded at WWDC. I have some doubt on that, but everybody seems to take it for granted that Apple will update these two lines of laptops. I'm still not convinced on the availability of specific Haswell processors which are due for each of these laptops, but people (including Kuo) seem to simply ignore this issue, as if all Haswell processors would be readily available the day after Intel launches them. I hope I am wrong and everybody else is right. Let's see.

- cMBP will not get an update. It's very likely, given that these products are on the path to be discontinued. They're a legacy product, and Apple wants to replace them for the new flash-based models. Last year, rMBPs and the non-redesigned MBAs got a MagSafe 2, and cMPBs remained with MagSafe 1. This is a sign of these laptops not going to get any further upgrades. However, they're still Apple's best selling laptops, mainly due to the its lower price. Apple may choose to keep them on the line so people may still buy them, although it remains a less attractive option as it gets no upgrade. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple discontinued these models in June, but it just makes no business sense at this point.

- rMBPs and MBAs will all get Haswell CPUs. If Apple is going to update these laptops, of course they'll get Haswell.

- The 13" rMBP will have a slimmer form factor. It makes sense. The current 13" rMBP is a little bit thicker than the 15" rMBP, and a thinner design would mean that both laptops have exactly the same thickness. It's not a major change in design, it's just a minor improvement, a tweak to make the 13" rMBP match what has always been its purpose, but was not feasible due to technology not being available at the time of its release. I think it is likely to happen.

- Improved camera on the rMBP. Apple could well do it, I just have no opinion on this one. It would make sense to better integrate OS X and iOS.

- MBA will not get redesigned. It may, or it may not. At this point, it is more likely that the MBA remains with the current design, and is updated, to get a retina display, in the next refresh. The MBA is selling well as it is, and it is still being considered as the top ultrabook even though there are lots of Windows ultrabooks out there, with specifications that beat the Air. But I wouldn't rule out a rMBA, along with a redesign of the product, this year.

- Dual built-in microphones in the MBA. If the current design of the MBA allows that, I don't see why Apple wouldn't do it.

 

[GizmoDVD]

I know that not many people bought them ... but anyone watching movies knows that the 17" MBP is the ONLY computer that Hollywood ever used in its movies. Just for product promotions ALONE ... Apple made a huge mistake by discontinuing a computer that was the flagship of the entire design. I bought two (including the last one from 2011) and I can't imagine going back to 15".

Much like all 15 Mac Pro users, the 25 or so 17" Buyers will either buy a 15", stick with their 17", or go buy a different brand.

They didn't sell. End of story. Why would they continue to produce something that doesn't sell? Does that make any sense?

 

[maxosx]

What's the point of slightly slimmer 13" rMBP case?

That's easy to answer. The current model is so fat it's embarrassing. My peers have dell laptops that at 1.80" to 2.24" are far thinner



/sarcasm



Yes indeed Apple is hopelessly bulimic.