Upcoming MBP 15 refresh - hold off or buy now?

[mjs402]

Why not? Two distinct lines:

MacBook 12": Thin, light.
MacBook Pro 14": Powerful, thin, light.

Legacy:
MacBook 11" for education (Low cost).
MacBook 13".
rMBP 13".

rMBP 15" gone, and replaced by MBP 14".



Good good good good good... good. good. good good.

Supply slowdown means that they're finally ramping down production for the 2014 (technically 2013) rMBPs, with something new inbound.

Hopefully it'll launch at WWDC, instead of Q3/Q4/2016 Q1. WWDC launch/announcement makes sense, because it'll coincide with OS X 10.11's release, and not clash with the iPad Air 3/iPad Pro and the iPhone 6S announcements during Q3/Q4.

I really think this idea is going to come into effect at WWDC. My concern is that the 14-inch will drop the dGPU for good instead opting for the Iris Pro iGPU. Only 2 months from now.

12-inch will replace the Air and the 14-inch will replace the Pro(s). Bigger screen in the form factor of a 13 inch with better integrated graphics (maybe only dual core though, who knows - trying to tamper my imagination, but I think Iris Pro is restricted to quad core? I don't know!).

 

[objectiveseeker]

I really think this idea is going to come into effect at WWDC. My concern is that the 14-inch will drop the dGPU for good instead opting for the Iris Pro iGPU. Only 2 months from now.

12-inch will replace the Air and the 14-inch will replace the Pro(s). Bigger screen in the form factor of a 13 inch with better integrated graphics (maybe only dual core though, who knows - trying to tamper my imagination, but I think Iris Pro is restricted to quad core? I don't know!).

Skylake-U (15w) has been declared to fit an iris pro, perhaps the 64MB version of edram (it was reported intel found 32MB was perfectly sufficient but wanted to future proof the design). Those procs would be 2-core.

 

[rekhyt]

I really think this idea is going to come into effect at WWDC. My concern is that the 14-inch will drop the dGPU for good instead opting for the Iris Pro iGPU. Only 2 months from now.

12-inch will replace the Air and the 14-inch will replace the Pro(s). Bigger screen in the form factor of a 13 inch with better integrated graphics (maybe only dual core though, who knows - trying to tamper my imagination, but I think Iris Pro is restricted to quad core? I don't know!).

I personally think the 14" will have discrete graphics. Or, however, if a 16" gets released (so 14"=13" form factor, 16"=15" form factor), then the 16" will have discrete graphics.

The dGPU won't disappear completely.

 

[Fthree]

Good good good good good... good. good. good good.

Supply slowdown means that they're finally ramping down production for the 2014 (technically 2013) rMBPs, with something new inbound.

Hopefully it'll launch at WWDC, instead of Q3/Q4/2016 Q1. WWDC launch/announcement makes sense, because it'll coincide with OS X 10.11's release, and not clash with the iPad Air 3/iPad Pro and the iPhone 6S announcements during Q3/Q4.

Maybe.... or people that actually may know something are taking advantage of the late 2014 15' to get them before they don't exist.......

 

[rekhyt]

Maybe.... or people that actually may know something are taking advantage of the late 2014 15' to get them before they don't exist.......

The 750M was worthless in late 2013 and the entirety of 2014. It is utterly useless in 2015.

Look at the performance that the Maxwell line brings. 980M, 970M: Near desktop performance (20% away). 960M, 950M: Impressive/decent performance for a laptop GPU.

 

[mcarling]

The dGPU won't disappear completely.

Do you still use a mimeograph?

 

[close2reality]

The 750M was worthless in late 2013 and the entirety of 2014. It is utterly useless in 2015.

Look at the performance that the Maxwell line brings. 980M, 970M: Near desktop performance (20% away). 960M, 950M: Impressive/decent performance for a laptop GPU.

Whether they are worthless to you or not, the 750M renders more performance than the other rMBP models.

Thats really all that is relevant. The rest is opinion based.

There will always be better graphics cards, reality is unless your trying to run the most up to date games on high settings the 750M is still a respectable card.

 

[Fthree]

-^^^^ agreed
Not to mention were at the mercy of whatever apple chooses...

 

[objectiveseeker]

Do you still use a mimeograph?

only over firewire 400
it's so hard finding the USB2 variant

 

[campyguy]

The 750M was worthless in late 2013 and the entirety of 2014. It is utterly useless in 2015.

Look at the performance that the Maxwell line brings. 980M, 970M: Near desktop performance (20% away). 960M, 950M: Impressive/decent performance for a laptop GPU.

Utterly useless? Now that it's driving two 4k monitors @60Hz on my desk, I disagree. Until 10.10.3 came out, I would have agreed with you - Apple's SW group deserves a serious whack on the noggin and a kick in the butt for this...

 

[dagamer34]

Utterly useless? Now that it's driving two 4k monitors @60Hz on my desk, I disagree. Until 10.10.3 came out, I would have agreed with you - Apple's SW group deserves a serious whack on the noggin and a kick in the butt for this...

Do you have the late-2013 model or the mid-2014 one?

 

[campyguy]

Do you have the late-2013 model or the mid-2014 one?

See my post - #9. Late-2013...

 

[dagamer34]

Just finished my taxes. Whew...

I posted in one of these threads not too long ago, I need to get a few rMBPs and at least one riMac later this year or early next year - I just got done planning my fiscal outlay for the next 12 months...

If I had to buy a rMBP today I'd get a refurb late-2013 rMBP just like the one I have on my desk or a new one just like it from one of Apple's resellers (16GB RAM/1TB SSD/750M) - it can drive 2 4k monitors @ 60Hz now with 10.10.3.

If I had some time to kill, I'd wait for the Skylake chip and also see what the very recent Micron/Crucial SSD statements bring to fruition. This is what I'm doing - waiting for Skylake and a huge SSD. The two guys I know who are testing Skylake processors told me I should wait and they've always been good to me, going back maybe 15 years. Broadwell's already passé in their eyes.

Waiting for CPUs has always been a bit +/-, every now and then it actually does make a huge difference. I remember when the MacBook Airs went from a Core 2 Duo to a Core i5/i7, that's when I could easily recommend them to anyone.

A redesigned MacBook Pro is less about Skylake CPU, but what the GPU and PCH enables: Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort 1.3, and HDMI 2.0 w/ HCDP 2.2. The former two are enough to drive a 5K display from a single port, and the latter drive 4K @ 60Hz. Along with a port reconfiguration (USB Type-A -> Type-C, MagSafe axed, HDMI port gone - Apple will make you use a dongle), most of this stuff is unlikely to happen until next year.

 

[campyguy]

Waiting for CPUs has always been a bit +/-, every now and then it actually does make a huge difference. I remember when the MacBook Airs went from a Core 2 Duo to a Core i5/i7, that's when I could easily recommend them to anyone.

A redesigned MacBook Pro is less about Skylake CPU, but what the GPU and PCH enables: Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort 1.3, and HDMI 2.0 w/ HCDP 2.2. The former two are enough to drive a 5K display from a single port, and the latter drive 4K @ 60Hz. Along with a port reconfiguration (USB Type-A -> Type-C, MagSafe axed, HDMI port gone - Apple will make you use a dongle), most of this stuff is unlikely to happen until next year.

Agreed, which is why I posted in another thread that I'm waiting... So, I'll post here that I'm waiting! No, wait, I already did that ^^^

 

[dagamer34]

See my post - #9. Late-2013...

Which 4K monitors? The Dell P2415Q seems to be the one with the least issues of all 4K monitors out there but still has an IPS panel and relatively high DPI.

 

[campyguy]

Which 4K monitors? The Dell P2415Q seems to be the one with the least issues of all 4K monitors out there but still has an IPS panel and relatively high DPI.

The 27" version of that bad boy - the P2715Q.

Check that looooooong thread, I'm in there on about Page 10 (I have 100 posts per thread selected...). Another poster bought a second late last week and has discovered the same thing. It was an "accident" on my part - I thought I was plugging in a TB array but it was the mDP end of my mDP-DP cable. My second display was connected to another Mac on my desk and my GF asked me to move things around. So, happy surprise!

 

[objectiveseeker]

Waiting for CPUs has always been a bit +/-, every now and then it actually does make a huge difference. I remember when the MacBook Airs went from a Core 2 Duo to a Core i5/i7, that's when I could easily recommend them to anyone.

A redesigned MacBook Pro ... MagSafe axed


aieeeeeeeee!!!!! argghubbbblllle <dies>

Seriously, I dont believe that will happen. I can even maybe buy it on the MB for space available, but doing that mainstream, even if it was a non-proprietary port now, would completely justify my purchase of a 2015 rMBP 13. I would not want a 2000$ computer that I'll break on the 4th day.

make it charge from either magsafe or a USB-C port (if it can even deliver that kind of juice, i think it can..) that might be a value add.

But magsafe is so good it shouldn't just be on the macs. It should be everywhere from usb to headphone jacks (sure, neodymium is relatively expensive, perhaps a lesser magnet on cheaper things) because that sort of port-stress is in my experience the #1 cause of premature death of electronics in my experience.

Perish the thought!

 

[dagamer34]

The 27" version of that bad boy - the P2715Q.

Check that looooooong thread, I'm in there on about Page 10 (I have 100 posts per thread selected...). Another poster bought a second late last week and has discovered the same thing. It was an "accident" on my part - I thought I was plugging in a TB array but it was the mDP end of my mDP-DP cable. My second display was connected to another Mac on my desk and my GF asked me to move things around. So, happy surprise!

Is the internal display still running as well when both displays are connected?

 

[campyguy]

Is the internal display still running as well when both displays are connected?

Yes, yes it is. I related that in the display-specific thread - there's some pretty good feedback in that thread as well.

My first post is here, follow along... https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/20980757/
Cheers!

 

[inhalexhale1]

Waiting for CPUs has always been a bit +/-, every now and then it actually does make a huge difference. I remember when the MacBook Airs went from a Core 2 Duo to a Core i5/i7, that's when I could easily recommend them to anyone.

A redesigned MacBook Pro is less about Skylake CPU, but what the GPU and PCH enables: Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort 1.3, and HDMI 2.0 w/ HCDP 2.2. The former two are enough to drive a 5K display from a single port, and the latter drive 4K @ 60Hz. Along with a port reconfiguration (USB Type-A -> Type-C, MagSafe axed, HDMI port gone - Apple will make you use a dongle), most of this stuff is unlikely to happen until next year.

Skylake will definitely bring the stuff you're talking about, and probably a redesign along with it. Agreed on that redesign being dongle-mandatory. I bet the redesign will be very nice, but will come with annoyances for awhile due to ports limitations. I wouldn't jump on a rev 1 anyway.

I do think Apple will release a broadwell rMBP 15", with simply the 950m and the force trackpad, by WWDC. I think the Skylake redesign will come later, after the iPad/iPhone events.

 

[rekhyt]

Do you still use a mimeograph?

No.

Whether they are worthless to you or not, the 750M renders more performance than the other rMBP models.

Thats really all that is relevant. The rest is opinion based.

There will always be better graphics cards, reality is unless your trying to run the most up to date games on high settings the 750M is still a respectable card.

Opinion?

The differences aren't illusory.

Benchmarks for mobile dGPUs (750M, 970M, 980M):

Games performance for 750M (Notebookcheck):

Games performance for 970M (Notebookcheck):

Utterly useless? Now that it's driving two 4k monitors @60Hz on my desk, I disagree. Until 10.10.3 came out, I would have agreed with you - Apple's SW group deserves a serious whack on the noggin and a kick in the butt for this...

The purpose of graphics cards are not just for driving external displays.

Graphics-reliant applications such as 3D modelling, video rendering, photo editing, gaming require a high level of graphics capability.

The MacBook Pro should be able to do all of the above at a high level. The purpose of the release of the MB 12" was to create and enlarge the distinction between the MacBook (Light, portable), and the MacBook Pro (Portable performance, larger screen).

 

[Roblez]

Hello. I currently have a macbook air but wish to upgrade to a rMBP, the sooner the better. I'd upgrade now since the current generation does everything I need and more. I don't need the spec bump.
But I was wondering: is there a chance that there'll be a physical redesign this fall? Like thinner, or a whole case redesign? If so I might be tempted to hold off...
Thank you

 

[AttilaTheHun]

Hello. I currently have a macbook air but wish to upgrade to a rMBP, the sooner the better. I'd upgrade now since the current generation does everything I need and more. I don't need the spec bump.
But I was wondering: is there a chance that there'll be a physical redesign this fall? Like thinner, or a whole case redesign? If so I might be tempted to hold off...
Thank you

Buy now before they will change the ports to that stupid one port C.

 

[Roblez]

Buy now before they will change the ports to that stupid one port C.

Nah they're not doing that to the rMBP man, you're exaggerating

 

[smiddlehurst]

Waiting for CPUs has always been a bit +/-, every now and then it actually does make a huge difference. I remember when the MacBook Airs went from a Core 2 Duo to a Core i5/i7, that's when I could easily recommend them to anyone.

A redesigned MacBook Pro is less about Skylake CPU, but what the GPU and PCH enables: Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort 1.3, and HDMI 2.0 w/ HCDP 2.2. The former two are enough to drive a 5K display from a single port, and the latter drive 4K @ 60Hz. Along with a port reconfiguration (USB Type-A -> Type-C, MagSafe axed, HDMI port gone - Apple will make you use a dongle), most of this stuff is unlikely to happen until next year.

Sorry but don't agree on the ports. The Pro model is relatively unlikely to go for a wedge shape as they need every bit of battery space they can find (plus it makes it distinctive from the Air / Macbook design). Another problem would be cooling, there's still the need for vents on the rMBP (especially the 15") and to get any airflow to 'em you need that overhang and some distance to the ground. As such they'll have space to do multiple ports and it will still be a *pro* machine after all. If they did thin it down much more then they lose the lot (Thunderbolt, USB 3 and HDMI are all pretty much taking up the full height of the current side piece) and that seems too high a price to pay considering the intended audience for the machine.

At a rough guess I'd expect the magsafe to go away and be replaced by USB-C withthe current USB3 port on the right side swapped out for USB-C as well (if for no other reason than it'd look better having symmetrical ports!). Thunderbolt 3 ports replace TB2, single USB3 port remains on the left side. HDMI port retained as there's too many uses for it in video / photo work which is a core draw for those machines. SDXC slot... hmm, not sure. It makes sense to keep it but at the same time it's always looked a little tacked on so I could see that being sacrificed.

Thing is I can't see there being a huge, shocking redesign. There's no real jump in technology coming up soon that'd get the power down so you still need the battery packs and active cooling. Maybe they can save thickness from the lid by using the same panel tech as the Macbook and a bit more from the base if they use both the force touch trackpad and butterfly keys from the Macbook. Maybe some changes to accommodate wireless charging with Skylake? But those are still incremental tweaks and I'd expect the Pro line to be the last place Apple would want to try radical changes.