Waiting for Haswell MBP Mega Thread

[HurryKayne]

It could be a strategy. There's been complaints from the beginning that the rMBP is too similar to the Airs. So suppose Apple announces rMBPs in september for shipping late in the year, but they include TB2 ? All of a sudden, the differentiator is that the rMBP can do 4K and the MBA can't. Reducing the battery size while still increasing battery life, the rMBP suddenly is a very attractive story.

It's just a theory. For me, I'm certain any Air would be more than sufficient and I'll be waiting a bit longer to decide before finally going Mac.


Peter.

IF and just IF next Haswell Macbook PRO will sport Thunderbolt 2 that will be my choice instead i'll go Broadwell.
Maybe when Mac Pro will go out they will release next Haswell Mac Book Pro
and if MAC PRO is already known to have TB 2..maybe this will happen on MB PRO side...so lets see even if i have to know that next Broadwell AIR with TB 2 are a nice thinking.

 

[GSPice]

No. There are currently no 16 GB DIMMs and the rMBP only has 2 slots.

That was a refreshingly objective reply. Thanks!

 

[jafingi]

That was a refreshingly objective reply. Thanks!

But Apple doesn't use standard RAM blocks? So it could be made I think. And if they use the smaller SSD like the new Air, that could maybe give a little more space for more RAM.

 

[APPLE-FANATIC]

There may possibly be an Apple August Event coming

http://www.mactrast.com/2013/06/mac...ign=macs-to-play-key-role-in-fall-apple-event

 

[HFX]

There is no way in hell that Apple would allow people, especially students, to buy rMBPs knowing that in a months time they will release a new one. Those students will probably be outraged at Apple and apple knows that. It's clearly an issue with their supply, they most likely weren't comfortable releasing information about the rMBP because that would conflict with their other releases set for the fall. I can see the update late July early August so that students can have their computers before school.

 

[thundersteele]

No. There are currently no 16 GB DIMMs and the rMBP only has 2 slots.

The rMBP has 0 slots I believe. RAM is soldered and as such is restricted by the size of the blocks and available space. They might be able to squeeze in 24 GB, however I think it is unlikely they will offer it... also because it would hurt the Mac Pro.

 

[sofianito]

Being objective, I think the 13" and 15" haswell rMBP releases deserve an apple event (which will likely occur at least in fall and with probably the release of mavericks). Not doing so would implicitely prove that haswell and iris do not provide any substantial added value (performance, battery life,...etc) over the current rMBP models, which by the way have been updated silently only 4 months ago!

Sorry for spoiling many souls hopes, but let's be realistic: it doesn't make sense for apple to hold anytime sooner a second event or to release silently the haswell rMBP (and eventually cMBP) by august just because there is a supply issue with haswell. In that case, they would have given a sneak peak (in the same way they did with the 3D OpenGL cylinder image of the MacPro ) and would have announced a release date!

People who are eager to buy haswell MBPs have no other options than to be patient, but I suspect that except the improvement in the integrated GPU, the overall performance between the the Ivy Bridge and Haswell won't be drastical for MBP users who use their laptop as a desktop replacement. There will likely be improvement in the WiFi, camera, pci flash, and aesthetics...

Those who can't wait, especially students who want to benefit from BTS rebates, I would suggest the new haswell MBA for its portability and long-lasting battery, the early 2013 13" rMBP if you need more CPU power and a retina display, or the early 2013 15" rMBP or even cMBP 15" for more CPU/GPU requirements. If you are budget-conscious, you can find good deals in the refurbished section!

My 2cents...

 

[Sneakz]

I'm starting to think Apple will offer the 15" rMBP in both Iris Pro and Iris Pro+NVIDIA graphics options and just remove the cMBP. They used the graphics solution this before on the 15" Mid 2009 models when the low-end 15" model only had a 9400M GPU but did come with the lowest price for a 15" MacBook Pro ever (I think) at $1699USD. Iris Pro seems like it'll be able to handle itself at 2880x1800 just fine where as those who need more power can opt for another model which will have a discrete GPU in addition to HD 5200.

It could reduce the entry price for a 15" rMBP and close the pricing gap created by eliminating the 15" cMBP.

 

[devilcm3]

the Amazon UK MBP stocks have been low in recent days ... since 2 days before WWDC ..

also i saw 13" rMBP high end disappeared from the list, anybody can confirm?

 

[ValSalva]

I'm starting to think Apple will offer the 15" rMBP in both Iris Pro and Iris Pro+NVIDIA graphics options and just remove the cMBP. They used the graphics solution this before on the 15" Mid 2009 models when the low-end 15" model only had a 9400M GPU but did come with the lowest price for a 15" MacBook Pro ever (I think) at $1699USD. Iris Pro seems like it'll be able to handle itself at 2880x1800 just fine where as those who need more power can opt for another model which will have a discrete GPU in addition to HD 5200.

It could reduce the entry price for a 15" rMBP and close the pricing gap created by eliminating the 15" cMBP.

I agree with offering the 15" rMPB with both a dGPU+Iris Pro and only Iris Pro only option. That would be a good idea. The price would be low and battery life would be even better on the Iris Pro only model for people who don't game or do 3D graphics work.

But I think the allure of the cMBP is having a 750GB+ HDD at a reasonable price. That's why IMHO I think the cMBP will be around for one more year.

 

[PaulSpr]

Going with Iris Pro graphics would make a big difference in CPU performance.

The fastest Iris Pro HD5200 Quad core i7 only has 2.4Ghz cores and 6MB of L3 cache. TDP is 47W.

The fastest HD4600 Quad core i7 with the same TDP is 2.8Ghz with 8MB of L3 cache. Thats a more than 15% difference in clockspeed alone. From what I've heard the Iris Pro i7's are also significantly more expensive.

I'd rather have the faster processor with a dedicated GPU. If only the GPU didn't kick in as much. The HD4000 drives the 13" retina display, so the 4600 could probably drive the 15" display with ease.

There is no reason for Apple to delay the rMBP due to the chipsets, so it must be another reason. Panels could be one, or maybe they are looking for a way to get 32GB of RAM on the motherboards. Maybe they want to wait for Mavericks. Or Intel might launch Haswell chips with Iris Pro and higher CPU clock speeds.

And the MBA and MBP won't become one line of laptops. There's a very simple difference between the 2 lines. The Pro line is for pros. The people who need a lot of horse-power. On Geekbench the highest scoring MBP has 12481 points (Ivy bridge) and the highest scoring MBA has 7241 points (that's a Haswell chip).

 

[devilcm3]

I agree with offering the 15" rMPB with both a dGPU+Iris Pro and only Iris Pro only option. That would be a good idea. The price would be low and battery life would be even better on the Iris Pro only model for people who don't game or do 3D graphics work.

But I think the allure of the cMBP is having a 750GB+ HDD at a reasonable price. That's why IMHO I think the cMBP will be around for one more year.

people would have a hard time choosing between 15" rMBP with only Iris Pro vs 15" cMBP with dGPU.
unless they are willing to kill the cMBP or lower the rMBP price point to 1.8k something

 

[MacEver]

My guess....and this is a long thread...but, I think that there are 2 factors:

1. They might want to build the Macbook Pro line in the US and working out the details on how they will do that.

2. Apple, I believe, talked about not using the Intel chipset anymore and going back to a proprietary chipset - this could be the reason why they are delaying the update.

Just a thought....but this would explain why the delay, since almost every other manufacturer, including Razer has a Haswell solution (so porting to the new chipset, doesn't appear to be pain stakingly hard).

 

[devilcm3]

My guess....and this is a long thread...but, I think that there are 2 factors:

1. They might want to build the Macbook Pro line in the US and working out the details on how they will do that.

2. Apple, I believe, talked about not using the Intel chipset anymore and going back to a proprietary chipset - this could be the reason why they are delaying the update.

Just a thought....but this would explain why the delay, since almost every other manufacturer, including Razer has a Haswell solution (so porting to the new chipset, doesn't appear to be pain stakingly hard).

1. they could just run the chinese production line while ramping up the USA production line at the same time.

2. they do, but at this point x86 processors are still miles ahead of their own ARM SOC in terms of performance in desktop/laptop realm.

 

[ValSalva]

people would have a hard time choosing between 15" rMBP with only Iris Pro vs 15" cMBP with dGPU.
unless they are willing to kill the cMBP or lower the rMBP price point to 1.8k something

Yeah, it's a lot of choices and they are all pretty similar to the non-enthusiast. It will be interesting to see what Apple does.

I do think a rMBP with only Iris Pro would be a great option for us non-gaming programmers due to its better battery life

 

[brandonx76]

I almost gave up and bought a rMBP and Cinema display yesterday...

Just thought I'd share my plight for some levity...

I recently upgraded my desktop pc (to the latest haswell) and went with Windows 8 (up from 7 with a machine I had been running for over 6 years). So, prior to the WWDC announcement (or non-announcement ;-) my plan was to upgrade my PC and get a new rMBP for music production...I'd been functioning with PC for music but after I upgraded, I found my midi controller wasn't natively compatible (via USB) with Windows 8...so this was the last straw, because I was no longer able to practice/play piano - I could invest in a compatible $500 midi controller, (which I'll probably do at some point) or get the current model rMBP and start the transition to mac...anyway, I hemmed and hawed about this all day, it was a little nerve wracking hahaha...BUT on a lark I tried using an alternate output on my MIDI controller (a legacy MIDI port) with a $25 cord that converts MIDI to USB and Windows 8 was happy...but just hunting this damn cord down (researching and calling several stores) was a big effort in and of itself...not to mention the tech support research and phone calls with my Midi controller...anyway, I was like "This is it! I'm done waiting" for Haswell rMBP...BUT... then the cord ended up working fine like I needed....sooooo...rMBP purchase/plunge has extended itself...I hope the wait is worth it, this has been an interesting experience just waiting for the damn thing (45 days approx)..The feeling reminds me standing on a diving board and waiting to 'jump in'.

lol, anyway, just thought I'd share...appreciate the added details and speculation...I'm really curious about this 4k capability...I wonder if a new Cinema display will be announced and can only imagine the price ($2k??)

cheers,

 

[Sneakz]

And the MBA and MBP won't become one line of laptops. There's a very simple difference between the 2 lines. The Pro line is for pros. The people who need a lot of horse-power. On Geekbench the highest scoring MBP has 12481 points (Ivy bridge) and the highest scoring MBA has 7241 points (that's a Haswell chip).

I'm not saying Apple should integrate the two lines, just that they should be done with the cMBPs. The overlap at $1499 for the cMBP and rMBP doesn't make sense to me personally am I'm sure that they can't really be selling too many of the $1499 cMBP nowadays.

Additionally, Apple has set their base by using the HD 5000 for the MBAs and not using the HD 4400 which is something they could have done. So I wouldn't expect an HD 4600 even if there is a discrete GPU to back it up.

Something that looks like this I would love to see and should appease almost everyone. Especially if that entry model could be $1699.

 

[Mr MM]

My guess....and this is a long thread...but, I think that there are 2 factors:

1. They might want to build the Macbook Pro line in the US and working out the details on how they will do that.

2. Apple, I believe, talked about not using the Intel chipset anymore and going back to a proprietary chipset - this could be the reason why they are delaying the update.

Just a thought....but this would explain why the delay, since almost every other manufacturer, including Razer has a Haswell solution (so porting to the new chipset, doesn't appear to be pain stakingly hard).

1) possible

2) impossible. Intel doesnt license x86 chipsets, and if you ARM? impossible as well

its simple the HQ cpus arent in the wild yet, all the models that we see so far are the U type (thus BGA), and the MQ type (socketed), the BGA ones that are quads arent really released by any company.

And lets be real here, they started actually delivering the haswell notebooks, this monday. I know it will take a while to launch the rmbp, but I guess Im not really into that pitiful attempt to get more viewers that was that article in the front page, with Kuo retracting and contradicting himself after the only thing that he guessed right was that there would be a haswell launch

 

[PaulSpr]

I'm not saying Apple should integrate the two lines, just that they should be done with the cMBPs. The overlap at $1499 for the cMBP and rMBP doesn't make sense to me personally am I'm sure that they can't really be selling too many of the $1499 cMBP nowadays.

Additionally, Apple has set their base by using the HD 5000 for the MBAs and not using the HD 4400 which is something they could have done. So I wouldn't expect an HD 4600 even if there is a discrete GPU to back it up.

Something that looks like this I would love to see and should appease almost everyone. Especially if that entry model could be $1699.

Image

cMBP pricing doesn't make at all. Try to configure one with comparable specs to a rmBP and it's several hundredth dollars more expensive.

Good point on the 5000 in the MBA. It's strange that Intel doesn't have a better GPU in the high-end chips. But the current rMBPs run on HD4000. I only checked the 13 inch in an Apple store but it seemed to run fine. My 2011 MBA with a 3000 drives a Thunderbolt Display daily. Performance isn't the best but doesn't give me any problems.

What I'm looking for in my next laptop is performance. I don't want to compromise on clock speed so there doesn't have to be an dedicated GPU. It's enough if it only works for a few (3 to 5) hours without being connected to power. That's what I get with my Air now running stuff like Photoshop, Aperture, Xcode and occasionally Final Cut.

 

[sandylp]

I would say to all buy now, I bit the bullet and bought a 13" rMBP in March and I now realise I was better off buying a laptop when I needed it, instead of waiting for something which may never arrive, or satisfy my checklist.

Life's to short etc etc etc......

Well, I can wait since the laptop I bought in Feb. of 2011 is still performing just fine. I normally upgrade every 2 years when a new micro-architecture is introduced by Intel and I still have time left on my Apple warranty for re-sale purposes. There's no point is buying a computer with an out-dated processor.

 

[Bezbozny]

I am still using a macbook pro from 2006. I hope that they will release a new laptop soon since i have been planning to upgrade this year. My laptop has become quite slow and i am having trouble using aperture efficiently.
I have to say thought that the keyboard on my machine is so much better than the keyboard on the new unibody MacBooks... I can t understand how apple moved to that inconvenient and ugly keyboard...

 

[lcseds]

I am still using a macbook pro from 2006. I hope that they will release a new laptop soon since i have been planning to upgrade this year.

2006? Nice job. You really get your money's worth. I can only make it two years before the shiny new stuff calls me.

 

[Greene1123]

I am still using a macbook pro from 2006. I hope that they will release a new laptop soon since i have been planning to upgrade this year. My laptop has become quite slow and i am having trouble using aperture efficiently.
I have to say thought that the keyboard on my machine is so much better than the keyboard on the new unibody MacBooks... I can t understand how apple moved to that inconvenient and ugly keyboard...

I have to agree, I loved the keyboard on my old 2007 MBP. It's taking me some time to get used to the unibody kb

 

[Ironsyde]

My wishful guess is that it'll be released mid-July.

1. Thunderbolt 2 is way out of the timeframe. It's more of a 2014 thing, Mac Pros will probably be the first to get it.
2. It's not easy to switch production to the US and it's more of a marketing gimmick than anything else. Apple may do this over time, but I highly doubt both MBPs and the Mac Pro will shift to US production at the same time.
3. Summer is three-months long, it would be pretty ridiculous if the only update hardware Apple had was the Macbook Air. And if any update is to come during these three months, MBPs are the most likely.
4. It's too early for any redesign, so the update will most likely be a spec bump to the next-gen Intel CPU/Nvidia GPU.

So basically, it seems like retina screen supplies ran short and Apple was forced to push the release back by a month or so. They didn't announce it at WWDC to generate more MBA sales and because the time to shipping would be too great. Again, based on nothing other than my own analysis of the situation.

 

[JamonBull]

Am still super excited about getting a Haswell 15" MacBook Pro when they are released. However, I can't help but wonder whether this year might be the last year we see MacBook's with Apple's current aluminium design language. They seem to be slowly moving a lot of their products to this sleek, black design language we've been seeing. E.g. iPhone 5, iPad Mini, iPod Touch and now the Mac Pro! I've been planning to make the forthcoming Haswell 15" rMBP a long term, primary machine but would absolutely hate it if the Broadwell iterations have a completely new design language more similar to Apple's other products! I always pitied those people who bought a MacBook Pro from the generation directly previous to the unibody ones! Ouch!