Waiting for Skylake MBP thread

[NJPT]

Intel has finally updated its ARK page with prices for the Skylake HQ Iris Pro 580 chips, and it's slightly different from the price leak last month:
i7-6770HQ $434
i7-6870HQ $434
i7-6970HQ $623

It's not much news, but maybe at least a somewhat positive indication that availability of these chips is not being further constrained.

It's curious that the 28W i7 chip with Iris 550 (i7-6567U) still only has a status of "announced" when its launch date is also listed as "Q3 '15."

http://ark.intel.com/products/family/88392/6th-Generation-Intel-Core-i7-Processors#@Mobile

 

[cerberusss]

removing the DVD drive…people were very upset about that.

I often wonder about this kind of stuff. I assume there's a certain percentage of people who prefer to keep things the same, as opposed to those who prefer the latest and the experimental.

I lean towards the latter, I gave up optical media before Apple stopped including it and added a second hard drive in my mid-2010 13" MBP.

However the former group may acutely feel any loss of features, and thus be much more vocal about it.

 

[Arthur75]

Please, if you're contribution to the thread is only writing/begging in uppercase to have the MBP in March, stop doing it.
Seriously. Continue to read the thread, but stop writing MARCH MARCH MARCH every time. It's kinda pesky.

@BenTrovato I don't know about that, it's true that there is a lot of stuff coming in March, but still Apple waiting for June feel too strange.
What a messy situation.

Whatever, the important point is indeed that it has to be : MARCH
You didn't know that yet, or what ?

 

[killawat]

Intel has finally updated its ARK page with prices for the Skylake HQ Iris Pro 580 chips, and it's slightly different from the price leak last month:
i7-6770HQ $434
i7-6870HQ $434
i7-6970HQ $623

Hmmmm i7-6870HQ faster proc+more cache for same dollars? Surely that's an ARK typo? It also looks like they're updating the Skylake-H details faster than the Skylake-U ones with Iris 550. They still say announced but the Vaio Z has them already.
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False Alarm

 

[guychicago]

Hmmmm i7-6870HQ faster proc+more cache for same dollars? Surely that's an ARK typo? It also looks like they're updating the Skylake-H details faster than the Skylake-U ones with Iris 550. They still say announced but the Vaio Z has them already.
[doublepost=1456595622][/doublepost]
False Alarm

Definitely a typo. Price should be $534 approx.

 

[Oppenheim]

Apple seem to be late. I wonder are there manufacturing issues? Dell must have all the factories booked up. If Apple delay any further, they will have some serious catching up to do.

 

[Dutchdude99]

Apple seem to be late. I wonder are there manufacturing issues? Dell must have all the factories booked up. If Apple delay any further, they will have some serious catching up to do.

The catching up increases the chance of a March Update for the MacBook lineup! #hopeful

 

[Oppenheim]

The catching up increases the chance of a March Update for the MacBook lineup! #hopeful

I don't think they're ready. Looks like the March event will be iPad/Watch/iPhone SE.

It seems to me that the decision has been made to launch at WWDC and that's the end of it. Not ideal, but delayed hardware is better than rushed hardware. I don't think the global supply chain can deliver on a June WWDC announcement until Q3. It may be that the 16" won't be released until Q4 2016 or maybe even Q1 2017 - all Apple's focus will be on the new iPhone for Q4 2016. That's where the $$$ is. Developers (those who create content as opposed to consume it) have to wait in line.

 

[BenTrovato]

I don't think they're ready. Looks like the March event will be iPad/Watch/iPhone SE.

It seems to me that the decision has been made to launch at WWDC and that's the end of it. Not ideal, but delayed hardware is better than rushed hardware. I don't think the global supply chain can deliver on a June WWDC announcement until Q3. It may be that the 16" won't be released until Q4 2016 or maybe even Q1 2017 - all Apple's focus will be on the new iPhone for Q4 2016. That's where the $$$ is. Developers (those who create content as opposed to consume it) have to wait in line.

@BenTrovato I don't know about that, it's true that there is a lot of stuff coming in March, but still Apple waiting for June feel too strange.
What a messy situation.

See.. I agree with Oppenheim. While it has been a while since a refresh, there just hasn't been enough information leaked about parts for a new MBP. The way the global supply chain works nowadays, we would have heard something. I was hoping for March but it's just wishful thinking.

 

[WRONG]

The way the global supply chain works nowadays, we would have heard something. I was hoping for March but it's just wishful thinking.

I would agree with you, but I have always in my mind the words of Ming Chi Kuo: "[...] expects sales will accelerate with upgrades likely to arrive by June."
This means that he must knows something we don't know, even if vague.
So there are slightest rumors about MacBook... but referring to June.
My opinion is that MGK has heard something about a redesign of the Air coming in June (which would fit with another rumor about Air redesigned in June), but nothing about the speed bump of the Pros in March.

Still, let's keep our hope up.
Even if thrilling, I won't like to see Tim Cook on WWDC stage saying "Today is the big day, that all our Mac get Skylake!"
and the crowd roaring at it...

 

[Oppenheim]

I would agree with you, but I have always in my mind the words of Ming Chi Kuo: "[...] expects sales will accelerate with upgrades likely to arrive by June."
This means that he must knows something we don't know, even if vague.
So there are slightest rumors about MacBook... but referring to June.
My opinion is that MGK has heard something about a redesign of the Air coming in June (which would fit with another rumor about Air redesigned in June), but nothing about the speed bump of the Pros in March.

Still, let's keep our hope up.
Even if thrilling, I won't like to see Tim Cook on WWDC stage saying "Today is the big day, that all our Mac get Skylake!"
and the crowd roaring at it...

Yes, June announcement. First 14" hardware in Q3 2016. 16" in Q1 2017. That's how I read it.

MBP doesn't slot in anywhere else.

We're talking Kaby Lake now - native high speed USB, native 4k display handling and native HDCP.

It's all fitting into place then.

It fits in with the new MBP design which will feature integrated GPU and all-USB-C design. You simply plug in whatever 4k/5k monitor you want over USB-C and enjoy amazing performance/graphics and power consumption on the go. Dell might have first dibs on Skylake. You can be certain that Apple will have fully reserved Kaby Lake and will be ensuring that everyone is left waiting.

 

[mjs402]

I would agree with you, but I have always in my mind the words of Ming Chi Kuo: "[...] expects sales will accelerate with upgrades likely to arrive by June."
This means that he must knows something we don't know, even if vague.
So there are slightest rumors about MacBook... but referring to June.
My opinion is that MGK has heard something about a redesign of the Air coming in June (which would fit with another rumor about Air redesigned in June), but nothing about the speed bump of the Pros in March.

Still, let's keep our hope up.
Even if thrilling, I won't like to see Tim Cook on WWDC stage saying "Today is the big day, that all our Mac get Skylake!"
and the crowd roaring at it...

I truly believe the Air will no longer be redesigned. It did not receive a Force Touch trackpad and it makes no sense to update it. If you add a Retina display, then what is the point of the 12-inch MacBook when you have a more powerful computer at near the same profile. Further, there leaves very little differentiating factors between it and the Pro if it upgrades to Retina. Yes, the 15 inch has a quad core CPU, but assuming they all add Thunderbolt 3 - then it leaves the whole lineup messy and I just see the death of the Air. It was grand but there is no point to their other form factors if they upgrade it to a Retina display...

Yes, June announcement. First 14" hardware in Q3 2016. 16" in Q1 2017. That's how I read it.

MBP doesn't slot in anywhere else.

We're talking Kaby Lake now - native high speed USB, native 4k display handling and native HDCP.

It's all fitting into place then.

It fits in with the new MBP design which will feature integrated GPU and all-USB-C design. You simply plug in whatever 4k/5k monitor you want over USB-C and enjoy amazing performance/graphics and power consumption on the go. Dell might have first dibs on Skylake. You can be certain that Apple will have fully reserved Kaby Lake and will be ensuring that everyone is left waiting.

No, just no. That makes little sense to hold off on upgrades until the end of 2016/early 2017.

 

[Oppenheim]

No, just no. That makes little sense to hold off on upgrades until the end of 2016/early 2017.

It makes perfect sense. Apple "launch" at WWDC 2016 and wow all the developers. They get a hold over Dell by gobbling up all the Kaby Lake chip supply and Apple aren't releasing a SkyLake "me too" product like the ones Dell already have on the market.

So, look after your machine. You will need it for another while.

 

[senthor]

It makes perfect sense. Apple "launch" at WWDC 2016 and wow all the developers. They get a hold over Dell by gobbling up all the Kaby Lake chip supply and Apple aren't releasing a SkyLake "me too" product like the ones Dell already have on the market.

So, look after your machine. You will need it for another while.

Skipping broadwell AND skylake is not going to happen.
Also, kaby lake chips in q3/16 won't fit a 15'' mbp. If you look at haswell, broadwell and skylake, it's going to be core m and 15w u chips. Gt4e chips are not going to be available until at least q1/17, and Apple is just not going to not update the mbp in 2 years.

 

[NJPT]

Hmmmm i7-6870HQ faster proc+more cache for same dollars? Surely that's an ARK typo? It also looks like they're updating the Skylake-H details faster than the Skylake-U ones with Iris 550. They still say announced but the Vaio Z has them already.
[doublepost=1456595622][/doublepost]
False Alarm

It's probably not a typo. Intel did something similar with the equivalent Haswell chips: the i7-4770HQ and i7-4870HQ also both cost $434, despite the 4870 having a faster processor.

 

[Adam620]

Things that make sense to me:
1.) update in March to skylake, Apple updates their Mbp's when new chips are available, and those chips seem to be available
2.) update in March to skylake and then the fall with a redesign skylake MacBook Pro

Things that don't make sense to me:
1.) waiting well beyond a year to refresh the Mbp.
2.) waiting till Q3/Q4 for a refresh when you could do it now and then.
3.) waiting for a gpu to refresh

In May 2015 Apple waited 290 Days to refreshes the 15" rMbp just to add force touch and faster ssd's, which seems just a refresh to simply refresh. Why not space out the broadwell update if they were planning for such a delay.

I feel we got the most substantial leak regarding the 4" iPhone today, which has a much larger production scale, making it plausible there could be little to no leaks regarding a refreshed MacBook Pro.

Maybe it will be called "the New MacBook Pro" dropping the retina and hhd MacBook Pro (All opinionated of course. Sry for the rant )

 

[Oppenheim]

Skipping broadwell AND skylake is not going to happen.
Also, kaby lake chips in q3/16 won't fit a 15'' mbp. If you look at haswell, broadwell and skylake, it's going to be core m and 15w u chips. Gt4e chips are not going to be available until at least q1/17, and Apple is just not going to not update the mbp in 2 years.

What do you mean they "won't fit"?

Kaby Lake is due in 2016. The addition of native graphics and IO acceleration (suitable for the MBP's vision of the future) is a much "easier" problem to resolve than the unachievable tick-tock schedule. Apple would be the perfect flagship customer for Intel.

WWDC is in the middle of Q2. Machines in the postal system by Q3 at the earliest.

Your "is not going to happen" absolutism doesn't make sense. Apple do not follow Dell/Asus/etc. Apple will want to release a superior machine and will not want to be "me tooing" with Dell.

 

[WRONG]

I truly believe the Air will no longer be redesigned.

It depend on how you see it.
I think that Apple will continue to three lines of laptop:
- the entry level: the Air (or whatever they're gonna call it)
- the ultraportable: the MacBook
- the Pro: MBP of course
This lead me to think that maybe we'll see a speed-bump in March and then a redesign in June.
However, just theories...

What I'm almost sure of, is that Apple won't wait for Kaby Lake.
They already have all their computers line outdated; waiting even more for a CPU of which we don't know anything (not even the name), neither when it will come, is unreasonable.

 

[senthor]

What do you mean they "won't fit"?

Kaby Lake is due in 2016. The addition of native graphics and IO acceleration (suitable for the MBP's vision of the future) is a much "easier" problem to resolve than the unachievable tick-tock schedule. Apple would be the perfect flagship customer for Intel.

WWDC is in the middle of Q2. Machines in the postal system by Q3 at the earliest.

Your "is not going to happen" absolutism doesn't make sense. Apple do not follow Dell/Asus/etc. Apple will want to release a superior machine and will not want to be "me tooing" with Dell.

Skylake is no die shrink either. The same difficulties apply for skylake and kaby lake. Apple would have been the perfect flagship customer for skylake, too. There is just no argument in your reasoning.

Also...

They get a hold over Dell by gobbling up all the Kaby Lake chip supply and Apple aren't releasing a SkyLake "me too" product like the ones Dell already have on the market.

Who's talking in dell terms here? Your "makes perfect sense absolutim" does not make any sense.

 

[Oppenheim]

Skylake is no die shrink either. The same difficulties apply for skylake and kaby lake. Apple would have been the perfect flagship customer for skylake, too. There is just no argument in your reasoning.

Actually, Skylake was too soon for the new MBP. 2008 was first unibody, slimmed retina in 2012 and the bezel-shrinked, thinner again is due in 2016.

Why would Apple release a mission-critical flagship product that only follows technology Dell have had on the market since 2015?

 

[Adam620]

Is Intel going to a tick..tock..tock..tick schedule now = tick (broadwell 14) tock (skylake 14) tock (Kaby lake 14) tick (cannon-lake 10)

 

[Pdp7]

People don't understand that "skylake" is not one set of processors, but a micro architecture that comprises many chips and families of products. Just because dell has had "skylake" products shipping since 2015 doesn't mean that apple could have been as well... Maybe if they wanted to play in the low end of the market or sell people
Gimped machines with 4-5 hour batteries and useless touch panels.

The skylake processors that make the Macintosh computers what they are- cohesive systems that just work- haven't yet hit the market. These integrated chipsets haven't been for sale since 2015.

 

[Adam620]

The skylake processors that make the Macintosh computers what they are- cohesive systems that just work- haven't yet hit the market. These integrated chipsets haven't been for sale since 2015.

I believe those higher end chips Apple tends to use have been released as of late January and they are just starting to roll out.

http://iphone.appleinsider.com/arti...hinting-at-apples-future-15-macbook-pro-specs

We will have to wait an extra week now to find out
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/02/27/apple-event-march-21-week/

Lots of crazy talk on this forum today!!

 

[killawat]

Why would Apple release a mission-critical flagship product that only follows technology Dell have had on the market since 2015?

this is the same Apple that has been rehashing the 2012 retina a few times over and is still charging top dollar for the latest one. The same Apple that had the balls to release 2014 and 2015 retina base with worse graphics than the base model 2012 with dGPU. Nothing Apple does makes any damn sense anymore. At this point the 2016 retina will be released in June. It'll feature 2014 specs in gold and space Grey for twice the price. (Rocking in corner).

 

[Oppenheim]

People don't understand that "skylake" is not one set of processors, but a micro architecture that comprises many chips and families of products. Just because dell has had "skylake" products shipping since 2015 doesn't mean that apple could have been as well... Maybe if they wanted to play in the low end of the market or sell people
Gimped machines with 4-5 hour batteries and useless touch panels.

The skylake processors that make the Macintosh computers what they are- cohesive systems that just work- haven't yet hit the market. These integrated chipsets haven't been for sale since 2015.

The delay is so long now that Apple might as well wait. No point in releasing a rushed/half-baked product that Dell had a year ago.
[doublepost=1456619736][/doublepost]

this is the same Apple that has been rehashing the 2012 retina a few times over and is still charging top dollar for the latest one. The same Apple that had the balls to release 2014 and 2015 retina base with worse graphics than the base model 2012 with dGPU. Nothing Apple does makes any damn sense anymore. At this point the 2016 retina will be released in June. It'll feature 2014 specs in gold and space Grey for twice the price. (Rocking in corner).

Mac users are a very small part of Apple's revenue.

Sure, developers need machines, but the innovative efforts are focussed on phones, tables, watches and cars. Not Macs.

I think this MBP will be the last one. In 4 years' time (2020), they won't bother with a form factor update. You'll just buy an iPad Pro and connect a keyboard/mouse.

The bleeding edge talent of Apple no longer works on MBP.