Waiting for Skylake MBP thread

[dtsisdead]

To be clear, Apple is not in rush for a new MacBook Pro. Why? It's because most of the buyer's never heard of Skylake, Thunderbolt 3 etc. They are not as much interested in specs then we are. My Girlfriend never heard of Broadwell oder Haswell but maybe your Girlfriend does. She buys it, uses it and thats all.

The Phones are having much more attention for the majority, they are more comparable. Maybe like a fashion product. Not to forget, the revenue is much much larger.

This is a valid point, however, ... the MBP is for professional users. Most professional users are savvy on their technology - this is what made the MBP so sought after in the first place. Thus, a majority of those who are waiting for a refresh/update/spec bump (like myself) are professionals. The number of 'consumers' who look at buying a MBP would be negligible. Most 'consumers' (who wouldn't know Skylake from their bunghole) would be happy/happier with the cheaper, lighter Airs or MacBooks. They would neither want or need the extra power of the MBP and most likely wouldn't want to pay the extra dosh for one.

The majority of Windows based laptops sold are mediocre performers at the cheap or middling price point. All the uber expensive machines are either work stations (for the professionals who don't like OS X) or Gaming machines (for those who wouldn't bother with a Mac because they aren't great for gaming). It was, in fact, that MBP that defined the 'professional laptop' genre of computing. To see Apple letting it languish is both disappointing and heart breaking. Steve Jobs may not have been the most wonderful human being on the planet, but he did have a vision... a vision that has gone down the toilet since his passing. (Not to say that his vision was always right... I mean, 3.7" screens on mobiles is ridiculous!)

I have around a month and a half up my sleeve until I need to spend my money (in order to claim it on my tax). If Apple do a spec bump to Skylake (heck, even Broadwell would do) in April/May, then I will buy one. If they wait til June and WWDC, that means I won't be able to get my hands on one until July, which is too late... I will have to sort something else out. I do need a new laptop - the battery in my Late 2011 MBP doesn't go enough distance anymore, and it is pointless just replacing the battery when I can afford a new laptop, with much newer CPUs.

I see my options as:
1. Buy a spec-bumped rMBP in April/May
2. Buy the cheapest MBA in early April then sell it and buy the redesigned/refreshed rMBP in June/July
3. Buy a Windows based machine such as the Razer Blade, or Dell (yuck!) XPS 15.

 

[Dead0k]

LOL They haven't even updated the macbook!

Hmmm... Maybe silent Skylake update for mac coming too? Just kidding, my hope has faded as fast as this keynote was over.

If they announce new Macs at WWDC or a special event beforehand, it's getting a bit late in the day to be investing in Skylake based hardware as Intel are soon going to be talking up Kaby Lake architecture, with the first wave of ULV chips due to be released in September.

Will you be happy to invest in 1000's on Skylake hardware only to have the next generation of CPU's (admittedly only a small leap in performance but with native USB 3.1 support etc) on the horizon? Of course chips suitable for the MacBook Pro probably won't be available until early 2017 but that's besides the point. Apple should have released new Macs as and when Skylake dropped and anyone who thinks otherwise is wrong.

If you can, I would wait until April/May. There's a good chance Apple will refresh at least part of the lineup before WWDC. There's no reason to think WWDC is "the big day." An update could drop at any time over the next couple months.

Best case: June with Skylake
Worst case: Apple skips Skylake, aiming at a release in the Fall with Kaby Lake
Miracle: Apple skips Skylake, releasing AMD 15-inch MacBook Pros in the Fall (8-core Summit Ridge CPU + Polaris GPU)...

Read it carefully please.

Apple is having off-season now.
The first presentation is like a warm up before serious gun-shots (WWDC, Autumn keynote).
They have to prepare ground for it: cheaper prices for Apple watches to bring more customers and introduce you watchOS 3(read as even more sells), introduce new Apple TV later(probably silently) with 4K to bring you new TVOS for WWDC).

Now, they will make silent update in April/May for laptops and introduce you a new software stuff at WWDC like Logic, FCP11 and other blablablas like Metal2 etc.

There is no point for now to make a keynote to update hardware and color in MBPs. They can easily afford to make some hype for this product in media. Why? Because it brings them only 10% of profit. 10% investments = 10% of profit. It is not a key product anymore!!!

Speaking about Ipad Pro as a competitor to the PC i can assure you that it is a marketing things to persuade (loyal) people in nowadays to use easier devices for their tasks. Most of individuals use computer to search for information, send letters, watch, listen, skype, simple draw/photoshop edits, read, other edits. I agree that all of that tasks could be made on an Ipad Pro. They compared these tasks just in contrast with dell XPS 13 (i guess) in their presentation http://www.apple.com/apple-events/march-2016/ (45:59).
PC for them is always a Windows based machine.

And yes, they know you need a good computer to use their Logic DAW, Montage videos and to code iOS software, calculate in advance Excel tables etc. But they don't say about that just for now. It is not a suitable time to say that!

Don't wait for KabyLake. Suitable chips for Apple laptops will be ready in a year!

Now please help me to make a list of possible products they will update in Autumn when they will silently update Macbooks right in April ?! Reasonably:

-iPhone
-Mac pro
-Apple watch 2
-maybe TV
-iMacs


At least 4-5 new products. Is it enough for "best ever made" product's presentation lasting for 150-180 mins including Statistics, demos, and mini-concert ?!

 

[fatboyhouston]

Seems to me that Apple are mainly about devices these days - probably because they've made a fortune on them. But it would be unwise to abandon their (traditionally) core product. Maybe this is an opportunity for a non-windows Apple alternative to grab a share. If they could get the operating system right, aimed at all the features Mac users love, and stay true to the community support, regular refresh and hardware excellence ethic, I think a lot of disenfranchised Apple users would happily sign up. Imagine 5 years from now, they could command a large share of the market, whilst the iPad fad dries up and Apple cry over their lost kingdom. Frankly it would serve Apple right.

I may be describing Linux/Ubuntu here - I know very little about either, other than they are popular with people who know what they're doing! I'm a recent convert from Windows to Mac and I love it, but it's concerning to see Apple's lack of interest. I can only imagine the rage of people who have been Mac from the start.

 

[Seed101]

Passed the main Apple store on Regent Street, London, this morning...four security staff, two Apple staff, cordens down the street etc...two punters queuing

 

[senthor]

At first, I was really disappointed with Apple not mentioning the Mac yesterday. However, I think it makes sense: They have to push iPad sales, and they do that by attacking Windows PCs. Macs and iPad Pros cannibalize each other, so it doesn't make sense to promote both at the same time.

I find a new "Back to the Mac" event very reasonable, either at WWDC or as an additional event. Apple always has the problem with staggered releases across their product lines, it is hard to introduce new technologies or design languages simultaneously. Look at the iPad Pro. The 12.9'' model misses some key features (TrueTone, 12MP camera…) of the 9.7''. The situation we now have is Apple in need of updating every single Mac. This is the perfect time to introduce new technology, e.g. USB C, Thunderbolt 3, discontinuation of MagSafe, new designs, something completely unexpected. They then could update all accessories at the same time and discontinue the old ones. They could even switch to ARM for all Macs at the same time. I'm trying to see the missed update yesterday positively, and thus hope that something big is coming.

The only thing I still really don't get is why Apple did not update the 15'' to Broadwell in June. This still makes absolutely no sense to me, as Haswell and Broadwell share the same system architecture and the update shouldn't have been too much work.

 

[Dead0k]

The only thing I still really don't get is why Apple did not update the 15'' to Broadwell in June. This still makes absolutely no sense to me, as Haswell and Broadwell share the same system architecture and the update shouldn't have been too much work.

Probably because of a good rebate and skylake coming info. Almost every producer skipped it. Broadwell is a history, man.

 

[t0mat0]

A clear marketing message by separating the iPad Pro push to convert PC (read Windows PC) users to iPad from any Mac update.

To offer updated Macs and iPads gives a mixed message - they're making it clear about the use of trying an iPad for the majority of switchers. Those who really want an updated Mac get to wait.

So nothing official I guess till after at very least preorder and release of iPad Pro 9.7"?

 

[Sweeper]

DigiTimes info about the new Macbooks:

With Apple's new ultra-thin 13- and 15-inch MacBooks to start shipping at the end of the second quarter, notebook brand vendors such as Asustek Computer, Dell and Lenovo have also prepared new ultra-thin notebooks for launch around the same time, hoping to catch up with the trend, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

Apple shipped 20.38 million Mac products in 2015, growing slightly by 4.08% on year and with Apple's new ultra-thin MacBooks, the sources expect the US vendor to continue enjoying growth in 2016 despite weakening demand for notebooks.

The two new MacBooks share a design similar to the existing 12-inch MacBook, but thinner than existing MacBook Air.

Lenovo has also recently launched its 14-inch enterprise ThinkPad X1 Carbon with a thickness of only 1.65cm and weight of 1.18kg.

www.digitimes.com/news/a20160322PD204.html

- 2 new Macbooks
- Similar design to 12'' Macbook
- Thinner than Macbook Air
- Shipping at the end of Q2-2016 (June?)
- Possible announcement @ WWDC in June

Polaris/Pascal dGPUs should be available by then.

 

[cmChimera]

As much as I hope this theory is completely wrong, I wonder if Apple got pissed off at Intel for all the delays and decided to stop using Intel chips in all their devices

No.

Apple might have gotten tired of Intel. They could refresh the complete Mac line up with in house designed SoC's. All at once for faster adoption and at WWDC due to the implications for developers (XCode on ARM, running iOS apps on Mac).

Not happening, mostly because it would be a great way to make sure they never sell a Mac again.

Simply put - lost faith in Apple.

Overreaction.

Because it brings them only 10% of profit. 10% investments = 10% of profit. It is not a key product anymore!!!

People need to stop saying this without looking at the numbers. Macs are 10% of Apple's quarterly revenue. Which is like $75 billion. Making Macs a $7.5 billion revenue business for Apple. If you think Apple finds that huge amount of money insignificant, you're flatly wrong.

Apple will update the Macbook Pros everyone. Calm down. WWDC is not a long ways off.

 

[Dydegu]

Still no Tweet from Tim Cook about the event yesterday. That's just bad marketing. Then again, there's not much to Tweet about, but that Twitter silence is loud.

I like that they are pushing trading in old devices for new ones at an Apple store. I'd much rather deal with all of my iPhone hardware through Apple and deal with Verizon as little as possible. It also beats mailing my old phone to Amazon or another service.

As far as the Mac silence, it just makes this wait that much more legendary. Look at what they did with iPad Pro; they sold the larger, more expensive product first, then released the smaller one. It's the same with the 15" rMBP. Yea, the 13" chips are ready, but they want people to buy the 15", so they'll release them both at the same time.

 

[Psyfuzz]

Ummm... new design?

I don't consider the addition of a "force touch" track pad to totally outdated hardware an update. That's hilarious.

I've been waiting for a new processor for Over two years now. Yeah, some of that time was Intel's fault, but Mac's competitors are now already over 6 months into Skylake integration. By the time WWDC happens, Apple will be close to a YEAR behind the competition... with a brand new release!

And this is just speculation... nobody can even say for sure what will happen at WWDC. Maybe it won't even be until October. I'm certainly not waiting to be disappointed again.

I've waited patiently long enough. Time to give my money to a company who actually seems interested in staying ahead of the curve where it counts... not just with superficial feature changes.

I was referring to the new retina MacBook, demonstrating Apple's still got an eye on laptops and OS X marketplace despite the user I was responding to saying they're abandoning the platform in favour of iOS.

Yes the MacBook Pros are outdated at this point, but people are acting like its the result of the iPads, when it's probable they scheduled the iPad/iPhone event for March so they could presumably dedicate the entire of WWDC to the Macintosh range and do a full redesign of the pros, and spec bump the rMB, MP and Mini.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have seen the pro range updated by now - but if they simple did a spec bump to skylake, people would moan it's not a dramatic update since the form factor would stay the same, on the other hand if they dropped the redesign early people would moan their new force-click equipped Pros were given a prematurely short lifespan. There's no happy middle ground, Apple seems to be waiting to drop all the major updates in one swoop instead of fragmenting the user base.

 

[t0mat0]

Wonder if any of the analysts ask Tim about this on the earnings call at the end of April.

Have the Mac lines ever been so synchronised in that all the Macs are "overdue" for an update? WWDC 2012?

 

[PTLove]

Remember Tim Cook mentioned that the even yesterday was likely to be the "last product unveil" in the building. That makes a event between now and WWDC less likely.

 

[Dydegu]

Remember Tim Cook mentioned that the even yesterday was likely to be the "last product unveil" in the building. That makes a event between now and WWDC less likely.

They could do an event in another venue or do a press release.

 

[Scott64]

They could do an event in another venue or do a press release.

Could also update an existing product on the same stage. Just wouldn't be a new product.

Waiting for March 21st was pushing it for me so I had to bite the bullet and place an order for older hardware. Went refurb route. 2015 15" should be here Thursday.

 

[xmlninja]

ipad wont be pro until they get xcode on it.

 

[knassar]

No.

Not happening, mostly because it would be a great way to make sure they never sell a Mac again.

Overreaction.

People need to stop saying this without looking at the numbers. Macs are 10% of Apple's quarterly revenue. Which is like $75 billion. Making Macs a $7.5 billion revenue business for Apple. If you think Apple finds that huge amount of money insignificant, you're flatly wrong.

Apple will update the Macbook Pros everyone. Calm down. WWDC is not a long ways off.

We all had a collective tantrum in here yesterday - in hindsight we can probably all say that we overreacted. Thanks for jumping in and injecting some level-headedness and perspective into the discussion.

 

[BenTrovato]

Regardless if they update the MBP's in June or not, yesterdays event was terrible. They should have been able to see that in the rehearsals.

 

[WRONG]

I would like to write a lot of things about Mac, Apple and its future, but I'm too lazy to do it.
I'll just comment it like this
(if you don't like hardstyle I suggest you to turn off the audio)

Ok, seriously
- There's no way in the near future that Apple will discontinue all their computer line (even if really seems so). They actually have put a lot of effort in their last products.
- As cmChimera says, 10% of Apple revenue is still 7,5 billions. Not exactly scraps.
- One thing is sure: if Apple won't make a great upgrade with the MBP, a lot of people will be seriously pissed off.
- Anyway I'll start considering other options beyond MBP, and how to migrate, eventually. (F*uuuuck)
Maybe a Razer.

 

[Serban]

Im glad they didn't announce
Better to come with a perfect update with proper QA than a rushed one

 

[Dydegu]

It's a shame, because Apple is pushing iPad so hard, but they need to enhance the software to really seal the deal and offer an alternative to MacBooks.

For starters, the home screen is still all empty space. It feels cheap and is neither beautiful (OS X) nor efficient (iPhone). It feels like an enlarged iPhone.

For the home screen, they should just use the OS X dock, and let you gesture into an iOS Launchpad. The iPad software experience has to be different, and we're starting to see that with the introduction of multi-tasking on the iPad in iOS 9.

What's more, I understand we won't see full OS X on it, but let it run some desktop apps. It has the screen size and the power. rMB is a weaker, smaller screened device and can run them. iOS is the only thing holding the iPad back, and until Apple can make some improvements, the laptop lovers will hold strong. Since they focused on iPad hardware late last year, the software is next. iOS 10 might extend the gap even more between iOS on iPhone and iOS on iPad.

 

[WRONG]

We all had a collective tantrum in here yesterday

Yesterday was just the emotion of the Event, and a tiny glint of hope in the "One more thing".
I believe nobody seriously thought that MBP would be presented. That would be really a great surprise for everyone.
Still, the event was terrible.

 

[Serban]

It's a shame, because Apple is pushing iPad so hard, but they need to enhance the software to really seal the deal and offer an alternative to MacBooks.

For starters, the home screen is still all empty space. It feels cheap and is neither beautiful (OS X) nor efficient (iPhone). It feels like an enlarged iPhone.

For the home screen, they should just use the OS X dock, and let you gesture into an iOS Launchpad. The iPad software experience has to be different, and we're starting to see that with the introduction of multi-tasking on the iPad in iOS 9.

What's more, I understand we won't see full OS X on it, but let it run some desktop apps. It has the screen size and the power. rMB is a weaker, smaller screened device and can run them. iOS is the only thing holding the iPad back, and until Apple can make some improvements, the laptop lovers will hold strong. Since they focused on iPad hardware late last year, the software is next. iOS 10 might extend the gap even more between iOS on iPhone and iOS on iPad.

We already have rumours that the 12.9" ipad will get a new home screen space between icons,we will have multiple users accounts and some file managment with lighning to usb-c adapters for transfers all on ios10

 

[Axnaar]

Hello guys!
Looks like we stick to this thread for a while again.
Just interesting what is a good alternative for MBP right now on a market ?
All i need is a 16 gb RAM/SSD/13-14" laptop with a good battery not in a cheap plastic. Don't care about GPU much, because i have a powerful desktop PC.
Any recommendation? Surfacebook ? Razer? XPS?

P.S.
I know this is might be an off-top, but there is no rumors anyway.

 

[PTLove]

Hello guys!
Looks like we stick to this thread for a while again.
Just interesting what is a good alternative for MBP right now on a market ?
All i need is a 16 gb RAM/SSD/13-14" laptop with a good battery not in a cheap plastic. Don't care about GPU much, because i have a powerful desktop PC.
Any recommendation? Surfacebook ? Razer? XPS?

P.S.
I know this is might be an off-top, but there is no rumors anyway.

I would recommend http://www.amazon.com/ZenBook-UX303UB-13-3-Inch-Touchscreen-Discrete/dp/B014VHVZFQ