Waiting for the 2018 MBP

[sputnikBA]

The display thing is funny to me because they changed the default settings on 2016(?) MBPs onwards so that you aren't getting an @2x image.

I mentioned this before, but if they dropped the screen size slightly from 15.4" to 15" exactly, they could do an @2x retina of 1680 x 1050 and we would have a 3360 x 2100 display. 3360 x 2100 in 15" is a PPI of 264 which is the same as what they use for iPad Pros -- so they could buy from the same suppliers and we might be able to get Pro-motion capable displays if the match them with a custom T-con (or maybe have the T2 manage it?).

GPU performance might be an issue though, so I don't see this happening without a move to a Vega card — but this feels like something they could introduce in a future model.

 

[Ener Ji]

The display thing is funny to me because they changed the default settings on 2016(?) MBPs onwards so that you aren't getting an @2x image.

Would you mind elaborating on this? Below are the default display preferences default for a 2012 rMBP, for example. How do the 2016s and later differ?

 

[Poki]

Would you mind elaborating on this? Below are the default display preferences default for a 2012 rMBP, for example. How do the 2016s and later differ?

View attachment 761159

The 2016 and newer 15" MacBook Pros use the "Looks like 1680 x 1050" resolution as a standard, which makes the 2880 x 1800 actual screen resolution no longer a full retina 2x. You can obviously still choose to use the actual retina scaling, but the amount of space is just nicer with this new standard setting.

 

[Ener Ji]

The 2016 and newer 15" MacBook Pros use the "Looks like 1680 x 1050" resolution as a standard, which makes the 2880 x 1800 actual screen resolution no longer a full retina 2x. You can obviously still choose to use the actual retina scaling, but the amount of space is just nicer with this new standard setting.

Interesting, thank you. I find font sizes uncomfortably small at that scaling - has anything changed about the display or in the macOS UI specific to the 2016-2017s to compensate for the smaller fonts? Or does it look identical to the "looks like 1680 x 1050" on the 2012-2015 rMBPs?

 

[A_ardvark]

I've been looking for alternatives for my 2011 13 MacBook for 6 months now. First I was waiting for a refresh for quad core in a 13 inch form factor, then I got impatient and started looking at windows options which are better value for the dollar. After mismanaged orders from Dell and Microsoft--who literally cancelled my order an hour after I spoke to a representative who guaranteed my product would be shipped out immediately to make up for production delays--I understand the appeal of Apple.

The thing about Apple's "tax" is....they have a competent storefront that actually delivers what you want when you want it. Sure you don't get great deals buying new, but you also rarely have to deal with FOMO pricing that the other vendors engage in.


Also....will June 4th just get here already.

 

[KensaiMage]

Will the 2018 model have HBM graphics?

 

[Glmnet1]

Will the 2018 model have HBM graphics?

Possibly.

 

[sputnikBA]

Interesting, thank you. I find font sizes uncomfortably small at that scaling - has anything changed about the display or in the macOS UI specific to the 2016-2017s to compensate for the smaller fonts? Or does it look identical to the "looks like 1680 x 1050" on the 2012-2015 rMBPs?

Skim this https://9to5mac.com/2016/12/02/15-inch-macbook-pro-screen-resolution-blurry/

(It’s the same as you picking the 1680 option, they just changed which one is the “default” setting).

 

[adamjackson]

I don't consider UHD to be an advantage right now. The actual benefits are tiny, while the amount of additional resources you have to throw at it are tremendous in terms of battery life. A slight increase to actual pixel doubling at the standard scaled resolution of 1680 x 1050 would be nice, although it wouldn't dramatically improve the screen either.

It's kind of like the Android phones with 4k screens in a time when the iPhone was still "only" offering a 720p one. Sure, 4k sounds massively better on paper, but the actual benefits were tiny, especially compared to the sluggish performance and poor battery life some of these early 4k phones had. I think it's sensible to wait until the technology is at a point where the downsides are negligible before investing in even higher resolution screens.

I run all of my Macs at the highest resolution I can and now that I'm editing 4K video every day, I'd like to get more pixels on the MacBook Pro. My 2013MBP won't push my 24" 4K monitor..well it will but it makes the entire computer significantly slower. If I didn't have my 5K iMac, I'm not sure I'd still be editing video on a Mac. The MBP needs the extra pixels and there are cards out there that can push these effectively.

 

[Poki]

I run all of my Macs at the highest resolution I can and now that I'm editing 4K video every day, I'd like to get more pixels on the MacBook Pro. My 2013MBP won't push my 24" 4K monitor..well it will but it makes the entire computer significantly slower. If I didn't have my 5K iMac, I'm not sure I'd still be editing video on a Mac. The MBP needs the extra pixels and there are cards out there that can push these effectively.

Of course the cards do exist, but that doesn't mean a higher resolution screen wouldn't impact performance when staying within the thermal limits of the current MacBook Pro design. I think Apple is right at the sweet spot - many competitors offer either a 1080p or a 4k screen, while Apple has found a nice middle ground. If you edit 4k videos on the go, I do not think you necessarily need a 4k display in the notebook. You can just as well edit it on a lower res screen, in most cases, that won't matter anyway.

 

[Naimfan]

Of course the cards do exist, but that doesn't mean a higher resolution screen wouldn't impact performance when staying within the thermal limits of the current MacBook Pro design. I think Apple is right at the sweet spot - many competitors offer either a 1080p or a 4k screen, while Apple has found a nice middle ground. If you edit 4k videos on the go, I do not think you necessarily need a 4k display in the notebook. You can just as well edit it on a lower res screen, in most cases, that won't matter anyway.

The fact that heat is killing so many keyboards rather argues agianst your idea that Apple has found a "sweet spot."

The thermal limits are a stupid self-inflicted wound, in the name of anorexia.

 

[Ener Ji]

I run all of my Macs at the highest resolution I can and now that I'm editing 4K video every day, I'd like to get more pixels on the MacBook Pro. My 2013MBP won't push my 24" 4K monitor..well it will but it makes the entire computer significantly slower. If I didn't have my 5K iMac, I'm not sure I'd still be editing video on a Mac. The MBP needs the extra pixels and there are cards out there that can push these effectively.

The screen resolution at the laptop is independent of the graphics Hardware inside. The GPU and video memory is primarily what dictates how easily it can drive a high resolution external monitor.

I imagine a 2017 (15") MBP has significantly faster GPU than your 2013. Hopefully the 2018 comes with Vega and is even faster still.

 

[Poki]

The fact that heat is killing so many keyboards rather argues agianst your idea that Apple has found a "sweet spot."

The thermal limits are a stupid self-inflicted wound, in the name of anorexia.

I was obviously talking about the screen resolution only. We still don‘t know the amount of keyboard failures caused by heat, so that is pure speculation at that point.

 

[Meldalinn]

I was wondering when somebody was going to mention the possibility of Apple using an external RAM controller to allow its laptops to use LPDDR4 memory…

They could, but they would have to build one themselves, as the options to buy one with lower power consumption than just using ddr4, simply isnt there

 

[cool11]

I am curious about the 'complaints' that should be possibly fixed, as Johnny Ive recently mentioned...
There should be improvements on problems or severe topics that many users point out.
If nothing like this happens in the new mbp, they are just tricking us.

 

[schalliol]

With the MacRumors article 2 days ago on MBP vs Surface Pro 2, I'm wondering if people here think there will be anything beyond a CPU/GPU and keyboard modification to the design. I think they'll stick to Steve's notion that touchscreens/tablets on laptops are the wrong way to go by using the TouchBar, but do you think there will be any non "guts" changes?

Cash in hand for a new 15!

 

[Ener Ji]

With the MacRumors article 2 days ago on MBP vs Surface Pro 2, I'm wondering if people here think there will be anything beyond a CPU/GPU and keyboard modification to the design. I think they'll stick to Steve's notion that touchscreens/tablets on laptops are the wrong way to go by using the TouchBar, but do you think there will be any non "guts" changes?

Cash in hand for a new 15!

I'm hoping for an improved webcam. The current webcam on the MBPs has not improved in several years, while there have been advances in low light cameras which could work well as a webcam. A slight bump to 1080p resolution would be very welcome, as well.

 

[schalliol]

Yeah, no reason not to do 1080p these days. 4K might not be necessary, and low light would be key for a front-facing.

 

[MrGunnyPT]

Really wanna see a "Infinity" Display, something along the lines of XPS.

 

[GigabitEthernet]

So say Apple was going to replace a MacBook Pro with another for no charge but it was the 2017 model, would you sell and buy the new one?

 

[Falhófnir]

Really wanna see a "Infinity" Display, something along the lines of XPS.

I’d honestly be happy not having a ffc on my laptop and just face timing on iPhone or iPad if it meant reducing the footprint of the computer significantly.

 

[MrGunnyPT]

I’d honestly be happy not having a ffc on my laptop and just face timing on iPhone or iPad if it meant reducing the footprint of the computer significantly.

I haven't used my "laptop camera" in a long while, heck every time FaceTime call I do is on the iPhone either way.. Make it a dongle if you want I don't care.

 

[Starlights]

I haven't used my "laptop camera" in a long while, heck every time FaceTime call I do is on the iPhone either way.. Make it a dongle if you want I don't care.

I usually have a tape or sticker over the camera.... talk about varying needs

 

[MrGunnyPT]

We do need smaller bezels on the new model.

That and a redesigned keyboard are my priorities.

Other than that a Quad Core for the 13" and i'm good

 

[tesseracts]

We do need smaller bezels on the new model.

That and a redesigned keyboard are my priorities.

Other than that a Quad Core for the 13" and i'm good

Re: bezels

Anyone else feel the new 15" is hideous compared to the 2015 version? Given that the new chassis us physically smaller, why do you think the proportions look so off?

I want the 2015 but it doesn't have discrete graphics and it feels so heavy, bad for travel.

I just want a 13" with discrete graphics. Ideally 32GB RAM, but I'll even forgo that for better graphics.