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What about new tech that could leave the macbook old in the near future?

i.e. the 2012 rMBP came W/O didn't offer 4K at 60Hz, or the DP wasn't enough to work with eGPU...

is there any specification, for WIFI, WIMAX or something that could make the 2018 rMBP look old in 2020?
Not any more than such technologies could make any laptop look old. But it's also in the eye of the beholder, it's not like you're going to forget in 2020 that 2018 was only two years ago. And as for connectivity, you're pretty safe with USB-C/TB3.

However, a couple of things that are starting to appear are 144 Hz displays and HDR. Possibly more gamer oriented, but they could certainly be of the kind that makes an older device literally look old. Another thing is VR and AR. I guess separate concepts technically, but they are both immersive technologies that allows you to interact with real and digital worlds in new ways. VR probably needs an eGPU, and that's already happening. AR should probably end up coming to Macs too at some point, though I'm uncertain exactly how that would happen. Maybe you would also include something like FaceID there, though for me that would just be another way of doing the same thing that we've been doing since the 60's. (user authentication)

Otherwise, I expect AI to be the most disruptive technology over the next 5-10 years, though it probably won't influence the Mac hardware in any major way by 2020.

Of course, what possibly would happen is that all Macs move to ARM chips, and suddenly Intel based Macs become archaic? (though probably not)
 
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I'm hoping the 2018 15" mbp has a better keyboard, better battery and with magsafe and USB 3 ports alongside the thunderbolt ports.... and a price drop.
My 2011 mbp discrete GPU is failing again. I won't pay £2700 for a 15" mbp with a 512GB HD, naff keyboard, crap battery life and only 4 TB ports.
The best mbp seems to be the 2015, but I won't buy 2015-tech in 2018.
Damn Apple.

The USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports *are* USB 3 ports. 3.1 gen2, 3.1 gen1, 3.0, 2.0, and 1.0.

If you mean USB-A ports, those aren't coming back. Buy a new cable for a few bucks and you'll be fine.
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Assuming the next MBP comes out someday and it comes stock with 8GB of RAM, is there anywhere besides Apple that I could purchase a MBP with additional RAM? Is Apple the only ones who sells their own customized products?

You can get the various configs with more RAM from other retailers like B&H, Adorama, MacMall, etc.

The real BTO options that are less common than the regular RAM/storage upgrades (top end processor bump, or 2TB storage) usually have a longer wait time to ship, but you can order those from them as well.
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Wrong company brother, Apple would rather charge you for the box in 2018...Q-6

They are not gonna drop prices on old hardware because they don't have to. iPhone sales ensures they can do that.

You guys obviously aren't paying any attention to the market. There have been several huge discount deals on the 2016 and 2017 MBPs in the last several months, and currently. Apple might not drop their prices, but resellers do all the time.

$1600 OFF on the top-end loaded 2016 15" MBP for example:
https://appleinsider.com/articles/1...-ever-on-apples-15-macbook-pro-with-touch-bar

or currently for 2017 models, at the bottom of that post:

 
You guys obviously aren't paying any attention to the market. There have been several huge discount deals on the 2016 and 2017 MBPs in the last several months, and currently. Apple might not drop their prices, but resellers do all the time.

I'm having trouble finding similar deals in Canada. I'm not even sure I can find a 13" model with higher specs (16GB RAM). I need a French Canadian keyboard, so importing it from the States is not an option.
 
I'm having trouble finding similar deals in Canada. I'm not even sure I can find a 13" model with higher specs (16GB RAM). I need a French Canadian keyboard, so importing it from the States is not an option.

I don't know what the reseller options in Canada are, sorry.
 
So here is a leaked pic for the MBP 15" competitor from lenovo


wqwidwj22u611.jpg


https://www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comments/8uorbh/thinkpad_p1_spotted_in_the_wild_trade_show_i/
 
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That's my issue Apple remains seeming incapable of producing the MBP without some major flaw one way or the other, and it's making rather a habit of it...

Q-6

A flaw that affects some users. The way you're speaking is as if Apple produce dud after dud and should just quit trying to make a laptop because they'll never work...

compare:
-coffee lake (blue)
-rMBP 2017 (pink)
-rMBP 2012 (yellow)
compare the huge difference between the 2017 rMBP and the new coffee lake, vs the very subtle difference between the 2012 rMBP vs the 2017 rMBP!!!

very impressive

I'd jumped from 2 core (2006) to 4 core (i7 2012) and my jump now will be similar, from 4 core to 6core, upgrading Macbook pro to same number of cores has no sense, as the price is super high, while the performance difference is very little




CPU_macbook_pro_retina.png

hpr8AT

I'm just as excited moving from my 2013 MBP to the 2018 model. The speed bump is going to be huge for me.
 
My 2009 MBP with its almost broken screen is getting worse to use every single day. I can't believe I'm still sitting here using that thing and waiting for the next version of the MacBook Pro. Come on Apple, is a July release too much to ask for?
 
My 2009 MBP with its almost broken screen is getting worse to use every single day. I can't believe I'm still sitting here using that thing and waiting for the next version of the MacBook Pro. Come on Apple, is a July release too much to ask for?
Well if they’re waiting for Mobile Vega maybe October isn’t so far away. Especially since you only upgrade every 9 years. Come on Poki, is waiting until October too much to ask for?

Just kidding! :D

(Except for the part where if we don’t get MBP until October, it better have Mobile Vega!)
 
Well if they’re waiting for Mobile Vega maybe October isn’t so far away. Especially since you only upgrade every 9 years. Come on Poki, is waiting until October too much to ask for?

Just kidding! :D

(Except for the part where if we don’t get MBP until October, it better have Mobile Vega!)

Apple can update MBP13 first. So I think that Vega is not the reason.
 
3 months to go! I’m spending the $4k on home improvements as I am that confident we will be waiting until October. It’ll be a spec bump, new keyboard and maybe FaceID for Animoji.
 
You guys obviously aren't paying any attention to the market. There have been several huge discount deals on the 2016 and 2017 MBPs in the last several months, and currently. Apple might not drop their prices, but resellers do all the time.

$1600 OFF on the top-end loaded 2016 15" MBP for example:
https://appleinsider.com/articles/1...-ever-on-apples-15-macbook-pro-with-touch-bar

or currently for 2017 models, at the bottom of that post:


Ever considered not everyone lives in the US, a point worth considering...

Q-6
 
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A flaw that affects some users. The way you're speaking is as if Apple produce dud after dud and should just quit trying to make a laptop because they'll never work...

I didn't invent the "issues" that's on Apple, 15" MBP has been problematic for generations now. Question is when will Apple get it right? Point of paying a premium is to avoid such issues, regardless of usage.

Apple want's to design it's hardware to be near impossible to repair in a cost effective manner it better get things right in the first place.

Q-6
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That's not my post. I never wrote that.

Apologies I'll fix it :rolleyes:

Q-6
 
However, a couple of things that are starting to appear are 144 Hz
144Hz is mostly being implemented in gaming laptops. I'm not sure there's much advantages for non-gaming uses, but it could be my ignorance.

Another thing is VR and AR.
Apple has so far been caught flat footed in VR, and they don't seem too interested in it. They are working on AR, but not on the Mac, so I don't know if they'll spec out a laptop capable of driving either one.
 
I didn't invent the "issues" that's on Apple, 15" MBP has been problematic for generations now. Question is when will Apple get it right? Point of paying a premium is to avoid such issues, regardless of usage.

Apple want's to design it's hardware to be near impossible to repair in a cost effective manner it better get things right in the first place.

Q-6

You clearly have an agenda as I see you posting in nearly every thread with negative comments, so I try take most of what you say with a pinch of salt, but I respectfully disagree with you on this. The point of paying premium, in my opinion, is to get a better product, not a perfect product. Perfection is impossible in technology with the short testing time frames they have.
 
144Hz is mostly being implemented in gaming laptops. I'm not sure there's much advantages for non-gaming uses, but it could be my ignorance.


Apple has so far been caught flat footed in VR, and they don't seem too interested in it. They are working on AR, but not on the Mac, so I don't know if they'll spec out a laptop capable of driving either one.
They’ve seen fit to include the 120hz “promotion” displays in the iPad pros (I guess we might see it rolled out to iPhones either this year or next, depending on if they can source the oled panels with the higher refresh rate at reasonable cost) so it’s probably coming to Mac eventually - perhaps even before the iPhone as the LCDs are (I would imagine) probably easier/ cheaper to get ahold of by virtue of being more readily available from more sources. I think it’s one relatively low-hanging fruit left as far as display improvements go.
 
They’ve seen fit to include the 120hz “promotion” displays in the iPad pros
Oh I agree from that perspective and that thought crossed my mind as well, but something keeps tugging at me, about apple not doing it. They're keen to promote the iPad and give it some nice new features. I just don't get that vibe when they talk about the MBP. It could be my own prejudices and I've been wrong before.

One thing Apple does right, and that's gorgeous displays. So from that angle it makes total sense to include a 144Hz display :)
 
You clearly have an agenda as I see you posting in nearly every thread with negative comments, so I try take most of what you say with a pinch of salt, but I respectfully disagree with you on this. The point of paying premium, in my opinion, is to get a better product, not a perfect product. Perfection is impossible in technology with the short testing time frames they have.

Nobody is expecting perfection, equally vast majority of the 15" MBP's have carried design flaws, which I don't find acceptable, nor willing to keep excusing Apple over & over.

A better product is not one that has a higher than average chance of failure. We're not talking about a few disgruntled customer's on forums, for Apple to put such repair programs in place it indicates a significant number of customers effected. Question remains just exactly when will Apple get it right...

Q-6
 
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I've given up and ordered a Hades Canyon. I'm going to stick Linux on it and see if I can wean myself off my MBP.

Maybe I'll be able to reduce my mobile needs to the point I can get away with a tablet, or a Dell, ick.
 
for Apple to put such repair programs in place it indicates a significant number of customers effected.
I think more important than the number is the word of mouth and the fact that it will not be "fixed".
If you just offer to replace a fragile part with an identical, flawed replacement, people will not shut up about it.

This is why mass-recalls happen, you need to offer a solution and convince people that the problem is indeed solved.
Car manufacturers will not replace a faulty part telling you it will fail again.
... but I know that car analogies are being used too often.
 
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They did that for the 2011 GPU issue
Which was also a massive issue for a lot of people.
By the way, I have both Macs and Lenovo Laptops because I don't understand why I have to cheer for one team only.
I really really like the Lenovo Keyboards. I have not bought a MacBook since 2012 and I will not unless they massively roll back the changes to the keyboard AND ALSO the trackpad.
 
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