What if Apple does not release a new MBP at WWDC in June?

[vseera]

I grew up with Apple but certainly I don't want to go down with it.
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MBPs are now catered as expensive toys for rich high school and undergraduate students and perhaps also grandmom who care more about forms and prestigious of owning Apple products than functions. Don't see any professionalism in the 2017 models. Which laptop do you recommend?

Without a doubt, any of the Thinpkad X or T series. Or even P if you want a portable workstation.

If Apple sold their MacOS separately, I would buy a Thinkpad as my main machine in a heartbeat and be happy with the amazing keyboard and robustness.

I’ve had MBPs dent and chip after dropping 2-3 feet from a chair on the ground. My current X230 went flying out of my hands as I tripped once and went halfway across the room at speed. Not a scratch on it. Dropped it multiple times.

I’ve had them in the past too, all reliable.

I am platform agnostic and use Linux on my X230 and have windows on a gaming desktop and use a Mac as a personal machine.
I put up with the build of the MBP because I need to run MacOS. And no, hackintoshes are a pain to handle.

 

[throAU]

I'll continue to wait (my 2015 just came up 3 years old this month). In the meantime, i'm making more use of my iPad Pro.

If apple can do an updated iPad Pro with the same keyboard cover that is a bit more capable (as in, they give it mouse support and multiple window applications - so i can say, run two terminal sessions side by side, or two emails side by side), i'll buy that instead. Two different apps side by side is a start but simple stuff like 2 documents from the same app can't currently be done. its a pain.

Until they fix the keyboard issues, Macbooks are a solid "no buy" for me. It's THE issue that has stopped me from upgrading to a Thunderbolt 3 machine.
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Developers will have years in advance to prepare to such a transition. The fact that Apple hasn't announced anything yet about this, means that we still have easily 4 years before such a Mac might appear.

Clearly you don't remember the intel transition.

Apple dropped intel based Macs as a bit of a bombshell without prior announcement. Luckily Apple is good at these sorts of transitions, but if you're expecting years of notice before ARM based Macs appear - you're in for a shock.

I suspect you'll see an ARM based Macbook inside of 18-24 months. If not, sooner. The A11X in the iPad Pro is already fast enough to be in an entry level Macbook, no question. Next generation's A12X (or whatever Apple call their new top flight A series processor) will be faster again. The performance per watt apple is getting is amazing.


edit:
my "pro" use isn't that resource heavy, my macbook is mostly a terminal emulator or web/rdp client (plus office apps) - despite being used for "actual work".

 

[throAU]

Anybody not happy with the current MBP and needing it for work should consider if they can use an iMac instead.

This is my plan B, however Apple's Australian iMac Pricing plus their non-upgrade-ability on the 21.5 in terms of RAM and SSD is a hard sell. Yes i could buy one, but the entry level price very quickly jumps by 50% and the cost of the upgrades is exorbitant.

I've got a desktop PC I built 2-3 years ago for less that will massively out-perform a new 27" iMac.

Sure, that didn't include a monitor - but i don't want a monitor included....

 

[maflynn]

I’m torn because I am seeing some good Memorial Day sales (1000 for a refurbished 2017 256 non tb, which is plenty of computer for me), but I am not sure if the potential announcement will create even better deals or not.

Buy it and if WWDC rolls something out next week, then return the machine.
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Anybody not happy with the current MBP and needing it for work should consider if they can use an iMac instead.

I would that's limited to the 5k iMac, as that gives you the biggest bang for your buck, - I have that machine and its great though people are waiting for that to be updated as well. The only piece of advice I will give is to avoid the default configurations, DO NOT get the fusion drive, its 2018 and there's absolutely no reason why apple includes a spinning drive.

 

[MrGunnyPT]

My only option is a Macbook Pro.. I'm always on the move...

I'm just waiting for WWDC refresh and i'll get it asap.. My requirements for the 13" is Quad Core/ 16GB /256GB /Decent enough iGPU to drive a 4k display for Streaming content.

I work with Databases & VMs but have a 4k monitor at work to watch some shows and use spreadsheets while I work.

 

[hajime]

My only option is a Macbook Pro.. I'm always on the move...

I'm just waiting for WWDC refresh and i'll get it asap.. My requirements for the 13" is Quad Core/ 16GB /256GB /Decent enough iGPU to drive a 4k display for Streaming content.

I work with Databases & VMs but have a 4k monitor at work to watch some shows and use spreadsheets while I work.

I heard that people working on Databases & VMs got the most performance hit (as worse as 40%?) due to patches for Spectre and Meltdown. What is your experience on this? Is MacOS having better implementation (less performance hit) than Windows?

 

[maflynn]

I heard that people working on Databases & VMs got the most performance hit (as worse as 40%?) due to patches for Spectre and Meltdown. What is your experience on this? Is MacOS having better implementation (less performance hit) than Windows?

Yes, we are expecting a 40 percent hit on our servers because of the patches, but that doesn't mean we on workstations will incur the same perfomance hit. On both platforms, a software patch is needed to fix microcode in the hardware. Software is always going to be slower then hardware. I don't think either platform is going to come out unscathed.

 

[hajime]

I just did that. Now my MBP is dead silent. No crazy fan noise. I have to put my ear next to the keyboard to hear faint noise from the fan. Thanks for the suggestion.

Now another issue is the light on the magsafe is off often. I have to take it out and reconnect. Even so, the light goes out again and I have to replug.

Let's hope that it can serve me until the next computer arrives.
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I bought Arctic MX-4 and reapplied the thermal paste. My MBP is dead silent. Thanks.

My MBP 2010 was dead silent after application of new thermal paste. Yesterday and today, sometimes the crazy noisy fan issue reappears again even I just browse macrumors site.

 

[MrGunnyPT]

I heard that people working on Databases & VMs got the most performance hit (as worse as 40%?) due to patches for Spectre and Meltdown. What is your experience on this? Is MacOS having better implementation (less performance hit) than Windows?

Yeah both Windows OS & Mac OS got hit.

We did notice Windows got a lot in trouble due to our SAP background tasks (our clients use SAP and we do maintenance on their software & windows machines) Windows was prioritizing tons of if it's Windows updates & bloatware and we moved the machines to the Windows Server OS and installed the Security Patches for both S&M.

In terms of personal machines, my old i7 2600k machine has been hit with an almost 15% performance decrease in crunch numbering programs.

Right now tons of our clients are in process to change to AMD's Threadripper due to budget cuts since Intel is $$$ as hell.

Loving Threadripper machines, can handle both of our MAIN big servers on a single machine.

 

[hajime]

Yeah both Windows OS & Mac OS got hit.

We did notice Windows got a lot in trouble due to our SAP background tasks (our clients use SAP and we do maintenance on their software & windows machines) Windows was prioritizing tons of if it's Windows updates & bloatware and we moved the machines to the Windows Server OS and installed the Security Patches for both S&M.

In terms of personal machines, my old i7 2600k machine has been hit with an almost 15% performance decrease in crunch numbering programs.

Right now tons of our clients are in process to change to AMD's Threadripper due to budget cuts since Intel is $$$ as hell.

Loving Threadripper machines, can handle both of our MAIN big servers on a single machine.

Thanks for sharing. How is the performance drop between MBP and Windows laptops?

 

[vseera]

Yeah both Windows OS & Mac OS got hit.

We did notice Windows got a lot in trouble due to our SAP background tasks (our clients use SAP and we do maintenance on their software & windows machines) Windows was prioritizing tons of if it's Windows updates & bloatware and we moved the machines to the Windows Server OS and installed the Security Patches for both S&M.

In terms of personal machines, my old i7 2600k machine has been hit with an almost 15% performance decrease in crunch numbering programs.

Right now tons of our clients are in process to change to AMD's Threadripper due to budget cuts since Intel is $$$ as hell.

Loving Threadripper machines, can handle both of our MAIN big servers on a single machine.

Wow, seems like a really amateur job the sys admin must have done then. If the client can afford SAP, they surely would have been able to afford an AD server and configure windows updates there. Also, Spiceworks is free and works quite well when you have to roll out patches.

Individual machines trying to get their updates at work times and prioritising them over work tasks is a laughable nightmare and I can’t remember the last time I saw that happen in a work setting. The sys admin needs to be fired, as he’s running it like an amateur home network.

 

[TomOSeven]

If there's no new Air, I'll get a cheap Thinkpad to hold me over until late 2018. If there's nothing shockingly cool, I'll make Windows my main platform and get a decent, bang for the buck iMac. At least those don't rely on the ********* keyboards known to man.

 

[bjet767]

I’ve had MBPs dent and chip after dropping 2-3 feet from a chair on the ground. My current X230 went flying out of my hands as I tripped once and went halfway across the room at speed. Not a scratch on it. Dropped it multiple times.

Not to be a downer, but it reads like you drop your expensive devices quite a lot. Maybe Apple and even Microsoft aren’t designing their products for what you use them for.

Maybe use one of these:

https://urbanarmorgear.com/collections/plasma#

 

[nylon]

Given all the MacBook sales leading upto WWDC it seems that retailers are trying to get rid of their current stock. I would be surprised if there were no updates to the hardware.

 

[hajime]

Given all the MacBook sales leading upto WWDC it seems that retailers are trying to get rid of their current stock. I would be surprised if there were no updates to the hardware.

I guess maybe updated CPU and perhaps change of materials for the same butterfly keyboard. If they don't even upgrade the CPU, that is very very bad.

 

[Appleaker]

Due to the changes (more than just a spec bump) with this years model, it is entirely possible that they are delayed until later this year along with other some other Macs. Despite that, we will see a price reduction this year and I am expecting that to still happen at WWDC but depending on delays with other models, it could happen in October.

 

[Closingracer]

Due to the changes (more than just a spec bump) with this years model, it is entirely possible that they are delayed until later this year along with other some other Macs. Despite that, we will see a price reduction this year and I am expecting that to still happen at WWDC but depending on delays with other models, it could happen in October.

What changes? It's not even rumored to be changes

 

[Closingracer]

If there's no new Air, I'll get a cheap Thinkpad to hold me over until late 2018. If there's nothing shockingly cool, I'll make Windows my main platform and get a decent, bang for the buck iMac. At least those don't rely on the ********* keyboards known to man.

There is plenty of worse keyboards then the butterfly keys

 

[hajime]

There is plenty of worse keyboards then the butterfly keys

But systems that came with these keyboards are not as expensive as the MBP? Also, as a reputable brand name company with a long tradition of innovations and great products, Apple should not sell garbage that they knew had issues even before they came to the market. If they did not know, the current management, designers and testers are not competent. They should be fired. The MBP they have been selling the past two years is a shame to the company and an insult to its users.

 

[Closingracer]

But systems that came with these keyboards are not as expensive as the MBP? Also, as a reputable brand name company with a long tradition of innovations and great products, Apple should not sell garbage that they knew had issues even before they came to the market. If they did not know, the current management, designers and testers are not competent. They should be fired. The MBP they have been selling the past two years is a shame to the company and an insult to its users.

See its far from "garbage" You can call it garbage but I don't . Going to put it as this less then 1-2% have this issue. You have a problem go buy something else be it an older model or a Windows laptop. Vote with your wallet not with your mouth and brand loyalty because the latter doesn't help other then Apples wallet.

 

[hajime]

See its far from "garbage" You can call it garbage but I don't . Going to put it as this less then 1-2% have this issue. You have a problem go buy something else be it an older model or a Windows laptop. Vote with your wallet not with your mouth and brand loyalty because the latter doesn't help other then Apples wallet.

Perhaps you have such a low standard.

 

[vseera]

Not to be a downer, but it reads like you drop your expensive devices quite a lot. Maybe Apple and even Microsoft aren’t designing their products for what you use them for.

Maybe use one of these:

https://urbanarmorgear.com/collections/plasma#

Haha thanks for the link!

Actually, I wouldn’t call 4-5 times in 20 years “quite a lot”, but yes, I have had laptops falling out of my hand (and I use an iPhone without a screen protector or case in mint condition). It happens, but more importantly, I somehow feel more comfortable putting a thinkpad into a tightly stuffed bag than a MacBook Pro. I’m always babying my Macs one way or the other and I wish I could just install MacOS on a thinkpad without compromise.

 

[Closingracer]

Perhaps you have such a low standard.

No low standard. I just don't go with the popular flock wanting to cry all day. MY system works fine with the exception of this flickering screen thing that might be an issue.
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Haha thanks for the link!

Actually, I wouldn’t call 4-5 times in 20 years “quite a lot”, but yes, I have had laptops falling out of my hand (and I use an iPhone without a screen protector or case in mint condition). It happens, but more importantly, I somehow feel more comfortable putting a thinkpad into a tightly stuffed bag than a MacBook Pro. I’m always babying my Macs one way or the other and I wish I could just install MacOS on a thinkpad without compromise.

I have rarely dropped my phones but I have broken 4 iPhone 6 Plus's because of just some bad luck.

 

[hajime]

No low standard. I just don't go with the popular flock wanting to cry all day. MY system works fine with the exception of this flickering screen thing that might be an issue.
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I have rarely dropped my phones but I have broken 4 iPhone 6 Plus's because of just some bad luck.

I am very sorry for my tone. Very stressful due to Apple under TC's management. We all want Apple to produce excellent products so we can all enjoy.

 

[Closingracer]

I am very sorry for my tone. Very stressful due to Apple under TC's management. We all want Apple to produce excellent products so we can all enjoy.

I agree. IT sucks people is having issues but tbh I rather just not looking at other peoples issues because mine could very well work fine.