What to Expect at Apple's October 30th Event: New iPad Pros, Mac Mini, Low-Cost Retina Notebook and More

[jlc1978]

Counterpoint: Is there anything preventing you from purchasing an SD-Card reader, and continuing to do that with a future Mac that you might purchase?

that's what I have to do; however it is no where as good a solution as the Nifty Drive was. With the ND, I put the microSD into it and the ND fit flush with the Mac; this allowing me to put into cases, etc without dismounting pulling the drive and not worry about ti breaking in the case. Now I have a hub hanging on the side.

I also have one of SanDisks wireless card readers and may try that to see if it is a reliable solution; however it requires you to connect to its wireless network so it's not an always on solution.

Another solution would be for someone to make a low profile USB flash drive, much like the ones SanDisk, PNY et. al. make in USB A.

 

[jwdsail]

I honestly don't really expect any significant new Mac releases. Maybe some spec bumps, but neither a completely new MacBook model nor a redesigned Mac mini (and definitely no Mac Pro).

The iPad Pro update is simply too big. Apple will most likely spent most of the time hyping the new tablet and how it will make desktop computers and laptops obsolete, and how it will be an incredible tool for artists and so on. They will show off the upcoming new Photoshop for iPad and how it will work splendidly with the updated Apple pencil – which would fit with the different teaser pictures in diverse art styles for the event invitation.

There just won't be much room for any (really) new Macs.

Tim can focus on what he wants to on sage. I don't think anyone waiting on Mac updates cares how much time he talks about them. Shut up and ship them already.

Mac spec updates could take as little as 30-90 seconds per model.

The Mac Mini can be announced as a simple update/bump, maybe 60 seconds on stage, and the Mac community will make a big deal about it for them.

*(assuming it isn't an epoxied together, i3 dual-core, 16GB max ram, hockey puck/paper-weight/piece of ... art, with BTO options only for SSD size oh and Space Gray)

It doesn't need to be a totally new/redesigned Mac Mini. A pre-2014 (user serviceable ram and storage) Mac Mini with current MacBook Pro or iMac components would be amazing. People who have been waiting, sitting on their pre-2014 Minis especially, will buy as soon as the store goes back online.

And that's what I hope the "More Pro" Mini will be. The previous Mini (serviceable) with more cores, higher max ram (32GB?) BTO options for i9, up to 32GB ram, up to 4TB ssd, and discrete graphics.

And, honestly, that's all it needs to be, as long as a new Mac Pro is more like the cheese-grater pros... (re: upgradability)... time will tell...

 

[MacsRuleOthersDrool]

My experience was different, and if you are impacted by the switch then it isn't seamless. As was pointed out earlier, everyone's needs differ and thus their experiences will as well. I would like Apple to add a micr SD or Sd slot since I used it to backup critical files; but that isn't happening.

If you are using SD card storage as a BACKUP, you have more problems than you think.

So, what was your big problem with the PPC to Intel switch?
[doublepost=1540745388][/doublepost]

that's what I have to do; however it is no where as good a solution as the Nifty Drive was. With the ND, I put the microSD into it and the ND fit flush with the Mac; this allowing me to put into cases, etc without dismounting pulling the drive and not worry about ti breaking in the case. Now I have a hub hanging on the side.

I also have one of SanDisks wireless card readers and may try that to see if it is a reliable solution; however it requires you to connect to its wireless network so it's not an always on solution.

Another solution would be for someone to make a low profile USB flash drive, much like the ones SanDisk, PNY et. al. make in USB A.

You mean like these?

https://www.imore.com/add-storage-your-macbook-pro-these-tiny-usb-c-keychains

https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-SDDD3-032G-G46-Computers-Everything-Stromboli/dp/B077TB9N76/

https://www.amazon.com/Gigastone-Smartphone-MacBook-Ultrabook-Notebook/dp/B07BJYWJZ7

https://www.amazon.com/Leef-Bridge-C-MacBook-Android-USB/dp/B06XKPD12Q

And last but not least, here's a nifty one that houses a MicroSD Card. This may be exactly what you had in mind:

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=13506


These are all pretty small; limited in size only by the fact that most of them provide both USB-C and USB-A.

 

[Zdigital2015]

Was there anything preventing Apple from leaving it in, aside from greed and a desire to make it needlessly thinner?

No.

Apple may have been able to include the SD Card read, but which format (microSD or full-size)? I am sure there were just as many people clamoring for Apple to ignore the full size cards in favor of the smaller card format for a ton of reasons. I would not be surprised if there were users asking for their pet card format to be included. There are 8 different major flash memory formats, which one should Apple choose to put on the MacBook Pro and which one to leave off? At the time Apple chose SD Card, CompactFlash was very popular, but I am sure no one would argue Apple should have put in a CF card slot in to the Unibody MacBook Pro. Wireless transfer is gaining tons of momentum and is included in most modern DSLRs. Older camera users will still need a card reader, if you own an older, but still useful Canon with CF, then SD Card was just a useless slot in the MacBook Pro anyways.

Greed? That is hyperbole and an easy attack to lob at Apple, but not especially valid. It would be a lot much more believable if Apple owned Lexar, SandDisk or Transcend. Or if they sold an Apple branded USB-C SD Card Reader, but they do not.

Desire to make it needlessly thinner? I agree with you to a point, but using a 2015 15" for work and owning a 2016 15" personally, I appreciate the reduction in weight, size and thickness. Having owned a Late 2011 15" MacBook Pro, the 2016 is significantly smaller, thinner and lighter - the 2011 was a brick. The complaints about the SD Card slot and HDMI sound much the same as the howls after the 15" Retina MacBook Pro (the supposed pinnacle of MacBook Pro design by current MBP detractors) after the DVD-ROM, RJ-45 and Firewire 800 port went away.

My reservations about thinner are centered around battery life, heat dissipation, throttling and longevity of the CPU and not about the loss of easily replaceable functionality for the majority of users.

I would even venture to make the claim that even if Apple had left the SD-Card and HDMI port on the 2016 MacBook Pro, users would still be complaining because of no $1999 model w/o a dGPU or the "useless" TouchBar. Or the keyboard, or the Trackpad that is too large, or the lack of USB-A...on and on and on. Those people should all keep or find a 2012-2015 model and just keep on going. The ship has sailed...users have to move on.

 

[Yvan256]

If you are using SD card storage as a BACKUP, you have more problems than you think.

So, what was your big problem with the PPC to Intel switch?
[doublepost=1540745388][/doublepost]
You mean like these?

https://www.imore.com/add-storage-your-macbook-pro-these-tiny-usb-c-keychains

https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-SDDD3-032G-G46-Computers-Everything-Stromboli/dp/B077TB9N76/

https://www.amazon.com/Gigastone-Smartphone-MacBook-Ultrabook-Notebook/dp/B07BJYWJZ7

https://www.amazon.com/Leef-Bridge-C-MacBook-Android-USB/dp/B06XKPD12Q

These are all pretty small; limited in size only by the fact that most of them provide both USB-C and USB-A.

But none of these are low profile. And even a low profile flash drive is still very different compared to a Nifty Drive.

 

[jlc1978]

If you are using SD card storage as a BACKUP, you have more problems than you think.

Hardly. With CC it makes a great hourly backup in case something happens; a perfect adjunct to TM and ARQ.

So, what was your big problem with the PPC to Intel switch?

A number of programs would not run under the new OS or ran poorly / had issues under emulation. it's been a few years so I do not remember the exact ones but I do remember the hassle of coping with the switch. It certainly wasn'r a smooth one as the OP suggested.

You mean like these?

(List Snipped)

None of which are low profile like the old small bump ones.

These are all pretty small; limited in size only by the fact that most of them provide both USB-C and USB-A.

Exactly the problem with them, which makes them stick out and be prone to catching on things and possibly damage the drive or port.
[doublepost=1540746904][/doublepost]

I would even venture to make the claim that even if Apple had left the SD-Card and HDMI port on the 2016 MacBook Pro, users would still be complaining because of no $1999 model w/o a dGPU or the "useless" TouchBar. Or the keyboard, or the Trackpad that is too large, or the lack of USB-A...on and on and on.

Of course, just as people argue over stereo equipment, cars, cameras and their specs and models.

 

[Viper-FFM]

According to the GeekBench Browser:

Amber Lake
Core m3-8100Y - SC: 3885, MC: 7264
Source
Core i5-8500Y - SC: 3909, MC: 8164
Source
Core i7-8500Y - SC: 4784, MC: 8714
Source

Whiskey Lake
Core i5-8265U - SC: 4525, MC: 15,316
Source
Core i7-8565U - SC: 4938, MC: 14,840
Source

I would encourage anyone to look at all the results, not just the ones that I have highlighted. I am not sure where anyone would actually claim that a dual-core 5w CPU would compete or be faster than a quad-core 15w CPU is beyond me.

Clearly, there is a disconnect somewhere. Hopefully, a revised 12” MacBook w/Amber Lake will acquit itself well as would a 15w quad-Core in a MacBook (Air) replacement. I am looking forward to seeing what both will offer users moving forward. Hopefully, we will have more concrete information very soon.

You get my point, right? Or am I getting something wrong?

Currently, performancewise: Macbook 12 > MacBook Air
Currently, price ise: Macbook 12 > MacBook Air

According to Macrumors Video with Amber/Whiskey-Lake as suggested:

Performance: Macbook 12, Amber Lake < MacBook Air Whiskey Lake
Price: MacBook 12, Amber Lake > MacBook Air Whiskey Lake

I don't get it

 

[Zdigital2015]

You get my point, right? Or am I getting something wrong?

Currently, performancewise: Macbook 12 > MacBook Air
Currently, price ise: Macbook 12 > MacBook Air

According to Macrumors Video with Amber/Whiskey-Lake as suggested:

Performance: Macbook 12, Amber Lake < MacBook Air Whiskey Lake
Price: MacBook 12, Amber Lake > MacBook Air Whiskey Lake

I don't get it

No, I get your point and I agree with it. Reviewers, pundits and journalists need to check their facts with regard to which CPUs go where and what they are looking at relative to which would be more powerful before hitting publish. In all fairness, though, I have to extend them some grace as the news cycle can be a bear and all these names and numbers floating around do not make it easy in the slightest. Of course Intel seems to g out of its way to disorient users with their naming schemes. Example: Coffee Lake, Coffee Lake Refresh, uh, Core i7, no, make that Core i9 now, but hyperthreading was i7, well now it’s only for Core i9, but only for 9th Gen....

 

[MacsRuleOthersDrool]

But none of these are low profile. And even a low profile flash drive is still very different compared to a Nifty Drive.

You missed my Edit to the original Post.

Monoprice sells the same thing as the Nifty Drive with USB-C and USB-A. And they are on sale for $5 !!!

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p...MIssPj-9Wp3gIVD7nACh2WGwdyEAQYASABEgJfvPD_BwE

 

[KPandian1]

Was there anything preventing Apple from leaving it in, aside from greed and a desire to make it needlessly thinner?

No.

This is just the thinking different, "brave", the opposite of all things useful, Apple.

Not covered in this topic, but, Apple was brave enough to go against all conventional, instinctual user behavior/experience, to put the volume controls on the right side of the Apple TV remote. Why?

Similar issue, why did they integrate the power button into the main keyboard? Habit makes us reach for the the top right button/key to delete, and the top left key to escape.

Yet, they change the layout for no mad reason.

There is an idiotic "grab" of all the empty "air space" inside a device. This makes devices thinner, while a thicker, lighter device is what makes a better user experience.

The all-in-one portable device concept is lost on Apple.

 

[MacsRuleOthersDrool]

Hardly. With CC it makes a great hourly backup in case something happens; a perfect adjunct to TM and ARQ.



A number of programs would not run under the new OS or ran poorly / had issues under emulation. it's been a few years so I do not remember the exact ones but I do remember the hassle of coping with the switch. It certainly wasn'r a smooth one as the OP suggested.



None of which are low profile like the old small bump ones.



Exactly the problem with them, which makes them stick out and be prone to catching on things and possibly damage the drive or port.
[doublepost=1540746904][/doublepost]

Of course, just as people argue over stereo equipment, cars, cameras and their specs and models.

I think the issue with the small USB drives for USB-C is that NONE of them seem to be USB-C ONLY (yet); so that USB-A connector limits how "low profile" they can be. That will likely change in a short period.

How about BackBlaze? Continuous, UNLIMITED encrypted Cloud-based Backup for $5/month. I'm not a big fan of Cloud-based solutions. but this seems like the best of all worlds. Plus, being cloud-based, it is available WHEREVER you go, not just when you can be plugged into your Time Machine drive, and without the expense and hassle of setting up your own internet-connected NAS.

I use that myself to provide backup for my MBP. And even if you have a Time Machine setup, having an offsite backup has obvious advantages, even if it is "in the cloud".

 

[qtx43]

...And that's what I hope the "More Pro" Mini will be. The previous Mini (serviceable) with more cores, higher max ram (32GB?) BTO options for i9, up to 32GB ram, up to 4TB ssd, and discrete graphics.

I can't imagine Apple producing a user serviceable device anymore. Even the Mac Pro's design was a failed attempt to lock in users to Apple only parts. Their coming redesign is motivated by not having designed enough thermal headroom last time. Nothing to do with users being able to upgrade with commodity parts.

The version of the mini they continue to sell is a con job perpetrated on the computer illiterate. I'm guessing the new version will just barely compete on specs/price with the competition. And will sell mainly to those all-in with the Apple ecosystem. And then it won't be upgraded again for years. Because they can.

I've been a long long time Apple user, but the last several years they've been going the wrong direction for me. Just a several years ago their laptops were top notch, the mini was a great desktop, cell phones had no real competition, and OSX and iOS were miles ahead of the competition. None of that is true anymore. I've decided to quit trying to hope and pray Apple will eventually come out with something which more closely addresses my needs. Because it's unlikely.

I still have a laptop and iPhone, but they're probably the last. I guess I'm still following Apple news out of a morbid fascination. Maybe not morbid, because I think they'll live and thrive. Just without me, unless they radically change direction.

 

[lec0rsaire]

I never said it would have Thunderbolt 3. I do believe it will have two USB-C Gen 2 ports plus the 3.5mm jack and that will probably be it. I think the Industrial Design will be nearly identical to the 12” MacBook, although Apple could use the nTB MacBook Pro chassis, but I think they want the MacBooks to stay visually different as well.

I do not expect it to have Iris, since the 15w Whiskey Lake CPUs do not have an Iris Plus variant officially released. I think Apple has optimized it to work under the UHD 620 iGPU in the i5-8265U and the i7-8565U. The 12” MacBook has a UHD 615 and it supports Metal.

It’s possible that they use the same 13” MBP chassis. It would actually be cheaper for them to manufacture due to economies of scale. They’ve also done this before back in 2008 when they were making the transition with the aluminum MacBook although it was a short run. Then they basically sold lower specced or slightly outdated MBPs as the MacBook. This actually started the trend of consumers wanting the MBP even if said MBP was not a real MBP inside. Sometimes the name is everything.

I remember that the regular white/black MacBooks were extremely popular when I was in college. Literally every other student had one and I thought they were all sheep. I gotta admit I lusted over the backlit keyboards on the Pros when I saw them in dark lecture halls as well as the lit up Apple logo. Apple has always made a sexy machine. But I found them overpriced for the specs they offered compared to Core 2 Duo Windows notebooks. They did come with nVidia GPUs and most Windows notebooks just with integrated graphics. I ended up buying an HP with AMD CPU and GPU.

This was when AMD’s integrated/dedicated GPUs starting getting really good. It was the HD3200 and it destroyed my dedicated PC Radeon 9700 Pro from 2003. I could play HL2/CS Source and Far Cry as smooth if not smoother than my old desktop rig. But the battery life only lasted 1.5 hours! So I swore never to buy a notebook based on gaming ever again. What good is a notebook that has to be plugged in all the way.

 

[michelg1970]

I shall be purchasing one of the new iPad Pros but it still irks me that there's a camera bump on them. Either remove the bump Apple or remove the camera. It's not acceptable for such an enormous device to be unable to lie flat on a table. I also cannot see any logical use for a camera on a tablet either. Just remove it.

Ehmmm, my current IPP 10.5 also has the camera bump and it never bumped me...

 

[jlc1978]

You missed my Edit to the original Post.

Monoprice sells the same thing as the Nifty Drive with USB-C and USB-A. And they are on sale for $5 !!!

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p...MIssPj-9Wp3gIVD7nACh2WGwdyEAQYASABEgJfvPD_BwE

It's not the same thing as a Mini Drive which fits flush with the edge of the Mac whit the microSD inside. OI don't expect Apple to introduce any Macs or other devices, for that matter, in future Macs, iPad/Pods or phones. They have moved on to iCloud as the large storage capacity / streaming solutions.

 

[redneckitengineer]

I’m interested in a new iPad Pro for screen size and usb-c (slim chance). The FaceID sounds like a nightmare because of the angles required to authenticate. I personally have the Logitech Slim Combo and I’m using a ton of different angles to view the display. To have to hold it perfect to authenticate is not going to a good option.

 

[Scottsdale]

$20 says the new low-cost Macbook Air replacement is ARM-based.

Bet, taken.

 

[jlc1978]

I think the issue with the small USB drives for USB-C is that NONE of them seem to be USB-C ONLY (yet); so that USB-A connector limits how "low profile" they can be. That will likely change in a short period.

I hope so. Having a backup solution attached to my Mac that ensures I have a backup even if ZI am not on Wifi (ARQ does hourly when I am) is an important part of my multi-backup solution to avoid a single point of failure.

How about BackBlaze? Continuous, UNLIMITED encrypted Cloud-based Backup for $5/month. I'm not a big fan of Cloud-based solutions. but this seems like the best of all worlds. Plus, being cloud-based, it is available WHEREVER you go, not just when you can be plugged into your Time Machine drive, and without the expense and hassle of setting up your own internet-connected NAS.

I use that myself to provide backup for my MBP. And even if you have a Time Machine setup, having an offsite backup has obvious advantages, even if it is "in the cloud".

I prefer ARQ as it allows me my choice of cloud providers and encrypts the backup. That lets me use the 1TB I get with Office365 for backups while ensuring they are encrypted. With discounts, I get storage, Office on my Mac and iPad, for less than a dedicated storage product such as BackBlaze.

I also have my own NAS but use it to store and stream video to my AppleTV. What I'd really like Apple to do is announce one more thing - agreements with cable providers that make the AppleTV a set top box to replace theirs.

 

[djcgeez2189]

What I expect is another disappointing keynote showing off over priced under specked laptops the mac mini will continue t be forgotten and a refresh to a new mac pro. I really like the renders to the Ipad pro and of they pull off a design like that with their amazing retina pro screen that will be the one thing id most likely look forward too. I just wish they would implement some type of mouse support into their pro models.

 

[dirt farmer]

Newb here, so please take it easy on me (I've not logged in here, or followed Apple, in many years)...

Once these are officially announced, how long until they start showing up in Apple stores? Specifically the iMacs.

Thanks

 

[Zdigital2015]

Newb here, so please take it easy on me (I've not logged in here, or followed Apple, in many years)...

Once these are officially announced, how long until they start showing up in Apple stores? Specifically the iMacs.

Thanks

The iMacs should show up immediately, however, Intel is still having some issues meeting demand for 14nm CPUs and so any or all Macs introduced at this event may be affected. Generally, once the event ends, the store goes back up and orders can be placed.

If you want something high end, I would not wait to order.

EDIT: by high end, I mean anything Core i5, i7 or i9 9th Generation.

 

[kmann1983]

I think the issue with the small USB drives for USB-C is that NONE of them seem to be USB-C ONLY (yet); so that USB-A connector limits how "low profile" they can be. That will likely change in a short period.

How about BackBlaze? Continuous, UNLIMITED encrypted Cloud-based Backup for $5/month. I'm not a big fan of Cloud-based solutions. but this seems like the best of all worlds. Plus, being cloud-based, it is available WHEREVER you go, not just when you can be plugged into your Time Machine drive, and without the expense and hassle of setting up your own internet-connected NAS.

I use that myself to provide backup for my MBP. And even if you have a Time Machine setup, having an offsite backup has obvious advantages, even if it is "in the cloud".

And yet, nothing compares to how small and capable an SD card is right now.
The real question is, and I don't see why this question upsets people, what did we gain by losing the SD slot?
If the answer is "nothing" then it's ridiculous to lose the SD slot.
Macs, historically, are used to photo professionals. Care to wager what they use to store data? SD cards (well... you know what I mean here).

Apple USED to be about saving the steps. Making things as polished as possible. This is the Apple of yonder year. Being polished isn't a source of pride anymore -- as noted by iOS 10 and 11 with 12 making up, mostly, for those mistakes.

I think, at least for me and perhaps others, we're holding Apple to a standard of their former self and, instead, we need to hold them to lower standards like your average company. This makes the Apple Tax harder to justify.

Apple should be cautious. You don't want to always be searching for solutions that Apple keeps making problems of.

Now -- if we were in a transition of migrating away from SD to something else then I could see an argument for it, most certainly.

 

[bobtem]

I’m all for frequent upgrades, but where do all our old devices go to die?

 

[jlc1978]

I’m all for frequent upgrades, but where do all our old devices go to die?

Cleveland

Apple seems to consider recycling in design. I expect the new debices to continue in that vein.

 

[KPandian1]

I’m all for frequent upgrades, but where do all our old devices go to die?

The very, very, very green company doesn't care about it - or the extra expense everyone of their customer has to incur.