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What to expect in the second Gen Retina MacBook (Merged)

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MyopicPaideia said:
Really? Can the upcoming TB3 run through a USB-C port? I've not read or heard that before, it actually makes me a little bit excited. Do you have a source I can read to learn more?

You do make a fair point regarding the original MBA and a second USB port - however, I have the exact same number of adapters for my MB as I do for my MBA (1 for HDMI and 1 for Ethernet + 3 USB-A ports), which says something about wired connectivity. I think consumers and the industry are now ready for one port, something that just wasn't the case 7 years ago.

However, I could be totally wrong! :eek: :D
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I may have misspoken. It will have a thinner port, but not necessarily a USB-C port.


http://www.cnet.com/news/after-usb-3-1s-new-connector-comes-thunderbolt-3s/

http://wccftech.com/intel-next-gen-skylake-thunderbolt-alpine-ridge-double-bandwidth/
 
Jacoblee23 said:
Did you get the base version of the surface 3 or the $599 one?
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I bought the $599 model... 4 GB RAM 128 GB SSD... and really pleased with it. Yeah its a different form factor than the rMB... but it works well as a tablet/ultraportable replacement and just like the rMB its very light for carrying around

Just like the MacBooks, I find the build quality of the Surface 3 to be impressive... although less stylish than MacBooks, i think the surface series looks impressive.

Im half apple and half Microsoft with my devices lol best of both worlds I guess.
 
I got a Surface 3 as well, waiting for rMB v2

Fuzzball84 said:
I bought the $599 model... 4 GB RAM 128 GB SSD... and really pleased with it. Yeah its a different form factor than the rMB... but it works well as a tablet/ultraportable replacement and just like the rMB its very light for carrying around

Just like the MacBooks, I find the build quality of the Surface 3 to be impressive... although less stylish than MacBooks, i think the surface series looks impressive.

Im half apple and half Microsoft with my devices lol best of both worlds I guess.
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I wasn't quite convinced by the gen 1 rMB to part with so much money for an secondary or tertiary computer, so I also bought a Surface 3.

It has its shortcomings (mostly running Windows 8.1 with it's mixed up UI and somewhat inferior stability compared to Mac OS), but it's a generally a solid machine that gives me full desktop functionality in a tablet-sized package.

Performance is OK provided you set realistic expectations - i.e. don't open up 50 browser tabs and a dozen MS Office Docs, PDFs and video and expect it to worth 100% smoothly. If you keep the memory footprint low to avoid disk swapping, it works well.

The keyboard & kickstand are a bit "floppy" compared to a real laptop on a soft surface (lap or bed), but fine when working on a desk. The advantage is that you can remove the keyboard and have a reasonable (not great) tablet experience.

It does the job, offers some usage flexibility (tablet or Windows PC), and is quite good value for money.

I still love the look of the rMB, but will wait for further iterations for an item that I merely want, but don't need.
 
Dayv said:
The battery is easily replaced by an authorized service provider.
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Looking on iFixit, it looks like the battery is glued down to the chassis. Not easily replaced by anybody.

Look at step 16: https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Retina+Macbook+2015+Teardown/39841

Ugh! Even the center cell of the battery is glued down, and we had hoped the sticky cells we found in the new 13" MacBook Pro wouldn't be a trend...
To complicate the procedure, the battery sits down in a well; the only safe place to pry is over this aluminum wall.
Apple says that they use photos from high-speed cameras to help align these batteries in their cases, accounting for variations at the microscopic level.
This level of precision works well for fitting the largest battery possible, but it doesn't bode well for the ideas of battery replacement.
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As with other recent laptops, when Apple replaces the battery they replace the bottom cover also.
 
I am currently contemplating upgrading my 2011 MB Air to the 2015 rMB. It will meet my current needs of excel, word, email. The buyers guide here says "neutral" regarding upgrading. I was wondering what the community thought would be in the 2016 upgrade. I am assuming Skylake, but do we think that there will be otters changes? More ports, etc?

If the second generation is a significant upgrade then I may wait since unlike iPads, phones, etc. a computer lasts 3 years.

Thoughts?
 
I'm assuming they'll just drop the Skylake processor into the current design. The only other addition I think might happen would be replacing the USB-C port with a Thunderbolt 3 port, but I think that's less than 50%. I do not see them adding a second USB-C port.
 
Skylake should be a nice improvement over battery life. I think they will probably also work out the kinks from this last rMB like making the keyboard more reliable (though I haven't had any problems with mine). I think the second gen MBA had a price drop, so we may see that perhaps with the different processors (I would hope).

I think they will add a second USB-C, but really, it's all speculation. I think the biggest noticeable improvement will be with battery life. Since you didn't mention that you do anything processor heavy, the current rMB would probably work fine for you but if you could wait 5 months or so and battery life is important to you, gen 2 should be a modest but nice improvement.

Obviously, nobody really knows what changes they will make, but we can only speculate based on past product upgrades and the current available chipsets, etc...
 
I'd estimate the chance of Apple adding a 2nd USB-C port to be around zero. Phil Schiller had made very clear that a single-port laptop is a conscious design decision they made for rMB, and not just something they did because of space constraints.

Thunderbolt-3 USB-C port is a distant possibility, if it's something that can even be supported by CoreM Intel architecture.

Skylake update is the only obvious change in 2nd revision. I predict everything else staying the same.
 
Skylake and a price drop of £100 judging history. And I think that's all.
I'd love a 1TB option but not sure that'll ever happen.
 
BarcelonaPaul said:
Skylake and a price drop of £100 judging history. And I think that's all.
I'd love a 1TB option but not sure that'll ever happen.
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I agree Skylake seems the obvious upgrade but if there is a higher processor option any extra battery life may be negated by this, leaving just the lower spec with the gain.
 
squirrrl said:
Skylake should be a nice improvement over battery life. I think they will probably also work out the kinks from this last rMB like making the keyboard more reliable (though I haven't had any problems with mine). I think the second gen MBA had a price drop, so we may see that perhaps with the different processors (I would hope).

I think they will add a second USB-C, but really, it's all speculation. I think the biggest noticeable improvement will be with battery life. Since you didn't mention that you do anything processor heavy, the current rMB would probably work fine for you but if you could wait 5 months or so and battery life is important to you, gen 2 should be a modest but nice improvement.

Obviously, nobody really knows what changes they will make, but we can only speculate based on past product upgrades and the current available chipsets, etc...
Click to expand...


I think almost all of your predictions are spot on. I bought 2 rMB's, the first of which has a majorly defunct key on the keyboard. While the 2nd one I purchased had a better keyboard, there were still several keys which didn't exactly have the right feel to them vs. others. It was a huge surprise to me given Apple's high quality control, however I doubt it's something that will make its way into gen 2. I imagine with the large amount of returns likely being initiated with this issue, Apple likely has the sufficient data to revise their manufacturing process for the keyboard.

I ended up returning even the 2nd rMB I purchased. While I thoroughly enjoyed it, I thought that it would likely rid itself of the keyboard issues by gen 2 as well as improve battery life. I also was intrigued by the possibilities of TB3, so I decided to wait for the next gen. While the rMB is a fabulous, futuristic device, it's pretty safe to say we'll see a drop on the admittedly premium price it's currently sold for as well in the next generation.

I don't think it'd be a huge departure for their strategy to go from 1 USB-C port to 2, but it remains to be seen. I think it just makes too much damn sense to include 2 ports on the 14'' model, but we'll just have to wait and see for the 12'' version. I would like to just be able to plug in a USB-flash drive while charging without an adapter. While I totally envision and agree with Apple's view of the single port (or 0 port) future, I think they'll realize they got a tad ahead of themselves by including just 1 USB-C port and a headphone port. Just speculation...one can hope!
 
It is an interesting wait - will the rMB stick with the original vision or will it follow the second generation MacBook Air.
 
I think that the design will be the exact same as the current version, meaning no addition of ports and still USB-C. Regarding the price, the second gen would be too soon to cut the price. However, the price varies quite a lot around the world, so I mean that at least the US price will stay the same.
Skylake will give a significant GPU speed bump and CPU wise it will be decent. The 1.2 GHZ 2015 rMB will probably perform very closely to the base-model 2016 rMB. Furthermore, the battery might last an hour or more.
I'n currently in a similar situation as you. Either it's waiting 5 months or more. Or get the current version and be happy about it :D
 
pmouritz said:
I think that the design will be the exact same as the current version, meaning no addition of ports and still USB-C. Regarding the price, the second gen would be too soon to cut the price. However, the price varies quite a lot around the world, so I mean that at least the US price will stay the same.
Skylake will give a significant GPU speed bump and CPU wise it will be decent. The 1.2 GHZ 2015 rMB will probably perform very closely to the base-model 2016 rMB. Furthermore, the battery might last an hour or more.
I'n currently in a similar situation as you. Either it's waiting 5 months or more. Or get the current version and be happy about it :D
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Thanks. You summarized it well. I guess in the end it's personal preference. My 2011 MBA is performing fine enough, but does run slow at times and the battery isn't getting much more than 5 hours. It may seem trivial, but the rMB USB-C is appealing as I would save space in my laptop bag without the bulky mag charger and extension cord.

Add that I am almost at 256 GB capacity I am leaning towards the current rMB...can't someone just tell me to buy it ;)
 
Skyline obviously, most marketable difference would be TB-3 over USB 3, technically possible equally challenging. Realistically Skylake`s significantly improved iGPU will make the rMB more of an attractive proposition for the general user. I am happy with my 1st Gen 1.2, and I am sure I will be happy with it`s Skylake successor, Apple just need to focus on working out kinks with 10.11

Done foresee any physical changes (more ports) other than "under the hood" changes for ease of manufacturing & reliability.

Q-6
 
Trey M said:
I don't think it'd be a huge departure for their strategy to go from 1 USB-C port to 2, but it remains to be seen. I think it just makes too much damn sense to include 2 ports on the 14'' model
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What 14" model? I have not seen any rumors that a larger rMB laptop is in the works.. And I don't see Apple expending 12" rMB form factor to larger laptops in the near future.

If they make a 14" laptop - it will be more like a current 13" rMBP (thicker, fans, extra ports, more powerful non-CoreM CPU), rather than a current 12" rMB. I don't think 14" CoreM machine makes a lot of sense.
 
As above, Skylake and USB 3.1/TB3 are going to be the major points. A price drop depends on how long the MBA is expected to carry on. If the rMB is intended to be the new portable laptop and the MBA is left to wither like the cMBP, then expect a $1-200 pricedrop. Any changes to the chassis will be purely based on feedback - I wouldn't expect any redesign until at least gen 3 if not gen 4 unless there is a basic fault. I'm sure the Mac engineers are hard at work on redesigning the MBP at the moment.
 
Octocore core M running at 0.2 GHz idle, 3.4 GHz peak. 16 GB RAM standard, optional 32 GB. 512 SSD standard, 1 TB on premier model, with option for 4 TB. nVidia Titan Ms running in SLI with 4 GB vRAM x2. 24 hours of battery life. 5K FaceTime camera. THX certified 7.1 surround sound.

Does anyone concur?
 
They'll stick a Skylake CPU in it (and maybe switch to DDR4), and perhaps do something better with the FaceTime camera. I suspect that will be pretty much it.
 
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