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

[ctyrider]

This product isn't "9 months old", it wasn't released in March. The clock starts ticking when the supply chain is fully locked and loaded, that's August of this year.

Well, no. You don't get to decide when "the clock starts ticking". I had my rMB delivered to my door on April 18th, so my MacBook is turning exactly 1 year in less than 3 months.

Heretofore every Apple notebook released in the market was predicated on performance.

How do you come up with this stuff? Ever heard of First Gen MacBook Air? I used to own one - the thing was a 3 year step backward in terms of performance. Thinness was the one and only selling point of MBA. But yet, Apple had steadily updated its performance year after year. There is nothing unique about rMB 12" in this regard.

 

[Koudspeel]

Please ignore boltjames like many others do as well. He's a known troll and trying to spread false information while at the same time trying to impress other people with his job, wealth and whatnot.

OT: History tells Apple will update the Macbook.

 

[827538]

The advice here is simple; don't wait as Apple is not going to make any changes to the RMB in the foreseeable future. It's a completely reimagined notebook and it is barely out on the market six months.

And if the supply chain argument doesn't convince you, then this surely should: Chasing processor upgrades are just about the last thing the RMB is about. This is the notebook that says conventional wisdom is stupid, this is the notebook that says we don't need a 500HP engine to drive around the corner to buy a carton of milk.

If Alcoa announced a brand-new aluminum that was 50% stronger and lighter, if Korea Optics developed a 1080P camera as thin as a human hair, if a brand new form of Bluetooth had double the range, these are the types of improvements that Apple would jump on to make its customers happy.

Skylake means nothing to RMB buyers because we are the group that already has accepted spec performance circa 2006 as a trade off to get an incredible form factor. People who yearn endlessly for Skylake and are waiting for it to magically drop from the sky simply don't understand what the RMB is about.

BJ

You know Dell just updated their XPS 13 with Skylake chips and TB3 over USB-C? No reason why they wouldn't include it as well.

It's been 9 months since release, in March where I likely imagine a refresh coming that will be 11 months since release, and it doesn't matter if it wasn't at full availability.

You're arguments go against all previous experience. Skylake offers small but noticeable CPU gains and massive iGPU gains, along with a potential increase in battery life? These are all things that customers want. Seem's only a fool would think 'thats good enough, no way Apple will update it soon, better buy now'. The chips are out, if anything it's a small engineering effort.

I've noticed so many of your comments on here berating people for saying Skylake is coming or wait for Skylake? Why do you take such a strong view. We've all seem the same info and leaks. Sure buy now if you want it, but there's plenty like myself who are happy waiting a few months.

Question you should ask yourself is what reason does Apple not have in upgrading the rMB soon? Silent March refresh seems likely.

 

[Admiral]

You know Dell just updated their XPS 13 with Skylake chips and TB3 over USB-C? No reason why they wouldn't include it as well.

The logic board dimensions on that Dell XPS 13 give it at least ten times the area of the retina MacBook's. Vastly more room to add a discrete Alpine Ridge chipset necessary for Thunderbolt and even for USB 3.1 Gen 2. Alpine Ridge is apparently physically as big as the CPU. I'm not saying it's impossible — indeed, I'm desperate for TB3 — but it's a bigger engineering challenge for Apple than Dell had with the XPS 13.

That said, challenging engineering is what Apple does. Will we see TB3 pushed to retina MacBook this year? I sure hope so. And it seems a foregone conclusion that Apple will have to incorporate it in the next refresh of MacBook Pro this spring. Maybe even some of the design cues (like the bezel-less screen) from Dell. God, who would ever have imagined anyone would suggest Dell had design cues to offer Apple?

 

[827538]

The logic board dimensions on that Dell XPS 13 give it at least ten times the area of the retina MacBook's. Vastly more room to add a discrete Alpine Ridge chipset necessary for Thunderbolt and even for USB 3.1 Gen 2. Alpine Ridge is apparently physically as big as the CPU. I'm not saying it's impossible — indeed, I'm desperate for TB3 — but it's a bigger engineering challenge for Apple than Dell had with the XPS 13.

That said, challenging engineering is what Apple does. Will we see TB3 pushed to retina MacBook this year? I sure hope so. And it seems a foregone conclusion that Apple will have to incorporate it in the next refresh of MacBook Pro this spring. Maybe even some of the design cues (like the bezel-less screen) from Dell. God, who would ever have imagined anyone would suggest Dell had design cues to offer Apple?

Don't they already include one of the TB chipsets? I can't remember the name of it, Cactus Ridge or something? You're right it might take some work but it isn't impossible.

Dell really have been on a roll I think recently. Their XPS laptops are really quite something, the bezel-less displays (almost) are something I wish Apple would push for.

 

[MyopicPaideia]

The logic board dimensions on that Dell XPS 13 give it at least ten times the area of the retina MacBook's. Vastly more room to add a discrete Alpine Ridge chipset necessary for Thunderbolt and even for USB 3.1 Gen 2. Alpine Ridge is apparently physically as big as the CPU. I'm not saying it's impossible — indeed, I'm desperate for TB3 — but it's a bigger engineering challenge for Apple than Dell had with the XPS 13.

That said, challenging engineering is what Apple does. Will we see TB3 pushed to retina MacBook this year? I sure hope so. And it seems a foregone conclusion that Apple will have to incorporate it in the next refresh of MacBook Pro this spring. Maybe even some of the design cues (like the bezel-less screen) from Dell. God, who would ever have imagined anyone would suggest Dell had design cues to offer Apple?

Well done. Finally a voice of reason in this freakish discussion! The rub is fitting all of it in the tiny little space in the enclosure assigned to the miniscule motherboard. This is the main reason we won't be getting a second port, TB enabled or otherwise. It will be hard enough to get a fully enabled Gen 2 USB 3.1 port with TB3 as it is, let alone two of them. Skylake Core m processors are not supporting DDR4 memory either, so the biggest difference will be graphics, will admittedly be "nice to have." This all assumes that Apple opts to use the m7-6Y75 at the high end and the m5-5Y57 on the middle and low end, as my understanding is that they are the only two Core m SKU's that support TB3 in full (correct me if I'm wrong.)

There is a lot that goes into this stuff, it is really a let down to read a bunch of truly uninformed comments whining about how easy it would be for Apple to just add a second 3.1 port. It would be an absolutely amazing feat of engineering to be able to give the rMB two fully functional Gen 2 USB 3.1 ports that included full TB3 support.

 

[c0ppo]

I belive BJ doesn't want an upgrade coz he wants to have 'latest and best' rMB he can have. And he simply can't afford another one. Or his trophy whife won't let him buy 2nd laptop when he has just bought previous one

 

[FrozenDarkness]

how quickly people forget the original macbook air had a redesign 1 generation in. iphone had a redesign 1 generation in. i personally think apple should make a 14" rmb and fix that keyboard. give it some more give.

 

[boltjames]

I belive BJ doesn't want an upgrade coz he wants to have 'latest and best' rMB he can have. And he simply can't afford another one. Or his trophy whife won't let him buy 2nd laptop when he has just bought previous one

If Apple makes a meaningful upgrade to the RMB I'd get a new one, why not, it's only money.

But Skylake isn't meaningful. I already get 10+ hours of battery life, can last all day in meetings or on a trans-pacific flight. I already have a fast-enough processor. Excel, Skype, and Outlook aren't exactly labor-intensive on the 1.2gHz I've got in there now. Skylake offers nothing. That's what most refuse to see.

Give me a larger screen, give me a 1080p camera, reduce the weight another half pound, I'd buy a new RMB in a second. But that's not happening this year. And it's not a dealbreaker. So that's why I'm happy with my 12" and am not wasting energy wishing on a prayer that Apple builds a brand new MacBook or wasting time with an old notebook when I could be enjoying my brand new one.

BJ

 

[navaira]

reduce the weight another half pound

LOL. You forgot to add "remove those two ports that I now have to carry around".

 

[c0ppo]

If Apple makes a meaningful upgrade to the RMB I'd get a new one, why not, it's only money.

But Skylake isn't meaningful. I already get 10+ hours of battery life, can last all day in meetings or on a trans-pacific flight. I already have a fast-enough processor. Excel, Skype, and Outlook aren't exactly labor-intensive on the 1.2gHz I've got in there now. Skylake offers nothing. That's what most refuse to see.

Give me a larger screen, give me a 1080p camera, reduce the weight another half pound, I'd buy a new RMB in a second. But that's not happening this year. And it's not a dealbreaker. So that's why I'm happy with my 12" and am not wasting energy wishing on a prayer that Apple builds a brand new MacBook or wasting time with an old notebook when I could be enjoying my brand new one.

BJ

I can't get that 10hrs, but ok, I'm a poweruser. Skylake brings this:
- faster GPU, maybe something not so great for u, but for me, this makes a big +
- better battery, this is the thing that anybody can make use of. Even Your Majesty
- thunderbolt 3 in USB-C form. Think about it. More connectivity options. If you don't need them, don't use them. As simple as that.

These are just the things on top of my head. There are a lot of others. So when u say (and I quote) 'But Skylake isn't meaningful" u become a thing to laugh at. At least in my book. If you just said it isn't meaningful to you, then ok, we all have our needs.

But please don't be so egocentric in future. Somehow when I read your posts I picture a 13 year old child, or a 30+ year old male that has no life what so ever. But of course, I could be wrong. We humans often are. But you wouldn't understand that since you are far beyond humans

 

[Trey M]

Somehow when I read your posts I picture a 13 year old child, or a 30+ year old male that has no life what so ever.

Hahahaha +1

 

[Steve686]

A new circular power button like the older MacBooks and MacBook Pros, but with Touch ID for passwords would be a godsend for me as I forget my passwords daily.

I would also love a Cellular version that I could add to my ATT account and not have to tether or look for wifi to use on the road. After all, I have about 35gb of data available to me every month.

 

[Admiral]

I already get 10+ hours of battery life, can last all day in meetings or on a trans-pacific flight.

What trans-Pacific routes are you flying that 10 hours covers it? The shortest is Tokyo-Seattle or Vancouver and "10+ hours" will barely get you there. Hong Kong to LA is 15 hours. Are you starting in Anchorage or Honolulu or something? Do you get off in Magadan?

P.S., my retina MacBook gets 6-1/2 hours on a good day. Four at most if I play videos. And anyway, the trans-Pacific flight has power at the seat for me to recharge so it's not a deal-breaker for me. But I think you're way overstating that battery life. Among other things.
[doublepost=1453691392][/doublepost]

Skylake brings this:
- faster GPU, maybe something not so great for u, but for me, this makes a big +
- better battery, this is the thing that anybody can make use of. Even Your Majesty
- thunderbolt 3 in USB-C form. Think about it. More connectivity options. If you don't need them, don't use them. As simple as that.

Don't hold your breath on the Thunderbolt 3 in the near term. That's the feature that seems least likely to make it into the next refresh. It would be amazing to see, of course, but for Skylake adding TB3 or "USB 3.1 Gen 2" (ugh) will require the addition of the Intel Alpine Ridge controller to the logic board. It's not built in to Skylake, and won't be built in to Kaby Lake (late 2016/early 2017) either. Can Apple squeeze Alpine Ridge onto the retina Macbook's minuscule logic board? It's awfully small and crowded already. More like a mobile phone than a PC.

Cannonlake, if it's ever released, will have TB3 and USB 3.1 Gen 2 integrated into the CPU package. So inevitably, TB3 is coming to retina MacBook, assuming that this machine continues to use an Intel CPU. But will it come this year, with out-of-pocket (lower margins, re-engineering the logic board) cost to Apple? Who knows.

 

[ctyrider]

What trans-Pacific routes are you flying that 10 hours covers it?

Heh - my thought also. As I am just about to board a Tokyo-US flight - I can only wish it can be under 10 hours. But I am sure our friend boltjames owns a supersonic private jet, he just forgot to update his signature.

And anyway, rMB battery is not 10 hours for any real world use. Not even close.

 

[Admiral]

Heh - my thought also. As I am just about to board hour Tokyo-US flight - I can only wish it can be under 10 hours. But I am sure uur friend boltjames owns a supersonic private jet, he just forgot to update his signature.

And anyway, rMB battery is not 10 hours for any real world use. Not even close.

It's enough to make a guy wonder about the Rolex, BMW, Trophy Wife, and Beach House. Those are a rogues' gallery of sucker "investments" in depreciating assets. Who wears a watch these days anyway?

 

[navaira]

It's enough to make a guy wonder about the Rolex, BMW, Trophy Wife, and Beach House.

Or maybe, just maybe it's an unemployed troll with a lot of time on his hands.

No, that can't be it.

 

[Admiral]

I'd have thought he'd be listening to Leykis 101 in that case.

 

[boltjames]

What trans-Pacific routes are you flying that 10 hours covers it? The shortest is Tokyo-Seattle or Vancouver and "10+ hours" will barely get you there. Hong Kong to LA is 15 hours. Are you starting in Anchorage or Honolulu or something? Do you get off in Magadan?

P.S., my retina MacBook gets 6-1/2 hours on a good day. Four at most if I play videos. And anyway, the trans-Pacific flight has power at the seat for me to recharge so it's not a deal-breaker for me. But I think you're way overstating that battery life. Among other things.

I fly JFK-HKG and HKG-LAX several times a year. Whether a 16 hour flight or a 12 hour flight, I always watch about 8 hours of video and still have 2+ hours on the meter when I'm done. That's in business class with the backlight on 25%. I run Windows 10 exclusively so if that has better battery metrics than OSX I can't speak to that. I'm not overstating anything.

What's more important is that when I'm on the ground and traveling from building to building and office to office in a 12 hour day and starting/stopping my RMB 5x for 30 minutes of transit time and then have my RMB working Outlook/Skype/Excel/Browser for 2 hours at a clip 5x for meeting time I never have to worry about battery, I don't bring my cable/charger with me, it's about as convenient and dependable as it gets.

BJ

 

[Queen6]

I fly JFK-HKG and HKG-LAX several times a year. Whether a 16 hour flight or a 12 hour flight, I always watch about 8 hours of video and still have 2+ hours on the meter when I'm done. That's in business class with the backlight on 25%. I run Windows 10 exclusively so if that has better battery metrics than OSX I can't speak to that. I'm not overstating anything.

What's more important is that when I'm on the ground and traveling from building to building and office to office in a 12 hour day and starting/stopping my RMB 5x for 30 minutes of transit time and then have my RMB working Outlook/Skype/Excel/Browser for 2 hours at a clip 5x for meeting time I never have to worry about battery, I don't bring my cable/charger with me, it's about as convenient and dependable as it gets.

BJ

I see around easy 8+ on my 1.2; pretty much same scenario, next month I will hit China, Malaysia, Indonesia & Vietnam. I typically run with the 13" rMBP & 12" RMB in an engineering/business role running OS X and virtualising Windows specific applications. For me the Retina MacBook is the perfect business focused notebook; lightweight, dependable, flexible & long runtime on battery.

Much the same dealing with Client or contractors, the notebook is up and running all day long. On a recent engineering project I similarly did not need the mains charger, as I am confident the rMB will not run out of juice, equally if I expected to be running the notebook solidly I would simply pack the diminutive charger or a compatible PowerBank.

Q-6

 

[SteveJUAE]

What's more important is that when I'm on the ground and traveling from building to building and office to office in a 12 hour day and starting/stopping my RMB 5x for 30 minutes of transit time and then have my RMB working Outlook/Skype/Excel/Browser for 2 hours at a clip 5x for meeting time I never have to worry about battery, I don't bring my cable/charger with me, it's about as convenient and dependable as it gets.

BJ

Yep it's my only gripe of my SP4 over my rMB, although in part it's my own fault for having brightness a bit high at times

 

[Four by Six]

OK, so BJ and Q6 both see great battery life with their 1.2. I'm not getting anywhere near 8 hours with my 1.1. Just a wild guess here, but since the 1.1 is an overpowered 0.9 and the 1.2 is a native 1.2, could maybe the 1.2's get better battery life than the 1.1 or 1.3's? I also take long flights, and usually in coach in older planes without power, so I'd love to get 8+ hours out of my rMB.

 

[objektør]

OK, so BJ and Q6 both see great battery life with their 1.2. I'm not getting anywhere near 8 hours with my 1.1. Just a wild guess here, but since the 1.1 is an overpowered 0.9 and the 1.2 is a native 1.2, could maybe the 1.2's get better battery life than the 1.1 or 1.3's? I also take long flights, and usually in coach in older planes without power, so I'd love to get 8+ hours out of my rMB.

I get 9+ hours out of my 1.1. But I assume it greatly depends on what you're doing and your screen. I used to have it at 100% and didn't get anything near 7 hours. Now I am more used to have it at 50% and get easily 9+ hours.
But I use it mostly for e-books, sketchup and not for movies.

 

[boltjames]

OK, so BJ and Q6 both see great battery life with their 1.2. I'm not getting anywhere near 8 hours with my 1.1. Just a wild guess here, but since the 1.1 is an overpowered 0.9 and the 1.2 is a native 1.2, could maybe the 1.2's get better battery life than the 1.1 or 1.3's? I also take long flights, and usually in coach in older planes without power, so I'd love to get 8+ hours out of my rMB.

I should point out that I'm at 30,000 feet, running Windows 10 exclusively, have the RMB in Airplane Mode, have the backlight at 25%, listening on headphones, and am only running one program at a time (mostly Windows Media Player, sometimes iTunes for Windows) when I get those kind of long-duration numbers.

Out of the plane and on the ground, I'm getting 8+ hours on the battery meter at my first meeting at 9AM and by the end of my day bouncing from building to building, meeting to meeting, I tend to have 2+ hours left. I'd estimate that during a 10 hour travel workday where I have 5 meetings and 30 minutes transit between them, the RMB is 'on' and running Wi-Fi/Skype/Excel/Outlook/Firefox for 7 hours and is 'off' for 3 hours.

Hope that helps.

BJ

 

[Elise]

I get 8-9 hours on my 1.1 when I'm doing simple non taxing tasks. If I play any games then that number reduces significantly but I don't often play games without plugging in the charger. I get better battery longevity the cooler the laptop is.