What to Expect in the Third Generation MacBook

[AFPBoy]

I don't know if I can handle the release of a 14" MacBook, I would have to pick myself up after passing out from sheer joy and muster the energy to walk to an Apple Store and throw my credit card at the nearest employee

Not to take away from your preemptive joy, but when the 12" MacBook was released I thought it was meant to replace the 11" and 13" MBAs and simplify the ultra-portable segment. However considering how many iPhone and iPad sizes there are now and may be to come, my thinking may have been totally incorrect.

Friendly advice - if you are outside the US and have a chipped credit card, remember to enter the PIN before throwing it at the nearest employee.

 

[bill-p]

So much wishing in this thread. Almost makes me wonder how many of you guys are holding out on your MacBook Air and waiting for a price drop...

But...

1. Price drop won't happen as is a 14" MB. If they will, you'd hear about it by now. Situation may change toward the end of the year but very unlikely.

2. 14" MacBook is silly. Would cannibalize 13" MBP in certain key ways. I don't think they'll do it, or if they do, it'll be prohibitively expensive. Even more so than 13" MBP, I think. Meaning even if a 14" MB were to happen, it would not drop 12" MB price.

3. iPad Pro may replace MacBook Air on the low end, actually. As hinted and indicated by Apple multiple times now. Depending on what they do with the iPad next, they may just be able to get away with removing MacBook Air without giving an affordable version. Remember: all Mac computers used to be over $1000 a while ago. And they sold just fine.

4. Sorry to say but markets where MacBooks have become so expensive that few people own them (and then they become status symbols) probably do not contribute much to Apple's user base, and I don't think they care enough to keep raking in more users in those markets. It's not a race to the bottom. Apple has always been about quality, integration of products, and a cost that justifies all of that. If they want to grab money, they now have the iOS ecosystem for that. They aren't inclined to make the Mac line more affordabe at all (as indicated by last year's price bump). Bottom line: I think y'all are wishing for too much.

5. Specs bump in 2-3 days? Well, why aren't we hearing rumors right now? Looks like nothing will happen to me, so I won't hold my breath.

 

[Starstrukk90]

5. Specs bump in 2-3 days? Well, why aren't we hearing rumors right now? Looks like nothing will happen to me, so I won't hold my breath.

Last year, in March, we had one news story about 2016 MacBooks being referenced in System Utility Image. Aside from that, I can't find any other rumours relating to them, but I may be wrong?
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/03/23/2016-12-inch-macbook-reference-spotted/

Then, Best Buy pulled the 2015 MacBook on Monday 18th (Tomorrow is Monday 17th...)
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/04/18/12-inch-macbook-out-of-stock-best-buy/

And finally, on Tuesday 19th, 2016 MacBooks were announced.
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/04/19/new-2016-12-inch-macbook-released/

 

[navaira]

Don't worry guys, it won't happen this week. Because my 30 day return window on the 2016 ends on Thursday.

 

[bill-p]

Last year, in March, we had one news story about 2016 MacBooks being referenced in System Utility Image. Aside from that, I can't find any other rumours relating to them, but I may be wrong?

Yeah... to avoid posting multiple links, here are some roundups:

http://appleinsider.com/articles/16...nd-half-of-2016-will-feature-redesigned-hinge

https://9to5mac.com/2016/04/15/macbook-wwdc-rumors-features-specs/

^ those started just a few days before the MacBook was launched. 15 vs 18. We're on the 16 now, and not even a mention in the last system image update or beta update.

 

[Mac 128]

Interesting. My guess is it's going to be a 14" rMB that will trigger a price drop on the 12" rMB and the end of the 13" MBA. And even then it may be about a year after the introduction of a 14" rMB before the 13" MBA is dropped (similar to the 11" MBA being dropped well after the 12" rMB was released).

I still want to see a price drop on the rMB, and not just for my pocketbook . I bought the 11" MBA six years ago because the Netbooks at the time were slow, fragile plastic builds. Yes, the MBA was about double the cost, but I thought it was worth it. Where I am the rMB is just looking overly expensive and a slow return to the prices of laptops in the late 90s. I like my Macs but at those prices I am considering a highly portable Windows machine for presentations.

The big question is, assuming there will be a 14" rMB, when will it be released? I'm trying to use the first-gen MBA to second-gen MBA (i.e. the current body) as a ruler, but feel like the larger rMB would be more likely to be released next year.

Why do you say that an updated MBP would cause the MBA to be discontinued? I realize that the two lines may eventually merge, but for the moment I think Apple would like to position the rMB as the entry level notebook and the MBP as the high-end model.

What I'm saying is if the MBP is updated this Fall -- a year after it was introduced, then they might also drop the MB price at that time, and eliminate the MBA, rather than in the Spring.

As you point out, they would probably keep the MBA around a while longer, maybe drop the price to clear inventory before the updated MB is introduced in the Spring, with a 14" MB.

A 14" also allows them to add a second port without giving in on the one port mentality of the current MB. That still doesn't answer what they're going to do about the 3.5mm audio jack though, but it seems less and less likely it will ever be Lightning, which by default suggests a second USB-C port, or some completely new multi-purpose port to provide the same functionality across all platforms, like the smart connector.

 

[C64]

Where did this 14" rumor start again? And did we ever get any trustworthy info on this? The whole idea of the MacBook is ultra-portability and simplicity. I really can't see why they would introduce a 14" and/or multiple USB-C ports. If you want more ports, they want you to spend more money and buy a MacBook Pro 13" without (or better yet, with) TouchBar. If someone really wants a bigger screen, they don't fall into the target group of the MacBook for Apple, and they'd prefer you buy the 15" MacBook Pro.

Personally, I would appreciate them moving away from all those different types in all product lines, as they seem to be doing slowly with the iPad. Just keep it simple: 12" MacBook, 13" MacBook Pro with and without TB, 15" MacBook Pro with TB. No more Airs, no 12" and 14" MacBook, no MacBook with one and two ports.

 

[Fernandez21]

Where did this 14" rumor start again? And did we ever get any trustworthy info on this? The whole idea of the MacBook is ultra-portability and simplicity. I really can't see why they would introduce a 14" and/or multiple USB-C ports. If you want more ports, they want you to spend more money and buy a MacBook Pro 13" without (or better yet, with) TouchBar. If someone really wants a bigger screen, they don't fall into the target group of the MacBook for Apple, and they'd prefer you buy the 15" MacBook Pro.

Personally, I would appreciate them moving away from all those different types in all product lines, as they seem to be doing slowly with the iPad. Just keep it simple: 12" MacBook, 13" MacBook Pro with and without TB, 15" MacBook Pro with TB. No more Airs, no 12" and 14" MacBook, no MacBook with one and two ports.

If they want to simplify, they should go 12" &14" MacBook and 14" &16" MacBook Pro. All MacBook Pro's come with touchbar and the 14" MacBook would have 2 USBC ports.

 

[bigjnyc]

Where did this 14" rumor start again? And did we ever get any trustworthy info on this? The whole idea of the MacBook is ultra-portability and simplicity. I really can't see why they would introduce a 14" and/or multiple USB-C ports. If you want more ports, they want you to spend more money and buy a MacBook Pro 13" without (or better yet, with) TouchBar. If someone really wants a bigger screen, they don't fall into the target group of the MacBook for Apple, and they'd prefer you buy the 15" MacBook Pro.

Personally, I would appreciate them moving away from all those different types in all product lines, as they seem to be doing slowly with the iPad. Just keep it simple: 12" MacBook, 13" MacBook Pro with and without TB, 15" MacBook Pro with TB. No more Airs, no 12" and 14" MacBook, no MacBook with one and two ports.

you would appreciate? what does it matter to you if they offer 100 different types of computers? just get the one you like... do you lose sleep at night because there are a lot of options?? I dont understand how people are affected personally by what a company offers.... As long as you can pick the one you want for yourself who cares what else is on the menu.

 

[AFPBoy]

Where did this 14" rumor start again? And did we ever get any trustworthy info on this? The whole idea of the MacBook is ultra-portability and simplicity.

Well trustworthy is a very relative term, but I would say that the evidence so far has not been substantial. And yet it does make sense given Apple liking to offer two screen sizes: iPhone and iPhone plus, iPad mini and iPad, MBA 11" and 13", MBP 13" and 15", iMac 21" and 27". A 14" Macbook would be a natural fit.

Yes, I realize the iPad Pro (large), iPhone SE and dropping the MBA 11" goes against this

 

[C64]

you would appreciate? what does it matter to you if they offer 100 different types of computers? just get the one you like... do you lose sleep at night because there are a lot of options?? I dont understand how people are affected personally by what a company offers.... As long as you can pick the one you want for yourself who cares what else is on the menu.

It shows the company is focussed, which has worked quite well for Apple in the past. The exact reason why Steve killed off a lot of products when he came back to Apple in 1997 and turned the ship around. Interesting history, if you're unfamiliar.

 

[DHagan4755]

I was going to say, "Folks if we don't see a MacBook update this week, it will probably be updated at WWDC on June 5th." But then I started looking at the timeline of when Apple's released new products. It could really come at any time.

 

[bigjnyc]

Looks like bestbuy only has open-box or refurbished macbooks available. Unless i am missing something. someone please check me on that:


http://www.bestbuy.com/site/macbooks/all-macbook/pcmcat748300603823.c?id=pcmcat748300603823

*edit* never mind looks like its just giving the option to pick up an open-box for each item. false alarm!

 

[intervenient]

I will eat my own dick if a 14 inch MB comes out.

 

[serkan]

I will eat my own dick if a 14 inch MB comes out.

 

[JMacHack]

I will eat my own dick if a 14 inch MB comes out.

Might want to get a side with that, it's a small meal.

 

[bigjnyc]

anyone remember if they took the store down last year on the 19th? Or did the macbooks just show up?

 

[C64]

It's 07:13 in Cupertino. C'mon Apple, wake up!

 

[serkan]

It's 07:13 in Cupertino. C'mon Apple, wake up!

Tim be like...

 

[bigjnyc]

Waiting for 1pm eastern to see if anything happens... Otherwise it will be a long wait until WWDC.

*Edit* Never mind, last year they released the news at 8:30am Eastern so I don't think its happening, unless they are doing it tomorrow to make it one year exactly.

 

[AFPBoy]

Waiting for 1pm eastern to see if anything happens... Otherwise it will be a long wait until WWDC.

*Edit* Never mind, last year they released the news at 8:30am Eastern so I don't think its happening, unless they are doing it tomorrow to make it one year exactly.

Give it at least another week. I don't think Apple likes to be remotely predictable with release dates:
April 10, 2015 - 1st Retina Macbook
April 19, 2016 - 2nd Retina Macbook
April 25 or 28, 2017 - 3rd Retina Macbook

I'm think WWDC

 

[Chic0]

Doesn't look like it's happening does it

 

[serkan]

https://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#Mac

According to MR Buyers Guide, we still have 10 days from 'possible' update.

 

[C64]

New iMacs coming later this year. If they combine everything into one big Mac event it could be the end of October again as well. We also waited for the new MBP all of 2016, speculating about a spring event, then all hopes were on WWDC, then possibly September, etc.

The frustrating thing is that both options are good and bad. I know I can buy a 2016 rMB right now and be happy with it, but feel bad about the 2017 model coming out (whether that's in a week or 6 months, I just don't want to buy last year's model). Or I can feel bad about not having the latest toy now, but be happy once it's released and I was able to hold out for all that time.

 

[Chic0]

Hmmm may be clutching at straws here, but just read that supplies of iPad Pro are constrained with available date being May 16th (a Tuesday). Possible that refreshed rMB may be released alongside? Maybe we 'only' have a few more weeks to wait

http://appleinsider.com/articles/17...ipad-pro-slips-to-may-as-rumored-update-looms