What's Next for Apple's 14-Inch and 16-Inch MacBook Pro Models

[danielsutton]

I deal with 1gb plus files often over wifi withour issues. The whole studio runs on the cloud.
You must be dealing with much bigger files than this to really need Ethernet. You haven’t told us what though.

Ethernet provides a much more stable and consistent connection. WiFi can be affected by so Amy things: electric appliances, building constructed materials, etc. wifi is great when away from a desk, it provides freedom of movement, but when at a desk and doing real work, Ethernet is a much better option.

I am not saying that Apple should take anything away from you. They should give you gigabit wifi the way you need it, but they should also provide an Ethernet port for people like myself who benefit from it. Thst way you and I can both have what we need and we can both be happy.

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

While I agree Apple's RAM prices are hih; removable ram would add a lot of thickness and since thin is in that negates using them as well.

Oh come on, the thickness has and had zero to do with it, have you never taken a Mac apart? You clearly have never taken a Unibody MBP apart and seen how thin those RAM slots were. You know they folded down flat and flush with the rest of the components, right?

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

It does, but it’s not the same thing. Hotspot will drain the battery of both iPhone and Mac like crazy, everything become hot, and there are sometimes data cap for that use. It’s a decent workaround, but it’s far from perfect.

I used an iPad with my iPhone hotspot in thé past, and having a cellular iPad is just better in every way. But I know that it’s not for everyone and that iPhone hotspot is more than enough for most people

Really? I use it all the time, and it doesn't drain enough to bother me. If I really need to, I can plug my phone into my MBP to charge my phone while it works. I also am in the habit of carrying a charger, extension chord, and double adapter in my laptop bag. Although, since I've bought an M1P MBP, I don't even bother taking the laptop charger with me usually.

Here in Australia there are no hotspot data caps. Our culture around corporate laws is that they exist more for the consumer than for the profiteering of the corporates. So the phone companies tried that at first, but it got shut down pretty quick. Considering that the type of people who would use hotspots more are the rich and powerful, rather than the unwashed masses, I find it quite astounding that America lets this sort of corporate greed of the few overrule, but hey, that's the culture there huh. We also have a lot more caps on lobbying, and stronger requirements for publishing political donations, so that helps.

 

[HVDynamo]

Man, I thought I was bad))) I'm on my mid '15 Air, which at this point is getting tired of giving me signs that I to upgrade and is full on acting up
But yea, I was looking at the new Air, but then I realized that its fanless tech won't work for my needs and it'll just irritate me. So no I would prefer to get the second edition of the new pros...

Yeah, my old mid 2012 has been the best machine I've owned period. Everything still works on it. The battery (original) still even gets a good 3 or so hours of run time for light loads. I upgraded the Hard Drive to a 1TB SSD many years ago, and just 2 years ago upgraded the RAM from 8GB to 16GB. For it's age, it's surprisingly snappy still and works great for basic stuff. I'm a bit sad to retire it, but it's been damn near 10 years now since I bought it. It's had a good run.

 

[mjz_5]

Yeah, my old mid 2012 has been the best machine I've owned period. Everything still works on it. The battery (original) still even gets a good 3 or so hours of run time for light loads. I upgraded the Hard Drive to a 1TB SSD many years ago, and just 2 years ago upgraded the RAM from 8GB to 16GB. For it's age, it's surprisingly snappy still and works great for basic stuff. I'm a bit sad to retire it, but it's been damn near 10 years now since I bought it. It's had a good run.

I still use the 2012 15” MacBook pro retina every day. I love it still. I agree. Best laptop I ever have. My work gave me a brand new dell xps, I still use the mac. Nothing beats the MacBook touchpad

 

[alexandr]

Yeah, my old mid 2012 has been the best machine I've owned period. Everything still works on it. The battery (original) still even gets a good 3 or so hours of run time for light loads. I upgraded the Hard Drive to a 1TB SSD many years ago, and just 2 years ago upgraded the RAM from 8GB to 16GB. For it's age, it's surprisingly snappy still and works great for basic stuff. I'm a bit sad to retire it, but it's been damn near 10 years now since I bought it. It's had a good run.

That is pretty impressive! I had the last 17" mbp model, which I ran for quite some time too, still have it, but it's a bit sluggish. I am ready for a new pro machine though...

 

[alexandr]

I still use the 2012 15” MacBook pro retina every day. I love it still. I agree. Best laptop I ever have. My work gave me a brand new dell xps, I still use the mac. Nothing beats the MacBook touchpad

Funny our IT dept is also trying to push pc's on everyone, but nope

 

[chucker23n1]

Oh come on, the thickness has and had zero to do with it, have you never taken a Mac apart? You clearly have never taken a Unibody MBP apart and seen how thin those RAM slots were. You know they folded down flat and flush with the rest of the components, right?

Unibody MBPs with removable RAM were 44% thicker.

 

[jlc1978]

Oh come on, the thickness has and had zero to do with it, have you never taken a Mac apart? You clearly have never taken a Unibody MBP apart and seen how thin those RAM slots were. You know they folded down flat and flush with the rest of the components, right?

Actually, I have upgraded memory on Macs including minis and white unibody MB. Even folded down they still are larger than a soldered in memory chip, given they are on their own board and also have the ram slots needed to connect. Not a lot, but still space that can be saved.

Notice how the connector is not flush on a unibody:

or a unibody MBP:

As other's pointed out, fixed ram also allows Apple to ensure any ram meets their specs.

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

Actually, I have to upgrade memory on Macs including minis and white unibody MB. Even folded down they still are larger than a soldered in memory chip, given they are on their own board and also have the ram slots needed to connect. Not a lot, but still space that can be saved.

Notice how the connector is not flush on a unibody:
View attachment 2040831

or a unibody MBP:

View attachment 2040834

As other's pointed out, fixed ram also allows Apple to ensure any ram meets their specs.

Space? There's what, 0.2mL extra space taken up. The equivalent of adding less than 0.05mm thickness to the laptop. That's what you're making a big fuss about. All to remove the ability of the user to down the track, realise that they underestimated the amount of RAM they need, and solve it by simply dropping in some more.

"...allows Apple to ensure any ram meets their specs." - Their $200/8GB specs, that is.

 

[jlc1978]

Space? There's what, 0.2mL extra space taken up. The equivalent of adding less than 0.05mm thickness to the laptop. That's what you're making a big fuss about. All to remove the ability of the user to down the track, realise that they underestimated the amount of RAM they need, and solve it by simply dropping in some more.

You claimed it was flush, clearly you were wrong. A RAM module can be up to 2.7mm thick, a standard SODIMM socket is 4mm, or .16 of an inch (or more but let's go with the lowest standard thickness); so removing it allows Apple to shave off nearly 1/6th of an inch. Not an unnoticeable amount as laptops went the thinner is better route..

"...allows Apple to ensure any ram meets their specs." - Their $200/8GB specs, that is.

Back in the day, just because a RAM module meet the published spec didn't mean it would work reliably in a Mac. Even mixing the same spec modules from different manufacturers could cause issues. I'd get people asking me why they are having issues after a RAM upgrade, and I'd ask what RAM did you buy? Generally I'd get "the cheapest I could find" and I'd tell them go buy ones that are advertised from a decent manufacturer as being Apple compatible. Then I'd get "but but but they are more expensive..." That tune has never changed.

Apple controlling the ram that goes in ensures timing, quality, etc. are all within what is needed for reliable operation.

It sucks that upgrades are so expensive but the reality is people pay it so Apple charges it.

I suspect Apple will eventually go with an all in one memory/processor/ssd SoC design.

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

You claimed it was flush, clearly you were wrong. A RAM module can be up to 2.7mm thick, a standard SODIMM socket is 4mm, or .16 of an inch (or more but let's go with the lowest standard thickness); so removing it allows Apple to shave off nearly 1/6th of an inch. Not an unnoticeable amount as laptops went the thinner is better route..

Crikey, you remind me of my ex.

 

[HarryWild]

Got my money in hand for the 16” M2 Pro MacBook Pro!

 

[patent10021]

I don't think we're going to see an M2 MBP16 in 2022. Maybe spring 2023. Hopefully I'm wrong because I'd love to buy one soon. OLED, midnight option, and FID.

 

[IllinoisCorn]

Would OLED really be preferable to Mini LED?

 

[MacTypeOfGuy]

Do you think there is any possibility that the price could drop to $1899? The Intel predecessor started at 1799, so could there be a possibility that Apple brings the MacBook Pro "14 price back down?

 

[ilikewhey]

Do you think there is any possibility that the price could drop to $1899? The Intel predecessor started at 1799, so could there be a possibility that Apple brings the MacBook Pro "14 price back down?

not officially from apple, however reduction in price has been seen in retailers like bestbuy, microcenter, and amazon. i was able to snag a 14inch m1 max 64gb ram for 2500 from micro center for a friend 2 months back.

 

[switz]

Apple's prices are protected by a one way check valve. They can only go up.......

 

[JoshNori]

Do you think there is any possibility that the price could drop to $1899? The Intel predecessor started at 1799, so could there be a possibility that Apple brings the MacBook Pro "14 price back down?

The only thing I think is going to be as cheap as $1,899 next year is a can of carrots…