Who has a crystal ball? MBP 2018

[Harlowgold1]

So after downloading High Sierra a few months back, I've noticed that the speed on my 2013 15" MBP has degraded noticeably. I know, I know, I have a mature model and it's time to upgrade. That's the problem! I have a feeling that (for once) Apple will be taking some of the design feedback regarding the last two iterations to heart (or will they?). So what say you? Do you think the 2018 MBP's will come out in the spring or at WWDC? Thanks!

 

[Bending Pixels]

I haven't run into any issues on my 2013 15" rMBP.

Historically, Apple oft times has upgraded processors around April. Unless of course, they decide to do a total redesign, then those might either be announced in April or WWDC.....or whenever Apple feels like it.

 

[haydn!]

Overall sales have been pretty strong, so there is no reason for Apple to scrap their 4 year cycle and re-design the MacBook Pro yet and they won't backtrack on the ports either. They will most likely address some of the issues people have been most vocal about though, but don't expect them to make too much noise about these.

• Keyboard
• Battery life
• Price
  
• Non-Touch 15" model

The Mac Pro will most likely get announced at WWDC if it's ready, so I wouldn't expect a Mac centric event any sooner than that. MacBook refresh may happen at a spring event if Apple have some new iPads/MacBook (the tiny one) ready as well, otherwise I'd expect either a relatively quiet update March/April time or a very swift 2 minute mention at WWDC for new notebooks.

 

[0002378]

So after downloading High Sierra a few months back, I've noticed that the speed on my 2013 15" MBP has degraded noticeably.

That is the price to be paid for being on the "cutting edge". Personally, I think it is a losing battle (trying to constantly be on the cutting edge).

Now, I'm a software developer and until about 6 months ago, I was perfectly happy using OS X Snow Leopard on my (personal) mid-2009 MBP. 8 years on, I upgraded to Sierra, and finally decided to upgrade the hardware (SSD, more RAM). I'm certain that this will last me years without any problems, and will solve far more of my computing problems than I can ever conceive of.

My point being ... you can be perfectly happy with a slightly "older" OS on an older MBP. The insistence on having the latest and greatest OS/apps/gadgets is a pursuit of inevitable frustration ... just the kind of pursuit that Apple or any other computer manufacturer wants for you, so that you keep running to them, crying, begging for the latest and greatest that they have to offer, in exchange for $$$$.

In that sense, it is not all that dissimilar from the kind of dependency you develop on a drug dealer who keeps raising the price for a gram, because he knows that the amount that got you high a month ago is not going to be enough now, and you need more drugs and you're more desperate for them

This is not a judgment of you or anyone else ... just what I think the tech industry does to us consumers.

 

[Harlowgold1]

Maculate, I so miss the days when my MBP could be upgraded! Of course, that's a whole different topic. If I could upgrade my RAM and add a faster SSD it would be enough to get me through a couple more years!!!

I haven't run into any issues on my 2013 15" rMBP.

Historically, Apple oft times has upgraded processors around April. Unless of course, they decide to do a total redesign, then those might either be announced in April or WWDC.....or whenever Apple feels like it.

That is the price to be paid for being on the "cutting edge". Personally, I think it is a losing battle (trying to constantly be on the cutting edge).

Now, I'm a software developer and until about 6 months ago, I was perfectly happy using OS X Snow Leopard on my (personal) mid-2009 MBP. 8 years on, I upgraded to Sierra, and finally decided to upgrade the hardware (SSD, more RAM). I'm certain that this will last me years without any problems, and will solve far more of my computing problems than I can ever conceive of.

My point being ... you can be perfectly happy with a slightly "older" OS on an older MBP. The insistence on having the latest and greatest OS/apps/gadgets is a pursuit of inevitable frustration ... just the kind of pursuit that Apple or any other computer manufacturer wants for you, so that you keep running to them, crying, begging for the latest and greatest that they have to offer, in exchange for $$$$.

In that sense, it is not all that dissimilar from the kind of dependency you develop on a drug dealer who keeps raising the price for a gram, because he knows that the amount that got you high a month ago is not going to be enough now, and you need more drugs and you're more desperate for them

This is not a judgment of you or anyone else ... just what I think the tech industry does to us consumers.

 

[Poki]

I'm expecting the following update:

- Quad Core in the 13" / Hexa Core CPUs in the 15" MBP across the board
- Vega based GPU in the 15" model (I wouldn't bet on a huge performance boost though, looking at the efficiency of Vega 56 / Vega 64)
- Intel UHD 620 in the nTB MacBook Pro (about 40% slower than the current Iris Plus 640, in turn you get the faster CPU), for the TB 13" model, Intel will probably show us the iGPUs in the 28W chips at CES
- Maybe a more efficient battery design, therefore more battery capacity (which should be possible, looking at the competition)
- Minor keyboard tweaks to increase its reliability

I don't think we will get anything else. Having said that, the new CPUs alone are certainly worth the wait.

 

[0002378]

Maculate, I so miss the days when my MBP could be upgraded! Of course, that's a whole different topic. If I could upgrade my RAM and add a faster SSD it would be enough to get me through a couple more years!!!

Oh yeah, I totally didn't think of that ! Mine is a 2009, so I don't even know what it's like to have a non-upgradeable computer. That sucks. And it's only getting worse, as they endeavor to make their laptops more and more like sheets of paper.

This strategy (non-upgradeable MBPs) shows just how greedy and deceitful they are. On the one hand, they tell you, "Oh, we're making the prettiest thinnest laptops in the world.", but what it really means is that you cannot do any upgrades without paying them more $$$$. They own your MBP configuration ... absolutely.