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I would be happy if they used flash but that is only because I don't need much storage space. A lot of other people need the space so I know not many people will agree with this.
 
...But the 13" could be so much more without the optical drive. Many people don't know just how much space it hogs inside a smallish laptop.

Still, power users should be thankful for this. If Apple removes the Optical bay (which consumes a little less than half of the space but roughly 1/4.5 of the weight) and replaces the Hard drive with an SSD module like the MBA, they are going to use the savings to make the machine thinner and lighter. They aren't going to stuff a second battery, twin SLI 1GB graphics, water cooling et al in the space, not that you could even stuff all that there in the first place.

As long as the HDD+CD combo exists, we can still have standard 2.5" options, including raidX, in our machines.
 
Still, power users should be thankful for this. If Apple removes the Optical bay (which consumes a little less than half of the space but roughly 1/4.5 of the weight) and replaces the Hard drive with an SSD module like the MBA, they are going to use the savings to make the machine thinner and lighter. They aren't going to stuff a second battery, twin SLI 1GB graphics, water cooling et al in the space, not that you could even stuff all that there in the first place.

As long as the HDD+CD combo exists, we can still have standard 2.5" options, including raidX, in our machines.

What?! So they are going to just make it thinner and lighter when the get rid of the optical drive. That means it'll still be core2duo... I mean, it can't be core2duo forever.
 
Whatever Apple does, please no proprietary nonsense , just good old standard 2.5 SATA drives .

I can't imagine buying an MBP with an MBA style SSD , re. both form factor and performance .

Imho, the optical drive should stay - to keep the room for a second HDD .
 
There's a big chance that this will happen soon.

What I'm hoping for is a Macbook Studio sort of option.
Macbook Studio:
Thinner than a Pro
Uses onboard Flash Memory like Air
Includes internal standard HDD for media storage
Includes performance (i5/i7, 4-8GB DDR3 RAM, NVIDIA 330M) similar to Pro
No Optical Drive
More Batteries with less Optical Drive Space

the Macbook Studio (..sounds like a Dell Studio but nicer...but reminds me too much of Dell)
 
There's a big chance that this will happen soon.
Why do you say that. Prior history shows that apple will sit on the sidelines for months after the chipset is released.

Apple does not need yet another laptop product line. Just look at what happened to dell when they tried it. There's enough overlap now between the MacBook Air/MacBook/MacBook Pro lines.
 
There's a big chance that this will happen soon.

What I'm hoping for is a Macbook Studio sort of option.
Macbook Studio:
Thinner than a Pro
Uses onboard Flash Memory like Air
Includes internal standard HDD for media storage
Includes performance (i5/i7, 4-8GB DDR3 RAM, NVIDIA 330M) similar to Pro
No Optical Drive
More Batteries with less Optical Drive Space

the Macbook Studio (..sounds like a Dell Studio but nicer...but reminds me too much of Dell)

What, and the current 13" MBP will stay the same?
 
In the MBP, I think we may see SSD stick with 64GB added with HD, optional external optical drive, OS X delivered on flash like MB Air. I would REALLY like to see 4 SODIMM slots in the 15,17 inch models and larger battery capacity to handle 45W quad-core, and USB 3. I am waiting to see what comes before I upgrade my 2008 MBP. Like many I run large VM's and need the horsepower.
 
Why do you say that. Prior history shows that apple will sit on the sidelines for months after the chipset is released.

Apple does not need yet another laptop product line. Just look at what happened to dell when they tried it. There's enough overlap now between the MacBook Air/MacBook/MacBook Pro lines.

After original MBA was released 4-6 months later we got a redesigned Macbook Pro Unibody that fit closely in the new MBA style. I believe Apple is using Air to minimize its hardware footprint and then carrying over some aspects to the MBP lineup after 4-6 months. It seems like a smart way to test and observe their ideas.

What, and the current 13" MBP will stay the same?

I'm talking about a whole new line of MacBooks since a MBP will carry a Optical Drive internally. There are people out there that prefer having Optical Drives, I am one of those people that can care less about Optical Drives as I have never used mine since I purchased my 15" i5, and my '06 MacBook only 2 times.

I'm not saying they shouldn't update the MBPs but they should consider a line of MacBooks that people would make good use out of; thinner 15-17" model with Flash+HDD storage but no Optical Drive, optional External Optical Drive. This leaves a wide space left over inside the laptop for more battery space, more usb/firewire ports, more space means more room for them to add more value/performance.
 
Still, power users should be thankful for this. If Apple removes the Optical bay (which consumes a little less than half of the space but roughly 1/4.5 of the weight) and replaces the Hard drive with an SSD module like the MBA, they are going to use the savings to make the machine thinner and lighter. They aren't going to stuff a second battery, twin SLI 1GB graphics, water cooling et al in the space, not that you could even stuff all that there in the first place.

As long as the HDD+CD combo exists, we can still have standard 2.5" options, including raidX, in our machines.
Why would Apple make the MBP 13 thinner and lighter? That would be a MBA which already exists. What Apple needs is a powerful MBA 13 for people who use their systems as desktops connected to big monitors when in the office or at home. The SuperDrive can be external -- just like your monitor.
 
Why would Apple make the MBP 13 thinner and lighter? That would be a MBA which already exists. What Apple needs is a powerful MBA 13 for people who use their systems as desktops connected to big monitors when in the office or at home. The SuperDrive can be external -- just like your monitor.

Exactly. But 15" would probably suit this better, since it would give it the room needed for more batteries/hardware.
 
Why would Apple make the MBP 13 thinner and lighter? That would be a MBA which already exists.

Exactly. But 15" would probably suit this better, since it would give it the room needed for more batteries/hardware.

I am pretty sure the 13" MacBook Pro will be gone soon. If the new MacBook Air represents the future of Apple's notebooks (Steve said this in the last keynote introducing the MacBook Air) then the 15" and 17" MBP will be more like the MBA and there will be less of a need for them to have 3 different 13" Notebook computers: The MB, 13" MBP and 13" MBA.
 
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I am pretty sure the 13" MacBook Pro will be gone soon. If the new MacBook Air represents the future of Apple's notebooks (Steve said this in the last keynote introducing the MacBook Air) then the 15" and 17" MBP will be more like the MBA and there will be less of a need for them to have 3 different 13" Notebook computers: The MB, 13" MBP and 13" MBA.


My thoughts too, im afraid to say it, because people like having a "Pro" model.
The new revised line up should be:
Macbook (white, classic)
MacBook Air 11",13"
Macbook Pro 15",17"
Macbook Studio 15"/17" <-My idea w/o Optical Drive, in a post in this thread
 
I agree with those that speculate that SSD will NOT be standard. But I do think they will become available as an option. The reason the Air can have it in the same price range as the 13" MBP is the fact that you're losing CPU power, RAM, Firewire, optical drive, etc.

And I know I am the minority on here, but I hope the optical drive stays on the 13". I wouldn't mind using an external, but the external SuperDrive has horrible reviews on the Apple website. And it's more crap to lug around in my bag, and possibly another thing to take up a USB port.
 
I am pretty sure the 13" MacBook Pro will be gone soon. If the new MacBook Air represents the future of Apple's notebooks (Steve said this in the last keynote introducing the MacBook Air) then the 15" and 17" MBP will be more like the MBA and there will be less of a need for them to have 3 different 13" Notebook computers: The MB, 13" MBP and 13" MBA.
I thought Jobs said that the the MBAs were the "future of MacBooks."

I used to think that myself when the new MBAs were just released. However, I've concluded that the MBA is not a desktop replacement in the same way that a MBP is interms of RAM and storage expansion, Firewire, ethernet, etc.

On the other hand, the MBP 15 is just too big for many people -- it is literally twice the weight of the MBA 13. Sure the weight could be reduced, but the 15" is overkill for people that connect to external monitors and is also a challenge for flying coach.

I thought the MBP 13 was the biggest seller of all.
 
It would be nice if they were able to incorporate the macbook air's flash storage with a traditional hard drive - thus your most needed applications could be stored on the blade and your music and such on the traditional hard drive.
 

I should seriously just pitch my Macbook Studio idea. i'm currently making a mock page for it, maybe it will grab some attention and spawn one by Apple.

But this would be an amazing incorporation of MBA technology into the MBP, and is the most forward way of thinking possible to revolutionize laptops in general.
 
Apple already has SSD options for MBP.
My line of reason is:

1) Apple will do a space saving, cost effective MBA style integrated SSD implementation

2) Most MBP users probably need more portable storage capacity, so it would be logical to also provide a 2.5" internal drive bay

3) There is probably not enough space in the MBP 13" to do that without removing the SuperDrive

4) Removing the SuperDrive would kill two birds with one stone by also provide additional space for a more substantial CPU/GPU.
 
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