The next MacBook Pro redesign (merged)

[Crzyrio]

I'm simply trying to purchase the computer at the beginning of the design cycle, so that I can maximize the life of the machine. I think that's a sensible move.

There's always going to be better technology/software on the horizon, but that doesn't mean you can't time your purchase properly. Using vehicles as an example, it doesn't always make sense to continually wait for the next model, as they are often announced prior to going on sale (i.e., you'd be waiting indefinitely). However, I wouldn't purchase a 2013 VW Golf because I know the 2014 model is based on a new platform with an improved chassis and more efficient turbocharged motor. This is one example where it does pay to wait and see what happens, even if the current model meets all of my present critera.

I use most of my computers for 5 years or more, so it makes perfect sense to ask these kinds of questions. If I had purchased a white macbook in 2008 instead of waiting for the alumunium unibody, I know I would have regretted that purchase.

You could be waiting a long time. Do you need a computer now?

The Macbooks arent anything like the iPhones where they are re-designed every other year. The rMBP could be considered as a redesign so there is a fairly good chance next one will be in more than 2 years.

 

[pgiguere1]

You shouldn't worry at all.

Major hardware redesigns for MacBooks are very rare. Apple do it the least possible in other to produce the same components in huge quantity in order to maximize profitability without cutting corners on quality.

The current cMBP design has been introduced in 2008 and are still on sale in 2013, and could possibly still be sold in 2014, giving it a lifetime of 5-6 years.

The current MBA design has been introduced in 2010 and I'd still give it at least a year or two before it gets redesigned.

The 13" rMBP has been introduced less than a year ago, so I'd only expect a redesign in something like 5 years (2018). It could hardly be more early in its design cycle. It has been released just long enough to (hopefully) leave time for Apple to rule out software inefficiencies associated with laggy scrolling in Safari. I'm pretty confident OS X 10.9's Safari will have whatever lag fix WebKit nightly has had for a while. Now's a perfect time to buy.

 

[fratey]

I still don't see how the rMBP is not considered to be at the beginning of its design cycle right now.

The rMBP as a concept isn't. The current rMBP generation is.

"Buy the computer when you need it" is a good general rule, but there's a difference between "you'll get more value for your money in a week" and "you'll get more value for your money in a year".

 

[appl3kill]

Why is everyone so hyped because of haswell it is a marginal update just like every processor.

 

[B...]

Why is everyone so hyped because of haswell it is a marginal update just like every processor.

Right, but it is an upgrade, right? And it is coming in five days reportedly, right? Oh, and the up to 100% better graphics and 50% battery life isn't exactly old news.

 

[Badrottie]

I don't think Jony Ives have time to redesign MacBook line this year because he is working on iOS right now. If longer batter is all you want then just wait until after WWDC next week.
I don't care much about long battery life I am happy with my 1-1/2 months old mid-2012 rmbp.

 

[adjeff8]

Right, but it is an upgrade, right? And it is coming in five days reportedly, right? Oh, and the up to 100% better graphics and 50% battery life isn't exactly old news.

Not to mention what is REALLY the key issue for me and the reason I've been waiting almost a full year. What's coming our way is the 2nd generation rMBP. That spec bump in February was just that. A minor spec bump. Apple first generation products are always improved upon of their inferior first generation iterations. This is what I have been waiting for for so long. Will the 3rd generation be better? Most assuredly but I've already been waiting a year, painfully, and I am now comfortable buying the very expensive top of the line product

 

[smoge]

looks like you where right

Huh? I thought 802.11ac was already released this year, with some notebook PCs carrying the chip?

This is actually pretty important because I wouldn't want to purchase the computer unless I'm able to upgrade the chip next year. I still experience issues with wifi coverage and HD streaming, so this would measurably improve day-to-day performance.

Fack, Apple computers always lack one or two features that would make them perfect (discreet graphics in 13" form factor being one of them).

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What did they change? To my knowledge, it's a slimmer profile with improved air circulation. That, and now everything is glued to the damn board. I wouldn't really classify that as a major redesign, but perhaps I'm overlooking something?

I'm probably going to buy one next week too, but mostly out of necessity. Honestly, I'm unimpressed with the current offerings, but I'm not prepared to go back to windows. This feels like voting - choosing the lesser evil as opposed to getting what you really want.

 

[msavwah]

Both iPhone and iPad had a 2nd gen redesign.
We have all known that one day, some day, the MBP and the MBA would meld.

Perhaps that day will come when we see haswells running mavericks available for purchase.

thoughts?

 

[Mac.User]

I believe the melding of them are the retina Machines.

 

[msavwah]

Perhaps the retina machines we know now are the trial run (1st-gen) for a more advanced product.

 

[PDFierro]

I'm sorry, but what is it you are trying to ask? I really can't understand what you wrote. Are you asking if the MBA and MBP will come together as one design? No, that won't happen.

 

[thaifood]

There will be no redesign of the Retina chassis for a few years at least (minor tweaking aside). It is only a year old.

The Air might receive something but not sure what else they can do other than update the screen, decrease bezel width. I doubt it will become much thinner, especially if people want a retina type display in it (which I wouldn't bank on either). At most they may upgrade the screen to IPS or use the higher level TN displays seen in the Classic MBP at the moment.

 

[*~Kim~*]

There will be no redesign of the Retina chassis for a few years at least (minor tweaking aside). It is only a year old.

The Air might receive something but not sure what else they can do other than update the screen, decrease bezel width. I doubt it will become much thinner, especially if people want a retina type display in it (which I wouldn't bank on either). At most they may upgrade the screen to IPS or use the higher level TN displays seen in the Classic MBP at the moment.

Hoping this will be the case. I love the design and want to get one, just couldn't justify getting one with the current battery life when the Air fares so much better in this regard. The Air as a whole just seems a little delicate for me.

 

[theuserjohnny]

There will be no redesign of the Retina chassis for a few years at least (minor tweaking aside). It is only a year old.

The Air might receive something but not sure what else they can do other than update the screen, decrease bezel width. I doubt it will become much thinner, especially if people want a retina type display in it (which I wouldn't bank on either). At most they may upgrade the screen to IPS or use the higher level TN displays seen in the Classic MBP at the moment.

Yeah don't expect a major redesign. Apple tends to make major changes to their notebook line up every 3-4 years. If anything will get a redesign it will be the Macbook Air.

Apple changed to the aluminum casing in 2008 and then last year we got the slimmed down design. I wouldn't expect anything major until at least 2015ish to 2016.

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Hoping this will be the case. I love the design and want to get one, just couldn't justify getting one with the current battery life when the Air fares so much better in this regard. The Air as a whole just seems a little delicate for me.

You also have to take into account that the Air is driving a lower resolution screen when compared to the rMBP. That is a huge reason as to why the Air (along side Haswell) is able to maintain that sort of battery life.

The rMBP has to push so many pixels on the screen and the display isn't as power efficient as it is.

While there should be an increase, don't be expecting it to be on par with the Air.

So either Apple needs to create a new generation of batteries or display manufactures need to come up with something more efficient.

 

[thaifood]

Hoping this will be the case. I love the design and want to get one, just couldn't justify getting one with the current battery life when the Air fares so much better in this regard. The Air as a whole just seems a little delicate for me.

My girlfriend has a 13 inch Air and it is pretty decent. Mind you we do take a lot of care with our products so I'm not sure how well it would fair being roughed up.

I do feel that it might be thin enough to warp the chassis if I put too much weight on its carry case though...

 

[11fajado]

Hi guys,

I'm sure you come across tons of threads discussing whether or not it is worth it to buy a rMBP now or wait for the Broadwell chipset to come in.

What I haven't found much talk about on here are discussions regarding any potential aesthetic redesigns the rMBP could possibly sustain between the upcoming Haswell refresh and the Broadwell rMBP.

How long do these designs usually last for?!

Am currently typing on a 2011 15" MBP and IIRC, the design of the laptop I'm on stayed the same for roughly four full years.

 

[vbedia]

I am not expecting to see a hardware redesign in the MacBook Pro line at least until skylake is to be released. Although there could be new additions before like the new trackpad.

 

[MattZani]

I guess one option could be a redesign due to unimpressive spec bump, but it's unlikely. I think it will come with maybe Broadwell but more likely Skylake, a big refresh.

 

[snaky69]

Hi guys,

I'm sure you come across tons of threads discussing whether or not it is worth it to buy a rMBP now or wait for the Broadwell chipset to come in.

What I haven't found much talk about on here are discussions regarding any potential aesthetic redesigns the rMBP could possibly sustain between the upcoming Haswell refresh and the Broadwell rMBP.

How long do these designs usually last for?!

Am currently typing on a 2011 15" MBP and IIRC, the design of the laptop I'm on stayed the same for roughly four full years.

Very, very, very unlikely.

If you'd done some research into Apple's previous history with computer designs, you would've seen that it really doesn't change very often.

The first MBP's appeared in 2006. That exact design had been used in the Powerbook G4 line (Apple's PowerPC notebooks from 2001 to 2006). That design stayed up until mid to late 2008 with the unibody MBP. Count it however you like, that's a whole 7 years without a hint of a design change.

From the unibody MBP, there was a slight change, in 2010 I believe, where the battery could no longer be taken apart without taking the whole back panel off.

Then came the retina in 2012, which one could argue is not much of a redesign. Removal of the optical drive, some ports are replaced, added vents at the bottom, a bit thinner. But that's pretty much it. The other dimensions have remain very nearly identical. Materials used and colour has remained the same.

So now we've been running the same design for nearly 6 years. I'm thinking that's not changing for a year or two still, maybe even longer. But that's just my opinion.

So in short: No, I would not expect a redesign anytime soon.

 

[MTL18]

Hi guys,

I'm sure you come across tons of threads discussing whether or not it is worth it to buy a rMBP now or wait for the Broadwell chipset to come in.

What I haven't found much talk about on here are discussions regarding any potential aesthetic redesigns the rMBP could possibly sustain between the upcoming Haswell refresh and the Broadwell rMBP.

How long do these designs usually last for?!

Am currently typing on a 2011 15" MBP and IIRC, the design of the laptop I'm on stayed the same for roughly four full years.

Unfortunately big changes often come with leaked parts. The rMBP has been very quiet on the leak front so I'm not expecting anything huge...

I'd love to be wrong though because I'm in the market for a new laptop!

 

[Cloudsurfer]

What do you mean by redesign? The design language or the engineering?

The MBP has gone through several major redesigns over the years, the last of which is the rMBP form factor. There's a good chance Apple has a revised model lined up for Broadwell and Skylake's 14nm process. They run cooler and use less power, which makes it possible to make them thinner and lighter. An opportunity which Apple rarely leaves untouched.

If by redesign you mean the grey/black color scheme, that could be around for a while. The grey/black color scheme was inspired by the iPhone in 2007, so the next major design language could be introduced with a completely new product category.

Maybe iWatch?

 

[TechZeke]

At this point, the only thing Apple could do is remove the bulge from the bottom. There really is no way to make it much thinner without removing ports. The 13" rMBP 2012 to 2013 redesign(making it thinner) was to bring uniformity to the MBP line. It would be cool to see a new 17" 4K rMBP though.

 

[Sifinity]

At this point, the only thing Apple could do is remove the bulge from the bottom. There really is no way to make it much thinner without removing ports. The 13" rMBP 2012 to 2013 redesign(making it thinner) was to bring uniformity to the MBP line. It would be cool to see a new 17" 4K rMBP though.

that would be cool , but a 4k screen would need one hell of a battery and processor to keep it running with decent battery life , i can see this coming with broadwell or skylake

 

[gbkrip]

I doubt there is any kind of redesign in the works for a long time. This is not the time to fix something that is not broken for apple and the design of the rMBP definitely isn't broken.

Do I want to see a redesign? Hell yeah. Imagine the rMBP in a matte carbon black.