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The next MacBook Pro redesign (merged)
- Thread starter nope7308
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Personally, I'd like to see
- Uniform MacBook height (basically the same as the MacBook Pro with Retina Display using the MacBook Air's height)
- All Thunderbolt 3 ports given that they are backwards compatible with USB C but are more versatile (also a headphone jack and maybe an SDXC card slot; Thunderbolt 2 won't fit given the MacBook height)
- 3200 x 1800 on a 14" screen and 4k on a 16" screen (same physical height, wider display similar to iPhone 5; my reasoning is my older 15-inch MaBook Pro has the Hi-Def resolution of 1680 x 1050 and I would like that at Retina Resolution putting it at 3360 x 2100, and the height is just 60 pixels away from the standard 4k pixel height so just... why not?)
- Using the MacBook height will also bring reduced weight.
- I also would like improved graphics capability (with Thunderbolt 3, I'd like to see the ability to effortlessly power two external 5k displays in addition to the built-in 4k. But I run into a routine change issue here: Thunderbolt 3 will only be able to carry one 5k signal at 60 Hz per port and would not be able to daisy chain 5k displays)
- I would also like the MacBook keyboard (kinda needed with the MacBook height; a little upset that there are now three keyboard types, the original chiclet with scissor mech., the thinner MacBook keyboard with butterfly mech., and the Wireless Keyboard hybrid, why not just use one for consistency's sake?)
Other things I'd like to see
- A redesigned fan assembly that's able to house the CPU and GPU within it using a hollow motor base so air is dragged over the CPU and GPU directly rather than there being a heatsink setup that becomes less efficient and takes up a lot of space.
- An all metal enclosure similar to MacBook.
- Faster SSD chips coupled with PCIe 3.0 x16 by moving the pins found on the shorter side to the longer side maintaining compactness.
- Mid-mount connectors to maintain the thinness and ability to remove components like SSD and RAM (which I would really like at DDR4 for larger memory sizes).
Its a lot, I know. Probably not gonna happen, I know. But an Apple junkie can dream, can't he?
The fact is wish lists like those created here are not an accurate reflection of Apple's market. The "market" never sees or hears what goes on at fan oriented places like this.
I'm sure Apple knows their market. If you look at the Macbook Pro section on the Apple website you can see that they are trying to appeal to graphics artist, video editors and photographers. Sure they probably won't have everything that our wish-list here have but fear not, they will certainly keep the "Pro" in Macbook Pro. I don't think Apple will risk dumbing down the Macbook Pro to chase after thinness.
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if in 2016 Apple simplifies their laptop lineup to just:
1. Macbook (made for students and every day task). Rec. 709 color Retina screen, super thin and light.
- 12" Entry level model (hopefully they can drop the price to $1000 or under)
- 14" model with better CPU and an additional USB-C port
2. Macbook Pro (made for power users and professionals). DCI color Retina screen, much better processors and graphics, a little thinner and lighter than existing model, at least 3 USB-C ports and HDMI 2.0 port
- 14" Entry level model (hopefully they can keep the price around $1300, powerful CPU, 8gb RAM, 256gb SSD)
- 16" Entry level model (standard quad core CPU, high quality integrated graphics, 8gb RAM, 256gb SSD)
It would also be nice if they offered a high spec 13" model with quad core CPU and a high spec 16" model with a 4K screen. Either way, the Macbook Pro lineup is used in many professional fields and Apple knows this.
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if in 2016 Apple simplifies their laptop lineup to just:
1. Macbook (made for students and every day task). Rec. 709 color Retina screen, super thin and light.
- 12" Entry level model (hopefully they can drop the price to $1000 or under)
- 14" model with better CPU and an additional USB-C port
2. Macbook Pro (made for power users and professionals). DCI color Retina screen, much better processors and graphics, a little thinner and lighter than existing model, at least 3 USB-C ports and HDMI 2.0 port
- 14" Entry level model (hopefully they can keep the price around $1300, powerful CPU, 8gb RAM, 256gb SSD)
- 16" Entry level model (standard quad core CPU, high quality integrated graphics, 8gb RAM, 256gb SSD)
It would also be nice if they offered a high spec 13" model with quad core CPU and a high spec 16" model with a 4K screen. Either way, the Macbook Pro lineup is used in many professional fields and Apple knows this.
Stop dreaming about a 16". Kill the 13" and put all the energy into a thin and sexy 14". I edit my photos on the go on a 12" MacBook. If you are serious about photography, get a $1500 100% AdobeRGB and hook it up to your Macbook. Remember it is a laptop, and not a dinosaur called 'desktop replacement'. The amount of size queens on this site urging the return of a 17" is too damn high.
I do all of my work (3D modeling, Graphic design, app development) on a 13" rMBP and I find the screen plenty big enough for most task but the world is much bigger than you and I. Apple sells plenty of 15" models which shows that many people do like having a bigger screen while still keeping the portability of a laptop. A 16" model would be the same case size as the existing 15" model but with the bezels filled with more screen. A "one size fits all" mentality would cost Apple sales.
Also, for many people, their laptop is their desktop replacement. High spec laptops are not going anywhere. In fact, people at Intel are working day and night to make laptop CPUs that can get closer to desktop CPUs. A 12" Macbook with a low powered chipset may be good enough for you and other non power users but for people like me and countless other professionals, we need a laptop with decent power for those times when we are away from our desktop.
That is why the Pro series exist in the 1st place. Take a look at the Macbook Pro section at Apple.com. You can see that Apple is catering to the people who want power and portability and people who want to replace their desktops. Their website is filled with pictures of Macbook Pro's (both 13" and 15") running proffesional apps like Final Cut Pro. Then take a look at the Macbook section on Apple.com. You can see that Apple is catering to people who care more about style and thinness than power.
Different laptops for different markets.
My laptop is my only personal computer, so no, please don't make it smaller and less powerful.
Yes, I've owned three 15" MacBook Pros, and they have all been desktop replacements, plugged into an external monitor 95% of the time. Less powerful no, smaller yes. Maybe it wouldn't be locked unto a screen, keyboard and mouse.
Everybody has different needs dude, there are others who couldn't care less about a 14 inch notebook.
Does somebody know if there are improved battery technologies/designs to improve batterylife in the next update?
Edit:
After reading this article...
(https://www.macrumors.com/2015/12/04/samsung-to-pay-apple-548-million/)
... I am sure they can invest some of that money in developping something great
Edit:
After reading this article...
(https://www.macrumors.com/2015/12/04/samsung-to-pay-apple-548-million/)
... I am sure they can invest some of that money in developping something great
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If you are editing with a 12" macbook then you are editing snapshots not photographs. You are correct about hooking up to a 100% RGB monitor min size 24"
The new Macbook models uses terraced battery cells to allow the battery to take advantage of the entire casing including the curves. So I'm sure Apple will use this same technology in the new Macbook Pro. Also the new Skylake processors are more power efficient. Both of those together should be able to give the new Macbook Pro industry leading battery life (probably up to 12 hours).
I think its fair to assume that most of the features of the Macbook will make it over to the new Macbook Pro. So the new keyboard (hopefully with a little more travel), new colors, standard 256gb SSD, new battery technology and possible the polished Apple logo (though I hope they keep the backlit logo) are almost a given. All of the Thunderbolt ports will most likely be replaced with USB-C. Of course what I really want is the DCI color gamut from the new 4K iMac.
I don't feel the size of the small screen on the rMB is degrading my post processing. I used to own a MBP 17. It has more with human intuition than hardware.
I have owned top tier pro monitors since the 90s. Eizo, Dell etc, so I can relate to and understand what a great monitor can help you with. Also own a U3011 which I will replace with a 5K once hardware goes SST.
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re: rMB Not just the screen which unless you go to +50% or larger makes it nearly impossible to do any kind of image editing (except for exposure and tint or similar ilk) your image properly (unless you are only processing for the web not printing). among other situations is processing power which will leave you waiting forever to do focus stacking or large panos or hi res pano stacks. Owning top tier monitors is great, for which I give you great credit but is counterintuitive to using a 12" mb for editing not enough power unless you really are not doing much. As to human intuition are you saying guess work is better than an adequate sized screen which as defined by top pros as being 24" at a Minimum. So imo a 15/16 is absolute min for any photoshop work. Also I understand why not many would want to lug around the old 17.
I've a feeling this 'new MacBook Air' that has been mentioned recently is actually the new update of the 13"MBP. If the 13 rMBP could be made thinner and lighter, what is the point of the MBA? They both use dual cores so if Apple can fit the 28 w CPUs into a thinner chassis, it's game over for the Air.
Which could mean we'd be in for several more months of waiting... And with the Air gone, no hope for a Spring release on any MacBook.
Or maybe the possibility of an incremental update in Spring and redesign late 2016?
@MDull
Heavy post processing is really a different field than shooting, and the ideas and execution a dedicated professional can bring to your work is invaluable. Of course I guess a lot on the smaller screen, and for critical prints I use pro monitors, but if my work is for the web, I believe more people will look at my work with an average laptop monitor than a Eizo Coloredge. For serious printing, a great screen can certainly help you, still you would spend some time adjusting for the actual printer as well.
Heavy post processing is really a different field than shooting, and the ideas and execution a dedicated professional can bring to your work is invaluable. Of course I guess a lot on the smaller screen, and for critical prints I use pro monitors, but if my work is for the web, I believe more people will look at my work with an average laptop monitor than a Eizo Coloredge. For serious printing, a great screen can certainly help you, still you would spend some time adjusting for the actual printer as well.
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My prediction (disclaimer: I know nothing, like Jon Snow) is that Air line will be dropped and replaced with the new Macbooks, and Pro line will be moved into an enclosure the shape/size of current Air. Your friend will be absolutely devastated
An interesting prediction. I haven't been following revisions up until the last couple of weeks. I have to admit that I was ever so slightly disappointed by the square- or rather rectangular-ish profile of the mbp's case. Yes, it does afford room for additional ports, but it just doesn't look "right," imo. The mba's esthetic is far sleeker (and lighter of course).
I wonder if there's a way to utilize the mba's thin form factor while retaining all or most of the 2015 mbp's ports. That would be a fantastic design coup. Probably out of my budget but then perhaps I could pick up a '14 or '15 at a steep discount.
I've been ignoring apple computer revisions and updates for so long, but now I'm addicted again. Thanks for posting and will be on the lookout for predictions and leaks in the weeks to come...
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