The next MacBook Pro redesign (merged)

[MarvinHC]

Regarding the previous pages and pages on thinness. Google retro laptop. We don't want those.

Who are these people who want laptops that are thinner than the current offering?? Please, for the love of god, drop the desire for a thinner laptop like a hot potato!!

It is nothing but marketing hype, to impress the easily impressed. For the reason that apple WILL always keep thinning products, and have already succeeded in brainwashing nearly everyone into believing we actually NEED a few millimetres shaved off thickness.

But its those millimetres which, if half the population hadn't been brainwashed into worshiping thinness, could have been used for extra battery life.

As soon as people stand together and demand MUCH longer battery life, en masse, we'll be one step closer to getting it.

Great, so your laptop has a claimed 12 hour battery life. Mine does. But in reality, it still needs 3 full charges a day, doing nothing especially heavy. In reality, cut battery life right in half (and more!) if you do what I call "using the laptop".
[doublepost=1456966119][/doublepost]How was your day at work honey?

"Terrible. Absolutely terrible. My back aches from carrying this laptop, but the extra 2 millimetres they shaved off allowed me to fit an extra four sheets of A4 paper into my bag, and this guy at the office was like furious, he was kicking over filing cabinets and threatening to rip off his pants and curl out a turd on my desk, he was so jealous he could only fit 2 sheets of A4 paper into his bag. Im totally the man of the moment, cruising around with this extra 2 millimetres of space.

No. Please stop. Yesterday. What we are doing now is demanding that apple DO NOT make the current generation of laptops any thinner.

Technology will improve until it can no longer be produced. That is more or less a guarantee.
Demand something we can have. More battery life.

Laptops which can be used any way we want to use them, which don't have a "claimed" battery life of 12 hours, but have run out after 4 hours of solid use.

Finally, if you are still barking up the wrong tree (thinness crap!) go find 10 books in your home which are A4 in size. I think you'll find that the latest generation of laptops are already thinner than 8/10 of your A4 books.

Who struggles to carry a very thin book? A man with no arms perhaps?
Who struggles to use a laptop that has run out of power? EVERYONE.

No thinner than the current offerings. It is nothing but sales crap. Next time you hear the word thin, think marketing rubbish. Thats all it is.

Apple, Add another few millimetres and put in a much bigger battery. No wait, if apple did that, it would give laptop batteries a slightly longer shelf life year on year, meaning laptops would last slightly longer, meaning fewer sales...

Apple will continue to toute thinness, for as long as there are people thick enough to demand it, as a matter of importance (not forgetting that they will aim to make them thinner anyway)...

So can we all please demand bigger batteries. And not discuss thinner laptops, ever again, without remembering that thinness is nothing but marketing crap.
[doublepost=1456966313][/doublepost]
Yes, your rMPB is probably around 300 PPI. Thats fine.
We don't ever need any higher on a laptop, unless we start viewing them closer than 10 inches to our faces.

And 4k and when it happens (people screaming for 5k) it will be the same again. Higher is not necessary on a small screen.

100% agree - and also holds true for mobile phones. Instead of the protruding camera on the iPhone 6, they could have filled up the space with a bit more battery and everybody would have been much happier!

I have to giggle sometimes when I think about all the 'great new technology' that had to be invented (layered battery, new keyboard, new trackpad etc.) to create the new Macbook (Retina). I then put my 11" Macbook Air next to it that is 4mm thicker and notice hardly a difference, yet my machine has an easy to replace battery, enough ports and a useable keyboard.
And I am yet to meet a Macbook Air owner (no matter 11" or 13") that says, yes, I really think my laptop is too thick, it never fits anywhere, I wish Apple would improve that......

 

[wheelhot]

Man I could really use some Mac notebook rumours, all this talk about iPads, iPhones and Watches and no mention whatsoever on notebooks makes me feel we might not see a Skylake update after all

 

[LudicrousLampost]

Man I could really use some Mac notebook rumours, all this talk about iPads, iPhones and Watches and no mention whatsoever on notebooks makes me feel we might not see a Skylake update after all

Its the quiet before the storm. New satellite images currently show a troupe of steamrollers going back and forth at apple HQ, flattening their newest super thin laptops flatter by 1/64th of a millimetre (further ruining battery life), whilst their marketing department cheers the rollers on, before they are to be boxed up and shipped out.

 

[wheelhot]

Honestly, I'm fine with the current rMBP thickness, though I'm expecting an updated keyboard design ala MacBook but with the key travel of traditional notebooks, probably a bump to 14" and 16".

 

[dsmedic10]

I would love a 14" screen in the body of the current 13" and a quad core CPU too. I am also fine with the dimensions of the Macbook Pro. I would want more battery life and a quad core CPU more than a thinner design. Unless they can make the 15" into a 16" that weighs the same as the current 13".. Oh the fun of speculation.

 

[PKBeam]

I think Apple should go with a thinner design if they can at least match the battery life of the current laptops.

 

[unagimiyagi]

Expected weight when the macbook pro is redesigned?
13.3" = ?
if 14 = ?
15" = ?
if 16" = ?

 

[darksnake]

You guys think Apple will go OLED this year?

 

[PFKMan23]

You guys think Apple will go OLED this year?

No. At this point it's not yet cost effective for most consumers.

 

[Arline]

You guys think Apple will go OLED this year?

iPhones will get it first, then iPads, then MacBooks, then iMacs. Expect 2017 for iPhones, 2019 for iPads, 2021 for MacBooks and 2023 for iMacs.

 

[LudicrousLampost]

I would love a 14" screen in the body of the current 13" and a quad core CPU too. I am also fine with the dimensions of the Macbook Pro. I would want more battery life and a quad core CPU more than a thinner design. Unless they can make the 15" into a 16" that weighs the same as the current 13".. Oh the fun of speculation.

Yes, this.
An extra inch of screen, from the 2 inches of available bezels (1 inch unused in each corner).

To be honest, I would be surprised if Apple did not somehow manage to do this, or very close, and we see a little extra usage on the important side of the lid.

Speaking of lids, I'd also like the glowing apple kept. As one of the coolest icons 'in action' - it would take a nutter, who was extremely convincing with a load of old garbage sales pitch that somehow the board agreed with, to remove this cool feature. The glowing apple does nothing, but I like it.
[doublepost=1457462225][/doublepost]

You guys think Apple will go OLED this year?

Despite the fact that they have the necessary patents, one would imagine, probably not.
http://www.oled-info.com/forum/univ...32-patents-today-covering-liquid-metal-amoled

 

[LudicrousLampost]

Popped into PC world (I think it was) today. I generally place sales staff as amongst the least knowledgeable of those who have an inkling (or indeed some knowledge) of what various product lines are about, but she was very helpful.

Points she made again (not much we don't know) were:
- The new/early in the year release laptops, at around this time, isn't like it used to be.
- Trends have been more recently to release mid and late in the year. Trend looks set to follow.
- She does expect, she said, that the next load of laptops will not be early this year.
- Gave reason that iPad pro etc are the focus at the moment.
- Stated a mid year release before students go back after summer, is likely.
- And that a late release is also possible.
- The release won't be for a few weeks (in their store anyway) as they always receive training a few weeks prior to Apple product releases.

So not much in the way of "new info"

Im 60/40, undecided. Feels rather like the laptops are due now.
Looks rather like the laptops may rather be released mid year, as predicted here already!

Its almost never difficult, when an explanation is provided, to get your head around nearly any kind of marketing strategy. There is always a reason behind marketing strategies, and usually a set of reasons that in Apples case too tens of years and billions in turnover to learn, and implement.

Why Apple doesn't give a release date, I don't know. If its coming soon, and customers who are desperately in need of a new machine now, know that its coming soon, why not tell the world... and thus secure the business of those who are on the verge of going out and purchasing something tomorrow.

I need a new machine yesterday. Fortunately Im not after the biggest rMPB, so if the smaller model does get the early release (as its more likely to be released first if their releases are staggered) I possibly might not have to wait too terribly long for it...

No more NEW speculation based on any more recent rumours I take it?

I have one question. Someone mentioned not buying first generation hardware till 'stuff' is ironed out. What 'stuff' could or has gone wrong with early laptops in the past? Surely if there are problems, its almost certainly going to be hardware with software conflicts that didn't show up in testing, silly things like memory leaks or... Is there really a greater risk when buying a mac which is released on day 1, as opposed to when... when is a safer time to buy, 2 months after the actual launch date, with regards to rMBP hardware?

 

[MarvinHC]

I have one question. Someone mentioned not buying first generation hardware till 'stuff' is ironed out. What 'stuff' could or has gone wrong with early laptops in the past? Surely if there are problems, its almost certainly going to be hardware with software conflicts that didn't show up in testing, silly things like memory leaks or... Is there really a greater risk when buying a mac which is released on day 1, as opposed to when... when is a safer time to buy, 2 months after the actual launch date, with regards to rMBP hardware?

First iPad and Macbook Air come to my mind.

The original iPad very quickly lost all support, due to the small RAM and lack of cameras.

First Macbook Air had a hard drive, not a very good battery life and only one USB port. All of which was rectified later.

 

[wheelhot]

Hmm, if Apple were to only update the MBP mid of this year, wouldn't it mean Skylake will be outdated by then?

 

[bfid111]

Hmm, if Apple were to only update the MBP mid of this year, wouldn't it mean Skylake will be outdated by then?

It would be very lateee

 

[PFKMan23]

It would be very lateee

Maybe. Without knowing what the inventory levels are like, we have no idea.

 

[Trahearne]

I think their obsession of thin, light and battery life may result in the very first generation of 15-inch MacBook Pro without any discrete GPU option, since Intel's Iris GPU with on-package RAM is as performant as many entry level dGPUs nowadays. Perhaps we will get a new Thunderbolt Display with embedded GPU and TB3 support instead, heh?

 

[chad.petree]

I'm not asking for too much, apple could even keep the same design, I just want skylake, at least one usb type c port, the same colors of the macbook, 500 gb standard sdd ( not gonna happen) and a 4k display or do you it's overkill ?

 

[t0mat0]

I'm not asking for too much, apple could even keep the same design, I just want skylake, at least one usb type c port, the same colors of the macbook, 500 gb standard sdd ( not gonna happen) and a 4k display or do you it's overload ?

Skylake, at least 1x USB-C, same colors and 500GB as minimum SSD seems pretty possible - but the 500GB SSD as standard has happened for the higher cost CPU SKUs e.g. since 2012 15" MBP from what wiki shows

 

[AirdanMR]

Guys if you want news about Skylake Quad Core with Iris Pro 580, just wait 3 days until next monday.

Intel will show the Skull canyon NUC and give us more clues about availability in he GDC.

I also think that June will be to late, and it will overlap with Kaby Lake just a couple of months later, which also offers native 5k support, something that will bring back target display to Macs and could make more than one hold on and wait for Kaby. Just saying...

 

[haydn!]

Popped into PC world (I think it was) today. I generally place sales staff as amongst the least knowledgeable of those who have an inkling (or indeed some knowledge) of what various product lines are about, but she was very helpful.

Points she made again (not much we don't know) were:
- The new/early in the year release laptops, at around this time, isn't like it used to be.
- Trends have been more recently to release mid and late in the year. Trend looks set to follow.
- She does expect, she said, that the next load of laptops will not be early this year.
- Gave reason that iPad pro etc are the focus at the moment.
- Stated a mid year release before students go back after summer, is likely.
- And that a late release is also possible.
- The release won't be for a few weeks (in their store anyway) as they always receive training a few weeks prior to Apple product releases.

There's some logic to that. Though, previous MacBook updates have usually landed every 9-12 months. So, that does put an update in sometime between now and June. I'm more included to go June for WWDC but I could be wrong.

 

[Tech198]

the term "Retina" is dropped and Apple comes cleans as "pixels u cannot see"

No pixels u can see at "normal" distance.... but u can see pixels when u zoom in....

Rather than using SwitchResX to operate at how it should look, u are left with pixelated icons the user cannot see at normal distance, but they are still there when zoomed in.

Equivalent to sitting at "normal" distance from HDTV,,, but then get up really close. to see the pixels..

What i mean is .... clear lines in text no matter where u'r coming from. Not sure if that is possible.

 

[etceteraism]

I have one question. Someone mentioned not buying first generation hardware till 'stuff' is ironed out. What 'stuff' could or has gone wrong with early laptops in the past? Surely if there are problems, its almost certainly going to be hardware with software conflicts that didn't show up in testing, silly things like memory leaks or... Is there really a greater risk when buying a mac which is released on day 1, as opposed to when... when is a safer time to buy, 2 months after the actual launch date, with regards to rMBP hardware?

Remember the 2006 "stop eating cheese puffs while using your white MacBook" fiasco? I was set to buy a laptop at that time but ended up waiting about 3 months until Apple admitted it was an issue and rectified it. I bought my 2010 15" MBP as soon as it was announced and had the motherboard die in the first year. Fortunately under warranty so in the end more of a hassle than anything. I've noticed it more when there is a drastic redesign rather than a few tweaks (for example, the discolouring MacBook was the first iteration of the all-white body, and haven't there been issues with early models with anti-glare coating?).

The way I see it though, I'm pretty brutal to my laptop and know there's a good chance things will go wrong, so I normally buy AppleCare. Gives me the piece of mind that if anything does happen I won't need to pay anything (and I've gotten my money's worth across the 2 laptops I've had).

 

[haydn!]

There's always issues with new hardware, always, no matter who the manufacturer is. It's just Apple buyers are typically more picky (and rightly so for the $$$ spent) so minor issues are often blown out of proportion and 99.999% of the stock will be fault free.

 

[LudicrousLampost]

I love extremists. Especially the ones with exclamation marks within their user name.

There's always issues with new hardware, always

99.999% of the stock will be fault free.

They are always the most amusing, especially when they contradict themselves during normal weekend drinking hours.