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MI MacGuy

macrumors regular
Aug 22, 2014
230
101
How do you figure?

I always understood that widescreen aspect ratios were better for watching video content because it wouldn't letterbox near as much, if at all, compared a 3:2 ratio screen. However, once you use a 3:2 ratio screen, you realize that it's better for just about everything else.
 

LudicrousLampost

macrumors member
Jan 29, 2016
36
31
Srsly it is nearly a year since the last release.
I understand how you feel. Everyone is keen to hear some news, and be able to upgrade. I really can't see why most of us won't be very happy once the new lineup is available, in June lets hope. I doubt we will have to wait until the end of the year.
once you use a 3:2 ratio screen, you realize that it's better for just about everything else.
I don't consider myself much of a film user on the laptop, but no thanks to 3:2.

Its only a tiny minority that are obsessed with bezels being thinner. I think most of us just want more of the real estate taken up with usable pixels. Its not about the bezels, but the space that isn't being taken advantage of.

We have every reason to believe, given the huge wait, amongst other things, that Apple will reduce the size of the bezels somewhat on hopefully all new models, if only slightly. Really looking forward to the new releases, whatever they are. Good things come to those that wait in this instance I think.
 

K.Haderach

macrumors member
Mar 22, 2016
47
98
Outer Banks NC
Almost bought the 12" gold one for $999 today... told myself I would pawn it off to my daughter once the new ones came out... Thank goodness they were out of the $999 version. Impulse buy averted...

I say this because I am in the market for my first Apple laptop. I have the iMac but need the mobility. Ugh... thank you Best Buy for being out of stock.
 

\-V-/

Suspended
May 3, 2012
3,153
2,688
Almost bought the 12" gold one for $999 today... told myself I would pawn it off to my daughter once the new ones came out... Thank goodness they were out of the $999 version. Impulse buy averted...

I say this because I am in the market for my first Apple laptop. I have the iMac but need the mobility. Ugh... thank you Best Buy for being out of stock.
Patience, grasshopper.
 
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kungxpao

macrumors 6502
Sep 10, 2014
366
589
Socal
Almost bought the 12" gold one for $999 today... told myself I would pawn it off to my daughter once the new ones came out... Thank goodness they were out of the $999 version. Impulse buy averted...

I say this because I am in the market for my first Apple laptop. I have the iMac but need the mobility. Ugh... thank you Best Buy for being out of stock.

I did that. Bought the 12 inch gold version a couple weeks ago for $999 and planned on reselling it when the new pros come out. Returned it in about a day. Screen was too small. I thought to myself, how big a difference can 1.3'' be? Apparently a lot. That keyboard...... is a piece of ****. That's all I have to say about that.

Luckily for me Best Buy has a very liberal return policy.
 

datapanda

macrumors newbie
Mar 16, 2010
23
3
I think there must be a reason why Apple has been holding off upgrades. Macbook got redesign not so long ago so it would be funny to change it again. However MBP line needs the a proper refresh. Maybe the new GPUs are what they've been waiting for.

I think that Apple must clean their notebook lineup since it's a mess right now. Airs are gone since Macbook is the new Air. I don't see Pros being dished since the target group is in the name: Pro. Even when 12" MB has retina, many people need performance. 4K video processing alone takes lot of juice. Apple introduced iPad Pro and the target group is not the casual users.

The best way to differentiate MB and MBP in my opinnion:
VISUAL DISTINCTION:
-Bezels at minimum with MBP. 13"->14" & 15"->16" or more.
-Premium looking colorways, something very black?
I think it's very important that Apple makes MBPs physically different and worth the price tag.

PERFORMANCE and PORTABILITY
-maybe more ports if it's possible with the rumored smaller dimensions
-dGPU
-more ram and possibilities with CPU options
-???

Touchscreen is something that I personally don't need but at some point I guess they are a reality in Macs.
 

wheelhot

macrumors 68020
Nov 23, 2007
2,084
269
Unless Apple do something with OSX for touchscreen, you'll NOT see touchscreen in any upcoming Macs.

From trend, it seems dGPU is on its way out from Apple notebooks unless something changed in management side.

TBH, I don't see how there's a need of different colours to make it feel premium? And by now most people should know that the term Pro used is more marketing then professionals. Though tbh, professionals use Mac mainly not for the it's hardware specs but more of its stability, integration and etc etc.

And yeah, would definitely like to see them clean up the notebook lineup
 
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Trahearne

macrumors 6502
Oct 6, 2014
418
73
Unless Apple do something with OSX for touchscreen, you'll NOT see touchscreen in any upcoming Macs.

From trend, it seems dGPU is on its way out from Apple notebooks unless something changed in management side.

TBH, I don't see how there's a need of different colours to make it feel premium? And by now most people should know that the term Pro used is more marketing then professionals. Though tbh, professionals use Mac mainly not for the it's hardware specs but more of its stability, integration and etc etc.

And yeah, would definitely like to see them clean up the notebook lineup
At least for the upcoming dGPUs, I don't think they would be faded out yet but having a greatly improved battery life, unless the component size is a concern in the new design (if any). Taking Polaris 11 as an example, it was made on a 14nm process which kind of make it on par with Intel's iGPU, and it was said to have (finally) a CU-level power gating, which may allow lower power use during non 3D but GPU accelerated applications, e.g. the UI, with the Apple-controlled driver stack.
 
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wheelhot

macrumors 68020
Nov 23, 2007
2,084
269
Good point though wouldn't using Polaris means using AMD CPU as well? Which is something I don't see Apple shifting to.

On another note, I wonder if Apple will add the True Tone display tech (found in IPP) to the upcoming MBP redesign, that'll certainly give it an edge over its competitors
 

Trahearne

macrumors 6502
Oct 6, 2014
418
73
Good point though wouldn't using Polaris means using AMD CPU as well?
No. Just like what is in the current rMBP 15, Polaris is a family of two discrete GPU chips (10/11), and Polaris 10 is said to prioritise for "thin and light" laptops.

Which is something I don't see Apple shifting to.
Hard to say if AMD does not ruin its Zen core hype. I can see Apple might be interested in a customised chip with fair CPU power, strong graphics and integrated peripheral I/O, especially when Intel now has a narrower gap in manufacturing technology with the foundries.
 
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doitdada

Suspended
Oct 14, 2013
946
557
Actually, I liked the 16:9 ratio on the Macbook Air 11". It really (still) makes a lot of sense on a such small notebook as you can retain the full-size keyboard.

It's a bit limited when reading web pages due to the short height.
 

mayuka

macrumors 6502a
Feb 15, 2009
610
66
No. Just like what is in the current rMBP 15, Polaris is a family of two discrete GPU chips (10/11), and Polaris 10 is said to prioritise for "thin and light" laptops.

It would be reasonable for Apple to switch to the slower "Core U"-series used in the current Macbook Airs and compensate that with a more powerful GPU. That would result in a much slimmer design. The Macbook-series will probably retain the "Core M"-series.
 

loon3y

macrumors 65816
Oct 21, 2011
1,235
126
Actually, I liked the 16:9 ratio on the Macbook Air 11". It really (still) makes a lot of sense on a such small notebook as you can retain the full-size keyboard.


nah but it looks ridiculous.


lol 11" its pretty much an overpowered netbook. I've seen a web developer use it. i was lmfao but he did have a second screen.

But these slim MacBooks are pretty underpowered. the New MacBooks are ok running windows on a virtual machines. but the other ones, forget about it.


I need to run Mac OS, Windows (Running a local DB with a front end system) so none of these slim notebooks cut it for me.


I was really hoping for a quad-core 13", it would reduce the weight of my everyday load at the sacrifice of battlefield 4 and couple steam games.
 

meboy

macrumors 6502
Apr 12, 2012
410
326
I have a strong suspicion that they are working to get New Macbook Air redesign out in the next few months. Macbook Pros not until fall.

13'ish/cheaper/lighter/cooler looking, capable intel U chip is their bread and butter. The chips are more available.
The Pros are missing some things and need more time.

I can't imagine them reducing the Macbook Pro and Air line down to just the U series chips. There is still too much performance gap between the 3 Intel lines.
 

Woochoo

macrumors 6502a
Oct 12, 2014
549
505
I have a strong suspicion that they are working to get New Macbook Air redesign out in the next few months. Macbook Pros not until fall.

...

There is still too much performance gap between the 3 Intel lines.

Not really, a 13" MBA with i7 performs the same as the same year MBP 13" with i5. And i5 from Air is not far from the i5 from MBP. The only real performance gap is between 15" MBP and the 13" Macbooks, and between the 13" and the 12" nMB.

Also MBP 15" CPU is already available, there's no point in waiting almost 2,5 years to update their CPU architecture, despite having more benefits now with older technology. Macbook Air will probably disappear, and we'll see a thinner 13" MBP that will be the "new Air" with enough performance.

All in all: 12" MB for average usage, 13" thinner MBP for lower "hard demanding" work but mantaining mobility, and 15" MBP for heavier stuff like renders, mixings, etc.
 
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meboy

macrumors 6502
Apr 12, 2012
410
326
Not really, a 13" MBA with i7 performs the same as the same year MBP 13" with i5. And i5 from Air is not far from the i5 from MBP. The only real performance gap is between 15" MBP and the 13" Macbooks, and between the 13" and the 12" nMB.

Also MBP 15" CPU is already available, there's no point in waiting almost 2,5 years to update their CPU architecture, despite having more benefits now with older technology. Macbook Air will probably disappear, and we'll see a thinner 13" MBP that will be the "new Air" with enough performance.

All in all: 12" MB for average usage, 13" thinner MBP for lower "hard demanding" work but mantaining mobility, and 15" MBP for heavier stuff like renders, mixings, etc.

Comparing i5 to i7.
But what if they changed things in the refresh? That would be pretty in line with the way things have been going. They could make the second tier 13" (Air) with up to i5. Save the i7 for a 13" Pro or a possible 15" Air. That would spread out a 3 tier lineup more and funnel users up just like they like to do. It would also reduce heat in this new very thin design we've been hearing about which could be the Air rather than Pro. We don't know.

Available and available in Apple volume are two very different things. In those terms no, the MBP chips they would want to use are not so available. Also some other tech they may want to wait for.

I don't see how anyone can truly believe we are going to see the Macbook lineup reduce down to just 3 this year. It won't happen. OCD tidiness does not work well in business. Many niches, many products, more money.
Much more likely is macbook no new screen sizes, macbook air but maybe not named air in 13 or 14" and maybe one larger, macbook pro in 13 or 14" and one more larger. At least 4. Maybe 5 or 6.
 

Woochoo

macrumors 6502a
Oct 12, 2014
549
505
There is still too much performance gap between the 3 Intel lines.

...

Comparing i5 to i7.
Yes, and there isn't that much performance gap. Not even between 15W i7 and 28W i7.

I don't see how anyone can truly believe we are going to see the Macbook lineup reduce down to just 3 this year. It won't happen. OCD tidiness does not work well in business. Many niches, many products, more money.
Much more likely is macbook no new screen sizes, macbook air but maybe not named air in 13 or 14" and maybe one larger, macbook pro in 13 or 14" and one more larger. At least 4. Maybe 5 or 6.

Oh ok, so now you are an analyst. No. Apple is not erasing Mac lineups, they will keep selling Macbook Airs like they still do with the old non retina Macbook Pro. But they will probably (in bold, because it's not a fact, and you neither should talk like if you knew it as a fact) focus only in Macbook and Macbook Pro, and that means not redesigning/upgrading the MBA. Rumours point that way, but again, nobody knows.

One thing is for sure: the new Macbook puts the Macbook Air inbetween two sides where it doesn't shine in anyone: it doesn't perform as good as a MBP, has that much ports, but it's neither as portable & light as the new Macbook. Yeah, it's something I don't like since it was great as it was, it just needed a retina display. But well, that didn't happen.
So it makes sense that Apple goes for a new 13/14" Macbook to replace the actual 13" MBA (the 11" was already replaced by the 12" Macbook).
 
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meboy

macrumors 6502
Apr 12, 2012
410
326
Yes, and there isn't that much performance gap. Not even between 15W i7 and 28W i7.



Oh ok, so now you are an analyst. No. Apple is not erasing Mac lineups, they will keep selling Macbook Airs like they still do with the old non retina Macbook Pro. But they will probably (in bold, because it's not a fact, and you neither should talk like if you knew it as a fact) focus only in Macbook and Macbook Pro, and that means not redesigning/upgrading the MBA. Rumours point that way, but again, nobody knows.

One thing is for sure: the new Macbook puts the Macbook Air inbetween two sides where it doesn't shine in anyone: it doesn't perform as good as a MBP, has that much ports, but it's neither as portable & light as the new Macbook. Yeah, it's something I don't like since it was great as it was, it just needed a retina display. But well, that didn't happen.
So it makes sense that Apple goes for a new 13/14" Macbook to replace the actual 13" MBA (the 11" was already replaced by the 12" Macbook).

I might be.. Who know's.

Maybe not much shows on benchmarks but I can tell the difference easily going from MBP 13 to 15. Could be partially graphics related.
I'd say there is enough of a difference on chips alone but there are more than enough other reasons to have 3 tiers.

There will be the one Macbook not others. Just like there was the one macbook before. They made the keyboard exactly the size of the body and went on and on about it and the proportions being in perfect harmony. etc.
The second tier will be the air replacement whether they call it that or not. It won't have core m. 3rd tier pros.
 

wheelhot

macrumors 68020
Nov 23, 2007
2,084
269
Nah, it'll unlikely Apple do a i5 13" MBA only to give a i7 13" and 15" MBP . Apple will make the i7 as a BTO for the 13" MBP

Woochoo predictions is probably closer to what will happen and what many people are predicting
 

Samuelsan2001

macrumors 604
Oct 24, 2013
7,729
2,153
Nah, it'll unlikely Apple do a i5 13" MBA only to give a i7 13" and 15" MBP . Apple will make the i7 as a BTO for the 13" MBP

Woochoo predictions is probably closer to what will happen and what many people are predicting

There is already an i7 BTO option for the 13 inch rMBP, there is no quad core version, but there are aren't any suitable (ie: with good enough graphics) quad skylake core chips for the 13 inch pro's TDP anyway. There isn't even a chance of suitable quad cores for the 13 inch until canonlake to be released at the end of 2017, even then no guarantees, you've got a long wait ahead.
 
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