The next MacBook Pro redesign (merged)

[Appleaker]

Well we've really only seen the chassis for the 13". 15" might have some extra I/O. Also it was just a prototype...

However, a Usb-c Dock will be straight money for you...

I still argue 4 usb-c is a bit excessive though. Even for the next 4-5 years from now.(the next redesign would be more suited for usb-c only IMO)

I know it is a new port and it seems a bit radical to make all ports the same type, Apple see USB-C as the replacement to USB-A connectors so would replace all USB-A anyway. Since TB3 also uses the connector and they want to upgrade the Thunderbolt ports then they will also have to use type-C connectors there.
Other manufacturers, as is common with new USB generations, add the port as another port rather than a USB replacement. Apple, on the other hand, want to push the port to be the new standard and therefore can only do that by replacing all current USB-A ports with type-C ports as that would force customers into using the type-C port, and encourage manufacturers to make accessories. Other companies should then follow.

 

[mayuka]

Well, if you remember the old Macbook line... They excluded the Firewire port on one Model only to re-introduce it after heavy complains from the customers. I think, it was the only time Apple actually added ports. Nowadays, nobody thinks about Firewire anymore. The same thing may happen to Thunderbolt. As long as the future MBP will have enough ports, people will settle eventually.

 

[masands]

Looks like Apple is going straight to Kaby Lake CPUs. I hope they offer the 15" with the GTX1060 at least. Not the trash AMD has been producing lately.

That said, the Gigabyte Aero 14 has caught my eye. An upgrade version with a Pascal GPU will win me over from any rMBP.

 

[Appleaker]

Looks like Apple is going straight to Kaby Lake CPUs. I hope they offer the 15" with the GTX1060 at least. Not the trash AMD has been producing lately.

That said, the Gigabyte Aero 14 has caught my eye. An upgrade version with a Pascal GPU will win me over from any rMBP.

I really hope they have a dGPU but it seems unlikely with a thinner body and the fact that the Iris Peo 580 is technically more powerful than the current dGPU. If they do, they will have to go with the 1060m or more likely some form of mobile 1050 since AMD don't have a suitable 14nm (Polaris) option for them.

 

[PKBeam]

I very much hope that Apple won't make us wait another year for an MBP refresh simply because... Skylake isn't good enough?

 

[squarebreathing]

Thanks for the responses. I am also concerned with my audio equipment with USB-C. Right now my main audio recording system uses standard USB with no issues. It needs to be fully powered by USB (2.0 or 3.0 are fine) and I have heard that many of the USB-C hubs can't really power some USB devices? Also, I'm concerned that the extra step in between my equipment could cause possible lag or other issues. Right now it's straight into the r macbook pro, the usb-c adaptors will add extra steps the connection has to take to get to garageband.

Also, I know this is nitpicking, but I love the magsafe port. I like the safety of being able to trip on it accidentally and it harmlessly fall out.

 

[tofagerl]

In that case a pure converter would be the best choice.

 

[macbook123]

I would immediately ditch Apple (so fed up with their technologies being 3 generations behind everyone else) if I could find a good Linux-capable laptop. Suggestions?

 

[PKBeam]

maybe go on a Linux forum and ask...

 

[tofagerl]

Hearing good things about the Dell XP 13(?) Developer Edition

 

[Appleaker]

Well, if you remember the old Macbook line... They excluded the Firewire port on one Model only to re-introduce it after heavy complains from the customers. I think, it was the only time Apple actually added ports. Nowadays, nobody thinks about Firewire anymore. The same thing may happen to Thunderbolt. As long as the future MBP will have enough ports, people will settle eventually.

The MacBook Pros will have Thunderbolt so your arugument should be about USB A or possibly MagSafe.

 

[Dydegu]

Looks like Apple is going straight to Kaby Lake CPUs. I hope they offer the 15" with the GTX1060 at least. Not the trash AMD has been producing lately.

That said, the Gigabyte Aero 14 has caught my eye. An upgrade version with a Pascal GPU will win me over from any rMBP.

Where does it look like Apple is going straight to Kaby Lake CPUs?

 

[toddzrx]

Hopefully USB C adapters become cheap enough that you won't find yourself running out, unless you are somebody who only buys the Apple cables, then I understand why you're complaining. The infatuation with USB-C at Apple is because they view it as the replacement to USB-A (compared to other manufactures who implement it as another port). The reason that all of the ports will be Type-C is because Thunderbolt 3 now uses that port.

Infatuation? How so? It's on 1 machine right now.

 

[Appleaker]

Infatuation? How so? It's on 1 machine right now.

I was referring to the infatuation within the industry, but specifically looking at Apple.

 

[sziehr]

I think apple is caught between a very hard rock and a very big hard place. Intel screwed them with there delay on skylake. So now do they wait on the next chip and get it early like they have in the past. Intel is the culprit this has there fingers all over it. Apple does not work like your typical OEM where they will just take the chips and chipset intel releases, nope they loved to customize and reduce in size that takes time.

 

[mayuka]

Intel screwed them with there delay on skylake.

Apple could have made silent updates to their models. This happened in the past a few times....

 

[sziehr]

Apple could have made silent updates to their models. This happened in the past a few times....

I agree however I think apple had this road mapped out and then intel delayed and pushed them back. This pushed back there release window a full year so Intel is at fault majority. Apple could have your right just released it at WWDC like everyone wanted

 

[Devie]

I think apple is caught between a very hard rock and a very big hard place. Intel screwed them with there delay on skylake. So now do they wait on the next chip and get it early like they have in the past. Intel is the culprit this has there fingers all over it. Apple does not work like your typical OEM where they will just take the chips and chipset intel releases, nope they loved to customize and reduce in size that takes time.

Intels release schedule doesn't appear to affect any other laptop manufactures. And don't give me bs that they just throw it all into a chasis and be done with it, the competition had some seriously good hardware now, and apple need to play catchup. The only thing the MacBooks/pro have going for them now over the competition is OS X and the touchpad.

 

[Jack_2001]

I'm interested in buying a 13" rMBP next week, but I'm worried about purchasing it at the end of its design cycle. I recall Tim Cook saying that major hardware redesigns would be introduced in 2013-14 (I think), but it wasn't clear if this applied to Apple's notebook line. Can anyone comment on this?

Basically, I'm worried about purchasing a rMBP only to discover a major redesign next year. I don't want to be like that poor sucker who dropped $1.5k on a white macbook just before the aluminum unibody was released. Catch my drift? I don't care about minor spec bumps.

Speaking of which, what real-world improvements will Haswell bring? I thought of it as only a spec bump, but apparently others disagree? Truthfully, I've never noticed a difference based on processor speed, probably because I do simple stuff like movies, web, etc. I'm just hoping the graphics performance improves because that's the one area where the MB has always underwhelmed, even though I rarely play intensive games. My current machine could barely handled COD4 at medium.

Anyway, thanks for the help!

The new rMBP should be arriving soon, maybe in the next few months, and should be boasting some great new features along side the inevitable more up to date intel processors. Rumours point towards an oled display located at the top of the keyboard which will replace the function keys that are present on the current MacBooks. Some rumours say that the familiar USB-A ports and Thunderbolt 2 ports may be replaced with USB-c ports and maybe Thunderbolt 3 as well, although this maybe great for some, others could find themselves buying adapters just to plug in a memory stick. Overall the upcoming rMBP sounds like it could be a fantastic machine with lots great new features and hardware but I don't think the current rMBP is going to be obsolete of a while, even when the new rMBP is released.

 

[OatmealRocks]

I recently saw an article with a supposed picture of the new MBP case, and according to the article, the case doesn't appear to be significantly thinner than the current MBP's.

I was thinking we would see a much thinner and lighter MBP?

m

What are you talking about? Look again. You do realize the headphone & type c port is a fixed size. Look at a rMacbook and compare that to the photos. It is barely any bigger. And rMB is thinest period. What are you expecting thiner than the ports?

 

[ArmCortexA8]

To add to the discussion here's what's transpired with my previous and current Macbook Pro Retina 15"system. I had a 2012 Macbook Pro Retina 15" however it started to have the AR coating issue (yes it does exist) however I am still baffled why Apple dumped the Nvidia GPU or included an updated Nvidia GPU and went for ATI / AMD - to me they went backwards and I assume this was purely a financial decision as I have yet to see GPU performance comparisons between Nvidia and the current offering to indicate is is better.

Unfortunately it has been a long-held Apple tradition that when releasing new hardware, a feature or connection option is always lost / dumped effectively forcing people to upgrade other devices. USB has been a standard for over 20 years yet Apple seem content to dump it for USB-C, effectively forcing all USB device owners to buy adapters to make it work as original. Im not a fan of this practice especially when millions of devices use USB. Who in their right mind wants to have dongles and adapters hanging off a Macbook Pro? Ironically the USB ports on these systems keep shrinking which does not correlate with the amount of USB devices available - this is no doubt deliberate.

There are hints at Apple even dumping the Magsafe connector which is the best power connector on the market due to it's inbuilt retention system which releases the power cable and not allow the system to be pulled and dropped. This obsession with thinness has got to such a point that functionality and flexibility suffers as a result - the classic Form over Functionality syndrome.

I do hope the next MacBook Pro Retinas - especially the 15" models have rectified the ongoing AR screen coating issues to such a point Apple replaced my MacBook Pro Retina with the current model after 2 years at no additional cost to me. I even asked if they could hold off till a possible refresh this year, however with estimates of a fourth quarter release, this would effectively mean I would have no computer for months.

 

[wheelhot]

I don't think they'll replace your current rMBP with a new model, especially for free.

And it's funny you mentioned about Apple abandoning USB for USB-C when it's apple who first forced people to buy USB keyboards and mouse by removing Serial and PS/2 ports. And they did it when serial and PS/2 ports was the standard ports in all computers and USB is the odd one

 

[OatmealRocks]

Well.. today I sold my 15 rMBP BTO which I got from in 2012 when it was first introduced. I also sold my thunderbolt display as well. The rMBP was flawless in exception of a battery replacement via AppleCare. I will miss that setup and the built in speakers and camera of the thunderbolt display. As I am typing I am on my 12" MB and got the LG 4k 27". The monitor is my stop gap until Apple releases their own. However I miss the CPU power of the 15" but decided I might as sell now to get a good price before the official release.

Having looked at the leaked casing I think it will be great machine regardless. The keyboard is growing on me on the MB and I wanted consistency an typing on the rMBP seemed odd.

I do hope for some good accessories related with Type C from Apple and I hope the future monitor will have HUB built in.

Anxiously waiting on the new rMBP but i hope they will have mag safe.

 

[VirtualRain]

There are hints at Apple even dumping the Magsafe connector which is the best power connector on the market due to it's inbuilt retention system which releases the power cable and not allow the system to be pulled and dropped. This obsession with thinness has got to such a point that functionality and flexibility suffers as a result - the classic Form over Functionality syndrome.

If the hints you're referring to are the lack of MagSafe on the Retina MacBook, I'm pretty sure the consensus on that is it was fine to remove MagSafe for a device that has sufficient battery life.

If you have 8-10 hrs or more battery life, you really only need to charge it at your main work area during off hours which probably doesn't have cables running across aisleways where people can trip over them. I don't think anyone will complain about lack of MagSafe in practice.

At my desk, my MacBook Pro often has a few cables connected to it and all but power don't have MagSafe. Thanks to cable management, it's not an issues.

I think a single cable is the future for charging, display and peripherals if Apple offers a replacement to the TB Display with a docking station built in. That would be elegant and convenient.

 

[BondFancy]

If the hints you're referring to are the lack of MagSafe on the Retina MacBook, I'm pretty sure the consensus on that is it was fine to remove MagSafe for a device that has sufficient battery life.

If you have 8-10 hrs or more battery life, you really only need to charge it at your main work area during off hours which probably doesn't have cables running across aisleways where people can trip over them. I don't think anyone will complain about lack of MagSafe in practice.

At my desk, my MacBook Pro often has a few cables connected to it and all but power don't have MagSafe. Thanks to cable management, it's not an issues.

I think a single cable is the future for charging, display and peripherals if Apple offers a replacement to the TB Display with a docking station built in. That would be elegant and convenient.

There are also rumors of wireless charging which would be great. All day battery life then plop it down on your desk at night, only thing better than MagSafe is no wires at all.