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Will Apple ever build the 17 (or 16.5) inch MBP? [Merged]
- Thread starter nouveau_redneck
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Going to a slightly larger display may add enough "bulk" to the computer for Apple to have an excuse to "go back" to a non-butterfly keyboard as well (I would hope).
I wouldn't by a 16.5" MPB in any case -- don't need one -- but I would hope the "retro keyboard" would filter down into the 13" model as well.
I wouldn't by a 16.5" MPB in any case -- don't need one -- but I would hope the "retro keyboard" would filter down into the 13" model as well.
Im kind of ok with the same physical size. Would like to see more space for cooling to actually make the i9 worth it but I would also be ok to finally move away from the 1440x900 physical space of the 15" design. Yes I know I can use 1920x1200 but having that resolution in a slightly larger physical screen would make things much easier to see and read. 17" is a really good physical size for 1920x1200 and I think 16.5" would be close enough to make that comfortable compared to having that crammed into 15". It would make for a much more comfortable user experience for the MBP running at 1920x1200 physical size. Having a 3840x2160 in that physical space would maintain the same 2x retina. Right now we basically have a 1.5x retina when we use the 1920x1200 mode on the 15"
I'm ok keeping the MBP small and at times considered getting a 13" for a more compact design but the specs kind of suck compared to the 15" so I have not. So keeping the design small is perfectly fine with me if Apple can come up with superior cooling in the small space. I don't ever expect a laptop to achieve the same level of turbo as a desktop but it would be nice to see some advantage to the i9.
I'm ok keeping the MBP small and at times considered getting a 13" for a more compact design but the specs kind of suck compared to the 15" so I have not. So keeping the design small is perfectly fine with me if Apple can come up with superior cooling in the small space. I don't ever expect a laptop to achieve the same level of turbo as a desktop but it would be nice to see some advantage to the i9.
It wouldn't surprise me if the 'dream' MBP for pro-users (ports, SD slot etc) won't happen, even with the rumored larger model incoming. Can see it being a similar form factor to the current 15", just with lighter bezels.
And probably "butterfly keyboard attempt #4" vs just returning to something actually reliable and proven (or designing something new)
Anything could happen, but I can't help but feel like them creating a model similar to the 2015 (which a lot of users consider the last truly 'pro' model) would be viewed by Apple as a backwards step.
I would never expect them to do that... (make a new 2015 model)
I just want them to put a reliable keyboard in...
...scissor switches like in the Magic Keyboard would be perfect.
If they are good enough on new desktop machines, why not in the laptops?
(Answer - they are great - Apple just needs to stop innovating things that don't need it)
There is no way this is anything other than the current sized chassis or smaller with a larger screen. Anyone hoping for a change with the keyboard, more ports, eliminating the Touch Bar, or better cooling is unfortunately fooling themselves. You never know, but I just can't see it. I cannot think of an instance where Apple took a deliberate step back to something they had abandoned.
I’m partly inclined to agree, they have been tenacious over the butterfly KB - but you have to wonder how much money this whole fiasco is costing them - directly and through lost or deferred sales... even if it is a relatively small percentage of machines, that’s still a hell of a lot. I think the executive team might be ready to pull the plug given gen 3 hasn’t reliably fixed the issues. No point continuing to throw good money after bad looking for a fix. I just hope they will continue to support those who have already bought machines with the repair programmes for the full 5-7 years until the machines are made obsolete.
I'm pretty sure the keyboard will be something different.
It may not be major, but I expect they'll change something about it.
TouchBar: Fully expect that to become more optional, if not outright get killed.
Even if they do change the keyboard to a new switch, I doubt they will mention it much. Apple are good about not admitting wrongdoing, and advertising the keyboard as a huge improvement would be a pretty big issue for the 40 million or so users who have bought a MacBook with the Butterfly keyboard.
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I agree there may be a change to the keyboard, but I doubt it is significant. I think this is the keyboard we are going to have. They cannot add travel without thickening the case, and I do not see them doing that. Same with the Touch Bar. I think that only goes away if they replace it with something. They are not going to remove it and give you function keys back. The fact that the nTB 13" was not update kind of confirms that.
I'm not sure that really confirms anything anymore than the brand new MacBook Air not having a TouchBar and having function keys confirms that the TouchBar may be dead moving forward.
You can argue the evidence here both ways really.
To me the mixed reception and lack of continued roll out of the TouchBar speaks the most about its future (or lack there of IMO)
Oh yeah, they would almost certainly just quietly switch without any fanfare, and tbh that's fine. I don't want them to self flagellate over it, just move on while continuing to do right by those who have suffered failures. I just hope they won't switch to a glass touch/haptic input instead, really not a fan of that idea...
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Wouldn't be that surprised if the TB was re-worked significantly, maybe it would become a 15" (16"?) only feature that sits above the function keys in the larger space there (could also apply if the 13" machine is redesigned into a 14" with enough space to keep it there too?) That way they don't have to backtrack, they could say they've improved it (made it bigger?) and just gloss over the F keys returning
Honestly I don't give a single F what they do to save face for themselves as long as they just make it optional.
I just want normal keyboard keys.
Perhaps. But presumably they knew when the 2018 MBP was released what the 2019 would be, and if they were moving toward a more optional TouchBar, it would be odd to send the very clear message that the nTB 13" is going to be discontinued. Don't get me wrong, I am not really advocating for the TouchBar, I just cannot fathom Apple replacing it with function keys. I would be shocked if that happened. The Air is a different line, often the mass selling line, and Apple definitely sees the TouchBar as a premium option. I think not updating the nTB 13" is a much stronger sign than releasing the Air without a TouchBar.
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Don't forget you are in the minority. I am with you, but the fact is VERY few people ever use function keys as function keys. They essentially became media keys years ago, and the TouchBar is the evolution of that. I think the vast majority of users are fine with it.
This seems a bit of an odd design choice to me, if they want TB to be a success they must realise it has to be on as many of their computers as possible to drive developers to include it in their App designs (as more than an afterthought)? I'm TB neutral by the way, but then I only ever use the F keys for brightness and volume personally anyway so it doesn't get in the way of any workflow shortcuts for me.
Every normal user I know who has a TB MacBookPro simply doesn't use it for anything really, so I'm not sure what to make of it. If that's going to be the normal user experience with it, they might as well just put volume/brightness stuff on a Macro FN key layer and kill the entire top row area.
I'm fine with that too...especially if they go with FaceID on new laptops.
I think we all think of the TouchBar in the wrong way. I don't know that Apple is trying to make a success per se. I think they see it as more a proof of concept of what can be done when you have "keys" that change. Since most people use the function keys as media keys like you said, having it be a touchscreen that can change is does not effect them negatively, and maybe introduces them to the idea of what is possible. Like I said, I am not sure I see them simply removing it and putting the old functions back. I do not know of an instance where Apple so clearly went back to an old idea. Maybe I am forgetting one.
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I hear ya. And I agree, I doubt most users ever interact with it other than to do what they normally did with the function keys.
I'm torn on the touch bar if I'm honest, I don't mind it and don't really desperately crave standard function keys back. I do think it will be here to stay in some form though, it feels as though it's partly been a test for 'functioning' OLED tech within the MBP, I recall seeing a patent for a full, virtual OLED keyboard which might appear in the future. Can't see them canning it whatsoever.
Before you can theorise about this, you need to define what you mean by "pro"?
I'd consider myself a pro user, I've literally never used an SD (or any other kind of memory card) slot in my life, and my only complaint about ports is that they don't have more TB3 ports.
I'm really excited either way. If it happens this year, then I'm sure they will apply their hard-learned lessons from 2016+ - Butterfly keys, t2 kernel panics, speaker issues, display flex cable going bad, etc etc.
Are you being serious or sarcastic?
One would think that if they'd "learned their lessons" the keyboards (as one example) would have been fixed already here in 2018