Macbook Pro refresh

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phiber

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So mac rumours seem to think this might happen as early as March 1st (which happens to be a tuesday).

Some interesting thoughts floating around:

  • Sandy Bridge processors (is the SATA issue sorted?)
  • Removal of Optical drives (there was talk of apple killing the optical drive)
  • Removal of Ethernet (I think this is a VERY BAD idea, would mean another adapter to carry around)
  • A quad core 13" (could it be possible??)
 
phiber said:
So mac rumours seem to think this might happen as early as March 1st (which happens to be a tuesday).

Some interesting thoughts floating around:

  • Sandy Bridge processors (is the SATA issue sorted?)
  • Removal of Optical drives (there was talk of apple killing the optical drive)
  • Removal of Ethernet (I think this is a VERY BAD idea, would mean another adapter to carry around)
  • A quad core 13" (could it be possible??)
Click to expand...

Aaargh! I seldom use Ethernet but when I do, it is to configure my wireless router cos they do have problems. Bad move imho

And I often use my Optical Drive but IF it will shave R500 off the cost, I would rather switch to an external writer simply because the internal apple ones are so crappy!
 
VioAdmin said:
Removal of Ethernet must be a joke...
Click to expand...

Agreed, use mine daily.

Optical drive must go. I never use mine, except OS updates. Ever opened your MBP? Over a quarter of the thing is optical drive, think what Apple could do with that space. App Store can replace this for most things.
 
A quad core 13" would be my next buy.
Not sure how it would work 'tho... They are still running the C2D 'cos they need space for the graphics card. Does anyone know what the onboard graphics are like on the Sandy Bridge processors?
I don't think they'll loose Ethernet but getting rid of the optical drive might just free up the space they need on the 13".
 
GreGorGy said:
Aaargh! I seldom use Ethernet but when I do, it is to configure my wireless router cos they do have problems. Bad move imho

And I often use my Optical Drive but IF it will shave R500 off the cost, I would rather switch to an external writer simply because the internal apple ones are so crappy!
Click to expand...
I doubt it.

Delete the Ethernet port? Apple clearly underestimate the needs of their average MBP user. If they include the optical drive as a no-cost option for the Macbook Pro it might work. I also don't use my laptop's optical drive a lot - when it's not in use, it's stored safely in a cupboard. But when the need arises I know that I can just pop / plug it in.
 
Yea, i could do without an optical drive if it makes the space for a quad core + cooling for it and a good gfx card. I feel they need to ad usb ports anyway (my aluminium macbook only has 2), getting rid of ethernet means i will have 1, and 1 dedicated to an ethernet adapter. just not on.... I would love to see dual mini display so i can connect two external monitors to this guy (yea i am asking for a lot, but would be awesome).
 
From a flashdrive. I would honestly not miss an internal optical drive. Burnt a total of 2 dvd's during the last year and I would settle for an external superdrive. I would miss an ethernet port, purely for GigE and rsync'ing stuff to my nas.
 
Last edited:
I think that dropping the optical drive and ethernet in new generation MBPs is plausible, but this leaves some problems in the lineup.

The largest ports on MBP at the moment are ethernet, FW800 and mini-displayport. The thickness of the MBPs are constrained by the height of the ethernet port (and the rigidity of the screen on the 17").

Without super drive and ethernet, and with a new tapered unibody shape, what would the difference be between a 13" MacBook Air and a 13" MacBook Pro?

Dropping ethernet on the 15" doesn't make a lot of sense if you retain FW800, which is almost the same height. It would also mean that the 15" MBP would have virtually the same port configuration as the MBA. (MBP retains line-in?).

This leaves an interesting proposition -

Current polycarb unibody MacBook is dropped from the line-up and replaced with a aluminum 13" MacBook (the former 13" MBP) at the same or lesser price.
The MacBook Air gains a 15" version and now makes up the core of the laptop line-up.
MacBook Pro becomes 15" and 17", with the 15" slimming down slightly, and the 17" shedding the expresscard slot in favour of SD.

This also implies that the Mac Pro will not see any major changes. If Apple thinks that the market now consists of iPhone, iPad and lightweight laptops, then they will not put a lot of effort into a workstation.

That's my 50c worth.
 
If that optic space is used for extra USBs, that'd be great. At present, if I plug the Cell C stick (or any other wide USB) directly into a port, I lose the other one - stupid design imo.
 
GreGorGy said:
If that optic space is used for extra USBs, that'd be great. At present, if I plug the Cell C stick (or any other wide USB) directly into a port, I lose the other one - stupid design imo.
Click to expand...

Definitely. If they don't, it would be STUPID.
 
GreGorGy said:
If that optic space is used for extra USBs, that'd be great. At present, if I plug the Cell C stick (or any other wide USB) directly into a port, I lose the other one - stupid design imo.
Click to expand...
Equally stupid design of the stick wouldn't you agree? I've been looking at the various laptops lying around and they're all equipped with two, side-by-side, USB ports and they're all the same distance apart as on my MBP.

I can't see Apple removing the optical drive or the ethernet. Like FW they're both used by segments of their target market.
 
phiber said:
[*]Sandy Bridge processors (is the SATA issue sorted?)
Click to expand...

I read somewhere (?) that Intel might be offering "defective" chipsets to laptop manufacturers, at a discount, as not all the SATA ports have a problem. ie. There should at-least be 2 usable SATA ports per chipset... But don't think Apple would even consider this option.
 
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