Apple to unveil entirely new MacBook series at WWDC, insiders say - Page 2

OK I have to ask, how is it that this looks "official". All it is is another rumor.

The only reason would be that nobody is buying it!

I've actually have seen engineers give up their 17" machines (Windoes) because they aren't practicle for travel or field use. As much as 17" MBP users want to believe they are in a large and dynamic group the real trend is away from such large computers.

Real pros are not completely stupid, they can recognize a high performance machine without the "Pro" label in the devices name. This is the most odd and twisted thing posted in this forum thread.
Wrong! Mac Book is just another name, they could drop the "Mac" completely and call the new machines Cortland and real pros would be able to recognize that they are high performance machines relative to the AIRs. Complete garbage. Let me state this clearly, if a professional can't recognize a machine with a feature set suitable for his Profession he isn't much of a professional. It would be like a plumber going to a home center for some crappy pipe wrench instead of buying a Ridged. Professionals build their operations around the right tools for the endeavors at hand. Retina is not about screen real estate!
I really don't know what Apple is doing with their lineup. If they do take this approach it might be a sign that they are testing the waters to see if people really do want that optical drive in their laptops. There is much whining about the optical going away but the reality is I don't think most Apple customers care. Such a lineup gives Apple a way to test the waters the only honest way possible which is with actual sales. My suspicion is that sales will dry up for the optical equipped MBPs pretty quick, because so many don't know what they are talking about.

It still amazes me that people think AIRs are high performance machines! They aren't even close, even if the Ivy Bridge GPU dramatically improves the model. People act like the 13" AIR and the 13" MBP are the same class machine when they aren't even close.

In any event I really have a positive feeling here, you should get what you want real soon.

Here's what I'd like to see happen in the Apple notebook space in 2012:

 

- MacBook Air renamed to MacBook, with some spec improvements (but no Retina display)

 

- New-generation slim MacBook Pro (no optical drive, tapered, etc.) with Retina display on all models

 

- Previous-generation MacBook Pro model production continues until demand declines enough to cancel them

 

(I just don't think there's a big enough niche between the current MBA and MBP lines to wedge in an all-new intermediate line.  Remember the G4 Cube?  Apple surely does.)

Uh, no. It's not official until Apple says it is. This analyst isn't the official word on anything. Period.

This could happen.

A new macbook with a retina display would be the selling point as well as the all solid state ram design.

Who needs an optical drive these days anyway?

I'm sure it won't be long before we see fast, blue tooth optical drives. They exists but I haven't seen them for laptops. Have any of you?

They might see how well the 17" MBP sells next to the new retina display 15s before making a decision. Would screen real estate win over resolution? TBD.

I have just one word for this rumored line-up: Complicated!

Mmm.... I think some of this is true but I believe in some different scenario:

 

• MacBook Air name disappears. The line simplified to MacBook, maybe except for one 15" with optical drive, which I doubt will stand and still.
• Just 3 models ala Air 11", 13" and 15".
• 11" and 13" more powerful than today's models and with Retina Display. 15" with Retina Display an special option (that display must be too expensive for a base model).
• Same prices for 11" and 13" as today, or maybe $100 more for that display. It worths the $100.
• No Solid State HD, but cards of memory.
• Models 3G/4G/LTE/GPS capable(*) for $129 more. Ok, maybe that's too much asking, but it is about time, I'm not dreaming here.

 

PS: Mac Pro with a complete redesigned form factor with very little foot print. I think they are going to show us a very good looking aerodynamical design.

 

Now That I like!

MacBook /Air/Pro...ShmacBook... whatever....

 

Rumor has it that Apple is consolidating all lines onder a single name -- the UltraBook  :)

I'm just speculating like everybody else. I'll think they'll add USB 3 and drop the name "Air", optical drives, maybe even HDD:s and 17":

 

11" MacBook (Air design, SSD)

13" MacBook (Air design, SSD)

15" MacBook (Air design, SSD)

 

13" MacBook Pro (replaceable SSD and RAM)

15" MacBook Pro (replaceable SSD and RAM)

 

If you need DVD or bigger screen you'll need to use external. They say Apple may even drop ethernet but I think that's a stretch.

Who cares what it's called.  Here's what I want in a new carry around computer:

• 15" screen
• Retina display
• Replaceable memory
• i7 quad core
• HDD (SSD supplemental is OK)
• Discrete graphics
• USB3 and thunderbolt ports; lots of them
• Ethernet would be nice, but not a deal killer.

Yep - makes no sense to have a MacBookpro and a new MacBook with better specs for roughly the same price point.

My vote is for continued differentiation between pro and consumer lines. There's no good reason to blur the distinction. "Two" is as simple a dichotomy as can be.

First they remove Computer from their name and now they remove Apple from their logo. What is Tim Cook doing to the company. Steve would have never done that. Oh the humanities. You maniacs. You blew it up. You blew it up! Damn you! God! Damn you all to hell!

I say reduce / eliminate the bezel surrounding the display = 12" 14" & 16" portables.

 

Ding!  This is the reason I will never own a Macbook Air.

It is a lot to give up!

However I'm not willing to say never. An 8GB AIR might draw my interest. However the bigger deal is the lack of suitable secondary storage. There is no way a machine with a 256GB SSD is on my purchase list.

This is stolen from my post in another thread but I thougth it had relevence here.

 

I think Apple's laptop lineup should be as follows:

11" and 13" MacBook Airs with the current form factor (or perhaps a slimmer bezel), boosted specs and retina displays! (what I'm waiting for, cash in hand!)

13" MacBook with an optical drive and SD display, which I believe we've seen the specs of already.  The drive is necessary for this model because the market for this, the cheapest of Apple's portables is by and large those that don't want the expense of an external drive and may not even have home wireless (mums and grandparents) or who find the concept of a wireless optical drive intimidating and confusing.

15" and 17" MacBook Pros sans optical drive but with powerful discreet graphics, retina displays, SSDs only, all the fastest connectivity and quad-core processors.  In other words, the ultimate portable performer in a slim and much lighter form factor and without the much-derided glass screens.  They could have new strong and light glossy and matte screen options with ultra-thin aluminium bezels around the screen.

This is Apple's ideal portable lineup because it's slim, has all the bases covered and none of the models are competing with or overlapping each other's niche.  I really can't see the point of having a 13" MacBook Air, MacBook AND MacBook Pro!

Yes Apple, you can give me a highly payed executive position! :P

Just like when Apple introduced the unibody design, the 17" will probably make its appearance later.