Apple rumored to be testing new ultrathin 15-inch MacBook
Apple is allegedly prepared to add a new thin-and-light 15-inch MacBook to its lineup in the near future, with one report claiming the company has finished development of a crucial test component.
Calling the new notebook model an extension of the MacBook Air family, Macotakara reported on Sunday that Apple is finishing up a "test phase" for the new 15-inch ultraportable. Citing an Asian source, the report said Apple has already finished development of an LCD test component for the anticipated notebook.
However, the report also noted that Apple is believed to be developing a next-generation MacBook Pro that will not have a built-in optical disc drive. The new 15-inch MacBook reportedly "seems to fill" the role of a next-generation MacBook Pro.
Whatever name the new portable Mac might take, rumors have suggested the current physical form factor of the MacBook Pro lineup will undergo a drastic redesign in 2012. For some time now it has been said that Apple will redesign its MacBook Pro lineup sometime next year.
Last week, Apple quietly updated its MacBook Pro lineup, adding slightly faster Intel Sandy Bridge processors, as well as improved AMD Radeon graphics. The new notebooks were a minor update ahead of the holiday buying season, believed to be an attempt to keep the MacBook Pro lineup competitive until a major refresh occurs next year.
Apple's future MacBooks are expected to feature Intel's next-generation Ivy Bridge processors, which are slated to arrive at some point in the first half of 2012. Intel confirmed last week that it has begun volume production of its 22nm Ivy Bridge processors, and systems powered by the new CPUs should be available in the spring of 2012.
Currently, Apple's MacBook Pro lineup comes with screen sizes of 13 inches, 15 inches and 17 inches, and all of its professional notebooks feature optical DVD disc drives. The MacBook Air is available with screen sizes of 11.6 inches and 13.3 inches, and all models feature only solid-state hard drives with no optical drive.
Calling the new notebook model an extension of the MacBook Air family, Macotakara reported on Sunday that Apple is finishing up a "test phase" for the new 15-inch ultraportable. Citing an Asian source, the report said Apple has already finished development of an LCD test component for the anticipated notebook.
However, the report also noted that Apple is believed to be developing a next-generation MacBook Pro that will not have a built-in optical disc drive. The new 15-inch MacBook reportedly "seems to fill" the role of a next-generation MacBook Pro.
Whatever name the new portable Mac might take, rumors have suggested the current physical form factor of the MacBook Pro lineup will undergo a drastic redesign in 2012. For some time now it has been said that Apple will redesign its MacBook Pro lineup sometime next year.
Last week, Apple quietly updated its MacBook Pro lineup, adding slightly faster Intel Sandy Bridge processors, as well as improved AMD Radeon graphics. The new notebooks were a minor update ahead of the holiday buying season, believed to be an attempt to keep the MacBook Pro lineup competitive until a major refresh occurs next year.
Apple's future MacBooks are expected to feature Intel's next-generation Ivy Bridge processors, which are slated to arrive at some point in the first half of 2012. Intel confirmed last week that it has begun volume production of its 22nm Ivy Bridge processors, and systems powered by the new CPUs should be available in the spring of 2012.
Currently, Apple's MacBook Pro lineup comes with screen sizes of 13 inches, 15 inches and 17 inches, and all of its professional notebooks feature optical DVD disc drives. The MacBook Air is available with screen sizes of 11.6 inches and 13.3 inches, and all models feature only solid-state hard drives with no optical drive.
Comments
sometime in 2012 so this would be perfect. Hoping for dual drive
capacity if they drop the optical drive. 256 SSD and 1 TB HHD would be a dream.
I wonder what the chances are they include new higher res screens with the update.
Going to be an expensive spring if the iPad 3 and the fully redesigned macbook pro
come out.
Does the author believe that a 2.4GHz machine is competitive but a 2.3GHz machine is not?
Looking to upgrade my original unibody macbook pro 15 2.4 ghz
sometime in 2012 so this would be perfect. Hoping for dual drive
capacity if they drop the optical drive. 256 SSD and 1 TB HHD would be a dream.
I wonder what the chances are they include new higher res screens with the update.
Going to be an expensive spring if the iPad 3 and the fully redesigned macbook pro
come out.
I have the 13 inch air and real world speed test compared my early 2011 Macbook Pro is unbelievable. Everything you do is instant and it makes the Pro seem really slow in comparison. It's about as fast as my iPad 2 and even the startup and restart times are superfast (around or less than 20 seconds) It's crazy expensive though but it's worth every penny. I think the 256gb is worth the extra 300 over the 128gb hdd and I'm considering getting a portable HDD for my Air. I really don't want to carry around too much bulk and I would love to see an affordable tb flash drive one day
I've got my fingers crossed that they will keep the MacBook Pro thick enough to fit a standard 2.5" HDD inside. A 128 GB SSD for OS + apps and a large (500+ GB) HDD for files would be ideal.
That would be nice, if possible without too many other sacrifices. Even 64 GB of SSD would be enough if combined with a 500 GB HDD. All I'd really need on the SSD would be my OS and application files. I can live with 256 GB of SSD if that's not possible, though.
The bigger thing for me is that I hope it holds at least 8 GB of RAM. 4 is probably OK, but it just doesn't leave enough head room.
I really hope this rumor turns out to be true. My MBP is over 4 years old and I'm about ready to buy a new one. I've looked really hard at the MBAs, and the 13" is tempting, but I decided that the screen is just a bit too small, so I'd be going with an MBP if buying today. If they were to bring out a 15" MBA with Ivy Bridge, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.
I've got my fingers crossed that they will keep the MacBook Pro thick enough to fit a standard 2.5" HDD inside. A 128 GB SSD for OS + apps and a large (500+ GB) HDD for files would be ideal.
I want them to ditch the HDD and optical drive to make it as thin and light as possible.
I've got my fingers crossed that they will keep the MacBook Pro thick enough to fit a standard 2.5" HDD inside. A 128 GB SSD for OS + apps and a large (500+ GB) HDD for files would be ideal.
That's what I'm hoping for, though I'd be happy with a 7mm (single-platter) 2.5" HDD, which is the standard 2.5" SSD thickness. That said, you can install a 12.5mm HDD in the current MBP cases so they could remove 3mm+ at its thickest point for a nice thin and tapered MBP. Glad to see that large, unused 12.7mm ODD that takes up 5.25 inches of port-side space finally removed from these machines.
I have the 13 inch air and real world speed test compared my early 2011 Macbook Pro is unbelievable. Everything you do is instant and it makes the Pro seem really slow in comparison. It's about as fast as my iPad 2 and even the startup and restart times are superfast (around or less than 20 seconds) It's crazy expensive though but it's worth every penny. I think the 256gb is worth the extra 300 over the 128gb hdd and I'm considering getting a portable HDD for my Air. I really don't want to carry around too much bulk and I would love to see an affordable tb flash drive one day
I want them to ditch the HDD and optical drive to make it as thin and light as possible.
If those are your only qualifiers then there is the MBA.
That would be nice, if possible without too many other sacrifices. Even 64 GB of SSD would be enough if combined with a 500 GB HDD. All I'd really need on the SSD would be my OS and application files. I can live with 256 GB of SSD if that's not possible, though.
The bigger thing for me is that I hope it holds at least 8 GB of RAM. 4 is probably OK, but it just doesn't leave enough head room.
I really hope this rumor turns out to be true. My MBP is over 4 years old and I'm about ready to buy a new one. I've looked really hard at the MBAs, and the 13" is tempting, but I decided that the screen is just a bit too small, so I'd be going with an MBP if buying today. If they were to bring out a 15" MBA with Ivy Bridge, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.
I currently use an 80GB MLC SSD boot drive plus apps with a 1TB HDD. If I were to do that again I'd likely get a smaller but faster SLC SSD. I just don't use much of the SSD with my Home Folder on the HDD.
I want them to ditch the HDD and optical drive to make it as thin and light as possible.
I've got my fingers crossed that they will keep the MacBook Pro thick enough to fit a standard 2.5" HDD inside. A 128 GB SSD for OS + apps and a large (500+ GB) HDD for files would be ideal.
That's why I hope we get both a full "Air line"
This fits in with both serving general markets with the lightest, most affordable machines in their quality class and the the prosumers and pros who are more demanding, as well as keeping all present price points filled with attractive goodies. (including iPads - and other iDevices - at the lower end to meet virtually everyone computing needs and budgets)
(In this scenario the 13" Pro is the most endangered-seeming species in the two families for several reasons, including lack of case space for some of the pro-est features).
But please don't take long. I don't want to miss on Arkham City or Skyrim any more than I need to
No DVD drive is good. Everything is going either wireless or flash drive/card. Even Steve acknowledged this in an interview at D8.
And if the Mac Mini had the ODD removed I assume everyone assumes the MBP redesign will be losing them, too.
Give me a nice GPU on the 13" model and it's an insta-buy.
But please don't take long. I don't want to miss on Arkham City or Skyrim any more than I need to
My guess, is that the 13" MB Pro as we know it will be retired. Anybody wanting a 13" Mac portable will have no choice but to look to the 13" MBA. My prediction is the following;
MBA lines - 11" to 15" screen, dual-core Ivy Bridge CPU & integrated GPU
MB Pro line - 15" to 17" screen, quad-core Ivy Bridge CPU & Discreet AMD GPU
My guess, is that the 13" MB Pro as we know it will be retired. Anybody wanting a 13" Mac portable will have no choice but to look to the 13" MBA. My prediction is the following;
MBA lines - 11" to 15" screen, dual-core Ivy Bridge CPU & integrated GPU
MB Pro line - 15" to 17" screen, quad-core Ivy Bridge CPU & Discreet AMD GPU
That'd be a shame, the 13" mbp is the perfect size vs powered computer on the market. And I'm sure the 13" mbp is one of Apple's best selling products?
Best Starcraft 2 device ever.
I think the 11 inch Air is the only Mac that supports the (optimal) 16:9 resolution.