What should we expect of the next MBP iteration?

With Leopard 'ready to pounce' as it were, I'd like to guage what current and prospective users would hope/expect to see of the next generation of professional Macbook. Here are mine:

- HDMI + DVI/VGA Adaptor (Where the space saved from the DVI ports extra width could possibly become another USB port.)

- A second sensor under the large single button towards the rightside in order to configure ' right-click' functionality under OSX and Boot Camp should you desire it. Which, given the marketing the final release of Boot Camp is sure to receive through Leopard is a distinct sales advantage for furthur Windows user migration, whilst not giving in to the overall aesthetic simplicity of the current design.

- W-USB (Unlikely, but it would be a nice addition.)

- Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (I think that the next iPhone is likely to ship with the newer rendition of Bluetooth that makes pairing as easy as placing one device on top of the other.)

What are your thoughts about the next generation of MBP hardware? What do you expect to see? What would you like to see? Please provide some level of reasoning to back your arguments. I look forward to hearing your ideas!

 

I think Penryn is the big one, as well as possibly a Geforce 9XXX or Radeon 3XXX series GPU.

 

The biggest revision will be in late 2008 early 2009 when intel's Core 3 architecture is released. I doubt nVidia is coming out with a G92 mobile card anytime soon. Penryn is almost the same speed as the current processors, only it's TDP is 29 instead of 35. But as I said before, late 2008 is when the next "big" update will be, offering possibly mobile quad cores with hyper threading... Thats 8 virtual cores folks.

 

I would say that's about 2 revisions away in terms of the MBP, which updates every 6 months or so.

 

My prediction is that there's not going to be a MBP update until after January 2008. The MacBook will probably be updated in October.

I'd say its about time Apple redesigned the MacBook Pro. Its been almost two years since the Intel switch and the current design was in the Aluminum Powerbook G4. If anything, I think the major update in the next update of the MBP is a redesign.

 

Colors would be nice, though painted aluminum wouldn't. Maybe they'll go the Sony/Asus route and do magnesium and carbon fiber this time.

 

Colours I don't know...its not like Apple to release colours in their professional products. Imagine an orange MBP - shivers - (well, some people might like it ).

I seriously can't imagine what they could do in a redesign of the MBP...it looks so great as is.

I wonder if they're going to make the MacBook aluminum as well, actually. It would complete their Mac lineup to all have aluminum, as the MB is the last one without some sort of aluminum in their casing.

 

I agree with Sam; the next update will probably be to the design. I'm interested to see what Apple has in store for the MBP design wise.

 

The beauty of aluminum is that if you want to change the color, you don't have to paint it. You anodize it, like they do the Shuffles and Nanos. Depending on the color, it could look pretty damn sweet.

 

Oh, that's right. Completely forgot. They may well do some "professional" colors like black, white, silver, and maybe a product (red) edition.

 

I also hope that the next update will involve a new design - preferably one that actually includes a cooling system and is a bit sturdier than tin foil

 

When people complain about its sturdyness, do they mean how it bends when lifting it from one end? or screen flex? To me, I haven't noticed those two things.

 

I expect to be able to drop my machine from a 10-story building and run a pick-up truck over it without seeing any damage.

 

They're talking about how the smallest bump will put a dent in the aluminum. People want the casing to be able to take, even minimal, punishment.

 

Also, this is particularly an issue for the MBP, since part of the premium we paid for it is because of its looks and its thinness.

Thus, when it's so easily damaged, it's all the more painful to see those looks get marred by dents and scratches.

Also, depending on the severity of the dent, a misplaced dent can hurt more than just looks - it can hinder function as well since the MBP is so thin. I.e. if you dent the top of the optical drive, well for a super-delicate slot-loading drive, you're in trouble. If you do it on the opposite side, you just banged up your HDD.

Of course, people have dropped their MBP and had absolutely no damage to it too, but overall, it'd be nice if the MBP was a bit sturdier.

 

Right on all points. The bending of the optical drive slot, in particular, seems to be a pretty common problem.

 

Maybe they should go back to plastic design ha ha

 

I might not think that was such a bad idea if Apple could make a plastic case that holds up. But, that's a different story for a different thread.

 

HDMI
integrated media card reader (at least an SD slot)
optional internal high definition player

maybe not what we will see, but my wishes

 

I would like to see a carbon fiber macbook pro. Really light and sturdy. Heck, if it was made out of the same material they made the Gameboy color... I would be all out for it! I've dropped one of those things hundreds of times, not even a scratch.

 

I really want a 14.1" form-factor MBP (with all the hardware of the 15.4" of course). I'm off to University next year, and will probably pick up a MBP next summer. My friend has the 15.4" one and it seems just a tad big (although very livable).

I doubt Apple will make the MBP in a 14.1" though, because it'd encroach on the 13.3" MB.

 

I'd expect an ultraportable (12.1-inch) MacBook Pro by WWDC 2008.

 

Who are they expecting to be able to afford it?

 

Oh that's not even funny... I'd lose it if that happened... well and convince my wife it was in "our" best interest to get it... That would be such an awesome iteration

 

LOL. "Its for our family's sake. We have no choice...in grave situations like this...we'll have to take a chance. Let's get that ultraportable Mac."

Seriously though, I'm expecting an ultraportable MBP in 2008, probably at WWDC (because its for developers, a.k.a. professional Mac users, a.k.a. users of Mac Pros and MacBook Pros). Its almost guaranteed its going to happen; we just don't know when, and looking at times for Apple Events and what they need to update and upgrade, it looks to be WWDC 2008 for the ultraportable MBP.

 

Still cool, if that would likely happened I'd wait for a Version 2 (reiteration) So 2009 would be a good year to purchase it. Let the newcomers work out the kinks! hehe

 

I am expecting at least 3 usb ports on the macbook pro. I have no other question, though a sd reader will be fine, but not necessarily.

 

I always thought 13.1'' was small enough...now we're talking about 12''...Ehh..

More USB ports would be very helpful as well as an HDMI port.

 

I would support a 14.1" MBP too since I was originally considering between a W3J and this MBP. There were rumours of a 15.4" MacBook so the MBP would probably have to move down to 14.1" to avoid overlap. It would be nice to have one decidedly under 5lbs. I could see a product line of 12.", 14.1", and 17" MBP and 13.3" and 15.4" MacBooks so there would be no overlap and everyones happy. Although the logistics of offering so many models and different configurations inside each form factor probably doesn't appeal to Apple.

I wouldn't be surprised if Apple skips the initial Penryn launch for the MBP and waits for Q2 2008 when the new Montevina platform comes out along with DDR3 SODIMMs and 1067MHz FSB Penryn refreshes. Admittedly the Penryns coming out in Q1 2008 are drop-in compatible with Santa Rosa so it's an easy switch, but it probably isn't worth it for Apple when a whole new platform is only a quarter away. A MBP redesign would work well for the Montevina timeframe, giving a completely new MBP both inside components and outside frame.

 

Put me down for AD2P over bluetooth.
Plus a SD reader built-in would be really nice.
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ps would love a 13.3" with LED screen and under 2kg, with ~4h battery life... but dreams are dreams.

 

Quoted for agreement. Hopefully if they upgrade to BT 2.1 + EDR for the sake of future iPhones, they'll also sort out the stereo transmission for the benefit of the notebook.

It would also be cool if the remote could be stored/charged from the Expresscard bay too for the sake of my mobile media. I know I will lose it otherwise.

 

14.1" I love this size. Still very portable and very good view size.

 

13.3" is too large for an ultraportable. I hope for something smaller, with the Macbook Pro case design. The 12" Powerbook was great in its day, but by today's standards is too underpowered (and also isn't widescreen) for me to buy one second-hand, so something new needs to come out. And speaking of which, yes, Apple might change the design... but I hope they don't, because I think it is nearly perfect as is. I love the aluminium look and feel.

As for what I expect will come in the next iteration of Macbook Pro besides the likely standard upgrades (cpu and/or gpu, though for the very next update I expect only cpu) would be hdmi and another usb port is also a real possibility. I don't see memory card slots ever being incorporated in a MBP, that's not useful for enough people and those who want it can get an external memory card reader.

I hope for right-click capability built into the touchpad button also, at least as a software option (sort of like the Mighty Mouse only has one actual button but can sense if you press on the right or the left and you can assign what functionality you want to them).

 

For the next MBP expect the things in my signature.

 

If only my MBP had a built in memory card reader... and have a place to tuck the remote in the laptop...

Also make it easier to change hard-drives without voiding the warranty.

 

If they kept the current form factor of the thin remote they might actually be able to create an Expresscard expansion that also accomodates the Apple remote alongside some other memory card types...

That would be both useful, space-saving and unique.

 

I still say just convert an iPod nano into the remote and stick t in the expresscard slot - then it can double as an ipod, a remote AND a SSD drive.

 

That would be nothing short of genius on Apple's part, though a little hard to actually implement. I guess they could put a dock connector inside the MBP...