What will Apple do next with Macbook Pro?

Any ideas or speculation on what Apple will do with the next Macbook Pro generation?

I just have a feeling they are going to make it glass like the iPhone. Maybe use that shiny glass over some parts of the body?

 

I'd like Apple to drop the SuperDrive and give an option for a 2nd hard-drive. DVD drives are fast becoming extinct.

 

Hmm. Does anyone think its possible that Apple will turn the Macbook Pro's screen into a touch one ala iPad?

And yes I do like the 2nd hard drive option to replace the Super Drive. I have never used Super Drive EVER.

 

Hi res screen and Core i-series in MBP 13" I hopes...

 

I'd like to see a 13" MBP with 1600*900 without DVD drive with the weight of Macbook Air.

 

i think this is a definite possibility.

we might be seeing iPad replacing macbook perhaps?

 

Not in a million years. Apple concedes that the iPad isn't a general use computer. Apple is not going to make that radical of a change. It doesn't make sense for them to get rid of the Macbook line and merge it into the iPad, as both are doing just fine as they are.

 

im happy with the casing design n hope they don't change it to anything flashy. they should have an option to substitute the super drive with a larger battery instead. the 2.5" hard drive bay can evolve into two 1.8" instead for the 15" and 17" model.

 

I hope to see higher resolution screens on the 13 and 15. I mean the Sony Vaio Z has a 13" screen and has a 1080P option.

 

The problem with a 13" form factor and a high-rez screen is that it makes reading text harder. Granted, you can increase the font size but for word processing it's a bit of a negative.

 

Some black aluminum would make me wait in line instantly!

 

That would be awesome.

 

Hopefully put more than 2 USB ports on the Macbook Pro 13 and 15. Did you know the Mac mini has twice as many USB ports as the 13 and 15? I'm not a Mac hater. I had a Macbook Pro 13, and I loved it.

 

I feel ya. I plugged in my USB dongle for my mouse then plugged in my USB keyboard...Then I needed to plug in my digital camera...@_@ Ran out of ports!!!

I had 4 on my previous laptop before my previous Macbook and it was a joy to have them all.

 

As an owner of a black aluminum M17x I can tell you, you will regret the fingerprint magnet qualities of black aluminum.

Now, Transparent Aluminum...

Hello Computer!

 

1080p is overkill for a 13" screen. I was in a Sony style store a few days ago and the pixel density for even the 1600x900 13" screen was ridiculous.

The MBP 13" should have an option for a 1440x900 screen, but I don't see the need for a higher res 15". The 1680x1050 looks fine to me.

 

I seem to recall Mr. Scott being thoroughly unimpressed with Dr. Nichols' Macintosh. I see Scotty as more of a Gentoo man, really.

 

Gentoo: Linux for the insane.

 

They'll go 16:9 and add an HDMI port.

 

16:9 I can certainly see, as I think the larger iMacs are already 16:9.
HDMI port? Not likely. Why do that when you can continue using a proprietary port that no non-Apple monitors use and charging people $30 for adapters?

 

Hopefully not. Turn the tide Apple! We know you can do it!

The HDMI port would be a welcome addition though. DP isn't too bad as it is, but mini-DP kind of sucks.

 

Considering most laptops have had HDMI for 2 years now and is quickly becoming a standard Apples lack of support is just stupid. I know you can get various adaptors for display port, but why should I have to pay extra?

Eventually Apple may well be forced to adopt 16:9 unless they can find other manufacturers to hold out with them.

 

while no one else is using it... DP and mini DP are both open standards others could use if they wanted... so its not proprietary. They don't force you to pay them for adapters since 3rd parties make them too. They just cannot get a HDMI port as small as easy. They are not against HDMI though as you can see since the Mac mini has HDMI.

 

Check out the HP Envy...it's got both HDMI and Mini-DP.

I'm fairly certain Micro HDMI is physically smaller than Mini-DP and while it was only announced in May '09 (~6mon after Apple's Mini-DP), it's still a matter of Apple's control. They had no trouble ditching Mini DVI fairly quickly when the time came so its not b/c they care about legacy connectors. They can fit the HDMI out on the new HTC Evo/Moto Droid X so obviously it's physically possible even given how sleek Apple wants to be. Also, looking around HDMI costs like $10,000/yr to license...Apple probably has that much in inventory shrink from dropped Macbook Pros at their stores on an avg day. Realistically, it wouldn't materially affect their bottom line outside the loss of control by having to work w/ someone else's standards.

Mini DP is still Apple owned and while free right now to license, it is not the same as a fully open standard since its not owned by a consortium. If you can fit a full HDMI on the side of a netbook, I see no reason why you can't get one on a laptop w/ at least a 13" screen and 1" thick.

PersonallyI think, you're far more likely to see Apple's latest patents stuffed into a MBP in the near future. The 16:10 screen will probably stick around a while longer given how things are. Things like the touch sensitive wrist rest or more features built into the touchpad are more likely if they want to maintain a differentiator. Notebooks are the result of 25 yrs of relentless refinement and evolution and they don't have a ton of pain points left (unlike the iPad) so outside lighter weight, UI tweaks, better battery life, and maybe a few iPad type sensors to make it more interactive...Apple's not going to reinvent the wheel when they don't have to maintain hearty sales growth.

 

There's no way Apple will get rid of the superdrives in MBPs. Apple markets MBPs as a "do it all" computer, and many many people still use the drive to install software or to play music/dvds on a consistent basis.

I do think they'll switch to a 16:9 resolution though, since they have to completely redesign the motherboard for the 13 inch models anyways to fit i5 processors.

 

i hope they stick to a 16:10 screen ratio, and offer a 1920 x 1200 for their 15" line. Of course core i for 13 inch

 

full glass multitouch panel for the top screen and... bottom screen? 2 screens.. can turn it on its side to read like a book

the bottom screen can turn into a keyboard and touchpad, or just be used as a secondary monitor... or maybe a secondary monitor with a keyboard and touchpad overlay that can come up?

 

Cool idea but I'd miss a physical keyboard so bad. I could suck it up and get a BT keyboard though.

 

16:9 would upset a lot of the fan boys. I personally like 16:10 because having more vertical space on the desktop is better for viewing web pages and text. That's just my opinion though. Dropping the super drive would be smart because I am sure many users would use the extra space for a larger capacity hard drive and SSD. I know I would.

The 13" should definitely have 1440x900 as the standard display with 1680x1050 also available with an anti-glare screen available for both resolutions. USB 3.0 should be standard on all the MBP's along with HDMI and eSata.

The 15" should maintain its 1680x1050 w/ anti-glare and also have an option for 1920x1200 anti-glare. I'd say at this point only include blu-ray if your gonna adapt 16:9 displays. If they do adapt 16:9 displays something tells me it will on be for the 15" and 17". I'd like to see 1080p for both. I would also love to see an Express Card slot on the 15" model.

One can do nothing but hope