What's the next macbook cycle going to bring us?

Since I've been using my current laptop (white macbook from 2007) for quite a while now I've been looking at buying something new. Now obviously I know what the general rule is: if you need it now, just buy it; otherwise wait. And truth is, I don't need it now. However I am wondering what kind of innovations are forthcoming (in the laptop market in general).

So I guess what I'm asking is: what kind of technologies should I expect within the next 6-8 months? SSD's, Blueray drives for macbooks?, LED screens with higher resolutions, CPU innovations, new worthwhile IGP's or dedicated gfx cards? Just to get an idea of how different a Macbook Pro from say summer 2010 is going to be different from what's fro sale now...

 

Well, Arrandale processors are the next CPUs. Probably next year. I've really curious how next GPUs will be an compare to the current Nvidia 9400.

 

Probably the two biggest changes will be use of the next generation CPUs and GPUs into the MacBook Pro line. Soon the notebook versions of the i5 and i7 CPUs will be available in the iMacs, and Apple will be watching those sales closely. There are obviously big issues with heat and battery life that have to be addressed before any changes in the CPU/GPU pairings can be offered: MacBook Pros are designed to be genuine traveler's machines meaning Apple puts a premium on slim and light and long-lasting battery life.

SSDs are still an evolving technology; even Intel has had huge problems bringing their "2nd gen" products to market, and costs need to come down a lot for the average buyer. No doubt SSDs are the future, but they still may be a couple of years away from becoming common.

The graphics solutions in the Apple laptop line are definitely becoming VERY long in the tooth, so new GPUs are almost a given, but what models can offer better performance without too great a price in heat and battery life I don't know.

I doubt you'll see Blu-Ray; if they were going to do it they would have done it by now, is my opinion.

 

There's a lot of speculation over the next significant change since TDP/Battery-life wise it'd most likely use arrandale (not clarksfield quadcore too hot/high tdp) - which have no other choice than intel integrated graphics it seems, so the 9400m, which seemed a great boost over the x3100 might be downgraded to the slightly pimped up x4500 or w/e it is.

The gaming forum's got an ati 5000 series thread that's turned to speculating on the next Macbook Pro graphics card, whether it'll wait for the 5000 series for ATI or possibly move to the 4670-4830 ATI cards (competitive performance, and after the 8600gt fiasco with Nvidia they might just do it)

But generally:

No usb 3.0 - intel won't be doing that till 2011 apparently
Most Likely still dual core (but hyper threading for more intense applications will be made more useful hopefully with Grand Central)
Speculation that at least an ATI 4650 / Nvidia GT240m GPU

Whether they do other things (upping resolution / redesign / new materials / bluray) I haven't really kept informed of the rumours. Personally I think that unless they feel HP has stolen their look, the only thing there that'll change is resolution (probably 900p on 15" to be more high-end than the 720p's that are everywhere) and I doubt they'll do bluray as DVD's are cheap (or removing them completely for thinner design // more battery or second HDD // or unique design GPU taking advantage of extra space) and bluray has the downloadable media as a fairly competitive substitute.

 

I think Blu Ray is a bit late at this point, so I doubt it'll be pushed...I could see nicer screens but that's up to them. Otherwise, it seems to probably be incremental updates, nothing major around the corner just yet.

 

I just hope that apple can put a good GPU on the 15" or the 17" Macbook Pro. I hope they can put a NVIDIA 260m at least!

 

BluRay?? Don't hold your breath.

More USB ports wouldn't hurt.

 

I wonder when the next redesign will come...2012? 2014?

 

Only time will tell. I could really do without the DVD drive, and a second HD or Higher end dedicated GPU would be a dream come true.

My MBP has been my best friend when away from home.

 

SSDs are an option already... Blu-ray, probably not. Higher resolution LED panels, yes. Lower powered (and lower performing) IGP (but more powerful dual core CPU), probably not much more powerful discrete GPU (within the same range, ie. 128-bit GDDR3, and most likely not HD 5xxx series, more likely to be GT 240M). All in all, it's not going to be significantly better.

 

if they ditched the dvd drive flat out, they could include a higher end gpu. that would be interesting.

 

i7 and mide-high end GPU and keep everything else the same and we're good. At least for the higher end 15" and the 17" ones.

 

i7 and a high end GPU I rather doubt we we will see for quite awhile, too high of a thermal footprint for 1" thick and crappy venting.

 

What I was going to say.....can't move much farther beyond here....

 

Liquid cooling!!

Just fill the whole thing with mineral oil.

 

well that will sure up the weight... and the pump will kill the battery in what .... 15 minutes

 

Why you gotta be killing my ideas............

:cry:

 

I wouldn't mind if they decide to remove DVD drive completely to put hi-end ATI vga.

They might add USB 3.0 Support via 3rd party chipset.

 

Why do so many people seem to be hating the 13" mbp? If Apple hadn't dropped the price and redid it a tad in June, Apple would have never entered mine or other people's list of features on a laptop (I move around allot in a day, and the 13" foot print barely fits in my life, yet netbooks are weak for my multitasking).

Matte option on all MBP.
Better CPU (or at least a speed bump).
Lightpeak (early 2011 probably)
Upgraded GPU (9400m is in netbooks now, wth)

 

15" already have 1440 x 900 resolution. Apple is one step ahead of you .

13" have 1280 x 800 resolutions. And 17" have 1920 x 1080.

And no optical drive but a better gpu + cooling with that space would be an interesting idea. Though I dunno how realistic it is. But it's interesting

 

I want 15" with WUXGA Matte......

 

Well, glossy is the trend, and Apple loves to be trendy. Doubt we'll be seeing an ATi GPU, most likely a comeback of the Intel integrated solutions, they are #$@% but at least they don't get hot, and the way Apple handles cooling i bet they're interested in the lowest TDP parts they can get.

Most likely no i7, no quads, nothing like that. Not in the next 3 years that's for sure. They like squeezing the last bit of cash out of outdated parts, and their marketing is clever enough to achieve that, so why should they bother.

 

You haven't looked enough there are lot of Cheap ultraportables with Dual Core CULV and long lasting battery life coupled with Hybrid Graphics and they are much lighter and thinner than any Macbook.

 

Surely you aren't comparing netbooks to a laptop.

EDIT:

Anyway these are my predictions.

Arrandale, Intel IGP, AMD discrete, same glossy screens, same chassis. iMacs are using AMD so I think their newest laptops will too.

 

If they pop in an ATI Radeon 4830 in a hybrid graphics system, I think I would love Apple forever, lol.

 

Nope I am referring to those light weight ultraportables from ASUS as well as Acer.
Eg. Like Acer Aspire Timeline Series as well Travelmate Timeline Series also ASUS has release equivalent category laptop.
BIOS releases by ASUS has typically been better than Acer.

 

My UL50VT has switchable graphics, 8 to 8.5 hours of battery when you do more than set it on dim and read text pages, or about 11 if you do just that. and the ULV processor isnt far behind my MBP 2.5 for speed. Around here im dropping my pros in favor of some of the new ULV based machines. the nvidia 210 dont hurt either. Time to catch up again Apple

 

Yeah. The Asus UL(VT) series are giving Apple MBP's a run for their money, since the GPU's in the MBP's are getting a little long in the tooth. And the Asus have nice designs, power, and battery life (A.K.A. portability). Only thing is build quality issues from what I've read.

If the Asus' had better build quality, it would be more competetive. But the MBP build quality are still wayy superior, even if they don't have as powerful components in there. The 9600M GT's still? Puh-lease.

And a 4830 in a MBP 15" would be a dream come true. With switchable graphics of course. *swoon*

 

cant say I have any issue withmy build quality on my UL's I know some did have some flex on the left side of Keyboard but cant say I ever noticed... and DAMN they give you a year of accidental warranty to boot.

a 4830 in a Pro 15... be nice but I doubt we will see it as its too hot for that tight of a space and the MBP thermal footprint is bad enough now

 

I was eyeing the ASUS UL80Vt when I was considering buying a portable 13", but it came out way too late. The ASUS is a serious contender for the MBP 13", but I bought my MBP way before the ASUS was released.