Should I take the "MacBook air pro" rumours seriously?

120_Minutes

I'll most likely be buying my first proper MacBook this year, and I'm lucky enough that my wife just got a job at apple so I'll be using her discount.

Trouble is I hear there a refresh coming on the pro, and if the rumours are to be believed, it will contain all or some of the following:

New intel ivy bridge processors
Hi res display
No optical drive
No FireWire
SSD hard drive
Air style body.

I'm not a fan of the air style body, nor am I happy about not having a DVD drive but the rest I could live with.

I just wanted to ask those with more experience, when a new mac is launched is the old one taken off market, or is there an overlap? When does a mac refresh typically occur? Even though I know the new one is coming I think I still want the current pro.

Am I wrong?

opinion guy

120_Minutes wrote: »

I'll most likely be buying my first proper MacBook this year, and I'm lucky enough that my wife just got a job at apple so I'll be using her discount.

Trouble is I hear there a refresh coming on the pro, and if the rumours are to be believed, it will contain all or some of the following:

New intel ivy bridge processors
Hi res display
No optical drive
No FireWire
SSD hard drive
Air style body.

I'm not a fan of the air style body, nor am I happy about not having a DVD drive but the rest I could live with.

I just wanted to ask those with more experience, when a new mac is launched is the old one taken off market, or is there an overlap? When does a mac refresh typically occur? Even though I know the new one is coming I think I still want the current pro.

Am I wrong?

Honestly I really have the same dilemma as you - though I'm not super bothered by the lack of DVD as i almost never use one...but then I do have some software on DVD. All comes to all an external DVD is not a problem for me.

In terms of refresh. They usually stop the old model. However. There are exceptions to that and the apple refurb store often sells older models at mild discounts

Sad Professor

A 15-inch MacBook Air is a dead cert. But I seriously doubt it will replace the MBP model, not yet anyway. I'd say you'll be waiting until June at the earliest for the next refresh of the MBP line.

opinion guy

Sad Professor wrote: »

A 15-inch MacBook Air is a dead cert. But I seriously doubt it will replace the MBP model, not yet anyway. I'd say you'll be waiting until June at the earliest for the next refresh of the MBP line.

I don't know Prof - I think April is a possibility. There have been rumours about April and apparently the new iphoto requires osX10.7.4 which is out of the blue. Seems to me something might be on the way sooner than June. I'm going to wait into April anyhow myself

Colonel Panic

April isn't likely because mobile Ivy Bridge components have been delayed until at least June.

opinion guy

Colonel Panic wrote: »

April isn't likely because mobile Ivy Bridge components have been delayed until at least June.

Dual core ones. Not quad core.

120_Minutes

Well i've always said that if i had the money i'd treat myself to a mac, and it will probably kick my ass into creating music again. I love the look of the MBP and have been told to get a 15" but i dont want to spend that much. I think the 13" spec will be powerful enough for what i want. heres hoping its not gone when i'm ready to buy...

opinion guy

120_Minutes wrote: »

Well i've always said that if i had the money i'd treat myself to a mac, and it will probably kick my ass into creating music again. I love the look of the MBP and have been told to get a 15" but i dont want to spend that much. I think the 13" spec will be powerful enough for what i want. heres hoping its not gone when i'm ready to buy...

Indeed. More chatter today that a 15" MBA will replace the MBP :mad:
http://www.macrumors.com/2012/03/14/accessory-manufacturer-claims-15-inch-macbook-air-coming-in-april/

This makes me nervous....maybe I should buy current model MBP before it dissappears

120_Minutes

dammit, i wont have money by april. lets hope they leave the 13" alone...

thecommander

opinion guy wrote: »

Indeed. More chatter today that a 15" MBA will replace the MBP :mad:
http://www.macrumors.com/2012/03/14/accessory-manufacturer-claims-15-inch-macbook-air-coming-in-april/

This makes me nervous....maybe I should buy current model MBP before it dissappears

Doesnt say anything about it replacing. They'll end up with an Air version and a Pro version, similar to when they had an iBook and a Pro.

Too many people using 15" pros for them to do away with them.

Sad Professor

The source for that story is an accessory manufacturer, which means you can safely dismiss it. Apple shares absolutely nothing with those guys. They usually end up gambling on the size and dimensions of the device in their desperation to be first to market with a case, sleeve, etc.

opinion guy

Sad Professor wrote: »

The source for that story is an accessory manufacturer, which means you can safely dismiss it. Apple shares absolutely nothing with those guys. They usually end up gambling on the size and dimensions of the device in their desperation to be first to market with a case, sleeve, etc.

Oh I'm taking it with a large dose of salt allright - but the same thing seems to be cropping up over and over

Jev/N

I sincerely doubt that Apple will replace the MBP with an Air, at least in the next few generations of them.

That would cut out a whole sector of the market that use the Pros for portable audio, video and photo editing, among other things, which an Air wouldn't be able to handle as easily due it compactness

opinion guy

New rumour today:

http://www.macrumors.com/2012/03/16/slimmer-13-inch-and-15-inch-macbook-pros-reportedly-in-production/

Sad Professor

Now, that I'm more inclined to believe. If true then I suspect there isn't going to be a 15-inch Air, just a new slimmer 15-inch MBP minus the optical drive but including all the other things that Pro users can't live without. And I'm sure Apple will throw something else in to sweeten the deal, like a hybrid SSD drive or something.

I've no doubt that Apple have the nerve to drop optical drives completely, but there's no way they'd drop Ethernet, etc as well. So this rumour makes sense.

Oh and it wouldn't surprise me if they drop the 13-inch MBP completely.

opinion guy

Sad Professor wrote: »

Now, that I'm more inclined to believe. If true then I suspect there isn't going to be a 15-inch Air, just a new slimmer 15-inch MBP minus the optical drive but including all the other things that Pro users can't live without. And I'm sure Apple will throw something else in to sweeten the deal, like a hybrid SSD drive or something.

I've no doubt that Apple have the nerve to drop optical drives completely, but there's no way they'd drop Ethernet, etc as well. So this rumour makes sense.

Oh and it wouldn't surprise me if they drop the 13-inch MBP completely.

Agreed.
They had better pop an SSD or hybrid in - thats main reason I've been holding off as they are prohibitively expensive in current models!

antodeco

No FireWire? That's me out of buying a new one straight away! I'll stick with my MBP

Sad Professor

Thunderbolt will eventually replace Firewire anyway.

antodeco

Sad Professor wrote: »

Thunderbolt will eventually replace Firewire anyway.

True, but I've 5 different devices/desks that run off FireWire! God knows how much an adaptor would be, even if they do successfully make one!

120_Minutes

Sad Professor wrote: »

Oh and it wouldn't surprise me if they drop the 13-inch MBP completely.

nooooooo!

Sad Professor

It would make sense, though, as it would mean Apple would have two clear notebook lines: the MacBook Air (11-inch and 13-inch) and the (slimmer) MacBook Pro (15-inch and 17-inch). Originally there was no 13-inch MBP anyway and Apple rebranded the aluminium unibody Macbook as a Pro after they realised it was too early to retire the Plasticbook. And with the current models only sporting integrated graphics, the 13-inch is often looked down upon by Pro users. I'd imagine the Air has cannibalised most of its sales anyway.

thecommander

Sad Professor wrote: »

It would make sense, though, as it would mean Apple would have two clear notebook lines: the MacBook Air (11-inch and 13-inch) and the (slimmer) MacBook Pro (15-inch and 17-inch). Originally there was no 13-inch MBP anyway and Apple rebranded the aluminium unibody Macbook as a Pro after they realised it was too early to retire the Plasticbook. And with the current models only sporting integrated graphics, the 13-inch is often looked down upon by Pro users. I'd imagine the Air has cannibalised most of its sales anyway.

There was 12 inch Powerbooks that ran alongside the iBooks at the time.

Sad Professor

Yeah, I know, but that was years ago. When Apple introduced the Macbook Pro there was no 12-inch Powerbook equivalent. It was about 3 years before the 13-inch aluminium unibody Macbook was released. That was then rebranded as a MBP the following year. But for those 3 years in between if you wanted a 13-inch Apple notebook you were stuck with the Plasticbook and it's various design problems.

K.O.Kiki

I actually would welcome a move away from optical drives, especially if it means Apple can put in a larger battery, or 2 drives (SSD & HDD).

Haven't used mine for anything in the last 2 or 3 years.