This article is an update to the previous article that I wrote in March.
The MacBook Pro is heavily talked about by Apple news sites all around the world, especially in recent weeks following the announcement of WWDC 2012, which will certainly be the release point of the new MacBook Pro. What are rumors telling us now? Let’s discuss the upcoming MacBook Pro which is bound to be coming in 4 weeks.
Release Date
MBP will be released during the WWDC week. What day they will release or talk about it is yet to be determined. Some sources are announcing that they will cover it during the first day of WWDC after they present OS X Mountain Lion. If this will be the day they present AND release it is yet to be determined. However, if it isn’t released the day of the announcement, expect it to be released shortly thereafter.
When will MacBook Pro 2012 be Available for Purchase?
Apple is very good at keeping secrets till the release date, so even Apple store employees don’t know when they’ll have it in stores after the release date. After talking with several Apple store managers it became apparent that it may become available on the following date after the announcement.
When iPhone and iPad were announced Apple had to train the geniuses on how to use the devices so releasing it on the next day wasn’t an option, but since MPB is an upgrade to an existing product we may see it in stores very quickly.
Name Change?
I no longer believe that Apple will drop the Pro and Air monikers, please read the next paragraph for why I think this.
Thinner
In the previous article, I predicted the new MacBook Pros would be so thin that the two lines (Pro and Air) would converge into one big line. I no longer believe this is the case. However, I would definitely expect it to be thinner and lighter due to the removal of the DVD drive in favor of thinner SSD. Some rumors predict Apple will have dual drives in the new MBPs however this just isn’t very “Apple”. I would expect the weight to be cut by 20-30% maybe up to 50%, but again it’s more likely to be in the 20-30% range.
Display
It is a very popular rumor that the Retina Display (or at least a better display) will be shown off on the new MacBook Pros. I personally would like to see it happen. One of the reasons I waited to buy this year’s model instead of last is because of the quality of the display, especially on the 13″ models. It will be smart for Apple to make the display better, if not Retina Display quality.
Apple, just be sure the battery doesn’t over heat due to the display, we don’t want our computers giving us a burn! One other thing that is almost essential to me is that they add anti-glare to all models. One of the things that annoys me the most is a lot of glare!
Price
Should Apple choose to include Retina Display, it will affect customers wallets. Unlike the retina display for iPad, the MBPs retina display will cost Apple a higher price than current displays, for which in turn Apple will charge more. I would expect the price to be about $100 more than the current models per price.
Ivy Bridge
The gimme of the MBP is that it WILL have Ivy Bridge. If Apple doesn’t include them, they will make a huge mistake, however I highly doubt they will make that mistake. Expect 10-15% faster processing speeds (and with SSD, it will be even faster) and 104% better graphics power. You will also see an improvement in power consumption.
Connections
I’m sorry FireWire users but you’re out of luck on this one. Apple is expected to cut FireWire from the new MacBook Pros. You’re not the only one however. Ethernet users will also be out of luck since Apple is expected to cut Ethernet because it’s connector is too thick and it will therefore make the MacBook Pro thick, which is what Apple is trying to get away from. As mentioned you should also expect them to drop the DVD drive since the Internet is quickly taken over (pretty much has already). Just as Apple has been one of the first to get rid of floppys and flash, they will be one of the first to drop DVDs. You can expect Apple to include the new USB 3.0 port onto their computers, especially since with Ivy Bridge has support for it. You will also see an additional ThunderBolt drive.
Battery
It is unknown how much of an improvement the new batteries will be over the older ones but I would expect longer battery life and more refresh cycles in the battery.
Trackpad
I made an assumption that the trackpad on the new MBP will be a full surface one, but have since changed my mind. I do believe however that it will be a slightly bigger Trackpad.
OS X Mountain Lion
There is great features for Apple to release in Mountain Lion. There is reminders, notes, messages, notification center and many others. My personal favorite is the ability to mirror the Mac screen onto my TV via Apple TV. A smart move for Apple there I think. Many more people will buy Apple TVs because for that reason. To view the full article that I wrote on Mountain Lion, click (or touch, depending on whether you’re on a tablet or not) here.
So there you have it. The new MacBook Pros will be released at WWDC 2012 with all new features, ones that will have you in line to get your hands on the new device. I personally have been waiting months for this so I’m really excited that it’s just right around the corner.
Thanks for reading,
Joe G