Apple Announces October 18 Event After Months of Mac Rumors (theverge.com) 31
Apple's next hardware event will take place on October 18th, according to invites it sent out today. From a report: The company is widely expected to use its second fall event to launch a pair of new MacBooks, a redesigned higher-end Mac Mini, and possibly a pair of third-generation AirPods. The invite video teases one word: Unleashed.
[...] There have been reports for months that Apple is on the cusp of releasing new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. The new MacBooks would be the latest step in Apple's transition away from Intel chips, replacing them with an Arm-based processor called the M1X that Apple designs itself. The new chip could boost performance compared to the M1 chip that debuted last year. Other anticipated features include the return of fan-favorite MacBook features like magnetic MagSafe charging, an HDMI port, and an SD card slot. The maligned OLED touch bar, mercifully, could be on the way out. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently noted that stock of the company's existing MacBook Pro appears to be running low.
[...] There have been reports for months that Apple is on the cusp of releasing new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. The new MacBooks would be the latest step in Apple's transition away from Intel chips, replacing them with an Arm-based processor called the M1X that Apple designs itself. The new chip could boost performance compared to the M1 chip that debuted last year. Other anticipated features include the return of fan-favorite MacBook features like magnetic MagSafe charging, an HDMI port, and an SD card slot. The maligned OLED touch bar, mercifully, could be on the way out. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently noted that stock of the company's existing MacBook Pro appears to be running low.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman... (Score:1)
> Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently noted that stock of the company's existing MacBook Pro appears to be running low.
It's been running low for 18 months dickhead, because we're in a pandemic where everyone's been stuck at home buying laptops with a chip shortage going on.
We use MacBooks at work and procuring them has been a nightmare this last 18 months. The lead time has been brutal such that we've often had no laptop ready for new starters even when ordering weeks ahead such that we now keep an increase
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Re:Bloomberg's Mark Gurman... (Score:4, Interesting)
I have orders from back in March which are still not filled. These are Windows machines which were purchased to replace other machines which went EOL. If you're only waiting a few weeks to get your machines, don't complain.
Re: So Apple admits ... (Score:1)
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A company putting back features it removed is a notable event, not a typical product improvement.
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Perhaps, but how is a "notable event" and admission? And an admission of what exactly?
The OP's comment was about implying some kind of malintent on Apple's part which they are owning up to. It would be helpful for people to tone down the tribalist inflammatory rhetoric.
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I believe Apple's malintent in only including USB-C ports was to sell high-markup adapters.
Re: So Apple admits ... (Score:3)
I believe Apple's malintent in only including USB-C ports was to sell high-markup adapters.
If you honestly believe that, then you're one dumbass motherfucker.
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A lot of people buy them though the Apple Store or website.
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Re: So Apple admits ... (Score:2)
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Time to update? (Score:3)
I've been holding on to a 2015 15" MBP because I did not want to give up the non-butterfly keyboard, the numerous ports (including SD, HDMI, USB, Thunderbolt - all of which I use frequently), the magsafe (ok, that's just convenience), just for a slightly faster CPU.
But I got an M1 Mac Mini last year just to check it out, and it is 2-3x faster in most things. Well, it was originally slower in a couple of non-native things to be fair - e.g. Android studio was the slowest, but it is now OK too. Coupled with the low consumption (I don't know what Apple says, my X-Series Thinkpad actually did better than my MBP even on new battery), the Apple Silicon is really enticing and I would even consider giving up some of the ports I use. Rumour has it I won't have to give much up, so let's hope that's true!
I should mention that my employer requires MacOS for development, so they provide the Macbooks. Even though I bought the $600 Mac Mini myself, I would not spend $2500+ to get the Macbook I'd like when I can get something like a Ryzen-powered Thinkpad X-series for a quarter of the price (the trick is to wait a bit and buy a like new refurbished - they last forever anyway).
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Last year, they finally brought in some decent non-butterfly keyboards. The ports are less of a concern if a USB-C dock will solve it for you. I don't use Apple laptops on a daily basis, but I just stopped warning people away from post-2015 laptops last year. All that time, I was helping people find refurbs instead.
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Last year, they finally brought in some decent non-butterfly keyboards. The ports are less of a concern if a USB-C dock will solve it for you.
Yeah, most of my colleagues finally upgraded when the 16" came out with the improved keyboard. But they have to carry these USB docks around, which have to be expensive to work properly and start to become bigger the more of the things the old laptops had you want there on the dock. And there are still just 30% faster or so compared to the 2015 MBP, which does not make such a difference for the added burden of the dock. The M1 is decidedly faster though, so that, along with some ports back would be great.
I
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Last year, they finally brought in some decent non-butterfly keyboards. The ports are less of a concern if a USB-C dock will solve it for you.
Not really. A USB dock is still one more thing to carry around with you. And don't make the same mistake that I did and try to leave it attached to your computer all the time. My left-side USB-C ports are so loose that it isn't even funny, because it turns out that carrying around a laptop in a bag with a dock attached just isn't a good idea.
If my pre-USB-C MacBook Pro hadn't been stolen, I'd still be using it. The USB-C "upgrade" was such a downgrade that it has been all I could do to not look for hard
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> The M1 MacBook keyboards are decent
Yeah, I was actually surprised I liked it. I'm definitely a keyboard snob, and I was convinced my wife's air would suck, but its not bad at all. The Lenovo "pro" ones are better, but the Air is still better than 80% of the keyboards I've used in the last couple of years.
Event!!! (Score:1)
Much secret. So surprise.
PT Barnum would be proud.
The rest of the world will search on Amazon when they want a computer.
Ding Dong the Ivy's gone!!!! (Score:1)
OMG I only hope it's true!!!
I have been sticking with my old MBP (late 2013) until Apple finally rid itself of Ivy!!! He was a good designer, but in many ways his insistence that things get smaller and smaller really did not help Apple at all. When they lost all the ports, I was SO bummed! Suddenly you had to buy all these expansion ports, but the one that killed me was ditching that magSafe charging port and I was thinking, yet another reason to never buy another MacBook.
Here's hoping it's true!!
Bloodbath (Score:1)
Well... (Score:2)
> a redesigned higher-end Mac Mini, and possibly a pair of third-generation AirPods. The invite video teases one word: Unleashed.
Where's "the Mac"?
They had a perfectly good one, but made the mistake of calling it a Mac Pro, selling into a Pro market for which it was largely crap. Put the latest chip, or two, in the trash can, change all the ports to USB-C/TB, and you have a perfect desktop machine with tonnes of cooling if you ever need it. Call it the Mac.
M1X expectations (Score:2)