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Summary:- New MacBook Pro 13" and 15" models. 6th gen core i7/i5. Up to 2TB 3.1GB/Sec SSD.
- The entry model MacBook Pro 13" w/o touch bar is smaller and more powerful than than the 13" MacBook Air. Both weigh 3 pounds. But the 13" MacBook Air remains for now and at a lower price than the entry 13" MacBook Pro.
- The 11" MacBook Air is discontinued. Makes sense since 12" MacBook (Retina) was launched last year.
Base configurations:
In depth details are in the launch video. Not all configurations are up on the Apple website as of this posting.
Edits: 10/27/16 10/27/16Follow Ups:
I've seen this guy before. He often has penetrating insights.
JE
"A difference which makes no difference is no difference at all." - William James
if the use of adaptors for firewire, USB, etc. allows them all to run under Thunderbolt/USB-C, how does one keep a USB DAC and an external hard drive on separate busses? I have always tried to keep my USB DAC on its own USB bus, so that activity on other devices does not interfere with the DAC. How does that principle translate into this new system?
BTW, I use a Mac OS.
Cheers,
Bill
Probably by using different USB-C connectors (and host controllers) in each USB-C port. MacBook Pro has 4 USB-C ports.Also, use the System Information tool (in Applications > Utilities) to verify that your devices are on different controllers, much like one would do today to ensure that your USB devices are on different USB controllers.
Edits: 10/31/16
Thanks, Abe.
That is what I do now with my USB buses. But I wonder how many USB-C controllers there are supporting those 4 ports and how many internal devices, such as keyboard, trackpad, FaceTime camera, etc. are also using them. I deal with that issue now, but it helps that I can put my music on an external HD on a firewire/thunderbolt connection and keep it off of the USB bus. If all peripherals now have to go through the USB-C controllers, with various adapters, it appears to me that it would further complicate the issue of isolating my USB DAC on its own USB controller.
Cheers,
Bill
Like your current USB ports, you can choose different USB controllers for different devices and view and verify them in your System Report. I suspect you'll have the same separation and ability across the different USB-C/Thunderbolt ports. The only true way to know is with System Report on the new MacBook Pro.
I have 2 Late 2014 Mac Minis the first I bought 2 years ago and the second just 2 months ago. The older mini which runs Yosemite has High Speed, USB3 Hi-Speed and a USB3 SuperSpeed listed in it's USB System Report.
The newer Mini runs El Capitan and only lists a single USB 3.0 Bus. I used to have my Music stored on the only USB drive connected to the Mini which was listed under SuperSpeed, but now with the apparent disappearance of that option I am at a loss as to how to isolate my music storage drive although it has occurred to me that it may be that there are no truly isolated USB Buses to choose from on my Mini, but since all of the Hubs appear to be managed under the single USB3 Bus as listed.
If this is not so I would really appreciate some help with sorting out the different USB3 and USB2 Hubs on the singular USB3 Bus shown in my Mac Mini's System Report...
I don't have the newer Mini so I can't experiment but those ports are dynamically assigned depending on what's connected. You may need to experiment with swapping different devices on different physical ports. Then view the System Report. A reboot between swaps -may- also help but I'm not sure. Haven't tried it in a long time.
Another way to help improve your chances is to minimize the number of connected USB devices. No USB mouse, keyboard, IR receiver, etc. Some of these devices can be disabled in software. Make sure your USB drive is USB 3.0 or it will always connect as a USB 2 device. If all else fails perhaps try a Thunderbolt disk for music storage.
When they announced their new Headquarters, you know, the flying saucer, I knew that they were doomed: edifice complex
What we have now is new icing on the same old cake.
Improvements, if what they are, are only incremental
No need to upgrade and obsolete all my cabling
I might add that I have had Apples since 1982 and speaking only of my wife and myself, we have 5
What we have now is new icing on the same old cake. Improvements, if what they are, are only incremental.Laptops have been around for a few decades so yes, the improvements have been incremental over time. My laptop is almost 5 years old so I'm on the fence. It would be nice to have some of the new features and speed boost but do I REALLY need them? The answer largely depends on what one presently owns and whether the incremental improvements warrant a new laptop purchase to the individual.
No need to upgrade and obsolete all my cabling.
But cabling and peripherals are cheap in the grand scheme of things. At some point you let go of the old stuff. Remember floppy drives? That's almost like saying I'm not going to upgrade to a new TV because HDMI will force me to obsolete my RGB component video cables. ;-)
Edits: 10/30/16
Intel is already on its 6th generation, (Apple is on 5) and the 7th generation chip in 2018 WILL provide a significant upgrade. If you can, wait. It's mostly smoke and mirrors at this point.
Complete products (like laptops) will often lag behind the individual new components (like Intel CPUs) when they hit the market. There's an interesting article linked below that explains why both Apple and Microsoft are using Intel 6th gen "Skylake" processors. [Hint, they don't want another Samsung moment?]New MacBook Pros are on Intel 6th Gen "Skylake" processor. Same for new Microsoft Surface Studio and Surface Book. Read why in the article linked below.
I'm sure Apple with quietly update MacBook Pro's to Intel "Kaby Lake" at some point in it's product cycle. They updated the CPU in the 12" MacBook midstream with no fanfare not too long ago.
"So [Intel's] Kaby Lake's absence from the hottest new Apple and Microsoft devices is conspicuous. The new Surface Studio, the updated Surface Book, and all three MacBook Pro's will have Skylake inside. Why?"
Additional reading: Intel's new Kaby Lake Processor. What you need to know.
Edits: 10/31/16 10/31/16
Standardizing on one port type only, the Thunderbolt 3, save Apple a lot of money in manufacturing, PLUS...
They raised the price, PLUS...
They get to sell LOTS of 'Dongles'.
I'll miss the SD card slot the most, as I have a !FAST! 64 Gig micro-SD card in a flush mount SD carrier (they cost a bit) installed all of the time, just for photos. Saves SSD space and you don't even notice it's there.
Will still pull the trigger, give my current MacBook Air to my wife for use as a desktop with the 27 inch monitor we already have. It's batter is so bad by now it only runs about an hour on battery, one of the two USB ports is dead the other on life support, but hopefully it will outlive both of us, at least as a desktop substitute.
The nice thing about the Thunderbolt ports is that you can break them out to multiple displays and a variety of high performance I/O devices making for an outstanding desktop setup. When on the go, you have a slimmer and lighter laptop to lug around. But yes, you will need a dongle for some specific devices until more of them support native Thunderbolt.Looks like Apple jacked the prices about 12% but you do get anywhere from about 50% - 100% increased performance, the improved Retina display, and that new touch bar thingy. And it weighs less than the previous gen. ;-)
I may upgrade eventually but my 2012 13" MBP (non Retina) still runs like new like the day I got it. My wife's 13" Retina MBP is only a year old.
BTW, you can replace the battery in your MacBook Air for about $100 if you DIY. An independent Apple shop might charge a few bucks more including labor.
Unscrew bottom case cover, remove old battery, install new one. Not so 'evil' of Apple to use internal battery after all.
Edits: 10/30/16
or so I am told.
because these don't have USB, how would you hook up a USB DAC???
I'm glad I didn't wait for getting a Macbook, even they said at the store to wait, I figured they were doing away with USB.
How would you even wipe the machine out, are there thunderbolt memory sticks that you can flash the OS to? What a bad idea.
Also, see the link below with an article describing USB C. It is an industry standard which is rapidly gaining momentum.Each MBP has 4 USB C / Thunderbolt ports
Each port can support all of these I/O types
Some other features, including context aware touch bar (programmable function keys) plus finger print reader
Faster than previous generation overall. The new SSD is 50% faster than previous gen at 3 GB/s
Edits: 10/28/16
I have USB C on my Chromebook Pixel 2, I can output video with it as well, I didn't realize Apple is calling USB C Thunderbolt.edit, it seems like some of proprietary hybrid then on the Mac, thunderbolt and USB C combo.
Edits: 10/29/16
I have also seen the dual USB 3 and Thunderbolt 3 offered by Asus and Alienware.
Always changing, the exponential curve is getting pretty quick with all of this, hard to keep up to date with the changes. Thanks for the info. I like USB C on my Chromebook Pixel as it also doubles as the power adapter port.
Makes sense from a design standpoint, I have a lot of legacy devices as I record music, so I'd rather have vanilla USB support.
I think at this point there is an opportunity for cable laboratories meaning cable companies to make a USB C to Regular USB cables at least for compatibility.
I think I reached my limit with all of this stuff, sometimes you have to pause the hobby, wait 5 years then jump head first back into it.
USB C can include Thunderbolt 3 within the USB C connector but it doesn't have to. For example the 12" MacBook that Apple released over a year ago has USB C but it does not include Thunderbolt. All of the newly released Mac laptops do (as of Oct 27), but the article below doesn't list them because it was written before Apple's launch of their new laptops.USB C and Thunderbolt 3 are not proprietary. See the article linked below for a list of laptops that support it. There's also a link within the article for a more detailed explanation of USB C & Thunderbolt 3.
I recall discussing Thunderbolt here a couple years ago. Apple haters claimed that it was just another proprietary interface that would never catch on and was destined to die. But Apple was the first to embrace it in it's early incarnations because they saw the potential for this interface among it's high-end 'power users' for video / media creation.
There are a number of Thunderbolt docking stations already on the market and you'll begin to see many more peripherals.
Edits: 10/29/16
Thanks for the info Abe, btw I sent you a PM from here on AA.
"because these don't have USB, how would you hook up a USB DAC???"
If you use a standard USB cable you have to use an adapter. All of this to satisfy an ever thinner laptop.
wow, ok so another $50 or so?
keep adding to the velocity of funny money by buying crap.
How would an adapter influence sound quality?
I assume most serious people would use SMART devices by now like the Auralic's and the Sonos's of the world. Seems DIY is going away with all these hardware changes unless you're a nut and want to build your own on an embedded platform :(
I don't think the adapters are going to create a sound issue. But this shows that these new computers might not be as easy to use as before.
Thunderbolt external HD?
Thunderbolt external CD/DVD drive?
Or do you have to go with their Thunderbolt to USB C adapter?
There isn't much yet in Thunderbolt 3 external drives. But you can purchase adapters. The USB 3 C / Thunderbolt 3 is also on some Asus laptops.
My iMac is getting a bit long in the tooth (over 6 years old), and I've been waiting for a new round of iMacs to come out.
It wasn't that long ago that they released the new iMacs. The 21.5" Retina model came out 1 year ago in Oct 2015. The 27" version came out 2 years ago in Oct 2014. And they often do a couple component refreshes and/or slight pricing adjustments along the way. But you have to wonder if the iMacs are up next for a refresh or at least some adjustments.
There are a couple pretty cool new features in the latest MacBook Pro's along lighter weight, increased CPU and graphics, stellar SSD speed, and I/O capability. The displays are also brighter with better contrast and wider color gamut.
As usual, these premium laptops aren't cheap but Apple has never been one to race others to the bottom of the barrel on pricing and profits. They don't have to play that game.
Now that they don't have to concentrate on cars any longer, maybe they can become more nimble with their computer refreshes. ;-)
I check the MacSurfer site almost every day, and had seen a couple of blogs where the writers were complaining about the length of time since the last Mac models came out (in terms of competing well against other brands of PC's). Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that the new MacBook and MacBook Pros have just come out, but I'm not a laptop user (not enough screen real estate for me!) and I'm still waiting for the new iMacs.
+1. Our iMac is seven years old so I'm looking forward to a new iMac as well. It is amazing how well it still performs. Runs like the day we bought it. Just going to need a new one so we can keep up with the OSs.
Edits: 10/27/16
So cool! Very excited about this as we are do for a new MacBook Pro in our household. Also going to need a new iPad in the future as ours can't be updated to iOS 10. We really enjoy Macs around here.
Cheers,
Scott
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