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Apple To Launch Thinner, Lighter MacBook Pro Models With OLED Touch Bar, Touch ID In Fall (9to5mac.com)

Posted by msmash on from the pretty-high-for-crazy-laptops dept.

Apple plans to refresh its MacBook Pro line later this year. The makeover will see both 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models replace their function keys atop laptop keyboards with an OLED touch bar, according to a report. Both the models will also have Touch ID fingerprint sensor, and will support Thunderbolt 3 USB-C port, multiple outlets are reporting citing ever-so-reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The refreshed MacBook Pro model will be thinner and lighter as well. There's no word on if -- and when -- the MacBook Air lineup will receive a refresh.

7 of 238 comments (clear)

  1. Thinner and lighter... by The-Ixian · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is still the main marketing touch point?

    I am starting to believe all the "Apple is starting to stagnate" hype...

    Apple, I think it's time to reformulate the sales pitch...

    --
    My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
  2. Apple is copying...Lenovo? by blackomegax · · Score: 4, Informative

    Lenovo tried getting rid of F-keys with a touch bar in the X1. It failed SPECTACULARLY. I suspect the same will happen to Apple here. Professionals use F-keys. A lot. and not being able to touch type them is a glorious, horrible, pain in the ASS.

    1. Re:Apple is copying...Lenovo? by ColdWetDog · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This isn't about professionals. Apple missed that boat awhile back. Professionals need a decent keyboard. Ooops. Professionals need computing horsepower. Not quite oops but certainly nothing high end about the presumed stats. And don't talk to me about soldering RAM on the motherboard.

      Professionals need ports. More than one or two. Dongles are for dorks. Professionals need batteries. Professionals need screens that do not double as a mirror. Nor do they need 3D touch or the latest silly gizmo thingy that Apple dreamed up.

      Professionals DON'T need super thin. Professionals are strong. They can cart around a few extra ounces. Triple shot 16 oz mochas go a long way. As long as they can get their work done, we're happy. Professionals actually need a decent graphics system.

      And for the love of God, bring back the 17 inch MacBook Pro.

      Gotta go. Nurse says its time for morning meds.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  3. Please stop. by lw54 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    My iphone is warped. Your products are becoming crap. Please stop. Full stop.

    I don't want a thinner laptop but I would like a more tactile keyboard. (sent from my 2015 mac pro)

  4. Innovation by 110010001000 · · Score: 4, Funny

    And who said innovation was dead? OLED touch bars are what I want!

  5. Re:Great, here come the fanboys by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You'll notice that over the last few years, even the fanboys are getting annoyed by the stupid shit Apple is doing.

    Keys with less travel on a supposedly "pro" laptop? Thinner computers for the sake of... what, exactly? People want more battery life, Apple keeps innovating on that end but it only results in the same battery life because they stupidly keep making their laptops thinner.

    The low-end computers keep getting slow 5400 RPM drives, as if 7200 RPM drives were somehow incredibly more expensive. And Apple keeps using laptop parts in desktop computers which is just insane, not to mention that they're even making their desktop computers thinner. That doesn't help anyone. The last straw is that they're now soldering the RAM, meaning you can't even upgrade your computer a few years later. That's the complete opposite of being a green company. You can use all the solar panels all you want, Apple, it doesn't mean squat if your hardware gets discarded sooner than it needs to be.

  6. Not if I can't upgrade my own laptop. by Jethro · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'm writing this on an Early 2011 15" Macbook Pro, which is frankly on it's last legs. In fact, it's at the point where I can't really move it around.

    It would have been pretty unusable years ago, except that this is one of the last Macbook Pros that you could upgrade the RAM and harddrive on. I got this thing with the least amount of RAM and cheapest harddrive I could, and as time went on I added more RAM and an SSD. New lease of life. And that stuff all cost me about $250 rather than the extra > $1000 Apple would have charged.

    I want (and pretty much need) a new laptop, and Apple makes great ones. Yeah, people say "Apple Tax!" a lot, but spec-for-spec, Apple laptops are pretty much equal to other manufacturers and the *usability* is *phenomenally* better. From the UI design to the friggin *trackpad*.

    But if I can't upgrade my own machine... sorry, not happening. And that goes for any other laptop maker.

    --


    In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is kinky.