“Apple Inc. is preparing the first significant overhaul of its MacBook Pro laptop line in over four years, according to people familiar with the matter, using one of its older products to help reverse two quarters of sliding sales,” Mark Gurman reports for Bloomberg. “The updated notebooks will be thinner, include a touch screen strip for function keys, and will be offered with more powerful and efficient graphics processors for expert users such as video gamers, said the people, who asked not to be named. The most significant addition to the new MacBook Pro is a secondary display above the keyboard that replaces the standard function key row. Instead of physical keys, a strip-like screen will present functions on an as-needed basis that fit the current task or application. The smaller display will use Organic Light-Emitting Diodes.”
“Apple’s goal with the dedicated function display is to simplify keyboard shortcuts traditionally used by experienced users,” Gurman reports. “The new top-of-the-line MacBook Pros will be slightly thinner than the current models but are not tapered like the MacBook Air and latest 12-inch MacBook, one of the people said. The new MacBook Pros have a smaller footprint than current models and the casing has shallower curves around the edges. The pressure-sensitive trackpad is also slightly wider, the person added.”
“Apple is planning to bring over its Touch ID fingerprint technology from the iPhone to the new MacBook Pro line. Apple has tested versions of the upcoming laptops that integrate the scanner beside the new function key display, according to one of the people. The sensor would allow users to log in more quickly and theoretically authenticate Apple Pay purchases,” Gurman reports. “Like with iPhones, the new Pro laptops will encrypt fingerprint data so it can’t be removed from the devices.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Looks like the Secure Enclave, or a version of it, is coming to the Mac!
Wonder what the fate of the Macbook Air will be. My 2013 MBA is still going strong, but when I upgrade I don’t want anything heavier like current Pros or smaller like the new Macbook. I hope the new 13″ Pros will be lighter, they’ll probably be the replacement for the Airs, unless they come out with a larger (14″?) Macbook.
The MacBook Air seems like it won’t have much of a future after the intro of the new Macbook. Though, It’s very likely that a new design of the Macbook Pros will be lighter and thinner. I don’t know if they will be light enough for your liking, but hopefully they will.
There’s only a 1/2 lb. difference between the 13″ Air and Pro now so I think the new Pros will be fine.
See! See! Apple hasn’t abondoned us!
In fact, they’re prepping the next model… For the next decade.
I’m hoping they use the new OLED bar wisely. It would be SO cool if, after tapping the Volume button (or brightness button), a slider appears in the OLED display that allows you to slide your finger back and forth to raise or lower the volume/brightness. That would be SO much better than repeatedly hitting (for example) the Volume Up button…
I hope they apply the updates to both 13 and 25 inch models.
I also want usb3 so that I can charge without an adapter. The downside is the loss of MagSafe which is one of Apple ‘s better ideas.
I’d sure like a quad-core i7(or better if avail) in a 13″ with a great graphics card. Oh- And Make it $1300? So, perform like a high end 15″ Pro- but cost and footprint of a 13″ Pro. Thanks Apple!
Please don’t let the fashion designers screw this one up, too!
When?
My 2010 MBP died last November and I’ve been waiting for a new release. Get this one out the door ASAP and take my money!!
nvidia graphics are its not Pro