Apple has been long-rumored to introduce a new variant of the ‘Pro’ series of its MacBook. Recently, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg who is reputed for credible Apple rumors, explained how a major overhaul for this notebook series is in works.
The first MacBook Pro was announced in 2006. It came along with powerful specs just like the conventional PowerBook. However, it was more efficient in “performance per watt”. The high-end specs catered to professionals and continued to get upgraded with every new model. However, major redesigns for this series were only introduced in 2008, and then in 2012. According to Mr. Gurman’s sources, Apple plans to launch a new variant soon, which will not only be better in terms of performance, but will also include significant upgrades in design and features.
Apart from the fact that four years have passed, there is one more reason for the company to announce a new MacBook Pro. When Apple introduced the iPad, it believed that users will give up their laptops for it. However, the sales of the device show a completely different picture. In the last fiscal year, there has been surge of 6% in laptop sales, whereas the tablet sales slumped by 23%.
Many users are not ready to use an iPad as an alternative for their MacBook. Mr. Gurman further pointed out that users hold on to a model of iPad for up to three years, before they get a new one. However, iPhones bring in more sales as its users switch to newer models more frequently. The company wants to take advantage of this upgrade cycle and improve sales of MacBook Pro, by enticing users with a model that has some commendable upgrades.
In terms of build and design of the new MacBook Pro, it will be thinner than its predecessors. Evidently it cannot be as thinner as MacBook Air, but a notable amount of its thickness will be shredded, which will also make the device lighter. It may also feature more curved edges.
It has been reported that Apple will use Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) in its upcoming machine. This will not only sharpen and refine the resolution, but will also enhance multimedia and gaming experience on the device.
Another remarkable addition to this new variant will be LED strip above the keyboard. This will act as a secondary display; it will be touchable and will provide quick customizable shortcuts. The options available on the strip will also vary according to the current app or program running on the machine. For example, if Spotify is opened, the shortcuts will be for play pause and volume control.
Mr. Gurman suggested that the addition of the new strip can bring along new functions along with future software updates as well. This means that there will be no need for a complete hardware upgrade to add minor features.
The new MacBook may not provide users a wider trackpad. Also there will most likely be a variant available that will pack in a better graphics card by Advanced Micro Devices. The reason an AMD chip will be there, than other graphic card manufacturer like NVidia, is because of its ‘Polaris’ series, which is quite slim and fits rightly in this expected notebook.
Lastly, which we believe is the most significant addition in the new MacBook Pro, is a Touch ID fingerprint scanner. Evidently, fingerprint scanners on notebooks is a thing of past, but it has never been integrated on an Apple notebook or PC. The Touch ID will help users access their computer quickly and with convenience. Mark Gurman believes that the feature will further secure the usage of Apple Pay through the notebook. He added that users should not expect to see this device at the launch event of the new iPhone, which is expected to take place in the first week of September.
All of these aforementioned additions and improvements are undoubtedly commendable. The new operating system (OS) might even make it one of the best devices, as it will bring along its own share of innovation. However, the issue here is that Apple is still missing out on many features that other rival devices offer.
One of the foremost features, which Apple has not integrated on any of its MacBook, is a touchscreen. Many comparable devices in the market offer their users a touch panel, which doubles their screen as a tablet and adds to productivity.
Moreover, Apple does not give its users the freedom to upgrade the hardware, whereas devices from rivals, such as HP and Dell, can easily be replaced with better components. Then there is the price factor as well; competitors offer devices with similar specs and features at a much lower price, which hold off many users from shifting to Apple’s MacBook.