Comments on: What are the chances that Apple will release a 12-inch MacBook Pro in the next few months?

Question: What are the chances that Apple will release a 12-inch MacBook Pro in the next few months?

tweebiscuit — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 11:25:37 -0800

What are the chances that Apple will release a 12-inch MacBook Pro in the next few months?

I would love a super-tiny Mac laptop, and though a 12" Powerbook would fit my needs, I'm not so hot on the idea of buying another non-Intel Mac, since I plan to get a few more years out of my G5 tower. The rumors I'm finding via Google are all either conflicting, outdated, or both, so I'm looking for someone with a better impression of the Apple-rumor zeitgeist to tell me if I should wait or just buy a 13" MacBook (which is less attractive to me, as it's bulkier and has less ports.)

By: tweebiscuit

tweebiscuit — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 11:27:40 -0800

To make my question more specific: Assuming that I would be happy to delay purchasing a laptop for up to six months, is the wait worthwhile or should I quit holding my breath and just buy a different model now? (I don't care about whatever performance upgrades will have come about by that time -- form factor is all I'm interested in.)

By: chairface

chairface — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 11:33:29 -0800

Rumors aside, that is a gap in the lineup and they like to announce new machines to keep the sales machine running. It seems quite likely a 12" Intel MacBook Pro will show up soon. This is just me taking an ill informed guess, so don't take what I say as gospel. Is there any drawback to waiting six months or do you just have new laptop fever (which I get every 2 years)?

By: tkolar

tkolar — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 11:36:57 -0800

Here you go.

Updated fairly regularly and has a good track record.

By: chunking express

chunking express — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 11:37:18 -0800

If you can wait 6 months, then wait. You should buy a computer when you need one, and no sooner. I can't imagine they won't fill the current hole in their line-up.

By: tweebiscuit

tweebiscuit — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 11:40:16 -0800

Ehh, basically it would be "not having a laptop", but I'm the sort who likes to have a desktop as a workhorse and keep the laptop purely for portability's sake, so I'm allergic to bulky laptops -- if I just had plain old laptop fever I'd just get a 17" MacBook Pro, but I'm committed to being able to, you know, use my lap.

By: b1tr0t

b1tr0t — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 11:50:51 -0800

You probably already know this but, if you can stand to wait, wait. Even if a 12" isn't introduced, the models that are available today will either get speedbumps or drop in price by then.

If your need for a laptop is fairly trivial, what about getting a cheap old g3 ibook? You should be able to find a nice example for $200-$300 now.

By: trevyn

trevyn — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 12:02:20 -0800

There's also a hole in the lineup where the Newton used to be. I get the impression that the 12" sold considerably less than the 15" and 17" models, and the downsizing of the MacBook in comparison to the iBook fills, in Apple's eyes, what little gap was left.

Another data point: http://macpredict.com/events/12-inch-MacBook-Pro

By: Doctor Barnett

Doctor Barnett — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 12:16:54 -0800

I don't think so, I still see the 12 " PBs all over the place; it was no Newton. I used to have one, and they're much smaller than the MacBook, as are a bunch of PC notebooks. I know one person who resold her 1-month old MacBook and bought a Dell for that reason, among others. In any case there's no predicting what Apple will do in this or anything else by assuming they'll be reasonable (though it's amusing someone made a site to collect people's guesses).

By: cillit bang

cillit bang — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 12:35:15 -0800

Rumors aside, that is a gap in the lineup and they like to announce new machines to keep the sales machine running. It seems quite likely a 12" Intel MacBook Pro will show up soon.

But people have been saying this since the MacBook was introduced last May. Apple have made it pretty clear that the MacBook is meant to replace the 12 inch PB, both by retiring it on the same day the MacBook was introduced, and by adding lots of previously pro-only features to the MacBook.

My current reading of the rumour mill is that no one has any information on this either way. Yeah there's a gap in the lineup, but Apple seem happy with that, as the 12 inch was never a strong seller.

By: adamrice

adamrice — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 12:46:03 -0800

If you want/need a laptop now, buy it now. Figure out whether a 12" Powerbook or 13" Macbook would better meet your needs, and go with that. From what you describe, the 12" Powerbook sounds like a better match (though I know it's frustrating not to get the latest and greatest).

If, in six months, Apple introduces a 12" MBP, sell your incumbent laptop—you'll probably get back a large fraction of the original price—and buy the new one. You can look at the extra amount you spend on the old machine as taking a gamble that Apple will not introduce a 12" MBP and losing. Or as the cost of renting a computer for six months.

Or save your money, keep the old laptop, and buy a fancy new desktop.

By: richsim

richsim — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 13:08:02 -0800

As has been stated by others, the MacBook was designed to replace the 12" PowerBook. It's unlikely (but not impossible) that Apple would introduce a new design whose main difference is a slightly smaller monitor.

Periodically someone tosses out a rumor about a Mac ultraportable -- that is, a much smaller and lighter laptop than the current smallest model. So far Apple seems to want to include an optical (CD/DVD) drive, which is a huge technical challenge. Apple did file for two patents in 2005 on possible methods of doing this, but of course that doesn't mean they've been able to get either of them to work.

By: vacapinta

vacapinta — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 13:13:01 -0800

I know one person who resold her 1-month old MacBook and bought a Dell for that reason, among others.

Likewise. I've come close to getting some people to switch from Windows to Mac only to have them drool over some ultra-compact from Sony or somebody and lose them.

Its not just that Apple has a hole compared to their own previous line but also that they have no product to match their competitors - These ultraportables makes me drool and no showing from Apple in that mix.

By: justgary

justgary — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 14:03:34 -0800

Its not just that Apple has a hole compared to their own previous line but also that they have no product to match their competitors

The market for ultra portables, like the market for tablet pcs, is smaller than the more normal size laptops.

I think most of the people lamenting the lack of a 12 inch mbp are ignorant of apple history (too many laptops). Shrinking the mac llneup was one of the first things he did when he returned.

They could release a small mbp down the line. Wouldn't surprise me at all. But only if they see a large market for it. A 'hole' in their lineup isn't going to do it.

By: designbot

designbot — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 14:14:50 -0800

There are periodic rumors of a MacBook Thin (previously the iBook Thin). AppleInsider seems to think it's coming soon, but you can take that with several heapings of salt.
With Apple switching to Intel and introducing a successor to the Newton after years of rumors, it's getting harder to separate the inside info from the pipe dreams.
Will Apple eventually introduce a thinner notebook? Yes. Will that be tomorrow or 5 years from now? Who knows?

By: SirOmega

SirOmega — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 15:03:19 -0800

None.

Just like the possibility of the mythical xMac to arrive in the next 12 months.

(xMac = a tower that fits between the mini and the pro, designed for the enthusiast market, so they can upgrade their video, sound, HDs, etc frequently and still run OS:X)

By: Blazecock Pileon

Blazecock Pileon — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 15:21:25 -0800

There are periodic rumors of a MacBook Thin (previously the iBook Thin).

FWIW, some have wryly observed that the presence of a rumor on MOSR usually means that the opposite is true, more often than not.

By: lorimer

lorimer — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 19:05:18 -0800

Don't forget (if you haven't already) to compare the actual sizes/weights of the 12" PB and the 15" MBP. The MBP is remarkably well made and compact for its screen resolution, not actually that different from the 12".

By: furtive

furtive — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 20:12:43 -0800

The market for ultraportables is smaller historically because of the high cost associated with those items, but Apple has been a pro at bringing these component prices down (think nano, iphone) and in their favour people don't mind paying higher prices for Apple products.

I think items such as the ipod, nano and iphone show that Apple is willing and capable of filling those convenience niches, and if this article is to be believed, then they should be announcing a 12 inch ultra portable any day now.

Hey, isn't the new Photoshop coming out of beta soon?

By: furtive

furtive — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 20:22:33 -0800

lorimer, the two notebooks before my 15" MBP were a Toshiba Portege 4000 and a Thinkpad X31 and they were remarkably smaller and lighter than the MBP, enough in fact that I'll sell you my two month old MBP cheap if they do unleash an ultraportable any time.

By: Heywood Mogroot

Heywood Mogroot — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 22:27:37 -0800

chances for a 12" MacBook Pro aren't that great, I would think.

Intel's "Santa Rosa" Centrino platform refresh is coming out RSN [May-June], so it might be worth to wait for that.

By: lodurr

lodurr — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 14:04:00 -0800

chunking's advice ("You should buy a computer when you need one, and no sooner") is very, very apt. Buy it when you need it. Looking for the next wonderful thing is an excellent way to drive yourself mad with regret or anticipation.

As for what they'll do... The 12" PB was in many ways the jewel of the line. PC folks would see it and drool. It was nearly as small as an ultraportable, had an excellent feature mix, resisted damage and scratching really reall well -- i.e., not only looked great, but stayed looking great.

I tend to be very skeptical about Apple making what I think are the smart product decisions, but I think they'll suck up and do it eventually, just because even hataz thought it was cool. But they will need a cooler chip...

Also, FWIW, I think the "BlackBook" is really the replacement for the 12" PB. It does look cool as hell, for sure; but who wants to pay an extra $250 just for the privilege of getting it in matte black instead of white?

By: heeeraldo

heeeraldo — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 21:11:30 -0800

FWIW, the "black tax" is now a mere $50 - if you spec out the white MacBook with the 120GB drive that the black one gets standard, the prices even out.

By: heeeraldo

heeeraldo — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 21:12:15 -0800

I should mention that I think it's ridiculous and I wouldn't pay extra for black in your position, but I thought I should point that out, is all.

By: lodurr

lodurr — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 13:12:34 -0800

Well, I don't know about tweebiscuit, but I'm just shallow enough that the black is worth $50.