MacBook Pros, what to expect, when

16:9 screens - hate to say

16:9 screens - hate to say it, but you may be right. I could care less that a 16:9 DVD or HDTV show fits perfectly on the screen, they fit just fine on the conventional 16:10 screens. In my opinion, *ESPECIALLY* on small laptops who need all the vertical screen real estate and resolution they can get, 16:9 is too wide and short. Even a 16:10 13.1" is pushing it -- going even farther to 16:9 creates a display that is shorter than a 12" 4:3

# 3G "mobile broadband"
Building a 3G wireless card into the laptop is a poor idea for a number of reasons. First of all, the mobile carrier situation in the United States creates a major headache. The four major carriers Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and T-mobile all use incompatible network technology and/or radio frequencies for their 3G networks --- So you would have to choose between them when you build a new Macbook. What happens when you want to switch companies? You'd be stuck with the wrong technology. Similarly, mobile phone networks are changing very quickly, with many upgrades planned in 2009 and 2010. Having a built-in card means you get stuck with obsolence.
A *MUCH* better idea is to just give the regular Macbook an expresscard slot like the macbook pro so people can purchase small cards from their cell company that plug right into their notebook. Yes, this is already available by using a USB version, but most people would prefer to have a card that slides all the way into their notebook and not have a protruding appendage hanging off the side.

#Trackpad
Although we all know (and are excited about) Apple working on a full-featured multi-touch control system, I have serous doubts about the multi-touch trackpad being made from glass. Even with premium glass, would it really be durable enough? And would the added expense be justified by any benefits? That is, assuming there is NOT a screen involved (which seems highly unlikely).

#Video Out
This is a complicated Issue. Right now, the Macbook uses the Mini-DVI connector and the Macbook Pro uses a dual-link DVI. Right now, the market is in early stages of a transition to DisplayPort which is a next-gen standard that is available on a few video cards and monitors. Displayport uses a small connector akin to a small HDMI plug, so the reduction in size from DVI is nice. The macbook may stay with Mini-DVI or possibly use displayport, whos plug can be used to send single-link DVI signals as well for backwards compatibility. The problem arises when we bring up the Macbook Pro. Currently, It uses a conventional dual-link DVI connector instead of Mini-DVI because only the full-size DVI can support dual-link connections, which are required to run the 30" 2560x1600 Cinema displays. The problem is the Displayport connector is only backwards compatible with single-link DVI. In order to support dual-link DVI pass-through, you have to use an active converter dongle, which is a hassle for pro users.
Now this is with the current Displayport 1.1 standard. Perhaps the 2.0 revision has new features, but AFAIK it's not complete. However, Apple has been known to create all kinds of non-standard implementations of connectors, cables, etc to fit their needs to who knows...

# Graphics
and let me add, Apple really needs to give MBPro users a choice to use a decent professional Quadro or FireGL video card for professional OpenGL apps like CAD/CAM/drafting/3D modeling/Simulation/etc.

# GPS
Even though Apple is said to be reducing pricing, a GPS module from SirfStar can't be more than a few dollars at the most. This would definitely make things like Google Maps/Google Earth work better. Especially for their laptops, GPS makes good sense, since they are often used while traveling in new cities. And it opens up all kinds of new possibilities for location services including interacting with the iPhone's location services.

#Bluray
I can see Blu-ray on the Macbook Pro, mainly for data storage and authoring for video professionals. It IS supposed to be a "pro" machine after all

# Camera
"iChat HD" is certainly a natural progression and the cost for an upgraded image sensor module would be negligible.

#RAM
Ram is cheap, even the 2G modules are cheap. However, 4GB modules are *VERY* expensive, and it's unlikely the MBPro will have more than 2 SODIMM slots. Also, if the rumors are correct on the nVidia motherboards, the new laptops will most likely use DDR3, which are more expensive (and faster obviously) and I don't even believe they make 4GB DDR3 modules yet..

#Cost
Even though this is the "pro" model, I still think they need to come down on price. Dell Precision workstations are a better value, and very durable with magnesium alloy frames like pro DSLR camera bodies..

Can't Wait!

I am SO excited about the new Macbook Pro! I really love that idea of a glass trackpad with a screen beneath it! -But will the glass get all oily and scratched?
Can't wait!

P.s. the person who thinks it is spelled 'Blue Ray' it's actually 'Blu-Ray'

DVI/audio-HDMI adapter is like $10-- where?

what i found are more around 200 bucks

thanks!

I highly doubt that we'll

I highly doubt that we'll see 16:9 aspect ratio laptops. Since 16:10 is still the standard wide screen format in computer land.
And we will only see 8GB in our note books when 10.6 arrives since its fully 64bit.

Think outside the box

Aren't we all forgetting some of the patents that were filed a couple years ago. We all know there is at least a couple years between when patents are filed and when we see them come to light in products.

1. Apple does away with the iSight camera and replaces it with this patent, the integrated sensing display.
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/06/04/27/interesting_apple_filings_surface_in_patent_databases.html

2. We all know the displays are WAY overdue for an overhaul...so they'll replace them with this technology...sliding the notebooks in behind the LCD screen of the display, hence incorporating the hookups in the new notebooks.
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/01/03/apple_filing_proposes_imac_like_notebook_docking_station.html

Make sense?

I like what you see coming.

I like what you see coming. I would also like...

- 320GB and 500GB drive options. I can never have too many VMs.

- "easy to swap" drive mounting. My 00 screwdriver is overworked from my "old" MBP and PBs.

The built-in WAN would be sweet (and way overdue), but I'll continue to use a USB adapter because I have so many laptops and I need to connect whichever one I'm using at the moment.

BlueRay

dear Seth,

I think BlueRay is extremely important. Yes we can maybe all download HD movies in the future from the internet, but what about all of us creating movies in HD on FinalCut? we would like to send copies in BlueRay to our clients, for archiving documentaries, the dance performances i record in the theatre etc! if it would be just dvd again what is the point having all these amazing hd camaras now and hd screens at home? if Apple wants to keep serving the creative people out there then they should think a bit further then just selling their movies on iTunes!!
regards

Raphael