Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

The rumors are that the newly design MBPro is going to have the tapered edges like the Air. I seriously doubt the Pro will ditch an optical drive in the next revision so I'm not sure how great the pro's going to look with tapered edges . . . Honestly, I think it's perfect the way it is, but I'm biased!

i highly doubt that one of apple's pro lines would omit the optical drive. they would lose tons of customers, and i think a redesign is completely needed on the mbp and the mac pro. they have been the same design for 4-5 years now, so i think a refresh is in order.

Regards,
Jake

I'm sure Apple will make it gorgeous. I hope that they don't give it black keys like the Air though, that just doesn't fit in at all. I do love the current MBP design though, it is a true classic. I would rather see the MacBook be redesigned.

Why? Just because it looks the same? The current case designs are incredibly well thought out, thats less than I can say for the macbook.

I just hope apple leaves the macbook pro keyboard the way it is and leaves that abomination of a keyboard that they seem to like on the consumer models.

in a way, i would just like to see something different. yes, they are well thought out, but there is always something that can be improved on. personally, i would just like to see the mbp and the mac pro offered in a black aluminum alongside the silver. yes, it might resemble a lenovo or a dell, but it is very luxurious. and i am on the same side with you on the keyboard, i hate the little chicklet keys.

overall, i believe a redesign is in order, but not a price hike just with a fancy redesign.

With more than one USB port, going optical-free would be great.
Next they can replace a Firewire port with eSATA (faster, cheaper, and less likely to destroy your logic board).

I'm surprised by how many people want a new design just for the sake of getting a new look every couple of years.

I'd rather have Apple improve the current excellent design to address specific shortcomings than switch to a rev A design just so that the marketing department can go off about how people are getting something totally new.

I agree on that part except for the HD design. I wish it was more user acessable like the Macbook for upgrades.

They could move the optical drive to the side and toward the hinges where the case would be thicker. There's no way Apple would eliminate the optical drive on the MBP at this point though I do expect that will happen in the next 3 years or so.

At this point in time an optical drive is absolutely essential on a pro machine, seeing as most production media is still on optical disks. And carrying around an external drive is horrible, especially since the footprint of the machine wouldn't be any smaller with the optical drive removed.

Another vote for the current MBP staying the same. I think the current design is timeless. Sleek, practical, durable, exceptionally good looking. I would rather seem y MB look more like the Air or the MBP. They keys suck on my MB and the case sucks (cracks).

As for my MBP, every time I look at it I am taken by it's good looks.

If this is true then it would make a lot more sense to think of the redesign as a thicker MBA for the MBP design. I can't speak for others but I personally would not buy a MBP without an optical drive. I use it all the time and would rather not like to carry a separate drive with me. I like being able to quickly pick up my laptop and go without having to hassle with grabbing accessories in order to do what I want.

Although I think we are all making the mistake in thinking that the possible redesign is going to be as thin as the MBA. It sounds like it's mostly a tapering of the edges like the MBA style which will make it look like an overweight MBA if this rumor is true. I don't know how good that will look because the current MBP design is really good as it is but I'll hold my opinion until I actually see it. I think the MacBook needs more work than the MBP but I guess we will see how accurate this rumor is in due time.

I agree that a pro portable definitely needs an internal optical option.

However, what I'd like to see is a removable optical. That way if I know I won't be needing it (which happens quite often actually) I can install a second battery instead. Apple used to do this. Many PC notebook manufacturers do it too. With Apple's engineering skill I'm sure they could implement such a system w/o adding extra thickness.

Thats the one feature I wish the current line of laptops is lacking. I think most Pro users would enjoy the option of having a second battery on their computer. I'd gladly leave my optical drive at home and pop in a second battery when traveling. Especially when I hit up those trans-pacific flights....

I'm surprised the Pismo lovers haven't jumped on this thread. Those were great computers in their day, heck, still are. Maybe all the Pismo fans have given up and gotten new intel macs...

Good idea.

I would welcome a removal of the optical drive. I rarely use mine, and it wouldn't bother me to carry the external drive in the laptop bag most of the time.

Would Apple be brave enough to move to a sealed battery? I wouldn't mind that either. I don't even own a second battery. If Apple created an external battery unit for long trips, they'd silence most of the critics.

Apple could remove many ports, too. Modem, ethernet, FW400 can all be achieved with attachments. Just 2 USB2, FW800, video, and sound would be fine.

I'm pretty happy with the design, as it's been the only design I've had. I bought the first aluminum 15 inch Powerbook G4, and now have a Macbook Pro. About my only minor design quibble is the IR sensor on the front stands out a bit, it would have been pretty slick if they could have hidden it a bit in the optical drive area like on the Mini.

I definitely understand the allure of the Pismo though, I was so close to buying a used one for the longest time when the Titaniums were out.

Ethernet needs to stay put though in the Pro laptops. I'm constantly using it, as well as the full DVI port and would hate to need dongles for either. With the prevalence of (crap) USB portable drives that need two power ports, 2 USB ports on a single side of the 15 inch would be nice, though I tend to avoid this need by sticking to bus powered 2.5 inch firewire enclosures.

I think anything new may just be a minor change in look, until we get closer to OLED displays becoming affordable for laptops.

No way, losing the optical drive would be a mistake for apple. The MBA has been marketed for those folks who want an additional computer that is great for traveling. Its not been targeted at the desktop replacement or single use sector. I'd rather not need to worry about buying or carrying an extra optical drive just because apple decided to forgo the option in the name of asthetics

Adding eSATA would be a great move, not sure how many people still use FW. I was under the impression that many video cameras still have that interface. I'm not sure since I don't do any of that stuff..

Some video cameras still use it, and they will for a long time (due to HDV still being recorded to tape). Though as HD cameras move to solid state the need to import over firewire will decrease.

However that doesn't make USB any better. As I'm sure everyone knows USB transfers are awful on the mac, lagging the whole system at times. For anyone relying on external hard drives to store and edit video from they need firewire or esata (I prefer firewire due to the fact that I can power a drive from it, esata can't deliver power). Firewire is pretty much the only way someone like myself (and many others) can use their macbook pro as a mobile editing station. So at least in my mind it would be a poor decision to get rid of firewire.

I also agree wholeheartedly with your point about the optical drive.

As much as I like to current design, I would like to see a refresh in the design of the MB and MBP. I think making all their macs aluminum and tweaking the current designs to be more robust would be the best option. I always prefer strength and durability over the cutting edge. . . It is also important for Apple forge ahead with more ecologically friendly designs.

Personally, I use FW, as I have an external DVD/DVDR/DL etc, that I used via FW with my ibook G4 1.07 combo drive. I would also like to be able to use this drive with a new mac, and I plan on upgrading to the a pro grade laptop in the next year or two.

On a side note, if they could ditch the MacBook name I think that would be awesome. . . alas they seem rather fixated on it.

I don't like the MacBooks/Pros anymore. They are too dated. I tried out an HP and it felt way better on my hands and arms. Right now, the bezel of my MacBook Pro is piercing into my wrists. The edges are not tapered enough. When you inspect the casing, you can see that the plastic bezel is kinda cheapish. The MacBook Air totally antiquates the MacBook Pro in its design. With that, I would like to see a sort of hybrid MacBook Air/Pro. Keep the optical drive, a little thinner than what we have now for the Pros, tapered edges, a MacBook Air quality screen but at 15 and 17", and so forth. Of course they are going to change it, it has been way too long. I am confident that what they do is what we are all alluding too, and the keyboard will