With the news that Apple might be holding an event in late February, people are already speculating what's in store. As usual, people pick the oldest product to be replaced and go for that. They are thinking that the new MacBook Pro might be similar to the air and have the new Black Keyboard and maybe even a magnetic latch. Personally I wouldn't buy something that looked like the MacBook Pro in the image below and am quite lucky I got mine early. If this event is to be held, the iPhone/iPod touch SDK will definitely be mentioned as well.

?

Why wouldn't you want something that beautiful?

Can we get details on this "event" Apple is having this month? You have me intrigued.

I don't like it. Doesn't look all that great. But I'd still like a MBP. The whole Pro part and separate graphics card entice me oh so much.

So, how about a ten key?

it looks foul :s, thankgod it only a mockup

The Black keys remind me of their old 4 years old Powerbook with black keys

I'd like a magnetic latch, plzkthx!

If it has a multitouch trackpad (why wouldn't it?), maybe we can steal some files to get the same capability on the existing models.

Heck with the keys... I hope they designed a external vent so you can keep the flippin' thing powered up with the lid closed.

finally! the macbook pro loses its horrendous keyboard!
It's finally up to my standard of quality, might just have to get one now.

-D-

I hope it looks something like that. The Pro is in desperate need of an update, right now its not competitively priced by any means.

I don't really care how it looks as long as it's a strong performer and offers the right features. I'm sure the next pro model will also offer SSD, but still will cost too much for the next couple of years. I'm betting it will also offer the same trackpad as the Air does.

Shouldn't Apple also be updating their MacBooks?
The MacBooks still use the white plastic finish when all their products now use anodized alunimum.

I like its design !

I really want another MacBook Pro. I wish I never had sold mine.

If it is a new MBP, you think we might get 64-bit Vista support like the Mac Pros?

I think the picture is a fake. I expect the new MBP to hava a magnetic latch and new ports such as DisplayPort (likely it will have the Micro-DVI like the MBA - though DisplayPort has one advantage over DVI: it also transfers audio signals) and maybe additional expansion ports (USB or FW - that's what I really wish for, because two USB ports aren't simply enough!).
Maybe it will be a bit thinner, we'll see. Other than that I think we will see a keyboard like that of the MBA (as seen on the picture).
I could also live with an external optical drive like the MBA offers if I could install a second hard disk via a drive bay or if the MBP had a second battery instead, but I guess this is just pure speculation or wishful thinking. Apple should also go with ExpressCard/54 since there are a lot more expansion cards for the 54mm slot than for the 34mm standard. (e.g. there is no newer sound card for ExpressCard/34 I could think of!).
It will certainly also feature the multitouch trackpad, Penryn processors and maybe also new GPUs (well, maybe not so likely).

While we're speculating, any chance on Quad Core processors in a MacBook Pro anytime soon?

The first thing I think about when something is mentioned about Apple presenting new products somewhere is new Cinema Displays! These Displays are 4 years old! How old is the MacBook Pro?

^
Almost 2 years old. But, they keep it up to date with processors (except the MacBook has the same processors now).

I'd love to get a new MBP with MacBook keyboard layout...

^
I wish they would also keep the panels of their displays up to date.

I don't like that new black keyboard. The white one looks better. But the trackpad is great!

lol, reading this thread has shown me how stupid people are.

If apple makes the macbook aluminium, i will never buy another mac product again. the macbook is a shitty low end machine, not something you pack into aluminium casing, plastic is just fine. Quad core? are you {censored}ign serious?
the display panels in the new mbp's are of extremely high quality and resolution take the 17" HD for example, 1920x1200 pixels in 17" is rather impressive. The new mbp already has 64bit efi firmware in it. The picture is a fake, as it was submitted on engadgets mock up thread. i would also hate to see it without an optical drive, it would make the mbp a paperweight just like the mba. And i hope they dont use a shitty plastic keyboard.

I wouldn't say the MacBook is a shitty low-end machine -- It's basically a MacBook Pro in terms of power, sans graphics card.

Also, have you ever taken an optical drive out of a MacBook Pro (or laptop in general?) ... it's maybe a quarter of a pound. Maybe.

I agree -- laptops are useless without an optical drive. Well, not useless -- but annoying. I can't see a MacBook Pro without an optical drive anytime soon considering the MBP is like a desktop replacement.

the macbook is a low end machine, it isnt marketed as a high end beast, its marketed as a machine for students and people who dont need the power, i know, i have one. its shitty performance even cpu wise to the mbp, mbp has better displays. where did removing an optical drive from a laptop come into play? i have disassembled my mbp completey several times so i am no stranger to the parts used inside. the slot loading drives are much lighter than the normal "pop-out" drives as well

ew...i really hope they dont add the black keyboard. I was planning on getting a mbp within the next couple months, but i like the all aluminum case including the silver keys.

Also, if they gut the optical drive out of the new mbp's, they just lost a customer. They call this technology innovation, but its more like going backwords in technology to me.

yuh, well, when you just do web developing like me -- do you really need a high powered CPU or GPU? I'm plenty happy with the SR C2D... anything faster at this point isn't cost effective IMO.

I'm just saying that it would be a dumb move for Apple to dump the optical drive when it's still relevant in today's world

I don't think they will be removing the optical drive. At least not from the macbook pro. I mean,A lot of people use the MBP as a desktop replacement (the normal MB too). Apple knows this. The MBA isn't marketed as an all-round computer, but more as a mobile device.

I love the new black keyboard though. I'm not so sure what everyone likes about the old aluminum keys though.

It doesn't have to be black, per se... but I like the new Apple keyboard layout. Period.

I find I do less typos on it than any other keyboard.

don't worry the drive stays, and if it changes- it will be a blu-ray.

mba drive was removed for weight and thinness, which a pro machine does not need to worry about as much.

yes this photo is a speculation/mockup, that's why there is a question sign behind it.

also since everything these days needs to be environmental, that is probably one big thing they'll be focusing on, like with mba.

probably that genius touchpad also because, why not. and the new keyboard, in black yes !

by the way i'd love to see the white plastic go !!

fun speculating some more but lets wait till the event. they say its on the 26th.

Frankly spoken, how often do you use your optical drives of your laptops (Macbooks/MBPs) when you're not using it at home? I guess you don't need it very often! So, if it's not about saving weight or battery power (because an optical drive which isn't used doesn't need much energy, right?) it is about the place you gain in the device, so you could easily install a second hard drive in it or make place fpr a second battery. Of course, as I said before, I don't think this will happen, but I'd rather have a drive bay for another HDD than an internal optical drive. And I don't think it is very likely the new MBP will have BluRay as long as the displays don't have Full HD (1080p) resolution such as the 17" models already do. I always wanted the 15" model to do the same resolution, but as Apple disappointed me in the past I don't think they will introduce it now (I already thought of buying a LCD panel which does have this resolution and then mount it in my MBP, but I don't want to void the warranty!).
As for the keyboard: at first I thought that the black keyboard doesn't fit in the rest of the product line, since the MacBooks and the external aluminium keyboards both have white keys. But then I thought maybe it's just looking more noble than white keys together with the aluminium case (well, that doesn't seem to make sense you might say, actually I can't explain it differently). I wish Apple would use a titanium case like back in the days with the G4 Titanium Powerbook. That adds some value to it!

I like the design. I have a MBP and I'm not a fan of this keyboard at all.. but it gets the job done.

If it is though, it's nice and I won't be able to afford it ha

Hopefully we'll see a good computer and not a half baked prototype. That should be the most of your worries...

i hate the new look of MBP. if it looks any close to one in pic. {censored} that
But i am sure apple will make something good out of this. we shall see

if they put in a keyboard like the macbook or macbook air, it will be horrible, i like the feel of my current ones keyboards

Colored keyboards FTW I would choose aluminium.

@Kiko: I highly doubt they'd remove the optical drive for the Macbook Pro like the Air. Obviously it's a fake picture. What is wrong with Quad Core?

with current technologies, a quad core in a laptop would probably give it 10 minutes of battery

Yes but I hear that Intel is developing a Core 2 Extreme quad core for mobile platforms (according to Wikipedia). LINK

which would still result in a battery life of ten minutes

those cpus go in 3" "thin" dell laptops

Yes and is fcuking over priced...

Their are already quad core laptops, and as for the macbook being overpriced, thats a big lol yea. my 400 dollar hackbook gets 5 less points in xbench =|

Those laptops are meant for gaming and are a little thicker than a MBP...

LOL, looks like someone photoshoped a picture of a G4 TiBook. I hope they do bring back the black keyboard, the titanium powerbooks were gorgeous. I always thought that the silver keyboards were one more bit of grey too much.

To all the ppl complaining about the macbook price: go find me a windows laptop that has no air vents at the bottom (yes I CAN place the laptop on the duvet without starting a fire/ melting the cpu down), or "magsafe" style connectors etc etc.. You pay extra for good design and engineering...

You pay extra a little bit too much. They could ask way less, and still make enough money to buy a huge mansion for themselves.
They're just greedy, those bastards

This is definitely exaggerated. The new 45nm Penryn Mobile CPUs have a TDP varying from 25W over 35W to 44W for the QuadCore Extreme model. The CPU of my MBP (C2D, model 2,2) also has a TDP of around 35W, so normally there wouldn't be much difference in terms of battery life. The best way would be to switch off two of the cores when operating in mobile mode and using the full power when being used connected to a power plug. Or downclocking the cores depending on the use.

Anyway I don't think Apple will release a QuadCore MBP now, although I think they should broaden the MBP range/lineup.
A MBP Extreme qith QC, different versions with different expansion ports with or without optical drive - all depending on the needs of the user!
But we all know this will not happen!

According to wikipedia, the quad core Core 2 Extreme mobile chip will be released in May, so Apple will probably not be able to release any kind of quad core Macbook Pro until then. Of course, there is always the possibility that Intel is hiding a secret quad core laptop processor from us.

Hope this is good news that there will be new MBPs. Quad-core Penryns would be fine but I'm hoping for 1680x1050 resolutions for the 15" model, rather than the crappy 1400x900 on the current 15" model. And I hope they give options for nVidia graphics card instead of the crappy ATIs only, a Geforce 8800 mobile series would be awesome. If they upgraded these two things, I'm definitely getting a 15" MBP.

they already have 8600s

take a look at this [url="http://www.pioneercomputers.com.au/products/products.asp?c1=3&c2=15"]

http://www.pioneercomputers.com.au/product...=15&id=2218

maybe could be transformed into a hackintosh and could be one of the most powerfull lap 

Apple more than likely has first dibs on everything I mean look at the MBA that processor isnt out yet

I don't know why so many people hate the kb on the mbp i adjusted to it quickly and find it very comfortable. I think that black keyboard looks piss poor, i dig the silver keys currently on the mbp model. Only time can tell but i hope they decide to mock up in the summer giving me sometime to ebay the current model, depending .

I love the current MBP keyboard so much it was the deciding factor pushing me over the edge to switch to mac. It is soooo nice... like typing on soft little clouds. Bar-none the best laptop keyboard I've ever used- even better than thinkpads which are known for their great keyboards. It will be sorely missed if they really are discontinued.