We had been talking about the upcoming MacBooks upgrade since two months. All the signs kept pointing to an Apple event sometime in October, but the news never came. September came and went, half of October passed by, still nothing! We started to wonder, almost lost hope and then it happened – Apple sent out the invites for the new MacBooks last night! We are so excited!!
Invite Decoded
Just like with everything else, Apple is discreet about their event invites too. The media invitations are more like a puzzle than a teaser with subtle hints hidden in text and graphics.
This particular invite (shown above) has a multiple colours Apple logo with the words ‘Hello Again’ below it. If you are a long time Apple fan, you will remember the iconic ‘Hello’ that appeared on the first Mac when Steve Jobs presented it to the world. So ‘Hello Again’ clearly points to new Macs, and hopefully a significant upgrade like the original Mac. The colourful logo could be a sign of Apple bringing back colours to iMacs. That would be awesome!
Long, Long Overdue
Discounting the minor processor updates, MacBooks haven’t received a proper in years. The same unibody design for Macbook Pros and the sleek shell design for Macbook Airs has continued for way too long. Although we don’t expect Apple to announce a complete redesign on October 27th, the fact that a separate event has been dedicated to MacBooks makes us hopeful of something substantial.
The Most Awaited Feature
By far the most anticipated feature of the upcoming MacBooks is the OLED Touch Bar. This virtual row of buttons will replace the functions key bar and the buttons on it will keep changing depending on the app you are using. How cool is that!
If that wasn’t enough, there are some speculations that the OLED Touch Bar will also house a Touch ID for unlocking the Mac and making online payments. #ShutUpAndTakeMyMoney
What Else is Expected
Besides the regular processor upgrades, the new MacBooks are expected to take the USB C only route. As you must be aware, USB C ports are multi-purpose ports that can be used for plugging in the charger and also supports various connectivity options.
Apple received a lot of criticism for the ‘just one port for everything’ approach it took with the 12″ MacBook. Therefore, the new MacBooks should feature 4 (or at least 2) USB C ports. The move to USB Cs will also mean the end of the road our favourite magnetic MagSafe connector. #MeSad
We might also see a design change from the slim unibody look of the Retina MacBooks. It is not expected to be a radical change, but Apple might surprise us.
The Possible Line-Up
There are lots of speculations going around about the future MacBook lineup. Many believe that the MacBook Airs will be discontinued at the end of this month. The 12″ MacBook is likely to take over the mantle in the ultraportable category.
The new MacBooks will replace the current Retina MacBook Pro models. Although the older models might continue to be sold at a discounted price for a year or two.
Surprises?
Both Mac Mini and Mac Pro have not been updated since a couple of years. We are hopeful that Apple will show some love to them, even if it’s just processor upgrades. However, some rumours have mentioned that one or both of these Macs might actually get discontinued after the October event. Now, these might not be top selling Macs, but they definitely have a nice following, and I’ll be surprised if Apple pulls the plug on. them.
India Bound
In case you are already wondering, let me put your apprehensions to rest by confirming that the new MacBooks will surely come to India. The question will be when and at what price. Hopefully, we will get the answer on 27th of this month.
Friendly advice: If you have been resisting the urge to buy the iPhone 7 then wait some more. The new MacBooks just might be a much better upgrade. It’s already giving us nerdgasms!
