There has been more "rumours" of the new, upcoming MBP. I won't get into the rumour details, but, if Apple eliminates the optical drive, might it still be possible to fit in an additional hard drive as you can with the present models once removing the optical drive? Not sure if that would even void the warranty if the possibility is there.

It is anyone's guess at this point. MacRumours had some mock ups this morning that looked plausible but we still don't know if they are going to have dual drive bays or not. I could see a case for either but if I were to guess i'd stay no they will come with one bay and the other space will go to battery etc.

Apple to Release Thinner MacBook Pro at WWDC - Mac Rumors (http://www.macrumors.com/2012/05/14/apple-to-release-thinner-macbook-pro-at-wwdc/)

June 11th sounds very plausible for timing.

But if the architecture is closed gonna be some unhappy Mac users.

Looks like one of our new neighbors is in the wrong forum.

"But if the architecture is closed gonna be some unhappy Mac users."

As in, non-replaceable hard drive(s), battery, etc.?

This looks nice:

MacBook Pro 2012 to drop optical drive, have SSD and HDD combo? : Tech Digest (http://www.techdigest.tv/2012/05/macbook_pro_201_1.html)

If Apple does announce a new MBP in June would it be available to buy in August? I ask because I told my son who is going to MacMaster for BioChem this fall, to wait in buying a laptop for now.

If Apple does announce a new MBP in June would it be available to buy in August? I ask because I told my son who is going to MacMaster for BioChem this fall, to wait in buying a laptop for now.

Its anyones guess at this point. Though i'd advise waiting as long as possible.

I can't see the logic in building a laptop as thin as possible, but leaving space for a second drive bay that isn't in use. I suspect a dual SSD-HDD setup is the most likely configuration, perhaps with a dual SSD BTO option. But user-serviceable... that show's rapidly coming to an end.

I'm surprised that more people haven't taken issue with the loss of the dedicated ethernet port (in the mockups). Sure, there's always the USB-Ethernet dongle that the MBAs use, but somebody's gonna gripe, you know it.

The elimination of the optical drive can't come soon enough. Spinning bits of plastic with widely-variable dependability standards are soooo last century. If you really, really need one, Apple's MBA external superdrive is more than sufficient and very reasonably priced.

If Apple does announce a new MBP in June would it be available to buy in August? I ask because I told my son who is going to MacMaster for BioChem this fall, to wait in buying a laptop for now.

It's best to wait anyway because they always have a back to school promotion where you get a free ipod(mail in rebate) or something with the purchase of a macbook.

I can't see the logic in building a laptop as thin as possible, but leaving space for a second drive bay that isn't in use. I suspect a dual SSD-HDD setup is the most likely configuration, perhaps with a dual SSD BTO option. But user-serviceable... that show's rapidly coming to an end.

I'm surprised that more people haven't taken issue with the loss of the dedicated ethernet port (in the mockups). Sure, there's always the USB-Ethernet dongle that the MBAs use, but somebody's gonna gripe, you know it.

The elimination of the optical drive can't come soon enough. Spinning bits of plastic with widely-variable dependability standards are soooo last century. If you really, really need one, Apple's MBA external superdrive is more than sufficient and very reasonably priced.

At $30 a dongle, they make good money.

I'm surprised that more people haven't taken issue with the loss of the dedicated ethernet port (in the mockups). Sure, there's always the USB-Ethernet dongle that the MBAs use, but somebody's gonna gripe, you know it.

I'd gripe. I don't like dongles. That's the one thing I've never liked about any of the apple hardware I've owned. I have a very LARGE basket/drawer full of useless dongles from apple mixed in with various assorted extra cables.

I like using the ethernet port when I'm at work since the wireless is hit and miss in many buildings. I think thin is cool and all but some things are useful - but I agree, I hardly ever use the optical drive on my MBP and only scarcely on the iMac. I gave up on asking students to submit anything on disc the way other instructors at my school do - I have an almost equally LARGE pile of unclaimed discs that I don't have the heart to destroy or the time to fuse together into a disco ball.

It's best to wait anyway because they always have a back to school promotion where you get a free ipod(mail in rebate) or something with the purchase of a macbook.

Last year it was a $100 app store credit. Helpful but not as blingy as an iPod.

I sure hope the the new MBP has user-replaceable drives. I bought my 2 present SSDs with that upgrade option in mind.

The elimination of the optical drive can't come soon enough. Spinning bits of plastic with widely-variable dependability standards are soooo last century. If you really, really need one, Apple's MBA external superdrive is more than sufficient and very reasonably priced.

I take it you don't travel a lot outside of North America.

Internet connections outside of North America are often very slow and unreliable, having to cart along an external drive defeats the whole purpose of buying a MBA in the first place, getting something small and portable.

I have been wanting to buy a MBA for international travel for the longest time but the lack of a DVD drive always nixes that idea.

I take it you don't travel a lot outside of North America.

Internet connections outside of North America are often very slow and unreliable, having to cart along an external drive defeats the whole purpose of buying a MBA in the first place, getting something small and portable.

Actually... for the past six years I've been living in Mexico. I have travelled frequently to the Caribbean (Cuba). Within these outside-of-NA experiences, only on a couple of occasions (literally two) have I needed to use my ethernet port in a corner of the university where the wifi setup isn't ideal.

I have wifi at home, and the city where I live has implemented free WiFi in all major public plazas downtown. Not to mention free WiFi in pretty much every café and some restaurants.

Technological leap-frogging in the developing world means less preoccupation with copper wires... why install a hard-wired telephone network when everyone is using cellular anyway? Ditto wired internet vs WiFi.

Heck, even in Cuba WiFi is where it's at. Tourist connections to the internet via the hotel lobbies ($6 CUC / hour last time I checked) were WiFI. Back when I did my MA research on Cuba's ICT initiatives (1999), I was using a telephone plug and alligator clips to do pop-only dialup for email. They've come a long way...

For those like Ravindra who pretty much daily need to connect, at the same place, well the dongle just gets left at the office - no need to cart it around.

And the MBA superdrive is ridiculously light and slim - not much of an imposition to throw into your laptop bag, IMHO.

If Apple does announce a new MBP in June would it be available to buy in August? I ask because I told my son who is going to MacMaster for BioChem this fall, to wait in buying a laptop for now.

I bet it'll be available within a week or two of the announcement. The processors are the only thing holding Apple back from an update (AFAIK) and Intel released the new Ivy Bridge processors a few weeks back. This is for the 15"/17" models. The processors for the 13"/Air MacBooks won't be out until June, so those may update later on in the summer.

(Current rumours also say that Apple's having trouble with battery life on the new 13" Air's with the retina display sucking lots of power... so who knows how long those will take to sort out).

I'd gripe. I don't like dongles. That's the one thing I've never liked about any of the apple hardware I've owned. I have a very LARGE basket/drawer full of useless dongles from apple mixed in with various assorted extra cables.

I like using the ethernet port when I'm at work since the wireless is hit and miss in many buildings.

The other problem is the USB->Ethernet dongle from Apple is 10/100 only, not gigabit. Lame if you're trying to transfer files around a network at the fastest speed possible. Has anyone released a gigabit thunderbolt->Ethernet adapter yet? I can't find anything other than using the Thunderbolt display itself. (not exactly portable or economical! Lol)

I sure hope the the new MBP has user-replaceable drives. I bought my 2 present SSDs with that upgrade option in mind.

I don't see why the thinner design wouldn't just be unibody like the current models - and have the single bottom panel to access HDD and RAM upgrades. Even the current MBAs are thinner than the 2012 MBPs are supposed to be, and they're still user upgradeable (once you have the right pentalobe screwdriver).

I won't miss the optical drive as I've already removed it from my laptop but the ethernet port is in daily use. You can't get gigabit speeds from USB2...so unless they offer USB3 adapters that would be an issue for me. I suppose if they come out with a thunderboolt dock option that has those ports on board I'd be ok but it will likely be $$$ so i might as well just buy the 27" cinema display.

It's best to wait anyway because they always have a back to school promotion where you get a free ipod(mail in rebate) or something with the purchase of a macbook.
Took advantage of that a few years back on my daughter's MacBook but Apple didn't have that deal last year, I think it was a $100 app gift card. With the daughter's Macbook I got a ipod touch 2nd generation.
Ooops! It was mentioned about the gift card, my bad.

I guess I'm one of the few people who still use the optical drive regularly. I analyze DVDs for the reports I write, and I like the convenience of having it all in one package. But, not having an integrated optical drive, and not having an ethernet port will not drive me away from purchasing a MBP next time around.

I guess I'm one of the few people who still use the optical drive regularly. I analyze DVDs for the reports I write, and I like the convenience of having it all in one package. But, not having an integrated optical drive, and not having an ethernet port will not drive me away from purchasing a MBP next time around.

This.

A portable USB optical drive would be a solution for me. Don't like more baggage, but won't dismiss it either.