Apple's March 21st 2016 event

ic1male · 11 Mar 2016 at 11:57

http://www.apple.com/apple-events/march-2016/

Expecting a new iPad to be announced. Rumours suggest it is a smaller version of the iPad Pro. This means it will have the same four-speaker setup and other internals but come with the familiar 9.7" screen.

Which probably means that the iPad Air range will be staying at the same prices (£319 and £399 for Air 1 and Air 2 respectively) and this 9.7" iPad Pro "mini" will be £499.

Starts TONIGHT at 5PM

Deo_volente · 11 Mar 2016 at 12:24

Are they likely to announce a new 12" Macbook do you think? Pretty sure the current one has been out about 12 months. Have been fancying a smallish silent laptop that isn't ruined by windows for a while but knowing how apple work decided to hold of on jumping in on the first iteration (not that i've ever used OSX before either although have always wanted to try it).

ic1male · 11 Mar 2016 at 12:27

Nowhere is reporting anything about the OS X side of things (hardware or software).

I'm desperate for the Mac mini to get updated. I really need a new computer as my 10-year-old laptop is practically falling apart. I did contemplate getting a new gaming PC but I really want to start learning Swift so it'll have to be a Mac.

bloodiedathame · 11 Mar 2016 at 12:31

All the Mac's are due a refresh with the exception of the iMac.

Billies Bangers · 11 Mar 2016 at 14:21

bloodiedathame said:
All the Mac's are due a refresh with the exception of the iMac.

Why not the iMac - the design is now positively prehistoric. If any piece of Apple kit needs a complete re-design and total overhaul it has to be the iMac.

It has changed very little since around 2009. Let's put it this way, if you were just returning from a Mars mission the present incarnation would be immediately recognisable. Just how long can Apple keep getting away with things like a 5400 rpm spinner - it's just plain embarrassing. :rolleyes:

bloodiedathame · 11 Mar 2016 at 14:23

Billies Bangers said:
Why not the iMac - the design is now positively prehistoric. If any piece of Apple kit needs a complete re-design and total overhaul it has to be the iMac.

It has changed very little since around 2009. Let's put it this way, if you were just returning from a Mars mission the present incarnation would be immediately recognisable. Just how long can Apple keep getting away with things like a 5400 rpm spinner - it's just plain embarrassing.

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#Mac

Last update to it was about 6 months ago.

Billies Bangers · 12 Mar 2016 at 10:57

bloodiedathame said:
http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#Mac

Last update to it was about 6 months ago.

Oh come on! that's just tweaking around the edges, the odd speed bump, does my bum look big now with my new rear covering.

In reality it's changed little in overall design. The poor old Mini is a travesty from what it once was, again sealed to make upgrades very difficult for the consumer.

If you want to keep trotting out the Apple mantra then fine. However, some of us are capable of independent thought and can see that Apple are taking the consumer for a very expensive ride at present.

They need some good new products and not simply rely on old designs and the iPhone in order for them to keep making huge profits.

dlite · 12 Mar 2016 at 11:32

IMac has gotten a wonderful retina treatment during past few years, but the fact that you can buy it without ssd storage is a huge mistake from apples side. Bare minimum should be fusion drive.

Built to order options make it ok as a machine, but Apples pricing of ssd in desktops is still stratospheric.

ic1male · 12 Mar 2016 at 11:35

What they need is a CEO who is a gamer. Then the Macs will finally get the internals they deserve to make them really shine.

MagicBoy · 12 Mar 2016 at 13:51

Yeah. Right.

Deleted member 77746 · 12 Mar 2016 at 14:14

Can't wait, always enjoyed their conferences.

Marky · 12 Mar 2016 at 14:18

Looking forward to seeing the new iPad

Mine might be due an upgrade soon

Also interested to see if they make any comments regarding iCloud encryption...

Billies Bangers · 12 Mar 2016 at 14:36

ic1male said:
What they need is a CEO who is a gamer. Then the Macs will finally get the internals they deserve to make them really shine.

I can't see that happening with an AIO though can you? I mean just how would they deal with cooling?

I doubt they are ever going to be anything other than a consumer grade Home/Office computer with an expensive price tag to go with them.

I think gamers really need to stick to a home built Windows machine, this is always likely to be the most versatile option. I may go back to building my next computer if Apple continue with their present business model as I'm tiring of the same old same old.

Bluecube · 12 Mar 2016 at 15:46

I'm hoping for the new MBP to be announced, quietly or otherwise. I'm just waiting on the Skylake update myself but there's talk about a complete redesign.

Caged · 12 Mar 2016 at 16:17

Anyone expecting to see Apple hardware competing on specs is delusional. You can argue all you want that 5400 RPM hard drives are unacceptable and make Fusion Drives pointless along with the reduction in the amount of flash that makes them up, you can also look at the Mac mini and see an anaemic machine with no real upgrade potential. You'd be right. But thinking that expressing those views will make Apple change a formula that seems to be working just fine for them is just a waste of energy.

dannyjo22 · 12 Mar 2016 at 21:35

I'm still on an ipad3 so was hoping for a new one at the end of last year when they normally announce them. So I will be buying one this time around.

ic1male · 12 Mar 2016 at 21:44

dannyjo22 said:
I'm still on an ipad3 so was hoping for a new one at the end of last year when they normally announce them. So I will be buying one this time around.

Are you still going to get one if they bump the price up by £100?

Billies Bangers · 12 Mar 2016 at 22:25

Caged said:
Anyone expecting to see Apple hardware competing on specs is delusional. You can argue all you want that 5400 RPM hard drives are unacceptable and make Fusion Drives pointless along with the reduction in the amount of flash that makes them up, you can also look at the Mac mini and see an anaemic machine with no real upgrade potential. You'd be right. But thinking that expressing those views will make Apple change a formula that seems to be working just fine for them is just a waste of energy.

Hence why I have said I may well go back to building my own machines. At least that way I get the machine I want with the parts I want plus I can upgrade when I want and Windows 10 is pretty good - what's not to like.

MagicBoy · 12 Mar 2016 at 22:26

No OS X!

Billies Bangers · 12 Mar 2016 at 23:02

MagicBoy said:
No OS X!

Well even that is being diluted by iOS these days so not the end of the world any more. I would be quite happy sacrificing OS X to get a machine I really want, that is upgradeable and at a price point that doesn't break the bank.

I appreciate that building your own computer isn't for every one, but if you can do it then why not. IMO Apple has been riding high on past achievements, though lately they appear to be just milking that past success for all it's worth and not really moving the game forward.