Apple set to drop 17in MacBook Pro, says watcher

Plans up in Air

Apple's 17in MacBook Pro will be phased out in 2012, one analyst has predicted, in favour of an Air-style refresh of the line that excludes the company's largest notebook.

While discussing Apple's computing strategy for the year, KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed the laptop no longer has a role in the Air-themed line-up. Sales are falling, he says, and Apple wants a leaner line-up.

So long?

Talk of slimmer 13in and 15in MacBook Pros aligns with recent rumours of a refresh built around Intel's new Ivy Bridge chips and which will see Apple abandon optical drives in its laptops.

No doubt Apple expects folk after a larger display on the desks to use an external monitor.

Still, with other whispers talking of a Retina refresh and a resolution of 2880 x 1800, the 15in display might just compensate sufficiently. ®