MacBook Pros: Sooner or later

With Intel's surprising Sandy Bridge news suggesting new computers featuring the processors might see delays, we couldn't help but ask ourselves whether the Sandy Bridge issues mean new MacBook Pros will come later rather than sooner.

First of all, we have no idea when new MacBook Pros are hitting next. However, assuming they're due for a refresh within the next few months, a few things seem likely: They're going to receive new Sandy Bridge processors, including the older Core 2 Duo-toting 13-inch MacBook Pro. And, they'll likely arrive after the competition. At least, that's been the case for recent MacBook Pros, including last year's Core i-series updates.

New Sandy Bridge laptops have been expected somewhere around the end of February. Even if that timeframe doesn't shift, consider that last year's Core i3/i5/i7 CPUs became available immediately after CES. Apple's new MacBook Pros debuted in April. If that same pattern held true this year, tea leaves would point to somewhere around the end of May/early June.

Now we're taking our Nostradamus hats off. Certainly, we'll be hearing news soon enough as to how OEMs will be handling the Sandy Bridge situation.