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stupid question: why the heck did Apple take out the remote controls on the new MBP?

ozziegn

ozziegn

macrumors 65816
Original poster
just like the title says. why in the world did Apple take away the remote control in their newer MBP lineup?

so someone like me spends $2500 on a high end Apple laptop and I don't even get a remote like I did before? that's messed up..... 😕
 
Apple takes for granted that a number of people that buy a MBP never use the remote so someone from up top makes a decision to save a few bucks and not include the extra perk to the MBP any longer. Premium products really should come with more little extras than what they do but any more every company just tries to cut as many corners as possible to save money.
 
I think the deal is:
1) Not a lot of people really used them (from what I saw)
2) Apple saves some money.
 
But they did replace it with that nice black cloth😱

Kidding aside, money. You can now buy one for $20. I remember the first iPods had dock, charger, earbud covers. Now iPod & cable only no bud covers - but there are them stickers....

Thems were the good 'ole days!
 
Since my MacBook Pro came with a remote I am not really affected by this but it still makes me angry nonetheless. Cost cutting at it's best and in my opinion it just looks bad.
 
NC MacGuy said:
You can now buy one for $20.
Click to expand...

it's not about being able to buy a remote for $20. it's about Apple porking their loyal customers for every single penny they can save.

think about it. I just spent $2500 on a laptop that's considered to be one of their flagship machines. and for this I get to "buy" something that use to be included not too long ago?

again, that's sad...
 
Just do what I did: order your MBP from the online store, then call Apple the next day and complain that your computer hasn't shipped. Don't forget to mention that you know for a fact (from reading MR) the the next guy's MBP has already left Shanghai, even though he ordered his full 2 hours and 37 minutes after you did. Apple will then promptly offer to waive your expedited shipping fee, at which point you tell them that you'll do them a favor and accept a free remote instead 🙂
 
The remote that came with my Merom MBP sits in desk organizer all the time, except on the rare occasion that I use Front Row to listen to music instead of regular iTunes. For presentations and such, RF clickers with laser pointers built in are far more useful. Can't say as I blame Apple for not wanting to buy and distribute vast numbers of peripheral devices that most people would never miss.
 
NC MacGuy said:
But they did replace it with that nice black cloth😱

Kidding aside, money. You can now buy one for $20. I remember the first iPods had dock, charger, earbud covers. Now iPod & cable only no bud covers - but there are them stickers....

Thems were the good 'ole days!
Click to expand...

You also used to get a CD with iTunes on it...
 
just a question, how much were the macbook pros in the US before the penryn models came out? b/c here in australia the penryn macbook pro are $200 AUD cheaper than the previous generation. now if they took out the remote to let that happen, then so be it. i would have definately still bought the macbook pro even if they were still at the same price point as the previous generatio so for it me, the lack of the $30 remote in exchange for the $200 reduction is definately a great deal for me.
 
I have 3 apple remotes sitting in a drawer, 2 still in the wrapper. I think Apple realized that not everyone was using them so why spend money putting one in every box... I can see how you are pissed but like someone else said ipod use to come with everything and now it seems like we are lucky to get a charging/syncing cable included. Apple probably has a few truck loads of these remotes sitting around and if you complain they will probably send you one but there are many people who will instead of complaining spend $20 to get one.
 
Because everyone was complaining they had too many. I didn't mind having to buy one, and I doubt everyone wants one. In Aus the price of the MBP dropped alot too with this update so I ended up with a remote, a BTO drive and still well below last months price.

edit: yes I my ipod touch box seemed very empty compared to my ipod mini. You dont even get itunes anymore, or any real instructions and no charger. I'm glad I had one from my old ipod.
You get a snazzy black cloth though.
 
I can help w/ burden of too many ...

This will be my first mac so I don't have a drawer full of remotes. If anyone needs extras room in their drawer I will be happy to take a remote off your hands! Let's make a deal! 😀

2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
MacBook Pro 17-inch Hi-Res WS
2GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2x1GB
 
davinche said:
I have 3 apple remotes sitting in a drawer, 2 still in the wrapper. I think Apple realized that not everyone was using them so why spend money putting one in every box...
Click to expand...
I think this has a lot to do with it.

And saving money.
 
I guess there aren't many users like me. I use the remote all the time with Front Row to watch movies. But it also wasn't an issue to just buy it extra for 20 bucks.
 
Yeah, ordered it extra to!

Need it for presentations etc, watching movies.

Well, isn't that expensive 🙂 And now i got an BLACK CLOTH extra! 😀
 
I got one with my MBP I got in Jan. I haven't even taken it from the package. In fact I have only used the one I got with my iMac in August a few times.
 
1) Not everyone uses it.
2) Apple put the buttons on the keyboard, so the remote is just for redundancy (since Front Row can also be accessed via the keyboard).


I remember when the MBP first came out, people were wondering what Apple was thinking when they bundled in the Apple Remote, citing it as being useless and pointless for a business machine. Two years later, people are bemoaning the omission of the remote? Come on, people, are you really so fickle?
 
zgnoud said:
just a question, how much were the macbook pros in the US before the penryn models came out? b/c here in australia the penryn macbook pro are $200 AUD cheaper than the previous generation. now if they took out the remote to let that happen, then so be it. i would have definately still bought the macbook pro even if they were still at the same price point as the previous generatio so for it me, the lack of the $30 remote in exchange for the $200 reduction is definately a great deal for me.
Click to expand...

This post is too reasonable!!
 
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