2020: Return of the PowerBook?

[tevion5]

With all the hype around an upcoming ARM based Mac (something I'm personally supportive of if it means better battery and performance) can we also expect a change to the Mac naming scheme as we're seen with previous transitions?

There was overlap with the "Power" naming scheme on the tail end of 68K based Macs, but it was largely associated with the PPC era. That naming was fully dropped on all 2006-present Intel Macs.

Given that Apple is so much bigger today than it was even in 2005 it may not make sense to change the widely recognised MacBook/Mac Pro branding.

But it does present an opportunity to wipe the slate clean with a new naming scheme, possibly one that ties the somewhat clunky legacy mix of names across the product range i.e. iMac, iPhone Vs Apple Watch Vs MacBook Pro.

 

[Gamer9430]

That’s honestly very interesting to think about. I never considered the fact that with each transition, Apple changed their product names. PowerPC brought the PowerMac and PowerBook, Intel brought the MacBook and Mac Pro. It would be interesting to see if they decide to change the naming up once again. Like Tevion5 said, the current lineup has such global brand recognition, it might not make sense to change the names around, other than to draw excitement from a “whole new product”. Apple’s current naming lineup between all of their products is a bit of a mess. Between using the i in iMac, iPhone, iPod, and iPad, to dropping the i in AppleTV, ApplePay, AppleWatch, etc, not to mention the Plus, Pro, Max, and Air mess they’ve created with the iPhones and iPads, Apple really needs to simplify their naming and clean up the lineup. This may prove to be the best time for them to do so.

I’m excited to see what these next few “transitional” years have to offer, especially as my need for a new MacBook to replace my 2012 15in 9,1 is quickly approaching.

 

[Amethyst1]

What's in a name? Specs alone matter.

 

[Gamer9430]

What's in a name? Specs alone matter.

A name that’s easily recognizable in a global business environment that appeals to a wide demographic is a lot easier to sell to Grandma who doesn’t what difference between locking a device and putting it to sleep versus turning it all the way off.

Brand image and reputation does a whole lot more for sales than “specs alone” because probably over 50% of apple’s user base is buying whatever they put out because it has a picture of a fruit with a bite taken out of it on the side of the box.

 

[Amethyst1]

A name that’s easily recognizable in a global business environment that appeals to a wide demographic is a lot easier to sell to Grandma who doesn’t what difference between locking a device and putting it to sleep versus turning it all the way off.

I'm well aware of that. Marketing 101. My question was meant to be rhetorical.

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Brand image and reputation does a whole lot more for sales than “specs alone” because probably over 50% of apple’s user base is buying whatever they put out because it has a picture of a fruit with a bite taken out of it on the side of the box.

And that is the real problem - mindless consumerism by people who don't have a clue.

 

[weckart]

Given that Apple uses the exciting moniker A for its ARM processors, I would expect something imaginative like the A-Mac Book Air or A-Mac Mini.

 

[MagicBoy]

A-iThinkThatsATerribleiDea.

 

[AshleyPomeroy]

PowerPC brought the PowerMac and PowerBook, Intel brought the MacBook and Mac Pro.

As the OP pointed out the PowerBook name predated PowerPC by four years or so. All but one of the Duos were Motorola 68K, for example. The consumer-orientated desktop Macs also retained the Performa brand through the transition from 68k to PowerPC.

Apple's byzantine naming scheme was a point of controversy the time - the company was keen to spread the word about PowerPC, but beyond the extra digit nothing in the name of e.g. the Performa 5260 or Performa 6205 made it clear that they had a fundamentally different architecture to the Performa 520 or 631 (for example). Or that e.g. the Performa 6112CD was actually a Power Macintosh 6100/60 with a different name.

I think I've said it before but iBook is a nice, generic Apple name that could easily be revived. Apple never really replaced it - the iBook was aimed at students, the MacBook Air at least began life as a prestige machine before turning into a generic budget MacBook.

 

[2984839]

Might as well call it the WaitOrBuyNowBook

 

[DearthnVader]

Tha A-Book-GPro

Not really enthused with the Pro line sporting an ARM, but maybe a buyer of a portable not over $799.
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To me, the only real reason to go Arm is for the low end and maybe mid end Macs, but only at a price point where Apple could gain market share and eat into used Mac sales.

 

[Imixmuan]

Tha A-Book-GPro

Not really enthused with the Pro line sporting an ARM, but maybe a buyer of a portable not over $799.
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To me, the only real reason to go Arm is for the low end and maybe mid end Macs, but only at a price point where Apple could gain market share and eat into used Mac sales.

....and maybe also kill off Hackintoshes? Although there will probably be ARM hackintoshes as well, running Windows 10 ARM in dual boot.

 

[Amethyst1]

....and maybe also kill off Hackintoshes? Although there will probably be ARM hackintoshes as well, running Windows 10 ARM in dual boot.

If you can get your hands on sufficiently powerful hardware. A Raspi isn't going to cut it.

 

[AphoticD]

Given that Apple uses the exciting moniker A for its ARM processors, I would expect something imaginative like the A-Mac Book Air or A-Mac Mini.

I always thought the A was for Apple haha

I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple decide to come out with a new portable Mac product line;

1. Mac (replaces MacBook/Air)
2. Mac X (replaces MacBook Pro 13”)
3. Mac X Plus (replaces MBP 16”)

iMac and Mac Pro product names to remain as is until the “desktop” computer takes its last dying breath.

 

[Amethyst1]

@AphoticD - No Mac mini anymore then?

 

[AphoticD]

@AphoticD - No Mac mini anymore then?

Hmm. I forgot about the mini... I imagine Apple would gladly drop the desktop line if they could.

The latest Mac Pro was dragged out of Apple like we asked them to do their homework or write a book report - it took forever and fell far out of reach of the average user on even a decent household income. Nobody except businesses or universities can truly justify spending that much on a single computer and even then it’s a far stretch of the budget.

It was Apple’s way of saying; “So you wanted a Pro desktop Mac? Is this Pro enough for ya? Yeah. Now cough it up.”

 

[Falhófnir]

I guess replacing (reverting?) MacBook (Air) with iBook and MacBook Pro with PowerBook could be a thing, though I think Steve Jobs said they wanted their computers to have 'Mac' in the name, so probably unlikely. As you say the names are now quite big brands in their own right, and particularly MacBook Air seems to have enough customer goodwill to keep a heavily outdated model selling well 3-4 years after its last significant refresh (8-9 years after its last proper redesign) and to make Apple U turn and bring it back after starting the process of depreciating it.

 

[filmbuff]

I don't see iAnything coming back at this point. The Apple Watch kind of killed that. I could see them bringing back a 12" and calling it the Apple Book, although that would be too generic when people inevitably drop the Apple and just call it the "Book". Notebook? Too long. Note? Taken. My best guess is they just stick with Macbook/Air/Pro and just change the processor and pretend like it's the same thing.