Apple Confirms Retina MacBook Build-to-Order Pricing for 1.3 GHz Processor

[QCassidy352]

Of course, same things have been claimed about the original MacBook Air — and the result? That 'ridiculous' and 'useless' laptop killed the netbooks and transformed the laptop market in its entirety.

Only in later iterations. The original MBA, at $1800 for a slow HDD with almost no ports, did not. Redesigned versions with faster processors, more ports, lower prices, and SSD standard did.

It wouldn't surprise me to see the same thing happen here, but again, only when the price comes down, the functionality goes up, or both.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

The current CPUs in the MBA would dissipate too much power in the new much thinner and fanless MacBook case. There would need to be a substantial clock speed reduction to get the power dissipation down to a reasonable level. Add to that the higher power dissipation of the retina display which is not used in the Air. It's about making tradeoffs commensurate with a positive customer experience - i.e. performance. vs battery life vs. feature set vs. price.

For now, Apple is locked to what Intel can produce. Intel has a CPU roadmap. Apple has a laptop roadmap. I suspect each projects out 5 to 10 years. When a new laptop is introduced. i.e. the new MacBook, Apple is forced to choose reasonable CPUs from Intel at that point in time.

As time goes on, Intel tweaks their process increasing yields for higher speed (and/or) lower power parts at reduced prices to customers such as Apple. In accordance with that, over time, Apple will offer better performing laptops at lower pricing and power dissipation.

It has always been that way.

Thanks for the education. Apparently the iPad Air 2 has as much horsepower, with a retina screen, with a battery-sipping system on a compact board... all for less than half the cost of the starting price of this MB. Sure, Apple has to buy Intel parts for this MB instead of using it's own A-series chipsets and sure this thing is coming with a keyboard & trackpad and more metal than that iPad. But I just can't believe that the only way to get this laptop involves a cost structure so much higher than iPad and MB Air that the starting price is $1299 for these specs.

I am trying to resist calling this Apple's Netbook but it seems so close to that, including the concept of underpowered computing horsepower that Apple used to criticize about all netbooks. Yet, here it is, arguably underpowered (perhaps) to fit into a somewhat thinner & lighter case... but priced much differently (much higher) than netbooks were priced relative to other laptops.

It's certainly possible that the underpinning guts of this platform are simply a lot more expensive than the guts of the Air and rMBP and this pricing simply reflects the usual Apple margin. But my gut guess is that there is more margin in this than any of the other laptop offerings because I suspect it's priced much higher than it should (or could) be. I'll accept that I can be wrong about that- that for all of Apple's bargaining power with Intel overall, they are somehow getting it put to them with this particular bundle of Intel chips such that the price must be "as is" and can hopefully be worked down in time. I just struggle to imagine that as even likely.

Bottom line: I see it as I see it. If it was me, at this price, I'd buy the Air or the rMBP for the same money or much less, not need the adapters that I would need for a mobile laptop, and enjoy the tradeoff of substantially more robust laptops at the cost of a little "thinner" and as little as .38lbs lighter. It's a cool little laptop for those that see it as their perfect fit. I hope they enjoy it and find it an ideal match for their specific needs or wants.

 

[douglasf13]

Plenty of us still use wired headphones.

Agreed. I'd much rather have an audio jack than another USB port on the new Macbook. I have a couple sets of higher end headphones that I frequently use with my laptops, iPhone, etc.

 

[El Hikaru]

So why is the Air or rMBP not perfect for that wife? They will do pretty much everything that MB can do, better than that MB can do it. Since she doesn't know the difference beyond 1.2 > 1.1, why would she prefer MB to MBA or rMBP? Her answer will need to be wanting the gold color option and/or wanting "thinnest" & "lightest" case bad enough to justify the price premium you will be paying. Else someone who understands 1.2 > 1.1 will need to care about butterfly keyboard & track pad force touch mechanisms.

She want something new to show off.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

And she can't show off an Air or rMBP?

Will these friends know the difference... that she has the new MB vs. a new MB Air vs. a new MB Pro with Retina Screen? If they are knowledgable enough to know the difference, are you not concerned that they would ask some questions about why she went with this MB instead of the higher-powered options at less cost?

 

[brianvictor7]

And she can't show off an Air or rMBP?

Will these friends know the difference... that she has the new MB vs. a new MB Air vs. a new MB Pro with Retina Screen? If they are knowledgable enough to know the difference, are you not concerned that they would ask some questions about why she went with this MB instead of the higher-powered options at less cost?

Excellent point.

Bottom line: if it meets your needs and you've the money to burn, enjoy it. Personally, I see the new rMB as underpowered and overpriced notebook for what you can get from Apple. It needs another port for snycing and charging an iPhone/iPad (can an adapter solve that).

 

[KPOM]

"- 1.3 GHz with 512 GB storage: $1749"

So, $2250 in Sweden then..

Or..

$400 on a trip to America, $1750 to AppleStore and $100 left for Dunkin Donughts #win

Well, only if you fly into Boston and drive up to New Hampshire (or Philly and drive to Delaware). Otherwise you'll need to add sales tax. I doubt you could get a $400 flight to Portland, OR.

 

[douglasf13]

Bottom line: I see it as I see it. If it was me, at this price, I'd buy the Air or the rMBP for the same money or much less, not need the adapters that I would need for a mobile laptop, and enjoy the tradeoff of substantially more robust laptops at the cost of a little "thinner" and as little as .38lbs lighter. It's a cool little laptop for those that see it as their perfect fit. I hope they enjoy it and find it an ideal match for their specific needs or wants.

It's all about providing more and more subdivisions of a portable screened device, which allows tailoring to our specific needs. Right now, we have:

iPhone 6
iPhone 6+
iPad Mini
iPad
---new rMB
MBA 11"
MBA 13"
MBP 13"
rMBP 13"
rMBP 15"


A lot of us have been waiting for a tiny machine that operates like a normal OSX computer with a high res screen, and the new Macbook slots in nicely. Sure, it's a little pricey, and I'd like to see it start at $999, but I'm sure it will drop to something closer to that over time.

For me, the iPhone 6, rMB and rMBP 15" covers me for my work, whereas my wife is fine with the iPhone 6, iPad, and MBP 13", because she has different needs and uses.

 

[Heisenberg888]

Peeps are getting too worked up on the pricing of this macbook. Only the early adopters will fork out for this. Never get the first iteration, apple are just testing the waters to see how many they will sell. They did the same with the original MBAs and retina MacBook pros - 13 inch.

Next year they'll knock $100 of this and upgrade the facetime to HD and the following year another $100, until the price is near to reasonable. Hell, by then a few of these will be in the refurb store for $900, next to new.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

OK but last I checked, this would be the MB 12" and it's pretty crowded there at:

iPad 9.7"
MBA 11"
---- new MB 12"
MBA 13"
MBP 13"
rMBP 13"

Hopefully, they can adopt some half-inch screen sizes to slip in between those when they want to provide even more subdivisions?

 

[Heisenberg888]

It's all about providing more and more subdivisions of a portable screened device, which allows tailoring to our specific needs. Right now, we have:

iPhone 6
iPhone 6+
iPad Mini
iPad
---new rMB
MBA 11"
MBA 13"
MBP 13"
rMBP 13"
rMBP 15"


A lot of us have been waiting for a tiny machine that operates like a normal OSX computer with a high res screen, and the new Macbook slots in nicely. Sure, it's a little pricey, and I'd like to see it start at $999, but I'm sure it will drop to something closer to that over time.

For me, the iPhone 6, rMB and rMBP 15" covers me for my work, whereas my wife is fine with the iPhone 6, iPad, and MBP 13", because she has different needs and uses.

My guess is that next year they will bring out the 14 inch retina MacBook with 2 USB type C ports to fit in with their 12-15 inch retina MacBook/Pro line up. The MBAs and Classic MBP will be the entry level machines.

 

[citysnaps]

Thanks for the education. Apparently the iPad Air 2 has as much horsepower, with a retina screen, with a battery-sipping system on a compact board... all for less than half the cost of the starting price of this MB. Sure, Apple has to buy Intel parts for this MB instead of using it's own A-series chipsets and sure this thing is coming with a keyboard & trackpad and more metal than that iPad. But I just can't believe that the only way to get this laptop involves a cost structure so much higher than iPad and MB Air that the starting price is $1299 for these specs.

I am trying to resist calling this Apple's Netbook but it seems so close to that, including the concept of underpowered computing horsepower that Apple used to criticize about all netbooks. Yet, here it is, arguably underpowered (perhaps) to fit into a somewhat thinner & lighter case... but priced much differently (much higher) than netbooks were priced relative to other laptops.

It's certainly possible that the underpinning guts of this platform are simply a lot more expensive than the guts of the Air and rMBP and this pricing simply reflects the usual Apple margin. But my gut guess is that there is more margin in this than any of the other laptop offerings because I suspect it's priced much higher than it should (or could) be. I'll accept that I can be wrong about that- that for all of Apple's bargaining power with Intel overall, they are somehow getting it put to them with this particular bundle of Intel chips such that the price must be "as is" and can hopefully be worked down in time. I just struggle to imagine that as even likely.

Bottom line: I see it as I see it. If it was me, at this price, I'd buy the Air or the rMBP for the same money or much less, not need the adapters that I would need for a mobile laptop, and enjoy the tradeoff of substantially more robust laptops at the cost of a little "thinner" and as little as .38lbs lighter. It's a cool little laptop for those that see it as their perfect fit. I hope they enjoy it and find it an ideal match for their specific needs or wants.

>>> I am trying to resist calling this Apple's Netbook but it seems so close to that, including the concept of underpowered computing horsepower that Apple used to criticize about all netbooks. Yet, here it is, arguably underpowered (perhaps) to fit into a somewhat thinner & lighter case... but priced much differently (much higher) than netbooks were priced relative to other laptops.

And that was exactly the case with the new 2008 MacBook Air. Look where it is now in terms of performance, features, and price compared to the current MacBook Air. That comes from the benefit of time with key parts from Apple vendors offering better performance at lower prices. Much more importantly, the 2015 MacBook Air offers customers a much better user experience than that of the 2008 MacBook Air - with a substantial reduction in price

The new MacBook will mature similarly over time.


>>> It's certainly possible that the underpinning guts of this platform are simply a lot more expensive than the guts of the Air and rMBP and this pricing simply reflects the usual Apple margin. But my gut guess is that there is more margin in this than any of the other laptop offerings because I suspect it's priced much higher than it should (or could) be.

Nobody outside of Apple knows. There are development costs to recover, including those for the better trackpad. Intel's new CPU will be initially priced higher due to yields always being poorer at launch, especially for higher clocked variants. All of those costs will go down with time, just like it has for the iPod and the 2008 MacBook Air.

Fortunately, Apple offers customers a choice. Want the best performance, buy a MBP. Don't need performance, buy a MBA. Want to save 1 pound in weight over a 13" MBA, buy the new MacBook - I suspect that will be fine for at least half of Apple's laptop buying customers.

 

[rekhyt]

These new macs are overpriced by about $300 considering I can get a Macbook Pro Retina 13" with more power, same ram, bigger retina display and more ports same memory for nearly the same price.

Took a significant amount of invest (in machinery, in manpower and time, in designing it, opportunity cost, ...) into the new MacBook 12".

You can't compare the current MacBook 12" to the current offerings now on just specs. You need to compare it holistically.

 

[Piggie]

Even if it "backfires" the new Macbook is such a tiny fraction of their product line, it won't hurt. I bet they recoup the R&D for it within the year. As usual, it won't satisfy the ~1-2% of Apple users who need workhorses, but most users will have all of their needs met with this machine.

Even the Apple Watch Edition isn't a very risky bet. The aren't going to produce millions of them, they will wait to see how strong demand is, and worst case it becomes a super-niche option, while they sell millions of Sports and steel Watch versions.

I was speaking more generally, not just 1 or two products.

I think we can all see how Apple is changing as a company, they are heading into unknown waters, and, it seems, seeing how far they can push this new direction, bit by bit.

It will be interesting to see how this pans out long term, and they may end up moving so far away, that it self implodes eventually.

 

[jonfarr]

Real question, anyone know if Best Buy will have these on launch day?

Sounds like they could be limited with the announcement they were going to urge customers to order the new MB and watch online to not be "disappointed". Makes me wonder if the resellers such as Best Buy will have them launch day.

 

[douglasf13]

OK but last I checked, this would be the MB 12" and it's pretty crowded there at:

iPad 9.7"
MBA 11"
---- new MB 12"
MBA 13"
MBP 13"
rMBP 13"

Hopefully, they can adopt some half-inch screen sizes to slip in between those when they want to provide even more subdivisions?

I was slotting them more in terms of power, not screen size. Either way, it's not all that crowded, because the MBAs have terrible screens, which is why I've gotten rid of them (owned both an 11" and a 13".) The MBA 11" and rMB have about the same battery capacity, so it's a choice of a faster processor and poor screen vs. a slower processor and a great screen.

 

[mrhick01]

I've always wondered just how fast you could get before the passive cooling can't keep up anymore.

For all I know, it might already not be able to keep up if you max out the usage for long enough.

1.3 GHz just isn't fast enough for the stuff I want to do. That's equal to, or slower than iPhones since the iPhone 5.

As a side note, the iPhone 6, 6+, and iPad Air 2 are faster, and are still passively cooled. I wonder if the number of fanless laptops will skyrocket now, just like the gimmicky touch-screen cell phone. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out, and how fast they'll get.

Wait a minute, how can you say that? 1.3 Ghz is the base. It can throttle up to what, 2.9 or 3.0 Ghz in a core as needed? With the 14nm process, that is a very fast processor that only uses 4.5 watts of power! This is the very best in the world for ultra low voltage consumers.

 

[Technarchy]

The sanity and lucidity of anyone that buys a $1299 Macbook over a $1299 Macbook Pro is highly questionable.

Everything about the Macbook strikes me as farcical and borderline trolling on Apple's part.

 

[NT1440]

>>> I am trying to resist calling this Apple's Netbook but it seems so close to that, including the concept of underpowered computing horsepower that Apple used to criticize about all netbooks

Underpowered...for what exactly?

Netbooks were barely able to run their friggin OS, that is not the case with the new Macbook.

So if you say underpowered for video editing, you're looking at the wrong machine to begin with.

If you say it's underpowered for what 90% of consumers do (Internet, email, streaming, etc) then you're just full of crap. Underpowered doesn't mean "it's slower than another computer", it means it can't do what it's designed to do. With the crazy fast SSD (PCIe) I don't really see how this thing is going to choke doing what consumers do with their machines.

To say it's a netbook is to fundamentally misunderstand what the netbook was to begin with.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Took a significant amount of invest (in machinery, in manpower and time, in designing it, opportunity cost, ...) into the new MacBook 12".

You can't compare the current MacBook 12" to the current offerings now on just specs. You need to compare it holistically.

This development cost argument should be "holistic" too. For example, cost of developing everything new at Apple could be compared against all revenues of Apple rather than trying to imply costs of development of this one product must be made up for by this one product's early revenues (before retail pricing could be worked down to a level that no longer needs to cover that development cost).

Apple is a big, BIG company now. I doubt they apply the development costs vs. revenues on a per-product basis anymore (if ever). If this product or the Watch would completely flop, they won't die because they didn't make up their development costs with direct revenues.

PLUS, I highly doubt that if this product and/or the Watch roars that as soon as the development costs are fully recouped, the discounts to wash out that extra charge will be removed for us consumers.

 

[brianvictor7]

Took a significant amount of invest (in machinery, in manpower and time, in designing it, opportunity cost, ...) into the new MacBook 12".

You can't compare the current MacBook 12" to the current offerings now on just specs. You need to compare it holistically.

I see your point. Since it is new technology, they feel entitled to recoup the R&D costs to maintain profitability. Also, no one else on the market has a laptop like this. I get their reasoning now, I think. From a consumer point of view, I still don't have justification for investing in such a limited device, but if others want it, more power to them and more money to Apple to help them incorporate the new tech to the next MBPr

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

The MBA 11" and rMB have about the same battery capacity, so it's a choice of a faster processor and poor screen vs. a slower processor and a great screen.

OR for the same money or less, faster processor and a great screen (rMBP)

 

[pacalis]

Peeps are getting too worked up on the pricing of this macbook. Only the early adopters will fork out for this. Never get the first iteration, apple are just testing the waters to see how many they will sell. They did the same with the original MBAs and retina MacBook pros - 13 inch.

Next year they'll knock $100 of this and upgrade the facetime to HD and the following year another $100, until the price is near to reasonable. Hell, by then a few of these will be in the refurb store for $900, next to new.

Exactly, they're priced not to sell. This is more about getting their general architecture right for Intel's next spec upgrade.

And although it's not quite a gold iWatch, the price of this makes other Mac products look like great values (even though they are also premium priced).

Sad part of all this is it seems like there will never be a rMBA.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

To say it's a netbook is to fundamentally misunderstand what the netbook was to begin with.

I said that and not all netbooks were "barely able to run their OS". Some were pretty functional for "light computing" and were selling well enough to move Apple to actually address them when pitching iPads and Air as "better alternatives" at the time.

"We" were all over netbooks as inferior computers when Apple deemed them that. But now "we" have 50 reasons to rationalize this new MB at this price even against the reality of both MBA and rMBP being priced the same or much less... or the iPad or iPad + keyboard being traditionally spun as Apple's "thinnest" & "lightest" answer for those with "light computing" needs: "no, not that light", "but not so heavy that an Air or Pro's power makes more sense", "must have thinnest & lightest but not enough to make a much thinner & lighter iPad or iPad + keyboard suffice", "must be a real laptop but with retina but not with the other rMBP benefits because they are overkill for my needs", etc. As we pile up all of the better than this but not quite as good as that rationale, we shrink the quantity of people that can meet all of that criteria. I'm thinking maybe it should just be for people that want "a gold-colored, thinnest & lightest, (only) Apple laptop that runs OS X and I don't care what it costs relative to other options, including other laptops from Apple"

I'm not saying this is absolutely a netbook just like those from other companies a few years ago but relative to other offerings from Apple in the laptop form factor, it certainly looks like it could be called that... except for it's price... which is priced up in the "pro" laptop realm.

 

[brianvictor7]

The sanity and lucidity of anyone that buys a $1299 Macbook over a $1299 Macbook Pro is highly questionable.

Everything about the Macbook strikes me as farcical and borderline trolling on Apple's part.

There is always that group of early adopters (about 10% of the market) that has to have the newest thing. Although I don't know about their sanity or lucidity, those people do help provide capital for innovation. Which is good, because as you can see from my signature block, I'm not one of them (more to the point, the Mrs isn't one of them and she run things ). We haven't even bought an iPad yet.