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

GhostRaider said:
I don't understand the position of the MacBook. Back in the day "MacBook" was the entry level laptop for those who wanted a Mac. It was less expensive. As for the MacBook Air, I'm not really sure what will happen to it since "MacBook" is technically the lightest laptop. I would assume Apple to discontinue the MacBook Air in the near future.
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This is the most probable course of action. The MacBook will replace the Air just as the retina MBP has (almost) replaced the MBP.

GhostRaider said:
So why is the Macbook at the same price range as the MacBook Pro with a crappier performance? I find it kind of stupid.
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Its not. The Macbook is the price range as the MBA. The rMBP is still more expensive. It might be stupid, but its just as stupid as having the MBP and the MBA.

GhostRaider said:
Why would anyone sacrifice performance when you can get the Pro version at the same price?
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Because some (actually, a lot of) people value portability over power. Educators, journalists, writers, scientists, consultants — basically everyone that needs to move a lot with a laptop but does not work with processor-intensive applications. Hell, I would get one, but for my needs its really a bit too slow. Plus, I want to be able to play games on my work laptop :D
 
way too expensive for a prototype either way. i will wait for the 2nd gen with a HD camera for an additional 200 bucks



/ probably not
 
A retina display on the ipad with 128gig (non-cellular) is half the cost. Add a keyboard cover and you essentially have the same thing. Only thing missing at that point is the ability to run screens at the same time. Fix this in iOS (which we know they can do whenever they want) and it will be a way better purchase than the laptop.
 
Where's the 1.1/2.4 / 8 / 512 option because storage is non-user upgradable and anything above 1.1/2.4GHz is a money extracting gimmick. 2.6GHz turbo is known to throttle even with active fan. Apple can't expect us to be fools to pay a premium for throttled performance.
 
I was planning on ordering a base model with a bumped up 1.3 processor, but maybe I'll be better off taking that $250 for the processor upgrade, add $100 and get an :apple:Watch with my order on Friday :D
 
lol $250 for a 200mhz bump... that's an insignificant speed bump by today's standards. the only way this would be a justified option is if the cpu was upgraded from a dual core to a quad core.

even the regular macbook air is better value for the money.
 
beanbaguk said:
Apple appear to be targeting a very odd market. The pretentious, nouveau-rich crowd.

People must be insane to spend this amount of cash on an underpowered laptop! Pretty it may be, but just like the Apple Watch, they seem to be going for a different market.
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I run my business on WAY less power than this: pro machines not long ago were slower! I'm doing 3D work and Photoshop and audio on a fairly old MacBook Air that still doesn't feel slow. My Mac Pro gets underutilized, and I have freedom to work anywhere. Not bad!

And most people have performance needs lower than mine.

I will reveal the big mystery: some people want thin and light more than they need spec numbers. I could use (but not need) more power. But I pick up a 13" retina MB Pro and think NO WAY. I am not lugging that thing.

Get what YOU need. Don't assume your needs are everyone's.

As for price and specs... are you comparing to equally thin, equally well-made, RETINA machines?

(And yes, skip the GHz boost.)
 
kagharaht said:
I can see myself using this to replace an aging iPad. I do love my iPad, but if I can have something almost as light and thin as the iPad with full Mac OS X functionality, this new Macbook may be it.
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In this same thread, we're tearing into suggestions for people to go with rMBP because it is <twice as heavy as this one. So, this being more than twice as heavy as an iPad seems like the idea should take the same kind of beating.
 
leman said:
This is the most probable course of action. The MacBook will replace the Air just as the retina MBP has (almost) replaced the MBP.



Its not. The Macbook is the price range as the MBA. The rMBP is still more expensive. It might be stupid, but its just as stupid as having the MBP and the MBA.



Because some (actually, a lot of) people value portability over power. Educators, journalists, writers, scientists, consultants — basically everyone that needs to move a lot with a laptop but does not work with processor-intensive applications. Hell, I would get one, but for my needs its really a bit too slow. Plus, I want to be able to play games on my work laptop :D
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But the rMBP is lightweight for me too. I don't know, I guess some people are very sensitive to weight lol
 
1.3ghz 256gb for me please. Yes it fits my needs and yes I'll be ordering as soon as possible
 
Everyone wants their say, so here's mine:

~ Like the new MacBook and buy one, enjoy it, it's your money.

~ Dislike the new MacBook and waste many days bemoaning that fact, hours or days you'll never be able to recover.

Anyone can earn money, it's not difficult, but you can't earn time back that you squandered on telling the world where it's going wrong. If you don't like the product, the time you're wasting to make that abundantly clear is FAR more precious in comparison to the paltry price of the machines you're complaining about. What's worse, you're complaining into a black hole, you're not even intelligently doing so in the direction of anyone who can alter anything you say you dislike.

Humans can be pretty stupid at times, this is a classic example of that.
 
Ack! As much as I love this thing, the higher models are just too much for me to afford. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed for an open-box sale or something on the lower end models.
 
I've said it before and I'll say it again: all they had to do was put a better screen on the existing MacBook Air and they would've had an ultraportable laptop that was nearly perfect for 99% of users. Instead, they have one ultraportable line with a lame screen and another ultraportable line with gimped power and connectivity.
 
You people are ridiculous. You're obsessing about numbers and bang for the buck. Clearly you appreciate good design or else you wouldn't be using Macs. Price/performance/design is a complex formula that is different for everyone. But if you're buying an Air, performance isn't your main concern. That screen probably is, and problem solved here. You wanted it to be cheaper and have the same battery life and profile, too? That's not living in reality.

I wouldn't buy this either, but the Watch should illustrate to you that there's room for people who buy on style alone. Here, you're paying for next-generation mechanical engineering that will eventually trickle across the lineup.
 
Traverse said:
It's a littlebit thicker and almost twice the weight.

If someone values portability above power and ports, the rMB is a better choice and not overpriced.
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Your still lugging a laptop wouldn't anyone rather have twice the power if their lugging one anyway?
 
People have short memory...

Apple's first MacBook Air, introduced in 2008, came with 2 GB of RAM, an 80GB spinning hard drive, a Core 2 Duo cpu, a TN non-retina display, one USB port, a five hour battery, and... a price of $1,799

Over the years Apple lowered the price and increased its capability. The same will happen with this MacBook.

In the meantime some people will whine on and on about it being a ripoff motivated by greed. Same-o, same-o...
 
KPOM said:
??? The original MacBook Air had a single USB port and an underpowered Core 2 Duo that ran so hot most of the time only a single core was running. People panned it since it cost so much more than the MacBook, which was "only" 1.5lbs heavier and so much more powerful with the SuperDrive, FireWire, and extra USB ports. The MacBook Air was going to be one of Steve Jobs' biggest flops, if you go back and read the Macworld message boards from January 2008.
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I don't know. Doesn't feel the same. Guess only time will tell. And sales, although I doubt there will be actual numbers to base analysis on...
 
This Macbook seems like the Cube of laptops. Great product overall but compromised by a bit too much form over function and overpriced on top of that.
 
citysnaps said:
People have short memory...

Apple's first MacBook Air, introduced in 2008, came with 2 GB of RAM, an 80GB spinning hard drive, a Core 2 Duo cpu, a TN non-retina display, one USB port, a five hour battery, and... a price of $1,799

Over the years Apple lowered the price and increased its capability. The same will happen with this MacBook.

In the meantime some people will whine on and on about it being a ripoff motivated by greed. Same-o, same-o...
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Maybe the frustration implied is in hoping Apple could learn from that past and get it more right this time. One of the biggest arguments for studying history is to learn from history's mistakes... so we don't make them again. But even if we can write off our fellow consumers as brainless morons, we still expect the genius minds at Apple to be able to do that... and thus not repeat the past but to do it right this time.

IMO, looking at this product relative to the other Apple laptops, it looks like it should be the entry-level product and priced accordingly. Much of the negative sentiment seems to revolve around the concept that one can take the same money and buy a whole lot more computer... from Apple.

On the other hand, this will be a good test of how much consumers truly value "thinnest" and "lightest" in a laptop. They'll vote for or against it with their wallets. If this sells like crazy, Apple will probably be moved to follow this genius lead with the rest of the laptop lineup. If it sells poorly, Apple might learn the lesson that "thinnest" & "lightest" are nice marketing punches... which work better when they are paired with tangible value as judged by the consumers who buy their products.
 
HobeSoundDarryl said:
Maybe the frustration implied is in hoping Apple could learn from that past and get it more right this time. One of the biggest arguments for studying history is to learn from history's mistakes... so we don't make them again. But even if we can write off our fellow consumers as brainless morons, we still expect the genius minds at Apple to be able to do that... and thus not repeat the past but to do it right this time.

IMO, looking at this product relative to the other Apple laptops, it looks like it should be the entry-level product and priced accordingly. Much of the negative sentiment seems to revolve around the concept that one can take the same money and buy a whole lot more computer... from Apple.

On the other hand, this will be a good test of how much consumers truly value "thinnest" and "lightest" in a laptop. They'll vote for or against it with their wallets. If this sells like crazy, Apple will probably be moved to follow this genius lead with the rest of the laptop lineup. If it sells poorly, Apple might learn the lesson that "thinnest" & "lightest" are nice marketing punches... which work better when they are paired with tangible value as judged by the consumers who buy their products.
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All of the Apple Competitors are building virtually the same laptops (but with Windows) for virtually the same price. If I needed a super thin and light laptop, I'd buy this one in a heart beat.

Right now my 2013 MBA is doing me just fine.
 
uid15 said:
Humans can be pretty stupid at times, this is a classic example of that.
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You get that this is a discussion forum, right? People come to MR to discuss apple products/rumors/news because we find it interesting to have that discussion. If you're NOT interested in having that discussion then maybe you're in the wrong place. Regardless, calling other posters stupid for posting their opinions on a discussion board adds nothing constructive.
 
This is for people who want a sleek MacBook to do simple tasks.

If you want to edit a movie on it, don't buy it. I'm not getting one but I can see the appeal.
 
paulrbeers said:
All of the Apple Competitors are building virtually the same laptops (but with Windows) for virtually the same price.
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I understood this the first time it was posted in this thread. There are watch makers making gold watches that cost many tens of thousands too so let's assume that fully justifies the Apple Watch at $17K.

I think the people seeing questionable value in this laptop would feel the same about those branded with competitor logos too. That they have similar laptops priced similarly doesn't automatically make this a bargain.
 
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