Apple Cuts Education Pricing on Non-Retina 13-Inch MacBook Pro, Now Starts at $999

[iSayuSay]

There are $300 ones that still don't match in quality.

Then you're not looking hard enough

There are $600 one

Not only match the resolution and display quality, it also does a lot more. It has multiple video inputs, setting buttons, rotateable arm, USB 3 hub, audio out, and 3 years warranty by default

And A LOT cheaper too

 

[Cougarcat]

I'm not 100% confident the cMBP line will get discontinued this year (I'm just playing the devil's advocate here), but I don't think sales numbers are any proof it won't get discontinued. The iPod mini was also the best-selling iPod when it was discontinued. Apple has a tendency to force what they see as being the future on people (think about optical drives, Flash, mechanical hard drives, ethernet…).

The iPod mini was replaced by the nano at the same (or similar) price point. Yes, the cMBP's days are numbered, but not until it's economically feasible to replace it.

They do at the store and are sometimes d-bags about it. I told an employee there I was going back to college for continuing education and since I didn't have current student identification he wouldn't sell me anything... and this was with me with a handful of other accessories and bags and whatnot in my arms... then this larger gentlemen must've overheard what was going on and shoved him out of the way and said "let's complete that sale for you!" Tried very hard not to laugh.

In the future, they will accept college acceptance letters as proof if you don't have your ID yet.

 

[toaster64]

Then you're not looking hard enough

There are $600 one

Not only match the resolution and display quality, it also does a lot more. It has multiple video inputs, setting buttons, rotateable arm, USB 3 hub, audio out, and 3 years warranty by default

And A LOT cheaper too

No Thunderbolt hub capability, no MagSafe, no speakers. If you want a display for a MacBook, it'll be annoying. Besides, it's ugly, and I don't think it even has a glass screen cover.

Since I have a 2008 Mac Pro, I probably wouldn't buy the TB display if I was willing to upgrade and was willing to spend the money unless I can't find anything else with a glass cover. I hate it when displays don't have glass.

 

[blackhand1001]

Not just the display. The design, quality, MagSafe-connector & USB-Hub. I need a huge display and the 30" Dell alternative costs around the same but looks from the front worse than the back of the current TB display.

The dell is a much better product though with a MUCH MUCH better warranty.

 

[WilliamG]

Maybe, but it's long been the best selling Mac -- notebook or desktop so the specs couldn't have been that distasteful to the general consumer who it's targeted to. I owned a couple of them myself (now using a 15" RMBP), and for most tasks its a great machine and terrific for traveling.

I hadn't read that the 13" MacBook Pro was the best-selling Mac. Got a link to that? I hear lots of people say that with no source (i.e. Apple) confirming it.

(Also, it wouldn't surprise me if it is, because it was also the cheapest "normal" Apple laptop. People like cheap, even if the quality isn't there.)

 

[iSayuSay]

No Thunderbolt hub capability, no MagSafe, no speakers. If you want a display for a MacBook, it'll be annoying. Besides, it's ugly, and I don't think it even has a glass screen cover.

Since I have a 2008 Mac Pro, I probably wouldn't buy the TB display if I was willing to upgrade and was willing to spend the money unless I can't find anything else with a glass cover. I hate it when displays don't have glass.

Thunderbolt, Magsafe, webcam, and built in (crappy) speakers on ATD can easily be replaced by multiple video input, USB 3 hub, rotatable arm, and audio out capability on Dell. Those are equally great features Apple display could not provide.

Glossy glass surface on Apple display is annoying for many people, matte display is a holy gift for the others. Do you want a display to do real work, or a shiny object?

Can your MacPro use ATD? Each has logo on it, no? While that plastic fugly Dell display welcomes your MacPro just fine. Who's more functional then?
Yeah, the Dell works with any Thunderbolt Mac too because it has DP input, while shiny ATD is a $999 paperweight unless you have Thunderbolt computer laying around. I wouldn't waste a grand for something that spoiled.

In the end, you may consider each features even out for both monitors, and even after all that, the Dell still comes up cheaper.

On top of that, like I said, the Dell comes with 3 years warranty, no need of getting ripped by another AppleCare.

Rip off is a rip off no matter how you put a lipstick on it and play the angle

 

[pwfletcher]

Once you go retina, you never go back ...

 

[pgiguere1]

The iPod mini was replaced by the nano at the same (or similar) price point. Yes, the cMBP's days are numbered, but not until it's economically feasible to replace it.

It's not all that different from the cMBP compared to the MBA/13" rMBP.

The iPod nano had half the capacity of the 2nd gen iPod mini for the same price, and also had a smaller max capacity (4GB).

Just like the rMBP, it had a better screen, got thinner and lighter, and got its mechanical hard drive replaced by flash memory.

 

[r6mile]

1. This discount isn't coming up on the Apple Store UK education page, is it meant to be US only?

2. Is there any chance this discount will also apply to the new Haswells? Because dropping the price right before a new model is expected is cheeky.

 

[toaster64]

Thunderbolt, Magsafe, webcam, and built in (crappy) speakers on ATD can easily be replaced by multiple video input, USB 3 hub, rotatable arm, and audio out capability on Dell. Those are equally great features Apple display could not provide.

Glossy glass surface on Apple display is annoying for many people, matte display is a holy gift for the others. Do you want a display to do real work, or a shiny object?

Can your MacPro use ATD? Each has logo on it, no? While that plastic fugly Dell display welcomes your MacPro just fine. Who's more functional then?
Yeah, the Dell works with any Thunderbolt Mac too because it has DP input, while shiny ATD is a $999 paperweight unless you have Thunderbolt computer laying around. I wouldn't waste a grand for something that spoiled.

In the end, you may consider each features even out for both monitors, and even after all that, the Dell still comes up cheaper.

On top of that, like I said, the Dell comes with 3 years warranty, no need of getting ripped by another AppleCare.

Rip off is a rip off no matter how you put a lipstick on it and play the angle

Like I said, it would be stupid to buy an ATD for my computer unless you just really want style. Actually, it would work with it if I just use an adaptor, so either display would work. The USB 3 hub isn't nearly as useful as the TB display's features if you're using a new portable Mac (and is once again pretty useless with my Mac Pro). The swivel arm isn't even useful. All it's got is the 3 year warranty, and I don't even know if they're going to honor that. You've gotta have separate adaptors and hubs for a bunch of stuff, sometimes including ethernet. A TB hub by itself is already really expensive. If you want a high end display and a hub for your MacBook Air or something, it's great.

The glass doesn't have a glare problem. I don't know if you've ever used one, but I've tried it in a normal indoors setting, and it's fine. I'm sick of getting marks on my LCD that are annoying to wash off, and my LCD TV that doesn't have a glass cover already broke because something brushed the screen.

 

[skippymac]

As a rule they don't. It's basically the honor system. However, if they did audit the purchase, you would have to prove your education status, otherwise as it says in their terms, you'd be charged the difference of a non-education machine.

I think Apple would have a hard time getting people to give them money for an item they had already purchased.

Apple treat students very well. Hefty discounts and free repairs in the UK. I remember my intel core 2 duo iMac needed its logic board replacing 2 or 3 years after I bought it. Apple didn't charge a penny. Great stuff.

Only because they're required to by law (Well maybe not only - but they are). That would be covered by your applecare, I just had my MBP's logic board replaced free as well.

One thing though is that the store staff do tend to treat students well, especially the younger ones. I took in my magsafe charger which was fraying (not technically covered by applecare) but the guy asked if I was a student, then put it through free for me as a manufacturing fault.

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1. This discount isn't coming up on the Apple Store UK education page, is it meant to be US only?

Education pricing is on a country by country basis (There might be an EU thing that makes it common for a few). In the UK Apple are required by law to give discount to students on computers (not iPhones or iPods ) and provide a free 3 year warranty (applecare minus phone support, or full applecare for a heavy discount).

Tip for UK students - don't get applecare unless you want to pay £60(?) for phone support, everything else is free. I for one have never used the phone support.

 

[iSayuSay]

Like I said, it would be stupid to buy an ATD for my computer unless you just really want style. Actually, it would work with it if I just use an adaptor, so either display would work. The USB 3 hub isn't nearly as useful as the TB display's features if you're using a new portable Mac (and is once again pretty useless with my Mac Pro). The swivel arm isn't even useful. All it's got is the 3 year warranty, and I don't even know if they're going to honor that. You've gotta have separate adaptors and hubs for a bunch of stuff, sometimes including ethernet. A TB hub by itself is already really expensive. If you want a high end display and a hub for your MacBook Air or something, it's great.

The glass doesn't have a glare problem. I don't know if you've ever used one, but I've tried it in a normal indoors setting, and it's fine. I'm sick of getting marks on my LCD that are annoying to wash off, and my LCD TV that doesn't have a glass cover already broke because something brushed the screen.

Really? What kind of "adapter" that will connect a non-Thunderbolt computer to Apple Thunderbolt Display? Hey, it's honest question, seriously.

Many people pay extra top dollars just to wall-mount Apple display and make it more ergonomic while Dell monitor's arm could handle all the basic movement just fine with no additional cost. I wouldn't call that [not useful].

USB 3 hub is excellent feature. It provides cheap and fast connection over USB 2 or even Firewire. Why something like Thunderbolt Display costs $999 and still uses ancient USB 2.0 for its hub is beyond my imagination.

Audio out on the Dell also a killer feature so I could use real speaker instead of rely on ear-tearing tin cans built-in speaker like the ATD has. Again, for $999 I would want better.

Yes, Dell honor the warranty and provides on-site and next business day repairs for some of their products. Meanwhile Genius could be spotty regarding those kind of services. In most cases you need to take a failed Apple product to nearest Apple Store instead. Cumbersome.

 

[skippymac]

2. Is there any chance this discount will also apply to the new Haswells? Because dropping the price right before a new model is expected is cheeky.

Also, I doubt there will be Haswell cMBPs, and if there are they won't be discounted.

Why exactly is it cheeky though? Apple are a business whose primary function is to make money, they know it will hurt business to try to clear stock after the update so they're doing it now, what's wrong with that?

Also one thing I have often thought about tech is this - the people who know about updates aside from big additions (like the rMBP) know exactly what they want, so wont be caught out by selling tactics like this, and those that are caught out either don't mind or don't really know about the release cycle so it doesn't bother them.

 

[skolvikes]

I hadn't read that the 13" MacBook Pro was the best-selling Mac. Got a link to that? I hear lots of people say that with no source (i.e. Apple) confirming it.

(Also, it wouldn't surprise me if it is, because it was also the cheapest "normal" Apple laptop. People like cheap, even if the quality isn't
there.)

I don't have specific numbers, but as a former Expert for over 3 years, I can tell you without a doubt that the 13 cMBP had no real competition as far as sales went, except for the white Macbook. This is up until about March of this year by the way. It's just the machine most consumers wanted. They liked the CD/DVD drive, price, and storage space, mainly.

 

[ncrypt]

I hadn't read that the 13" MacBook Pro was the best-selling Mac. Got a link to that? I hear lots of people say that with no source (i.e. Apple) confirming it.

(Also, it wouldn't surprise me if it is, because it was also the cheapest "normal" Apple laptop. People like cheap, even if the quality isn't there.)

They mentioned it in their October 2012 Keynote when launching the 13" rMBP:

Link

 

[YanniDepp]

Next a $30 discount for education pricing iPads

There's no educational discount on iPads, iPods or the Apple TV - just Macs, AirPort base stations and accessories.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I hadn't read that the 13" MacBook Pro was the best-selling Mac. Got a link to that? I hear lots of people say that with no source (i.e. Apple) confirming it.

(Also, it wouldn't surprise me if it is, because it was also the cheapest "normal" Apple laptop. People like cheap, even if the quality isn't there.)

Here a clip from '09 on the 13" MB -- the only 13" until the 13" MBP was released mid year. Cook reiterated the 13" MBP's popularity at analyst comments recently. Also noted in reviews like this one

As to the second part of your comment, the 13" MBP isn't the least expensive Mac laptop or least expensive 13" - the MBA take those categories. You say "normal" but I don't know whats abnormal about the MBAs. As a consumer machine, especially for non-science major students it's a great product. And the 13" MBP is more than 2x what a comparable 13" PC laptop runs so I don't think $ is necessarily a factor. Mac buyers can't be that cost conscience or they'd go Windows.

 

[ADV]

I am a MAC guy and would rather use a MAC over PC any day. But the way things are changing in education (Digital Conversions / One to One) they are still too expensive for some school districts.

 

[furi0usbee]

I think Apple would have a hard time getting people to give them money for an item they had already purchased.

Not hard at all. When you buy using the education discount, you agree that they will charge you the difference, if you essentially lie to them (defraud). And remember, they don't have to try hard at all... they already have your credit card information. You could try to get a chargeback on that amount, etc. But a couple things could happen. They could close your Apple account and effectively shut you (or at least your name, card billing address) out from anything Apple related, which covers a lot of ground. They could bill you again for the difference.

Or they could sue you. I'm sure a legal letter requesting remittance of the defrauded amount to any customer would scare them into relenting.

Bryan

 

[WilliamG]

Here a clip from '09 on the 13" MB -- the only 13" until the 13" MBP was released mid year. Cook reiterated the 13" MBP's popularity at analyst comments recently. Also noted in reviews like this one

As to the second part of your comment, the 13" MBP isn't the least expensive Mac laptop or least expensive 13" - the MBA take those categories. You say "normal" but I don't know whats abnormal about the MBAs. As a consumer machine, especially for non-science major students it's a great product. And the 13" MBP is more than 2x what a comparable 13" PC laptop runs so I don't think $ is necessarily a factor. Mac buyers can't be that cost conscience or they'd go Windows.

Thank you for the link. The MBP 13 was the cheapest 13 as I recall. The MBA dropped its price, and the 11" MBA isn't a "normal" screen size that most people want on a laptop so I discount it.

I do think price is the defining factor. I can't fathom why anyone would buy it otherwise.

 

[skippymac]

Not hard at all. When you buy using the education discount, you agree that they will charge you the difference, if you essentially lie to them (defraud). And remember, they don't have to try hard at all... they already have your credit card information. You could try to get a chargeback on that amount, etc. But a couple things could happen. They could close your Apple account and effectively shut you (or at least your name, card billing address) out from anything Apple related, which covers a lot of ground. They could bill you again for the difference.

Or they could sue you. I'm sure a legal letter requesting remittance of the defrauded amount to any customer would scare them into relenting.

Bryan

I realise this is a bit of a hypothetical argument as I doubt apple would ever do any of these things for fear of bad press (If the issue got out of hand with huge numbers of people lying, they would probably just fix the insecure system). However I think it would be incredibly difficult for Apple to get the money out of anyone without their consent, certainly here in the UK. Of course the shutting down of your account etc. would be easy, but if they charged you without telling you I'm willing to bet you could get that money back really easily.

As for suing you, I really don't know the ins and outs, but I would have thought it would be difficult for them to win a case like that (certainly not worth the money for them, unless it was huge numbers of orders).

I'm no expert in any of these things so I could be very wrong.

tldr;

Could they get their money theoretically: Possibly.
Would they actually try anything more than asking for it: Almost certainly not.

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I am a MAC guy and would rather use a MAC over PC any day. But the way things are changing in education (Digital Conversions / One to One) they are still too expensive for some school districts.

Not sure what you mean by digital conversions, but I fail to see how One to One sessions affect any person/establishment's choice of computer.

 

[Wicked1]

this is still the best mac around…I hope it stays for a while…

I second that

I had a 2009 uMB and my wife uses it now, my son has a 13" MBP and so do I, nothing better than these.

I tried the 15" and MBA 13 but keep going back to the 13 MBP Base Model, then I upgrade the ram and slap in an SSD.

These are true workhorses, built tough and work for a long time.

 

[ADV]

Not sure what you mean by digital conversions, but I fail to see how One to One sessions affect any person/establishment's choice of computer.

Well what is starting to happen is each student is getting a device. We have looked at all different options and Apple is priced much higher than PCs and Chromebooks. Again, I would love for every student to have a MBP or Air but we are looking at double the cost.

 

[bawbac]

Once you go retina, you never go back ...

Retina on notebook or smaller screens is the new snake oil like 1080p on a 32" HDTV.
Unless your face is 1x away the diagonal screen distance, you're only imagining the higher resolution because the brightness and color saturation is cranked up.

 

[skippymac]

Well what is starting to happen is each student is getting a device. We have looked at all different options and Apple is priced much higher than PCs and Chromebooks. Again, I would love for every student to have a MBP or Air but we are looking at double the cost.

At least you're not in the UK, at college we had <9 inch netbooks which were about 4 inches thick and couldn't open a browser in less than 10 minutes, and desktops with XP that struggled to do much at all. And you could be damn sure that the school wouldn't give even these to students!

EDIT: Actually I just remembered our music department had a few newish (2009 maybe?) imacs, but Hampshire county council just throw shed loads of money at anything to do with performing arts! (And even then it was maybe 6 or 7 imacs for a 3500 person college)