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Apple Discontinues Thunderbolt Display

I think the Thunderbolt display was just a descendant of a time when Apple felt vulnerable and defensive. They felt like they had to create the entire widget; in order to provide the consumer with an option if third party hardware vendors never provided support with their own displays. Also, it was a different time when the Cinema display came out in 1999. Nobody was doing that. Today, its common to find hi-res third party displays that are compatible with Macs and are cheaper. It was likely a head ache for the company to produce and a sigh of relief when they could use a third party solution. The only thing you really were paying for was the brand name and the design language.

This is another sign of the companies direction where pro vs consumer is concerned. Apple is obviously targeting a prosumer who uses a variety of tools. At the end of the day, a DELL or Sharp 5K display is likely no different than a Apple branded 5K branded display would be connected to a MacBook Pro or Mac Mini. Also, wasn't LG the manufacturer of the Thunderbolt display? I think Apple is being strategic and focused on where they can offer unique value. Some of it might also be strategic in terms of upsell to products like the 5k iMac or MacBook Pro Retina with a third party display.

The reality is, creating the entire widget is no longer essential to survival. The company no longer needed to pour resources in a Final Cut Studio or Aperture because Adobe is obviously committed to the Mac with Adobe CC and Lightroom. When Adobe demos new versions of Photoshop or Premier, they do it on a Mac. The interoperability with Macs and third party hardware such as keyboards, mouse, displays and other hardware is exceptional these days.

So, this is all about being focused, strategic and offering unique value to a general audience. I predict we are likely seeing the last of both the Mac Pro and the Mac Mini. I still cross fingers the Mac Mini might still be part of the companies push to the consumer crowd, but I believe company wants to stay in the higher margin segment.
 
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I have little to no knowledge of this display and obviously there are varying opinions on it. I do think it odd that apple would discontinue something without something to replace it ready to go ASAP.
 
These were cool when they came out. I have the 27" that came before this model. It's nice, but way too pricey these days and with decent thunderbolt docks available, for okay prices, I can get a 4K, a dock, and a spare charger for cheaper.

Sounds like the end of the road for displays which kinda sucks because I'd really like an all-in-one setup but I don't know that they actually make too much sense.

Apple displays have traditionally been overpriced so it's hard to be too upset about this.
 
cult hero said:
These were cool when they came out. I have the 27" that came before this model. It's nice, but way too pricey these days and with decent thunderbolt docks available, for okay prices, I can get a 4K, a dock, and a spare charger for cheaper.

Sounds like the end of the road for displays which kinda sucks because I'd really like an all-in-one setup but I don't know that they actually make too much sense.

Apple displays have traditionally been overpriced so it's hard to be too upset about this.
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Yeah I remember when they came out they were really beautiful. I always wanted one but had Windows for the longest time. By the time I got my Mac I thought I'd wait for the upgrade.

Oh well.
 
pickaxe said:
Okay. So this is the direction Apple is taking.
Unless Apple exceeds my expectations with the MacBook Pro refresh, I'm done with this company. There's nothing for me here anymore.
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Bye
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melendezest said:
I hope they're coming up with something better for what they've charged for these until now.

Hope to see some discounted heavily.
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HAHAHAHAHAHA...
..::Wipes tears away::..
You clearly dont know Apple...
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ryanflucas said:
Watch Apple kill the entire Thunderbolt Display line and iMac line. That leaves MacBook, MacBook Pro, Mac Pro and Mac Mini.
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Why would they kill the iMac line?
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Lestdog said:
It's about time they killed this thing off, but not to replace it? What happened to apple being a one stop computer shop?

They suck, seriously.
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Why doesnt Microsoft make a display?
 
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the discontinued apple display also called " the apple mirror "

someone please fire Tim Cook and the entire board immediately

Tim will get the news when he comes back from one of his trips
where he is busy taking selfies and being a politician

Tim spent billions and billions in research and development
and he could not detach the monitor from the iMac 5k and make it into an Apple Display.

TIM NEEDS TO GO AND FAST

Steve left this amazing company to a clueless bean counter
 
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amegicfox said:
the discontinued the apple display also called " the apple mirror "

someone please fire Tim Cook and the entire board immediately

Tim will get the news when he comes back from one of his trips
where he is busy taking selfies and being a politician
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You act as if you know what you are talking about...
 
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inhalexhale1 said:
I tried the keyboard on the new MacBook for the first time. I was not impressed. I hope that design is not on the new MacBook Pro, there is 0 key travel.
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i totally agree with you.
but in spite of (our) hopes on this point, apple will most likely feel that the macbook travel-less "typing on an iPad" feel is more advanced, and, use that keyboard on new macbook pros.
thats the biggest reason why i decided to go ahead and get the latest macbook air. its a great machine and will last a few years. also I'm heavily "invested" in magsafe 2 adapters everywhere i use my mac.
 
Makes sense; they'd rather you buy an iMac + a MacBook. Next to go will be the Mac Pro. Apple has been slowly getting out of the pro business for awhile now. I think it started with Final Cut X. We have to remember that nowadays Apple is a phone company that also makes computers.
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carrrrrlos said:
No Apple display for the Mac Mini and Mac Pro - will be interesting to see what they use for pages like these: http://www.apple.com/mac-mini/
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They'll probably discontinue it.
 
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niji said:
i totally agree with you.
but in spite of (our) hopes on this point, apple will most likely feel that the macbook travel-less "typing on an iPad" feel is more advanced, and, use that keyboard on new macbook pros.
thats the biggest reason why i decided to go ahead and get the latest macbook air. its a great machine and will last a few years. also I'm heavily "invested" in magsafe 2 adapters everywhere i use my mac.
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I go back and forth on the MacBook keyboard. I don't actually own a MacBook but I'm in the Apple Store all the time playing with it (much to the annoyance of the employees I'm sure!) I type well on it but I can't say I enjoy the experience. I expect butterfly keys on the new MBP but I'm hoping maybe Apple gives them a bit more travel. I imagine someday we'll see a force touch keyboard with individual OLED keys, but that's a few generations off. I think I would actually prefer that...the plastic MacBook keys feel cheap and are too loud IMO.
 
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ryanflucas said:
Watch Apple kill the entire Thunderbolt Display line and iMac line. That leaves MacBook, MacBook Pro, Mac Pro and Mac Mini.
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Uh no, that would be insane. iMacs make a ton of cash for Apple. However, I would prefer a Thunderbolt display alongside a headless Mac in the future instead of the iMac that I bought in 2013.
 
smoledman said:
Uh no, that would be insane. iMacs make a ton of cash for Apple. However, I would prefer a Thunderbolt display alongside a headless Mac in the future instead of the iMac that I bought in 2013.
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iPhones make a ton of cash for Apple (70%). As I've said before, Apple has become a phone company that also makes computers. Anything that's not an iPhone or a service (over 10%) could be consigned to the Apple Graveyard.
 
jhudgins said:
iPhones make a ton of cash for Apple (70%). As I've said before, Apple has become a phone company that also makes computers. Anything that's not an iPhone or a service (over 10%) could be consigned to the Apple Graveyard.
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Can we wait until Apple's September event to render final judgment? I bet they come out with a 5K Thunderbolt Display with Thunderbolt 3 ports. Also the Macbook Pro will probably have an OLED touch bar. Macs are going to be better than ever dude!

Even 30% of $200 billion is $60 billion a year! Massive cash and can't be ignored. That's 2/3 of Microsoft yearly revenue just for Mac!
 
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In other news Apple will discontinue the MacPro while focusing on profit centers like the next iteration of rose gold and upcoming products no one could give a damn about like iCar and the next Apple watch. Because sitting at a desk and working on a screen that's more than 13 inches these days is so 2001.
 
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smoledman said:
But Apple display has the best color gamut, viewing angles and sexi-factor.
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... You have got to be joking. First Apple is using LG panels (A+ to be specific, which simply means they were looked over and didn't have a single issue), while the Korean monitors use A- (Which can simply mean it was examined an a dead pixel was found). THEY ARE ALL LG PANELS. The Korean monitors use modern panels however, which have better contrast and color gamut.

Let me guess: You are about to tell me 'Macs don't get viruses' next?
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xSinghx said:
In other news Apple will discontinue the MacPro while focusing on profit centers like the next iteration of rose gold and upcoming products no one could give a damn about like iCar and the next Apple watch. Because sitting at a desk and working on a screen that's more than 13 inches these days is so 2001.
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Don't be silly, they'll let stock sit there at the same price hoping to catch suckers
 
Zellio said:
... You have got to be joking. First Apple is using LG panels (A+ to be specific, which simply means they were looked over and didn't have a single issue), while the Korean monitors use A- (Which can simply mean it was examined an a dead pixel was found). THEY ARE ALL LG PANELS. The Korean monitors use modern panels however, which have better contrast and color gamut.

Let me guess: You are about to tell me 'Macs don't get viruses' next?
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Well if you don't go to some Pirate Bay web site, you won't get a virus. Also Macs are just more stable than a pure Windows machine. That's why I run W10 inside Parallels. Best decision evar!
 
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