Apple Has Received More Online Orders for New MacBook Pro Than Any Previous Generation

[Hank Carter]

Depends on whom you want as your customers and who you want to be as a company.

Do you want to sell a million laptops to a million emoji crazed teenagers or do you want to sell a million laptops to a million creatives and professionals? Same amount of sales and money, but two very different companies.

Your choice Apple.

 

[fa8362]

Schiller: "Yes, I'm surprised that we sold any. We jacked the price $500, removed the useful ports, added a gimmick touchbar and some people still bought it. That's mind boggling."

 

[newdeal]

and there will be a record number of returns once people realize that their $2000 laptop just isn't that great

 

[applezulu]

I think it just shows that the general public are A. brand loyal, and B. not as interested in the technical aspects of computers/phones as the more vocal group of people who spend a lot of time on tech sites. ...

This has always been true with Apple products. Because software and hardware are designed together, macs aren't going to be the device someone buys based on lots of customized specifications, or with the intent to continuously upgrade hardware over time. Apple's 'it just works' ethos is based on the limiting of variables as hardware and software are designed together.

If you're a user who pores over spec sheets and buys a highly customized machine, you were probably never really an Apple customer in the first place. In that scenario, a Windows machine is what you want. It's a trade-off. You can get all the built-in ports and slots that your heart desires, but you're also much more likely to bump into compatibility issues and various problems that require customized workarounds. For some, that's what meets their needs. For others, having a couple dongle adapters and a MBP is more convenient.

 

[hybrid_x]

If Apple were serious about it being a "Pro" machine, they would have put in a more powerful CPU and GPU combo, with support for more than 16 GB of RAM. Most Pros would be fine with their machine being a little less "thin and light" in exchange for true workstation power.

The lack of SD card slot doesn't bother me in the least. My DSLR has a USB port, so I've always just downloaded directly from the camera that way. I'm more bothered by losing MagSafe, to be honest. That has saved my laptop more times than I can count.

 

[jeremy h]

The 13" non touch bar one is available in stock at my local Apple stores for immediate pick up and next day delivery. (So there's plenty of stock around a few days after the launch!) Hmmm... Perhaps the touch bar one will fly off the shelves... We'll see I guess.

 

[jdclifford]

Hey Phil the Shill Shiller show us the numbers.

 

[newdeal]

I would have bought the non touchbar version if it was $500 canadian cheaper

 

[Rogifan]

If Apple were serious about it being a "Pro" machine, they would have put in a more powerful CPU and GPU combo, with support for more than 16 GB of RAM. Most Pros would be fine with their machine being a little less "thin and light" in exchange for true workstation power.

The lack of SD card slot doesn't bother me in the least. My DSLR has a USB port, so I've always just downloaded directly from the camera that way. I'm more bothered by losing MagSafe, to be honest. That has saved my laptop more times than I can count.

MacBook Pros have existed since 2006 and some how these pro users survived with 16GB RAM. Now all of a sudden in 2016 they can no longer survive?

 

[pbasmadj]

"We care about what they love and what they are worried about. And it's our job to help people through these changes."

BS. If you cared, you'd have left a couple of old USB ports so users could transition in their own time. Or, at the very least, included stoopid dongles.

I can't stand this suggestion, I would never want USB A and USB C on the same computer. Awful design choice. Also extremely obvious that Apple would never do that. Had a lengthy argument with someone thinking that they would do that prior to the release, and well, pretty obvious what turned out.

 

[addicted44]

That's what happens when you don't friggin update them for ages and there's pent up demand. Duh...

The worst part of this is gonna be all these people who spent loads of dollars/euros/pounds on these, who will be all over the internet trying to defend their being ripped off.

 

[TheShadowKnows!]

How can you interview him and not ask him about 1) the pricing 2) the need for a dongle to connect your iphone 3) desktops?

Schiller will never breach to the truth. He will say:

1. To pricing (spinned earlier): "Apple does not design to price but experience"
2. To dongle heaven: "courage"
3. To desktops: "mañana, mañana, mañana"

Caveat Emptor: USB-C is the connector. And its USB payload is either USB 3.1 generation 1 (aka. USB 3.0, 5G) or USB generation 2 (10G). There are lots of the former; almost none of the latter -- including hubs and cables.

 

[iSee]

It's not that it's a bad notebook. It's the price.

Apple can't help the slow down in processor improvements.

Apple can't help Intel's delayed chip releases.

But Apple can help what price they charge for their new MacBook Pros. It's just too much more money for not enough performance gain.

...
(Edited to add)

And it should come with a USB C to USB A converter and a USB C to lightning cable.

Apple are embracing the future with their USB C ports, but they should also embrace their customers who have other apple products they may wish to use with their new machine.

Their iPhones need a new cable. Their DVD/superdrives need a new connector too.

You know, it has built-in connectors for iPhones and other Apple products. They're just wireless. That's better, isn't it?

 

[Rogifan]

The 13" non touch bar one is available in stock at my local Apple stores for immediate pick up and next day delivery. (So there's plenty of stock around a few days after the launch!) Hmmm... Perhaps the touch bar one will fly off the shelves... We'll see I guess.

When is the last time a Mac immediately sold out after going on sale? And if Apple said they were sold out people here would claim they limited supply to to create faux demand.

 

[bubblefree]

Wow! You have to love the corporate spin!
1. A Qualified statement that they have sold more online than any other model is designed to comfort the masses that in fact all those horrible negative stories are so so wrong. How can they be right if they have sold more than ever before? The reality as pointed out by others is that when you only sell these online, because they aren't in stores, and you have not introduced a Skylake chip option for the MB Pro many months after the chips came out there will be significant pent up demand.
2. I love this statement... "but it might not be right for everyone on day one". This is about as close to the people in their ivory towers will ever get to saying, sorry but we screwed up!
3. "Many things have impressed people about it, and some have caused some controversy." A wonderful way of saying that we acknowledge the fact that we think its a great machine and we simply don't understand why everyone is so vocal about this!!

At least he didn't say they had been courageous in the design choices they made!

The more they say the deeper they dig themselves in. What they should be doing is proactively reaching out, listening to their customers needs and figuring out how to message back that they've heard them and are going to deal with the issues. But I doubt very much their egos or corporate culture will let them do that!

 

[Rogifan]

The worst part of this is gonna be all these people who spent loads of dollars/euros/pounds on these, who will be all over the internet trying to defend their being ripped off.

So you're saying people are stupid?

 

[iSee]

How can you interview him and not ask him about 1) the pricing 2) the need for a dongle to connect your iphone 3) desktops?

Did you know that iPhones have been able to connect to Macs wirelessly for several years now? You don't need any dongles.

 

[satchmo]

Are you surprised by how vocal the critics have been?

To be fair it has been a bit of a surprise to me.

When even fanboy critics like Rene Ritchie of iMore has concerns, you know something's amiss.

 

[addicted44]

So you're saying people are stupid?

No. I'm saying that it's a well proven fact that when people spend a lot of money on something they will go out of their way to defend it.

Edit: This has nothing to do with intelligence, and everything to do with human nature. A lot of people will buy the new MBP for good reasons (they prefer OSX, they are too invested in the ecosystem, etc.). However, the investment of large sums of money in this means that it's human nature for them to not limit their reasons for their choice to their particular circumstances, but to defend it on the grounds that it is the best choice for everyone. That's why we've had stupid Mac vs PC wars cluttering every part of the internet for over 2 decades. The extremely high prices of the macs they will be buying means the new MBP buyers will be even more invested and passionate in their defenses.

 

[MallardDuck]

My immediate reaction to those statements is "male cow produced fertilizer".

The only reason they've gotten that many orders is that there's a lot of 2011/2012 era machines that people just can't wait any longer to upgrade.

Phil doesn't get it - we don't give damn about thin and light if it's overpriced and has lousy performance.

He needs a t-shirt - I waited for my Mac upgrade and all I got was this lousy price increase.

The reality distortion field has kept apple from seeing how people use their stuff in the real world.

 

[Stella]

Yup.

Currently online orders is the only way to buy these machines.

They wouldn't be so high if you could buy them in store.

What's the actual number sold vs older models were available sooner - both online and in store? How do the sales stack up of the new machine?

He's spinning.

Schiller will never breach to the truth. He will say:

1. To pricing (spinned earlier): "Apple does not design to price but experience"
2. To dongle heaven: "courage"
3. To desktops: "mañana, mañana, mañana"

Caveat Emptor: USB-C is the connector. And its USB payload is either USB 3.1 generation 1 (aka. USB 3.0, 5G) or USB generation 2 (10G). There are lots of the former; almost none of the latter -- including cables.

 

[netwalker]

it might not be right for everyone on day one

Exactly. I am looking forward to get one in a few years from now when I have or need USB-C/TB3 equipment and get more value for my money (CPU, RAM,...).

 

[Mac'nCheese]

And so many people didn't understand why I was surprised when the new iPhone didn't have a lightening to USB c cord. Why come out with one product using the old port and then another product with the new one?

 

[Hank Carter]

Everyone has different needs and wants, but for me, this is the best computer Apple has ever made. I love the weight; I love the battery life; I love the bright screen; I love the keyboard; I love the touch bar; I love how it looks.

I almost never connect anything to my computer, and when I do it's usually a lightning cable, so I'll have to buy a new usb-c lightning cable. I can't imagine anything that is a smaller problem than that. Also, I keep my computers for probably 4-5 years, so I'm very happy that the computer I buy now will work with usb-c cables as they become more popular.

Overall, for me, Apple could not have released a better computer.

Phil? Is that you?

 

[ChrisCW11]

So then kill the iPad Pro docking keyboard because it doesn't make sense to look at an iPad vertically with a keyboard at a 90 degree angle and then expect to have to touch the iOS interface to do anything.

I wish Apple would stop quibbling about trying to justify not having touch on a Mac screen when they have already violated their own marketing diatribes.

Touch would NOT the only way to interact with a screen if people choose to have this option. It is not expected that people will abandon their keyboard and mouse and JUST use touch on a laptop screen. Apple is drawing a hard line in the sand that says "Touch on a Mac screen is expected to be the only way to use the computer, and we don't feel this is a good experience". And this is utter nonsense.

I don't use touch on my Dell laptop all the time, but when I am in a meeting room doing presentations it is handy to be able to interact with the screen rather than having to bring a mouse or move the laptop into a position that I can better use the touch pad.

When I design mobile apps on my Dell laptop, or on my workstation with an attached touch screen, it is VERY handy that I can touch the emulator surfaces and get mostly the same experience as on a tablet or phone without having to always copy the output to the device to run.

There are numerous other use cases why touch on a screen works, and works well.

But Apple finds one specific use case that, yes I agree, would not be a good user experience to be required to have to use touch EXCLUSIVELY on macOS in a desktop environment and then decides that is the only way customers will use a touch enabled Mac and so they come up with some naive marketing rhetoric promoting their narrominded view of consumers in order to promote compromised solutions like the touch bar.

And then Apple has the audacity of promoting the iPad Pro as a computer replacement with its crippled user experience in "desktop" mode and trying to make their on-screen keyboard support some silly trackpad style of operation that doesn't work well and claim it's the post-PC era.

Apple is at odds with themselves, and it pretty bad when even the marketing director is complete schizophrenic with his ******** messages.