Apple Introduces New MacBook Upgrade Program for Business Partners

[szw-mapple fan]

A 2015 MBP is 6 years old at this point. Almost 7. If you are talking about an app from 2015 I would hope you’d buy the specs you needed for the tasks you were performing.

If I bought the MBP for my exact needs when I bought it I would have kept it for 3-4 years tops before needing a performance upgrade. There was almost nothing in the 2018/2019 upgrade cycle that would have brought any noticeable changes, aside from the Touch Bar and BT improvements.

If you are talking about 2021 apps in your workflow performing better now that the 7 year old machine top end power has it keeping up with the weakest 2021 offerings.

I wouldn't call my workflow light by any means, the most heavy are the multiple IDEs that I run. Ironically the biggest CPU hog is Zoom due to a bug they keep ignoring.

I would still say buying top end in 2015 to get here was a flawed choice. A 2021 machine is more than just a faster CPU. SSD performance has dramatically increased. So has power efficiency so you can actually take a laptop with you. Etc.

SSD performance increase only realistically impact tasks that rely heavily on storage, which is hardly common. The exception for me would be when the MBOP runs out of RAM and starts using virtual memory (in which case the top end 2015 would serve me better with more physical RAM). Power efficiency for the Intel models hasn't changed much 2015 to 2020. The change to M1, while very impressive, is an anomaly in Apple's usual upgrade cycles. I would imagine battery life won't be changing all that much once again in the near future for M2, M3, etc.

Buying the specs you need will result in a faster upgrade cycle, but bring with it other very real gains that holding onto tech too long will lock you out of while not actually saving you money in the grand scheme of things.

So far I'm not seeing much real world gains/upgrades that would really persuade me to upgrade aside from a faster CPU, especially since much of the new MBPs are just Apple reverting to their 2015 gold standard. Overall I will have spent a lot less from 2015 to possibly 2022/2023 than if I was upgrading every 3-4 years.

 

[Adarna]

My dream would be a financing program that matches my replacement cycle

​

Device	Price	Months Financing	Monthly Fee
Macs	$2,499	120	$20.83
iPads	$799	72	$11.10
iPhone	$1,099	36	$30.53
Watch	$399	60	$6.65
Total	$4,796	-	$69.10

I am able to do this with my iPhone's carrier. My iPad's carrier only offers up to 36 months only.

My credit card can do up to 36 months financing but their interest rates' too much for my blood.

 

[webkit]

My dream would be a financing program that matches my replacement cycle

​

Device	Price	Months Financing	Monthly Fee
Macs	$2,499	120	$20.83
iPads	$799	72	$11.10
iPhone	$1,099	36	$30.53
Watch	$399	60	$6.65
Total	$4,796	-	$69.10

I am able to do this with my iPhone's carrier. My iPad's carrier only offers up to 36 months only.

My credit card can do up to 36 months financing but their interest rates' too much for my blood.

Given the depreciation rate for these devices, it's unlikely you'd be able to find a lender willing to specifically finance a Mac for 120 months, an iPad for 72 months or an Apple Watch for 60 months. A home equity loan or line of credit would be a better (if not only) option here.

 

[Adarna]

Given the depreciation rate for these devices, it's unlikely you'd be able to find a lender willing to specifically finance a Mac for 120 months, an iPad for 72 months or an Apple Watch for 60 months. A home equity loan or line of credit would be a better (if not only) option here.

You are very correct. The best I've seen is 36-48 months.

 

[svish]

Will surely be seeing Macs at more locations now.

 

[Jack Neill]

Up Next:
Subscription service to unlock more advanced computer functionality.

Like paying $ to unlock wireless N?

 

[Joe The Dragon]

Like paying $ to unlock wireless N?

IBM did stuff like that.
Intel also did on some low end cpus

 

[WowEd71]

The only question is: when will this be introduced to customer base? Or is this business-only?

unfortunately this is not the Apple Under Steve Jobs we all fell in love with and the product Jobs had created to watch Crooked Cook take Apple under. Their customer sserive no longer exist and what they did us especially ones like me who finally ave the funds to get a Mac be it the 2o2o Air and then we got thrown under he bus . Not o mention the exact same computer spooked out the same way with the only charge being the M1 Apple decided to take this of us who are financially trapped within the Apple Ecosystem out and forcing us ti come uo with mroe ninny ti get ayr same MacBook in the same model year and introduce it at the same privce with their own amazing Chip. My current 2020 Air with now the much more inferior processor has devalued our trade in ti now $500l. Thus is a disgrace and slam in the fave to us who have been loyal to Apple. Just look at Apples website they even talk about he Morals and Ethics they and their employees pledge. REALLY? This company is now ran but he worst hypocrit Crroked Cook who onky wants your money and that's VERY evident with the 202o models and as the saying goes. eventually the Apple willl fall from the tree. Its onky a matter of time Apple and u refuse to acknowledge those who have been loyal ti too the Apple Cause but in a xosoklet 180 Apples will now be leading the pack sraugnt Its own death; See ya in Ciort

 

[chucker23n1]

Apple doesn't upgrade a product for a while: "they're letting it die and not listening to customers!"

Apple does upgrade a product frequently: "but my resale value!"

 

[justinreels]

Talked to my CIT rep today and confirmed that there's a $10k minimum subtotal with this program, not counting accessories. For example, you can't just open an LLC an get a single MacBook under this program. You'd have to get at least three loaded up MacBooks under this program to qualify, meaning a minimum of $300/mo expense.

 

[voraciousvegan]

Did you mean 33 months?

Whoops, got me there! I don't know why the low payment made my brain think it'd take way too long to pay off.

 

[adamjackson]

I added some feedback I received from CIT here - https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...e-mac-leasing-program-offered-by-cit.2325933/

 

[Adarna]

Like paying $ to unlock wireless N?

IIRC Apple was limited by GAAP so had to charge for unadvertised features.

 

[adriantg]

In association with CIT as the financing partner, Apple has launched a new Mac Upgrade Program for small businesses and Apple business partners that allow companies to easily distribute and upgrade their fleets of MacBooks at an affordable price to all of their workers.

As outlined on CIT's website, shared by Max Weinbach, Apple Business Partners can distribute the 13-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch MacBook Air, 14-inch MacBook Pro, and 16-inch MacBook Pro to their staff for only 3% of their retail list prices as monthly installments.

The new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros are offered at $60 and $75 per month, respectively, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are offered at $30 and $39 monthly payments. No Mac desktop is provided as part of the program.

While details are scarce, CIT's website says that small businesses can apply for the program through the website, and if approved, Apple will process and ship the Mac orders.

A similar program exists for regular customers with the iPhone Upgrade Program, where customers can get the latest iPhone for one monthly price. The program has been a popular financing option for customers. A Mac Upgrade Program is not offered publicly to regular customers, and it's important to note that customers less often upgrade their Mac computers, so a program in that regard may make less sense.

Article Link: Apple Introduces New MacBook Upgrade Program for Business Partners

Looks like this isn't really an upgrade program like the iphone. There's a minimum of $4000 that needs to be spent on this deal.