Apple Notebook Refresh Expected Late This Quarter, But Only Modest Shipment Growth for 2013

[gnasher729]

Oh well... It's not sales, it's growth. Any growth is good.

Growth is "less than expected" - expected by who?

Fact is that the iPad is taking away laptop sales from every company in the world selling laptops. iPad is probably destroying 10% of all laptop sales. Including Apple laptop sales. I suppose Apple is fine with that.

----------

I imagine a lot of consumers see the pro as too expensive, and a lot of pro users would always opt for the 15" if they could.

With the retina displays initially being so expensive, I guess they had to keep the non retina models. But it does seem to be verging on having too many models now - essentially there are two laptops - the Air and the MBP, but 11 off the shelf options. Hopefully it won't be too long when they can drop the non retina models, and bring the price of the retina models down closer to the current non retina prices.

Has been repeated again and again: The 15" Retina MBP was always _cheaper_ than the non-retina model - if you took the same specs. The price difference was purely due to the fact that the Retina MBP only ships with a more expensive SSD drive and with tons of RAM; if you include these with the non-retina model that actually is more expensive. Some is true with the 13" after Apple fixed the prices for the retina model.

You _need_ a non-retina model if you want tons of storage (I can put 2,000 GB into my 2010 MBP) at a reasonable price.

----------

In 11, 13, 15 & 17" sizes. Add an Apple-designed discrete graphics card (so it'll fit in the Air's body) as a BTO option.

One model. Four sizes. Keep things nice and simple.

Do you realise that the 17" MBP is still available in the refurbished section in the UK store? It looks as if there are many, many people _wanting_ one but not actually that many people _buying_ one.

 

[Kebabselector]

For most people the screen on the 13" MBP is the reason it doesn't sell.

1280x800 for that price. (the very reflective glass screen cover doesn't help it either)

 

[skaertus]

Haswell dual-core 35W processors are expected to be out only in Q4 2013 (http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/30859-haswell-35w-dual-cores-in-q4-2013). So, I wouldn't expect a refresh so soon, unless it's a minor refresh.

 

[Rocketman]

It might be good for overall lineup sales to keep the traditional MacBookPro for another season or two, since optical media isn't actually dead yet and many folks do not have access to broadband internet. I would like to see those lower res Pros have a wireless LTE modem added as an option.

Rocketman

 

[Squilly]

IMO they should definitely have a laptop cheaper than $1,000

They do. The iPad

 

[szw-mapple fan]

IMO they should definitely have a laptop cheaper than $1,000

MacBook Air?

It's definetly cheaper than $1000

 

[Jacquesvw]

.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Great! Now I need to decide between getting an iMac or a MacBook Pro.

I wish Apple releases a Mac Mini with a real graphics card.

 

[mabhatter]

13" Retina Air. I'm waiting Apple.

It's just the 13" retina. The Air uses ULEV chips that are Underclocked to hit the constraints that size puts on battery life... The Air is almost 50% batteries inside... And the Retina displays even higher to compensate for higher end CPUs and Discrete graphics.

I suppose Apple COULD make a notebook like the Air but squeeze extra graphics in... And give it 2.5 hours battery and some giant 9-cell add-on to get to 4 hours... You know make it like a PC...

Apple has about as much as you can squeeze into those Air and Retina devices and still maintain a STABLE environment.

----------

It might be good for overall lineup sales to keep the traditional MacBookPro for another season or two, since optical media isn't actually dead yet and many folks do not have access to broadband internet. I would like to see those lower res Pros have a wireless LTE modem added as an option.

Rocketman

Of like to see an option to have "Fusion Drive" on the vanilla MacBook Pro. Could they squeeze 128gb of OS SSD but let me choose optical or HDD for the other bay? To continue to use a MacBook as my only PC I need 1TB drives optional... And I don't see SSD hitting my price point soon. But the Fusion would be perfect as most of my stuff is iTunes and iPhoto libraries and doesn't need SSD speeds.

 

[MrNomNoms]

I believe how it can be hard for consumers to justify paying in the $1400+ range for notebooks, especially if they are switching over from Windows. Being accustomed to the Windows world, the problem I always had with Apple was how expensive their RAM prices & HD prices (ie, you want to upgrade from a base config, but after you add it up it's well beyond your expectations, making you re-think things or hesitate).

I don't know where you get the idea that people are shying away based on price given that people are happy to spend similar money on Sony and Lenovo based laptops of a similar price range. Then add on top of that most people go into retail chains (at least in the case of New Zealand) to purchase their laptops and with the offers of '24 months interest free' I don't see sales dropping at least in my neck of the woods. The question isn't whether the US is EU is falling off the cliff but whether the emerging markets are rising fast enough to off set the decline of the old countries.

 

[KPOM]

Apple - just introduce a discreet graphics card into the 13", why else crop out all the volume of an optical drive just to make it a fat MBA with retina screen?

Apple never included a discrete GPU in the 13" MacBook Pro. They sold a Core 2 Duo model as new in 2010 solely because Intel's integrated graphics in the Core i5 and i7 weren't up to snuff back then. With the HD4600 getting decent performance, they aren't about to start, either.

 

[Squilly]

Oh, I didn't know the iPad run OS X... /*sarcasm*/

Hackintosh?

 

[robvas]

17" please

Lenovo quit making the W700. 17" is a thing of the past.

 

[ed724]

I believe how it can be hard for consumers to justify paying in the $1400+ range for notebooks, especially if they are switching over from Windows. Being accustomed to the Windows world, the problem I always had with Apple was how expensive their RAM prices & HD prices (ie, you want to upgrade from a base config, but after you add it up it's well beyond your expectations, making you re-think things or hesitate).

.

Ram and Hard drive prices, really ? Except for the rMBP or Air models, why not just get the standard ram and HD config and upgrade them on your own. As of now, you can still do that without any warranty violations.

 

[scupking]

If I upgrade my 2010 13" MBP it will be to a 2013 or 14 13" MBA. Just as long as I can get one with 16gb of ram.

 

[albusseverus]

13" MacBook Pro is probably selling OK, but I can't think why. Reputation alone?

13 is weaker because its just an enlarged Retina Air..
no discrete Gpu,no Quad core?And still YOU-APPLE want that money for?
I.m.o NO WAY.Give me a 7xxm with quad core inside the 13 and maybe i'll make a call to my wallet!

Couldn't have said it better. This isn't a Pro, it's a MacBook. Given the issues with driving the 15" Retina, I can't imagine the current 13" specs being anywhere near adequate.

 

[jnkatriya]

They can get down price by adding option Fusion drive may be.

 

[Rizzm]

To "keep things nice and simple", I propose consolidation to 14" and 17" models, with perhaps an 11"er added for those who must have a laptop an inch or so bigger than an iPad.

The 17" will please the 'PRO' crowd, while the 14" model, especially if it had a thinner bezel around the screen, would please most of those users who now purchase 13 & 15" laptops.

As someone who finds the 13" just slightly too small and the 15" just slightly too big I propose the following:

-12" for those who need ultra portability (11" is just too small to do anything. Get a tablet if you're in this crowd). Budget model; ULV processors, integrated graphics. The new Air (typical student, everyday browser laptop).

-14" for those like me that want a steady compromise of power and portability, and physical screen real estate. Quad core and discrete graphics.

-16" for the power users: tons of screen estate, large footprint and internal volume for the best hardware. Fastest CPUs and GPUs.

These would all be in the current MBP chassis meaning uniform (cube) body shapes. I hate the teardrop shape of the Air. Drop the Air and Pro lines and SIMPLY have the 12", 14", and 16" MacBooks. Retina on all models. Fusion drives on all models to optimize performance/storage needs.

How does this not seem like the best solution? It screams elegance IMO.

 

[mdgm]

So when we will see upgrade to Mac Mini's ?

I would expect no sooner than probably a few months after the MacBook Pro is updated, maybe months longer. They will also want to update the iMac alongside or before the Mac Minis.

 

[0029937]

Folks, a lot of traditional PCs aren't selling as well as expected. Why? I wish I could remember where the article was, but basically because people who own a tablet don't need as much speed on a traditional computer. So if you get a latest-model iPad, you might wait an extra year or two to upgrade your iMac or MacBook. Heck, you might wait even longer.

My iMac's primary role is basically a media server. I have two external HDDs hooked up with movies, music, TV, etc. Then I have a Time Machine drive to back up the main stuff. I sync my photos to it and back up my iPhone and iPad. I use it a little bit for various stuff that's nicer to do on a 21.5" display, but for actual use I'm on an iPad or iPhone.

So basically I just need this thing to not break for the better part of six years, maybe even eight. If eventually my hardware can' t handle the latest Mac OS, I'll probably just deal with it for a few years. But if my iPhone can't? Woah, that's SERIOUS.

I wouldn't be shocked to at some point see Apple target this with a $999 iMac for home users that does basically all of that. Maybe it'll go the route with an $899 MBA.

I am in the exact same position and think a lot of average users are too: putting off our Mac purchases because of the iPhones/iPads. I've had my iMac for over 5 years now and as tempted as I am to get the next rMBP, realistically I'll probably wait another couple years. My iPad though is only 2 years old and I've been bitching to the girlfriend how I "absolutely NEED to upgrade to the next iPad." Why? Because I'm on the iPhone/iPad 80-90% of the time. I consider myself your average user, I don't do any real work on the iMac, majority is just to download music and movies.

 

[the8thark]

IMO they should definitely have a laptop cheaper than $1,000

They do. You can see the $999?

 

[xVeinx]

The prices need to drop on all the rMBPs. They're too expensive, and I think the numbers are showing it.

In order to get tot he price where everyone can and would buy one it would have to be $999 or less. They aren't going to be at that price for some time. People don't have the same degree of expendable income or even interest in notebooks as they used to.

 

[PatriotInvasion]

I hope the future of their laptop line is just one type of machine:
- Air body
- Pro features (external optical if needed)
- Retina display
In 11, 13, 15 & 17" sizes. Add an Apple-designed discrete graphics card (so it'll fit in the Air's body) as a BTO option.

One model. Four sizes. Keep things nice and simple.

I doubt that'll happen, but I am in favor of a re-branding of the line to simply be called the MacBook again. The Air moniker was originally developed to describe the ultra portable and thin design back in 2008. It has now morphed into their mainstream notebook and is only slightly thinner than the rMBP, so the Air name just seems unnecessary now.

I also think the "Pro" moniker is dated and was from a time when Apple used to cater to actual "Pros". Perhaps the 15" rMBP is a truly Pro machine, but the 13 rMBP is essentially a MacBook Air with a better screen.

I'd prefer to see the Air line discontinued once they can get the 13" rMBP down to the $1,000-$1,199 range. Call that the MacBook again and call the 15" the MacBook Pro. 2 models....2 screen sizes...just like the iPad and iMac lines.

 

[iZac]

Apple never included a discrete GPU in the 13" MacBook Pro. They sold a Core 2 Duo model as new in 2010 solely because Intel's integrated graphics in the Core i5 and i7 weren't up to snuff back then. With the HD4600 getting decent performance, they aren't about to start, either.

You're right, ever since the Intel HDs they've never included a discreet card, but I think many of us hoped with the advent of the new model and the increasingly blurry line between it and the 13" MBA, Apple would try and inject a little of the 'pro' back into the machine. I mean hell, Apple didn't even label the 13" unibody as a 'pro' model for the first few months of it's life!

 

[Saturn007]

I believe how it can be hard for consumers to justify paying in the $1400+ range for notebooks, especially if they are switching over from Windows. Being accustomed to the Windows world, the problem I always had with Apple was how expensive their RAM prices & HD prices (ie, you want to upgrade from a base config, but after you add it up it's well beyond your expectations, making you re-think things or hesitate).

.

At least the RAM pricing has improved greatly.

For $90, you get double the RAM on the MacBook Air, not a bad deal at all. (Takes you from 4gb to 8gb!)

----------

MacBook Air has great cachet and name brand/model recognition. They shouldn't switch or go back to MacBook.

I would like to see, however, is the return of the polycarbonate MacBook with replaceable battery and user-upgradable RAM.

The aluminum shells of these MBA and MBPs is cold, hard, off-putting. Pick one up on a winter's morn and you can get frost bite (just exaggerating a wee bit). Pick it up when it's been expelling heat, and you can get lap or leg burn (not kidding a bit at all, especially if you have shots on!)