Apple Sold Fewest Macs in Any Quarter Since 2010 as Nearly Entire Lineup Was Outdated

[robbyx]

This is hardly a surprise. The Mac lineup is stale and overpriced, but more importantly Apple just doesn’t seem interested in promoting or really selling the Mac. Even with the aging hardware, these numbers would be better if Apple were bringing new Mac users into the fold, but they’re not. I’m hoping for a majorly Mac focused year next year, but it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if Apple simply continues to let the Mac wither on the vine while iOS matures and eventually takes over.

And before anyone trashes Cook, this is pretty much exactly what Apple did with the Apple II lineup. They kept it going long enough for the Mac to take over while investing as little as possible into what they clearly viewed as an obsolete platform.

 

[smulji]

That's because before 2010-2011, the only good way to use the Internet was to have a computer.

The first iPad was released on April 3, 2010, notice how computer sales started going down after 2011. I think that's due to a combination of factors: the iPad, Android tablets and the fact that post-2010, computers didn't get as fast as before, negating the need to upgrade.

As an example, my main computer is still a mid-2010 Mac mini (2.4GHz Core 2 Duo) and after upgrading the RAM to 16GB and replacing the HDD with a small 128GB SSD, it still does what I need it to do. Granted it's getting slow because of the bloated javascript librairies people use everywhere these days but other than that it works just fine.

If I wanted to upgrade to a newer Mac mini, I would have no choice but to pick the 2.6GHz Dual-Core i5 to have any SSD option. With 16GB (same as I have) and a 256GB SSD (twice of what I have) I'd have to pay 1329$CAD. That's an insane price to ask for a dual-core computer in 2018. At that price I'd expect a minimum of quad-core, maybe 32GB RAM and at least a 512GB SSD. And don't bother comparing that to MacBook prices because those need a keyboard, battery, charger and display.

"I think that's due to a combination of factors: the iPad, Android tablets and the fact that post-2010, computers didn't get as fast as before, negating the need to upgrade."

You forgot the biggest reason => smartphones.

 

[benlukes]

Outdated and overpriced.

And completely, 100% unupgradeable. These are the only reasons I haven’t purchased a new one in years.

 

[bladerunner2000]

If Apple had more control over their chips, they would be in a better situation. I trust there are reasons on their end why they aren't using some of the chips that have been released by Intel. It's inevitable that Apple will move on.

So will their customers. No professional want's slow garbage CPUs that would Apple would make. But whatever... let Apple disrespect their userbase.

 

[nvmls]

“We are proud to tell you that so far our online store has had more orders for the new MacBook Pro than any other pro notebook before”

-Phil Schiller (2016)

 

[benlukes]

This is hardly a surprise. The Mac lineup is stale and overpriced, but more importantly Apple just doesn’t seem interested in promoting or really selling the Mac. Even with the aging hardware, these numbers would be better if Apple were bringing new Mac users into the fold, but they’re not. I’m hoping for a majorly Mac focused year next year, but it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if Apple simply continues to let the Mac wither on the vine while iOS matures and eventually takes over.

And before anyone trashes Cook, this is pretty much exactly what Apple did with the Apple II lineup. They kept it going long enough for the Mac to take over while investing as little as possible into what they clearly viewed as an obsolete platform.

Except MacOS is far from obsolete.

 

[Asianpork]

Maybe because their hardware is very good?

Macrumors can be an echo chamber of opinions because people who have intimate knowledge of computers hang out around here, but, for most of the general population Apple's hardware keeps going and going and going.

My parents ditched their HP laptop and have been using iPad Air 2 for years now, with no slow down. I can comfortably work with 650mb Photoshop files on my MBP 2015 13" and my 2017 iPad pro 12.9" is as liquid fast as the day it came out and I don't see needing a replacement for years.

Maybe, they don't sell as much because, for 95% of the Apple customers (which aren't Macrumors members) the hardware is more than enough, for years.

 

[Peperino]

I'm tired of this "vote with your wallet" rhetoric since it makes no sense. We're not talking about cars, which can go on any road. We're not talking about televisions, which can display things from any source.

We're talking about computers and operating systems. A Mac is not only hardware, it's also macOS and software. If we could get macOS on computers from other companies, we wouldn't be complaining - at least not about Macs.

We can't vote with our wallet since only Apple can provide macOS. What we want is macOS on reliable and relatively up-to-date hardware at decent prices. So all we can do is see what Apple does and so far we can only complain that there's no updates.

You are wrong. People can vote with their wallets. A lot of people that before, in order to update, would have purchase brand new computers, now they are chosing to upgrade the internal components of their older computers instead of purchasing brand new ones since they are way overpriced and the specs are quite lame for the price you are paying.
A new Macbook pro that costs $2400 is shipping with a 256SSD. Really? 256 is some kind of a bad joke?

furthermore, the new Macbooks are NOT upgradable. Both Ram and Internal HD are soldered into the Logic board.
This is so bad, is like whenever you need to change the tires on a car you just need to buy a new car because the tires cannot be changed...

So Sad

 

[pl1984]

Fair points, definitely not all situations, but I still feel Apple will be better suited having more control over their chips, the design, the requirements around it, and their release schedule. You see consistency and steady progression in their A series chips. This is something that could benefit their Mac line.

I see consistency in Intel's chips too. What I don't see is Apple taking advantage of that consistency.

 

[DNichter]

I see consistency in Intel's chips too. What I don't see is Apple taking advantage of that consistency.

I don't, I see regular delays and similar performance year after year.

 

[falainber]

If Apple had more control over their chips, they would be in a better situation. I trust there are reasons on their end why they aren't using some of the chips that have been released by Intel. It's inevitable that Apple will move on.

Apple has full control over their mobile chips and they release just one of them every year. Intel releases dozens of models annually. All PC vendors release new models regularly but there is always something that prevents Apple from doing the same: want different RAM, can't use new CPU without PCB change etc. If Apple switches to their own CPUs for Mac you'll be lucky to get a new CPU every five years.

 

[robbyx]

What I wonder is, does your average consumer know or care if a Mac is full of old tech if it's got a beautiful, well-marketed exterior? I mean, anybody on these forums here is by definition tuned in to tech specs, but aside from something like the very obvious non-retina display of the Air, don't most consumers just shop on price and design?

I don’t think the average consumer cares. However, Apple clearly isn’t reaching those people or these numbers would be better. Apple pretty much just sells Macs to the faithful at this point. They’re not converting many new users. That’s why quarterly numbers are generally pretty consistent. All this dip says to me is that the faithful are waiting for new hardware.

 

[Sodium Chloride]

The news that Apple will make their own chip may have something to do with Mac declining sales. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...an-move-from-intel-to-own-mac-chips-from-2020

Why spend thousands of dollars on a computer that can’t run new software less than two years from now? I am thinking of buying a MacBook but the news held me back. Perhaps I should wait until they sell their first laptop with their own chip, no?

 

[skinned66]

Bye. The grass is always greener on the other side...

It wasn't my intention for you to have so many sleepless nights over it.

 

[nt5672]

i would love to buy a mac

i would like a 6 core headless mac with two bays for swappable sata storage, swappable ram, integrated graphics, an ethernet port and a few usb ports

so i guess a 2012 mini with a processor upgrade?

i’ve more or less resigned myself to the fact that i’ll have to build it myself but wonder how much longer mac os will run without a t2 chip

This is key, the part about "without a t2 chip." Without an announced product strategy saying that while they will keep moving to secure the macOS platform, "they will always allow knowledgable users access to the underlaying os", I am not interested in being trapped with a general purpose operating system that belongs to Apple and not me after purchase.

 

[pl1984]

Yup. I mean, I'm never going to switch to that DREADED Android crap, but I'm now officially just keeping the iPhone until it dies. I used to buy every other model (3G, 4, 5, 6, etc) but I learned my lesson when I traded in a perfectly good iPhone 5 for my 6Plus, and still had to fork over about $300 bucks. Geez.

I'm still using my GS6E and my iPhone 6. I've probably saved $1,500 each by continuing to use them.

I understand there are those who will always want the latest and greatest. Some who even need them. But enough to make Apple the behemoth it is today?

 

[Wags]

iOS or bust.
Look at the retail store. Like 5% space dedicated actual Mac OS hardware.

 

[falainber]

I don't, I see regular delays and similar performance year after year.

Did not we just see the highest ever YoY MBP performance boost? In fact bigger performance boost than what's expected for this year's iPhone model.

 

[DNichter]

So will their customers. No professional want's slow garbage CPUs that would Apple would make. But whatever... let Apple disrespect their userbase.

Why do you assume that the chips would be slow? Their A series chips have been the best in the mobile business. I'm a professional and I use an iPad as my main computer. With more power and room to breathe, you feel Apple is incapable of creating a high performance laptop chip? As long as they cater to developers and creatives, they'll keep the majority of their Mac user base in my eyes.

 

[robbyx]

I believe it. I’ve been holding out on getting an iMac until they redesign it. Hoping for this fall.

My guess is next year. I think (hope!) the whole lineup will get a major overhaul next year, not just the Mac Pro.

 

[rumplestiltskin]

Noticed that the people who -are- buying Macs are first-time owners, so they don't yet understand how poorly Apple regards its existing customers. We, on the other hand, know full well the garbage that Apple is trying to foist off on us.

Unfortunately, as Tim Cook is living in Jony Ive's reality distortion field, all he'll see are reasons that the Mac division should be shuttered. Mojave brings...what...to Mac users? Certainly not reliability. Certainly not a faster file system. Oh, yeah! More iCloud services! Just what Mac users haven't been asking for.

Back before Steve returned, we'd say Apple survived in spite of its management. Now we can watch Apple's management dismantle the Mac before our eyes. Today, they'll bear the responsibility because they should know better.

 

[skinned66]

The news that Apple will make their own chip may have something to do with Mac declining sales. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...an-move-from-intel-to-own-mac-chips-from-2020

Why spend thousands of dollars on a computer that can’t run new software less than two years from now? I am thinking of buying a MacBook but the news held me back. Perhaps I should wait until they sell their first laptop with their own chip, no?

When that does happen it will definitely change the game and add value to the Mac lineup. Apple makes great SoCs so I don't see why they shouldn't be able to nail that too. It will be interesting to see.

 

[ignatius345]

You're probably right about the tech specs. However its the features that the Macs are really lagging and wont ever catch up. The windows hybrid tablet is a really nice device and more and more I wish I had gone that route over a Macbook Pro.

The hybrids have a ton of useful features such as touch screen, ability to use as a tablet or a full Windows computer, ports etc. The macbook is just a laptop and the only thing it has going for it at this point is MacOS and in theory better driver compatibility since they make both the hardware and software.

Hard pass from me personally. I am literally never using my laptop and thinking "man, it sure would be nice to reach up awkwardly from the keyboard to touch my screen right now". I get like 90% of what I need done without even using the trackpad, much less kludging around on the monitor.

 

[robbyx]

Except MacOS is far from obsolete.

Plenty of people said the same about the Apple II lineup. It’s not whether it’s obsolete. It’s whether they view it as obsolete. And I think it’s pretty obvious from the lack of love over the past few years that Apple is letting the Mac ride off into the sunset.

 

[CWallace]

This is hardly a surprise. The Mac lineup is stale and overpriced, but more importantly Apple just doesn’t seem interested in promoting or really selling the Mac. Even with the aging hardware, these numbers would be better if Apple were bringing new Mac users into the fold, but they’re not. I’m hoping for a majorly Mac focused year next year, but it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if Apple simply continues to let the Mac wither on the vine while iOS matures and eventually takes over.

On the plus side, we are seeing advertisements aimed directly at workflows a Mac (PC) can do that a phone or tablet cannot so Apple is at least starting to remind the general audience that Apple also has a computer line that can do things their iPhones and iPads cannot (or as well). And hopefully Marzipan will increase the quality Mac App ecosystem and encourage more people to consider a Mac, be it for their next PC or their first.

I see consistency in Intel's chips too. What I don't see is Apple taking advantage of that consistency.

It's consistency due to process stagnation. We should be at 10nm with better thermal and power efficiency allowing the "thin cases" people complain about on here to allow the chips to run cooler and longer. But instead we're still at 14nm and with thermal budgets blown well beyond what Intel intended so even on "thick" PCs, these CPUs still throttle and run the fans at high speeds.