Apple to EOL Retina MacBook after one revision?

[boltjames]

The MBA is a classic design and so it's TIMELESS. That's why you're probably attracted to the MB as it's incredibly thin. It's an evolution of the MBA but the MB just looks like a 2002 TiBook, but a bit thinner. So being a fan of a 2002 form factor while saying a 2007 form factor is a faus pax is a bit contradictory. Yes?

Timeless? LOL. The MacBook Air wasn't even revolutionary when it was first launched, it was a clone of a Sony VAIO Z1 which I'd owned years before.

To show you I'm not a hater, I have 2 Air's in the family, bought one of them myself, my wife and son have them, and they are clunky and have huge amounts of wasted plastic and awkward bezels. I thank you for making it very clear why you crap all over the RMB so much though; you're allowed to be proud of your outdated machine without getting defensive and putting down others, might want to try it sometime. Might also try visiting the Air subforum once in awhile where your endless vitriol might be more welcome.

BJ

 

[KPOM]

Timeless? LOL. The MacBook Air wasn't even revolutionary when it was first launched, it was a clone of a Sony VAIO Z1 which I'd owned years before.

To show you I'm not a hater, I have 2 Air's in the family, bought one of them myself, my wife and son have them, and they are clunky and have huge amounts of wasted plastic and awkward bezels. I thank you for making it very clear why you crap all over the RMB so much though; you're allowed to be proud of your outdated machine without getting defensive and putting down others, might want to try it sometime. Might also try visiting the Air subforum once in awhile where your endless vitriol might be more welcome.

BJ

The MacBook Air looks nothing like the Vaio, and I was a big fan of ultraportables including the Vaio and the Toshiba Libretto. The Air made ultraportables mainstream. Moving to standard SSDs in 2010 was a stroke of genius, though I did have the Rev B SSD model from November 2008.

 

[aristobrat]

Okay, I threw that out there to see if you'd understand it but maybe not. It's not about maximizing revenues, it's about maximizing PROFIT. That's why Apple stays away from shipping volumes. The majority of CEOs don't understand this concept and if they don't then they should fail ECON 101.

The way that you're tossing them about, the words revenue and profit are interchangeable.

Selling high-margin products at a low volume <or low-margin produucts at a high volume (or "maximized unit volume", as you called it)> have both been show to be ways that yield revenue and profit.

 

[Max(IT)]

I see the Air going the way of the iPhone 5C.

A budget Mac for children and those in developing third-world nations.

BJ

Developing third world citizens buying a $900 notebook ?

 

[boltjames]

Developing third world citizens buying a $900 notebook ?

Like the 5C, the theory would be that Apple would de-feature the Air and bring that price down even further. Apple is targeting China and other third-world opportunities with their phones, would make sense to do likewise with their notebooks.

BJ

 

[mtneer]

Whether the MBA would be given a full facelift and re-branded as the new rMB or if the MBA gets discontinued and more models of the rMB arise - the end effect is still the same. All that is left to watch is what Apple will do with the MBA and rMB brand names.

 

[macbook_21]

Macrumors is posting conflicting stories. The buyer's guide says the mbp is 80 days from the average for a revision cycle, and it's less than that for the mba. However, macrumors also has a story claiming that revisions will not be announced until wwdc in june.

 

[navaira]

I do wonder about this, seriously. Apple has always had a close business affinity with Microsoft. The iTunes model is 100% accurate, and lets face it in all practically you can do this today; the Apple Store will happily install Windows 10 on your new Mac, straight out the box, without question.

I just watched "Pirates of Silicon Valley" yesterday, it's very interesting to read this right afterwards

On the whole I very much agree that if Apple did launch Windows 10 only hardware, their sales would literally "balloon" as for many OS X is simply "alien" nor do they have interest in leaning a new OS, and OS X in the "Enterprise" is beyond small.

I disagree with you 100%. In the OS X environment Apple is competing with nobody at all, and Mac sales are growing in a diminishing PC market. By making a Win-only machine Apple suddenly get thousands of competitors, many of whom have copied Macbooks to a tee (with exception of rMB which seems to baffle everybody else... for now) and sell them way below Apple prices. Also actually removing ability to run OS X from their machines would be literally shooting themselves in a foot as most buyers (not the "Look Mabel how purdy" group, obviously) buy them FOR OS X. Myself included. I see absolutely nothing for Apple to benefit from by launching Windows ONLY hardware. Bootcamp is as far as they should – and do go. If they move into Windows only hardware they may as well shut down their entire computer division and focus on making thinner iPhones.

On the negative OS X would further spiral into being a "Facebook" OS as I have little doubt that Apple would rapidly be selling far more Windows systems, after all Apple`s about the $$$$.

Why do you even think anybody at all would think "I want a new Windows computer, I'm going to buy it from Apple"?

Macrumors is posting conflicting stories. The buyer's guide says the mbp is 80 days from the average for a revision cycle, and it's less than that for the mba. However, macrumors also has a story claiming that revisions will not be announced until wwdc in june.

There's nothing conflicting about it. Average means average. It does not mean precise timing. Apple do not count the days until the average is reached. When/if the revisions are announced in June, averages will simply rise or fall depending on what they were before. (We don't actually know if the revisions will be announced in June, I've seen stories pointing at March as well.)

If I spend $20 on music this month and $2 next month, average is $11, but it says nothing about what I will actually spend next month.

 

[Queen6]

I just watched "Pirates of Silicon Valley" yesterday, it's very interesting to read this right afterwards


I disagree with you 100%. In the OS X environment Apple is competing with nobody at all, and Mac sales are growing in a diminishing PC market. By making a Win-only machine Apple suddenly get thousands of competitors, many of whom have copied Macbooks to a tee (with exception of rMB which seems to baffle everybody else... for now) and sell them way below Apple prices. Also actually removing ability to run OS X from their machines would be literally shooting themselves in a foot as most buyers (not the "Look Mabel how purdy" group, obviously) buy them FOR OS X. Myself included. I see absolutely nothing for Apple to benefit from by launching Windows ONLY hardware. Bootcamp is as far as they should – and do go. If they move into Windows only hardware they may as well shut down their entire computer division and focus on making thinner iPhones.


Why do you even think anybody at all would think "I want a new Windows computer, I'm going to buy it from Apple"?

Some people already are as they prefer the design and pecked quality of Apple, backed up by local support from the stores on the Windows platform. Apple gaining sales in the PC space I believe is due to Windows 8, poor customer support by both Microsoft and the hardware vendors, an area that Apple excels in.

I do believe that there would be a strong audience for a Windows based Apple product. Apple is most definitely competing in the PC Space same as any other vendor and will need to push harder in 2016 as now Windows 10 addresses many of the concerns from Windows 8. Personally I keenly interested in what they plan to bring to market, as I am not sure just thinner & lighter can cut it much longer.

Truthfully I doubt Apple would make such a move, all the same it`s an interesting concept. Personally I would/will go for either Microsoft, VAIO or Lenovo (ThinkPad) hardware.

Q-6

 

[navaira]

Truthfully I doubt Apple would make such a move, all the same it`s an interesting concept. Personally I would/will go for either Microsoft, VAIO or Lenovo (ThinkPad) hardware.

Exactly

The moment OS X is no longer updated I have to move back to Windows, and there will be a lot of window shopping (sorry) before I decide on a brand laptop-wise. I always used to put my desktops together, and I would do it again (I just got an order from a customer to do so, I actually enjoy doing it). Without OS X Apple would never get my money again. I am not a Mac customer, I am an OS X customer.

 

[Queen6]

Exactly

The moment OS X is no longer updated I have to move back to Windows, and there will be a lot of window shopping (sorry) before I decide on a brand laptop-wise. I always used to put my desktops together, and I would do it again (I just got an order from a customer to do so, I actually enjoy doing it). Without OS X Apple would never get my money again. I am not a Mac customer, I am an OS X customer.

I hear you there Sadly for me 10.11 is a disaster, and unless Apple rectify it rapidly they won't come close to seeing my money until 17 or 18. I hate the way Apple is now churning OS X over every 12 months it`s just asking for trouble from a productivity point view, as my case 10.11 illustrates.

I will retain my rMB however 13" & 15" rMBP`s will likely be replaced by Windows based hardware. As my Notebook`s are a key factor in my profession, therefore it`s imperative that they function correctly, nor am I willing to wait on if`s, but`s and maybe`s from Apple indefinitely.

Q-6

 

[navaira]

I hear you there Sadly for me 10.11 is a disaster, and unless Apple rectify it rapidly they won't come close to seeing my money until 17 or 18. I hate the way Apple is now churning OS X over every 12 months it`s just asking for trouble from a productivity point view, as my case 10.11 illustrates.

Now here we agree. I think that PR machines spin certain narrations, like for Windows 7 it was "the best Windows ever", for El Capitan it was "Snow Yosemite with all bugs squashed". Even if you looked at the early reviews they all had titles like "Mac upgrade that's solid as a rock" or "An unspectacular but worthwhile upgrade". They bought it.

We are wildly off topic though I just noticed. Let's move here, I'm enjoying discussing with you As for rMB, I believe it is the future, whether we want it or not. Apple decided we don't need ports, we don't need a decent keyboard and we don't need speed. It is selling. There really isn't much to add. Unlike @boltjames (if I remember his posts correctly) I believe that same as Air at the beginning rMB will be refined, get a somewhat faster processor, maybe a grand total of two USB-C ports, but it is definitely here to stay, while Air is definitely on its way out. It saddens me, personally, but my opinion doesn't matter.

 

[Queen6]

Now here we agree. I think that PR machines spin certain narrations, like for Windows 7 it was "the best Windows ever", for El Capitan it was "Snow Yosemite with all bugs squashed". Even if you looked at the early reviews they all had titles like "Mac upgrade that's solid as a rock" or "An unspectacular but worthwhile upgrade". They bought it.

We are wildly off topic though I just noticed. Let's move here, I'm enjoying discussing with you As for rMB, I believe it is the future, whether we want it or not. Apple decided we don't need ports, we don't need a decent keyboard and we don't need speed. It is selling. There really isn't much to add. Unlike @boltjames (if I remember his posts correctly) I believe that same as Air at the beginning rMB will be refined, get a somewhat faster processor, maybe a grand total of two USB-C ports, but it is definitely here to stay, while Air is definitely on its way out. It saddens me, personally, but my opinion doesn't matter.

The Air has huge profit margin, close to twice the rest of their typical portable. So Apple will likely retain it until the rMB can replace the same levels of profitability, then they will naturally depreciate the Air from the line up.

As for OS X I can meet you on the thread

Q-6

 

[navaira]

I see this claim every now and then, about Air having a huge profit margin, but is there proof somewhere? Like, a list of earnings from each "format"?

 

[Queen6]

I see this claim every now and then, about Air having a huge profit margin, but is there proof somewhere? Like, a list of earnings from each "format"?

Truthfully it`s just a matter of researching the web, anecdotal evidence points to margins of up to 38%, which given some of the price breakdowns make sense. Apple is just being smart, levering their scale of economy combined with a fairly basic system.

Q-6

 

[boltjames]

Truthfully it`s just a matter of researching the web, anecdotal evidence points to margins of up to 38%, which given some of the price breakdowns make sense. Apple is just being smart, levering their scale of economy combined with a fairly basic system.

I see this claim every now and then, about Air having a huge profit margin, but is there proof somewhere? Like, a list of earnings from each "format"?

It stands to reason that a product designed and built for profit in 2008 that still sells at the same retail would be more profitable today. Component costs have eased over time due to age and the Chinese economy hitting the skids would have given Apple cost leverage as well.

As a hardware company, Apple could increase notebook sales 50x if they'd just embrace the Windows community and release notebooks in both OSX and Windows 10 flavors. With the abundance of Windows users owning iPhones and the 100s of retail stores with top-notch sales people and Geniuses it's the biggest no-brainer in corporate retail just waiting to be harvested.

I'm a tech-savvy guy and even for me it was a challenge to convert my MacBook to Windows and there is a huge pent-up market of Windows users stuck with lousy hardware and older OS versions. One fell swoop, Apple can own the PC market too.

BJ

 

[navaira]

Except for the fact they would have to re-train every single Genius to answer questions about Windows, which might cannibalise Apple profits for the upcoming decade.

(I am not a big fan of Windows.)

 

[Queen6]

Except for the fact they would have to re-train every single Genius to answer questions about Windows, which might cannibalise Apple profits for the upcoming decade.

(I am not a big fan of Windows.)

I am a big fan of things workings as expected, something Apple has been drifting away from over recent years. As for Windows I am ok with it, I prefer OS X, equally as long as Windows 10 gets the job done without this drama I will be happy to use it, and associated hardware VAIO Canvas, SP4, ThinkPad etc.

Given OS X `s current ludicrous 12 month development cycle, Windows 10 is starting to look to be a better longterm prospect, as who knows if Apple will resolve the issues with 10.11 before the end of it`s cycle, and what new problems 10.12 may introduce...

Q-6

 

[maflynn]

As a hardware company, Apple could increase notebook sales 50x if they'd just embrace the Windows community and release notebooks in both OSX and Windows 10 flavors

I think that will be a mistake, and Apple chooses not to blindly follow sales. For one thing, apple has always touted its superiority to Windows due to its design and control on the hardware and software. If people want windows on their Macs they are free to do it. Having Apple by policy selling Macs with windows, is a bad move imo

 

[c0ppo]

As a hardware company, Apple could increase notebook sales 50x if they'd just embrace the Windows community and release notebooks in both OSX and Windows 10 flavors. With the abundance of Windows users owning iPhones and the 100s of retail stores with top-notch sales people and Geniuses it's the biggest no-brainer in corporate retail just waiting to be harvested.

Apple is not a hardware company. Not at all. Their vision is hardware+software integration. Something they would loose if they switched to windows. And I really don't see a point in switching to Windows. That would be like swapping a Ferrari for a Ford Focus

 

[SteveJUAE]

I disagree with you 100%. In the OS X environment Apple is competing with nobody at all, and Mac sales are growing in a diminishing PC market. By making a Win-only machine Apple suddenly get thousands of competitors, many of whom have copied Macbooks to a tee (with exception of rMB which seems to baffle everybody else... for now) and sell them way below Apple prices. Also actually removing ability to run OS X from their machines would be literally shooting themselves in a foot as most buyers (not the "Look Mabel how purdy" group, obviously) buy them FOR OS X. Myself included. I see absolutely nothing for Apple to benefit from by launching Windows ONLY hardware. Bootcamp is as far as they should – and do go. If they move into Windows only hardware they may as well shut down their entire computer division and focus on making thinner iPhones.


Why do you even think anybody at all would think "I want a new Windows computer, I'm going to buy it from Apple"?

I don't think anyone was really suggesting Apple drop OSX but the option to buy Mac's in native OSX or MS would certainly help the less well informed feel more comfortable

I think there is more people than you realise who opt for Apple hardware only option

Not selling Windows directly on an Apple platform has nothing to do with saving face, Apple lost that street cred ages back with some of it's famous u-turns and MS are even present in their Keynotes.

I think the are holding off for now as they can play this card anytime they choose

 

[SteveJUAE]

Apple is not a hardware company. Not at all. Their vision is hardware+software integration. Something they would loose if they switched to windows. And I really don't see a point in switching to Windows. That would be like swapping a Ferrari for a Ford Focus

I think TC himself said that Apple was a manufacture and not a provider, how much you want to put software in to either camp is up to you

I think your car analogy is a little off the mark unless your implying you buy a luxury product that it throttled by law, harder to maintain and useless for day to day task, perhaps that was your point LOL

 

[c0ppo]

@SteveJUAE

Don't get me wrong. I love windows, and I have used Windows for most of my life (from 3.11 version). I am a former .NET developer, and Visual Studio as a IDE is way better then any other solution out there. IMHO of course, but lot of developers will tell u the same.

But...
First, Windows has a lot of issues. One is privacy policy that MS introduced with windows 10. For some that is a huge issue, maybe not for individuals, but for companies that is a really huge problem. My company included.

Then, there is no denying that Windows isn't as stable as OS X or Linux. From time to time Windows gets slower, something I haven't noticed in Linux or OS X at all. Of course, there are also some positives and areas where Windows is way better then OS X or Linux. I could go all day long about both sides, but I don't see a point in discussions like those. Everyone should use what suits them best.

Apple switching to Windows makes no sense. And of course, that will never happen. But from business point of view, that would be a really retarded move

 

[SteveJUAE]

@SteveJUAE

Don't get me wrong. I love windows, and I have used Windows for most of my life (from 3.11 version). I am a former .NET developer, and Visual Studio as a IDE is way better then any other solution out there. IMHO of course, but lot of developers will tell u the same.

But...
First, Windows has a lot of issues. One is privacy policy that MS introduced with windows 10. For some that is a huge issue, maybe not for individuals, but for companies that is a really huge problem. My company included.

Then, there is no denying that Windows isn't as stable as OS X or Linux. From time to time Windows gets slower, something I haven't noticed in Linux or OS X at all. Of course, there are also some positives and areas where Windows is way better then OS X or Linux. I could go all day long about both sides, but I don't see a point in discussions like those. Everyone should use what suits them best.

Apple switching to Windows makes no sense. And of course, that will never happen. But from business point of view, that would be a really retarded move

I think both OS's have good and bad points depending on personal and professional view points

I really don't mind what someone uses if it suits them then that's absolutely fine by me as long as they equally accept my preference without trying to convince me how bad they think my choice is, not that you have

I think we have all learned never to say never where Apple is concerned all we can say is they have the option to also natively offer Windows on Macs and we can only speculate if this would be a good or bad decision

 

[xmichaelp]

That's cute if anyone thinks the MacBook Air is going to be around in a year or two from now...

Cancelling the MacBook? HAHA.