Apple to Launch 'Low-Cost' MacBook Series Next Year to Rival Chromebooks

[Shirasaki]

What software program for education, or for most general computing use, would require 8GB of Ram?

Safari? Tons of tabs? It’s not about a single application. It’s about a set of applications running to support education needs, and while I personally don’t feel they need 16GB, 8GB is pretty much mandatory nowadays just in case browser uses up too much RAM.

I just looked at my activity monitor, and top 3 processes using up lots of RAM are:
1. MacRumors.com 3.76GB.
2. docs.google.com 3.75GB.
3. docs.google.com 3.55GB.
While macOS manages RAMs differently than Linux and Windows, applications would still need to compete to whatever made available. Imagine what could happen with 4GB of RAM.
Oh btw, my MacBook has 16GB RAM, so I don’t feel slowdown majority of time. Even so, my google doc page Keeps being reloaded by Safari if I switch out to another tab. Tell me how a 4GB machine would cope.

 

[BipedalOS]

Most likely a base iPad with keyboard on a hinge for $799

 

[BipedalOS]

I suspect Apple has very comprehensive in-house iPhone/iPad/Mac management solutions but they refuse to release it for commercial use. Their Apple Store POS iPad/iPhone is locked down to a level that even third party solutions pale to compare (yet, still doesn’t ban pointless software update).

I believe they use Jamf internally.

 

[ACD30"]

How about 12-inch Macbook in original chassis with M1 CPU? That could be lowcost.

I was thinking the same thing, but that 2015 MacBook was over-engineered and cost a lot of money to design and create. If the tooling still exists, then I suppose it's fine...?

 

[BipedalOS]

MacBook - introduced
MacBook - discontinued
MacBook - re-introduced
MacBook - discontinued, again
MacBook - re-introduced, again
…

Lol facts

 

[ACD30"]

It has already existed in the form of the MacBook Air for years, hence why the original MacBook line was eventually discontinued. If "Air" had not become so iconic, the MBA would have since just become the MacBook: the original entry-level Apple laptop post PowerPC era.

It's most likely that they'll re-release the original M1 MBA for $799 or similar.

 

[ACD30"]

The M1 Chip (and even most A-Series chips) blow Chromebook performance out of the water.

The M1 MacBook Air already starts at $899 with education pricing and is one of the best deals in computing. If Apple could dedicate resources to making an even lower-cost MacBook, they could own the education sector in a way they haven’t since the 2000s. What’s more, all of those education customers will lock into the Mac ecosystem early and remain in it.

What's furthermore is that it's been seen on Amazon for as little as $799. I predict the M1 MBA will be price adjusted and sold specifically to the market in question.

 

[Makisupa Policeman]

Honestly if it’s a good enough balance between performance and affordability then this is a great idea. Call it the MacBook SE like the cheaper version of the iPhone, and price it around US $499–$599.

 

[jlc1978]

Most likely a base iPad with keyboard on a hinge for $799

Also without touch screen in a base model. That would keep the price way down as well so the price point can be compelling. I think basing it on an iPad makes more sense because they already are available starting at a much lower price point than the MBA, use mature technology and would not compete with the MB line. Make them less fragile and cheaper for broader classroom adoption. Apple has also built in a lot of assistive features in iOS that could be a competitive edge as well, and offer a higher end device with touchscreen for situations where one would be useful.

There is no need for M1’s, lots of storage, etc. on a device intended for basic classroom use; a A series with 64GB of storage would be more than enough. Chromebooks are already browser based and Apple has a suite of browser based productivity apps, a browser, and a light weight OS (iOS) that can compete with ChromeOS. Partner with (or buy) a company for device management and push their educator community and they could compete quite well if they decide to.

 

[AppliedMicro]

I'm confused as to why Apple just wouldn't promote their iPads in education instead of making an all-new MacBook

They do. Not only a they front and center on their education site but from what I‘ve heard, they’re also promoting them behind the scenes.

 

[Chuckeee]

I have the feeling Apple will be releasing a new eMac

Why do that when; the 2005 eMac was a failure. It was NOT widely accepted into the education market and it DID eat into iMac general sales.

Apple does make mistakes but it has a pretty fair record on not repeating the same mistake twice. Although it could be argued the iPhone SE is another slow rolling failure into the lower end (actually mid-range) commercial cell phone market .

 

[AppliedMicro]

Also without touch screen in a base model. (…) Apple has also built in a lot of assistive features in iOS that could be a competitive edge as well, and offer a higher end device with touchscreen for situations where one would be useful.

It will never come without a touchscreen. iOS - or iPadOS rather - without a touch screen is technically usable - but only barely so. Especially from an accessibility and usability standpoint.

iOS apps weren’t and aren’t made with mouse/touchpad and keyboards in mind - those are an afterthought.

 

[AppliedMicro]

(double post)

 

[JustAnExpat]

Why do that when; the 2005 eMac was a failure. It was NOT widely accepted into the education market and it DID eat into iMac general sales.

Apple does make mistakes but it has a pretty fair record on not repeating the same mistake twice. Although it could be argued the iPhone SE is another slow rolling failure into the lower end (actually mid-range) commercial cell phone market .

How could the 2005 eMac eat into iMac general sales when almost all of them weren't sold to the general public?

 

[tcatsninfan]

They do. Not only a they front and center on their education site but from what I‘ve heard, they’re also promoting them behind the scenes.

Please read my grammar carefully. I didn't say Apple ISN'T promoting iPads in education. I said I was confused as to why they wouldn't promote iPads INSTEAD OF making an all-new MacBook. I'm talking about a future hypothetical where a low-cost MacBook aimed at education is released.

 

[jlc1978]

It will never come without a touchscreen. iOS - or iPadOS rather - without a touch screen is technically usable - but only barely so. Especially from an accessibility and usability standpoint.

iOS apps weren’t and aren’t made with mouse/touchpad and keyboards in mind - those are an afterthought.

Yea, on second thought, I agree and in quantity a low end touchscreen isn’t likely to add too much cost Nd not mess with the way iOS is intended to operate.

Please read my grammar carefully. I didn't say Apple ISN'T promoting iPads in education. I said I was confused as to why they wouldn't promote iPads INSTEAD OF making an all-new MacBook. I'm talking about a future hypothetical where a low-cost MacBook aimed at education is released.

I can think of several:

• Apple has lots of recent experience with iPads in education and could build on that
• iPad based devices are likely to cost less
• Such devices would not compete with existing products

Chromebooks are not about power and flexibility, rather they are low cost, browser based, minimal spec devices that do a few things.

 

[Aggedor]

Will not happen, as Apple do not compete at the lower end of the price range. They are a premium product.

 

[jlc1978]

Will not happen, as Apple do not compete at the lower end of the price range. They are a premium product.

Who knows? It all depends on how big of a push Apple wants to make in the education market if they see that as an entry point to build a base of future customers. Apple could very well make. A premium product for that market when compared to Chromebooks, even if they are not high end titanium designs.

 

[gpat]

Why do that when; the 2005 eMac was a failure. It was NOT widely accepted into the education market and it DID eat into iMac general sales.

Apple does make mistakes but it has a pretty fair record on not repeating the same mistake twice. Although it could be argued the iPhone SE is another slow rolling failure into the lower end (actually mid-range) commercial cell phone market .

Well, they have an history of repeating the same mistake every year over for about 7 years now, by not making the iPad viable as an entry level computer with a proper OS.
That's the whole reason Chromebooks trumped them in the education market.

 

[jlc1978]

Well, they have an history of repeating the same mistake every year over for about 7 years now, by not making the iPad viable as an entry level computer with a proper OS.

I would hardly claim Android is a proper OS compared to iOS.

That's the whole reason Chromebooks trumped them in the education market.

Chromebooks were cheap and disposable so they could issue them and trash them when broken.

 

[enb141]

Why do that when; the 2005 eMac was a failure. It was NOT widely accepted into the education market and it DID eat into iMac general sales.

Apple does make mistakes but it has a pretty fair record on not repeating the same mistake twice. Although it could be argued the iPhone SE is another slow rolling failure into the lower end (actually mid-range) commercial cell phone market .

I'm wondering if they learned from expensive hardware that was a failure, so time will tell if Vision pro is one of those failures.

 

[EdChai]

Introducing iPad Pro with keyboard bundle

 

[gpat]

I would hardly claim Android is a proper OS compared to iOS.

Chromebooks were cheap and disposable so they could issue them and trash them when broken.

There's no better trash than this kind of trash-talking 🤣
The marketshare problem in edu exists.
It also exists, in this very website, a section of users debating about the best Android devices because iOS doesn't fit their workflow. Go figure.

 

[iTangerine]

Apple could absolutely conquer the low-cost market if they do this right. Re-emphasis on trailblazing consumer devices is Apple at it's best.

Or if they price this like an absolute monkey, and nobody but YouTuber tech reviewers will buy one.

Since the death of the iPod, Apple hasn't had real stocking stuffers. Stuff inside Impulse-Buy territory, that would be perfect your younger students AND shameless tech hoarders alike. A colorful, low cost, fanless M1 powered MacBook? 13 inch retina screen? Translucent options? That almost wouldn't be fair.

Hell. I'd settle for a single port on one of those.

 

[ackmondual]

Same. I read up on a lot of the "education sector wars" of the past decade. Google won that quite handedly. A Chromebook (CB) could be had for $200 at the consumer price. Comparable iPad at that time was $400 (although nowadays.. $300). Education sector would be able to negotiate discounts, and perhaps bulk volume as well.

Ipad may be OK for elementary school, but beyond that, students are typing 5 to 20 page essays.. they need physical keyboards. There are kb attachments for iPad, but that would increase the cost of the iPad even further, whereas CB come with them. Furthermore, that'd be another thing they could lose. And the iPad having more value works against it in this case since it'll be more prone to theft, or just selling for cash.

The setup is a breeze. Most teachers and educators could do it. I heard iPad still required someone more tech savvy (if not an actual IT person). I heard one teacher say "you follow 10 steps and it works". For iPad, "follow 30 steps and perhaps it'll work". If a CB is lost, just issue a new one, and there's no further setup since it's mostly cloud based, and no extra software needs to be set up nor installed on it.

The difference really is night and day. Aside from iPads being cheaper than ever, I'm really curious to see how Apple fares this time around.

Are we sure Apple's definition of low cost is the same as the rest of the world's?

I remember hearing a story about when Steve Jobs mentioned the price of a new Mac computer, somebody else (probably Steve Woz) countered "but Steve, you're a billionaire!".