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Apple Unveils New 13-Inch Entry-Level MacBook Pro

PedroHC said:
Today at its October 2016 Town Hall event Apple announced an entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro, a perceived successor to the MacBook Air, the 13-inch version of which remains available to buy for now, with the 11-inch version being discontinued.

The new entry-level Pro takes on many of the design features of the rest of the range, except for Apple's new Touch Bar, which replaces the traditional function key strip in the rest of its new Pro MacBooks.

f1477592280-800x360.jpg

The new entry-level MacBook Pro is 12 percent thinner than the current MacBook Air. It's also 13 percent smaller in volume, while staying the same weight.

Apple's senior VP Phil Schiller says the new entry-level MacBook Pro is faster than the MacBook Air in "every way." It has a 2.0GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, Intel Iris 540 Graphics, a larger Force Touch trackpad, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, and a new second-generation butterfly mechanism keyboard.

The entry-level MacBook ships starting today and is available starting at $1,499. In contrast, the existing MacBook Air with 1.6GHz processor and 128GB storage and is still available at $999. The new entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro can be pre-ordered online now and will ship in 2-3 weeks.

Article Link: Apple Unveils Successor to MacBook Air With 13-Inch Entry-Level MacBook Pro
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[/QUOTE]
The 2015 MBPs appear to still be on sale in the Apple store for now. Hard to say how long they will be sticking around for.
 
As I mentioned in the keynote thread it was pretty disappointing to announce pricing. Thought this was the opportunity to discontinue the air. Drop the MacBook to under $1k and have the 13" MBP without touch bar start at $1299 (or lower).
 
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Compared to what Microsoft came out with yesterday....this is a large pile of CRAP!!!!

They had 1,599 days to build a new MacBook Pro and this pile of junk is the end result? It cost more and does less. Okay. Graphics are still crap. The touch bar is nice, but there could have been so much more. Thought this would be the event that made me rethink my abandonment of Apple stuff, but nope. They still hate the Mac and professional creative people.

I'd rather spend that money on the original PowerBook they showed. That was at least made by people that cared about the Mac.

What about the rest of the Mac line???????

:mad: Tim you suck!
 
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MacRumors said:



Today at its October 2016 Town Hall event Apple announced an entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro, a perceived successor to the MacBook Air, the 13-inch version of which remains available to buy for now, with the 11-inch version being discontinued.

The new entry-level Pro takes on many of the design features of the rest of the range, except for Apple's new Touch Bar, which replaces the traditional function key strip in the rest of its new Pro MacBooks.

f1477592280-800x360.jpg

The new entry-level MacBook Pro is 12 percent thinner than the current MacBook Air. It's also 13 percent smaller in volume, while staying the same weight.

Apple's senior VP Phil Schiller says the new entry-level MacBook Pro is faster than the MacBook Air in "every way." It has a 2.0GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, Intel Iris 540 Graphics, a larger Force Touch trackpad, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, and a new second-generation butterfly mechanism keyboard.

The entry-level MacBook ships starting today and is available starting at $1,499. In contrast, the existing MacBook Air with 1.6GHz processor and 128GB storage and is still available at $999. The new entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro can be pre-ordered online now and will ship in 2-3 weeks.

Article Link: Apple Unveils Successor to MacBook Air With 13-Inch Entry-Level MacBook Pro
Click to expand...
[doublepost=1477596957][/doublepost]Getting rid of the 11" model is stupid. Its size is ideal and allows it to fit anywhere with a reasonable price. MBAs also allow you to upgrade to more powerful processors. Since I use a Thunderbolt monitor most of the time with it, I don't need the snazzy display. Just better graphic performance and more up-to-date connectivity. Apple has lost connection with it's audience. :(
 
Entry-level as in $1,500. No, thanks.

Gawd, I sometimes hate being right but in this case glad I was. My intuition was correct. Glad I got my 2015 MBA for nearly half that exactly one week ago feeling aware Apple will kill the Air and offer us port-less MacBooks. Rumors of killing off the Air started over 18 months ago. Rumors of the new Pros going port-less started over a month ago. All have become true now. And the real kicker is how much more Apple wants to charge us for entry-level. Big middle finger to so many people who waited that long for an update.

RIP MacBook Air (2008-2016)

But I sure love mines! Only thing I don't like is the screen and viewing angles but I still get my MagSafe, SD slot, and two USB-A ports. :) Life is still good for me even if the MacBook Air line is dead.
 
I was going to update my 3 year old 13" Air but know point as theirs nothing new so my air is perfect for another year. The new pro line up for me is not worth the high price yesterday and now with the huge price increase the pro will be for the very few who need the latest.
 
dhuff said:
I'd debate calling a $1499 laptop "entry level." But the 13" Macbook Air is still shown on their website with decent specs / prices for what it is. That's their real entry level laptop.
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Why? That's what the iBook cost in 2002. (compare those two entry levels, hmm?)
 
The new Macbook Pro is thinner only when compared at the Air's thickest point. The Air is tapered and thinner at the front and that design just sits and feels better in my lap. The new Pro does have a smaller footprint while maintaining the same size screen. I wonder how the new butterfly keys feel now? I didn't care for the ones on the Macbook.

Anyway, I think I'll sit back and wait for the reviews of the new model to come out. I'm sure the Touch Bar won't work as smooth as it did in the demo - there's always bugs in the new stuff. Worse case scenario, I can put a new battery in my old MacBook Air and keep on truckin'.
 
My 2015 13 inch 2.2 Ghz Intel core I7 MBA is going to have to continue duty for another couple of years based on today's announcement.
 
Then you better get Xcode on the iPad Pro. Because there is no reason to "slowly" end the Air. More people/students/developers use the Air than any other Apple laptop. It's small, thin, and is far better than any laptop Windows offers.
 
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I have no idea what this model does it Apples repetoire. What purpose does it serve? It is not a cheaper computer, as both the MBA and '15 MBP are cheaper. Its not to provide function keys, again the models just mentioned. Its not to be a cheap pro, because it is not cheap in any way.

They should have named it the Macbook Performa.

Apples product lines are just completely ****ed up, 90ties style now.
 
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I realize alot of mobile devices and laptops is like fashion similar to collecting Louis Vuitton handbags and Air Jordan shoes. Sometimes the newer model doesn't suit our needs. Sometimes newer isn't always better. This is the case with the MacBooks. Once I read the rumor that they would eliminate USB-A and SD slot, I knew the newer ones wasn't for me.

Apple can get away with this in the mobile industry. People will eventually get used to the elimination of headphone jack. Not so in the personal computer market when they are behind manufacturers like Lenovo, HP, and Dell that are willing to keep those current universal standards. Just don't upgrade and stick to the oldies but still a goodie.

I believe Macs are far more useful than iPhones and iPads which basically are larger portable media players with cameras and apps. But Apple doesn't have much of an influence in the computer industry like they do with mobile. So by eliminating industry standards, most people aren't going to bite like they do with iPhones.

Glad I got mine a week ago predicting all this would happen today. By Sunday, Best Buy raised it to back to $1000. I think it is $900 now. Get it while supplies last and save $500-600. I compare the older MacBooks similar to the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 which was the last to feature removable battery and microSD slot for a Note phone.

That $1500 price tag is the real slap in everyone's faces when the "12 MacBook from last year is cheaper than that. It is almost like Apple no longer cares about Mac people.
 
I guess since Microsoft is charging so much for their surface line, apple felt that they needed to hike the price so as to maintain their “exclusivity.
 
DanGoh said:
There was no reason to take away 2 of the 4 Thunderbolt ports on the new entry-level MBP.
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Of course there is - to srcew the user.

The old MBA had: magsafe, TB, 2*USB and SD card. I could have lived without the SD card slot, but 1 free port (1 for power) for*:
USB key, security fob, test equipment interface, ethernet, display adapter... thats a few ports to few...

The only thing 'Pro' about this machine is the pricing...

*Haha - just realised this is back to the mac - the originial Macbook Air (1 power port, 1 USB port)... That was a groundbreaking but quite flawed machine (overheating problems, lack of ports). This one doesn't even have anything ground-breaking to make up for the flaws...

Being an Apple user (as I am), is becoming less appealing moving forward as TC is steering the company into frivolous new waters...
 
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This is absolute crap!!!!

Apple removes the 3.5mm jack from the iPhone 7 forcing the use of wireless or the Lightning port connected headphones (or the use of some stupid Lighting to 3.5mm converter).

So now consumers drink the Apple Kook-Aid go out and purchase Lighting connected headphones and the arrogant Apple clowns release the new MacBook WITH a 3.5mm audio jack and NO Lighting connector.

When asked about removing the 3.5mm jack, Phil Schiller has been quoted saying “the company can't justify the continued use of an 'ancient' single-use port”, and it took “courage” to abandon the 3.5mm jack.

Greg Joswiak has been quoted saying “The audio connector is more than 100 years old. It had its last big innovation about 50 years ago. You know that what was? They made it smaller. It hasn’t been touched since then. It’s a dinosaur. It’s time to move on”

Isn’t this lovely, Apple just finished telling everyone that the 3.5mm jack is a horrible, outdated, dinosaur technology and we all should run out and purchase wireless or Lighting connected headphones.

Thanks for the inconsistency Apple, or are you now going to say it took “courage” to leave the 3.5mm jack in the MacBook and you left out the Lighting port because that’s the next port on the chopping block.
 
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The MacBook Air was priced high upon its first release, so the prices are not exactly surprising. What is surprising is that they didn't announce a less expensive / competitive option for people who don't currently live in the Apple ecosystem -- a lot of people have been priced out of owning a MacBook of any kind unless you stick with the outdated Air. I have the latest MacBook and the keyboard and ports (or lack thereof) aren't as bad as people make it out to be. Technology will catch up with Apple and you'll forget the day when this was an issue, like when they dropped CD drives from their computers.
 
pika2000 said:
This.
I can understand not including the fancy OLED bar, but removing 2 ports just because is a bit lame. There's no space restriction here, and the fact that this still bears a "Pro" branding.
Ditching SD card slot, HDMI port, etc for 4 USB-C ports is kinda okay, but ditching all that only for 2 USB-C port? On a Pro notebook? Come on Apple.
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They become greedier than ever, btw "old" macbook pro only get 128gb ssd
 
calzon65 said:
Isn’t this lovely, Apple just finished telling everyone that the 3.5mm jack is a horrible, outdated, dinosaur technology and we all should run out and purchase wireless or Lighting connected headphones.

Thanks for the inconsistency Apple, or are you now going to say it took “courage” to leave the 3.5mm jack in the MacBook and you left out the Lighting port because that’s the next port on the chopping block.
Click to expand...

Excellent point.
 
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