Apple's Notebook Sales Drop to Estimated 2.5M as Buyers Await New MacBook Pro

[Chupa Chupa]

It really does grate how Apple have completely dropped their focus on their desktop / laptop products. Virtually the entire lineup is looking extremely stale and dated. They need to get a grip, and get some new hardware out the door and soon.

Yes. Personally I think TimCo have dipped their collective fingers in too many projects to the point where all the existing products suffer and who knows what's going on in the lab. We keep hearing (for years it seems) about Apple's rich product pipeline but those new, exciting, insanely great products never make an appearance. WWDC 16 is the time if Apple is going to make a showing. So here is to hoping the 2 hour keynote doesn't consist solely of vignettes about back end features no developer will adopt for years. WWDC needs some flash and pop to reignite the brand's excitement.

 

[linuxcooldude]

Nearly all my Macs are from 2009. The only recent models I get are iPhone or iPads. I think people are using mobile devices more and desktops less. So little justification buying new computers if the old ones still work. PC's have been declining for years, it took much longer for Macs to catch up to that trend.

 

[rk25123]

I hope for an integrated fingerprint reader. I have two eikon readers by AuthenTec that I was able to use up until Apple acquired the company and immediately dropped the support with OS X 10.9 (how nice!). Funny thing is it still works in Windows, even after updating to Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. I had hoped they'd at least integrate it in the new Macs, but it seems their priority are iPhones and iPads.

 

[donpaluh]

When Tim Cook introduced the large iPad Pro (which I immediately purchased), he said you don't need a computer anymore. I took that to mean they weren't going to pay a lot of attention to computer development anymore. I love my iPads, but as a creative professional I still need my Mac Pro and MacBook Pro too. Obviously there is a lot more profit in selling an iPhone to just about everyone, than there is in selling high-end computers to a small fraction of the population. Still I would think if anything, Apple's own creatives and engineers would be hitting the wall.

 

[seatton]

I guess the rose gold color is not innovative enough. I am so shocked / s

 

[Armandodj]

Apple don't get greedy! Bring back good computers and competitive prices it's not only about iPhone and iPads.

 

[anthonylambert]

I think Apple made some bad decisions over iMac going 5k instead of 4k. I think they went 5K too soon. It caused problems across their range. The latest Skylake Intel chips didn't support display port 1.4 only 1.3 which doesn't support 5k screens. This mean't they haven't been able to launch a 5k Cinema Display which was last updated in 2011 as it would require two DP 1.3 cables to drive it which in turn would have SJ spinning in his grave. They didn't want to launch a 4K cinema display because it would of been lesser than the iMac and not match when they were side by side.

I think this has mean't they have been going slow hoping to support the whole Mac range on a new Cinema Display and the failure of Intel to drop 1.4 Display Port at the last minute has caused issues.

Nearly all the Macs are way late for updates Mini 573 days, Mac Pro 874 days, Mac Air 429, rMBP 358 days. The Cinema Display was last updated 5 years ago and is now a complete joke for the money.

I imagine there will be a big redesign in Macbook Pro range... Not sure why Mac Pro and Mini haven't had processor bumps just to keep them in some way fresh. The Macbook and Air seemed to step on each others toes maybe Air will go away long term?!

 

[62tele]

Frankly I'm not expecting much at WWDC regarding substantive enhancements in the MacBook Pros. I also doubt we see anything much iMac enhancements this year. (Seriously Apple, a spinning hard drive?)
Again, Apple has become a company that would prefer to nickel and dime its customers than provide value. I don't mind paying a premium but give me something for that premium.
Cook doesn't seem to have a vision. He's a materials manager in a CEO position. Jonny Ive must have needed Jobs to inspire and push him because the newer designs in the iPhone and Apple Watch aren't very compelling. The MacBook (12" Retina-single USB-C) isn't even worth discussing.
I still prefer OS X to Windows and my iPhone/iPad iOS to Android for the time being. However, I have been waiting for close to 2 years to replace my MBA and iMac and prepared to wait longer. I won't replace my iPhone 6 until we get a better screen and a camera system which takes decent indoor photos in all types of lighting.
If Apple came up with a Logic-esque like App for the iPad Pro I would gladly ditch my MBA and iMac.

 

[Deacon-Blues]

I have already made the decision to switch to a Dell XPS 15, and it pains me to do it. But I require a discrete video card, and with Apple that means shelling out $2499 for the top end model, the only one with a discrete video card. Or I can just pay $1199 for the 15" XPS with the nVidia GeForce 960M 2GB GDDR5.

The XPS is a very nice machine. I'm sorry to say Apple has priced me out of their camp. I have bought three $1999 MacBook Pros over the years, that I would pay. $2499 I will not. When my 2012 MacBook Pro needs replacing, I'll be going to Dell.

 

[Queen6]

Interesting point - I hadn't contemplated that as a possible cause to some of the increasing sales. I know many people who held onto their machines because windows 7 was good and 8 was awful, though MS did correct some of the sins in win8.1 and I found that to be solid enough.

FWIW, I'm rocking with a SP3 over a MBP and its working well with windows 10. Perhaps I'm one of those people

I just see a lot more usability in the likes of an SP4, my only reserve is battery life. I also suspect once the Surface Book is more developed, it too will gain greater acceptance. Microsoft is really making strides, where I just see Apple stagnating, Keynotes etc. are little more than hyperbole, product frankly is just plain dull, with ever buggier software, certainly evokes little or no positive emotion.

I am a longterm Mac user (business & home), sadly however I just don't see the Mac in my future. Frankly I will be astounded if the 2016 rMBP offers anything significant over the current machines, other than being thinner. Another factor is that some Windows OEM`s have caught up and exceed Apple in many respects, forcing less compromise on the user, with in some cases a diametrically opposed paradigm to Apple`s actually offering the user a deal more for their money.

Q-6

 

[oopsroger]

I want a notebook/tablet hybrid based on OS X with Pencil support. Who's with me?

 

[H2SO4]

Great headline.
When the other OEMs have dropping sales it’s because thier products are rubbish but when Apple are in the same boat it’s because they are waiting to spend all that cash later.

 

[Grade]

I for one think that even if they release new machine with this current price tags, it needs a lot to convince me.

I for one this is LISA all over again. Overprice computer, for little innovation. They really need to lower prices if they wish to be competitive in today's market, where Windows starts not having all the hate it used too.

I for one the current base 27" Imac should be at least 1800 dollars/euros. Why this price? Well because that is same amount i usually spent on a mid-top range PC, including keyboard, mouse and Screen.

 

[mr.bee]

strange, when I bought my rmbp 15" late 2013, the price, including edu discount, and adding 16gb RAM and a better processor was 2269 EUR,
today, the 16gb is included and adding a better processor will be lower then that price point...

Is that skylake update really going to bring that much to the table for you? If you shave of 10% for hours of rendering, yes, but how many of the average consumers are doing that? 8%?

these thread is full of unnecessary drama and consumer manipulation...

It IS true that on the software side, Apple should be upping the game regarding macOS and their own apps. But that's unrelated to some update of these great laptops.

 

[Thunderhawks]

I'm conflicted with the upgradeability factor. I usually only upgrade once (2011 MBP 16GB/512GB SSD out of the gate). If apple's prices were much more inline with reality I would order a system with high specs and never worry about upgrading.

Unfortunately, apple's prices are not based on reality.

I am also always humming and hawing when buying a new MBP.

Since for years all MBPs are not what I REALLY want (= 17", upgradeable) they do not deserve the asked price.

So, for a few years as a compromise I check the max configuration on ebay (even refurb Apple isn't a bargain) and WAIT, until something close enough shows up.The WAIT part is very important.

Researching what one can get for the money is worth it and one cannot be in a hurry.

 

[anthonylambert]

I for one this is LISA all over again. Overprice computer, for little innovation.

Hmmm....... the Lisa was probably the most innovative computer ever....

(given that the the Mac was a cheaper trimmed down version of the Lisa that took 8 years to get back to offering some of the features they had in the Lisa like multi-app desktop)

I agree the Lisa failed as it was too expensive to sell to thier customers who were Apple ][ users.... A problem jobs repeated with the NeXT Cube.

 

[Stella]

I can't justify spending more than $1500 on a laptop anymore. The XPS 13 I mentioned above cost me $700 (refurbished with regular warranty) and it is, crazy enough, a REALLY nice machine. It handles Photoshop and Lightroom easily enough, no real need to spend more.

I disagree. I've been using 10 for awhile and cannot say a reason I would prefer OS X over it besides having the terminal.

The ubuntu Terminal is coming to Windows 10. That is very attractive.. depending on how it works with the rest of Windows.

 

[Arthur75]

Good to see that apple customers aren't total sheeps and realize that the current line is way too old and way overpriced for the hardware age !

Get these skylake MPB out soon !!

 

[Thunderhawks]

I want a notebook/tablet hybrid based on OS X with Pencil support. Who's with me?

Yes, I'd buy that in a heartbeat!

Ditched desktop computing years ago. Now I want a LARGE iPad, with the capability of the MBPs, detachable keyboard.

Using a keyboard for MBPs anyway and a larger monitor.

Apple you can do it

 

[tundrabuggy]

Or, customers aren't upgrading or buying new MacBooks because their retail price point is way off the mark, incredibly too expensive.
Many "prospective buyers" wouldn't know exactly what was a "redesigned MacBook Pro" or a "Skylake processor", "Thunderbolt 3" or even "USB-C".
The price points are completely wrong.

Not true at all....Its the same mentality that if Ferrari made an inexpensive car, they would sell like hotcakes! That's neither Ferrari's nor Apple's business model. Premium price for a premium product.

 

[manu chao]

Apple doesn't care about computers. They used to do major refreshes every 8 months with speed bumps every 4 months, now you're lucky to get one half-assed update a year.

I don't know what you are smoking but I want some of it:

• MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid/Late 2007)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2008)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011) ***
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012)
• MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2012)
• MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Early 2013) ***
• MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013)
• MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014) ***
• MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)

That's nine calendar years and 13 models. Three of them (***) were definitely only speed bumps (same CPU generation, no changes to features and exterior). The parallel release of an updated non-retina MBP and the retina MBP in 2012 can also not really be counted as two separate refreshes. That leaves us with nine 'full' refreshes in nine years plus three speed bumps.

Or said differently, a refresh cycle of 12 months and if we include the speed bumps, an average cycle of 9 months.

 

[tundrabuggy]

14" display in the same 13" footprint plus thunderbolt 3 ports and I'm in.

A Thunderbolt 3 port does not exist, Thunderbolt 3 architecture is built into the USB-C port.

 

[MacHiavelli]

Very little has happened to the Mac lineup in the last few years, neither hardware nor software (iWork and iLife).

Apple is either getting ready to dump Macs and OS X, or it is getting ready to dump Intel and switch the Macs over to ARM.

Intel has caused processor delays, but Intel isn't responsible for the paucity of design, other hardware, and software updates.

Something is going on.

 

[nocturnum]

Apple must let go of the dead-weight Jonathan Ive, Tim Cook, Phil Schiller, Eddy Cue, Angela Ahrendts and Dre. The first three expired long time ago and the last three never stood a chance.

An interesting crisis team could be comprised of John Sculley as CEO, Hartmutt Esslinger as CDO and Joanna Hoffmann as CMO.

Let the fun begin.


P.S.: I bet they are keeping Jonathan Ive to hang around for marketing purposes, otherwise a single most (terribly) overvalued person in Apple's history.

 

[Fancuku]

40% is a huge drop. Of course a drop was to be expected because Q1 is always slow but 40% is very big. Other manufacturers were at 28% or less. Maybe Apple should be concerned.