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Are cutting edge Apple laptops a thing of the past?

Im a Mac and PC person and to be honest i think the macbook lineup is fine. They are still all top notch well built computers (except the macbook airs screen, which is terrible for 2016!).

Intel's delays are not delaying Apple from releasing new macs either. Lots of makers, including Microsoft have used intel latest generation to create some fantastic hardware. Its good for everyone, there is a lot of choice.

I think a refresh will happen this year, in terms of design on the mac pro and macbook pro (for the airs Im uncertain). Then I expect the design will remain another 5 years at least while there is a 1-2 year update of internals. Given the performance these days of processors and with battery life at ~10 + hours there really isn't much need for added performance or battery life.

I think the focus on power and battery will remain with tablets as they become as ubiquitous as a fridge or toaster. And life cycles of hardware refreshes will probably extend also.

In the end, most PCs from 3-5 years ago can run most software people are using today. Its no longer necessary for most regular consumers (the average family,students etc) to be cutting edge and Apple are regular consumer company (with additional Pro laptop/desktop models for people who need the power etc). Most Apple users care about the experience, not how much RAM or how good a geek bench score a tablet or computer gets.

I think its actually interesting that they don't have a performance tab on the iPad pro section of the apple website. It makes me think they want to focus away from graphs showing how much better products are from the previous gen. This is in line with the way they are starting to market their devices. Saying you can do email, browse web and play games. Not highlighting its X times faster than the previous gen. It makes it easier for a consumer to walk in and without any jargon or numbers just pick a device based on how it feels, rather than what is inside. The most technical things considered being storage options and screen size.
 
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toddzrx said:
“I think if you’re looking at a PC, why would you buy a PC anymore? No really, why would you buy one?” Cook told the British publication.

I for one, and probably many others, cringed when they heard or read this statement from TC. Apple has been riding the coattails of the iPhone for obvious reasons, but if we've truly hit "Peak iPhone", they'd be well served to start giving some more attention to their computer lineup. I just hope they get proactive about it instead of waiting for the inevitable profit decline and go into panic mode.
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The majority of PC users aren't content creators. That's the reality and that's what TC is referring to.
 
MrX8503 said:
The majority of PC users aren't content creators. That's the reality and that's what TC is referring to.
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I know that, but he made that statement in the midst of a year-on-year decline in iPad sales vs. steady growth in Apple's computer sales during an overall PC-sales decline. The sales evidence is counter to his statement, at least from a purely Apple perspective. You'd think with Apple's computer sales improving in this environment, they'd do more to continue the trend, especially when there's plenty of market share to steel and their computer lineup is begging for updates. That's not the case with phones or tablets, markets in which Apple dominates and has saturated.
 
If the current line up is selling well then there is no need to rush to change. Every sale of a current gen laptop is a potential sale of a next gen laptop. Flagging laptop sales would provide more impetus to change.
 
Howard2k said:
If the current line up is selling well then there is no need to rush to change. Every sale of a current gen laptop is a potential sale of a next gen laptop. Flagging laptop sales would provide more impetus to change.
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In that case, the solution is to vote with our money and buy non-Apple laptops.

The Dell XPS 13/XPS 15 comes to mind.
 
JamesGoodman said:
As a writer, keyboards are as important as screens. If the Macbook I am typing on now is any indication, I think that Apple has given up trying to create great keyboards for writers.
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It's funny, I hear this argument a lot, but I find the macbook's keyboard to be much nicer than the standard chiclet keyboard found on other macs (and most other laptops now). I'm also a writer, and do even more writing for my job, and much prefer to do it on my MB rather than my MBP.

To me, this is the best keyboard apple has made since the ADB, but to each their own!
 
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laptops and desktops are no longer needed...

That is a true statement if you don't do anything very demanding, sure you can run a business with an iPad or Android tablet (purposely did not include surface as it has the same functionality as a laptop, just comes without the keyboard). Most of what is needed is looking over analytics, checking spreadsheets, finances, and mostly doing assessments in general. All of this can be done using an app, when you start talking about the things that a business needs to run, yeah... someone's going to need a laptop or desktop. Something that can pack enough power to get the job done and move on quickly.

Are laptops dead, they can be if you can live without the power and functionality that it provides. I can run my entertainment center from my iPad or even my iPhone without much trouble, but I still have my Windows computer for high end games and my iMac for everything else.
 
Apple has morphed into a highly successful mass market producer of disposable devices. As such they have shifted their focus to short R&D cycles, continuing their legacy of razor thin objects, marketed at premium prices. It's a new Apple.
 
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GoldfishRT said:
I still like Apple's laptops more than just about any other OEM. With that said, they've taken a different approach to design they previously have and some may say it's forward thinking but from the outside it looks rather poor I think - Apple seems to have bought hard into the diminishing returns argument and seems more concerned with prettier, lighter, and longer lasting computers that still perform "OK" in competition. To the end user, it just looks like Apple is being cheap to increase margins. I don't think that's the case for the rMB considering the additional r&d to design it the way they did, but the 15" MBP and MBAs are both far too expensive for what they offer hardware wise, the screen being the only thing withstanding.

And I think it's okay to feel that way considering outside of minor hardware increases Apple hasn't really committed to the design ideas they seem to want to move forward with. With the exception of the rMB none of their computers have received a major design change in years. I'm very much hoping that either later this year or early next they unveil a revamped product line. It has felt incredibly static.

That's my take on it anyway.
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I share your take and your hope.
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kvyoung said:
Personally I'm quite content with the Apple product line. My mid-2012 rMBP is still the best 15" laptop I have ever owned. The rMB is likely the best computer i have ever owned full stop. It just ticks all the boxes for my needs. As a point of comparison only, I also have a Thinkpad Yoga Windows 10 machine and a Chromebook Pixel. They are both fantastic computers but the Macs are even nicer. I'm glad Apple has so far stayed away from touch screens on retina MacBooks. A Windows QHD+ Touch screen will reduce your battery life by about 3 hours over the same equipment with a FHD non-touch display. Look no further than the Dell XPS 13 or the ASUS UX305 for proof of this.

I think we get too caught up in the constant upgrade cycle. Just because competitors have 2 in 1 devices or touch screens doesn't necessarily make them better laptops. I understand that everyone's needs are different but that is why we have competition. In my opinion Apple makes the best quality laptop there is so lets not lose sight of that. Sure you can find this feature or that feature others may have but as a total package a Mac just can't be beat.
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I want to agree with that and I wish I could agree with that and I've been trying to agree, hard, since January, when I bought my rMB. But the keyboard simply doesn't do it for me. I've been using laptops since the middle 80s, with the Tandy 102 and the first Toshibas. This is the least comfortable keyboard I have ever put up with for even three months--for ME. I know it is subjective. For me.
 
ParanoidDroid said:
Would you please link a few sources which support your statement? I'm literally feeling paranoid about that.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_Platform_Module

https://www.rt.com/news/windows-8-nsa-germany-862/

https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2015/03/can_the_nsa_bre_1.html


Be paranoid, it is an appropriate response to our government's decision that it has the "right" to see every piece of information in existence.

To be clear: The TPM doesn't mandate surveillance of your PC, it just allows the govt to install a spyware rootkit (if you were, say, a congressman) en route from the supplier to the retailer that cannot be detected/removed/monitored. It's a "security feature" that removes control of you or even the computer manufacturer (dell, asus, whatever) from knowing what the chip is doing. This is exactly why Apple is moving to building its own servers.
 
touchstoned said:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_Platform_Module

https://www.rt.com/news/windows-8-nsa-germany-862/

https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2015/03/can_the_nsa_bre_1.html


Be paranoid, it is an appropriate response to our government's decision that it has the "right" to see every piece of information in existence.

To be clear: The TPM doesn't mandate surveillance of your PC, it just allows the govt to install a spyware rootkit (if you were, say, a congressman) en route from the supplier to the retailer that cannot be detected/removed/monitored. It's a "security feature" that removes control of you or even the computer manufacturer (dell, asus, whatever) from knowing what the chip is doing. This is exactly why Apple is moving to building its own servers.
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It would help if you take your tin-foil hat off.

TPM is there to prevent malware from hijacking the booting process.
 
tubeexperience said:
It would help if you take your tin-foil hat off.

TPM is there to prevent malware from hijacking the booting process.
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It can do more than one thing, and tinfoil is in fashion these days.


You are too trusting of your electronics, if you understood what TPM was you'd understand that nebulous "security features" are an excuse used by intel to justify the existence of such a chip. And as I explained, you don't have to worry about being surveilled unless you are somebody of some importance.
 
"Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you." -- Joseph Heller, Catch-22
 
tubeexperience said:
You bet it is for someone using RT as a source.
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I posted 3 sources, one of which was rt... ALSO do you really think the western news media is immune to fabrications/lies? The hate for RT is undeserved.... they are only completely unreliable when reporting on the Ukraine or Syria.


Care to make a factual argument about TPM and it's uses? Or argue against the other 2 sources?
 
touchstoned said:
I posted 3 sources, one of which was rt... ALSO do you really think the western news media is immune to fabrications/lies? The hate for RT is undeserved.... they are only completely unreliable when reporting on the Ukraine or Syria.


Care to make a factual argument about TPM and it's uses? Or argue against the other 2 sources?
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RT tends to portray anything western with suspicion. It's basically Putin Propaganda Network.

Also you considered Wikipedia as a source? How did you get through high school, let alone college?
 
tubeexperience said:
No, I do understand Wikipedia. I used to edit articles there.

That you think to use Wikipedia as a source is pathetic.
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Wikipedia directly links every single aspect of their articles to news, journals, etc. That's the whole ***** point, dude.... using wikipedia as a source = using an article that has been peer-reviewed by thousands to be correct, and is revised and checked on a daily if not hourly basis. Yes, you can edit wikipedia... did you ever go back to check if your brilliant "contributions" are still there? They aren't, because those articles are read and revised on a minute by minute basis. Your childish notion of somehow influencing the world by doodling on articles that are soon audited and refreshed with accurate information is actually quite comical, haha.
 
touchstoned said:
Wikipedia directly links every single aspect of their articles to news, journals, etc. That's the whole ***** point, dude.... using wikipedia as a source = using an article that has been peer-reviewed by thousands to be correct, and is revised and checked on a daily if not hourly basis. Yes, you can edit wikipedia... did you ever go back to check if your brilliant "contributions" are still there? They aren't, because those articles are read and revised on a minute by minute basis. Your childish notion of somehow influencing the world by doodling on articles that are soon audited and refreshed with accurate information is actually quite comical, haha.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:List_of_hoaxes_on_Wikipedia
 
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