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Are you waiting for Macbook Pro Ultraportable?

Vinnie, that was a well written and well thought-out post, but I do think there's a chance that you're underestimating the demand for a 13.3" pro machine. Based on the current selling prices on 12" Powerbook G4s, the market is there, to the point that many would rather have an older pro machine than a new Macbook (smudgebook, crackbook, glossybook).

I don't know how saturated that part of their market really is. The black Macbook and the middle-white Macbook are esentially the same machines with a different case and Apple is making up for it by charging $150 for the black case. If anything, the black Macbook is almost like a placeholder for a Pro model.

And because you're esentially paying for color with the blackbook, it doesn't even figure into most people's consideration. This is supported by how many macbooks I see and how few of them are black. So if a pro version of the 13.3 incher came out at $1800, it would really be $500 more than the Macbook in the eyes of most people.

Just food for thought. But if they don't release a pro 13.3" or something similar, I too may just buy a 12" G4 Powerbook. I hate glossy that much.
 
Count me in with those anxious for a smaller MacBook Pro. I'm absolutely sick of my old PC laptop that's a total PITA to lug around. And I'm 4'8" tall so I do mean lug. :rolleyes: The MacBook/MBP would certainly be an improvement there but I'd like to go even lighter/less bulky if possible for my next purchase. OTOH, I don't want a total ultraportable as it'd be too crippled for my needs (no DVD drive as I understand it?) I just want exactly what the new 15'' MBP's have, only in a 12 or 13.3 inch screen. Hopes spring eternal... ;)
 
Vinnie_vw said:
There's more to it than simple consumer-choice. Let's say the following: if Apple were to produce 10+ options they would also risk diluting sales for some of those options. Behind these options is the production process, which needs to run to manufacture and market them. So, hypothetically, if Apple were to offer 10 options and produce 1000 laptops per option, and some options would go unsold, then Apple will have wasted money on producing these laptops.

Instead, what I see is that Apple is keeping a very tight production-routine. They offer options which really fit smack into the middle of a specific market. The macbook is for students and people on a budget mostly. The 15" is for professionals on a budget. And the 17" is for professionals that want the best a laptop has to offer. And that way, they can maximise sales per option. I'm generalising here.

Of course it's a little more complex than that. The non-pro Macbook-line is in fact quite spread out. It offers three models, which take up a lot of space and sort of close the budget + portable markets. If Apple were to offer a more portable version for a few 100 bucks more, the marginal value would be quite low for people who would be fairly happy with a slightly less portable model at a few 100 bucks less. And other people would prefer a model with more oomph at a few 100 bucks more. It would leave the ultraportable to wither and die, even though a select few (but not the masses) would love to have one.

In other words, either the black Macbook would need to go or the basic MBP model. If you look at the previous setup of powerbooks vs. ibook, the situation was similar, but there was no black iBook, just a $1500 12" powerbook. And since both the Macbooks and the MBPs just got updated, I don't see a new portable in the near future. Sorry.

Incidentally, the same reasoning applies to a screenless desktop Mac.
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While all of the things you said are correct, the market situation for Apple has changed compared to two years ago. Right now they are growing and will probably do so for some time. Adding an additional model usually doesn't make sense when the market is too small. Starting from a certain size an additional model becomes profitable. Whether that point is reached yet, I don't know.
 
I must have one. As a student portability is a factor and lugging around a giant laptop is not something I want to do.
 
Where would an ultraportable fit in the current Apple-line-up though? They have:
$1000 laptops - white basic MB
$1200 laptops - white deluxe MB
$1500 laptops - black deluxe MB
$2000 laptops - 15" MBP
$2500 laptops - 15" deluxe MBP
$3000 laptops - 17" MBP
(prices are not accurate)

In my opinion, that doesn't leave a lot of room for new products. The $1700 space would be possible, at the same time it could be eaten up by either the blackbook or the basic 15". If you ask me, they should just give the blackbook a matte screen and some extras, and get it over with. Price of colour, my a**.

I could see a 12" or 13" MBP going for $1800. I for one would be completely willing to pay that, if it has the same specs as the low-end 15" (including 128mb dedicated graphics). Another option for Apple would be simply to discontinue the black MacBook, since the only difference between it and the middle white one is color (and a slightly bigger hard drive). Or, they could replace the middle white MB with the black one, having two MB options -- the low-end white one, and a higher-end black one (like the iPod Nano).
 
whawhat said:
however, i don't see apple releasing these in '07 - they just updated the macbook pros and i can't see them releasing a new model a week later.
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Unless of course it was something that was announcement-worthy, i.e. with cool enough features that Steve wanted to talk about it. The MBP update last week was nice, but not really a big deal, or unexpected.

Here's hoping!
 
I'm on a 12''er PB at the moment and if I ever want to upgrade I wish I could stick with an ultraportable. And my guess is that I'm not the only one and Apple knows that. They must have something coming which is more appealing than those MB's. I don't dislike the MB's, but my 1 1/2 year old PB still looks much better and is way more portable.
 
Tymmz said:
I'm on a 12''er PB at the moment and if I ever want to upgrade I wish I could stick with an ultraportable. And my guess is that I'm not the only one and Apple knows that. They must have something coming which is more appealing than those MB's. I don't dislike the MB's, but my 1 1/2 year old PB still looks much better and is way more portable.
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Yeah, IMO i think the 12" powerbook is the greatest apple product ever made. It just needs an upgrade.
 
kvanwagoner said:
The first upgrade should be a widescreen
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A higher resolution would be nice but not necessarily 'widescreen'. If the dimensions were made greater than the existing 12" PB then it's not gonna be 'ultra' portable.
 
Vinnie_vw said:
Where would an ultraportable fit in the current Apple-line-up though? They have:
$1000 laptops - white basic MB
$1200 laptops - white deluxe MB
$1500 laptops - black deluxe MB
$2000 laptops - 15" MBP
$2500 laptops - 15" deluxe MBP
$3000 laptops - 17" MBP
(prices are not accurate)

In my opinion, that doesn't leave a lot of room for new products. The $1700 space would be possible, at the same time it could be eaten up by either the blackbook or the basic 15". If you ask me, they should just give the blackbook a matte screen and some extras, and get it over with. Price of colour, my a**.
Click to expand...

What makes you think it will be cheaper than a 15"?

For other brands the fact that it is an ultraportable means it commands a price premium.
 
kvanwagoner said:
The first upgrade should be a widescreen
Click to expand...

No widescreen, that can stay with the MacBooks. I just want something to replace my 12" PowerBook (as it seems most everyone does) and I'm not going to spend a ton of money for a 15" screen, nor will I handicap myself with a MacBook.

I'm giving myself another year before I "need" to upgrade...but I don't know what my options really will be if I can't get an ultraportable.
 
Since Apple wants to make there own hardware, they better get there act together and make hardware for all target groups, not just a handfull of products that don't appeal to everyone. An upgradable Mac that doesn't require you to pay over 2K and a portable laptop that isn't made of cheap plastic.
 
I'm waiting for tomorrow to see if anything is announced. Although it might be unlikely because they just did two updates, i think they did those to keep WWDC on Leopard and new products. Those two were updates, this would be a new product. Like they said, Apple was "clearing the plate". Maybe the new products they introduce would make use of those secret features of leopard when it comes out. If they announce something I'm going to get it and use my beta version of Leopard ;) to see how that works out. Also i keep wondering what's up with those 13.3" LED screens they said would have a late June release??? I think something big comes this way, if not at WWDC at the end of the month. And since it's LED we know its going to be a Pro product because only the pro products have LED. I think there will be a smaller Pro
 
Maybe these will be a possibility:

13" MacBook Pro
2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
ATI Radeon x1600 32 MB of dedicated vram
1280 x 800 widescreen resolution
20GB Flash Drive
LED display
1GB ram
3 lbs
$1699

13" MacBook Pro
2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
ATI Radeon x1600 64 MB of dedicated vram
1440 x 900 widescreen resolution
40GB Flash Drive
LED display
1GB ram
3 lbs
$1899
 
island said:
Since Apple wants to make there own hardware, they better get there act together and make hardware for all target groups, not just a handfull of products that don't appeal to everyone. An upgradable Mac that doesn't require you to pay over 2K and a portable laptop that isn't made of cheap plastic.
Click to expand...

Apple's 'act' seems very together. There is no rule that says they have to have a product for every part of the market. However, if that is their goal, then it is best they decide what the product will be, and when it should be launched.
 
@dartzorichalcos

I like the idea, but 32MB VRAM on the low end seems too low (that's what my 3.5year old revB 12" has!). At least 64/128 seems more reasonable.

I'd love an ultraportable to come out at WWDC, it would help me in my decision whether to upgrade a MB, MBP, or iMac (and continue using the 12" when I need portability).
 
They need something like this.
 

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SMM said:
Apple's 'act' seems very together. There is no rule that says they have to have a product for every part of the market. However, if that is their goal, then it is best they decide what the product will be, and when it should be launched.
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This is why I support places like osx86project which provide supply for the demand of OS X on other hardware that, for the most part, is more reliable. I myself would love a Macbook that doesn't feel like an Inspiron. Maybe if they put that same form factor in the same housing as the MacBook Pro...
 
This thread is getting interesting!

Tomorrow we will see if Steve can roll out one!

If not our next stop will be Macworld 2008!
 
Why do people keep on with the 13" idea? 13" is not "ultra" portable. Portable yes, but < 12" would be "ultra" portable.
 
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