Combined Hardware-Software Subscription Bundles a Logical Step for Apple, Analysts Argue

[Mr.PT]

You make a good point, but Macs aren't obsolete 6-18 months after release. I think a hardware subscription would be cool for people who want the latest all the time, so I'm not against it.

Not obsolete but outdated. As owner of 2018 15”MBP bought on release, I got really p***** 4/6 months later when Apple’s released an updated graphics.
Recently I was without my machine for 30 days, so Apple could figure out and solve an update issue with Big Sur (T2 related).
So personally I welcome the possibility of having a hardware/software/services bundle for which I pay a fee, if terms of service sustain 24/7 always on operation. Not having to deal with resale and having the latest tech are added plus.

 

[Mr.PT]

I'm sure some Intel Macs are feeling obsolete compared to the M1 macs.

I’m sure I am. Longing for the M2 16”MBP, to dump my 2018 15”MBP, hell I’m even considering the 13”...

 

[Mr.PT]

If Apple wants to offer that option I think it’s great but the day I can’t buy a piece of hardware like a laptop or desktop and own it outright without a monthly fee is the day I stop buying. Think of people on fixed incomes who may need to get 7+ years out of a device if they can. They should be able to pay less and own it longer. Plus we’re already monthly feed to death. At some point we’ll get market saturation on these kinds of programs.

You make good and sensitive points, but being optional would cover those, on the other hand, imagine you or your business, for some reason, like this pandemic, need to scale down operations or need the cash you recently committed to tech acquisition, or you have a project that requires higher performance, but you’re not sure if it will be a sustained or temporary thing; a lease or renting program, could be a good way to achieve or avoid this, meaning it could offer more flexibility on tech investments, even if at (slightly) higher cost on the long run.
I also think the SoC unified architecture, means less longevity and unreasonable repair costs, so 5 years ownership of full running Macs are starting to look to me as a mirage, hopefully I’m wrong...

 

[Zwhaler]

Not obsolete but outdated. As owner of 2018 15”MBP bought on release, I got really p***** 4/6 months later when Apple’s released an updated graphics.
Recently I was without my machine for 30 days, so Apple could figure out and solve an update issue with Big Sur (T2 related).
So personally I welcome the possibility of having a hardware/software/services bundle for which I pay a fee, if terms of service sustain 24/7 always on operation. Not having to deal with resale and having the latest tech are added plus.

That's good. How much is it worth to you? I'm curious. It seems like a mid-to-high spec MBP in the bundle you're talking about would run around $1,200 a year if I had to guess.

 

[Mr.PT]

That's good. How much is it worth to you? I'm curious. It seems like a mid-to-high spec MBP in the bundle you're talking about would run around $1,200 a year if I had to guess.

I would take that deal: Now a 16”MBP runs at EUR 4/6k for me, so around 1/2 price for a 2 year use, seems good to me.

 

[Brien]

They did that. It's a horrible market for them. As an ISP they'd have to build massive amounts of infrastructure, manage that infrastructure, deal with all the customer service issues of that infrastructure. Why would Apple want to compete with Verizon or Comcast, when they can simply sell a set top device where they make a portion of revenue for every subscription sold on it, and make themselves an indispensable part of that ISP?

Right now if you want Disney+ and you're on FIOS you need a TV or box like AppleTV that can run the app. (AppleTV, Fire, smart TVs that run Android, AmazonTVs, etc.)

In many parts of the country you can't even pick who your ISP is, it's a monopoly set at the local government level. Where I am, I can get Comcast or Fios. That's it. Can't get Google Fiber.

Better to rent people the cows than to own the farm the cows are on.

eWorld was great.