Does Apple even care about notebooks anymore?

[colinsky]

I bought a 13" retina MacBook Pro 256GB yesterday even though the new new new version is coming out tomorrow, because some unexpected money came in. If I waited on Apple's murky timeclock, the money would dribble away, or a car repair would pop up, etc.

I bought my old MBP five weeks before a new version came out in early 2011, and at first I was thinking about returning it because it didn't have the Thunderbolt port. But Thunderbolt has not turned out to be that important.

I bought the 2015 model because I know what's in it. I know that I can install a 1TB PCIe SSD in a few years when they're down to $100. I know that I can double the memory to 16GB. We don't know if the 2016 MBP will have any user-replaceable parts.

No matter how astonishing the next MBP is, the 2015 model is hugely better than my hot and noisy old 2010 model.

 

[Queen6]

I bought a 13" retina MacBook Pro 256GB yesterday even though the new new new version is coming out tomorrow, because some unexpected money came in. If I waited on Apple's murky timeclock, the money would dribble away, or a car repair would pop up, etc.

I bought my old MBP five weeks before a new version came out in early 2011, and at first I was thinking about returning it because it didn't have the Thunderbolt port. But Thunderbolt has not turned out to be that important.

I bought the 2015 model because I know what's in it. I know that I can install a 1TB PCIe SSD in a few years when they're down to $100. I know that I can double the memory to 16GB. We don't know if the 2016 MBP will have any user-replaceable parts.

No matter how astonishing the next MBP is, the 2015 model is hugely better than my hot and noisy old 2010 model.

Not wanting to burst your bubble, however if you have bought a 2015 Retina, you not upgrading anything anytime soon, as the RAM is soldered to the Logic Board and SSD has a proprietary connection.

Q-6

 

[MacInTO]

I just hope apple at least opens up OSX to be installed on other computers before they continue to slow down and fall way behind; Id easily pay $299 for OSX to be installed on the pc of my choice.

That will never happen (again). That's one of the reasons why Apple almost went bankrupt in the 90s. That was when Steve Jobs was rehired and turned Apple into what it (mostly) is today. The user experience with Apple products is tightly controlled. The satisfaction surveys of Apple products are still the highest in the industry. One reason we might be seeing more incidents of failure is because they are selling a larger volume. However, as a percentage, it's probably still very low.

The big question is Apple management good enough to move Apple forward because in the past, it was Steve Jobs that did that.

This article, an interview of John Sculley, the Apple CEO from 1983 to 1993, gives some good insight into why Apple is what it is today,

http://www.cultofmac.com/63295/john-sculley-on-steve-jobs-the-full-interview-transcript/

The Steve Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson is a good read also.

 

[tubeexperience]

I remember 2012 because it was the year i was disappointed in myself lol. I bought a 2011 model 1 month before the new one came out and i missed the return date by 3 days. It was the first time i ever bought a mac so i just chocked it up as stupid me, but now its truly sad that apple is no longer aiming for excellence anymore. I just hope apple at least opens up OSX to be installed on other computers before they continue to slow down and fall way behind; Id easily pay $299 for OSX to be installed on the pc of my choice.

I actually bought my 2011 MacBook Pro 17" after the Retina came out because Apple didn't release a 17" Retina model.

 

[Closingracer]

The likelyhood of it coming out in the next few months is higher than previous times, and people have been saying it those times because the MacBook Pro usual update schedule indicated that. I think the argument is stronger to wait this time because it will be a significant redesign but your right, either one will likely be suitable although coming from a MBA the new models may be more suitable due to the increased probability even over the air.

Lol.......
[doublepost=1470261984][/doublepost]

Not really, that vision has been with Apple since the inception of the iPad. Just because they reiterated that it doesn't mean they have given up on Macs.

PC's in a whole which an Apple Macbook is ( a personal computer) is dying a slow death....
[doublepost=1470262053][/doublepost]

I bought a 13" retina MacBook Pro 256GB yesterday even though the new new new version is coming out tomorrow, because some unexpected money came in. If I waited on Apple's murky timeclock, the money would dribble away, or a car repair would pop up, etc.

I bought my old MBP five weeks before a new version came out in early 2011, and at first I was thinking about returning it because it didn't have the Thunderbolt port. But Thunderbolt has not turned out to be that important.

I bought the 2015 model because I know what's in it. I know that I can install a 1TB PCIe SSD in a few years when they're down to $100. I know that I can double the memory to 16GB. We don't know if the 2016 MBP will have any user-replaceable parts.

No matter how astonishing the next MBP is, the 2015 model is hugely better than my hot and noisy old 2010 model.

The RAM is soldiered on the 2015 model...
[doublepost=1470262245][/doublepost]

I will be needing a MacBook for university this September, however I might be able to hold out for a month or so. I finally saved up enough money from a part time job and was wondering if I should wait for the rumoured update?

Also, is there likely to be a price increase once the new models are released?

I would buy one IMHO. I would buy my 2015 model again

 

[JustMichal]

It's not like the current 13" is that out of date. It's got a Broadwell processor and Iris 6100 graphics. Mine easily exceeds the 10 hour battery life.

Also, realistically, the current 15" rMBP is a damn fast computer. The Haswell processors may be older but they're not slow by any means.

While Haswell is still ok for the price Apple is asking we deserve newest top hardware

 

[Closingracer]

While Haswell is still ok for the price Apple is asking we deserve newest top hardware

Deserve? Because a $2,000 dollar Laptop is a necessity in life and is life and death....

 

[Appleaker]

Lol.......
[doublepost=1470261984][/doublepost]


PC's in a whole which an Apple Macbook is ( a personal computer) is dying a slow death....
[doublepost=1470262053][/doublepost]


The RAM is soldiered on the 2015 model...
[doublepost=1470262245][/doublepost]


I would buy one IMHO. I would buy my 2015 model again

Lol yeah I know... Macs are dying, PCs are going away, iPhone will fail after they remove the headphone jack, iPad will replace all workstations at Apple.

 

[Closingracer]

Lol yeah I know... Macs are dying, PCs are going away, iPhone will fail after they remove the headphone jack, iPad will replace all workstations at Apple.

Lol you can think whatever you want but PC's is a dying breed and sales from year to year prove it.... I could do everything on my iPhone if I wanted to .... Most people can. Tablet sales along with PC's ( Which once again MacBooks are a PC as well in the literal term...) are slowing. Apple isn't going to pour money into something that is slowing with no signs of ever improving....

 

[Appleaker]

Lol you can think whatever you want but PC's is a dying breed and sales from year to year prove it.... I could do everything on my iPhone if I wanted to .... Most people can. Tablet sales along with PC's ( Which once again MacBooks are a PC as well in the literal term...) are slowing. Apple isn't going to pour money into something that is slowing with no signs of ever improving....

Yeah I know I was joking. PC sales overall are declining but Mac is quite steady in comparison (unless they decide to not update a load of products).

 

[T5BRICK]

I bought a 13" retina MacBook Pro 256GB yesterday

Good thing! You can probably still return it! Because:

I know that I can install a 1TB PCIe SSD in a few years when they're down to $100.

You can install a 1TB SSD, but it's a propriatiry connector and it still won't be cheap in a few years. The OWC solution(the only option at the moment) is slow and expensive. Although I've recently read about an adapter, maybe that's an option now?

I know that I can double the memory to 16GB.

The RAM is soldered in. You're stuck with what you bought.

We don't know if the 2016 MBP will have any user-replaceable parts.

But we do know the 2012-2015 rMBPs don't have any user replaceable parts.

No matter how astonishing the next MBP is, the 2015 model is hugely better than my hot and noisy old 2010 model.

This is probably still true.

 

[Count Blah]

Deserve? Because a $2,000 dollar Laptop is a necessity in life and is life and death....

I'll sell you a $1 for $100. You'd just piss it away on something silly anyway, and in return you get a $1.

Sounds kinda silly, doesn't it. Just like your statement.

 

[wegster]

Yeah I know I was just summarising what it is for the average consumer - a thicker MBP with a non-retina display and DVD drive. I think most people have got used to the lack of upgradeability, but personally I love it on the non-retina MBP. I think it was just one of their biggest sellers because it is the entry level pro and still enough for a lot of people, as well as the benefits it offers. But the point is it sells, however I think it will be replaced by the 2015 retina 13" shortly after the redesigns are released.

I hear ya - I'm typing this from what I think was the last non retina MBP BTO model - Early 2011 1680x1050 matte screen, 1GB discrete GPU, 2.3GHz i7, now 16GB RAM (how long I wanted for 16GB via 2x8GB to cost < $1K!!!), 512GB SSD + 1TB platter drive where the DVD drive used to be.

Working in software, it's been a solid machine, including running various VMs...I can't run triple monitors at work, but do run a pair of 27s, one normal HD and the other 2560x1440. My only real gripe has been it was also the last USB2 model, and battery life even with a new battery is pretty awful when running a projector or external display for meetings.

Besides the last one (battery life running external displays), there just hasn't been a 'compelling 'reason to upgrade,' as most of the CPU jumps have really been incremental vs revolutionary performance jumps...still can't do 32GB RAM in a MBP, and the retina display, while nice, doesn't really net me a ton of usable working space vs external displays.

The marketing folks love the Airs, but very few in Dev, Product or elsewhere want a 'thinner and lighter' MBP...we want to retain what amounts to a desktop replacement (even if always GPU under-powered), lots of RAM and ideally upgradeable (I managed on 8GB for a while, but eventually bit and paid ~$800 to go to 16GB...SSD when 512GB dropped below $500), and able to drive 3 external displays at > HD resolution. Oh yes, and give me what I've been expecting from Apple, not MS of all - let me remove my laptop screen and use it as a tablet (yes, including touch/pen, please) instead of the drivel of trying to say there's no value in convergence...or giving us the iPad 'pro' that is far from anything many 'pros' would/could use for daily work outside of artists.

Sadly, I just don't see technical folks as Apple's target market, evidenced by the Mac Pro refresh rates, the 'innovation' of new laptop models more or less consisting of 'thinner, lighter, marginally faster but less expandable.'

I long ago stopped the yearly upgrade game (for phones as well, and no way I'm dropping $$$ every year on a latest 'watch' and colored band combos..), and instead expect to keep any laptop a minimum of 4 years, upgrading as it makes sense to. Mainly due to the external display battery life issue, I'm waiting to see what the next MBP looks like - I'll drop the $ for a maxxed out 15" MBP (unless they do quad core in a 13" + discrete GPU, doubtful..) but it needs to ring the "I can use this for 4 years comfortably" bell with or without expansion options, or no way will I be dropping ~$3K on a laptop...it'll become time to look at laptop Hackintoshes, or back to Linux and running OS X in a VM.

Waiting to see what happens, but yeah, the waiting is becoming obnoxious...let alone the feeling the 'innovation' they'll be hyping will be anything but what I'd like to see coming available.

One interesting longer term possible effect - for those that remember Balmer's "Developers, Developers!" speech...if/when it becomes obvious that Apple isn't interested in serving the developer and technical community but only the Joe SixPack consumer....what effect will that have to their third party development down the line?

 

[SystemSettings]

I love my 2015 Macbook Air.

 

[Zellio]

Lol you can think whatever you want but PC's is a dying breed and sales from year to year prove it.... I could do everything on my iPhone if I wanted to .... Most people can. Tablet sales along with PC's ( Which once again MacBooks are a PC as well in the literal term...) are slowing. Apple isn't going to pour money into something that is slowing with no signs of ever improving....

Let's go and put all of our eggs in one basket and ignore what our company was founded on. Let's make it so if one product ever dies we die. What could go wrong?

Here's a few ideas of where this goes: Iomega, Konami, Nintendo, the ups are high but the downs nearly destroy you (Or do).

Btw, if your excuse for them is 'the pc market is slowing' and they only want high profit THEN WHY IN THE MOTHER OF GOD ARE THEY MAKING A CAR???

 

[unagimiyagi]

I believe there is truth to what Apple says about itself: they do things their way, they're perfectionists, they are never first to market, they're primary goal isn't purely money, it's about good products.

That said, their approach is slow and aggravating and many of us have good reason to believe that the innovation well is dry particularly at Apple because of their emphasis on hardware when it's all about machine learning these days. Once privacy goes away like a fart in the wind, and opening up your data to the world becomes the new normal because the conveniences brought about by machine learning prove irresistable, Apple is in trouble. They will not be able to catch up because they're too far behind, and they also insist on doing it with 1.5 hands tied behind their backs due to their admirable privacy stance.

Their products are increasingly less and less better than the 'other guys'. I just don't see how they're going to still be on top in 20 years. No company ever is, so why would Apple be the one exception to historical trends?

 

[Havok83]

It would seem no. Anyone know how much of their overall sales come from laptops? I would think its on the low end considering how little prioritization they get

 

[leman]

Did Apple ever really cared about laptops? Sure, they did update them twice a year earlier, but those were just small incremental CPU upgrades which didn't require a change of laptop design or internals. Big upgrades were still once per 2-3 years. The MBP few years ago used slow CPUs, slow graphics, slow storage and the only thing really distinguishing it was the above average build quality and premium price.

 

[jerryk]

I believe there is truth to what Apple says about itself: they do things their way, they're perfectionists, they are never first to market, they're primary goal isn't purely money, it's about good products.

More and more it seems to be a focus of profitability. This is to be expected with Tim Cook's background as an operations guy. That job is about optimizing throughputs to maximize profits.

Mind you, Apple makes up a considerable chunk of my stock portfolio, so I do not mind the emphasis on profits. But I am concerned that you can only milk the cow so long. Sooner than later, Apple needs to reinvigorate their product lines or they will be left behind.

 

[marcociccone]

Lol you can think whatever you want but PC's is a dying breed and sales from year to year prove it.... I could do everything on my iPhone if I wanted to .... Most people can. Tablet sales along with PC's ( Which once again MacBooks are a PC as well in the literal term...) are slowing. Apple isn't going to pour money into something that is slowing with no signs of ever improving....

It will, otherwise it will probably sells only iPhones. PCs and Tablets are slowing down for few reasons: 1) market is saturated 2) update cycles are much much slower, a whole family can use a 8-years old pc or a 4-years old iPad to surf the web, watch movies, manage their bank account, book travels... 3) the mobile revolution has increased media consumption from smartphones and for personal reasons, and this is reinforcing point 4) PCs/Macbooks are now being used mainly for professional tasks, and companies are notably slower at updating hardwares.

I wrote this just to say that PC/Macbook and Tablet markets are not dying whatsoever. After the decrease, sales will probably become stagnant or will grow again at a smaller rate. In a market so saturated and with slow cycles, brand loyalty will be they key to win and get margins, an area Apple usually excels.

 

[Freyqq]

Apple appears to be taking an approach where they are releasing what they deem as a revolutionary product. They are making some changes that people may not like, (no USB A, no SD card slot, OLED F keys), so there's no year old model to fall back to if you don't like the changes. They did the same thing with the Mac Pro, and they seem to be using the same strategy now with laptops.