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For anyone curious about the price increase between 2012 and 2016

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macrumors 603
Original poster
Jul 13, 2008
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Prices seem to be around the same and prices did drop 4 months later which makes sense with the news about price drops next year. I think the models came with smaller hard drives and the 15" didn't start with a DGPU and slightly bigger hard drive(starting models) so prices seem a little better this time around. People seem to forget what happened in the past with apple and then freak out when it happens again.
http://www.computerworld.com/article/3137183/apple-mac/latest-macbook-pro-price-reset-resembles-shift-to-retina-in-2012.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+computerworld/news/feed+(Latest+from+Computerworld)
 
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Yeah, but at the same time - the competition has improved dramatically. This really isn't 2012 anymore..

Now another company is stepping forth and innovating and listening to their customers...not Apple.

The issue is much more nuanced than just a concern about the price.
 
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The price increase in 2012 with the introduction of the MacBook Pro Retina was understandable. The price increase can be justify by the price of the Retina Display and the SSD which comes standard on the MacBook Pro Retina.

So what the justification for the price increase in 2016? A gimmick Touch Bar.
 
David58117 said:
Yeah, but at the same time - the competition has improved dramatically. This really isn't 2012 anymore..

Now another company is stepping forth and innovating and listening to their customers...not Apple.

The issue is much more nuanced than just a concern about the price.
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Pretty much nailed it, if the new rMBP had all the legacy ports and a normal keyboard im sure people would not be up in arms right now.
 
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tubeexperience said:
The price increase in 2012 with the introduction of the MacBook Pro Retina was understandable. The price increase can be justify by the price of the Retina Display and the SSD which comes standard on the MacBook Pro Retina.

So what the justification for the price increase in 2016? A gimmick Touch Bar.
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For me, the main feature that justifies the $1500 price is the ability to plug one cable in and get a 5k monitor hookup, pass through to a usb hub and power all at the same time. The redesign with lighter weight will also be welcome for my commute by bike and walking.
 
crassapple said:
For me, the main feature that justifies the $1500 price is the ability to plug one cable in and get a 5k monitor hookup, pass through to a usb hub and power all at the same time. The redesign with lighter weight will also be welcome for my commute by bike and walking.
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Every year technology gets incrementally better and cheaper.

For example, processors and memory become faster while using less power, hence allowing Apple to use a smaller batteries and make thinner and lighter laptops.

Those incremental upgrades doesn't warrant price increases.

Can you imagine if every time something new is released, the price has to go up?

A computer today would cost million of dollars.
 
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torana355 said:
Pretty much nailed it, if the new rMBP had all the legacy ports and a normal keyboard im sure people would not be up in arms right now.
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Enough with the damn legacy ports argument. All of these ports do EVERYTHING from charging, to video out, to data. You can easily get them to act as a legacy port.
 
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xWhiplash said:
Enough with the damn legacy ports argument. All of these ports do EVERYTHING from charging, to video out, to data. You can easily get them to act as a legacy port.
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Settle down, im a happy owner of a 2016 rMBP. Im just saying there are plenty people that are not happy about the removal of the ports, and rightly so imo. If it doesn't effect you then you are probably like me and don't use those ports regularly, however some people do use them and don't want 4 dongles sticking out of the damn thing.
 
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tubeexperience said:
Every year technology gets incrementally better and cheaper.

For example, processors and memory become faster while using less power, hence allowing Apple to use a smaller batteries and make thinner and lighter laptops.

Those incremental upgrades doesn't warrant price increases.

Can you imagine if every time something new is released, the price has to go up?

A computer today would cost million of dollars.
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Not really. I spent $750 on the GTX 1080 when it came out. More than I have ever spent on a video card. Even the 980 when it was new.
 
torana355 said:
Settle down, im a happy owner of a 2016 rMBP. Im just saying there are plenty people that are not happy about the removal of the ports, and rightly so imo. If it doesn't effect you then you are probably like me and don't use those ports regularly, however some people do use them!
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But these DO offer legacy ports. It's not like it's a new port without any compatibility with any USB. Just get an adapter or that nice OWC dock and you have a lot of choices. The benefits of all USB-C are worth all of this.

OWC dock: https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/usb-c/owc/usb-c-dock

Where were all the complaints when Ethernet, DVD, DVI and VGA were dropped? I have a 2013 rMBP and it is already dongle city. This isn't new.
 
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xWhiplash said:
But these DO offer legacy ports. It's not like it's a new port without any compatibility with any USB. Just get an adapter or that nice OWC dock and you have a lot of choices. The benefits of all USB-C are worth all of this.

OWC dock: https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/usb-c/owc/usb-c-dock
Click to expand...

Personally i hate having to use dongles, its bad enough i needed to get the USB-C to USB-A adapter. How hard is it to understand that its much more convenient to just have the legacy ports on the machine, cheaper to as theres no need to purchase dongles.
 
torana355 said:
Personally i hate having to use dongles, its bad enough i needed to get the USB-C to USB-A adapter. How hard is it to understand that its much more convenient to just have the legacy ports on the machine, cheaper to as theres no need to purchase dongles.
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And I hate needing a dongle for DVI and VGA in my 2013 system. This isn't something new with the 2016 models. But it is what it is.
 
xWhiplash said:
And I hate needing a dongle for DVI and VGA in my 2013 system. This isn't something new with the 2016 models. But it is what it is.
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I totally understand that the USB-A ports will have to go eventually, but when 99 percent of peripherals still run on USB-A its to soon to remove them imo. Apple could have put 3 TB3 ports and 1 USB-A port. Then in a year or 2 once USB-C is widespread then remove the USB-A Port. Its common sense really. Apple removed the ports altogether to make more money from their adaptors.
 
torana355 said:
I totally understand that the USB-A ports will have to go eventually, but when 99 percent of peripherals still run on USB-A its to soon to remove them imo. Apple could have put 3 TB3 ports and 1 USB-A port. Then in a year or 2 once USB-C is widespread then remove the USB-A Port. Its common sense really.
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Then it will never happen. We got a brand new laptop at work and it came with VGA out still.
 
torana355 said:
I totally understand that the USB-A ports will have to go eventually, but when 99 percent of peripherals still run on USB-A its to soon to remove them imo. Apple could have put 3 TB3 ports and 1 USB-A port. Then in a year or 2 once USB-C is widespread then remove the USB-A Port. Its common sense really. Apple removed the ports altogether to make more money from their adaptors.
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No, they have removed the ports to make a better laptop. First of all, with USB-A the current design wouldn't be possible (too thin). Second, if you keep legacy ports, the peripheral manufacturers will never move to a new standard. Apple' decision is risky, but it ultimately accelerates progress.

And again, we've discussed it before. A USB-c cable to replace your current cable can be purchased for under $10. No need to buy an apple adapter.
 
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leman said:
How about a new display assembly, that's twice as bright as any competitor?
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Well, I am not sure about "twice as bright as any competitor", but I do like DCI-P3.

Now THAT'S something worth paying for!

That said, I suspect that most of the price increase has to do with the Touch Bar rather than the cost of the new display.
 
leman said:
No, they have removed the ports to make a better laptop. First of all, with USB-A the current design wouldn't be possible (too thin). Second, if you keep legacy ports, the peripheral manufacturers will never move to a new standard. Apple' decision is risky, but it ultimately accelerates progress.

And again, we've discussed it before. A USB-c cable to replace your current cable can be purchased for under $10. No need to buy an apple adapter.
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Ok ill give you that, good post. However with a USB-A thumbdrive you still need the adapter ;) At the end of the day the customer is always right, so as long as Apple sell plenty of these things then they made the right decision, but if they don't...
 
tubeexperience said:
Well, I am not sure about "twice as bright as any competitor", but I do like DCI-P3.
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It's true! The new display is 500 nits, while other hidpi displays are around 300 or so at best.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/The-Best-Notebook-Displays-As-Reviewed-By-Notebookcheck.120541.0.html

tubeexperience said:
That said, I suspect that most of the price increase has to do with the Touch Bar rather than the cost of the new display.
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That's very likely but I feel bette thinking that's it's the display

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torana355 said:
Ok ill give you that, good post. However with a USB-A thumbdrive you still need the adapter ;)
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When my MBP arrives I'm going to buy one of those thumb drives with dual ports, those are very cheap nowadays.
 
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