Live Coverage of Apple's 'Hello Again' Mac Event

[navier]

Oh God, I just saw something else:

http://www.apple.com/ca/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro?product=MJLQ2LL/A&step=config#

Apple is so courageous that they will sell a new computer with a 3 year old processor in it for $2449.00....That's the base price.

I am starting to wonder if they are jacking up the price of their computers to get people to buy iPads and iPad Pros as their primary computing device.

... or to kill the MacBooks arguing that they don't sell well anymore

 

[OS6-OSX]

Hurry! Hurry! Step right up. Come in and witness 2hrs of pure:

We told you we are a watch company!

 

[MathersMahmood]

This event got on my nerves. I am a big apple fan and my reasons are;

1. You announce a Mac event and only release ONE new Mac. Are you trying to push your customers away.
2. You announce an iPhone without the headphone jack and sell the idea of Bluetooth with your own product and you delay the release of the airpods and don't officially announce it but you tell TechCrunch instead and now we have no date on their release. So now we have to wait for Airpods. I know if they are not ready they wont sell them i get that but you sold the idea that Bluetooth is the way forward and created a great accessory for my phone but last minute switch the date to God knows when without a proper confirmation or apology.

Kind of annoying as i was looking forward to them the most. Oh well, I could be a Mac customer right now.

 

[kahkityoong]

$49 ?!?!?!?!? To solve a problem that wasn't there in the first place....

Exactly, 4 ports with few accessories supporting it currently is a stupid move. Why the hell do I want to be carrying dongles to connect my USB 3 & thunderbolt 2 drives and SD cards?

 

[Count Blah]

Maybe I'm way off base on this, but I think that the real reason for introducing Touch Bar was NOT to eliminate the function keys or as a gimmick but to dip their toe into introducing touch capabilities to macOS. I can see a future MBP that replaces the TrackPad with a Touch Pad that is essentially an iPhone screen.

If this was their motivation for the Touch Bar, then I applaud them for taking an intelligent, incremental step rather than leaping into the deep end of the pool approach that Microsoft took with Windows 8.0 and the Surface Pro.

Many people are unhappy because we HAVE to accept the poor choices Apple makes in specing out/building their computers. So Apple double downs on this dislike, by jacking up the price of their laptops with a silly bar, removing all the useful ports, removing SD card reader, refusing to offer more than 16Gigs of RAM, pathetic in comparison dGPU, ignoring desktops, etc...

As someone earlier stated, Apple decision makers are amazingly out of touch when their ApplePay demonstration is purchasing a healing pyramid gadget for the same price as the family mortgage.

I hope someone brings these 90+% complaint threads to the attention of some of the Board members, because this is looking an awful like a 'Let them eat cake' moment for Apple.

 

[Kusakun]

2799 for a computer with 2gb graphics card in 2016? What the hell is wrong they are charging us premium only for the bar. Its a nice computer but its way too expensive for me at that price

 

[62tele]

Whatever the current thoughts on the current MBP are, they last a good 6-7 years while still being worth money afterwards. You can't say that for any PC laptop, even Alienware. They're sleek and hold up well, and OSX/MacOS supports them and their components for a long time. My 2010 is ready to upgrade but it's not on its last legs. There's a lot to say for that. Break up $2500 over 7 years. That's nothing. I've been very happy so far.

It's still a lot of money. That said, I will hang on a few more months until the new iMacs are released. I will probably buy a relatively maxed out 21.5" to replace my current 27" model. Hopefully they will offer a 21.5" with a Kaby Lake processor.

 

[oftheheavens]

It's still a lot of money. That said, I will hang on a few more months until the new iMacs are released. I will probably buy a relatively maxed out 21.5" to replace my current 27" model. Hopefully they will offer a 21.5" with a Kaby Lake processor.

I have a late 2013 iMac "maxed out" except for the ram which I only have 8gb. I am just now starting to feel the sluggishness of the RAM (as reflected in activity monitor). I don't play any graphic intensive games on it but the few games that I have put on it I can play at ultra graphics settings with no hiccups (until lately with the RAM issue). So I think I will up the ram to 16gb at least and keep it for another 2-3 years at least. I was most looking forward to an iMac update though as I like to see where they are taking it. If this price jump for tech that I don't think is quite there yet, even the demo presenters were pecking at it like an old school typewriter, is the trend I may just have to buy the 21 inch next time as well. I like the screen real-estate but I am using my iMac for less and less every day with the exception of watching netflix which I can do rather easily on the ATV. Replaced my MacBook air with a ipp 9.7 and haven't looked back as well, I simply don't use the computer for much....computing anymore.

 

[milo]

Apple's sole purpose is to make money. Why put time and effort into a niche product that doesn't sell anymore?

I already answered that. Because it's a product that would sell if it wasn't three years out of date. Particularly when the improvements they could make are basically just spec bumps that cost less than major redesigns. Faster cpu, usb, thunderbolt, SSD etc aren't huge design challenges.

If you're going to ask that question, why not go bigger and ask it about Macs. Compared to the phones, computers hardly sell any more. Why does Apple bother to put time and effort into updating the computers (or at least some of them)?

And forget updating the desktop models - if they don't sell anymore, why does apple even continue to make them available? The fact that they still ship them shows that at least someone is buying them.

Also is it just me or does Touch Bar sound like a place one should avoid...

I've walked by that place, I believe it's a couple doors down from Clown Bar...

 

[sober2ndthought]

... or to kill the MacBooks arguing that they don't sell well anymore

Sadly that's probably the plan. We don't need "trucks" anymore. Never mind my iPad usually collects dust, along with my galaxy tablet. Even my phone, soon as I can, I switch everything over to a computer because its more comfortable to use.
[doublepost=1477665746][/doublepost]

Whatever the current thoughts on the current MBP are, they last a good 6-7 years while still being worth money afterwards. You can't say that for any PC laptop, even Alienware. They're sleek and hold up well, and OSX/MacOS supports them and their components for a long time. My 2010 is ready to upgrade but it's not on its last legs. There's a lot to say for that. Break up $2500 over 7 years. That's nothing. I've been very happy so far.

In the past they did, this one surely will not.

You're 2010 Macbook Pro is the same as my 2012 Macbook Pro.

• They need a bigger/faster hard drive, turn it around, open the back, put in the same SSD you can put in any PC Laptop.
• Battery isn't holding a charge, turn it around, open the back (in my case) or remove the battery (in your case) and replace the battery.
• Your computer is running sluggish, turn it around, open the back, remove the RAM put in more RAM.
• If there is a problem with any component follow the steps above.

You get the idea, you can buy the computer you need now, and upgrade it over time and the computer you need later. If it starts to fail everything is replaceable, either take advantage of Apple Care, or do it yourself.

Now, you can't upgrade anything. Memory is soldiered onto the mother board, and the hard drive is a proprietary one. So in 3 years, if your computer starts to get sluggish (which it will), you have two options:

1. Get a same MacBook Pro again but with the upgrades you wanted. Hey guess what it costs the same amount.
2. Get the latest MacBook Pro for a price which is 500 dollars more.

While we are at it, remember how good Apple Care was, if Apple couldn't fix your laptop they'd give you a new one. If the one you bought wasn't being sold anymore, you got an upgrade. Well now you will get the same outdated 3 year old MacBook because Apple still sells it at the same price point. Isn't that great?

Its so sad what the company has become. I remember this from my first Macbook, I had the black Macbook 13 Core 2 Duo. Look at this, like its amazing how easy you can upgrade it:

It wasn't just on the laptops it was on every device, look at the Mac Pro, I remember seeing this and being blown away by how easy it is to upgrade:

Including failed products like the G4 Cube at (1h 26m 10s):

 

[5590982]

I don't post here much at all. One of the last things I posted was about the Mac Pro a while ago and I said I was going to have to probably finally switch to PC. A few people agreed but a lot more people laughed.

Wonder what the percentage of people agreeing vs. laughing would be today?

<edit>This post from Jun 2015 in the Mac Pro discussion just seems kinda funny now.

 

[sober2ndthought]

One thing I see a lot of people complaining about the missing USB Type A Ports. I dunno, I think that makes sense and if there was a company which was going to do it, it was going to be Apple.

This is the same company which decided to make its first iMac with only USB Ports. At a time when you couldn't get a keyboard, printer or anything with USB. Honestly that's what slowly brought more and more USB devices into the market, including the USB Drive. Until one of the manufactures does this, we won't see many USB Type C Devices which could easily replace your existing devices.

One of the things I love about my MacBook is that all the ports are USB 3.0. In 2012, when I bought this MacBook, you'd be lucky to find a Laptop with more than one or two USB 3.0 ports (yes things are different today).

However, that being said, I say this using a Nexus 6P which is Type-C only.

 

[62tele]

I may just have to buy the 21 inch next time as well. I like the screen real-estate but I am using my iMac for less and less every day with the exception of watching netflix which I can do rather easily on the ATV.

I don't need the extra screen size of the 27" anymore as I am now retired and no longer do a lot of heavy lifting. Plus, the 27" is such a space hog on my desk. I record in Logic X quite a bit so I still want at least 21.5 inch otherwise I might have considered the MacBook Pro.

 

[TheRealTVGuy]

I work on a DELL Precision T1700, running Windows 10 Enterprise w/ 4 monitors (3 -1920x1200 & 1 - 2560x1600). This machine is only 1 year old and works like a charm. I have the original MS Surface Pro w/ Windows 10 Pro, which again, works like a charm, never have any issues with it, even for being 4 years old. In fact, the upgrade from 8 to 10 was easy and I have not looked back. I have a Custom built gaming machine, running Windows 10 Pro, this was an upgrade from Windows 7 pro, again, no issues gaming on that machine. Now, in the family, 3 different Dell laptops, the oldest a Dell XPS 17 w/ 3D monitor, running Windows 10 Pro (upgraded from 7Pro), again no issues and is used every day (left on all the time). The other 2 dell laptops are the kids throw away $400 machines we bought them a few years ago, upgraded to Windows 10 Home, while a little slow (thanks to the 5400rpm harddrives), they still work flawlessly. Every machine in my office where I work, 5 developers all running Windows 10 Enterprise (including mine listed above) no one is complaining. All our customer support staff running windows 10 and two of them using a Surface Book, again, no issues.

I will agree it's tough to program an OS for different hardward, but in my experience, it's not the OS that seems to have issues, but the DRIVERS to the hardware itself that causes more problems. I will also agree, that the MAC OS has less to worry about with it's CLOSED System/Hardware specs, it's easy for APPLE to dictate what hardware is in their products and so is easier for them to create the drivers and make sure they are stable.

Take it for what it is. I am in no way against APPLE's hardware, I just prefer a PC or an APPLE.

First off, THANK YOU for a genuine and thoughtful response. It's becoming more difficult to find those nowadays.

I think many of the problems I've experienced in my support of Windows machines as of late relate to older, cheaper hardware, and older HP printers which require an entire software PACKAGE to install. It's just all left a rather bad impression on my mind.

 

[oftheheavens]

I don't need the extra screen size of the 27" anymore as I am now retired and no longer do a lot of heavy lifting. Plus, the 27" is such a space hog on my desk. I record in Logic X quite a bit so I still want at least 21.5 inch otherwise I might have considered the MacBook Pro.

I'm retired as well, ten years in the Marines before medical retirement. I am starting to feel the same way as you but I still do a lot of school work (working on first masters degree now) and I play like maybe 3 games. Beyond that, I have found myself doing a lot of netflix marathons on my computer simply because I like being at my desk because I can watch a movie, surf the web and get notifications without having a phone in front of my face (which I hate so I bought an apple watch). Anyway, if any of the very few games I play were taken off mac support I would be fine with a 21 inch.
[doublepost=1477698588][/doublepost]

First off, THANK YOU for a genuine and thoughtful response. It's becoming more difficult to find those nowadays.

I think many of the problems I've experienced in my support of Windows machines as of late relate to older, cheaper hardware, and older HP printers which require an entire software PACKAGE to install. It's just all left a rather bad impression on my mind.

same 'scares' me about going back to a pc (after almost a decade and a half). I hated how it seemed that nothing simply worked and there was always something you had to download, which may or may not be a virus or putting your system at risk.

 

[smoledman]

Lots of bitching and whining and yet they'll all buy the Macbook Pro with Magic Bar doohickey for $3000 + 3 years AppleCare and have a smile on their face as they walk out the Apple Store raising the box above their heads like a Grand Slam champion.

 

[b_scott]

Well, those older systems had more longevity in them in part because you could upgrade the storage and RAM on them fairly easily. (I know, I know ... I went "there" ... but it is still a valid point, and is one of the reasons why there is still a used market for them.)

Not really. They were maxed on RAM. I maxed out ram when I bought mine in 2010 - it could only handle 8GB and still has 8GB of course. Storage yes, but only to the extent that it makes sense financially. The only reason I can have dual drives is the optibay. I bought mine as maxed as I could, with the "Hi-Res" 1650 display. Still looks good.

 

[Daniel Reed]

Sadly that's probably the plan. We don't need "trucks" anymore. Never mind my iPad usually collects dust, along with my galaxy tablet. Even my phone, soon as I can, I switch everything over to a computer because its more comfortable to use.
[doublepost=1477665746][/doublepost]

In the past they did, this one surely will not.

You're 2010 Macbook Pro is the same as my 2012 Macbook Pro.

• They need a bigger/faster hard drive, turn it around, open the back, put in the same SSD you can put in any PC Laptop.
• Battery isn't holding a charge, turn it around, open the back (in my case) or remove the battery (in your case) and replace the battery.
• Your computer is running sluggish, turn it around, open the back, remove the RAM put in more RAM.
• If there is a problem with any component follow the steps above.

You get the idea, you can buy the computer you need now, and upgrade it over time and the computer you need later. If it starts to fail everything is replaceable, either take advantage of Apple Care, or do it yourself.

Now, you can't upgrade anything. Memory is soldiered onto the mother board, and the hard drive is a proprietary one. So in 3 years, if your computer starts to get sluggish (which it will), you have two options:

1. Get a same MacBook Pro again but with the upgrades you wanted. Hey guess what it costs the same amount.
2. Get the latest MacBook Pro for a price which is 500 dollars more.

While we are at it, remember how good Apple Care was, if Apple couldn't fix your laptop they'd give you a new one. If the one you bought wasn't being sold anymore, you got an upgrade. Well now you will get the same outdated 3 year old MacBook because Apple still sells it at the same price point. Isn't that great?

Its so sad what the company has become. I remember this from my first Macbook, I had the black Macbook 13 Core 2 Duo. Look at this, like its amazing how easy you can upgrade it:

It wasn't just on the laptops it was on every device, look at the Mac Pro, I remember seeing this and being blown away by how easy it is to upgrade:

Including failed products like the G4 Cube at (1h 26m 10s):

Just wow, Jobs makes Timmy look like a child. The commanding presence of Jobs at the helm is sorely missed, plus his willingness to admit the occasional mistake. With Jobs gone, there's little point in wasting time on the Mac platform. (Can't believe i typed this).

 

[Count Blah]

Lots of bitching and whining and yet they'll all buy the Macbook Pro with Magic Bar doohickey for $3000 + 3 years AppleCare and have a smile on their face as they walk out the Apple Store raising the box above their heads like a Grand Slam champion.

Wanna bet?