Low-Cost MacBook Expected on March 4 in These Colors

[rp2011]

This Mac makes a lot of sense. The A series chip is already at peak economies of scale, the stamped aluminum body vs the labor and time intensive CNC bodies of the MacBook Pro's saves a ton of money. The smaller footprint saves money. The ability to run on smaller batteries save a lot of money.

And no one loves Chromebook's, schools love the Google services that go with them, but no one has ever said they loved Chromebooks. What saves Chromebooks are the amazing Google services associated with them, and which frankly, I don't think Apple is capable of competing with and luckily for Apple, they don't have to. As long as these devices can run Google services flawlessly.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Okay, two weeks ago I purchased a new (open box) MacBook M1. Now this new MacBook comes along. From what you have read how will my M1 compare to the new MB? I can still return the M1.

I think we need to wait until the specs become fact. From a MacOS update perspective, the new MB should get more updates than your M1 Air. I also don’t see anything wrong with the rumored chip. If you do basic Mac stuff on a daily basis, the new MB may make you a happy customer.

 

[GlassFingers]

Unfortunately these bright fun colors will be synonymous with… a budget MacBook. I can imagine there are many people who would prefer not to be seen using one.

But yeah if these cheaper MacBooks can be targeted towards kids just getting into computer… could be good!

 

[seek3r]

Unfortunately these bright fun colors will be synonymous with… a budget MacBook. I can imagine there are many people who would prefer not to be seen using one.

Er, you dont remember the original iBook I take it? People like colors, you’re not going to see too many of these in an office, but I’d bet you’ll see plenty of them in Starbucks etc

But yeah if these cheaper MacBooks can be targeted towards kids just getting into computer… could be good!

Or, you know, anyone with just basic computing needs. Like most of the planet.

It’ll likely outperform the M2 Mini my wife uses, and she used to use a 12” MacBook back when it wasnt exactly the fastest machine in Apple’s lineup. She’s a teacher, she doesnt need a lot of local grunt, and these SoCs are already pretty impressive. And she likes fun colors on her devices, I wouldnt be surprised if she wants one as her next machine.

Probably will be what I get my mother, a professor who has similar needs to my wife, for her next machine too

 

[Apple_Robert]

This Mac makes a lot of sense. The A series chip is already at peak economies of scale, the stamped aluminum body vs the labor and time intensive CNC bodies of the MacBook Pro's saves a ton of money. The smaller footprint saves money. The ability to run on smaller batteries save a lot of money.

And no one loves Chromebook's, schools love the Google services that go with them, but no one has ever said they loved Chromebooks. What saves Chromebooks are the amazing Google services associated with them, and which frankly, I don't think Apple is capable of competing with and luckily for Apple, they don't have to. As long as these devices can run Google services flawlessly.

You make some good points. The elephant in the room is the price. If the price is where it needs to be for us consumers, I think it will definitely be a good seller mostly for people in school and people who do basic computing.

 

[xeiteu]

Please let it be a cute pink, ideally sorta pastel. Make it fashionable and the whole 'entry model' vibes wash away.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Unfortunately these bright fun colors will be synonymous with… a budget MacBook. I can imagine there are many people who would prefer not to be seen using one.

But yeah if these cheaper MacBooks can be targeted towards kids just getting into computer… could be good!

You should stop caring whether strangers think you have a pricey Mac.

 

[Padaung]

Trying not to get my hopes up, I want a 12", thin, 16GB RAM (base) with 512GB, light, and good for travel.

But...I believe this is catered to the kiddies for school etc.

Not a problem, but I am not getting my hopes up. Better to be WOWed then let down...again.

I'm with you on this.

This, under 1kg in weight, 16Gb memory, 512Gb SSD, 13" or smaller screen (speaking personally, I'd find a 12.5" screen with 1920x1200px resolution fabulous), minimum battery life 10hrs, £600. A laptop with these specs that is as powerful as a M1 Mac would be brilliant for travel (business and personal).

I live in hope!

Bring on 4th March 🙂

 

[FasterQuieter]

I’m just hoping it’s not a 8GB machine… that it’s 12GB (I can’t see them giving it the full 16 like the air)… that’s enough for cafe/couch development and when I need more than the iPad Pro/Magic KB combo (frankly this would likely replace it).

Been waiting for a MB12 replacement for a decade!

12GB seems likely. They'll use as little as they can get away with and I'm guessing that's the number. Hopefully though, they'll decide macOS plus Apple "Intelligence" needs 16GB.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Unfortunately these bright fun colors will be synonymous with… a budget MacBook. I can imagine there are many people who would prefer not to be seen using one.

But yeah if these cheaper MacBooks can be targeted towards kids just getting into computer… could be good!

These things will be EVERYWHERE on college campuses.

 

[OS X Dude]

Basically, they need a replacement for the $599 MacBook Air M1 Walmart was carrying. This could be their answer.

Still gonna be a tall order to kill $335 Chromebooks. School districts are price sensitive to the penny. Google makes the device management essentially free. With Apple you’re talking about paying a Jamf or Iru or Addigy or Microsoft a fee.

Chromebooks are basically dead in the UK, so that's certainly not a global thing. iPad is dominant in Edu, usually coupled with Jamf School.

Also, Intune is included on A3/A5 licensing which most schools have and already use to manage their PCs, so it's familiar (at the surface - managing Macs is incredibly different to PCs and requires understanding or an MSP to do well). Especially since Intune Suite is now being included in E3 and E5, it wouldn't surprise me to also see that come to A5 licences too and then that's a very compelling value proposition. Even if it's rubbish compared to Jamf Pro in practice.

 

[satchmo]

I did a quick re-render of my previous concept to see what these colours might look like.

I can already hear the complaint of how dirty a white keyboard gets.
Not to mention the amount of hatred for white bezels on the iMac.

 

[NightFox]

If one of the options was going to be pink, wouldn't that have been an obvious colour to easily incorporate into the event experience logo?

 

[iZac]

I can already hear the complaint of how dirty a white keyboard gets.
Not to mention the amount of hatred of white bezels on the iMac.

Exactly the reason to upgrade to a MacBook Air 😎 Can't have a $600 Apple laptop be too desirable!

TBH my white magic keyboard has held up pretty well, but I do wipe it down with alcohol pads every now and then.

 

[GlassFingers]

These things will be EVERYWHERE on college campuses.

Yeah good point — students usually understand having to manage costs.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I can already hear the complaint of how dirty a white keyboard gets.
Not to mention the amount of hatred of white bezels on the iMac.

People would complain but, the white OG MB looked really nice. Too bad the body didn’t hold up.

 

[Billy_Bob]

In line with Apple's current focus on services and subscriptions, imagine this new laptop being offered not for a standalone $599, but instead as part of a subscription bundle. Pay $29/mo. for a two-year subscription to a suite of Apple software products, and with that get a "free" plastic laptop Mac. That would be enough computer for many students or light users, but it might encourage some to upgrade to a more expensive monthly subscription or to make a regular purchase of a more substantial laptop.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Basically, they need a replacement for the $599 MacBook Air M1 Walmart was carrying. This could be their answer.

Still gonna be a tall order to kill $335 Chromebooks. School districts are price sensitive to the penny. Google makes the device management essentially free. With Apple you’re talking about paying a Jamf or Iru or Addigy or Microsoft a fee.

School districts also pay $$$ for service contracts for those Chromebooks, which are an annual fee on top of aging hardware. At least mine does when it comes to the Dell (Windows) laptops they hand out. There are people doing the math, and at $600 it may be cheaper to use this A-series Macbook instead of a $1000 Dell, assuming a 5 year refresh cycle.

 

[GlassFingers]

Er, you dont remember the original iBook I take it? People like colors, you’re not going to see too many of these in an office, but I’d bet you’ll see plenty of them in Starbucks etc

No I don’t remember the original iBook. I did a quick Google… but I’m guessing it had colorful options which were NOT limited to a budget version?

That’s the point I’m trying to make… If you are in a Starbucks and you see a plain looking MacBook (silver or gray) then you know it’s more expensive. If you see a super colorful one then you know it has to be the budget option.

I’m not trying to make some judgment here… but it will immediately be something people can understand on first glance.

 

[ignatius345]

The MacBook Air used to be the (comparatively) inexpensive and lightweight de facto laptop for students, road warriors and cafe habitues, but priced itself out of that market years ago.

Huh? The original Air was over $3,000 and the price has been falling steadily since then. It was $1,199 in 2012, and it's $999 now -- which is a drop of over 40% accounting for inflation. This is why if you go out to a cafe or college campus out in the real world, MacBook Airs are all over the place.

 

[Apple_Robert]

In line with Apple's current focus on services and subscriptions, imagine this new laptop being offered not for a standalone $599, but instead as part of a subscription bundle. Pay $29/mo. for a two-year subscription to a suite of Apple software products, and with that get a "free" plastic laptop Mac. That would be enough computer for many students or light users, but it might encourage some to upgrade to a more expensive monthly subscription or to make a regular purchase of a more substantial laptop.

The MB has been rumored by several to have an aluminum chasis.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

No I don’t remember the original iBook. I did a quick Google… but I’m guessing it had colorful options which were NOT limited to a budget version?

That’s the point I’m trying to make… If you are in a Starbucks and you see a plain looking MacBook (silver or gray) then you know it’s more expensive. If you see a super colorful one then you know it has to be the budget option.

I’m not trying to make some judgment here… but it will immediately be something people can understand on first glance.

When I visit the Starbucks near here, half the laptops have skins on them, those clearish colored plastic shells, or a ton of random stickers.. There is no way to tell what is what.

I have a green shell on my MBP.

 

[GlassFingers]

You should stop caring whether strangers think you hear a pricey Mac.

I never said that I care if strangers think I have a pricey Mac.

What I am curious about is consumer behavior… and that this might not be the amazing sales strategy Apple thinks that it is.

 

[Apple_Robert]

School districts also pay $$$ for service contracts for those Chromebooks, which are an annual fee on top of aging hardware. At least mine does when it comes to the Dell (Windows) laptops they hand out. There are people doing the math, and at $600 it may be cheaper to use this A-series Macbook instead of a $1000 Dell, assuming a 5 year refresh cycle.

Speaking of contracts, I wonder if Apple has been working behind the scenes with the powers that be in that field to try and work some bulk purchases with lower sub pricing for Pages et all.

 

[punkwood]

I would be very angry if MacBook Pro 16" with M5 Pro will not be released on that day.

How is the performance of such cheap laptop? May be too weak to run some Windows applications satisfactory through Parallels? The screen size is probably too small for me. Perhaps just buy this while waiting for the redesign?

Why would you buy this while waiting for a MBP redesign when your current computer is likely far and away more powerful? If you need an M5 MBP, what would this gimped consumer laptop solve for you?

Do you just not have a laptop and need one right now?