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MacBook Air Experiencing 'Major' Shortage Despite $200 Price Increase

Looking at the base 15" at $1500 and the top config at $2000, you get an extra 8GB (yes only 8GB) RAM and an extra 512GB of storage for $500 more!!!! Personally, I would have an issue, as a tech guy, spending $500 for 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD.

Poor Apple, working on such slim margins... /s
 
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Andres Cantu said:
Complaints about price increases throughout the internet, yet the numbers are telling a different story. Difficult to blame companies at this point for taking advantage of the laws of economics.

Why would they not raise their prices if people aren't voting with their wallets?
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It might work on the short term, people right now are buying scared of another price hike, so they buy now to avoid another price increase down the line (with will happen at this rate).

So it's a case get from customers today cause you might not get tomorrow, with is not a good perspective.

At this rate Apple will price itself out of many users, it will not be doomed as some might think, but it will definitely change its customer base, if that's a good thing or a bad one, time will tell, but to me, getting fewer clients at higher prices or more clients at lower prices it's a no brainer, better to have more customers than fewer..
 
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Soon after Apple's price increase, I jumped on the Amazon sale of $949 (13" base (16/512) M5 MBA). Happy I did.

Since the 2010 model release, the MBA has been my go to laptop, so I am not surprised demand is high.
 
Spock said:
Am I the only one getting tired of the MacBook Neo hate? You don’t have to buy it…
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In my experience, most online commenters feel that anyone with a weaker computer than them is an idiot who wasted their money on an underpowered toy, and anyone with a more powerful computer than them is an idiot who wasted their money on specs and power they will never need.
 
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I was looking online last night and Mac Mini's take a few weeks to come in also so there is just a shortage with probably all Mac models.

Edit: I just was on the apple site and it looks like all Mac models are about a one month wait, except for the iMac and Macbook Pro's. Those are available in store today!
 
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WalsallSaddler said:
I have an M1 Air. Lucky for me, it still works great for what I do (browsing, messaging, Word, Excel, streaming, light photo editing, etc.), so I can easily use it for another two years or so and see if anything changes with the prices or availability of the new models.
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I have a 16/512GB M1 Air that works perfectly. I would like it to be more games friendly and I even thought about changed it for a Windows laptop but then I remember that is difficult to match an Air with a Windows Laptop. The screen, the speakers, the fanless, the keyboard, the trackpad.. things very difficult to get in a good balance on a windows laptop..

I will stay with the Mac for at least 2 years too. Let's see what happens
 
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Siliconguy said:
I live across the road from an apple orchard and so far I have seen no sign of AI in pruning, mowing, thinning, or fogging. Harvest season starts in about a month, if I see evidence of an AI picking fruit I will let you know.
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Sounds like apple intelligence hasn’t quite panned out.
 
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I don't see this situation as a positive. People are buying now while they can still afford the device. Sales next year will say a lot about this matter. If they are down, then we know people bought now instead of later due to costs.
 
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that’s why apple has their permanent rental program. It gives them the ability to make products and offer them to people without the new reality of super pricing. It’s like a car; most people will only worry about the payment and not the actual price.
 
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iMac The Knife said:
I'm sure we will have to agree to disagree on this one, but I think leasing a MacBook Air for three years is absolutely bonkers. This is how it all starts. $25 a month here, $50 a month there...and before you know it some people will be underwater and they will default. Trust me, it is coming. I do understand that no one is forcing anyone to lease a computer or phone. But still, leasing a computer for three years is insane to me.
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You're not 'underwater' if you lease a MacBook Air. You're most likely a student, and have no plans to sell/upgrade. It's a tool for your studies, not an investment.
 
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Easybook said:
that’s why apple has their permanent rental program. It gives them the ability to make products and offer them to people without the new reality of super pricing. It’s like a car; most people will only worry about the payment and not the actual price.
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It is not a bad program if you want a new device every year. The monthly cost is what a person has to have settled in their mind if this is something they want to do year after year.

I am curious what Apple does with the returned devices; do they go to a resale market, or are they broken down, and by how much? How much actually ends up in a landfill?
 
I've been waiting almost 3 months now for a custom one with 32GB RAM my tech industry employer ordered for me. Pretty sad they can't even fulfill orders for corporate clients.
 
Likely due to the back to school sale coming to an end in a few weeks along with the introduction of the Upgrade program. Because all colors and storage tiers are available for pickup today or overnight delivery via Best Buy and Amazon right now.
 
Andres Cantu said:
Complaints about price increases throughout the internet, yet the numbers are telling a different story.
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Maybe it’s because people are massively falling for the illusion of being cheaper off when taking out a loan for buying stuff like this (aka buying on credit or ‘solutions’ like Klarna et al)?

I agree with the person above: can’t afford it now? Save your money. A loan will only ever end up more expensive than the price these people told themselves they couldn’t afford. So where’s the logic?
 
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BeatCrazy said:
You're not 'underwater' if you lease a MacBook Air. You're most likely a student, and have no plans to sell/upgrade. It's a tool for your studies, not an investment.
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I never said a person would be underwater just because they lease a MacBook Air. You should re-read my original post.
 
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Mackan said:
Are we reaping the fruits of AI yet?
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Yes, through its use with improving crop monitoring and disease/pest detection, yield forecasting, irrigation optimization, pruning management, sorting/grading, robotics, etc.

It's helping reap lots of "fruits" including grapes, apples, oranges, strawberries, etc. 😁

“Lieutenant Dan got me invested in some kind of fruit company [Apple Computer]. So then I got a call from him, saying we don't have to worry about money no more. And I said, that's good! One less thing.” -- Forrest Gump
 
capamac said:
Just be patient. Prices move in waves. This is likely a wave 'crest' of sorts ... the worst time to buy.

Prices will be better in 6 to 24 months. Till then, just keep using what you've got, or buy used gear. Even M1 is, IMO, quite good.
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Everything I am reading is saying the chip shortage is supposed to be improved sometime in 2028 so maybe prices will start dropping a little in 2029. Until then we are to expect more price increases.
 
BeatCrazy said:
I read it, and re-read it. I disagree with your conclusion that leasing a computer for 3 years is "insane".
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The problem with leasing a computer for 3 years is at the end of the 3 years you are stuck with two options: pay the balloon payment at the end and then own it, or start a new computer "rental". Neither is a very good thing for someone that money is that tight that they had to lease in the first place.
 
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Blackstick said:
A whopping 60-70% (depending on the source checked) of the new BMWs and Lexus vehicles you see in this country are leased. Americans are very used to leasing luxury.
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Thats fair, im from the UK.

Leasing cars is super common for us too.

BMW’s and Mercades mainly.

Its like they intentionally got us used to leasing large things like full cars and now they’re allowing to lease our tech too.

Plus i bet outside of hoping customers are less concerned about the price hikes.

I bet Apple are hoping it will drive more upgrades.

Own an iphone for a minimum of 12 months, then upgrade for a fraction of the price every time.

They’re just hoping we don’t do the maths after 3-5 years of constant lease upgrades. 😂
 
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