More New Apple Products... This Tuesday?

[fireghost]

The ComputerWorld article is titled "New MacBook Pros to hurt MacBook Air sales?"

The point put forth in the article was summed up in the end:
"If Apple adds built-in 3G/WiMAX to the Pro package or outfits it with an energy-saving SSD/Hard drive hybrid model, it might be the deal-breaker for a lot of would-be MacBook Air customers. That possibility might be reason at least to wait and see if you are shoppting for a new MacBook Air/Pro."

Considering that the Air was just released at MacWorld perhaps it is in Apple's best interest to delay the release of the MBP as long as possible given that the Air is the top selling Mac at the Apple Store.

The price difference between the Air and the entry level Pro is only a few hundred dollars. ComputerWorld does make an interesting point especially if the Pro adds any new features.

Still, I do not think WiMAX is a reason for switching to an MBP instead of an MBA. What concerns 3G- as far as I know, the 3G coverage in the US is quite limited (which was also a reason for not giving the iPhone 3G but EDGE connectivity). They both have bluetooth so you could use your mobile phone as a modem.

Isn't there a possibility that Apple is going to implement 3G connectivity together with the iPhone 2 (which has been said to receive 3G in 2008)?

 

[dlewisdm]

The ComputerWorld article is titled "New MacBook Pros to hurt MacBook Air sales?"

The point put forth in the article was summed up in the end:
"If Apple adds built-in 3G/WiMAX to the Pro package or outfits it with an energy-saving SSD/Hard drive hybrid model, it might be the deal-breaker for a lot of would-be MacBook Air customers. That possibility might be reason at least to wait and see if you are shoppting for a new MacBook Air/Pro."

Considering that the Air was just released at MacWorld perhaps it is in Apple's best interest to delay the release of the MBP as long as possible given that the Air is the top selling Mac at the Apple Store.

The price difference between the Air and the entry level Pro is only a few hundred dollars. ComputerWorld does make an interesting point especially if the Pro adds any new features.

This article assumes that these products have the same target market. I think everyone would agree that the Air can't even stack up with the current MBP, let alone any update. The Air is meant to be a supplementary computer for somebody that wants thin and light (i.e. a person that travels a ton and doesn't need to do any heavy lifting with their laptop). As far as a built-in 3G...not happening on this next update. Apple's ties with AT&T run deep as a result of the iPhone and AT&T won't have a 3G network worthy of rolling out that type of upgrade to the MBP until the end of the year at the very soonest. If Apple does make that upgrade, don't expect it to be until the next round of MBP upgrades (possibly end of year with Montevina?)

 

[wk127001]

ThinkPad's have the best material.

Yeah I'd have to agree, my T43p after 3 years of heavy use looks pretty much the same. IBM/Lenovo in my opinion have the most durable/rugged designs. After using this one if I had to buy another PC it'd definitely be a Lenovo. Of course though I wouldn't, because I'll be buying a new MBP in the near future...

 

[nnkd]

Forget pro machines, and useful apple products. It's definitely going to be a pink iPod Shuffle! Their LONG overdue to finish the "Pretty in Pink" line and they've just reduced the price of the Shuffles... I think they're just setting this bad boy up for a release!

... man, how pissed would we be?

 

[ditzy]

Forget pro machines, and useful apple products. It's definitely going to be a pink iPod Shuffle! Their LONG overdue to finish the "Pretty in Pink" line and they've just reduced the price of the Shuffles... I think they're just setting this bad boy up for a release!

... man, how pissed would we be?

This would be so funny, in a terribly tragic way. But I'm going to stick my neck out and says it's not going to happen.

 

[dlewisdm]

Forget pro machines, and useful apple products. It's definitely going to be a pink iPod Shuffle! Their LONG overdue to finish the "Pretty in Pink" line and they've just reduced the price of the Shuffles... I think they're just setting this bad boy up for a release!

... man, how pissed would we be?

I called this before in another thread, but I'm thinking pink iPhone bundled with a Hannah Montana bejeweled case. Nothing quite like getting 2 million tween girls on board with Apple products by resorting to cheap marketing ploys...

 

[michelepri]

Apple has expanded their range of products but their quality has dropped below the level you'd expect from cheap supermarket PCs. Nobody can tell me that the Macbooks are good laptops. Dheir DVD drives suck. Their hard disks suck. Their screens suck. Their USB ports are underpowered, making some USB powered external drives unreliable or even unusable. MOST of them have problems, and more or less you can expect all of them to have battery failures. How's it possible that ALL their batteries die? Not to talk about the ones exploding.

Their software doesn't work properly. Aperture 2.0 is a joke, and all professionals prefer Adobe Lightroom. Their .mac service is overpriced and useless. Their phone sync feature only work reliably with Iphones. Their Idisk is so slow you can't use it.

OS X is very slow compared to Windows. Nothing is snappy, and opening Photoshop, Word, or Dreamweaver takes around half a minute. all things that are done instantly on the PC. Their IDVD is unusable in PAL and strictly interlaced, as if Steve Jobs doesn't know that interlacing is dead. He's only trying to help his Sony friends that have invested billions in old interlaced broadcasting technology. Steve is doing that with our money.

And yes, their Iphone is nice, but their after sale service in Germany was so bad that I'm seriously considering switching to Vista. Also, when the Google phone will come out, we will all be able to dump our Iphones and go back to using the providers we best like.

So no, Apple no longer produces top quality. I am no longer able to defend Apple to people complaining about the million problems coming up. At premium prices.

 

[K. T. Walrus]

No updates until the channel clears of inventory. Check Amazon, MacMall, Apple Store, etc. and everyone has inventory of MBPs in stock and ready for you to buy.

I wouldn't speculate about new models until these internet retailers show some out of stock models.

 

[hayesk]

Macs are build from the same components as every other PC. The only difference seems to be the bios.

Not quite true. PCs vary greatly in quality of components. There are several brands of RAM, disks, boards, chips, capacitors, resistors, etc., and manufacturing process matters too.

If Apple tends to pick the better quality parts, then you get a better quality computer.

 

[dlewisdm]

Apple has expanded their range of products but their quality has dropped below the level you'd expect from cheap supermarket PCs.
SNIP

OK...who let Bill Gates on the macrumors site?

 

[MattG]

Figures...a week after I get my replacement MBP from AppleCare, and a *day* after I receive the laptop we just ordered for our new hire...that's when they come out

 

[arkitect]

And yes, their Iphone is nice, but their after sale service in Germany was so bad that I'm seriously considering switching to Vista.

Ow! My head hurts trying to get to grips with the rationale in this post… but this most of all.

You get poor after sales service in Germany for your iPhone so you want to switch to Vista?

OK…

 

[colinmack]

About 4 months ago, and your point is? The computer is not outdated by any standards.

Don't get me wrong apple need to revise their pricing when it comes to hardware specially after the few months have gone by. this has always been my main beef with Apple. But to say that the computer is outdated in terms of hardware performance is pure BS.

I don't think it's outdated from performance standards (although there are a few areas which could stand some upgrading), but I think it is in terms of design.

Come on, why do a lot of people buy Apple products? The OS/applications, the all-in-one approach to hardware/software, and for the emphasis on design that is missing from most companies...while the design of the MBP was great years ago when it was introduced, I would only rate it as good now, and would even go further and describe it as a bit dated.

It's simply long in the tooth...that doesn't make it bad, just long in the tooth. And if I'm going to drop a few grand on something, I'd prefer it to *not* be long in the tooth. Simple as that.

 

[mactastic1971]

ThinkPad's have the best material.

I disagree. I am forced to use one at my work.
I have a T43p and its had 2 fans & 1 hard drive replaced.
Utter *****!

 

[duckeye]

When will they be in Apple Stores?

Quick question. How soon after a product refresh, like we are expecting from the MBP's, do the new products appear in Apple Stores? I know each store is likely different. I was just wondering if anyone had any past experiences that might help answer my question.

First Post. Thanks for any answers.

 

[razorianfly]

Snip

Also, when the Google phone will come out, we will all be able to dump our Iphones and go back to using the providers we best like.

Snip

Just for your information, there is no Google Phone. It's called Android and it's a mobile environment, rather like Symbian is.

R-Fly

 

[michelepri]

OK...who let Bill Gates on the macrumors site?

Funny, but I've been a hard core pac user for many years, and I'm pissed off. I bought at least 7 machines and most of them had failures. I think Apple's biggest problem is that their devoted fan boys are ready to forgive anything. At first, this attitude seems to help Apple, but then, just like it happens to companies in protected economies with monopolies, their quality and service drop. So Apple fans are actually harming Apple in the long run. Apple needs to confront the problems of direct competition.

 

[hayesk]

...but what really chaps my ass is how many people here STICK UP FOR APPLE! Why is it okay that folks have to wait three-fourths of a year for an update for a new computer? Why is it okay that Apple is still using COMBO DRIVES? I've honestly never met so many consumers who so wholly embrace getting ripped off by Apple.

what chaps my butt is how many people think Apple should cater to an individual's wants (not necessarily needs) rather than their customer base as a whole, with little understanding about engineering and business practices.

The fact is Apple's been working on your new MacBook Pro for months now, and when it's ready, they'll release it. Do you think it's as simple as replacing a CPU and a couple of chips? There's a lot of engineering and testing work, even for a simple speed bump.

People who think Apple should cater only to them really need to get over themselves.

And to those who scoff at Apple's build and design quality, remember, they have the highest quality control in the industry, whether or not you have an irrelevant anecdote to the contrary.

 

[latestmonkey]

Funny, but I've been a hard core pac user for many years, and I'm pissed off. I bought at least 7 machines and most of them had failures. I think Apple's biggest problem is that their devoted fan boys are ready to forgive anything. At first, this attitude seems to help Apple, but then, just like it happens to companies in protected economies with monopolies, their quality and service drop. So Apple fans are actually harming Apple in the long run. Apple needs to confront the problems of direct competition.

This makes no sense at all. Just because the majority of the people on this site are apple "fanboys" doesn't mean the general public is. If apple's products were so ****** as you say, the general public would have turned on them a long time ago.

I'm still trying to figure out how iphone post sales service necessitates a switch to vista.

 

[Marion]

????

The ComputerWorld article is titled "New MacBook Pros to hurt MacBook Air sales?"

So what, a sale is a sale... both are Apple product... money will still belong to Apple. Do Apple really think that if I buy a MBA today, I'll sell it tomorrow for a new MBP ? I'm less and less impressed about Apple.

 

[MattG]

Quick question. How soon after a product refresh, like we are expecting from the MBP's, do the new products appear in Apple Stores? I know each store is likely different. I was just wondering if anyone had any past experiences that might help answer my question.

First Post. Thanks for any answers.

This is a relatively minor update...I'd imagine they'd start shipping almost immediately, if not the same day.

 

[michelepri]

Ow! My head hurts trying to get to grips with the rationale in this post… but this most of all.

You get poor after sales service in Germany for your iPhone so you want to switch to Vista?

OK…

I apologize for my unclear wording. My temptation to switch to Vista is fueled by Apple's increasing focus on quick profit. They sell you something, and then never want to hear from you again until you are ready to buy more. Their complete lack of service for Iphones in Germany scared me. What happens if I spend €3000 on a big Apple machine and they treat me the same way they did with my Iphone? Germans have been forced to sign contracts with T-Mobile, a company that nobody would use were we not pressured by Steve. He only wants our hard currency. Once we went shopping, we should shut up and go away.

 

[colinmack]

And to those who scoff at Apple's build and design quality, remember, they have the highest quality control in the industry, whether or not you have an irrelevant anecdote to the contrary.

Irrelevant or not, there are a lot more people lately with anecdotes about quality control with their products...MBP screen and heat problems, iMac screen problems, Macbook case problems, battery problems, etc....enough so that Apple had better get more focused on it, otherwise they're going to find themselves on the wrong end of that reputation

 

[dlewisdm]

Irrelevant or not, there are a lot more people lately with anecdotes about quality control with their products...MBP screen and heat problems, iMac screen problems, Macbook case problems, battery problems, etc....enough so that Apple had better get more focused on it, otherwise they're going to find themselves on the wrong end of that reputation

I'd agree, but on the same note, as companies are rushing to make laptops smaller, lighter, faster, thinner, etc....these are problems that EVERY company is running into. My Sony laptop has a fan that sounds like it is preparing for liftoff and it gets so hot when I'm running fairly basic applications that I have to sit a book in between my laptop and my lap just to be able to use it.

I can't speak to Germany, but at least in the States many people have a store close enough that you can walk in and get help with your problem...try doing that with any PC manufacturer.

 

[latestmonkey]

Irrelevant or not, there are a lot more people lately with anecdotes about quality control with their products...MBP screen and heat problems, iMac screen problems, Macbook case problems, battery problems, etc....enough so that Apple had better get more focused on it, otherwise they're going to find themselves on the wrong end of that reputation

Anecdotal evidence means squat. Any intro course in stats will tell you that.

When you have a consumer reports (or similar) link, let us know.