New MacBook Airs and iPads, iOS 17.4, and More Expected Next Month

[hans1972]

Would love to give a loaded Air a try... but NOT at 3X-5X market rates for RAM & SSD storage. I'd already own M2 Air if not for the same...

View attachment 2348695

And that's upgrades purchased in massive quantities vs. retail quantity one (and NOT cheapest retail options, but simply comparable options. Focus a little harder on price and $252 drops below $200).

I'm clinging to an aging Intel MBpro that is begging to be retired... but not at Apple RAM & SSD exploitive pricing. If they opt to BEND on that though (AKA throw a bone to customers vs. shareholders for a change), I'll be first in line. Else, the march towards buying a PC laptop as my next one continues gaining steam. I'd rather not, but not bad enough to farrrrrrrr overpay for RAM & SSD.

I don't understand why you want to price each component of the computer? You're not building a computer.

Just configure the MacBook you want and decide if the total price is worth it. It shouldn't matter which component(s) makes it expensive.

 

[hans1972]

I don't really care if the base models Macbooks keep their 8GB. As someone's written somewhere else before, it's an incentive to keep developing efficient software, as long as they are producing computers with 8GB of ram. But here in Germany the prices to upgrade from 8GB to 16GB are 230€ which is about 250$. That's beyond absurd and probably a 1000% markup on the price or about 10 times as much as the actual costs for 8GB DDR5 ram these days. That's just too greedy. It would still be greedy if it was 150€ but that I could live with. The 200$ in the US are already a lot but 250$ is just crazy.

Why do you are which part of an assembled computer is expensive nor not? You're buying one piece of computer, not parts. Shouldn't matter if it's the screen, CPU, GPU, case, RAM, SSD, ports or any other part is cheap or expensive.

Just configure the MacBook you want and decide if the price is worth it.

 

[cyberdocwi2]

Why do you are which part of an assembled computer is expensive nor not? You're buying one piece of computer, not parts. Shouldn't matter if it's the screen, CPU, GPU, case, RAM, SSD, ports or any other part is cheap or expensive.

Just configure the MacBook you want and decide if the price is worth it.

May I politely disagree.

The computer is a summation of parts that work in harmony to create an environment. Those of us old enough to recognize floppy disks grew up knowing that some components can be exchange, such as the CD-ROM, or a hard drive, or RAM. Some people have taken to the level of replacing a CPU. For me, it started with an Apple //e, and since we couldn't afford a second Super Serial Card, I got very good at setting the jumper between modem and printer configurations.

We know that iPads are not computers. Apple told us. I see the iPad as an appliance, and outside of a battery or screen replacement, they are an appliance just like my toaster.

I have come to accept that Apple Management living on Mt. Olympus will not restore the ethernet jack to a laptop, and that I will suffer dongle death because I need the ethernet jack in the work I do. With the desire to be as thin/light as possible, the chances of removable RAM also falls by the wayside. But I find myself insisting on a removable hard drive, and thus I remain on my Macbook Pro 2013.

I have had to send a past MacBook Pro (2007, 17") to Apple as part of the video card repair recall. I removed the hard drive before going - because I didn't want others to access my files, or the possibility that my hard drive could have gone to someone else. It happens - a mixup, and my computer / data is shipped somewhere else. Yes I know I can encrypt, but that can slow down, and is not as a sure thing as keeping the hard drive right here in my sights. Apple may claim soldered hard drives are best performers - ok good, but what about when they die? Or I need more storage.

For cars, I change the tires. Change the brake pads. Air filters. Spark plugs. I will not sell my car because I need different tires. Or if the windshield cracks.

I also look for gently used computers, replace the hard drive, and deploy them somewhere else to be useful (families needing something, college kids, schools). I can do that for some iMacs yet, and the Mini's, but not the laptops. I am good friends with the Open Core Legacy project.

At some point my MBP 2013 will die. I may go with different hardware and either migrate completely to Linux, or Hackintosh.

I wish I had 5 mins to talk with the Apple Board. Show them the orchard that I have purchased over time. And let them know that this all in one soldered locked in crap is not acceptable. Maybe they don't want me as a customer, who has 5 kids that will hit college in the next 7 years. That's a lot of fruit.

 

[turbineseaplane]

At some point my MBP 2013 will die. I may go with different hardware and either migrate completely to Linux, or Hackintosh.

I wish I had 5 mins to talk with the Apple Board. Show them the orchard that I have purchased over time. And let them know that this all in one soldered locked in crap is not acceptable. Maybe they don't want me as a customer, who has 5 kids that will hit college in the next 7 years. That's a lot of fruit.

I with you … already on Hack, but if that gets too hard I’m out on “Appliance Land”

 

[makitango]

May I politely disagree.

The computer is a summation of parts that work in harmony to create an environment. Those of us old enough to recognize floppy disks grew up knowing that some components can be exchange, such as the CD-ROM, or a hard drive, or RAM. Some people have taken to the level of replacing a CPU. For me, it started with an Apple //e, and since we couldn't afford a second Super Serial Card, I got very good at setting the jumper between modem and printer configurations.

We know that iPads are not computers. Apple told us. I see the iPad as an appliance, and outside of a battery or screen replacement, they are an appliance just like my toaster.

I have come to accept that Apple Management living on Mt. Olympus will not restore the ethernet jack to a laptop, and that I will suffer dongle death because I need the ethernet jack in the work I do. With the desire to be as thin/light as possible, the chances of removable RAM also falls by the wayside. But I find myself insisting on a removable hard drive, and thus I remain on my Macbook Pro 2013.

I have had to send a past MacBook Pro (2007, 17") to Apple as part of the video card repair recall. I removed the hard drive before going - because I didn't want others to access my files, or the possibility that my hard drive could have gone to someone else. It happens - a mixup, and my computer / data is shipped somewhere else. Yes I know I can encrypt, but that can slow down, and is not as a sure thing as keeping the hard drive right here in my sights. Apple may claim soldered hard drives are best performers - ok good, but what about when they die? Or I need more storage.

For cars, I change the tires. Change the brake pads. Air filters. Spark plugs. I will not sell my car because I need different tires. Or if the windshield cracks.

I also look for gently used computers, replace the hard drive, and deploy them somewhere else to be useful (families needing something, college kids, schools). I can do that for some iMacs yet, and the Mini's, but not the laptops. I am good friends with the Open Core Legacy project.

At some point my MBP 2013 will die. I may go with different hardware and either migrate completely to Linux, or Hackintosh.

I wish I had 5 mins to talk with the Apple Board. Show them the orchard that I have purchased over time. And let them know that this all in one soldered locked in crap is not acceptable. Maybe they don't want me as a customer, who has 5 kids that will hit college in the next 7 years. That's a lot of fruit.

I also have a spare Early 2011 MBP which I actually use a lot at home. I put Mojave on it and it runs rather well with 16GB RAM. Chrome support for that version ended in December I believe, but it‘s still relatively fresh.

Absolutely awesome for typing, the heavier weight makes it sit on a table more stable than anything else and the keys have judt the perfect feedback.
Upgrading the hard drive or RAM, or changing the battery was as easy as it gets. If there ever came a zombie apocalypse, I would assume that this machine would outlive my 11“ MBA 2015, even though I love that model to the moon and back. I think those old models just run forever. It‘s like those old cars or washing machines that just run and run and run.

 

[j_in_tx]

I just received an Ipad Air 5th gen, 256GB, WiFi - brand new sealed. I don't want it and would rather swap it for at least a 11" Pro, and pay the difference.

Any ideas how I can do this? Walk into BestBuy? Walmart? Target? Think they would allow an upgrade without receipt?

Or is eBay the best route? I can't see anyone actively looking to buy an Air.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I also have a spare Early 2011 MBP which I actually use a lot at home. I put Mojave on it and it runs rather well with 16GB RAM. Chrome support for that version ended in December I believe, but it‘s still relatively fresh.

Absolutely awesome for typing, the heavier weight makes it sit on a table more stable than anything else and the keys have judt the perfect feedback.
Upgrading the hard drive or RAM, or changing the battery was as easy as it gets. If there ever came a zombie apocalypse, I would assume that this machine would outlive my 11“ MBA 2015, even though I love that model to the moon and back. I think those old models just run forever. It‘s like those old cars or washing machines that just run and run and run.

I live near a library where a writer is constantly working on a 17” MBP from that era

…specifically for that weight and stability and the keyboard experience

 

[makitango]

I live near a library where a writer is constantly working on a 17” MBP from that era

…specifically for that weight and stability and the keyboard experience

For laptops, that era of MacBooks was a good time for typewriter feelings. Not mobile enough for today‘s standards but still and simply so good for writing stuff at home.

 

[turbineseaplane]

For laptops, that era of MacBooks was a good time for typewriter feelings. Not mobile enough for today‘s standards but still and simply so good for writing stuff at home.

It’s why I like my 2015 so much still

The keys require more force to press, and have more travel, and it allows one to rest fingers there and be very intentional about what to type and when

It allows me to somewhat “think” through my fingers … which gets me in trouble on modern Mac keyboards (lots of mistyping)

I’ve thought about getting a Topre keyboard again actually
Really have loved those when I’ve used them

 

[elliotmoore91]

Pretty sure i'll be getting an M3 Air - 16GB RAM - 1 TB Storage. Anyone else?

 

[turbineseaplane]

Pretty sure i'll be getting an M3 Air - 16GB RAM - 1 TB Storage. Anyone else?

It’d be nice if that was one of the standard configs

I say that only so it could possibly be available on a sale from a third-party seller at some point

 

[TimeOrMoney]

I'm hoping for a price drop on the existing iPads(Air or base Pro) soon. Personally I don't need mega performance/latest and greatest and my current battery does not last long enough....

 

[pdoherty]

The next iPad Pro models are widely expected to be the first iPads equipped with more vivid OLED displays. Other

Weird to describe a less-bright screen (compared to miniLED on the 12.9 Pro) as "more vivid".

 

[elliotmoore91]

It’d be nice if that was one of the standard configs

I say that only so it could possibly be available on a sale from a third-party seller at some point

Oh 100% agree. It pains me knowing that the only way I can get that spec is to pay way over the top for upgrades. I toyed with the idea of 24GB RAM at first but the cost was an insult.

 

[Jim Lahey]

It’d be nice if that was one of the standard configs

I say that only so it could possibly be available on a sale from a third-party seller at some point

The BTO/MSRP/reseller discount dynamic is what makes the MacBook Pro buying experience like scraping fingernails on a chalk board 🫤

 

[Alexndar]

Would love to give a loaded Air a try... but NOT at 3X-5X market rates for RAM & SSD storage. I'd already own M2 Air if not for the same...

View attachment 2348695

And that's upgrades purchased in massive quantities vs. retail quantity one (and NOT cheapest retail options, but simply comparable options. Focus a little harder on price and $252 drops below $200).

I'm clinging to an aging Intel MBpro that is begging to be retired... but not at Apple RAM & SSD exploitive pricing. If they opt to BEND on that though (AKA throw a bone to customers vs. shareholders for a change), I'll be first in line. Else, the march towards buying a PC laptop as my next one continues gaining steam. I'd rather not, but not bad enough to farrrrrrrr overpay for RAM & SSD.

I wholeheartedly support this sentiment. It's just incredibly offputting to say the least.

 

[thejs1234]

What about a second gen Studio Display ?

 

[Matcha]

I just received an Ipad Air 5th gen, 256GB, WiFi - brand new sealed. I don't want it and would rather swap it for at least a 11" Pro, and pay the difference.

Any ideas how I can do this? Walk into BestBuy? Walmart? Target? Think they would allow an upgrade without receipt?

Or is eBay the best route? I can't see anyone actively looking to buy an Air.

At Best Buy you can go to the customer service area and trade it in for store credit. I done this before with my iPad Pro 11” it was a sizable loss of cost but saved me the hassle of selling it on eBay or some place else

 

[lhammer610]

And no Mac Mini nor Studio.

If they want my $ Apple needs to update them.

 

[Lioness~]

Pretty sure i'll be getting an M3 Air - 16GB RAM - 1 TB Storage. Anyone else?

Unless they release a 11” or 12”, I’ll get an 13” Air with 16 RAM with 256GB storage.
But I would love a smaller portable, and I can wait a bit to see if the rumors of that have any substance.

 

[Abazigal]

Pretty sure i'll be getting an M3 Air - 16GB RAM - 1 TB Storage. Anyone else?

I have a couple of upgrades I am eyeing. A new 15” MBA. An upgrade to my 2018 iPad Pro. Maybe a new Apple Watch Ultra to (eventually) replace my current series 5 later this year.

My 13 pro max can probably go another few years. My 5k iMac is still going strong. And I guess I will be waiting for the 2nd gen of the Vision Pro, though I suppose it is easy to say when said device isn’t yet available in my country.

 

[bice]

Probably in vain, but I'm waiting for a MacBook Air with SDXC slot.
Even if I were to disregard the cost difference, I don't need or want the weight or power of a Macbook pro. It is sad that a simple card reader is considered a pro feature, but Apple have made the same distinction for mac mini vs studio.

All kind of things were configurable back in the day. Does no one remember? CTO had a long page of add-ons and choices you could make to any computer sold by Apple. But true configuring is also a victim of the appliance doctrine. You are not supposed to understand what is inside and you are not supposed think what you actually need. Your are just supposed to chose a colour and in the short future when the appliance no longer fits your needs, you are supposed to go back and buy a new one and chose from a fresh set of colours.