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rMB the best selling Mac?!
- Thread starter navaira
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The one in the picture isn't the last model. The new one from 2012 is even thinner and it has a larger touchpad.
I know your intent is to do the opposite, but I believe you just proved my point. These look the same to me except for the keyboard color, I suspect the average buyer would feel the same. Either way, if indeed the RMB is out-selling the MBP and the MBA right now it's because there isn't much incentive for a Pro or Air user to make another pricey buy on a replacement Pro or Air because the design hasn't changed all but subtly in almost a decade. For those into the newest/thinnest/lightest notebook either on the OSX or Windows side, the RMB is a revolutionary breakthrough.
Point being, the sales figures presently don't draw the conclusion that the RMB is a pedestrian mass product. It's a niche product, but right now the desire of the niche customers (RMB) outweigh the needs of the base (Air) and professional (Pro) customers who aren't compelled by current Pro or Air offerings and don't need the slimmest and lightest form factor.
BJ
They totally look the same! They both have keyboards, trackpads and screens.
This is also another clone:
Even the keyboard colour is the same!
This is also another clone:
Even the keyboard colour is the same!
Not really. I'll take way lighter and double the storage over ports and a bit more power.
What I'm saying is that the typical consumer who owns a MacBook Pro today has a form factor that is essentially the same as 2006 with its thick design, overload of ports, tons of plastic, massive weight, etc. And that's why few are buying replacements and making it look like the RMB is more popular than it actually is.
BJ
Unless you work at the Marketing team of Apple, all your statements are wrong, or at least, not provable.
look the same ? Wow you are in denial ...
A totally different keyboard, in shape and color.
A totally different screen lid.
A totally different touchpad, without the button.
A different lower case, with rounded corners ....
They both are made of aluminium and they both are notebooks ..........
Massive weight ? thick design ?
Mate, did you actually see a retina MacBook Pro ???
A MBP is 1,8 cm thick, while a MBA is 1,7 cm. There literally are 1 mm of difference !
A 15" MBP weights 2 kg, a 13" MBP weights just 1,5 kg while a 13" MBA weights 1,3 kg.
You seem to be a little confused about the retina MacBook Pro.....
I'm not even sure where you're going with this. Here, I'll simplify:
Article says new 12" RMB is outselling the MBP and the MBA.
Poster says that means the RMB is a popular product.
I say that the RMB looks like it's selling well but that's because the MBP and MBA are old designs.
You say that they're not and they're updated recently.
I say they still look too much like their 2006 and 2008 parents.
You think the subtle changes mean something to MBP and MBA buyers.
I say they don't, there's no reason for them to upgrade to these boxy old designs.
They are both boxy and heavy rectangles. They aren't a quantum leap like the new RMB.
BJ
Have you ever actually used a rMBP? Or at least played with one for 2mins? Plastic? Same thicknes? Overload of ports? PLASTIC?
omg
Maybe I don't understand Mrs and Mr Average, but why would you gravitate to a laptop for a kitchen computer? Why not something that would withstand the occasional boiling hot drop of of spaghetti sauce?
I'm not a good fit for laptops anyway, as I tend to drop things, but I would imagine that a laptop that was light, thin, and noiseless is a laptop that is easier to use in places outside the home. And if I had a grand budgeted for that sort of thing, I wouldn't be buying 6 15 inch laptops and hooking them up into a Beowulf-- I would instead be looking at a laptop that was thin and light and quiet with a nice screen and ...
I'm sort of inline with BJ thoughts although I would not say quantum leap
But certainly there has been a lot more development on the rMB than of late on the rMBP and the MBA but you would expect this as you make things smaller/lighter etc and have to come up with smarter ways to cram it all in ie new KB keys, trackpad, teared batteries, combined speakers and aerials etc
Some of these are already trickling in to the MBP's etc will we see more and a move streamlined MBP in the future, I expect so and those anticipating greater things in 2016 may well be sitting on the fence for now, therefore it would not be unreasonable to assume the rMB sales appear better for the short term whilst we wait for other Mac Laptops to evolve to the next generation including possible new colour choices
IMO Apple need to upstage the sexy appeal of the Surface range and they are not going to do that with the current MBP/MBA footprints, they will have to compete very cleverly as they will not be adopting 2-1 or touch
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well, there are thermal designs involved.
the MacBook is cool, but you can't fit proper hardware in such a design.
A MacBook Pro can't be so thin and light.
There could be convergence between MBA an MB: just add a second USB-C and make a 14" version and get rid of MBA lineup (not something I'd like, because the MacBook Air uses a better CPU).
I can't see anything sexy in a Surface, and commercially it isn't a success (so I'm not alone in my thoughts).I'm sort of inline with BJ thoughts although I would not say quantum leap
But certainly there has been a lot more development on the rMB than of late on the rMBP and the MBA but you would expect this as you make things smaller/lighter etc and have to come up with smarter ways to cram it all in ie new KB keys, trackpad, teared batteries, combined speakers and aerials etc
Some of these are already trickling in to the MBP's etc will we see more and a move streamlined MBP in the future, I expect so and those anticipating greater things in 2016 may well be sitting on the fence for now, therefore it would not be unreasonable to assume the rMB sales appear better for the short term whilst we wait for other Mac Laptops to evolve to the next generation including possible new colour choices
IMO Apple need to upstage the sexy appeal of the Surface range and they are not going to do that with the current MBP/MBA footprints, they will have to compete very cleverly as they will not be adopting 2-1 or touch
Apple could, and I think they are going to, redesign the MacBook Pro. Make it thinner and lighter, add the three colors option and so on .... But they won't completely depart from current idea.
No touch screen and no "2-in-1" concept on OS X .... fortunately I'd add.
Half baked solutions aren't my favorites .....
Apple are progressively moving the Mac to a mainstream consumer products, ever looking to increase the volume of sales. For 2016 I fully expect a significant redesign of the rMBP, to further align with this trend. The form factor of the rMB is likely to heavily influence the next generation of rMBP, this much is given.
For some time Apple was on a "roll" with IOS dominating the mobile sector and Microsoft giving a helping hand with the introduction of Windows 8. For many this left the Mac as the only viable option; Mac sales soared accordingly. Spin on with Windows 10 and much of the user concerns have been alleviated. For Apple to maintain it`s growth in the PC space for 2016 they must deliver hardware that will capture the consumers imagination. OS X 10.11 is best described a "weak sauce" As it doesn't really do anything more for the user that 10.10 did, on a system that it ran correctly on, and once gain thanks to Apple`s short development cycle of OS X brought issue for users, even with Apple`s own applications.
The rMB will be a gradual evolution; Skylake, potentially TB3 over USB C, it will remain premium (for a Notebook) for the foreseeable. For me the rMB suits the role of the business man, upper management, business development etc very well. To say the current rMB is an "all rounder" would be a little disingenuous. In a few generations this will clearly change given Intel`s focus on low power CPU/iGPU`s.
The Air will remain as is for one sole reason "margin" Apple`s profits on the Air are close to twice the rest of the portable range. The Air is now the de facto entry level portable Mac, completing the "loop" for many with Apple`s ecosystem. Ultimately Apple want to "lock you in" to their ecosystem, albeit in a very smart way; iPhone, iPad, Mac, hence why you will never see divergent products like Microsoft`s SP4 or a tablet with voice call capability (SIM) Apple wants sell more product this is their solution and who is to argue given the result.
Back to the point in question is the rMB niche? The answer is both Yes & No, depending totally on your perspective; for some the 12" Retina is their primary computer, others the 2nd or even 3rd system. Some will visit the Apple store and buy the model of choice directly, others may well be paying for the same over several years. So in many respects the rMB is exclusive to Apple, equally available to all.
A better way to look at it may be "do you need a 12' Retina?" this is where the product really shows itself to be niche due to the current limitations of technology. Personally I would recommend the rMB to anyone as a secondary system, as a primary no unless I understand their usage clearly. For me the rMB is a business system in both primary & secondary roles. Personally I have only seen one other rMB used in a business role, although many would like one, by far the vast majority of IT departments won't touch it due to the cost, narrow operating window, and OS X.
Q-6
I foresee the same thing, a redesign,that is thinner, less ports and apple's continuing trend of sealing the computer. There's not much else they can do with it, at this point since the computer sector has matured to such a point there's just little room for any new radical designs.
What I fear is that they'll embrace the same keyboard technology on the rMBP as the rMB. Its not a bad keyboard, but truth be told, I much prefer the keyboard on my 2012 rMBP then what apple is using on the rMB
I'm not sure how you are measuring success but I would guess using the same stick OSX would be a complete failure
The few figures I have seen reliable of not put last years SP3 at about 1/6th of Mac laptops sales and now they have 2 products with exciting futures.
I'm sorry you don't like the WOW factor of the surface range even if it does not suit your requirements at least the rMB competes by being svelte in the 1st visual/kerb appeal respects
The Vaio Canvas is already showing what can be crammed in a 12" foot print with Apples might I'm sure they could do better especially with no touch or pen to worry about
Sorry but I think the 2016 line up needs to add some sex/oomph other than just Skylake upgrades
Exactly, you've proved my point. You've got no reliable data to support your opinion.
Macs are growing in a falling market.I'm not sure how you are measuring success but I would guess using the same stick OSX would be a complete failure
The few figures I have seen reliable of not put last years SP3 at about 1/6th of Mac laptops sales and now they have 2 products with exciting futures.
I'm sorry you don't like the WOW factor of the surface range even if it does not suit your requirements at least the rMB competes by being svelte in the 1st visual/kerb appeal respects
The Vaio Canvas is already showing what can be crammed in a 12" foot print with Apples might I'm sure they could do better especially with no touch or pen to worry about
Sorry but I think the 2016 line up needs to add some sex/oomph other than just Skylake upgrades
Surface aren't going anywhere.
Exciting products ? Yes, in a tech forum like this maybe. In the real world they are pricey ugly tablets / 2-in-1 products nobody care.
Say what? So you somehow figured out your own way to categorize the different product categories true customers? wtf man...
I'm sorry, but where exactly does it say that opinions need data to support them? An opinion supported by data is known as "fact", and that's found in an encyclopedia, not a discussion forum.
The sky is blue. Discuss.
BJ
I was referring not to the unique OSX users but rather the casual Windows users who are customarily shopping for inexpensive notebooks, often the family computer that lives in a shared location like the kitchen. Family of 6, they all have their own notebooks, yet they all still need a central/public computer.
+1
Issue is that Apple has ignored the aesthetic of the Pro and the Air for far too long and that's why sales have slowed to a crawl. To get a consumer to upgrade, especially one who isn't very unhappy with the performance of the machine, you've got to offer something that looks more exciting too.
Agreed, but it can be made a bit thinner and a bit lighter, change the colors around, do something to liven the Pro up. If Apple were smart, they'd go USB-C on that device and pack-in an adapter to get rid of that array of bloated ports and make the thing weigh a little less and get slimmer.
Yes, thank you.
BJ
This is pretty much the bare truth of it. The race for thinner computers is all but over until the next big push in battery tech. Yeah, Apple, or MS, or Dell might be able to find ways to tweak out a millimeter here and there, but the writing's pretty much on the wall by this point. No one can make a computer much thinner than the rMB or SP4 without making huge sacrifices in the process.
I'm not so sure about that.
Granted MS only outsold Apple only for the month of October, so it's not proof that MS is "winning the war" or whatever. But it is proof that there is consumer interest, and people are buying the Surfaces in fairly large numbers.