So nobody wants the crappy ones?

[dordal]

Got a base-model 14" M1 Macbook Pro the day after launch from the Apple Store. Very happy -- I think this may be the best laptop Apple has ever made.

But what amazes me is that, at least here in the Bay Area, almost every Apple Store still has the base model 14" and 16" in stock, but is sold out of the upgraded spec models. I did the homework, and at least for most people, with this release there's minimal benefit to the upgraded models.

On the 14", you get two more cores, and a bigger SSD. The computer is '20% faster', yes; but that's only if you're running massively parallel workloads, which most normal people definitely aren't day to day. And the SSD is helpful, but most normal people I know don't even have 512GB of stuff.

On the 16", you get the M1 Max on the upgrade, but unless you're doing a lot of video work or playing a lot of games, the extra 16 cores on the GPU and the extra ProRes hardware isn't going to do much for you. The 32GB might be more valuable but that's an edge case you're paying a lot more money for.

Of course, this could just be a vagary of Apple's supply chain, but very surprised there's so much supply of the base models and so little of the upgraded models.

 

[JPack]

That's like saying, no one wants iPhone 13 because they're in stock. The vast majority of consumers will be buying the base model and that's what Apple tends to stock.

 

[Nismo73]

I would say that the people who would buy these would really like at least 1tb of storage for their work.

 

[bdawwg]

Apple's marketing and price bracketing is professional AF. They know how to sell potential and price their configurations to encourage rationalizing upgrades. Just 10% more turns to 50% more before you know it.

It's questionable whether people generally know how much power they need. It's also about power they could potentially need if they do all the cool things youtube reviewers talk about. It's like that in any hobby/profession. New/intermediate people will ask if they should upgrade their tools to get performance gains. From what I see often though, the answer is no you don't need more bells and whistles because the machine isn't the limiting factor, it's the skill level of the user.

On the other hand, nice things are nice for anyone. Rendering things 50-100% faster can be benefit for anyone.

But it's also possible they made/could make less of the high end ones. Figure, Apple is new at making chips, they could've screwed up and binned a lot.

 

[cababah]

To each their own - the base 14" is more than enough for me but I can see some users needing more RAM/SSD...

 

[alexe]

You're missing the point of these machines, aren't you?

The target group for these is not "most normal people". It's professionals. And for professionals, those extra 20% performance may matter. In fact, for most people I know, they do. Compile code 20% faster, waste 20% less time. Process videos 20% faster. Be able to work on 20% larger audio projects before you get system overload errors. And for many professionals, 512 GB of storage is not enough. It's more like a joke. I work in music and I need the most CPU, most memory, and most storage I can get. All the music software I use including sample libraries is almost 2 TB alone. One minute of 4K, 30 FPS ProRes video is 6 GB. If you work in audio or video, storage fills up faaaaast.

To me it seems more like there are a bunch of people buying these machines who really don't actually need them and should rather just buy a MacBook Air instead, which is already crazy powerful for "normal people" and a lot cheaper.

 

[JPack]

The vast majority of professionals buying mobile workstations get 16/512.

If you look at Dell Precision or ThinkPad P-series, most of the ready-to-ship models are 16/512. Neither Dell nor Lenovo are stupid when they stock those machines.

As you move up the ladder, you have fewer and fewer people needing that higher performance.

 

[flapflapflap]

No issues getting my hands on the base-model 14/16 in my area.

To each their own - the base 14" is more than enough for me but I can see some users needing more RAM/SSD...

I always get the base-models because I like to upgrade every other year or so. So far both base-models of the 14 or 16 are over-kill for me. Will be more than happy with whatever I choose

 

[Bearxor]

For me, I need the Max. I need the ability to drive four monitors simultaneously.

If the Pro had the ability to drive four external monitors I’d be right there with you. The Max is overkill for me but has the only feature I consider a must have.

 

[pst23]

I don't think anyone of these $2000+ computers are crappy.

 

[cababah]

I don't think anyone of these $2000+ computers are crappy.

Agreed - it's like saying the entry level Porsche is a "crappy car" ?

 

[pi=e=3]

I would say that the people who would buy these would really like at least 1tb of storage for their work.

Very true.

I initially ordered a 16" base on announce... Then realized wait, that was stupid, for $150 CAD more I could have gotten 1TB, which would have been a better choice (in addition to 2x the storage, usually 512GB SSD's are slower vs 1TB due to chip arrangement).

I returned the base, and now I'm typing this from a Max, lol. I figured screw it, I can afford it, I want it, why not.

 

[Merkava_4]

I thought this thread was going to be about the old Intel based MBPs. ?

 

[dordal]

Agreed - it's like saying the entry level Porsche is a "crappy car" ?

Haha, so true.

Interestingly, at least one YouTuber has actually gone and said 'just buy the base model'.

I do wonder how many people buying these machines are not true professionals who need the power. Dad bought one, and he's definitely not -- retired and going to be doing email and surfing the web. 14", 32GB, 1TB. But he wanted the hot new thing, and didn't want the 'base model'. Brother bought one -- fully loaded. 16", Max, 8TB, 64GB.

@bdawwg I agree Apple's price bracketing is phenomenally good. Every time I buy a new Mac, I seem to spend hours trying to decide what to do. It's always just 'a little bit more money' seems so worth it.

 

[marmiteturkey]

I would be willing to bet that Apple have made far more of the base model than any other, and that it’s not that they are unwanted, just that supply is keeping up with demand for that particular model.

 

[bluegt]

Very true.

I initially ordered a 16" base on announce... Then realized wait, that was stupid, for $150 CAD more I could have gotten 1TB, which would have been a better choice (in addition to 2x the storage, usually 512GB SSD's are slower vs 1TB due to chip arrangement).

I returned the base, and now I'm typing this from a Max, lol. I figured screw it, I can afford it, I want it, why not.

Any datapoints on your faster SSD argument?

 

[Arctic Moose]

I would have purchased a MacBook Air a year ago, if only it had been possible to buy with a 4 TB SSD. This is also the reason a base model MBP won’t work for me.

 

[roundski]

From the few youtube videos I’ve seen its starting to look like the the base binned 14” MacBook Pro is the best bang for the buck, … until the M2 comes out.

 

[cababah]

From the few youtube videos I’ve seen its starting to look like the the base binned 14” MacBook Pro is the best bang for the buck, … until the M2 comes out.

also the easiest to find in stores!

 

[waquzy]

I got the 14” base(peasant)version as well, picking it up today after work. It’s all I need and frankly all I can afford! Also 0% interest free credit was the deciding factor!

 

[BJonson]

You're missing the point of these machines, aren't you?

The target group for these is not "most normal people". It's professionals. And for professionals, those extra 20% performance may matter. In fact, for most people I know, they do. Compile code 20% faster, waste 20% less time. Process videos 20% faster. Be able to work on 20% larger audio projects before you get system overload errors. And for many professionals, 512 GB of storage is not enough. It's more like a joke. I work in music and I need the most CPU, most memory, and most storage I can get. All the music software I use including sample libraries is almost 2 TB alone. One minute of 4K, 30 FPS ProRes video is 6 GB. If you work in audio or video, storage fills up faaaaast.

To me it seems more like there are a bunch of people buying these machines who really don't actually need them and should rather just buy a MacBook Air instead, which is already crazy powerful for "normal people" and a lot cheaper.

Just stop. Nobody is professional anymore. If you make the fans come on you are a professional. You can never have enough power.

 

[yitwail]

To me it seems more like there are a bunch of people buying these machines who really don't actually need them and should rather just buy a MacBook Air instead, which is already crazy powerful for "normal people" and a lot cheaper.

I agree to a point but non-professionals can benefit from 14” mini LED 120hz screen, 6 speakers, MagSafe adapter, hdmi/sd card, etc. So they shouldn’t be chastised for buying a base 14” model. Or tell them to wait until the new MacBook Air is revealed before purchasing anything. Because if the 2022 MBA is as much of an upgrade as the 2021 MBP, then anyone who buys MBA now might regret that next year.

 

[pi=e=3]

Any datapoints on your faster SSD argument?

Yes, just go look at any review or benchmarks of a family of SSD’s. This is somewhat common knowledge. In general more NAND chips = better performance. 512GB is usually a single chip these days, where as 1TB and 2TB are usually 2.

WD Black SN850 M.2 NVMe SSD Review: Top-Tier Storage for Gamers and Pros (Updated)

With WD’s Black SN850 now in the lab, we will see if it really is ideal for those looking for fast, consistent storage.

www.tomshardware.com

Here’s a review of a family of SN850’s.

The 512GB has 1.2GB/s slower sequential write vs the 1 and 2 TB models. Also decently lower IOPS.

Here’s the 980 Pro:

Samsung 980 Pro M.2 NVMe SSD Review: Redefining Gen4 Performance (Updated)

Powered by a new 8nm NVMe SSD controller and the company’s V6 V-NAND.

www.tomshardware.com

The 512GB is much less gimped here (mostly just lower IOPS) as a 256GB model exits (which is HEAVILY gimped), so the 512 is using 2x256GB NAND. That’s not common though.

 

[teerexx52]

I have the base model. Completely happy with it. Why pay for more than you need.

 

[cababah]

I have the base model. Completely happy with it. Why pay for more than you need.

The simple answer to that is “future proofing.” However, I don’t really see this being an issue with any Mx chips…maybe the RAM.

I got a base 14 myself and am happy with it. It had the future proofed parts I cared about in a laptop (120Hz display and better webcam).