Remember the days when the 12" PowerBook couldn't even beat the iBook in performance? Nothing "Power" about that. The rebrand makes perfect sense and Apple is completely justified in giving it the title.
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The MBP brand has been tarnished.
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Ahh the beauty of materialism/consumerism at work! You know back in the day, say almost 5 years ago, I went out to buy a new mac, and ended up with a 14" G4 iBook, which lasted me up until 2 weeks ago...I only spend $1700 with AppleCare, and while at the time I really wanted to upgrade to the powerbook, I just couldn't afford it.
In the end, you know what happened? I dealt with it, and pushed myself, and pushed the iBook to the very edge of what it could handle, and you know what? I got a $1700 computer to last 5 years! I'm extremely happy by that fact! Who cares how much you spend on the computer?
Besides, I bought one before WWDC, so I'm still in the "Cool" club according to the OP...
Join the revolution...don't buy things to be "cool"...just be "cool"!
In the end, you know what happened? I dealt with it, and pushed myself, and pushed the iBook to the very edge of what it could handle, and you know what? I got a $1700 computer to last 5 years! I'm extremely happy by that fact! Who cares how much you spend on the computer?
Besides, I bought one before WWDC, so I'm still in the "Cool" club according to the OP...
Join the revolution...don't buy things to be "cool"...just be "cool"!
The problem is not that Macs are more affordable or that I want to pay more for the sake of paying more. The point is that I want to be able to buy a Mac that is the best of the best.
The way it works is that you provide a different experience depending on price point. Car analogies are cliché but they work: BMW has the 1-Series and the 7-Series. They are both made by BMW and share some of the essence of the brand. However, there are countless differences that make the experience better for the customer who paid more. The trim feels different, the sound the doors make when they close is different, the quality of the buttons on the console is higher, it just feels expensive because it is expensive.
What the Macbook Pro should be: Excellent build quality (Apple has been cutting costs everywhere), Quadro graphics card (no Quadro option is a really bad joke on Apple's "Pro" lineup), a matte screen option, the classic keyboard, ExpressCard slot, eSATA, a great sound card, and priority AppleCare service. Truly the best of the best in hardware and experience.
In their attempt to make the MBP more affordable Apple has crippled the truly high end Pro notebooks.
The way it works is that you provide a different experience depending on price point. Car analogies are cliché but they work: BMW has the 1-Series and the 7-Series. They are both made by BMW and share some of the essence of the brand. However, there are countless differences that make the experience better for the customer who paid more. The trim feels different, the sound the doors make when they close is different, the quality of the buttons on the console is higher, it just feels expensive because it is expensive.
What the Macbook Pro should be: Excellent build quality (Apple has been cutting costs everywhere), Quadro graphics card (no Quadro option is a really bad joke on Apple's "Pro" lineup), a matte screen option, the classic keyboard, ExpressCard slot, eSATA, a great sound card, and priority AppleCare service. Truly the best of the best in hardware and experience.
In their attempt to make the MBP more affordable Apple has crippled the truly high end Pro notebooks.
Brands exist (like everything in this world) to make MONEY! Joe Schmoe will now see that every MacBook is a "Pro", even that cheap one for $1200. If that extra 5 cents it cost to silkscreen "Pro" on the case causes Joe to to buy a computer, then Apple will be happy.
MacBook Pro is just a name chosen for marketing and sales. It doesn't diminish the 15 and 17 inchers. People who are the target market for the upper end machines know how to tell the difference.
MacBook Pro is just a name chosen for marketing and sales. It doesn't diminish the 15 and 17 inchers. People who are the target market for the upper end machines know how to tell the difference.
Haha...sorry to break it to you, but the saying goes, that the rate that technology moves, by the time it hits the store shelf it is already outdated...
I bet apple has something else up their sleeves with the name change. The white MB is not going to stick around much longer and there is not much difference between that and the 13" "MBP". I think the MB would eventually be a better more expensive version of the netbook. A 12"er for around $600.
I kind of understand what the OP is saying and using the car analogy I would say that although all Macbooks are like a BMW, that quality- and design-wise Apple no longer makes a 7-series. The best you can get these days is a 5-series (and prices are correspondingly lower).
I think Apple should break the new MacBook Pro line into MacBooks and MacBook Pros. The difference between the two is that only the top-of-the-line customization options and the more advanced interfaces (expresscard, esata, etc) will be offered in the Pro line whereas things like SD card readers will exist in the regular MacBook line.
You are too caught up with the branding.
You buy a computer for its specs and performance, not because it has "Pro" in the name. Many artists use the original MacBook's because the specs are perfect for their needs. They are professionals in their field, but that doesn't mean they need the "Pro" version of the MacBook.
That was in response to you being annoyed about the Unibody MacBook being rebranded the MacBook Pro.
I agree with the ExpressCard stuff you said. For Apple's "high-end" laptop, there isn't much that makes it "high-end" in terms of specs and connectivity.
You buy a computer for its specs and performance, not because it has "Pro" in the name. Many artists use the original MacBook's because the specs are perfect for their needs. They are professionals in their field, but that doesn't mean they need the "Pro" version of the MacBook.
That was in response to you being annoyed about the Unibody MacBook being rebranded the MacBook Pro.
I agree with the ExpressCard stuff you said. For Apple's "high-end" laptop, there isn't much that makes it "high-end" in terms of specs and connectivity.
It makes me sad when Apple fanboys complain about Apple, when all they're doing is expanding their brand to entice more customers. Surely that's only a good thing?
but i believe they always have their own reason. the objective of building up a computer is to help to softening human's work. people is not only buying things that only look cool, expensive to show off how different is your social position or rank. an affordable Mac WOULD help for those people who cant pay for 3000K getting a very high-end mac like you, especially student. i think everybody will smile after the most affordable macbook pro has announced. i dont see any bad effect.
again, we are talking about the technology. a computer value could drop evryday,every hour or evry minute.
that is my opinion.
again, we are talking about the technology. a computer value could drop evryday,every hour or evry minute.
that is my opinion.
Wow the level of whining has seemingly reached new levels. Now that apple merged the unibody MB with the MBP line people are personally insulted at this.
Its a computer, the MB inclusion with the MBP line, simplifies their marketing, streamlines their products and makes a ton of sense. The unibody MB was too close performance/features to the MBP.
I don't get people saying how its not a professional computer yet, the older polycarbonate model was used heavily by "professionals" I knew more photographers who used the MB over the MBP.
Its a computer, the MB inclusion with the MBP line, simplifies their marketing, streamlines their products and makes a ton of sense. The unibody MB was too close performance/features to the MBP.
I don't get people saying how its not a professional computer yet, the older polycarbonate model was used heavily by "professionals" I knew more photographers who used the MB over the MBP.
The reason why Apple dropped their price is due to the economy and the collapsing of the US dollar.
When christmas hits people are going to be hit hard with reality setting in when they cant afford to buy presents but scrounging for food.
Anyway, I'm surprised Apple dropped so much in the price. The unemployment is really around 16% and its heading towards 25%-30% by the end of this year and early next year.
Basically even the Chinese dropped using the US dollars, Russia already dumped the dollar and using the Ruble, and Brazil, Russia, India, China (known as B.R.I.C.) already began dumping the dollar and doing business with each other and wont accept the us bonds.
By end of the year or sometime next year, there will be hyperinflation in America and it will end up like Argentina... Get prepared people! Wake up!! Buy food! Stock up.
When christmas hits people are going to be hit hard with reality setting in when they cant afford to buy presents but scrounging for food.
Anyway, I'm surprised Apple dropped so much in the price. The unemployment is really around 16% and its heading towards 25%-30% by the end of this year and early next year.
Basically even the Chinese dropped using the US dollars, Russia already dumped the dollar and using the Ruble, and Brazil, Russia, India, China (known as B.R.I.C.) already began dumping the dollar and doing business with each other and wont accept the us bonds.
By end of the year or sometime next year, there will be hyperinflation in America and it will end up like Argentina... Get prepared people! Wake up!! Buy food! Stock up.
part of me thinks that apple is just preparing to segment the pro line. maybe we'll see a macbook ultra, etc.
In each category except the (not offered before) low end 15"s, the computers released now spank the offerings available a few days ago. They are also generally cheaper.
It is really hard to think of this as anything but a good development...
I think all that people are upset about is the fact:
1. If they owned a MB, the "new" buyers get to have something called a "pro".
or
2. If they owned a "pro", there are now lots of other people that will too, and it somehow "cheapens" their experience.
Regardless of what the notebooks are called, they now come in at a feature set and price point that is going to make a lot of people back off of the "mac tax" talk. In the coming years, Apple is going to be able to iterate these designs, and no matter which computer you have it is going to look old, be outperformed, etc. At the end of the day, a computer should be viewed as a tool.
It is really hard to think of this as anything but a good development...
I think all that people are upset about is the fact:
1. If they owned a MB, the "new" buyers get to have something called a "pro".
or
2. If they owned a "pro", there are now lots of other people that will too, and it somehow "cheapens" their experience.
Regardless of what the notebooks are called, they now come in at a feature set and price point that is going to make a lot of people back off of the "mac tax" talk. In the coming years, Apple is going to be able to iterate these designs, and no matter which computer you have it is going to look old, be outperformed, etc. At the end of the day, a computer should be viewed as a tool.
You people just don't get it do you? The OP created this thread to garner attention. Seriously, would you post something like this just to be labelled a snub?
On topic, I think Apple will be phasing out the name MacBook Pro and start a brand new line soon. Since Apple is leaning towards names that start with "i", I think the new product name will be "iSnub" or "iRich" or maybe "iForkedALotOfCashIntoThisSoReadThisNameAndWeep".
On topic, I think Apple will be phasing out the name MacBook Pro and start a brand new line soon. Since Apple is leaning towards names that start with "i", I think the new product name will be "iSnub" or "iRich" or maybe "iForkedALotOfCashIntoThisSoReadThisNameAndWeep".
Why would you care if they introduced the 13" to the line? You're not going to be using it anyway. If anything, the 15" and 17" are still the same as they were prior to WWDC (with the exception of the base 15"). If anything, it will "affect" (if that) 13" users who now think they're getting a "Pro" when it's just a rebranded MacBook.
But I could see what you're trying to get at. There's no question that when you could distinguish between a MacBook and a MacBook Pro (iBook/PowerBook), there is a difference in quality and you paid for it. But now with everything becoming mass produced, you're still kind of paying a "premium" for a line and it's quality that will potentially be going down now because everyone is buying a "Pro".
Ultimately, don't worry about what Apple is doing, just get the computer that works for you and let those who actually care about the name only do what they want.
But I could see what you're trying to get at. There's no question that when you could distinguish between a MacBook and a MacBook Pro (iBook/PowerBook), there is a difference in quality and you paid for it. But now with everything becoming mass produced, you're still kind of paying a "premium" for a line and it's quality that will potentially be going down now because everyone is buying a "Pro".
Ultimately, don't worry about what Apple is doing, just get the computer that works for you and let those who actually care about the name only do what they want.
This has to be the most elitist thread I've ever come across, OP, you seriously need to chill out, it's only a machine, nothing more...