The Six Oldest Products Apple Still Sells Today

[ksnell]

This is a great idea for an article.

I think the stagnation shows their product line may have ballooned a bit out of control. Macrumors should update this quarterly or semi-annually!

 

[doctor-don]

Neither desktop model has a DVI for my Apple Cinema Display to plug into the computer. Guess I'll have to get a HDMI-to-DVI adapter.

 

[groove-agent]

Only Apple customers would pay that money for such old hardware. That's why Apple stock does so well. People will buy anything Apple despite old hardware, defective keyboards etc.

IMO all are still relevant and all sell fairly well for not being refreshed.

[doublepost=1523295208][/doublepost]Gaming is such a huge part of our culture compared to decades ago. I think Apple is trying to remedy this with Metal and eGPUs, so at least there's acknowledgement here. I'd love to not have to pay a premium for a 1TB drive to dual boot Windows 10 for games. Hopefully in the near future - although if they switch to ARM, the only games you'll be playing is the ones already on your iPhone.

Right. If you don't have the power to run high end games, then nobody will make those games.
On the other hand, give people the power to run those games, and they will do so.
It's not like Mac users don't enjoy gaming...

As for those using it as a server, it's hard to believe that they are focusing on those, as they have essentially killed the whole server line.

[doublepost=1523297272][/doublepost]Agreed.

They need to slim it down and keep the names consistent:

LAPTOPS:
Macbook (11", ARM?)
Macbook Plus (13", ARM?)
MacBook Pro (13", Intel)
MacBook Pro Plus (15", Intel)

DESKTOPS W/ SCREEN:
iMac (ARM?, 21")
iMac Plus (ARM?, 27")
iMac Pro (Intel, less expensive, 21")
iMac Pro Plus (Intel, 27")

DESKTOP W/O SCREEN:
Mac (ARM?, formerly the Mac mini)
Mac Pro (Intel)

PHONES:
iPhone (iPhone 8)
iPhone Plus (iPhone 8 Plus)
iPhone Pro (iPhone X)
iPhone Pro Plus (iPhone X Plus)

IPADS:
iPad
iPad Plus (larger screen)
iPad Pro
iPad Pro Plus (larger screen)

MONITORS (TB3):
Apple Cinema (21")
Apple Cinema Plus (27")
Apple Cinema Pro (27", speakers, isight, TB3 hub)
Apple Cinema Pro Plus (34", speakers, isight, TB3 hub)

So the nomenclature would be this:
[format] [hardware level] [screen size]

format: laptop/desktop/touchscreen (ex. MacBook, iPad, iMac)
hardware: pros have better hardware (ex. Pro)
screen size: larger or smaller screen size (ex. Plus)

Heck, if they converge iOS and MacOS, they could get rid of the MacBooks, and add keyboards to the iPads (like a Surface) to replace them - further slimming down the line.

... and at least a speed bump every year. Have a team developing each item concurrently.

Ive been saying this for years.
Im all fo a new phone every year being released. But drop the old ones. Especially those with higher models at essentially the same price point.

Remember when your choice was literally black or white with the MacBook range. If you wanted silver it was the “pro” version.

Now there is so much overlap it just gets confusing for the non tech savvy to work out what they want do they turn to the sales people who either sell them the most expensive Apple device available or even say a Win10 PC because it “looks similar” (actually heard that used in a shop once).

As for the topic on hand the big two for me is a new Airport (preferibly one that can do Layer2 masking) and Mac Mini as my old 2008 is getting a little slow as my headless home server (still works, just slower).

 

[fairuz]

In my experience, I have had hdds be about 60MB/Sec read/write.....no where near 190

Are your HDDs connected with some internal connection like SATA? I've seen 60MB/sec on very old ones only.
[doublepost=1523298473][/doublepost]

That’s why I said these should be equipped with USB-C/TB3 as well, which is what I’d use in the case of a full restore. Instead, these things are so ancient that they’re still on USB 2.

True USB 2 is crazy slow. I'd expect at least USB 3. It's not expensive.

 

[Rique]

Jobs didn’t do anything. All he did was yell at people to complete their work. Give me a break.

Remarks like this make me wish fervently for a down-vote button on this forum. I wouldn't use it often, but I sure would have in this case. But I have to give credit where its due... nice job of trolling! Well done. It worked on me.

 

[fairuz]

Jobs didn’t do anything. All he did was yell at people to complete their work. Give me a break.

Someone replaced Jobs in 1985, and look how that turned out. It takes more than yelling at people to grow a company.

 

[MoffeDK]

Earlier this week, Apple confirmed it will release an all-new Mac Pro in 2019, as a bid of reassurance to its professional customers who have waited over four years for the company's high-end workstation to be updated.

Apple still sells a handful of other major products that haven't been updated in between three and six years, however, and unlike the Mac Pro, it has remained silent about any future updates. We've outlined those products below.

AirPort Extreme

Days Since Last Major Release: June 10, 2013 / 1,758 days ago

Apple hasn't refreshed its lineup of AirPort base stations in around five to six years. The high-end AirPort Extreme and AirPort Time Capsule, which is an Extreme coupled with up to 3TB of internal storage, were last updated at WWDC 2013. The smaller AirPort Express hasn't been updated since June 2012--it still has old 802.11n Wi-Fi.

In November 2016, Bloomberg News reported that Apple ceased development of its AirPort products. In January 2018, Apple began selling the Linksys Velop mesh Wi-Fi system, but noted that "people love our AirPort products and we continue to sell them." The company hasn't commented on its AirPort products since.

Mac Pro

Days Since Last Major Release: December 18, 2013 / 1,569 days ago

The current Mac Pro was previewed at WWDC 2013, when Apple's marketing chief Phil Schiller famously quipped "can't innovate anymore, my ass!" The professional desktop became available to order in December 2013, and hasn't been updated since, beyond receiving a price cut across the line in April 2017.

Apple this week confirmed that it will release an all-new Mac Pro with a modular design in 2019. The computer will be influenced by Apple's new Pro Workflow Team, consisting of creative professionals who are experienced in areas such as visual effects, video editing, 3D animation, and music production.

Mac mini

Days Since Last Major Release: October 16, 2014 / 1,268 days ago

It's been three-and-a-half years since the Mac mini was last updated as of next week. The portable desktop is still powered by Intel's outdated fourth-generation Core processors, despite the fact that we're on the eighth generation now. It also has Thunderbolt 2 ports, nearly three years after Intel announced Thunderbolt 3.

Apple has twice said the Mac mini remains an "important" part of its product lineup, but unlike the Mac Pro, it hasn't provided a timeline for any future updates. While there has been some speculation that the Mac mini could play a role in Apple's modular Mac Pro system, the fate of the machine remains unclear.

MacBook Air

Days Since Last Major Release: March 9, 2015 / 1,124 days ago

While the base model MacBook Air was updated with a slightly faster 1.8GHz processor in June 2017, the notebook hasn't received a significant update in over three years and counting. The latest MacBook Air is powered by Intel's fifth-generation Core processors--again, we're at eight now--and still lacks a Retina display.

The prevailing assumption has long been that once Apple could manage to sell the 12-inch MacBook for $999, that it would replace the MacBook Air. That has yet to happen, however, and now there's rumors suggesting that a new and possibly even cheaper MacBook Air will be released at some point this year.

iPod touch

Days Since Last Major Release: July 15, 2015 / 996 days ago

Once updated on an annual basis like the iPhone, the iPod touch hasn't been refreshed in nearly three years. The portable media player is powered by an Apple A8 chip, which was already around 10 months old at the time, and it has an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and up to 128GB of storage.

At this point, the iPod touch is a niche product at Apple. It's also the only remaining iPod available to purchase, after Apple discontinued the iPod nano and iPod shuffle last year. However, considering the iPod touch is a gateway product to the iPhone, it's certainly possible it will eventually be updated.

iPad mini

Days Since Last Major Release: September 9, 2015 / 940 days ago

Apple introduced the iPad mini 4 at its "Hey Siri" event in September 2015, and hasn't updated it since, beyond adjusting storage and pricing in 2016 and again in 2017. Like the latest iPod touch, the tablet is powered by an Apple A8 chip and has up to 128GB of storage, the sole capacity currently sold.

Like many other products on this list, the fate of the iPad mini is unclear. One possibility is that it will be discontinued once the new 9.7-inch iPad gets slimmer bezels, which would make it closer in overall size to the 7.9-inch iPad mini. The new iPad also has a much faster A10 Fusion chip and Apple Pencil support.

Article Link: The Six Oldest Products Apple Still Sells Today

? The 64.000$ question: Has Apple become a “Ghostware” Company like microsoft was since they continue to over promise and underdeliver + terrible quality control

 

[PickUrPoison]

? The 64.000$ question: Has Apple become a “Ghostware” Company like microsoft was since they continue to over promise and underdeliver + terrible quality control

Apple has the option of keeping quiet wrt their future plans, and many times they do remain silent.

But when they do choose to pre-announce, you can assume they think the advantages of doing so outweigh the potential disadvantages.

 

[psingh01]

Gaming is such a huge part of our culture compared to decades ago. I think Apple is trying to remedy this with Metal and eGPUs, so at least there's acknowledgement here. I'd love to not have to pay a premium for a 1TB drive to dual boot Windows 10 for games. Hopefully in the near future - although if they switch to ARM, the only games you'll be playing is the ones already on your iPhone.

They should have their own game studio to develop games for the mac. Doubt it'll ever happen though. They put more effort into developing tv shows for their streaming services.

 

[BKF]

iPad Mini's are sold in significant quantities to med schools and hospital organizations. They fit perfectly inside a Dr's lab coat. Nearsighted Macrumors comments will not detract from the significance of this product in the enterprise.

I don't think people are saying the products aren't significant or useful so much as they're saying that if these products going to remain part of the Apple lineup, they should be treated as such, and specs should be updated, and they shouldn't seem to be left sitting in the backroom like an afterthought.

 

[Lerxt]

iPad Mini's are sold in significant quantities to med schools and hospital organizations. They fit perfectly inside a Dr's lab coat. Nearsighted Macrumors comments will not detract from the significance of this product in the enterprise.

That’s interesting, I didn’t realise that. The fact that it may sell 500k units to doctors in the US a year (prob much less) won’t impress Apple.

I work in the aviation industry and a colleague of mine, who is a recognised expert on the use of iPads in aviation flight decks, went to talk to Apple about being able to lock iOS versions under MDM so that flight critical apps aren’t bricked when the version updates. (It happens almost every iOS version, and each app change needs certification and checking).

So with the safety critical nature of this and a fairly large number of devices being used in flight decks world wide Apple just wasn’t interested at all. They refused to entertain iOS version control. Only recently they allowed a delay of 90 days to be applied. That is simply not enough.

Our company got rid of iPads and moved to the Surface Pro.

 

[jicon]

I bought an airport express for $140 CAD today after taxes. Reason? Well, I had an old one die, and I really like using airplay on a decent set of speakers upstairs in a room. The newer mesh technology is fine I guess, but speeds are already great enough on my Airport Extreme ac router, and I don't get drop outs warranting a need for something better. Maybe if I had fiber running to the house for internet, but 150Mbps for cable internet seems fine enough for me. Still, I wouldn't know of a relatively cheap solution to get airplay working through several speakers in the house on top of the several hundred dollars for a mesh network. Maybe Chromecast can do that sort of stuff?

 

[brunagari]

heloo i am newbie
[doublepost=1523872595][/doublepost]

• AirPort Extreme. Days Since Last Major Release: June 10, 2013 / 1,758 days ago.
• Mac Pro. Days Since Last Major Release: December 18, 2013 / 1,569 days ago.
• Mac mini. Days Since Last Major Release: October 16, 2014 / 1,268 days ago.
• MacBook Air. Days Since Last Major Release: March 9, 2015 / 1,124 days ago.
• iPod touch.

 

[jweinraub]

Totally agree. The change is apparent to me, although I know others will disagree.

Apple has more money to spend than any other company in the world. Yet, they can't churn out new Macs on a regular basis or even a semi-regular basis. Nor can they release a quality update for their MacOS. It is apparent that Apple has become a mobile phone company more than anything else, and they place the majority of their time and attention on iOS, animojis, and things of that nature. And then every 3 to 6 years they say "Oh yeah, we better try to update our Mac hardware..."

This is what perplexes me the most. Don't they use that hardware to make the newest mobile devices? Surely they must agree it is crap or they have been drinking the kool-aid too long and are completely blinded by it?

 

[hayc]

iPod touch was my first Apple device and performed many useful functions. Unfortunetly it doesn`t refreshed a long years and now it has also problems with battery.

 

[Wando64]

Jobs didn’t do anything. All he did was yell at people to complete their work. Give me a break.

I think you might have been watching too many Seve Jobs movies. I don’t know if you were around at the time of his Apple exit and successive re-entry, but if you did you didn’t pay enough attention at what happened before, during and after.

 

[loby]

Earlier this week, Apple confirmed it will release an all-new Mac Pro in 2019, as a bid of reassurance to its professional customers who have waited over four years for the company's high-end workstation to be updated.

Apple still sells a handful of other major products that haven't been updated in between three and six years, however, and unlike the Mac Pro, it has remained silent about any future updates. We've outlined those products below.

AirPort Extreme

Days Since Last Major Release: June 10, 2013 / 1,758 days ago

Apple hasn't refreshed its lineup of AirPort base stations in around five to six years. The high-end AirPort Extreme and AirPort Time Capsule, which is an Extreme coupled with up to 3TB of internal storage, were last updated at WWDC 2013. The smaller AirPort Express hasn't been updated since June 2012--it still has old 802.11n Wi-Fi.

In November 2016, Bloomberg News reported that Apple ceased development of its AirPort products. In January 2018, Apple began selling the Linksys Velop mesh Wi-Fi system, but noted that "people love our AirPort products and we continue to sell them." The company hasn't commented on its AirPort products since.

Mac Pro

Days Since Last Major Release: December 18, 2013 / 1,569 days ago

The current Mac Pro was previewed at WWDC 2013, when Apple's marketing chief Phil Schiller famously quipped "can't innovate anymore, my ass!" The professional desktop became available to order in December 2013, and hasn't been updated since, beyond receiving a price cut across the line in April 2017.

Apple this week confirmed that it will release an all-new Mac Pro with a modular design in 2019. The computer will be influenced by Apple's new Pro Workflow Team, consisting of creative professionals who are experienced in areas such as visual effects, video editing, 3D animation, and music production.

Mac mini

Days Since Last Major Release: October 16, 2014 / 1,268 days ago

It's been three-and-a-half years since the Mac mini was last updated as of next week. The portable desktop is still powered by Intel's outdated fourth-generation Core processors, despite the fact that we're on the eighth generation now. It also has Thunderbolt 2 ports, nearly three years after Intel announced Thunderbolt 3.

Apple has twice said the Mac mini remains an "important" part of its product lineup, but unlike the Mac Pro, it hasn't provided a timeline for any future updates. While there has been some speculation that the Mac mini could play a role in Apple's modular Mac Pro system, the fate of the machine remains unclear.

MacBook Air

Days Since Last Major Release: March 9, 2015 / 1,124 days ago

While the base model MacBook Air was updated with a slightly faster 1.8GHz processor in June 2017, the notebook hasn't received a significant update in over three years and counting. The latest MacBook Air is powered by Intel's fifth-generation Core processors--again, we're at eight now--and still lacks a Retina display.

The prevailing assumption has long been that once Apple could manage to sell the 12-inch MacBook for $999, that it would replace the MacBook Air. That has yet to happen, however, and now there's rumors suggesting that a new and possibly even cheaper MacBook Air will be released at some point this year.

iPod touch

Days Since Last Major Release: July 15, 2015 / 996 days ago

Once updated on an annual basis like the iPhone, the iPod touch hasn't been refreshed in nearly three years. The portable media player is powered by an Apple A8 chip, which was already around 10 months old at the time, and it has an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and up to 128GB of storage.

At this point, the iPod touch is a niche product at Apple. It's also the only remaining iPod available to purchase, after Apple discontinued the iPod nano and iPod shuffle last year. However, considering the iPod touch is a gateway product to the iPhone, it's certainly possible it will eventually be updated.

iPad mini

Days Since Last Major Release: September 9, 2015 / 940 days ago

Apple introduced the iPad mini 4 at its "Hey Siri" event in September 2015, and hasn't updated it since, beyond adjusting storage and pricing in 2016 and again in 2017. Like the latest iPod touch, the tablet is powered by an Apple A8 chip and has up to 128GB of storage, the sole capacity currently sold.

Like many other products on this list, the fate of the iPad mini is unclear. One possibility is that it will be discontinued once the new 9.7-inch iPad gets slimmer bezels, which would make it closer in overall size to the 7.9-inch iPad mini. The new iPad also has a much faster A10 Fusion chip and Apple Pencil support.

Article Link: The Six Oldest Products Apple Still Sells Today

No...the picture of the Mac mini is not the one that Apple is selling. That one in the picture is the best Mac mini that Apple has ever offered and not the current watered down offering.

The pictured Mac mini in the MacRumors article is the Mac mini 2012.

If they sold THAT one still, it would be better than the 2014...

The Mac mini 2012 had upgradeable RAM (to 16 GB) and a Quad Core...

Sorry...just a sore spot when looking at the picture. But what I say is truth nevertheless!