For web browsing, and essay writing it's probably fine. Any non IT related degrees, it will be fine probably. Apple Intelligence is a myth anyway.
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Upcoming Budget MacBook Seen Within Apple as 'Incredible Value'
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So you want to see your keys? That will be £300 extra
The point is, most consumers don't do and need much more then what they do on their phones. It's a low spec iPad with keyboard that can run macOS. Not more.
bollman
macrumors 6502a
If they really want to push the "incredible value" it really needs to cheap, really cheap. A $200 lower price than MBA is not enough, used devices is a thing.
If all these compromises are real, it should more or less be the same as the base iPad.
If all these compromises are real, it should more or less be the same as the base iPad.
wanha
macrumors 68030
macOS quality has slid quite a lot, but every time I have to use Windows on my wife's PC I feel I am trapped in a hellish alternate universe. In my experience, the UX gap between the two is still HUGE.
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BreuerEditor
macrumors 6502
This would be a fantastic video playback machine for our live production team. Even handling ATEM switching vs our MacBook Pro. I can definitely see how this would be useful for my business. It definitely won’t be worthwhile for everyone especially if they do any sort of power using, but I think there will be a lot of use cases for something like this.
Ah yes, the slow processor.
The snail of a chip that… checks notes… has a similar single core score as the M4 and similar multicore and graphics scores as the M2.
How slow and inadequate…
/S
Starting at $699.99 8gb ram, 256gb storage, 1080p screen. 13-14 inch. 2 usbc, single speaker. However it comes in bright colors so who cares about specs!
From what was rumored it’s using an older iPhone processor non m series, which is weird because they documentation states a minimum of M1 8GB needed for Tahoe and no Apple Intelligence features.
From what was rumored it’s using an older iPhone processor non m series, which is weird because they documentation states a minimum of M1 8GB needed for Tahoe and no Apple Intelligence features.
LeeW
macrumors 601
People not using a MacBook is not just about price. They have a preference for windows just as many MacBook users here have a preference for macOS. A cheaper device will make some switch, hordes? Unlikely. Especially with the suggested specs.
roncron
macrumors 65816
The M4 MBA has been available for $100 below MSRP for months, and it’ll get cheaper when the M5 MBA comes out soon. The M3 and M2 MBAs should see corresponding price drops. Any of these, even a refurbished M2 MBA, could be a better option for many people than the new cheap MacBook due to its compromises.
I strongly would have preferred a revival of the 12” MacBook but with an M series chip, an extra USBC port, and the Magic Keyboard that all MacBooks have had since late 2020. Or a 12” MBA.
I strongly would have preferred a revival of the 12” MacBook but with an M series chip, an extra USBC port, and the Magic Keyboard that all MacBooks have had since late 2020. Or a 12” MBA.
DailySlow
macrumors 65816
I can hardly believe that they would leave out such an important detail. Everything else is fine or can be replaced (SSD), but something like this? I had my last notebook without one over 15 years ago!
How much would it cost Apple to install it? Ten dollars?
Everything I’m reading says MacBook Airs start at $999 but I thought officially speaking Walmart carries a $699 model now?
Also, street prices for MacBook Airs have always been $750-$800 regularly on sales that are repeated all year long.
This will need be $499 or so to really move the needle. $599 regularly on sale $99 off or something otherwise people won’t care.
Also, street prices for MacBook Airs have always been $750-$800 regularly on sales that are repeated all year long.
This will need be $499 or so to really move the needle. $599 regularly on sale $99 off or something otherwise people won’t care.
Spinarelo
macrumors 6502
Oh yeah…. But I bet your Lenovo doesn’t have a little Apple logo on the back! That’s easily worth an additional $250-$300 and boosts not only your performance but your self esteem and your standing in society
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if its like $599 sure, anything more than like 650 and it's just a nahhhh
Internally at Apple, the rumored low-end MacBook is being described as "incredible value," so much so that the company believes its imminent launch is going to drive a serious number of switchers from Windows machines and Chromebooks, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Writing in his Power On newsletter over the weekend, Gurman says that Apple believes the device "could even compel iPhone users without computers to buy their first Mac."
We don't yet have an official price for the machine, but the MacBook Air starts at $999, so the upcoming low-cost MacBook is expected to be significantly cheaper. Apple is unlikely to price it so low that it overlaps too closely with the iPad lineup, though. The entry-level iPad with the A16 chip starts at $349, while the iPad Air with the M2 chip begins at $599.
A price in the $599 to $799 range would position the new MacBook above the iPad Air, but below the MacBook Air and iPad Pro, maintaining clear separation across product lines. At $599, the device would compete directly with many popular Chromebooks commonly purchased for education, while pricing at $699 or $799 would place it in a similar segment, but with a more premium positioning.
Apple is expected to make several hardware compromises to reach the lower price point. According to one leaker, the new MacBook's display may be dimmer than the MacBook Air's 500 nits and lack True Tone support. Storage options are also likely be limited to 256GB and 512GB, with a possible 128GB configuration for education customers, and there will be no 1TB or 2TB tiers. The base model may also use a slower SSD, potentially due to a single NAND chip. Additional cuts could include no fast charging, no backlit keyboard, and no support for high-impedance headphones. Meanwhile on the connectivity side, it reportedly will not include Apple's custom N1 wireless chip, instead relying on a MediaTek solution.
We shouldn't have to wait too long to learn how accurate those leaks are. Rumors suggest that the low-cost MacBook will be introduced at or just before Apple's March 4 Special Experience that's taking place in New York, London, and Shanghai. However, Apple could announce the MacBook in a press release ahead of the experience – and even as soon as today.
Apple is said to have tested a range of playful color options for the device, including light yellow, light green, blue, pink, classic silver, and dark gray, although Gurman says it's unlikely all of them will ship.
Article Link: Upcoming Budget MacBook Seen Within Apple as 'Incredible Value'
When people throw out the “you can just buy used” argument, it really shows me that they do not understand the market that this is targeted at.
This computer is for people who walk into Best Buy, target or Walmart and are usually going to plunk down $500 for some bright plastic HP or Dell laptop. They don’t care about RAM, most of the time they barely even know anything about storage, they just want a computer for under $1000 that can be insured and that will last them 5 to 7 years, and is pretty.
They aren’t willing to spend over $1000 on a new MacBook, and they *most certainly* are not willing to start deal hunting in the used market.
Now, Apple will have an option for them, especially during the holiday season when it goes on sale. This thing is going to be huge.
WarmWinterHat
Suspended
Wal-Mart doesn't carry that model anymore. It went out of production, or they ran out of new-old stock.
code-m
Suspended
Would be cheaper just to permit macOS to run on the iPad line and that way people who want the keyboard cover will buy that as well, additional sales for Apple. Nah let’s just release another Mac laptop with base ipad specs, throw in a keyboard and trackpad some colours and price it at iPad Air range. 🙄
Thank you. I wasn’t aware it was a temporary type of thing. So that opens up a little room for them I suppose.
I can see $599 MSRP with annual sales around $450-$500 that would move decent numbers.
It’s rare, for sure! The first $320 iPad you could get for sale around $299 was pretty crazy when it came out.
code-m
Suspended
Problem is with prices going up for CPU, RAM and storage the prices of those once budget or low cost laptops may it be windows or Chromebook will be within the same price as those rumoured device and price point.
The A18 benchmarks higher than the M1.
Plus, not sure why people still think there is this big distinction, the “A” chips used in iPhones are the exact same foundation as the M chips. Less cores and I/O, but fundamentally the same.
The M1 is in all ways just an A14X, the M2 just an A15X, etc.
