Keep discrete for the 15" retina and integrated only for 13" retina, don't do what they did in 2009 with a low end 15" with just integrated graphics. That's dumb in my view and will not sell.
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What do you think the MacBook Pro line will look like when the Haswell update arrives
- Thread starter Yebubbleman
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I've been thinking about this too. They'll probably drop the cMBPs and retain only the rMPBs. The fact that there is only one 15" cMBP model now is the writing on the wall. Apple dropped the price on the rMBPs a few weeks ago. They'll probably drop them again when the Haswell lineup is released, I'm guessing in July or August.
Low-end 13" rMBP: $1199
High-end 13" rMBP: $1499
Low-end 15" rMBP: $1999
High-end 15" rMBP: $2399
So the 13" rMBPs move to the cMBP pricing and the 15" rMBPs won't drop quite as low as the cMBP pricing. We could also see $100 price drops on the RAM and SSD upgrades, the latter being more likely I think.
Low-end 13" rMBP: $1199
High-end 13" rMBP: $1499
Low-end 15" rMBP: $1999
High-end 15" rMBP: $2399
So the 13" rMBPs move to the cMBP pricing and the 15" rMBPs won't drop quite as low as the cMBP pricing. We could also see $100 price drops on the RAM and SSD upgrades, the latter being more likely I think.
Maybe. Honestly if the integrated graphics with Haswell are as good as they're supposed to be (with the dedicated on-chip VRAM etc.) then I wouldn't mind the option of a cheaper 15" model with the quad core CPU, big battery, and big screen but without the extra GPU.
I doubt that they will do it, but there are a lot of people out there who just want a big beautiful screen and don't really need the raw performance.
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I don't see the 13" RMBP dropping that far that fast. I think Apple has carefully been moving the 13" Air into place as the true replacement for the $1199 13" MBP. It even performs better than the 13" cMBP for what most people will use it for (web browsing, light photo work, etc.) because of the SSD.
I would expect the 13" RMBP to stay one price tier above the 13" Air going forward unless there's some sort of bigger lineup change.
You know you're probably right. I didn't realize how close my pricing was to the MBAs. I'd add probably $200 to the price I gave to the 13" rMBPs. There's definitely a lot more room for the 15" models to come down than the 13" models.
Ah, didn't know that the 4600 wasn't the only one. Well in that case, substitute my every use of "4600" for "5200". Basically, Apple is going to use one of these Haswell graphics cores and it's likely not going to be the crappier version (just as Apple didn't use the Intel HD 2500 Ivy Bridge IGP, despite using CPUs that technically had it on the die in the 2012 iMacs) and it is said that at their best, performance on Haswell graphics is near indistinguishable from GT 650M. Though I am quoting MaximumPC there.
Uh...are you not aware of how well that 2.53GHz Mid 2009 lower-end model with integrated-only graphics sold? It sold far better than the rest of that line at multiple locations (yes, I polled). If the graphics are decent enough, it would be stupid of Apple not to put out such a model for the next rev while SSD prices further come down; then in the rev thereafter, they'd revert to the 15" models all having discrete graphics, just like they did in the Mid 2010 rev. It makes perfect sense.
Yeah, though what's interesting to me is that a year-ish ago when we first debated, I think it was a much more outlandish idea. Now, it's just the way tech is trending. Oh Apple...
I'd figure that given the dropping of the higher-end stocking model, the cMBP 15" is definitely toast. Though, Apple has stated that the 13" MacBook Pro is their best selling Mac; my guess is that they'll treat that transition far more gingerly and give it a later complete discontinuation date. Just my guess though.
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its quite possible that apple uses the GT3e cores, simply because intel asked OEMs last year if theyd want that kind of feature, only apple said yes.
I think the ODD-less iMac surprised some, but perhaps it shouldn't have. I agree the 15" cMBP is going to go, which should eliminate any doubt about the 13" model's future.
Shame though, for tinkerers like myself and others here. When my old MBP died and I was forced to upgrade at short notice last year, I was disappointed that the 13" rMBP was not out; that would have been my choice. Or so I thought. I'm actually really enjoying my cMBP 13" - 16GB RAM/256+128GB SSDs all tied to a nice external monitor at work. Suits me perfectly.
What config is your 15"?
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I don't see how they could possibly have a $500 gap between models. BTO, yeah, yeah. There is just something totally off-putting with having the cheapest 15" being $1999
I reckon the 15" cMBP will be gone with Haswell.
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Buy Now! Product just updated
Last Release
February 13, 2013
Days Since Update
24 (Avg = 124)
Today is March 9, 2013 so that means that 100 days from today would be June 17, 2013.
I can wait until June 17 2013 - so the rMBP may get updated around June then, according by the buyers guide.
Recommendation
Buy Now! Product just updated
Last Release
February 13, 2013
Days Since Update
24 (Avg = 124)
Today is March 9, 2013 so that means that 100 days from today would be June 17, 2013.
I can wait until June 17 2013 - so the rMBP may get updated around June then, according by the buyers guide.
That's how the pricing used to be until a few years ago. When I got my first MBP in 2007 the cheapest 15" was $1999. Apple may want to get the low end 15" rMBP down to $1800 but it probably won't happen with Haswell. That price would probably cut into their margins more than they'd be comfortable with. I also made a second post saying I would add $200 to those 13" prices as my original guesses put them too close to the MBAs in price. This means there would only be a $300 gap, which sounds about right.
Re: The iMac, the lack of an ODD didn't surprise me much. I didn't get it, but frankly, in the case of a stationary desktop, I'd rather a third-party external 5.25" tray-load form factor optical drive than the crap Apple was putting internally anyway.
Re: The 13" cMBP, I'll agree that its days are numbered, but I think the question is how numbered are they and how much longer does it have than the 15" model. It's obvious that Apple feels like it'll be able to kill it off soon, but I don't sense quite the same readiness when it comes to the 13" model given how they've staggered this transition so far.
Yeah, the lack of tinker-ability is a real shame. Similarly, the glued battery and fixed RAM is also a shame. But so it goes. :-\
2.7GHz Quad-Core Ivy Bridge i7 (with 8MB of Cache), 8GB of RAM, 1TB 5400RPM drive (needed the capacity), 1GB of VRAM on the GeForce GT 650M, and the high-res glossy screen (with a screen protector so I can have the benefits of the glass bezel with the benefits of anti-glare). And yes, I cherish the crap out of that optical drive (I used it to install software just two days ago!) I love the hell out of it!
Really, I'm surprised that other OEMs aren't going nuts for it. It would seem to be a good deal for everyone.
I'd wager they replace the only remaining model of non-retina 15" MacBook Pro with a low-end Haswell-IGP-only 15" retina and put that in the $1799 price-point. Just as happened in 2009, many will buy it.
The Buyers guide is not to be trusted here as (a) the 13" rMBP was introduced half-way into the product cycle, which screws up the average update cycle time and (b) they're putting the rMBP seperate from the cMBP as two different products when they're not. They're both MacBook Pros and they're both a part of the same line-up. The non-retina models will be replaced by retina models eventually; this is not a separate line, and thusly it is inaccurate.
Realistically, you ought to expect rMBP updates around August.