What happened with the price?

[MacGizmo]

The entire basis of this thread is pointless. The prices are what they are. The machines are far more powerful than they've ever been, and they have better specs overall—so, they cost more. It's not likely to change because people aren't willing to buy a new computer for nothing more than a 200 mHz speed bump. The computers are so powerful now that tiny speed bumps like that aren't even a blip on the radar... but back in the day, 200 mHz was quite a large speed boost.
[doublepost=1516190663][/doublepost]

I think you're right - my mistake.

Check this out. The prices of some of the machines really surprised me.
I paid (roughly) the same amount for my Macintosh LC with a 16mhz processor, 2MB of RAM and 256k of video RAM without the 12-13" color display as I did for my current 27" iMac with maxed out specs. Good grief!!!

 

[bl11]

The entire basis of this thread is pointless. The prices are what they are. The machines are far more powerful than they've ever been, and they have better specs overall—so, they cost more.

So prices have almost doubled in just a few years and you find anyone questioning that pointless because the prices are what they are?
You do realize the whole "more powerful than ever" is always happening? When they sold for 1500 euro back in 2014, they were more powerful than ever before. So if prices double again in the next 3 years, questioning that would be pointless because prices are what they are?

This has got to be the worst response i've ever seen.

 

[burgman]

So prices have almost doubled in just a few years and you find anyone questioning that pointless because the prices are what they are?
You do realize the whole "more powerful than ever" is always happening? When they sold for 1500 euro back in 2014, they were more powerful than ever before. So if prices double again in the next 3 years, questioning that would be pointless because prices are what they are?

This has got to be the worst response i've ever seen.

You do have the choice not to buy. Lots of $300 windows laptops out there. What is the price without all of the big brother taxes in Europe including longer free warranties which of course aren’t free? Apple has suffered from having no competition and they have become lazy and arrogant in design/pricing. Many won’t leave the Mac ecosystem and pay whatever it costs and Apple knows it. Blame consumers not Apple, nobody is forced to buy new hardware.

 

[bcave098]

So basically, in 1991 you could buy a pro laptop for 2500$, in 2003 for 2199$, in 2004 1799$, 2011 1799$ and now we're suddenly back to the 1991 prices. Personal computers are supposed to go down in price over time as parts are getting cheaper, not the other way around.

Except that $2,500 in 1991 is $4,500 in 2017 dollars. Prices may appear similar but it's not that simple, as others have pointed out.

 

[leman]

So prices have almost doubled in just a few years and you find anyone questioning that pointless because the prices are what they are?

Have you been paying any attention to this thread at all? The prices certainly didn't double. And the 2014 15" MP was never 1500 euro — I don't know where you bought it or what kind of heavy discount you received, but the original price for the entry-level 2014 15" MBP was around 1999 euro in most European countries (https://everymac.com/systems/apple/...-mid-2014-retina-display-specs.html#macspecs3). Since then, the version without the dedicated GPU has been discontinued (so the entry level bar has been raised) and the euro-to-dollar purchasing power has decreased. But all that has already been said.

 

[bl11]

Have you been paying any attention to this thread at all? The prices certainly didn't double. And the 2014 15" MP was never 1500 euro — I don't know where you bought it or what kind of heavy discount you received, but the original price for the entry-level 2014 15" MBP was around 1999 euro in most European countries (https://everymac.com/systems/apple/...-mid-2014-retina-display-specs.html#macspecs3). Since then, the version without the dedicated GPU has been discontinued (so the entry level bar has been raised) and the euro-to-dollar purchasing power has decreased. But all that has already been said.

Here is a price graph. The exchange rate is 1:10 so just retract a zero.

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

Here is a price graph. The exchange rate is 1:10 so just retract a zero.

What's that a price graph of and what sources? Seems odd that the price would have so many peaks and troughs given that they normally release at a price and don't do any discounts. Sometimes a price drop half way through the life-cycle but nothing dramatic.

 

[leman]

Here is a price graph. The exchange rate is 1:10 so just retract a zero.

I have no idea where you took that graph from (what currency is that, I guess SEK?). The official prices are all on the site I linked above. In 2014, the entry MBP with dedicated GPU was SEK 23.495. In 2018, it is SEK 27.995. In 2014, SEK traded about 0.15 : 1 to USD. In 2017, it traded 0.12 : 1 to USD. That is a reduction in buying power of around 20%, which is exactly the price increase you got. So again, yes, it got more expensive, but the predictor is clearly the exchange rate.
[doublepost=1516297351][/doublepost]Generally, since I have the feeling that we are kind of missing each other here, I'll try to condense my thoughts down.

• Do I need to spend more of my hard-earned EUR or SEK or other EU currency to get a Mac? - YES
  
• Is it because Apple are such bastards and hate people in Europe? - NO
  
• Why then? - A) Because of economy (Apple sells everything in dollar equivalent, EU currencies got weaker) B) Because the entry (no dGPU) MBP has been discontinued

Hope it clears things up

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

I have no idea where you took that graph from (what currency is that, I guess SEK?). The official prices are all on the site I linked above. In 2014, the entry MBP with dedicated GPU was SEK 23.495. In 2018, it is SEK 27.995. In 2014, SEK traded about 0.15 : 1 to USD. In 2017, it traded 0.12 : 1 to USD. That is a reduction in buying power of around 20%, which is exactly the price increase you got. So again, yes, it got more expensive, but the predictor is clearly the exchange rate.

Maybe the problem is that everything has gone up in price due to worldwide economic situations. Yet nobodies salary has gone up to compensate...

 

[bl11]

I have no idea where you took that graph from (what currency is that, I guess SEK?). The official prices are all on the site I linked above. In 2014, the entry MBP with dedicated GPU was SEK 23.495. In 2018, it is SEK 27.995. In 2014, SEK traded about 0.15 : 1 to USD. In 2017, it traded 0.12 : 1 to USD. That is a reduction in buying power of around 20%, which is exactly the price increase you got. So again, yes, it got more expensive, but the predictor is clearly the exchange rate.

https://www.prisjakt.nu/produkt.php?pu=2751874
Yes, SEK.

As you can see the price was approx 1500 euros, which is why i started this thread asking what happened with the entry level price increase for the base-model (dGPU+touchbar).

 

[Queen6]

Problem is here some will literally "bend over backwards" to prove Apple is doing you a favour by pricing it's hardware at these points, equally they will never speak of improvements in manufacturing efficiency, technology savings, cost cutting, increased margins etc.

Bottom line is Apple has never offered such poor value for money. Apple has become both cheap & greedy, with the customer being very much the least of it's considerations...

Q-6

 

[leman]

Problem is here some will literally "bend over backwards" to prove Apple is doing you a favour by pricing it's hardware at these points, equally they will never speak of improvements in manufacturing efficiency, technology savings, cost cutting, increased margins etc.

I assume you are referring to me? I don't think that I ever claimed that Apple is doing anyone a favour. Simply pointing out some very obvious facts about how currency fluctuations affect pricing across the globe which really shouldn't be that difficult to grasp to a person with a basic school education. And hey, at least they are not trying to sell me a 15W CPU for $3000 like some other companies...

 

[Queen6]

I assume you are referring to me? I don't think that I ever claimed that Apple is doing anyone a favour. Simply pointing out some very obvious facts about how currency fluctuations affect pricing across the globe which really shouldn't be that difficult to grasp to a person with a basic school education. And hey, at least they are not trying to sell me a 15W CPU for $3000 like some other companies...

Am I? Bottom line is Apple is serving itself, not it's customers. some seem compelled to defend Apple at all cost? I wonder why? Apple is more than capable of producing ultra portable's midrange (current MBP) and prosumer/professional, and you yourself would benefit

Try to consider for a moment that Apple has cut off many professional users midstream, we expect more not less, advancement not thinner, thinner, thinner just for the Starbucks crowd. I want a portable Mac that performs, not crushed by the W10 alternatives, for what being thinner

FFS Apple address your professional audience, as today "Pro" with Apple equals a higher price point little else, MBP is fast becoming a JOKE...

Q-6

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

I assume you are referring to me?

Anyone that'll bite normally.

Not quite sure how the whole "New MacBooks are garbage for the 'Starbucks crew', nobody should buy and I make it my mission to tell everyone." argument comes into a discussion on price but kudos for the segue.

Still confused by this graph. Google translate seems to suggest it's an aggregated price comparison site and not directly from Apple? If so that makes sense, as there's often sales and 3rd parties often sell things for lower. OP hasn't stated where it was brought from and if any discount was used however.