I'm sure the 2008 and 2012 MacBook Pros were quite expensive for their time too. People have just forgotten how much new tech costs because it's been too long for them.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is available with a 2.5 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.1 GHz, 8GB of memory and 128GB of flash storage starting at $1,699 (US); and with 256GB of flash storage starting at $1,999 (US).
There was an article on another Mac site that suggested computers in general were priced higher to offset lower volumes.
This because less and less people are buying desktops/computers but buying smart phones instead.
Issue with that is wages haven't increased really from 2008/2012Not just inflation. But also research and development. This isn't just a spec bump, which is what a lot of people seem to be treating it as. As much as the new MacBook Pros share with their predecessors cosmetically, the new models are completely redesigned. The form factor is different, the trackpad larger, the keyboard uses a different mechanism, and hinges are all-new, et cetera.
I'm sure the 2008 and 2012 MacBook Pros were quite expensive for their time too. People have just forgotten how much new tech costs because it's been too long for them. I'm sure the cost for components like the CPU, RAM, and SSD aren't that much more for Apple over the last-gen components, but new stuff like the OLED panel in the Touch Bar, the TouchID reader, all-new T1 security enclave, et cetera should add to the cost as well.
It's a combination between a better processor, r&d and OLED touch bar.Have the component parts gone up in price? I would think the component prices (SSD, GPU, etc.) have gone down or stayed the same in price over the years. Has Apple identified a new demographic they can exploit? Or perhaps, the top of line 15" MacBook have taken a huge jump in performance?
For a long time, you could get a decent performing entry level MacBook for $1200, but now that decent entry level has crept up a couple of hundred dollars. And you could get "last year's model" for under $1200.
For a long time, a top of the line 15" MacBook would cost around $2,500, or if you max'd it out completely it would be just under $3,000. Now, it's over $4,000! Some configurations of the Mac Pro cost less the new MacBook!
I used to hear people saying exactly what you're saying and dismiss them as just stupid disgruntled people that have a negative view of appleMake up for earnings reports. This is a company that uses proprietary ports for their phones so companies wishing to use it pay a massive per unit licensing fee. Not to mention the fact these dongles cost less than a buck to make over at Foxconn, yet there's a $49 premium. For a ****ing cable.
You cannot, in good faith, tell me Apple increased prices because of R&D costs, ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL THEIR HARDWARE, to make up for R&D costs. Not to mention increasing the prices of refurbished units. You've got to be kidding me. They're used hardware that's more than 2 years old. Why is that getting a price increase? This is a company that was once revolutionary and pushed PC OEMs to increase their quality. The hardware now and three years ago is vastly different. All thanks to Apple putting the pressure on.
The question remains is how much visionary was Steve Jobs. A company is the sum of its parts. Most of the parts are still in tact.I am reminded of this quote by Steve Jobs from the Isaacson bio:
Cool. How about next year Apple changes nothing then and then starts the price off as $1200 MORE than what it is right now because now a 2tb ssd is standard. Then you can come in and say "well last year it was a built to order option at the same price. So you see. They didn't increase the price at all really! Kinda"Exactly, people are just forgetful and have selective memory. It's like they're not even realizing that the models this year have 256gb SSD's as the base storage which used to be a $200-$300 upgrade. Either that or their spoiled and simply complaining for the sake of complaining.
Lets look at the price of the 13-inch MacBook Pro back in 2012 with the 256gb SSD version shall we?
https://www.apple.com/pr/library/20...-13-inch-MacBook-Pro-with-Retina-Display.html
Not so expensive now eh?
***this post applies to people in the U.S.A. only as I'm not getting into the whole Brexit / VAT / exchange rate argument.
These prices are really unprecedentedly high. I am curious to see how well they sell a quarter from now. I think apple may have priced them so high that consumers are simply not going to buy it. Apple has crossed a line this time. I don't think many people can simply afford these laptops. Looks like a Cartier ring. Many want, few can afford.
Yep... it's a perfect example of a free-market economy. They sell high quality, well designed products and charge a high price because there are plenty of people interested in paying it. High end Car companies, and watch makers, and clothing manufacturers, and dozens of other industries do the same... Would you really do differently if you ran a similar company? Their "greed" is no different than the "greed" of consumers who express indignation and demand the same product for a lesser price... we're not entitled to have these products, after all. They're not basic necessities like water and electricity. If you think a Bently is overpriced, just buy a Honda or a Chrysler instead...I used to hear people saying exactly what you're saying and dismiss them as just stupid disgruntled people that have a negative view of apple
...now I believe every word you said. This is pure profit. Nothing else. Not inflation. Not cost to accommodate new tech. Nope. Just "I want money. You're gonna pay it. I know it"
You mean that $3000 desktop filled with legacy tech that MSFT released isn't MSFT shipping junk? It was interesting to see MSFT releasing an all-in-one but Apple has had those specs in their all-in-one for a year already and for half the cost.tim nods! The problem is that nowadays, competition is not shipping so much junk.
Apple is going to drop the price in six months just like they did in 2012.These prices are really unprecedentedly high. I am curious to see how well they sell a quarter from now. I think apple may have priced them so high that consumers are simply not going to buy it. Apple has crossed a line this time. I don't think many people can simply afford these laptops. Looks like a Cartier ring. Many want, few can afford.
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I also fully agree. Apple needs better stock performance and a huge increase in selling price is going to help their stock. The pure profit they are making is an extra $200-500 on average per laptop. If they moved half to 1/3 of their usual volume they will still break even. I think they are counting on being able to sell 55% of their usual volume at these prices. I can't imagine these notebooks will sell in the volumes that apple is used to. Crazy high prices
Good point as the new 13" MBP at $2k gets you 512GB of SSD storage. But 4 years later I would think/feel SSD prices would go down even further than just getting us double the storage (512 vs 256). After 4 years, 1TB feels more like it. Then again, the new MBP has Touch Bar, so I suppose the pricing of the new MBP isn't out of the ordinary for Apple.Exactly, people are just forgetful and have selective memory. It's like they're not even realizing that the models this year have 256gb SSD's as the base storage which used to be a $200-$300 upgrade. Either that or their spoiled and simply complaining for the sake of complaining.
Lets look at the price of the 13-inch MacBook Pro back in 2012 with the 256gb SSD version shall we?
https://www.apple.com/pr/library/20...-13-inch-MacBook-Pro-with-Retina-Display.html
Not so expensive now eh?
***this post applies to people in the U.S.A. only as I'm not getting into the whole Brexit / VAT / exchange rate argument.
You mean that $3000 desktop filled with legacy tech that MSFT released isn't MSFT shipping junk? It was interesting to see MSFT releasing an all-in-one but Apple has had those specs in their all-in-one for a year already and for half the cost.
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Apple is going to drop the price in six months just like they did in 2012.
Good point as the new 13" MBP at $2k gets you 512GB of SSD storage. But 4 years later I would think/feel SSD prices would go down even further than just getting us double the storage (512 vs 256). After 4 years, 1TB feels more like it. Then again, the new MBP has Touch Bar, so I suppose the pricing of the new MBP isn't out of the ordinary for Apple.
But somehow this time it feels like Apple took an extra jump in price, even though your example shows it's more of the same. Maybe because the top of the line 15" is now $4,300 which is shocking to me. Are the specs of that top of the line 15" like a high end custom gaming laptop. Does it perform in the league of the entry level 2013 Mac Pro (black trash can)?
Cool. How about next year Apple changes nothing then and then starts the price off as $1200 MORE than what it is right now because now a 2tb ssd is standard. Then you can come in and say "well last year it was a built to order option at the same price. So you see. They didn't increase the price at all really! Kinda"
And there was no R&D on the previous generation?I think it's pretty obvious. $200 was added to recoup the costs of R&D. $300 was added for the Touch Bar (plus the Apple Watch chip that powers it).
Prices will come down by about $200 over the next couple refreshes.
And there was no R&D on the previous generation?
Still that doesn't justify a cost of $3000 starting. Having a touch display and a better graphics chip doesn't justify the machine being double the price of a comparable iMac. Sorry, I burst your bubble and made so much sense that you had to start name calling. If I'm a shill I'm terrible at it because I've also criticized Apple in previous threads over the price of the new MacBook Pros and questioned various other decisions they've made previously.Put down the shill pill. No Apple desktop or laptop has a touchscreen, none of them use Nvidia chipsets, and the 980m crushes the 395m
I hate big keyboards with way too much travel. I am a light touch person. I don't rest my wrists on the keyboard. I also don't appreciate the noise generated by keyboards with lots of travel. We had a guy at work you used them and everyone in the office was annoyed by his use of the high travel keyboard and would say so when he wasn't around.You people arguing that a touch bar is worth a $300-$500 price increase are hilarious considering I got a:
Alienware 13 r2
8gb ram (Now 16)
256gb pm951 pcie-ssd (Which tbh I changed to a Samsung 950 pro)
i5-6200u
960m
2560x1440 OLED touchscreen
For around $1200. That's right, an entire high res oled touchscreen.
Oh and this keyboard is bigger and far better then my old macbooks. I can actually type pretty fast on it.
Still that doesn't justify a cost of $3000 starting. Having a touch display and a better graphics chip doesn't justify the machine being double the price of a comparable iMac. Sorry, I burst your bubble and made so much sense that you had to start name calling. If I'm a shill I'm terrible at it because I've also criticized Apple in previous threads over the price of the new MacBook Pros and questioned various other decisions they've made previously.
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I hate big keyboards with way too much travel. I am a light touch person. I don't rest my wrists on the keyboard. I also don't appreciate the noise generated by keyboards with lots of travel. We had a guy at work you used them and everyone in the office was annoyed by his use of the high travel keyboard and would say so when he wasn't around.
Everyone who I know that owns a touch display laptop or desktop has admitted they simply don't use it that way. When I myself had a touchscreen HP desktop and a Surface I also never used the touch display. I'm trying to do work with my laptop not play games in my moms basement. I don't need features tacked on just to check off a box on a spec sheet that I'm never going to use.
We are in agreement that the price is steep for the new MacBook Pros though. However, I suspect that once the R&D is recouped the price on them will go down on MacBook Pros. I say 6 months from now the current MacBooks will drop in price by $200 bucks.
Exactly, people are just forgetful and have selective memory. It's like they're not even realizing that the models this year have 256gb SSD's as the base storage which used to be a $200-$300 upgrade. Either that or their spoiled and simply complaining for the sake of complaining.