White MacBook Not Dead Yet: Still Available for Educational Institutions

[MacRumors]

Contrary to initial impressions, the white MacBook has not been discontinued entirely, as Apple has announced to resellers that it will continue making it available only to educational institutions. Note that this is for institutional purchases only and the MacBook will not be available to individuals purchasing through Apple's education channels.

MacBook (MC516) is now Available for Education Institutions Only. All backlog for channel and non direct education institution customers should be cancelled effective today July 20th.

The MacBook (MC516) will be available to all channel partners via the Apple On-line Reseller stores and is now intended to be sold out only to education institutions.

This is certainly not the first time that Apple has maintained a product specifically for educational institutions, as the company has long offered products such as special low-end iMac models to its institutional customers.

The MacBook has been popular with educational institutions for its low price and solid plastic construction able to stand up to the rigors of day-to-day classroom use. Consequently, it makes sense for Apple to continue offering the model to those select customers. The move also explains yesterdays rumor of Apple "phasing out" the MacBook with production set to continue at least into next month as Apple repositions the machine for the much smaller educational institution market.

Article Link: White MacBook Not Dead Yet: Still Available for Educational Institutions

 

[macadam212]

Yeah they did that with the eMac too for a while.

 

[dustinsc]

That's good to hear. Before they kill it off entirely, they need a better budget replacement. The 11" Air does not count.

 

[winston1236]

Yea they are selling of the rest of the stock, hopefully they will introduce an entirely new replacement the air is too weak to compare

 

[S.Jobs]

smart move. my high school had a lot of those

 

[tommy060289]

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'solid plastic construction'

Is this a MacBook I don't know about? My 2008 MB was a brittle piece of junk! Long life the aluminium unibody!

 

[Torrijos]

Just like they did with the e-Macs...

They'll go at the end of the education purchase window.

 

[FroMann]

You can also buy one refurbished.

 

[wordoflife]

I think that was a bad move. The MacBook has a few advantages over the Air for the same price.

 

[justinfreid]

Sort of glad to see it go, frankly. The vestigial white plastic shell has looked out of place in the Apple lineup for some time.

I think it makes sense to keep it for educational use only, and largely out of sight.

 

[mungo2k]

Bizarrely, they're selling it at an inflated price (£931 in the UK compared to £859 for the basic MacBook Pro). I can't think of a reason why anyone who was concentrating would buy one of these anymore.

But then, the educational store is still selling ancient 2.0GHz C2D 20" iMacs for some reason too, so I guess some people just click without thinking...

 

[blackburn]

Now instead of collectors edition you've got cheap ass edition. Yay

 

[rdowns]

Yeah they did that with the eMac too for a while.

Maybe my memory is faulty but I remember the eMac being educational only and Apple releasing it to consumers after complaints. Am I nuts?

 

[ziggyonice]

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'solid plastic construction'

Is this a MacBook I don't know about? My 2008 MB was a brittle piece of junk! Long life the aluminium unibody!

Apparently you missed the MacBook's redesign when it became unibody plastic. Much better than the original design (which had the infamous 'cracking' issue).

 

[theelysium]

Thank God! I am a tech in a very large school district. The white MacBook is the best fit for a portable computer. I was freaked when I read they were going to discontinue it.


They should just call it the eBook!

 

[J400uk]

Maybe my memory is faulty but I remember the eMac being educational only and Apple releasing it to consumers after complaints. Am I nuts?

I think that's what the E stood for

 

[LoadStar]

Maybe my memory is faulty but I remember the eMac being educational only and Apple releasing it to consumers after complaints. Am I nuts?

The eMac started out as an education only. Wide customer demand then prompted them to sell to consumers. Near the end, it became education only again.

Apple has done something similar with the iMac on a regular basis; they continued to sell a basic model of the white iMac to education, while the rest of the product line went aluminum.

 

[Doctor Q]

We still have eMacs at school but it worries me when the school buys Macs that are obsolete through other channels. Macs last a long time so I'm concerned about support down the road, for example if we need replacement parts.

 

[zephonic]

LOL, the white Macbook turns out to be the CrownVic of computers!

Fleet sales only!

 

[BC2009]

I'm not dead..... I'm getting better.

 

[aafuss1]

Hope these will ship with Lion-Apple's store for education institutions says these still ship with 10.6.

 

[iSayuSay]

Yeah they did that with the eMac too for a while.

True .. and the keyword here is "for a while"

 

[VincentOng]

I don't think anyone will buy the antique macbook anymore

 

[AznTakumi]

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How would I buy one?