I disagree. I think Apple completely underestimated the blowback of MacRumor forum users, who happen to be some of the least representative users in Apple's target market.I have to think they completely underestimated the blowback on dongles and thought they could save themselves money.
I'm not saying it was pure greed, but rather misreading the temperament of their customers. The slashing of the price of the dongles by apple is evidence they felt the heat and responded in a small way.
Apple discounting the dongles had ZERO to do with thinking they made a mistake, and 100% to do with thinking they could show that it wasn't about these idiotic conspiracy theories. Posters here continue to go on and on about the "money" when all you have to do is some simple math to show how nonsensical people are being about this. Let's say they sell 10 MILLION 2016 MBP's over the course of the next year, representing at least a $15 BILLION in revenue and at least $5 BILLION in profit. And let's say every single one of those users bought an Apple branded adapter (they didn't of course) @ $20 a pop. And let's say they're making 100% profit on those (they're not of course, but let's just say). So, Apple, which has over a HUNDRED BILLION dollars in the bank, and rakes in TENS of BILLIONS in profit every year, is going to jeopardize their flagship Mac to "make" $200 million on adapters. And I just gave an impossibly generous example. In reality, it's probably more like a quarter of that.
Or... maybe some of these posters will join reality and realize that Apple outsources almost all of those dongles to other suppliers because it's literally not worth their time, and they only keep that stuff around to guarantee a supply of quality adapters that anyone can walk into an Apple store and purchase... if they really want to. The reason Apple charges so much for those adapters is because they don't want to be in the dongle business... they're fine with the majority of their customers buying an adapter on Amazon for a third the cost. And if customers do want an Apple branded adapter, well they need to make it worth Apple's effort.
I've been directly involved in a lot of MacBook (MB, MBP, Air) purchases for other people, and I've literally had to explain to almost every single one of them how the extension cord works and what the purpose is of it, and half of them still didn't get it, and stuffed the whole extension cord, still attached to the power supply, into their travel bag.
I'd guess 90% of posters here (who aren't just here to ask a support question) represent 10% of the market. The other 90% of the Apple's market (including MBP's) has no freaking idea what any of you people are talking about.
The 90% has no idea what Kaby Lake is, have no idea what a Thunderbolt port does, have no idea what whether they have USB2, USB3, or USB3.1 Type C. They have no idea how much RAM they have, what CPU they have or it's speed, or even how to find out. They have little idea what AMD and Nvidia are, and though they might know it has something to do with "graphics", they probably don't know which is in their computer (or that they don't have either and are using Intel iGPU).
What percentage of Mac users know what version of macOS/OS X they're using? Maybe 50%? That's actually probably rather generous.
I'm one of the first to say that Apple has been disappointing a small but very influential core base for a while now, and I think that's really going to bite them... but that opinion is not based on the 2016 MBP.
I've been the "computer guy" for family, friends and office workplace for 30 years now - what I read here is not at all representative of "real life". It's so far from reality, that it's completely pointless to even post because everyone here in their bubble is going to continue to stay in their bubble and keep spouting the same nonsense day after day after day.
i.e., see this guy.Thi$ i$ Tim Cook$ new Apple...
It'$ funny because the people $aying buy cheap adapter$ will be the 1$t to jump down $omeone$ throat if they buy a cheap one off Amazon that does not work. Their slam will then be that the u$er should have purcha$ed authentic cable$ direct from Apple...
Next up, Apple will charge extra for the box............ The 2017 MacBook ProAir will come in a ziplock baggie but you will be able purchase a box from Apple or get a 3rd party one cheaper off Amazon. LOL
Defender$ will $ay it'$ the be$t ziplock baggie ever made!![]()