Apples New MacBook Pros - the end of the Macbook Air ?
Today Apple announced the new line-up of MacBook Pro (MBP) laptops. The line has been relatively static for several years since the introduction of the Retina editions and sales have slowed..
The new line-up is thinner and lighter than the previous models and are based on Intel's 6th generation Skylake CPU. There are two sizes - 13" and 15". They also come with 4 x Thunderbolt 3 ports - so no more traditional USB.
13" models come with 8GB of RAM, Intel Iris GPU, 256 or 512GB of PCI SSD storage along with a 2560×1600 resolution screen. Pricing ranges from $1,499 to $1,999
15" models come with 16GB of RAM, AMD Radeon Pro GPU, 256 or 512GB PCI SSD along with 2880×1800 resolution screen. Pricing ranges from $2,399 to $2,799.
The big features for this refresh are Touch ID and the Touch Bar. Apple has added the T1 chipset from the iPhone to support touch ID identification to the MBP and the new Touch Bar has effectively replaced the Function Key row on the keyboard.
Touch Bar provides a context sensitive touch menu based on the app you are in. Everything from color bars to emojis to app functions can be displayed or customized and a simply touch activates them.
A lot of time was spent on Touch Bar in the presentation today and while it certainly provides a new form of interaction it is certainly still just another keyboard capability - just dynamic and context based.
What was surprisingly missing today was any new MacBook or MacBook Air models. In fact the view from many Mac watchers is that the Macbook Air line is effectively dead and that the 12" MacBook released last year or the new entry level 13" MBP sans Touch ID and Bar is it's replacement.
This also means that there is no MacBook available now under $1000 unless you are willing to buy an older model.
Like with the iPad, Apple has needed to simplify the MacBook line and this looks like this new MBP line-up is their answer.
The question now is - will it sell ? Apple has been seeing consistent drops in overall Mac sales and I'm not sure that this new line is going to dramatically change that.
The focus of the industry recently has been on Microsoft and Windows 10 along with it's full screen touch and pen support, 2-in-1 hybrid form factors and Windows Hello. And with sleek new models from HP, Dell & Lenovo - Apple may continue to see unit sales slide.
And like with iPad, the price hike may offset revenue losses from lower unit sales. But that's a loosing battle.
The reality is - you can go buy a 13", 6th gen Core I5 HD touch screen laptop from HP, Dell or Lenovo with similar RAM and Storage for $500 - $600. That's a far cry from $1,499. Sure it doesn't run MacOS, but one could argue that Windows 10 is actually much better.
Microsoft has been positioning it's Surface line (Pro, Book and now Studio) directly at Apple's product lines and at similar price points. But with touch, pen, and Windows Hello - offer more than Apple can provide.
Bottom line - Apple released new MacBook Pro models today with some models supporting Touch ID and the new Touch Bar along with updates to CPU, Graphics in a thinner lighter format. But it doesn't seem like an all out effort.
It's kind of like Apple really doesn't care about the Mac that much anymore.
The new line-up is thinner and lighter than the previous models and are based on Intel's 6th generation Skylake CPU. There are two sizes - 13" and 15". They also come with 4 x Thunderbolt 3 ports - so no more traditional USB.
13" models come with 8GB of RAM, Intel Iris GPU, 256 or 512GB of PCI SSD storage along with a 2560×1600 resolution screen. Pricing ranges from $1,499 to $1,999
15" models come with 16GB of RAM, AMD Radeon Pro GPU, 256 or 512GB PCI SSD along with 2880×1800 resolution screen. Pricing ranges from $2,399 to $2,799.
The big features for this refresh are Touch ID and the Touch Bar. Apple has added the T1 chipset from the iPhone to support touch ID identification to the MBP and the new Touch Bar has effectively replaced the Function Key row on the keyboard.
Touch Bar provides a context sensitive touch menu based on the app you are in. Everything from color bars to emojis to app functions can be displayed or customized and a simply touch activates them.
A lot of time was spent on Touch Bar in the presentation today and while it certainly provides a new form of interaction it is certainly still just another keyboard capability - just dynamic and context based.
What was surprisingly missing today was any new MacBook or MacBook Air models. In fact the view from many Mac watchers is that the Macbook Air line is effectively dead and that the 12" MacBook released last year or the new entry level 13" MBP sans Touch ID and Bar is it's replacement.
This also means that there is no MacBook available now under $1000 unless you are willing to buy an older model.
Like with the iPad, Apple has needed to simplify the MacBook line and this looks like this new MBP line-up is their answer.
The question now is - will it sell ? Apple has been seeing consistent drops in overall Mac sales and I'm not sure that this new line is going to dramatically change that.
The focus of the industry recently has been on Microsoft and Windows 10 along with it's full screen touch and pen support, 2-in-1 hybrid form factors and Windows Hello. And with sleek new models from HP, Dell & Lenovo - Apple may continue to see unit sales slide.
And like with iPad, the price hike may offset revenue losses from lower unit sales. But that's a loosing battle.
The reality is - you can go buy a 13", 6th gen Core I5 HD touch screen laptop from HP, Dell or Lenovo with similar RAM and Storage for $500 - $600. That's a far cry from $1,499. Sure it doesn't run MacOS, but one could argue that Windows 10 is actually much better.
Microsoft has been positioning it's Surface line (Pro, Book and now Studio) directly at Apple's product lines and at similar price points. But with touch, pen, and Windows Hello - offer more than Apple can provide.
Bottom line - Apple released new MacBook Pro models today with some models supporting Touch ID and the new Touch Bar along with updates to CPU, Graphics in a thinner lighter format. But it doesn't seem like an all out effort.
It's kind of like Apple really doesn't care about the Mac that much anymore.
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