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Apple to Sell Low-Cost 12-Inch and 13-inch MacBooks for $700 or Less
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That's the first thing I thought as well (Re: $700). I think $400-$500 would be a good price point, not targeting Chromebook buyers (you're not going to out-cheap a Chromebook), but low to medium end Windows laptop buyers.
Base name = low end
* Air = mid range
* Pro = high end
iPad, iPad Air, iPad Pro
(Let’s ignore the mini for now haha)
MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro
Just from the thumbnail alone you can already tell Tim Cook's internal disagreement lol.
No it's mostly price, which is how Chromebooks got popular because they're cheap as hell, especially with inflation. It's how these really bad single fan laptops keep making money because they cost roughly $500
Yeah there's gaming and some software that only works on Windows but for most consumers it just boils down to price.
Plus a Macbook SE will make the rest of the lineup look even better which will increase sales in those, just like the iPhone SE and Apple Watch SE did
I’m calling it.
A series chip + 8 GB + 128 GB/256 GB/512 GB/1 TB
It will use the same internals as the iPhone.
LCD, 2x USB-C, no MagSafe, 720p camera (basically redesigned M1 MBA with same features)
A series chip + 8 GB + 128 GB/256 GB/512 GB/1 TB
It will use the same internals as the iPhone.
LCD, 2x USB-C, no MagSafe, 720p camera (basically redesigned M1 MBA with same features)
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What are you talking about? The $599 M1 iPad Air has a display, camera, and on-screen keyboard.
"If You Don't Cannibalize Yourself, Someone Else Will"
— Steve Jobs
— Steve Jobs
I think it's the business market that will keep Windows laptops going, with or without the consumer market. Businesses buy a TON of laptops every year, and replace them every three years or so.
I have a Dell Latitude laptop for work (healthcare), and it runs quite a bit of software that is windows only, not to mention Active Directory and how it ties into all our equipment (Omnicell, etc.), it has also smartcard support. There is very little healthcare software for Mac, and it's rarely a web app for security and other reasons.
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And let's not forget that any new Apple device is a way to get the user to start ponying up for Services -- a division larger than the Mac and iPad markets combined (and probably with much fatter margins than hardware). So even if they were to barely profit from a comparatively low-cost MacBook, Apple would still be winning here.
Look at the size and growth of the Services category. It's crazy and it out-earns everything but the iPhone itself!
The CPU is the least important parameter for basic computing. An A-something would be sufficient. RAM, storage, display and connectivity is what counts for practical use.
It is clear that Jony Ive no longer has pull amongst the Apple executives.
There are some things that I've noticed over the years as an Apple user.
Steve's 2x2 grid was meant to take advantage of economies of scale and bring the company back from the brink.
Apple has been very good creating disruptions in the market with the iPod, iPhone, and AppStore. So good in fact that the company now sits on a massive cash pile.
Apple has long designed products to hit a particular price point. The price of a well equipped Mac has not changed much since the PPC days (my 12" PowerBook G4 retailed at $1799, but sold for $1399 at the edu price). When R&D costs are incurred on redesigns, the previous design stays in the lineup to maintain the low price point until some multiple of the R&D cost is recouped and then the 'new' design gets a price drop.
We now get base configurations that have lower specs than many of us would prefer because Apple knew they saturated the market at their preferred price points and held on to slightly lower spec machines to lower the starting cost to expand the market. That market has stagnated and is beginning to shrink.
In order to rejuvenate growth in the Mac line, Apple now must look to a new market segment. If they truly believe that Apple Silicon and macOS can fully take on Windows and the PC market in an era where cross-platform compatibility is at an all-time high and growing, it is the time to make that happen. In order to compete, they need a machine that will compete with the upper end of the big box store PC models that retail in the $600-$700 range. The M1 SOC has the potential to mop the floor with the competition in that market (I can't stand it when I troubleshoot those machines for friends and family).
Apple is not on the brink of bankruptcy like it was when Steve came back and simplified the business model. They are now a megacorporation. They have the resources now to expand into market segments they ignored in the past, across their product lines. Additionally by expanding into a much larger user base, they have the potential to expand services revenue by a wide margin. Again with governments railing against the AppStore, services is going to need to see substantial growth in the mid-term. Many more users will provide that growth.
I can't say that I'm thrilled Apple may be exploring the higher end entry level PC market, but it makes good business sense now, unlike in the '90s. That said, it has been a long time since I've experienced a large enough slowdown on a Mac to make me feel the need to buy a new one. An M-series Mac really is a local cluster for the types of analysis code that I used to write making the need to submit to the grid nonexistent until final production of the data for a paper is required. A $600-$700 entry level Mac would suit me just fine these days.
There are some things that I've noticed over the years as an Apple user.
Steve's 2x2 grid was meant to take advantage of economies of scale and bring the company back from the brink.
Apple has been very good creating disruptions in the market with the iPod, iPhone, and AppStore. So good in fact that the company now sits on a massive cash pile.
Apple has long designed products to hit a particular price point. The price of a well equipped Mac has not changed much since the PPC days (my 12" PowerBook G4 retailed at $1799, but sold for $1399 at the edu price). When R&D costs are incurred on redesigns, the previous design stays in the lineup to maintain the low price point until some multiple of the R&D cost is recouped and then the 'new' design gets a price drop.
We now get base configurations that have lower specs than many of us would prefer because Apple knew they saturated the market at their preferred price points and held on to slightly lower spec machines to lower the starting cost to expand the market. That market has stagnated and is beginning to shrink.
In order to rejuvenate growth in the Mac line, Apple now must look to a new market segment. If they truly believe that Apple Silicon and macOS can fully take on Windows and the PC market in an era where cross-platform compatibility is at an all-time high and growing, it is the time to make that happen. In order to compete, they need a machine that will compete with the upper end of the big box store PC models that retail in the $600-$700 range. The M1 SOC has the potential to mop the floor with the competition in that market (I can't stand it when I troubleshoot those machines for friends and family).
Apple is not on the brink of bankruptcy like it was when Steve came back and simplified the business model. They are now a megacorporation. They have the resources now to expand into market segments they ignored in the past, across their product lines. Additionally by expanding into a much larger user base, they have the potential to expand services revenue by a wide margin. Again with governments railing against the AppStore, services is going to need to see substantial growth in the mid-term. Many more users will provide that growth.
I can't say that I'm thrilled Apple may be exploring the higher end entry level PC market, but it makes good business sense now, unlike in the '90s. That said, it has been a long time since I've experienced a large enough slowdown on a Mac to make me feel the need to buy a new one. An M-series Mac really is a local cluster for the types of analysis code that I used to write making the need to submit to the grid nonexistent until final production of the data for a paper is required. A $600-$700 entry level Mac would suit me just fine these days.
I agree. I think the M2 Air is a better deal since it offers about the same specs for less money.
Unless you want or need to run Windows.
In our district devices get lost, broken, etc. so replacement costs need to be figured in as well. TOC for Chromebooks, from all the backend and admin support to the device costs, is important.
Most Windows laptops are sold to business users. On average those aren’t that price-sensitive. What’s much more important is integration with the enterprise environment, like being part of a Windows Domain and Active Directory.
Won't be the 12" I will want. How can anyone on this site be enthusiastic for this considering everyone clamoring that the M2 is trash, 256GB Storage is a joke and transfer speeds are pathetic compared to 512GB? These units will be bad for everyone except elementary/middle schoolers.
Using still a 12” MacBook 2015. Still works good for basic things as this rumored Mac would be good for.
Good idea…but Apple would have to change the business model and make their profits on volume instead of per sale.
But..an M1 12”…Humm….
That's not Apple's style. But nothing surprises me anymore.
I’m pretty sure this would replace M1 MacBook Air “SE” style aka a new machine that meets a lower price point, not an old machine selling for less.