Mac Pro Mass Market Commercial?

[TallManNY]

I'm kind of hoping Apple runs a mass market Mac Pro commercial stressing the power of the machine and that it is made in the U.S. Conventional wisdom would say that such a commercial would be a waste of time for a high end computer with limited niche appeal. But I think it would help the Apple brand to make common consumers aware of the high end stuff that Apple is doing. Also Apple should not discount the amount of folks ready to do what would amount to a $5,000 vanity purchase to have a beautiful and beastly computer sitting on their desk. Especially if everyone around them is sufficiently informed so that the computer is not mistaken for a trash can or a vase.

 

[goodcow]

They're already running the Mac Pro WWDC teaser video during movie trailers.

 

[alphaod]

I've already seen the WWDC video on TV.

And people won't really buy the Mac Pro because it's too expensive for most people.

Well too expensive if you want the high end configurations which I'm going to buy.

 

[iSee]

As mentioned, Apple is running a Mac Pro mass market commercial.

I think it's generally for the reasons you state.

Probably #1 is for bragging rights -- Apple is showing off its stuff. Whether it leads to Mac Pro sales or not, by showing they make awesome, innovating stuff it strengthens Apple's brand and helps sell other stuff too.

#2 is probably to see if they can market a high end computer to the masses. They seem to be doing alright with iMacs that cost up to $2K - $3K so maybe they figure they should try taking it up a notch. A lot of people sure seem to spend a lot more than really necessary on cars... maybe they can be convinced to do the same with computers?

 

[deconstruct60]

They seem to be doing alright with iMacs that cost up to $2K - $3K so maybe they figure they should try taking it up a notch.

Really?

"... Apple may be preparing to release a cheaper model of the iMac in 2014, ... "
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/10/13/apple-reportedly-looking-to-launch-lower-cost-imac-in-2014/

And

" ... For its part, Apple was the only one of the top five vendors to see a year-over-year decline in shipments, falling by 2.3% to take 13.4% of the market. ... "
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/10/0...ter-as-tablets-continue-to-eat-into-pc-sales/


Apple is certainly still making gobs of money off of the Mac models. However, this notion of that there is even more price flexibility to just keep cranking prices even higher is not well motivated. Apple has a demanding task just to stick with their "constant year-to-year" pricing model; let alone push average prices even higher.

 

[iSee]

Really?

"... Apple may be preparing to release a cheaper model of the iMac in 2014, ... "
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/10/13/apple-reportedly-looking-to-launch-lower-cost-imac-in-2014/

And

" ... For its part, Apple was the only one of the top five vendors to see a year-over-year decline in shipments, falling by 2.3% to take 13.4% of the market. ... "
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/10/0...ter-as-tablets-continue-to-eat-into-pc-sales/


Apple is certainly still making gobs of money off of the Mac models. However, this notion of that there is even more price flexibility to just keep cranking prices even higher is not well motivated. Apple has a demanding task just to stick with their "constant year-to-year" pricing model; let alone push average prices even higher.

Well, sure. But those are very recent numbers. They've been doing very well relative to the market for years (without selling any low-end low margin computers). Apple does lower prices at times to keep from pricing themselves out of the market entirely. But their preferred approach to slow sales seems to be to release enticing new products that can continue to command high prices. So: lower prices on the iMac to maintain a broad market. Slide the New Mac Pro in at the high-end to reap large profits from buyers at the high-end.

 

[deconstruct60]

Well, sure. But those are very recent numbers.

Apple's numbers have been down since Q4 2012. ( that starting data was an iMac shipping SNAFU driven implosion, but Apple never recovered even after they fixed the manufacturing problems.



https://www.macrumors.com/2013/07/1...o-slide-in-2q13-as-apple-lags-overall-market/


https://www.macrumors.com/2013/04/1...-overall-pc-market-plunges-14-year-over-year/

[ relative to previous Q4' this isn't so hot. And IDC's numbers were negative. ]
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/01/14/apple-maintains-third-place-in-u-s-pc-sales-for-4q-2012/

. Apple does lower prices at times to keep from pricing themselves out of the market entirely. But their preferred approach to slow sales seems to be to release enticing new products that can continue to command high prices.

But this isn't a "new" product. It is a reboot Mac Pro ( there is a significant difference) but they recycled the name. That recycling is going to make it difficult to avoid the price anchors customers have already established for something called "Mac Pro".

 

[koban4max]

mac pro is for privilege people. It's not for noobs who likes apple products for the sake of it. Mac Pro cost 3000 at least for low-end. Either people don't have the money to buy it or it's too pricey. I think people who used apple computers for long time would know the power or potential of mac pro. For those average users or those who recently entered the mac world won't know or understand the significance of mac pro.

 

[fastlanephil]

mac pro is for privilege people. It's not for noobs who likes apple products for the sake of it. Mac Pro cost 3000 at least for low-end. Either people don't have the money to buy it or it's too pricey. I think people who used apple computers for long time would know the power or potential of mac pro. For those average users or those who recently entered the mac world won't know or understand the significance of mac pro.

The Mac Pro is for certain pro users and maybe serious prosumers who work with software that will utilize the Mac Pro's features and of course anyone else who has money to burn.

 

[DPUser]

Saw the commercial on the IMAx screen for Gravity last night. Not 3-D though.

 

[koban4max]

The Mac Pro is for certain pro users and maybe serious prosumers who work with software that will utilize the Mac Pro's features and of course anyone else who has money to burn.

that could conclude to either one of the two: not knowing the potential of Mac Pro...so they spend money thinking it's awesome...
or

they think macpro is useful for certain programs...cs6 or logic, final cut...etc..

 

[handsome pete]

A lot of people sure seem to spend a lot more than really necessary on cars... maybe they can be convinced to do the same with computers?

The comparison between cars and computers is a bit absurd.

 

[DPUser]

The comparison between cars and computers is a bit absurd.

Car, Computers, Coffee, Clothing... there are multiple reasons folks buys what they buy, and one big one is status.

"I want the finest!"

"Why?"

The answer is subject to bias of which the person answering may not be aware. Reasons not typically given, but clearly factors, are insecurity, self-aggrandizement and enhancement of perceived self-worth based on association.

We continue...

"Which is the finest?"

"The most expensive one."

Someone who posts 'round here has it down, with a signature along the lines of "The stuff you own owns you." If we can't see the analogy between cars and computers, we may be falling prey to precisely this.

The New Mac Pro: Big-time status symbol. Extremely powerful and useful tool. Buyers' motivations, conscious and subconscious, will cover the range between and including these extremes.

Sorry, gotta' go... puttin' on my Gucci's and off to Starbucks in my Benz, Reteina MacBook in hand.

 

[iSee]

The comparison between cars and computers is a bit absurd.

DPUser answers this nicely...but a few more comments...

If people were purely practicle about their transportation needs, there'd be a lot more Honda Fits sold and a lot fewer BMW's or Jeeps or even Priuses. A lot of people love cars and it shows in how impractical many car buying decisions are.

In the U.S. I think that love comes out of the car culture that exploded throughout last century which coincided -- not coincidentally, IMO -- with previously almost unimaginable economic and social opportuniues. Cars == Freemdom == Opportunity == Prosperity == Cars.

But we're in an information age now. Traffic stinks. Gas is expensive and getting more so. More and more computers, not cars, are our gateways to the world. The equation is changing. More and more, Computers (and other connected devices) == Freedom == Opportunity == Prosperity. More and more people will love their devices like people used to love cars, and for the same reasons. They will love them, that is, if some company would just make ones they could possibly love. Seems like Apple is one of the only companies that even tries. (Sony does too, but haven't been doing nearly so well lately.)

These days average Joes hardly blink at spending $5K more than they really need to on a car. I think a lot of that "love" money will move from cars to computers. I mean, it already has when it comes to smart phones. I think that will trickel (and has been) into desktops as well. I have no doubt the Mac Pro will remain a niche product. But the question is whether Apple will count the units in terms of tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands or more.

 

[handsome pete]

DPUser answers this nicely...but a few more comments...

If people were purely practicle about their transportation needs, there'd be a lot more Honda Fits sold and a lot fewer BMW's or Jeeps or even Priuses. A lot of people love cars and it shows in how impractical many car buying decisions are.

Car, Computers, Coffee, Clothing... there are multiple reasons folks buys what they buy, and one big one is status.

Is still think the comparison doesn't hold up. Items like clothes, food, consumer electronics, cars, etc. are much different. You can throw laptops and all-in-one computers into that mix as well.

For this argument to make sense, then we'd have to be seeing a lot of wealthy people pointlessly buying current Mac Pros, Dell and HP workstations. But they aren't. They may overspend by maxing out an iMac or Macbook Pro configuration, but they're not buying workstations to exude status.

I own a luxury car and I certainly didn't buy it because it was a status symbol. It performs better, it's more comfortable, made of better materials, gets better gas mileage, and had more options. If I didn't spend close to 2 hours in a car each day commuting, then I probably would have considered a cheaper model.

 

[iSee]

Is still think the comparison doesn't hold up. Items like clothes, food, consumer electronics, cars, etc. are much different. You can throw laptops and all-in-one computers into that mix as well.

For this argument to make sense, then we'd have to be seeing a lot of wealthy people pointlessly buying current Mac Pros, Dell and HP workstations. But they aren't. They may overspend by maxing out an iMac or Macbook Pro configuration, but they're not buying workstations to exude status.

I own a luxury car and I certainly didn't buy it because it was a status symbol. It performs better, it's more comfortable, made of better materials, gets better gas mileage, and had more options. If I didn't spend close to 2 hours in a car each day commuting, then I probably would have considered a cheaper model.

I should clarify: I actully don't think the status is a main reason most people buy expensive cars (or computers). Status-seeking is usually superficial and I don't think most people are that shallow.

Also, as far as I'm concerned, enjoy your car. Don't bother explaining it to me, I understand. I just got my wife a new BMW because she loves that kind of thing. (Myself, I couldn't care less and drive a 12 year-old Honda CRV with 200K+ miles. A new Mac Pro on the other hand... woah boy.)

 

[clamnectar]

I should clarify: I actully don't think the status is a main reason most people buy expensive cars (or computers). Status-seeking is usually superficial and I don't think most people are that shallow.

Also, as far as I'm concerned, enjoy your car. Don't bother explaining it to me, I understand. I just got my wife a new BMW because she loves that kind of thing. (Myself, I couldn't care less and drive a 12 year-old Honda CRV with 200K+ miles. A new Mac Pro on the other hand... woah boy.)

Car ads sell a lifestyle, an essence of being, an identity. It would be an overstatement to say that car buying is all about status-seeking, but it is undeniably a part of the turbulent pond of confused desires involved in a purchase like that.

 

[handsome pete]

I should clarify: I actully don't think the status is a main reason most people buy expensive cars (or computers). Status-seeking is usually superficial and I don't think most people are that shallow.

Also, as far as I'm concerned, enjoy your car. Don't bother explaining it to me, I understand. I just got my wife a new BMW because she loves that kind of thing. (Myself, I couldn't care less and drive a 12 year-old Honda CRV with 200K+ miles. A new Mac Pro on the other hand... woah boy.)

I understand. My addressing the "status" side of it was more directed to DPuser's post I quoted. A workstation computer like the Mac Pro just doesn't fit the criteria in my opinion. Like I said, I can see someone wasting money by over-configuring a Macbook Pro or iMac. They're buying a product they already plan on using, but go beyond their needs and dump more money into it than necessary simply because it's the "best." Most of the common folk are usually not in the market for a workstation in the first place.

 

[DPUser]

Thanks for not flaming me Mr. Pete... your responses are in good form and well-taken. But isn't it really impossible to completely separate style from substance? Who can deny a nice car or computer makes us (at least temporarily) happy on much more than a utilitarian level.

I'm excited to learn more about the nMP when it arrives, but am pretty sure my hex 4,1>5,1 will see me through at least a few more years of work before it grows so long in the tooth I will need to seriously consider a new computer.