Why some people keep calling MacBook Pro MacBook?

[mzeb]

"Macbook" is a super category of MacBook Pro. Unfortunately that super category also contains a subcategory called "MacBook". The same is true of iPhone. I certainly call my iPhone Pro Max just "iPhone." So yeah, go blame Apple marketing for reusing names in their categorization of computers.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

I recently read a Stephen King book where he kept interchanging Mac Pro with MacBook Pro to describe the same device. If people would just stick with "Mac" or "MacBook" or just "computer" the world would be a better place.

Sure. But do you have a friend who posts on Facebook "Just got new AirBook!".

I literally had to prevent pin myself down to avoid correcting him.

 

[ndouglas]

LOL there really is a thread about every little thing on this site. 😅

 

[pshufd]

A MacBook Pro is a MacBook. A MacBook Air is a MacBook. A MacBook is a MacBook. Just like a MacBook is a Mac and a Mac Studio is a Mac and a Mac Pro is a Mac.

 

[spiderman0616]

No, but I know plenty of people whoare disappointed that the iTouch has been discontinued.

 

[hajime]

I have encountered some people using the term "Pro Max" when they were talking about Apple Silicon Mac. Which machine are they talking about?

 

[wilberforce]

I have encountered some people using the term "Pro Max" when they were talking about Apple Silicon Mac. Which machine are they talking about?

Depending on the context, probably a shorthand for MacBook Pro M1 Max.
I agree it is confusing and ambiguous when used to describe a Mac.

It would be more appropriate when describing an iPhone 13 Pro Max.

 

[hajime]

Depending on the context, probably a shorthand for MacBook Pro M1 Max.
I agree it is confusing and ambiguous when used to describe a Mac.

It would be more appropriate when describing an iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Yes, could also mean Mac Pro with M1 Max or shorthand fro M1/2 Pro and M1/2 Max, etc.

 

[Pugly]

The name really needs more Pro. It should be Pro MacBook Pro, so no one is ever confused.

 

[hajime]

Do you guys feel that Apple is making too many different variations these days?

 

[DeltaMac]

That's better than making variations that are the same. I'm pretty sure that variations are, by definition, different.
Apple has sold most of their Macs in different versions, over the years. Usually that difference was the CPU level, or the GPU offered. Apple just never named those variations. They probably do that now, because they make the chips (Maybe Intel would not allow Apple to name specific hardware combinations, like they do now (because, you know, Apple makes the chips now)
As long as YOU know what you have for a Mac - what is the value in someone else using the "correct" full name for what YOU have. (I have been around Macs for a long time, and I am still stuck on PowerBook. All Apple laptops are ultimately Powerbooks, IMHO. )

 

[spiderman0616]

Do you guys feel that Apple is making too many different variations these days?

I think I'd like to see it slightly more simplified, but they've taken some good steps toward this in all their product lines lately. There are a couple things I'd like to see changed:

1) I have done a lot of mental backflips trying to figure out what the justification is for the M1/M2 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar to exist, and I just don't understand it. I know it's there to fill in a price tier and feature set, but I refuse to believe the market for that particular model is huge. I've seen some speculation that they simply have a bajillion of those chassis built and may as well sell them, and that makes about as much sense to me as any other explanation.

2) I wish they had taken the opportunity with the M2 MacBook Air to just change the name to "MacBook". Killing off the wedge design was perfect timing to do it, in my opinion. I know, the Air branding is iconic and all that. People would get used to it. And if there's a separate product called simply "MacBook" coming, the "Air" branding makes even less sense. At that point you're getting into "Air" just meaning "the middle one" like it does with iPads, and I've always found that to be nonsense.

I wish all models were just product/product Pro. Any past models you keep in the lineup can have a year listed, any current models obviously don't. I would even be ok with keeping one budget model in the lineup and calling it or maybe something new to delineate that it's the budget model for "most people". So you'd have MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook SE. iPhone, iPhone Pro, iPhone SE. Etc. etc. Current size/price/spec variations could easily exist within those categories.

Unfortunately though, chip design and development does not work this way and only Apple knows why the lineup needs to be what the lineup needs to be. For example, I doubt they'd be bothering with the M2 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar if they didn't know it was going to sell well enough to be worth it. Probably similar to the iPad mini--there is a contingency of people that just really like THAT product and will continue buying it.

 

[TinyMito]

I call mine Pro BookMac ... please roast me.

 

[davidg4781]

I think I'd like to see it slightly more simplified, but they've taken some good steps toward this in all their product lines lately. There are a couple things I'd like to see changed:

1) I have done a lot of mental backflips trying to figure out what the justification is for the M1/M2 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar to exist, and I just don't understand it. I know it's there to fill in a price tier and feature set, but I refuse to believe the market for that particular model is huge. I've seen some speculation that they simply have a bajillion of those chassis built and may as well sell them, and that makes about as much sense to me as any other explanation.

I bought this 13" TB MBP earlier this year. When it first launched, I liked that it had active cooling for sustained performance. I was coming from a 2010 MBP/2011 mini and some mild games would be taxing. I also liked the battery life and Touch Bar.

When the 14"/16" launched, they were way more performance than I needed and I couldn't justify the cost.

Now with the new MBA, I can see how the 13" MBP is dated. The Touch Bar is kind of neat, I guess. I'd rather have MagSafe, nicer screen, and my fans have only come on once in the last few months.

I'm with you in thinking they should have called the MBA just MacBook and higher end MacBook Pro. I never know where the Air models fit. With MacBook, I think they're lower on the tech pole, on iPads, I think they fit between iPad and iPad Pro. Confusing.

 

[spiderman0616]

I bought this 13" TB MBP earlier this year. When it first launched, I liked that it had active cooling for sustained performance. I was coming from a 2010 MBP/2011 mini and some mild games would be taxing. I also liked the battery life and Touch Bar.

When the 14"/16" launched, they were way more performance than I needed and I couldn't justify the cost.

Now with the new MBA, I can see how the 13" MBP is dated. The Touch Bar is kind of neat, I guess. I'd rather have MagSafe, nicer screen, and my fans have only come on once in the last few months.

I'm with you in thinking they should have called the MBA just MacBook and higher end MacBook Pro. I never know where the Air models fit. With MacBook, I think they're lower on the tech pole, on iPads, I think they fit between iPad and iPad Pro. Confusing.

So the active cooling for sustained performance at a lower price is one reason that seems legit at first until you realize it’s not a TON cheaper than a 14” M1 Pro.

I don’t know—to each their own. I’m sure to some the savings or Touch Bar are worth it.

 

[davidg4781]

So the active cooling for sustained performance at a lower price is one reason that seems legit at first until you realize it’s not a TON cheaper than a 14” M1 Pro.

I don’t know—to each their own. I’m sure to some the savings or Touch Bar are worth it.

I forget the prices at the time but I think, for me, it was a difference of $400-600. I bought a refurbished 13" compared to a new 14". I absolutely do not need the power of the M1 so I could not justify extra for the M1 Pro. But that display was amazing! I also wanted to try the Touch Bar but, eh. It's kind of neat but honestly, after owning this a few months, I haven't had much time to do anything with other besides playing Tropico a few nights and browsing Reddit/MacRumors a few times a week.

Edit... I have used it for presentations at work and it's been a LOT nicer than the couple of year old Dells we have.

 

[singularity0993]

What drove me nuts for awhile was management's reference to the MacBook Air as the "Mac Air" or worse, "the Mac Airbook."

Apparently you haven’t heard of ”iMac Air Book”

 

[ndouglas]

Do you guys feel that Apple is making too many different variations these days?

If you mean overusing words like “Pro and Max” to an absurd and confusing extent, yes.

 

[planteater]

Do you guys feel that Apple is making too many different variations these days?

When you say “Apple”, do you mean “Apple” or “Apple Pro”?

 

[unrigestered]

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