6 ms·

Really reminds us who are able to pickup RAM or a graphics card for a few quid that not everyone in the world is so lucky. Very impressed with what Jhonny mana

Really reminds us who are able to pickup RAM or a graphics card for a few quid that not everyone in the world is so lucky. Very impressed with what Jhonny managed to do. It does beg the question though - what's next for Apple's cheapest Mac, the Mini. I think there is a real opportunity for Apple to release a low powered Mac Mini say the size of an Apple TV which is ARM based and allows schools, universities and folks unable to buy the latest and greatest to have a stable, Unix based development and media platform to work on.

a_bonobo 9y ago
I don't know, I was under the impression that Macs are almost Veblen goods, expensive to raise their status in the eyes of the customer. A cheap Mac could break that impression and cause damage to the brand.
arthurfm 9y ago
> It does beg the question though - what's next for Apple's cheapest Mac, the Mini. If the MacBook Pro is any indication, a price increase (due to the addition of Thunderbolt 3 ports and an Intel CPU with Iris Plus Graphics) and zero user-upgradeable parts (soldered RAM/SSD)? If the new entry-level Mac mini has a Fusion Drive or 128GB SSD as standard this would also result in an additional price increase. I can see more and more people going the Hackintosh route as Macs generally become more expensive.
- walshemj 9y ago
  Apple really need a SKU that is step up from the mini using full fat processors in a SFF case - if they did I think our place would defiantly buy them as replacements for our aging mac minis.
- scarface74 9y ago
  Apple just reduced the price of the 13" MacBook Pro to $1299. That seems to be inline with PCs from Dell with similar specs.
  - arthurfm 9y ago
    > Apple just reduced the price of the 13" MacBook Pro to $1299. The 13" MBP is now $200 cheaper because Apple cut the SSD capacity in half (256GB > 128GB). If you want the same size SSD as the 2016 base model had you still have to pay $1,499. http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/06/10/review-apples-new-kaby-lake-13-macbook-pro-without-touch-bar-unexpectedly-speedy-vs-2016-model http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/06/10/review-apples-new-... Apple cut a big corner in the device's on-board storage to reduce the price to $1,299 —and we feel that it shouldn't have. If you own the 2016, you have at least 256GB of storage. We feel that the 128GB is a big step backwards for those considering the 2017 who already own a 2016. https://www.macrumors.com/2017/06/08/2017-vs-2016-macbook-pro-tech-specs/ https://www.macrumors.com/2017/06/08/2017-vs-2016-macbook-pr... Apple refreshed its MacBook Pro lineup this week with Intel's seventh-generation Kaby Lake processors and faster standard graphics options from Intel and AMD. There's also a cheaper 13-inch MacBook Pro with function keys starting at $1,299 with 128GB storage, compared to $1,499 for the previous base model.
    - scarface74 9y ago
      Oh well. I should have known. It's funny because while I'm typing this I'm watching the WWDC keynote recording and I just saw them announce the "new configuration" of the MacBook Pro.
    - wtallis 9y ago
      It's not at all surprising that Apple went back to 128GB for the base model. Flash memory is pretty expensive right now, and 128GB is actually usable for a lot of purposes. They'll most likely go back to 256GB when they're able to transition to 3D NAND flash memory.
      - scarface74 9y ago
        If I'm going to spend $1500 on a MacBook Pro, I would rather get 16Gb RAM/128Gb SSD than 8Gb/256GB SSD. I can always add more external storage if needed.
SmokyBourbon 9y ago
Why not the iPhone? They keep making them more powerful. Couldn't it become the personal computer you carry in your pocket? When you want to use as a desktop just pair it with a bluetooth mouse, keyboard, and AirPlay display.

a_bonobo 9y ago

I don't know, I was under the impression that Macs are almost Veblen goods, expensive to raise their status in the eyes of the customer. A cheap Mac could break that impression and cause damage to the brand.

arthurfm 9y ago

> It does beg the question though - what's next for Apple's cheapest Mac, the Mini. If the MacBook Pro is any indication, a price increase (due to the addition of Thunderbolt 3 ports and an Intel CPU with Iris Plus Graphics) and zero user-upgradeable parts (soldered RAM/SSD)? If the new entry-level Mac mini has a Fusion Drive or 128GB SSD as standard this would also result in an additional price increase. I can see more and more people going the Hackintosh route as Macs generally become more expensive.

walshemj 9y ago
Apple really need a SKU that is step up from the mini using full fat processors in a SFF case - if they did I think our place would defiantly buy them as replacements for our aging mac minis.
scarface74 9y ago
Apple just reduced the price of the 13" MacBook Pro to $1299. That seems to be inline with PCs from Dell with similar specs.
- arthurfm 9y ago
  > Apple just reduced the price of the 13" MacBook Pro to $1299. The 13" MBP is now $200 cheaper because Apple cut the SSD capacity in half (256GB > 128GB). If you want the same size SSD as the 2016 base model had you still have to pay $1,499. http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/06/10/review-apples-new-kaby-lake-13-macbook-pro-without-touch-bar-unexpectedly-speedy-vs-2016-model http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/06/10/review-apples-new-... Apple cut a big corner in the device's on-board storage to reduce the price to $1,299 —and we feel that it shouldn't have. If you own the 2016, you have at least 256GB of storage. We feel that the 128GB is a big step backwards for those considering the 2017 who already own a 2016. https://www.macrumors.com/2017/06/08/2017-vs-2016-macbook-pro-tech-specs/ https://www.macrumors.com/2017/06/08/2017-vs-2016-macbook-pr... Apple refreshed its MacBook Pro lineup this week with Intel's seventh-generation Kaby Lake processors and faster standard graphics options from Intel and AMD. There's also a cheaper 13-inch MacBook Pro with function keys starting at $1,299 with 128GB storage, compared to $1,499 for the previous base model.
  - scarface74 9y ago
    Oh well. I should have known. It's funny because while I'm typing this I'm watching the WWDC keynote recording and I just saw them announce the "new configuration" of the MacBook Pro.
  - wtallis 9y ago
    It's not at all surprising that Apple went back to 128GB for the base model. Flash memory is pretty expensive right now, and 128GB is actually usable for a lot of purposes. They'll most likely go back to 256GB when they're able to transition to 3D NAND flash memory.
    - scarface74 9y ago
      If I'm going to spend $1500 on a MacBook Pro, I would rather get 16Gb RAM/128Gb SSD than 8Gb/256GB SSD. I can always add more external storage if needed.

SmokyBourbon 9y ago

Why not the iPhone? They keep making them more powerful. Couldn't it become the personal computer you carry in your pocket? When you want to use as a desktop just pair it with a bluetooth mouse, keyboard, and AirPlay display.