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It's non-obvious, but the 13" MacBook Pro is actually two different computers. On the low end it has a 15W CPU, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, and a single fan, and o

by kylec 6y ago

It's non-obvious, but the 13" MacBook Pro is actually two different computers. On the low end it has a 15W CPU, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, and a single fan, and on the high end it has a 28W CPU, four Thunderbolt 3 ports, and a dual-fan system. The low end version can only be configured with 16GB of memory, whereas the high end version can be configured with 32. It's not artificial price inflation, they're actually different computers. (p.s. - I mentioned the fans not because it's an important spec for consumers, but to highlight that the two variants are physically different internally, it's not just about swapping in a 28W CPU for a 15W one)

ericzawo 6y ago
But of course, as is the Apple way, this is deliberately unclear. You would have no idea about this at all unless you were, at-minimum, keeping up with Intel CPU improvements (or regularly browsed Hacker News.)
- HatchedLake721 6y ago
  Of course. Why would a consumer care how many watts CPU or fans it has? You would, but that's <1% of people who buy Macbooks.
  - sbierwagen 6y ago
    If you're a dumb customer who doesn't care about how fast your computer is, then why are you going out of your way to buy the more expensive macbook, instead of buying an Air?
    - foldr 6y ago
      Caring about how fast your computer is isn't the same thing as caring about CPU generations, wattage or cooling solutions. Everyone wants their computer to run fast, and people know that the more expensive MacBooks are faster.
- foldr 6y ago
  It's completely clear. You can read the RAM and CPU specs right there on the website. Hardly anyone cares how many fans their laptop has.
  - ericzawo 6y ago
    No, there is nothing clear about marketing a brand new laptop with a 3-year old CPU alongside a current-gen one under the same name. It's exactly as the parent comment said, they may as well be two completely different models of computer.
    - foldr 6y ago
      I really think you're off base here. Apple list the different models together with their specs (including the generation of the CPU). Are you saying that they have to make them look different because they have different internals? For most users the experience of using any of these models would be exactly the same.

by kylec 6y ago

ericzawo 6y ago

But of course, as is the Apple way, this is deliberately unclear. You would have no idea about this at all unless you were, at-minimum, keeping up with Intel CPU improvements (or regularly browsed Hacker News.)

HatchedLake721 6y ago
Of course. Why would a consumer care how many watts CPU or fans it has? You would, but that's <1% of people who buy Macbooks.
- sbierwagen 6y ago
  If you're a dumb customer who doesn't care about how fast your computer is, then why are you going out of your way to buy the more expensive macbook, instead of buying an Air?
  - foldr 6y ago
    Caring about how fast your computer is isn't the same thing as caring about CPU generations, wattage or cooling solutions. Everyone wants their computer to run fast, and people know that the more expensive MacBooks are faster.
foldr 6y ago
It's completely clear. You can read the RAM and CPU specs right there on the website. Hardly anyone cares how many fans their laptop has.
- ericzawo 6y ago
  No, there is nothing clear about marketing a brand new laptop with a 3-year old CPU alongside a current-gen one under the same name. It's exactly as the parent comment said, they may as well be two completely different models of computer.
  - foldr 6y ago
    I really think you're off base here. Apple list the different models together with their specs (including the generation of the CPU). Are you saying that they have to make them look different because they have different internals? For most users the experience of using any of these models would be exactly the same.