Maxed out 2018 15-inch MacBook Pro at $6699 isn't Apple's most expensive laptop ever
The 15-inch MacBook Pro configured to the hilt is a very expensive machine, but it isn't even Apple's most expensive laptop in history.
Apple updated the MacBook Pro line with new processors and more configure-to-order options. Users can now get the 32GB that they have been clamoring for, in conjunction with a 4TB SSD, and a True Tone display.
However, this comes at a cost. With a six-core processor, 32GB of RAM, and the 4TB SSD, the machine hits a lofty $6699 -- and won't ship for a few weeks.
The complaining about that has already started. None of this is new, though: Apple has sold portables for more money, albeit briefly.
In November 1997, the company used the same chassis for the first PowerBook G3, which long-time AppleInsider readers may have called the "Kanga." It wasn't a light machine, hitting 7 pounds 7 ounces. And, this author took one to sea for over two years.
In one swoop, with a faster motherboard and G3 processor, the new machine was twice as fast as the 3400c. It also came with a lofty price tag.
The "Kanga" PowerBook G3 originally sold for $6999 in November 1997, rapidly dropping to $5499 in January, and then $4500 a few weeks before it was discontinued. It had a 800x600 active matrix color display, 32MB of RAM expandable to 160MB with a custom RAM module, a 5GB hard drive, a 20x CD-ROM, a 33.6K modem that shared a port with the 10-base-T ethernet jack, and two battery bays which could be used for expansion modules.
That $6999 at launch in 1997 is roughly equivalent in buying power to over $10,000 in 2018.
The machine was the king of the hill for five months -- and couldn't ever run Mac OS X. In March 1998, it was replaced by the "Wallstreet" PowerBook G3, for much less money.
There is no way to make one machine that will cater to and please everybody, no matter how hard Apple tries.
Regardless, the complaints have already begun about the price of the maxed out 2018 MacBook Pro. Now, as before, in both the iMac and MacBook Pro lines, power comes at a price -- and we're not sure why anybody would expect otherwise.
Apple updated the MacBook Pro line with new processors and more configure-to-order options. Users can now get the 32GB that they have been clamoring for, in conjunction with a 4TB SSD, and a True Tone display.
However, this comes at a cost. With a six-core processor, 32GB of RAM, and the 4TB SSD, the machine hits a lofty $6699 -- and won't ship for a few weeks.
The complaining about that has already started. None of this is new, though: Apple has sold portables for more money, albeit briefly.
Twenty years ago
Apple had a very powerful portable in the PowerBook 3400c. Sporting a 240MHz 603ev processor, Apple advertised the machine as the fastest notebook available -- and they weren't wrong.In November 1997, the company used the same chassis for the first PowerBook G3, which long-time AppleInsider readers may have called the "Kanga." It wasn't a light machine, hitting 7 pounds 7 ounces. And, this author took one to sea for over two years.
In one swoop, with a faster motherboard and G3 processor, the new machine was twice as fast as the 3400c. It also came with a lofty price tag.
The "Kanga" PowerBook G3 originally sold for $6999 in November 1997, rapidly dropping to $5499 in January, and then $4500 a few weeks before it was discontinued. It had a 800x600 active matrix color display, 32MB of RAM expandable to 160MB with a custom RAM module, a 5GB hard drive, a 20x CD-ROM, a 33.6K modem that shared a port with the 10-base-T ethernet jack, and two battery bays which could be used for expansion modules.
That $6999 at launch in 1997 is roughly equivalent in buying power to over $10,000 in 2018.
The machine was the king of the hill for five months -- and couldn't ever run Mac OS X. In March 1998, it was replaced by the "Wallstreet" PowerBook G3, for much less money.
At what cost portable power?
The complaints about the MacBook Pro have varied "pro" to "pro." Keyboards have been a common complaint, with the lack of a 32GB of RAM option generally second, with the reality that it didn't have the fastest processor ever escalating recently in third.There is no way to make one machine that will cater to and please everybody, no matter how hard Apple tries.
Regardless, the complaints have already begun about the price of the maxed out 2018 MacBook Pro. Now, as before, in both the iMac and MacBook Pro lines, power comes at a price -- and we're not sure why anybody would expect otherwise.
Comments
If anything, one still can't believe that the display isn't more edge-to-edge. This continues to make the entire MacBook line still appear dated.
7 kilos of portable power (because 7 kg sounds so much lighter than 16 lbs), 16 MHz Moto 68000, an active matrix monochrome display, a trackball that actually made it to space on an IBM experiment, and a lead acid battery with which could could (almost) boost your car.
THIS! And why no better than 720P camera and no FaceID?!
Macs have some whimpy tech features compared to iOS devices.
My Macbooks have lasted at least twice as long as any Wintel laptop I ever owned, so its lifetime cost of ownership that matters to me. They are definitely worse than they used to be, I wore off my S and A key after 4 years on the last macBook Pro and its limped a bit for the last year, but I bought it in 2013 and it has not been compelling to buy another till now. So my $5000 laptop cost me $1000 a year, as I earn my living on it, that seems not particularly expensive.
If people just want a laptop and don't need Apple specific software, and lets face it, not many of us do, then there are lots of cheap alternatives. If I didn't want to write Apple software I would happily buy another brand and put Ubuntu on it.
But if you want a fast SSD then Apples have high performance, its your choice, but with USB-C and the latest external SSD's for most uses a big SSD isn't required anyway.