So it's a large ipad, with a fixed keyboard, no touch screen and runs MacOS. It will sell by the bucketload.
Personally, I'd love to see Apple revisit the 12" MacBook with this processor instead. It was a brilliant design, just hampered by dreadful performance.
It was definitely laptop (not CPU) perfection - toss it in a bag without worrying about it, easy to open and use anywhere. I was shocked that the 12" @ 2lbs didn't get an M1 makeover, it would have been the ultimate portable.
Honestly, we were very surprised about this too.
I was surprised about it, too. Anyone who ever used the 12" MacBook knows what a useful and portable device it was. I still have my 2017 model as a (rarely used) museum piece. If they can create one with better cooling despite the fanless design we'll have a winner here.
I have a 2016 12” MacBook that still supports office and Python, have the keyboard changed by Apple and still works (slowly)
So, basically, in 2026, Apple wants to release a low cost MacBook with a two year old chip it launched in 2024 for an iPhone; and this MacBook may only have 8GB RAM to play with. Once you spec it out with more RAM or a bigger SSD, it won’t be so budget friendly.
The only thing this machine will have going for it is its colours, which won’t even pair up to the iMac that comes in seven colours.
It might be good for the primary and secondary education markets, and maybe also for older users new to computing, but I can’t see its colours luring away users looking for a machine that can perform (like the Air or the Pro).
So, basically, in 2026, Apple wants to release a low cost MacBook with a two year old chip it launched in 2024 for an iPhone; and this MacBook may only have 8GB RAM to play with. Once you spec it out with more RAM or a bigger SSD, it won’t be so budget friendly.
The only thing this machine will have going for it is its colours, which won’t even pair up to the iMac that comes in seven colours.
It might be good for the primary and secondary education markets, and maybe also for older users new to computing, but I can’t see its colours luring away users looking for a machine that can perform (like the Air or the Pro).
Yes. This is the point, and they most certainly want to segment the machine such that it brings in new buyers to macOS and doesn't take away too many sales from the MBA.
I'm not so sure about 8 GB RAM. Apple sells the Mac mini with 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB storage at $600. That's a big sign to me that this A18 Pro laptop will have either 12 GB, or maybe 16 GB. The 12 RAM packages are already "available" and cheap. They have been shipping in millions of Macs already, and possibly the iPad Pros. And, Apple has decided 16 GB is the minimum for Macs, save for the Walmart special. So, 12 GB sounds like a nice number to support AI features while providing some upsell to the MBA.
Apple's biggest issue with edu and enterprise markets isn't hardware. It's services and relationships. They really don't have a decades long relationship with IT, don't have the services that promises to make IT cheaper to companies or the services to make IT companies more money. MS is in a monopolist position with this, and it's a tough nut to crack. Some company would have to clone MS Office - 99% compatibility - and all the software, server and device management software. Google only manages by going hyper-cheap, and they have only cracked lower end edu.
Apple have a shot at the retail market as long as they have enough gaming and entertainment software. They are entirely geared for it. So, I think it is just another Mac laptop product at $700 to $800 price points.
So, basically, in 2026, Apple wants to release a low cost MacBook with a two year old chip it launched in 2024 for an iPhone; and this MacBook may only have 8GB RAM to play with. Once you spec it out with more RAM or a bigger SSD, it won’t be so budget friendly.
The only thing this machine will have going for it is its colours, which won’t even pair up to the iMac that comes in seven colours.
It might be good for the primary and secondary education markets, and maybe also for older users new to computing, but I can’t see its colours luring away users looking for a machine that can perform (like the Air or the Pro).
Yes. This is the point, and they most certainly want to segment the machine such that it brings in new buyers to macOS and doesn't take away too many sales from the MBA.
I'm not so sure about 8 GB RAM. Apple sells the Mac mini with 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB storage at $600. That's a big sign to me that this A18 Pro laptop will have either 12 GB, or maybe 16 GB. The 12 RAM packages are already "available" and cheap. They have been shipping in millions of Macs already, and possibly the iPad Pros. And, Apple has decided 16 GB is the minimum for Macs, save for the Walmart special. So, 12 GB sounds like a nice number to support AI features while providing some upsell to the MBA.
Apple's biggest issue with edu and enterprise markets isn't hardware. It's services and relationships. They really don't have a decades long relationship with IT, don't have the services that promises to make IT cheaper to companies or the services to make IT companies more money. MS is in a monopolist position with this, and it's a tough nut to crack. Some company would have to clone MS Office - 99% compatibility - and all the software, server and device management software. Google only manages by going hyper-cheap, and they have only cracked lower end edu.
Apple have a shot at the retail market as long as they have enough gaming and entertainment software. They are entirely geared for it. So, I think it is just another Mac laptop product at $700 to $800 price points.
1) Entry level buyers and students, all of which help fuel making macOS their default OS for years to come. I think it's a great move. I forget what generation of A-series SoC AnandTech as saying was besting the average WinPC, but it was a long time ago. Even with Intel's progress I'd imagine that A18 would run circles around a WinTel PC at the same price point. Having so much included SW and longer life span would result in a better TCO, but that's typically a point most buyers consider, especially at the low end.
2) Apple really did poorly with the enterprise. I would love to see this change, but it does not look like it's going to happen. Personally, I'm sick of using MS and their services, but their monopolistic tie-ins of "good enough" options have me stuck without any enjoyment in what they offer. Of course there are other options, but it's not that much better to have to deal with the extra hassle of setting it all up and maintaining it. And now with so much tied to the cloud I won't be wasting money on Dell servers for authentic at my locations when they EOL, I'll just use Microsoft 365 for the login, which will consolidate the final piece.
So, basically, in 2026, Apple wants to release a low cost MacBook with a two year old chip it launched in 2024 for an iPhone; and this MacBook may only have 8GB RAM to play with. Once you spec it out with more RAM or a bigger SSD, it won’t be so budget friendly.
The only thing this machine will have going for it is its colours, which won’t even pair up to the iMac that comes in seven colours.
It might be good for the primary and secondary education markets, and maybe also for older users new to computing, but I can’t see its colours luring away users looking for a machine that can perform (like the Air or the Pro).
Yes. This is the point, and they most certainly want to segment the machine such that it brings in new buyers to macOS and doesn't take away too many sales from the MBA.
I'm not so sure about 8 GB RAM. Apple sells the Mac mini with 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB storage at $600. That's a big sign to me that this A18 Pro laptop will have either 12 GB, or maybe 16 GB. The 12 RAM packages are already "available" and cheap. They have been shipping in millions of Macs already, and possibly the iPad Pros. And, Apple has decided 16 GB is the minimum for Macs, save for the Walmart special. So, 12 GB sounds like a nice number to support AI features while providing some upsell to the MBA.
Apple's biggest issue with edu and enterprise markets isn't hardware. It's services and relationships. They really don't have a decades long relationship with IT, don't have the services that promises to make IT cheaper to companies or the services to make IT companies more money. MS is in a monopolist position with this, and it's a tough nut to crack. Some company would have to clone MS Office - 99% compatibility - and all the software, server and device management software. Google only manages by going hyper-cheap, and they have only cracked lower end edu.
Apple have a shot at the retail market as long as they have enough gaming and entertainment software. They are entirely geared for it. So, I think it is just another Mac laptop product at $700 to $800 price points.
Apple has standardised operating system protocols. It now uses SMB for networking and natively supports access control lists, ActiveDirectory as well as OpenDirectory, and MAPI/Exchange. Also, studies have shown Macs in the enterprise reduce IT support costs by around 30%, so just having Apple hardware and software in the enterprise saves that enterprise a lot of money to begin with. For this to be worthwhile for Apple, it needs to go in at the $699 price point - especially if its only going to have 12GB RAM, when the minimum should be 16GB or 24GB or 32GB, and a 256GB SSD (if not 128GB SSD; I wouldn’t put that past Apple).
So, basically, in 2026, Apple wants to release a low cost MacBook with a two year old chip it launched in 2024 for an iPhone; and this MacBook may only have 8GB RAM to play with. Once you spec it out with more RAM or a bigger SSD, it won’t be so budget friendly.
The only thing this machine will have going for it is its colours, which won’t even pair up to the iMac that comes in seven colours.
It might be good for the primary and secondary education markets, and maybe also for older users new to computing, but I can’t see its colours luring away users looking for a machine that can perform (like the Air or the Pro).
Yes. This is the point, and they most certainly want to segment the machine such that it brings in new buyers to macOS and doesn't take away too many sales from the MBA.
I'm not so sure about 8 GB RAM. Apple sells the Mac mini with 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB storage at $600. That's a big sign to me that this A18 Pro laptop will have either 12 GB, or maybe 16 GB. The 12 RAM packages are already "available" and cheap. They have been shipping in millions of Macs already, and possibly the iPad Pros. And, Apple has decided 16 GB is the minimum for Macs, save for the Walmart special. So, 12 GB sounds like a nice number to support AI features while providing some upsell to the MBA.
Apple's biggest issue with edu and enterprise markets isn't hardware. It's services and relationships. They really don't have a decades long relationship with IT, don't have the services that promises to make IT cheaper to companies or the services to make IT companies more money. MS is in a monopolist position with this, and it's a tough nut to crack. Some company would have to clone MS Office - 99% compatibility - and all the software, server and device management software. Google only manages by going hyper-cheap, and they have only cracked lower end edu.
Apple have a shot at the retail market as long as they have enough gaming and entertainment software. They are entirely geared for it. So, I think it is just another Mac laptop product at $700 to $800 price points.
1) Entry level buyers and students, all of which help fuel making macOS their default OS for years to come. I think it's a great move. I forget what generation of A-series SoC AnandTech as saying was besting the average WinPC, but it was a long time ago. Even with Intel's progress I'd imagine that A18 would run circles around a WinTel PC at the same price point. Having so much included SW and longer life span would result in a better TCO, but that's typically a point most buyers consider, especially at the low end.
2) Apple really did poorly with the enterprise. I would love to see this change, but it does not look like it's going to happen. Personally, I'm sick of using MS and their services, but their monopolistic tie-ins of "good enough" options have me stuck without any enjoyment in what they offer. Of course there are other options, but it's not that much better to have to deal with the extra hassle of setting it all up and maintaining it. And now with so much tied to the cloud I won't be wasting money on Dell servers for authentic at my locations when they EOL, I'll just use Microsoft 365 for the login, which will consolidate the final piece.
(1) If Apple is pegging this for 2026, and if it will use an A series iPhone chip, it should go with the one it releases this year rather than one that’s almost 2yo; still, it may be better off developing a lower specked M series chip (we’re talking about a Mac, after all).
(2) Not for want of trying. Apple has made several pushes into the enterprise including in partnership with IBM; Apple should resurrect OS X Server, Xserve and Xsan, especially if it’s looking at building AI server farms and using ACDC, and go back out to market with those products. Mac OS natively supports SMB, ACLs, ActiveDirectory and OpenDirectory, and MAPI/Exchange, and of course you can run MS Office on Mac OS (although Pages, Numbers and Keynote can also export those file formats). Macs in the enterprise save IT costs and now Apple can provide enterprises with “good enough” hardware and software if that’s all those enterprises want.
So, basically, in 2026, Apple wants to release a low cost MacBook with a two year old chip it launched in 2024 for an iPhone; and this MacBook may only have 8GB RAM to play with. Once you spec it out with more RAM or a bigger SSD, it won’t be so budget friendly.
The only thing this machine will have going for it is its colours, which won’t even pair up to the iMac that comes in seven colours.
It might be good for the primary and secondary education markets, and maybe also for older users new to computing, but I can’t see its colours luring away users looking for a machine that can perform (like the Air or the Pro).
Yes. This is the point, and they most certainly want to segment the machine such that it brings in new buyers to macOS and doesn't take away too many sales from the MBA.
I'm not so sure about 8 GB RAM. Apple sells the Mac mini with 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB storage at $600. That's a big sign to me that this A18 Pro laptop will have either 12 GB, or maybe 16 GB. The 12 RAM packages are already "available" and cheap. They have been shipping in millions of Macs already, and possibly the iPad Pros. And, Apple has decided 16 GB is the minimum for Macs, save for the Walmart special. So, 12 GB sounds like a nice number to support AI features while providing some upsell to the MBA.
Apple's biggest issue with edu and enterprise markets isn't hardware. It's services and relationships. They really don't have a decades long relationship with IT, don't have the services that promises to make IT cheaper to companies or the services to make IT companies more money. MS is in a monopolist position with this, and it's a tough nut to crack. Some company would have to clone MS Office - 99% compatibility - and all the software, server and device management software. Google only manages by going hyper-cheap, and they have only cracked lower end edu.
Apple have a shot at the retail market as long as they have enough gaming and entertainment software. They are entirely geared for it. So, I think it is just another Mac laptop product at $700 to $800 price points.
1) Entry level buyers and students, all of which help fuel making macOS their default OS for years to come. I think it's a great move. I forget what generation of A-series SoC AnandTech as saying was besting the average WinPC, but it was a long time ago. Even with Intel's progress I'd imagine that A18 would run circles around a WinTel PC at the same price point. Having so much included SW and longer life span would result in a better TCO, but that's typically a point most buyers consider, especially at the low end.
2) Apple really did poorly with the enterprise. I would love to see this change, but it does not look like it's going to happen. Personally, I'm sick of using MS and their services, but their monopolistic tie-ins of "good enough" options have me stuck without any enjoyment in what they offer. Of course there are other options, but it's not that much better to have to deal with the extra hassle of setting it all up and maintaining it. And now with so much tied to the cloud I won't be wasting money on Dell servers for authentic at my locations when they EOL, I'll just use Microsoft 365 for the login, which will consolidate the final piece.
(1) If Apple is pegging this for 2026, and if it will use an A series iPhone chip, it should go with the one it releases this year rather than one that’s almost 2yo; still, it may be better off developing a lower specked M series chip (we’re talking about a Mac, after all).
(2) Not for want of trying. Apple has made several pushes into the enterprise including in partnership with IBM; Apple should resurrect OS X Server, Xserve and Xsan, especially if it’s looking at building AI server farms and using ACDC, and go back out to market with those products. Mac OS natively supports SMB, ACLs, ActiveDirectory and OpenDirectory, and MAPI/Exchange, and of course you can run MS Office on Mac OS (although Pages, Numbers and Keynote can also export those file formats). Macs in the enterprise save IT costs and now Apple can provide enterprises with “good enough” hardware and software if that’s all those enterprises want.
Oh, I'm well aware of these services and protocols. It's great that it's technically possible and I can safely say that I've used everything you've mentioned for a long time, but I can't say that it's a great solution for a Windows-based system. As much as I want Apple to take the Enterprise market seriously, they made their decision a long time ago and I don't think that will change.
Comments
The only thing this machine will have going for it is its colours, which won’t even pair up to the iMac that comes in seven colours.
It might be good for the primary and secondary education markets, and maybe also for older users new to computing, but I can’t see its colours luring away users looking for a machine that can perform (like the Air or the Pro).
I'm not so sure about 8 GB RAM. Apple sells the Mac mini with 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB storage at $600. That's a big sign to me that this A18 Pro laptop will have either 12 GB, or maybe 16 GB. The 12 RAM packages are already "available" and cheap. They have been shipping in millions of Macs already, and possibly the iPad Pros. And, Apple has decided 16 GB is the minimum for Macs, save for the Walmart special. So, 12 GB sounds like a nice number to support AI features while providing some upsell to the MBA.
Apple's biggest issue with edu and enterprise markets isn't hardware. It's services and relationships. They really don't have a decades long relationship with IT, don't have the services that promises to make IT cheaper to companies or the services to make IT companies more money. MS is in a monopolist position with this, and it's a tough nut to crack. Some company would have to clone MS Office - 99% compatibility - and all the software, server and device management software. Google only manages by going hyper-cheap, and they have only cracked lower end edu.
Apple have a shot at the retail market as long as they have enough gaming and entertainment software. They are entirely geared for it. So, I think it is just another Mac laptop product at $700 to $800 price points.
2) Apple really did poorly with the enterprise. I would love to see this change, but it does not look like it's going to happen. Personally, I'm sick of using MS and their services, but their monopolistic tie-ins of "good enough" options have me stuck without any enjoyment in what they offer. Of course there are other options, but it's not that much better to have to deal with the extra hassle of setting it all up and maintaining it. And now with so much tied to the cloud I won't be wasting money on Dell servers for authentic at my locations when they EOL, I'll just use Microsoft 365 for the login, which will consolidate the final piece.
(1) If Apple is pegging this for 2026, and if it will use an A series iPhone chip, it should go with the one it releases this year rather than one that’s almost 2yo; still, it may be better off developing a lower specked M series chip (we’re talking about a Mac, after all).
(2) Not for want of trying. Apple has made several pushes into the enterprise including in partnership with IBM; Apple should resurrect OS X Server, Xserve and Xsan, especially if it’s looking at building AI server farms and using ACDC, and go back out to market with those products. Mac OS natively supports SMB, ACLs, ActiveDirectory and OpenDirectory, and MAPI/Exchange, and of course you can run MS Office on Mac OS (although Pages, Numbers and Keynote can also export those file formats). Macs in the enterprise save IT costs and now Apple can provide enterprises with “good enough” hardware and software if that’s all those enterprises want.