Phil Schiller: New MacBook Pro has more orders from Apple than any other pro model ever
In an interview, Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller discusses Apple's philosophy between keeping iOS and macOS separate, record-breaking sales of the new computer from Apple's website, customers being up in arms about the MacBook Pro features or lack thereof, and Apple fandom.
Schiller has apparently been listening to the online battles going on between Apple customers about the MacBook Pro wth Touch Bar, saying that he's never seen a product that didn't have early criticism and debate.
"There has certainly been a lot of passionate dialogue and debate about the new MacBook Pro," said Schiller. "Many things have impressed people about it, and some have caused some controversy."
Schiller feels that many of the concerns will be rectified when a potential customer gets a chance to use the machine.
"We know we made good decisions about what to build into the new MacBook Pro and that the result is the best notebook ever made, but it might not be right for everyone on day one," said Schiller, talking to The Independent. "That's okay, some people felt that way about the first iMac and that turned out pretty good."
"There's iPhone and iPad which are single pieces of glass, they're direct-manipulation, multi-touch and tend towards full-screen applications," said Schiller about half of the Apple hardware equation. "We want to make those the best in that direction anyone can imagine."
"Then there's the Mac experience, dominated by our notebooks and that's about indirect manipulation and cursors and menus," Shiller compared. "If you made the Mac a touchscreen you'd have to figure out how to make it a good experience with your finger on a touchscreen. Trust me, we've looked at that -- it's a bad experience. It's not as good or as intuitive as with a mouse and trackpad."
Regardless of complaints by users alleging that the new MacBook Pro isn't "pro" enough, Schiller says that the 3.5mm headphone jack was retained for professionals with audio gear that do not have wireless solutions, and still need the jack for macOS.
"We are proud to tell you that so far our online store has had more orders for the new MacBook Pro than any other pro notebook before," added Schiller. "So there certainly are a lot of people as excited as we are about it."
One exception to the six week wait time is the 2016 13" MacBook Pro without a Touch Bar, which is now in stock at $1,499.00 with no tax outside NY in both Space Gray and Silver from Apple authorized reseller B&H Photo. Please visit our Mac Price Guide for pricing and availability on other models, including those with a Touch Bar.
Schiller has apparently been listening to the online battles going on between Apple customers about the MacBook Pro wth Touch Bar, saying that he's never seen a product that didn't have early criticism and debate.
"There has certainly been a lot of passionate dialogue and debate about the new MacBook Pro," said Schiller. "Many things have impressed people about it, and some have caused some controversy."
Schiller feels that many of the concerns will be rectified when a potential customer gets a chance to use the machine.
"Our online store has had more orders for the new MacBook Pro than any other pro notebook before" - Phil Schiller, Apple SVP
"We know we made good decisions about what to build into the new MacBook Pro and that the result is the best notebook ever made, but it might not be right for everyone on day one," said Schiller, talking to The Independent. "That's okay, some people felt that way about the first iMac and that turned out pretty good."
macOS and iOS
Schiller continues to maintain that macOS and iOS will remain distinct, because of how the hardware differs and how users interface with the devices."There's iPhone and iPad which are single pieces of glass, they're direct-manipulation, multi-touch and tend towards full-screen applications," said Schiller about half of the Apple hardware equation. "We want to make those the best in that direction anyone can imagine."
"Then there's the Mac experience, dominated by our notebooks and that's about indirect manipulation and cursors and menus," Shiller compared. "If you made the Mac a touchscreen you'd have to figure out how to make it a good experience with your finger on a touchscreen. Trust me, we've looked at that -- it's a bad experience. It's not as good or as intuitive as with a mouse and trackpad."
Hardware choices, and omissions
When asked about the lack of an SD card slot, Schiller noted that while Apple would have preferred a more universal solution, the company picked the one card format because most of the users had it, and that early Apple implementations of the slot as being "cumbersome" and a "trade-off." The card was excised because of the "path forward" with more generic physical card readers, or the growing implementation of wireless transfer.Regardless of complaints by users alleging that the new MacBook Pro isn't "pro" enough, Schiller says that the 3.5mm headphone jack was retained for professionals with audio gear that do not have wireless solutions, and still need the jack for macOS.
Early orders
Orders for the new computer have been solid so far, with many configurations taking six weeks or more to ship to customers because of demand. Apple hasn't detailed any order numbers, as of yet, but Schiller is pleased with what he's seen so far."We are proud to tell you that so far our online store has had more orders for the new MacBook Pro than any other pro notebook before," added Schiller. "So there certainly are a lot of people as excited as we are about it."
One exception to the six week wait time is the 2016 13" MacBook Pro without a Touch Bar, which is now in stock at $1,499.00 with no tax outside NY in both Space Gray and Silver from Apple authorized reseller B&H Photo. Please visit our Mac Price Guide for pricing and availability on other models, including those with a Touch Bar.
Comments
Let's see how the sales look after 6 months.
Schiller says that the 3.5mm headphone jack was retained for professionals with audio gear that do not have wireless solutions, and still need the jack for macOS."
So, the "professional" solution to mass storage is wireless, but professionals don't have access to BT headphones. It's getting deep in the spin room.
Likewise, let's see what people say about the machine and how "pro" it is and whether it has the right ports, after we've actually used these new computers for a few weeks.
I suspect the real reason is that Apple knows more about its customers than we do.
Funny they kept the headphone jack for "professional audio". This was the same argument I had for the headphone jack and got bashed for it like crazy here on Apple Insider.
It's still confusing why they didn't include a lightning port for optional charging, headphones and headphone adapters. Makes Apple seem less confident in their choices.
You just blew the minds of every serial Apple complainer on the internet. Although this will surely not satisfy that user who feels that his/her personal use case should be everyone's personal use case.
The Touchbar strikes me as something like the S7 Edge. Not convinced it is a groundbreaking new UI that I would use, unless I decide to like Emojis.....
Your mileage may vary.
Not to mention a user couldn't connect their 1 month old iPhone 7 (+) to this laptop without a dongle. Not to mention SD cards, USBs, HDMIs....... I totally understood DVI, VGA, Cd drive, and MAYBE Ethernet but no HDMI? Every projector I have seen in the last 4 years uses HDMI; you know, what "professionals" do with laptops. The included port is why I bought the mid-2012 retina.
Apple needs to get their interface connections in order. It is sloppier than I have ever seen it with poor consistency. If they are going to cold turkey USB-C on their products, the iPhone 7S/8 better go that way as well.
Of course, Apple apologist will find some reason that Apple is prefect.
"I suspect the real reason is that Apple knows more about its customers than the vocal minority of whiners on the Internet do."
There, fixed that for you.
If Intel can't sort itself out then I'm afraid you won't
Yup, the usual:
I can't see a use for the Touchbar, so it must be useless.
It can't connect to a one month old iPhone because none of Apple's customers would ever think of just connecting it wirelessly (if they ever need to connect an iPhone at all).
Apple's customers will need every single dongle every created because WIRELESS DOES NOT EXIST!
It doesn't have every single socket dating back to the candle holder on Babbage's Difference Engine, so surely no one will buy it. Remember WIRELESS IS SOMETHING YOU IMAGINE DUE TO YOUR DRUG HABIT. IT DOES NOT EXIST!
The only reason this thing will sell like hot cakes is because apologists think Apple is perfect.
Nice job; I think you covered everything.