Why is Apple still selling MacBook Pro 13 with Disc Drive 2012?

[silvarios]

Ombligo wrote:
So that they can stop selling it a week before I am ready to buy a new MBP. Because I want/need an optical drive and ethernet

(and Spacescape is right - my wife's iPad is starting to stutter and I'm seriously considering a Surface for her. They are really slick)

I agree with you and Spacescape. The better of the two keyboard attachments is growing on me as well.

[C(-)ris]

spacescape wrote:
I am really wondering when we will get a iPad / Laptop cross over like the surface? Or an iPad Air with touch screen… I'm really wondering if there is a market but the Surface 3 is actually pretty slick. (Don't yell at me).

Probably right after I buy a Surface. I haven't owned a PC since 2002, but the Surface is making me think twice. The only thing stopping me is that they don't quite have the OS integration between touch and traditional apps working ideally. It is almost like you are running 2 VMs. One with the touch enabled stuff and then another with the traditional windows OS. If they can get the two seamlessly integrated into one cohesive experience they will have hit it out of the park.

I'm hopping Apple has something up their sleeve.

[GGD]

silvarios wrote:
Seems like it would make a great $799 entry level system.

$929 is as close as it currently comes.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FD101L...e-intel-i5

In Oct 2009, Microcenter sold the discontinued White MacBook 2.13GHz for $799, a year later I got one as a refurb from Apple for $699. Those were really nice cheap entry level laptops (and they are capable of running 10.5 through 10.10).

The December 2003 Microcenter iBooks (G3 900Mhz) were also $799. It really is too bad that no closeout deals get to that price point anymore.

[silvarios]

I think Bestbuy had clearance MacBook Air models a year or two back for $599. They went fast.

[deckeda]

C(-)ris wrote:
... The only thing stopping me is that they don't quite have the OS integration between touch and traditional apps working ideally. It is almost like you are running 2 VMs. One with the touch enabled stuff and then another with the traditional windows OS. ....

Never seen one but that sounds like a UI nightmare. Do you also interface with it at two places, on screen and down where a keyboard would be?

[silvarios]

deckeda wrote:
[quote=C(-)ris]
... The only thing stopping me is that they don't quite have the OS integration between touch and traditional apps working ideally. It is almost like you are running 2 VMs. One with the touch enabled stuff and then another with the traditional windows OS. ....

Never seen one but that sounds like a UI nightmare. Do you also interface with it at two places, on screen and down where a keyboard would be?
You don't have to use a keyboard and trackpad, but you can if you prefer. Have you used an iPad with Bluetooh keyboard? Much better experience than the iPad, but still not quite there yet. Needs a bit of finesse still.

[Ombligo]

My holdout on a surface is the need to buy all new software, and the constant security upgrades. I would really like Apple to come up with something similar (or at least put a friggin USB port in an iPad!). Apple has reached the point where form is driving function, and that is not good.

[mrlynn]

Ombligo wrote:
So that they can stop selling it a week before I am ready to buy a new MBP. Because I want/need an optical drive and ethernet

(and Spacescape is right - my wife's iPad is starting to stutter and I'm seriously considering a Surface for her. They are really slick)

I hope your wife is computer-savvy and can troubleshoot and maintain her PC. My wife is clueless, and any small glitch means I have figure out what went wrong. And I am no expert, especially on Windows.

/Mr Lynn

[sekker]

I have been following the Surface since the first RT was released.

I cannot use them in my lap, which is a deal-breaker. Even the new keyboards - better still seem unstable.

I have a Belkin iPad keyboard case that is very close to the same thing, though it's still not as good as a true laptop.

Just be sure you get the surface from a dealer where you can return it after 15-30 days.

I personally think Apple will release a 12" MBAr with all-day battery life. I would buy hat product. Though I sure wish it had LTE option. Sometimes the main reason I use my iPad over my Mac is that it's always on for the Internet.

[gabester]

C(-)ris wrote:
[quote=gabester]
The real reason is edu customers. It's the least expensive Mac laptop that can go in a cart of iPads and use Configurator with more than 20 of them at the same time.

You forget about the MacBook Air? Any of them will do that, and do it better than the 13" MBP.
Forgive me for citing a PM with Onamuji here:

Onamuji wrote:
No, a MacBook Air can't sync to 20 iPads at a time. It can be used to mass-deploy iPads, locking them down with MDM profiles. Up to 30 iPads can be done in a single session, assuming that your cart or hub has enough ports and power. But even then it does them sequentially.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/apple-co...3123?mt=12

Thanks - yes, using Configurator is exactly what I'm talking about. See here:

http://help.apple.com/configurator/mac/1.7/#/cadbf9a73b

"Use powered USB 2.0 high-speed hubs or carts that support multiple simultaneous device syncing."
There's a technical limit on MacBook Airs such that they can only support simultaneous syncing of just 20 devices at a time, whereas the older 13" MBP w/HDD can support 30 or more. I'm not sure what the technical limit is, I'm still trying to get that detail from my Apple team. I think it has to do with bus power?