Apple Pricing Practice = Wow!

So, the base 15.4" model MBP is $2499.00
Bump the Intel Core Duo to 2.16Ghz, and the price goes to: $2799.00

Yea. Same price as the 17" MBP, with the Core Duo 2.16ghz, same amount of memory, 120GB hd vs. the 15.4" model's 100GB, 8x DL drive vs. the 15.4" model's 4x SINGLE LAYER, 1 more USB 2.0 ports, AND the sort-after Firewire 800 port! Oh yea and of course the higher res. 17" vs. the 15" screen...

So, is the 15.4" MBP overpriced? Hmmmm...

Then it gets funnier... Lets upgrade both to the same specs: (of course the screens and the lack of usb/firewire, different DVD drive won't be the same)

both at 2GB ram, 100GB SATA 7200rpm drive, and at 2.16Ghz cpu:

The 15" MBP = $3199.00
The 17" MBP = $3099.00

LOL? So for $100 more, you get a smaller screen, less ports, and a slower/older dvd drive? Awesome! Where do I sign up?

Go play w/ it yourself.
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?family=MacBookPro

cheers,

yass

 

The actual base price for the MBP is $1999 for the cheaper version, and the higher end model is $2499. Although the pricing might not make the most sense, some people do want to pay more for things in a smaller package and for more portability.

 

15" isn't exactly a small package though, it is a good bit smaller than 17" though. I can't wait to see how well the 12 inch ones fair...

 

Well 15 inches is a lot easier to fit into a normal backpack without searching for a specialized 17 inch one. plus, the 5 and a half pound weight for a 15 inch model is appealing compared to many of the 6-6.5 pound weight of many today.

 

I'm comparing stuff with equal specs. It's not about wanting to pay more, it's about overpricing it based on the specs.

 

The really sad part is the actual dealer mark-up which hovers around 3-5% depending upon model number!

 

I noticed that last night and was kind of shocked - however, I think the MBP prices are either going to start to fall or have better hardware for the same configuration once Intel cuts prices in May.

 

When are the 12inch coming out

 

I can take a good guess, but its hard to guess when Apple is going to do things (they just randomly stuck out their 17" model for the MBP for instance), but I would guess maybe when Intel issues its price cuts for the Core Duo (which is going to be sometime in May).

 

There's also talk, maybe confirmed, of a 13.3" Widescreen iBook coming out but probably not till July to capture the back to school market.

 

That's correct - Apple is supposed to be releasing an updated Intel iBook line by this summer, I think.

 

i know exactly what macs going to do unfortunalty. over price the 13 and not get sold like the 12" pb compared to the 12"ibook. Its gonna not be much cheapier than the 15" and make people pay not much less just for portablity which will be garbage and i will still end up buying it becuase its cheapier and i already have a 15" laptop. i hate mac for making i laptop thats so sweet i want it to much

 

Even if Intel cuts prices like usual, seeing as to how this is the first time Apple's using Intel chips in their products, how do we know for sure Apple will cut prices on the MBP? Sure they might offer better hardware but is that really likely?

 

That's really strange...I wonder if they're trying to push people towards the 17" model - I don't know if a different ODM makes the chassis (making it cooler...etc) or if that type of thing is in play.