Apple May Retire Entire MacBook Pro Line, 17-inch Model for Sure
Congratulations to anyone who owns a 17-inch MacBook Pro, it may just be a collector's item in a few months. Apple apparently feels as though the era of 17-inch laptops has run its course, and in a research note shared with AppleInsider, KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple is still planning to discontinue the 17-inch MacBook Pro sometime later this year, as was previously rumored. But wait, it gets even more interesting.
According to Kuo, Apple might decide to discontinue the entire MacBook Pro line. That's little more than conjecture at this point, but if Kuo's crystal ball is working correctly, Apple will introduce a brand new MacBook lineup next week, one that may or may not carry the "Pro" moniker. Don't be surprised if Apple ends up introducing the "new MacBook" like it did with the iPad.
Whatever happens, Kuo says the 17-inch SKU is gone for sure, considering it only accounted for a meager 1.7 percent of Apple's total notebook sales in the first quarter of 2012. Apple customers gravitate towards the 13-inch MacBook Pro more than any other laptop, which accounted for 46.9 percent sales in the same quarter. The 13-inch MacBook Air snagged 18.1 percent of sales, and the 15-inch MacBook Pro accounted for 16 percent.
According to Kuo, Apple might decide to discontinue the entire MacBook Pro line. That's little more than conjecture at this point, but if Kuo's crystal ball is working correctly, Apple will introduce a brand new MacBook lineup next week, one that may or may not carry the "Pro" moniker. Don't be surprised if Apple ends up introducing the "new MacBook" like it did with the iPad.
Whatever happens, Kuo says the 17-inch SKU is gone for sure, considering it only accounted for a meager 1.7 percent of Apple's total notebook sales in the first quarter of 2012. Apple customers gravitate towards the 13-inch MacBook Pro more than any other laptop, which accounted for 46.9 percent sales in the same quarter. The 13-inch MacBook Air snagged 18.1 percent of sales, and the 15-inch MacBook Pro accounted for 16 percent.
