Apple’s WWDC 2012 in San Francisco this week gave the world its first look at the all-new MacBook Pro range boasting hugely impressive Retina quality displays. What’s more, while casual observers may be happy enough to just sit back and take in the new notebooks in all their glory, some analysts have dubbed the 2012 the clearest sign of thing to come from Apple in the future.
A series of reports from elite industry names have suggested that much of the technology featured in the new-generation MacBook Pro will in the very near future become the benchmark standard for all Apple device launches. Until now, the MacBook Air range has set the standard for portability and size, while the MacBook Pro has been the bringer of power and general performance.
That, however, looks set to change once and for all.
Rather than just the usual upgrade or refresh, the 2012 MacBook Pro lineup has been interpreted by many as the biggest overhaul to the MacBook product range in its history so far. Roughly translated, the new 2012 Pro is not simply a standard evolution of its predecessor, but rather a brand new first step toward a single, unified range of MacBooks where the ‘Pro’ and ‘Air’ monikers will eventually become obsolete.
Of course, some have already spoken out about their concerns as to consumer reactions were Apple to entirely narrow down the MacBook options available. However, if looking for any proof as to just how successful the move could be, we need only take into account the delivery delays already affecting 2012 MacBook Pro shipments.
Within 24 hours, Apple’s entire reserves were depleted and shipping times have already hit the four week mark.
The only thing that may currently be standing between Apple and complete and total MacBook Pro market saturation on a global basis is of course the new line’s price-tags – $2,199 is simply too much for most to fork out. However, mass-production and ongoing research into retina panel and SSD development will see costs come down hugely over the coming months, which in turn means that the world’s leading Windows PC OEMs are set to have little choice other than to considerably up the ante, or at least look toward significant price reductions.
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