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2Prices Have Never Been Better
Apple announced on July 29 that it has reduced the price on its entry-level MacBook Pros by $100. Customers who now want to get a 13-inch entry-level MacBook Pro can do so for $1,099. While that’s far more expensive than entry-level notebooks from Dell and HP, it’s a great price for a Mac and something that should make folks want more.
3Who Can Argue With More Power?
There’s nothing but more power in the MacBook Pro. Customers looking for the 13-inch model can get a dual-core Intel Core i5 processor up to 2.8GHz with Turbo Boost to 3.3GHz. On the 15-inch side, Turbo Boost speeds can reach as high as 4GHz with the Intel Core i7. Better yet, the MacBook Pro now comes with up to 16GB of memory. For power-seekers, the MacBook Pro is better than ever.
4The Retina Display Is Still a Beauty
Although Apple didn’t make any changes to the Retina display, the company doesn’t need to do so. The Retina display still provides high-fidelity displays and looks beautiful when showing video and gaming content. The Retina display has long been a popular feature in the MacBook Pro, and it will stay that way with this latest generation of computers.
5Apple Fans Will Love the Integration
Apple fans will absolutely adore the integration between Apple’s computer and the many software services it provides. Out of the box, customers who already like software like iMovie, Mail or Safari on iOS will find nice versions of the platforms on their new MacBook Pros. Apple has also done a fine job of integrating iMessage and Facetime, making the link between iOS and OS X even stronger.
6Make the Choice to Be an Early OS Adopter
Making the decision to buy now is a good one for those who aren’t keen on being early OS adopters. When new operating systems launch, they tend to come with bugs. Apple is planning to launch OS X Yosemite this fall, and will automatically install the operating system on all Macs starting with that launch. Rather than be forced to use Yosemite, it might be a good idea for customers to buy a MacBook Pro now, see what kind of bugs Yosemite has and decide later this year if they even want to use the operating system.
7Chromebooks Still Need to Be Baked
Arguably, the biggest competitors to MacBook Pros at the moment are Chromebooks. The devices are coming on strong in the market, and actually accounted for a third of the commercial channel notebook market in the last quarter. Still, Apple’s OS X is far more complete and works better in a computing environment. While Chrome OS is coming on strong, for enterprise users, especially, it might be for some a hard sell compared with the MacBook Pro.
8iOS and OS X Integration Is Getting Stronger
When Yosemite launches this fall, the MacBook Pro will be an extension of iOS. The operating system will improve its messaging functions to include Short Message Service (SMS) and will also work with iOS-based devices when calls are placed. In that example, a person will call another’s iPhone and that iPhone owner’s Mac will also ring. The person has the ability to answer the call on his or her Mac.
9Nothing Else Is Coming Down the Pike
Holding out for something major from Apple? Don’t hold your breath. While Apple is planning a big update to the iPhone and maybe even the iPad, the company won’t launch any more updates to the MacBook Pro this year. So, waiting for something else, like a new form factor, isn’t worth it. Just go with the MacBook Pro as-is, and you won’t get hurt.
10The iPad Isn’t a MacBook Pro Replacement
Trying to choose between the MacBook Pro and the iPad? Don’t. While Apple’s tablet is nice in its own right, it doesn’t come with the same breadth of apps or power to take on the MacBook Pro for productivity-seekers. For the average enterprise customer who wants to be as productive as possible, choosing the MacBook Pro over the iPad seems to make sense.
11Don’t Expect Another Price Drop
Toward the end of the year, when new devices ship and the holiday shopping season is in full swing, some companies drop prices on previously released products. Apple isn’t one of those companies, and therefore, won’t drop the price on its devices later this year. The $1,099 starting price on the MacBook Pro is staying there.