However the cat (inflation) got the laptop, in Europe it's now 1500€ instead of the 1050€ previous gen with same specs. I think it's unjustifiable for a normal consumer.
A bit disappointed to see them sticking with 256GB SSD as the base, feel like 512GB should really be the standard nowadays.
[0]https://www.apple.com/uk/mac/compare/?modelList=MacBook-Air-...
[1] https://www.macrumors.com/2022/07/01/m2-macbook-pro-slower-t...
For entry-level consumers, they don’t need extra storage. So many kids are online-based nowadays. Younger people are routinely using iCloud/One Drive/Google Drive/Box/Dropbox and other services.
But sure, if you’re working with more and larger files, then you aren’t the target for the entry-level model with 256, and spend extra for more storage.
The 2020 MBA and 2021 MBP are pretty similar.
The new cameras have better low light performance and less noise due to pretty agressive smoothing. The consequence is that the picture lacks any detail whatsoever. The image from the 2015 MBP is sharper than the alleged 1080p image from the 2021 MBP.
With the smoothing my girlfriends face looks like she is wearing heavy makeup. My beard looks like it was painted on. In low light there are weird artefacts and glitches (especially in the area around my eyes, probably due to the ML algorithm).
Now maybe on a Zoom call this doesn't matter, if your face is just in a little matchbox-sized box on the screen. But on full screen Facetime calls the lack of detail and low resolution of the MBP webcam is very noticeable.
the stream of anti ECB drones is frankly ridiculous
the price has gone up in pounds as well.
Does the ECB controls them too?
Prices in Europe are taxes included, in US are before taxes.
In Europe you have to add VAT, not only sales taxes, which are much lower in US anyway.
Last but not least, custom duties are a thing.
a strong Euro doesn't automatically makes for a stronger EU economy.
The Air in the UK is £1,249, up from £999 - a 25% increase.
The EU price is €1,500, up from €1,050 - a 43% increase.
At least some of that has to be explained by the euro dropping ~14% against the dollar. Take away 14% from the EU price and you get €1,290 - pretty close to the UK price.
You are comparing 2 different products' prices.
The M2 Air is up £49 compared to its US counterpart. A ~5% increase. And its up €200 compared to its US counterpart. An ~18% increase.
Exchange rates explain this easily.
> The EU price is €1,500, up from €1,050 - a 43% increase.
where did you get these prices?
From Apple store Italy
M1
8 core CPU
7 Core GPU
8GB RAM
€ 1.229,00
---
M2
8 core CPU
8 Core GPU
8GB RAM
€ 1.529,00
The parsimonious explanation is that the Euro went from 120¢ to 98¢ in the intervening time. I have no opinion on why that happened, I will pretend I don't even know what the ECB is.
I'm never going to buy an Apple M* at actual price points.
I was merely pointing out that ECB has nothing to do with the prices of Apple products, compared to equivalent in the US.
Apple raised the prices outside the USA and kept the same prices in the US.
That's all.
So, you are right. Apple raised prices. I suspect exchange rates. It is easier to account for unfavorable exchange rates in new products than in raising prices of existing products.
The same difference exists in European Apple stores (~+25%).
They simply kept lower prices in US in my opinion, but obviously comparing US prices with non-US prices for a US manufacturer it's not going to work in favor of the non-US market.
We must destroy Europe before it’s too late!
I still use the 2013 MBA almost daily—mostly as an external keyboard and screen for my iPhone notes, but it really slowed down with Mojave, so I’m trying to decide whether to pick up a cheap replacement M1 model now, or wait for sales on the M2. I think I can hold out a little, but won’t quite make the 10 year mark.
BTW, the c. 1993 Mac Centris was able to boot up last year (at 28 years old!), and thanks to an Ethernet adapter I dumpster-dived from work in the early 2000s, I was even able to get online with it without any extra configuration. Netscape Navigator doesn’t do too well with modern websites (and probably made for a baffling entry in some server logs), but I could at least load the Dole/Kemp ‘96 site.
“Is Tim Apple a billionaire?”
This has been coming for some time, the refreshed 14" and 16" Pro models already had their base capacity bumped to 512.
Is there some reason to assume that Apple isn't just facing the supply chain issues that have been plaguing the other laptop makers?