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Apple to Discontinue 17-inch MacBook Pro, Predicts Analyst

By - Source: Mac Rumors

Apple is predicted to drop the 17-inch MacBook Pro from its mobile lineup later this year due to poor sales.

According to a new report by research analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is expected to discontinue and replace its current 17-inch MacBook Pro with a newer more compact model. The cause of the predicted discontinuation stems from low sales for the first quarter of 2012, where the company sold roughly 50,000 MacBook Pro 17-inch variants out of a total of 3.1 million notebooks sold. Kuo predicts the company's solution will be to replace the 17-inch MacBook Pro with a new model in the third quarter of this year.

“We also predict Apple will roll out a fully new MacBook model in early 3Q12, boasting strong performance and easy carryability by combining the advantages of MacBook Air and MacBook Pro,” said research analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. “While adding new products, Apple is likely to stop making the 17-inch MacBook Pro this year due to falling shipments, in order to maintain a lean product line strategy.”

This could be unfortunate news for 17-inch MacBook Pro lovers, who may lose some screen real estate from the model re-design.

There are 29 Comments.
Top Comments
  • 20
    chuckydb , April 24, 2012 2:30 AM
    Well, look at the price...
    It's the worst ripoff ever, even by Mac standards. No wonder the sales are bad.
    If they lowered the price by almost 500$, then it might sell.
  • 15
    jacobdrj , April 24, 2012 2:33 AM
    It is a niche product: The 13.3 and 15 inch models are cannibalizing the sales of the 17 inch model because the price descrpepancy is too high to justify the increase in screen area, particularly with no increase in actual resolution...

    If they offered something unique: more resolution, higher quality panels, value pricing, more people would buy the Mac Book Pro 17 as their desktop replacements. But as it stands, they are just too expensive for all but the most niche type customers...
Other Comments
  • 20
    chuckydb , April 24, 2012 2:30 AM
    Well, look at the price...
    It's the worst ripoff ever, even by Mac standards. No wonder the sales are bad.
    If they lowered the price by almost 500$, then it might sell.
  • 15
    jacobdrj , April 24, 2012 2:33 AM
    It is a niche product: The 13.3 and 15 inch models are cannibalizing the sales of the 17 inch model because the price descrpepancy is too high to justify the increase in screen area, particularly with no increase in actual resolution...

    If they offered something unique: more resolution, higher quality panels, value pricing, more people would buy the Mac Book Pro 17 as their desktop replacements. But as it stands, they are just too expensive for all but the most niche type customers...
  • 6
    g-unit1111 , April 24, 2012 3:54 AM
    Who would pay the money for a 17" Macbook Pro? Especially when Apple refuses to use the best current hardware available. For that price you could buy a comparably equipped laptop from say Falcon, Sager, Origin, or Digital Storm and you'll have the best hardware you can get for the next 4 - 5 years?
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