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Apple raises prices of MacBooks, iPads

reuters.com

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Re: Apple raises prices of MacBooks, iPads

#291

Post by petercooper »

jdiff wrote: post #215

Man, if there was anyone that could weather the storm with their thick memory margins (at least on upgrades), it should have been Apple.

(I know this is not how business works, but..) I worked out if they ate a $200 per Mac bump themselves, their reserves would run out in 58 years at current sales rates :-D

More realistically, though, I'm surprised they didn't eat it up until new releases when they often increase prices. All the current models will be gone in a year and they'd probably barely notice that. Perhaps they've been eating it up for the past year or two and push came to shove.

Re: Apple raises prices of MacBooks, iPads

#292

Post by matthewfcarlson »

SoftTalker wrote: post #268
dofm wrote: post #258

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it is fully likely that Apple will extend the life of the M1 in OS support terms because of this problem. They don't have much choice but to phase out Intel support, but they absolutely can make the choice to extend support for anything they make themselves, and they may well judge that deciding not to abandon support for the more price-sensitive to tide them over is worth the extra engineering cost. I person…

They can "make the choice" to continue Intel support also. It's not like they don't know what chips they used and have all the insider NDA info about them.

It's a pretty huge cost to support an entirely different set of hardware with different kernel extensions and an entirely different build (x86 instead of arm64e). Could apple choose to do that? Absolutely. But the cost of supporting an M1 is very different than the cost of supporting Intel.

Re: Apple raises prices of MacBooks, iPads

#293

Post by akulbe »

archvile wrote: post #256
akulbe wrote: post #227

WOW. I'm glad I bought the beast yesterday . The same spec machine I got yesterday is now $2800 more.

Mac Studio? I'm on an M2 Max and looks like I'll be holding onto this thing for a few more generations.

No, M5 Max MBP with all the options.

I wanted a Studio, but if I was going to get a Studio, I'd get something older because they crippled the current models.

I have an M2 Max, as well, and I wonder what I could get for it on resale... or maybe I should just keep it.

Re: Apple raises prices of MacBooks, iPads

#294

Post by rogerrogerr »

websap wrote: post #284
lastofthemojito wrote: post #238

This feels like the car market during COVID. In December Best Buy had a $1999 configuration of the M5 MacBook Pro on sale for $1749 and I scooped one up. Now that model is $2199. I suspect I could sell the computer I've been using for 6 months at a profit, which is just bizarre. But then of course it would cost a lot if I wanted to replace it.

Naaah, no way anyone buying that for profit

Why not?

Re: Apple raises prices of MacBooks, iPads

#295

Post by adolph »

hodder wrote: post #232

Forgive me because I do not understand the supply chain for memory. With Micron et al effectively scalping their customers with an oligopoly on probably the lowest intellectual IP in the chain, does this not guarantee 10 years from now a) We are either overbuilt as hyperscalers cut capex, or b) hyperscalers vertically integrate. Or is it truly that hard to make memory? And if that is not true, perhaps it isn't really…

As I understand it, the dynamics are similar to generic drugs where there is a large capital hurdle to new production facilities and a likelihood that prices will soon drop to a point that a new facility will lose money.

https://www.asianometry.com/p/the-semiconductor-bust-still-c...

Re: Apple raises prices of MacBooks, iPads

#296

Post by SoftTalker »

gruez wrote: post #269
hodder wrote: post #232

Forgive me because I do not understand the supply chain for memory. With Micron et al effectively scalping their customers with an oligopoly on probably the lowest intellectual IP in the chain, does this not guarantee 10 years from now a) We are either overbuilt as hyperscalers cut capex, or b) hyperscalers vertically integrate. Or is it truly that hard to make memory? And if that is not true, perhaps it isn't really…

>If oil companies are “gouging,” what is 85% margins on memory, threatening the whole bull run and raising compute, Killing AI, and raising iPhone/computer pricing? Countdown to DOJ antitrust case is ticking Antitrust =/= gouging. Jacking up prices during a shortage (eg. electric generators just before a hurricane) might be considered gouging, but it doesn't fall under antitrust. It's just supply and demand.

It's not exploitative either. It's just supply and demand.

Re: Apple raises prices of MacBooks, iPads

#297

Post by mcv »

lastofthemojito wrote: post #238

This feels like the car market during COVID. In December Best Buy had a $1999 configuration of the M5 MacBook Pro on sale for $1749 and I scooped one up. Now that model is $2199. I suspect I could sell the computer I've been using for 6 months at a profit, which is just bizarre. But then of course it would cost a lot if I wanted to replace it.

I just received my new MacBook yesterday. Today it's more than €700 more expensive than what I paid.

Re: Apple raises prices of MacBooks, iPads

#299

Post by arpinum »

hodder wrote: post #232

Forgive me because I do not understand the supply chain for memory. With Micron et al effectively scalping their customers with an oligopoly on probably the lowest intellectual IP in the chain, does this not guarantee 10 years from now a) We are either overbuilt as hyperscalers cut capex, or b) hyperscalers vertically integrate. Or is it truly that hard to make memory? And if that is not true, perhaps it isn't really…

Building a new memory fab takes 3-4 years, extremely capital intensive. Micron is spending $25B+ on Capex and more than half of that is for new memory capacity, a 3x increase over 2 years.

It is a very risky business, overestimate demand by too much and you go bankrupt. And yes, it is hard, especially HBM. Fabs are scaling up, but it is hard to estimate demand in 2029, and it may be better to not overshoot.

They also need to get in line to buy ASML EUV tooling, and ASML has to deal with scaling for their suppliers as well. There are tons of bottlenecks and complexities.

It is a commodity in that there are standards, not that there are many firms that can hit the standards.

This isn't gouging, this is bidding on fixed quantities and bidders having a high willingness to pay. Think of it like an auction.

Re: Apple raises prices of MacBooks, iPads

#300

Post by hodder »

gruez wrote: post #269
hodder wrote: post #232

Forgive me because I do not understand the supply chain for memory. With Micron et al effectively scalping their customers with an oligopoly on probably the lowest intellectual IP in the chain, does this not guarantee 10 years from now a) We are either overbuilt as hyperscalers cut capex, or b) hyperscalers vertically integrate. Or is it truly that hard to make memory? And if that is not true, perhaps it isn't really…

>If oil companies are “gouging,” what is 85% margins on memory, threatening the whole bull run and raising compute, Killing AI, and raising iPhone/computer pricing? Countdown to DOJ antitrust case is ticking Antitrust =/= gouging. Jacking up prices during a shortage (eg. electric generators just before a hurricane) might be considered gouging, but it doesn't fall under antitrust. It's just supply and demand.

I agree man. I’m just quoting Donald.
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