Apple has launched a new series of iMacs, it has also used this occasion to increase the price of its range of MacBook and Mac Pro computers. The increase is substantial enough that it cannot all be attributed to the falling exchange rate; especially since the Mac Pro now costs an entirely ridiculous sum of RM18,599.
The MacBook Air sees the smallest price hike, with the lowest end 11-inch MacBook Air jumping from RM3391 to RM4099; an increase of over RM700. That is now the cheapest option for a MacBook. The highest end Macbook Air will set buyers back an impressive RM5449.
MacBook Pro prices saw an even bigger price increase. Apple fans will have to pay at least an extra RM1,000 for the same models. These are not the refreshed versions, but rather the same models launched earlier this year. The 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display and a 512GB of storage now sets buyers back an impressive RM11,299. That’s paying five figures for a laptop; something that even richest of gamers have trouble wrapping their heads around.
On the Mac Pro end, prices have been bumped up to RM13,999 and RM18,599. These machines are admittedly designed for content production use and were never meant for the average consumer; although that doesn’t quite justify the new price point. The increase of RM3,600 on the highest end Mac Pro now means that it is worth more than my 2009 Proton Saga BLM.
iMacs have also seen a price increase, although new models have replaced the older versions. This means that while prices have increased, so have the specifications. The new iMacs feature Retina displays and improved processors, which at least justifies the new prices.
Buyers should keep in mind that the Apple online store does not include the 6-percent GST charge, which is an even more depressing thought. There is no telling if there will be another price hike when the MacBooks are refreshed with the new sixth Generation Intel processors, but at the rate things are going it wouldn’t be surprising if it happened.
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