Apple is killing the legacy MacBook Pro

by BRYAN CLARK

Originally spotted in a report from Apple Insider, and verified by TNW, Apple is clearing its retail locations of the legacy (non-Retina) 13-inch MacBook Pro.

After phoning half a dozen Apple stores in and near San Diego, TNW found that clerks reported no real news (from management) as to why they were clearing the stock from the sales floor, but that it had been happening for “about a week.” One clerk even went so far as to say she was “surprised” and that the non-retina screens were still relatively hot sellers amongst older buyers.

That said, phasing out the legacy models makes sense, as — fingers crossed — we should see an entirely new line of MacBook’s this fall. Of course, now that the legacy model is dead, you’ll have to learn to live without that optical drive. So, dry your eyes and grab a non-Retina MacBook Pro at a (presumably) steep discount if you can find one — or, better still, don’t buy a MacBook at all.

The current model, after all, is over a year old and new MacBooks are on the horizon.

Apple pulls legacy non-Retina MacBook Pro from retail store displays

By Roger Fingas

Apple Stores are beginning to remove the 13-inch non-Retina MacBook Pro from their showfloors, in what may be a sign the company is preparing to completely phase out the product with a spinning optical disc drive, AppleInsider discovered on Monday.

While the computer is still largely in stock and available to buy, some stores are no longer putting it out for shoppers to try in person, according to a tip received by AppleInsider and confirmed with follow-up checks with several Apple Stores around the U.S.

A clerk at an Austin location notably said that their store had pulled non-Retina units from the showfloor just last week, and that other stores were doing the same. 

A phase-out would make sense, as the company last updated the computer in 2012, reserving future upgrades for Retina models. In fact all of Apple's major products now have Retina displays, with the exception of the MacBook Air.

Accordingly the company has marginalized the non-Retina Pro in sales and marketing. It sits at the bottom of Apple's store page for the Pro, and isn't even mentioned on the main product page. In the course of research, a clerk at a New York City Apple Store steered AppleInsider towards buying a Retina model, arguing that the non-Retina system would quickly become outdated, and that a refurbished Retina would make more sense when trying to save money.

Apple is moreover believed to be preparing a redesigned MacBook Pro with an OLED "touch bar," and likely other upgrades as well, one possibility being a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. The machine should go on sale sometime later this year.