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"Hello again," reads the invitation from Apple to the Thursday
product launch, likely a reference to the original Macintosh
that debuted with "hello" scrolled across its black and white
screen.
Technology websites, including Techradar, expect the new MacBook
Pro to remain the workhouse of the notebook computer line while
getting updates like a fingerprint reader and high-speed USB
ports. Like the iPhone 7, it will drop a standard headphone
jack.
Apple reported its third straight quarter of declining iPhone
sales earlier this week, although it also sees a record holiday
quarter by sales, thanks to the new iPhone 7.
The Mac line accounted for about 11 percent of Apple sales in
the just-finished fiscal year, with the number of machines sold
down by 10 percent to 18.5 million. Apple said that was in line
with an overall market decline, but analysts and investors said
Apple needs to start growing again.
"What they really need to do is get people buying Macs again,
instead of upgrading old ones. They haven't had a new, powerful
MacBook Pro in a while and the MacBook Air is getting old," said
Jan Dawson of Jackdaw Research.
He said the fingerprint reader could help sell more Macs. "Touch
ID for Apple Pay could be interesting," he said.
Macs still outsell iPads in dollar terms, and old rival
Microsoft Corp <MSFT.O> on Wednesday debuted its first desktop
computer in a bid to re-energize the sector with software that
allows 3D editing.
HP Inc <HPQ.N> meanwhile has claimed that it has the thinnest
notebook computer, a prize Apple held for some time.
Bob O'Donnell, president of TECHnalysis Research LLC, said the
Mac announcement comes during a time when the market believes
focus on the iPhone means Apple has "almost given up on Macs,"
which has lead to lose market share to personal computers.
"It'll be good to have Apple keep themselves relevant" with new
Macs, he said. "Though many had written the category off, it's
fascinating to see both Microsoft and Apple make big PC-related
announcements this week. It clearly shows the relevance that
computers still have."
(Reporting by Deborah M. Todd and Julia Love; Editing by Peter
Henderson and Lisa Shumaker)
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