Apple declared 12" MacBook with Retina display as obsolete with all support for the hardware. It means Apple won't allow independent repair companies to fix it anymore. They also won't be giving them parts either. So for anyone who owns this specific MacBook, they won't be able to use Apple-official support for hardware repairs anymore. Which, of course, limits them heavily when it comes to prolonging the life of their machine. We think this is rather practical for the people still using it and relying on it. Now they have to find some third-party solution or have to buy a new hardware.
Apple cuts off spare parts supply for the 920g laptop
The 12" MacBook was introduced in 2015 and it was Apple's take on an ultra-mobile thin-and-light professional laptop. The specs include 920-gram frame, Retina screen, power-efficient Intel chip, USB-C connectivity. Along with haptic Multi-Touch trackpad, and controversial butterfly keyboard mechanism. The last version of this specific MacBook line was released in 2017. So, we saw the last iterations of this hardware design.
Specifications
- Weight: 920g
- Launch Year: 2015
- Processor: Intel
- Keyboard Type: Butterfly
First of all, what this announcement is about is the fact Apple has dropped 12" MacBook from its supported product list. The company decided that this product is now obsolete, meaning it has indefinitely cut all of its official hardware support for this specific device. It means that Apple has now severed the supply chain for official parts for independent repairers. It also means that even if some technician could fix it, they won't be able to do it with official Apple parts anymore.
Apple basically drew a line under this particular product lifecycle that was so characteristic for its era of ultra-mobile computing. 12" MacBook with Retina display was a special niche product that was aimed at users who need ultra-mobile yet great screen quality, with little need for expandability. Now that support is cut off, users will have to either fix the current one with unofficial support or switch to a newer one. The 'obsolete' label basically makes it very clear that Apple dropped this line of hardware from its active support space.
Source: NotebookCheck
Discussion
0 comments