The ‘Mac Potpourri’ Mailbag: Edition #1- Infographic On History Of 15-inch MacBook Pro

COMMENTARY: 11.20.19- Welcome to the inaugural edition of the “Mac Potpourri” Mailbag where we take a look at correspondence received from readers of this column from all over the world who write in for a number of reasons ranging from commentary to feedback in regard to an article I’ve written along with my response back to the sender as well as any related background information on the subject (individual) of the e-mail sent in.

Disclaimer:

• subject of the e-mail has given permission for their correspondence to be published in the “Mac Potpourri” Mailbag and provided identification information (and other background information, if applicable) for publication
• e-mails sent in to the “Mac Potpourri” Mailbag are published verbatim but may be edited for content (e.g., spelling and grammar) and/or editorial purposes
• complete e-mail address of the sender will not be published for privacy reasons

(Story continues after the break…).

Every so often, since my MacPrices e-mail address is in the public domain, I receive correspondence from third parties which generally tend to be spam (e.g., foreign companies trying to sell Apple product knock offs or parts for repair) but once in awhile, I get a message in my inbox that is legitimate and from an actual person who has read an article of mine from this column (and much to my sheer delight!).

Last month, in mid October, I received the following e-mail from an individual from the other side of the world who came across an article of mine from back in July of this year which opined on why Apple needs an ultraportable model of a Mac once again, coming on the heels of the recently discontinued (at the time) 12-inch MacBook from its notebook computer lineup.

From: Gagandeep Singh
To: Joe Leo
Subject: New Infographic For MacPrices
Date: Wed, Oct 16, 2019 at 11:50 PM

Gagandeep

Gagandeep Singh, 18, of New Delhi, India is by day a student at the University of Delhi in his second year of college who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree with a major in commerce and a minor in political science. By night, he moonlights as a blogger who writes the blog “Best Laptop India” which he runs from his home during his spare time, an endeavor he began in May of this year.

In an effort to gain more readership and attract attention to his content on the web, Singh creates infographics which he pitches to other already established websites with a major presence on the internet (case in point, such as MacPrices)in hopes of receiving a link back as the only stipulation for its use.

Other than the aforementioned one he has submitted to MacPrices for consideration — which he informs me is being shared exclusively to our site, namely for my column, and has not been distributed to any other media outlets or websites — (click here for a full size render in high resolution) — Singh previously created a series of infographics that have highlighted the history of famous devices like Apple’s iPhone, Microsoft’s Surface laptops, and Google’s Pixelbooks.

According to Singh, the MacBook is the world’s most famous laptop (I officially refer to Apple’s portable ware as notebook computers versus laptops) and being a laptop enthusiast himself made him decide to create the infographic on the history of the 15-inch MacBook Pro.

I was intrigued and very much interested in checking out and using his infographic, and, after asking Singh for a detailed description of the image since I am visually impaired (I’ve been completely blind since 2013, something my regular readers already know about me), considered using it for a future story in my column (as opposed to his suggestion to insert it into my July article), however, it would not be slated for publication until sometime in 2021 — which will mark the 15th anniversary of the MacBook Pro line. But, as you well can see, that is still two years out! Thankfully, something else much more recent came up, as in a major product announcement from Apple — the new 16-inch MacBook Pro which was just announced by the Cupertino, California-based tech giant last week at this time (currently its flagship model which resulted in the discontinuation of its 15-inch version) — and the stars line up just perfectly for a different and better idea: finally launching the inaugural edition of the “Mac Potpourri” Mailbag.

So? Here we are at present!

Of course, curious as ever and the inclination of the journalist in me wanting to find out the answers, I had to ask Singh two pressing questions that were on my mind. The first was whether he had any insider info on the impending release of the new 16-inch MacBook Pro (since the timing of his e-mail to me sharing his infographic was just a month in advance of the discontinuation of the 15-inch model) and, second, how he discovered the MacPrices website and happened to come across some of the articles in my column.

Singh, who has been a Mac user and an admirer of the Mac’s early iterations, said that he found MacPrices while searching for the price of a MacBook once, to which he then explored the news section and started reading our reviews of Apple products. (That, of course, would lead to the discovery of my column to where he came across one of my many articles). Ironically? Unfortunately, or should I say sadly, he currently uses a PC laptop running Windows because, as he explained, the MacBook Air — a second generation 13-inch model from 2010 —— that he had been using earlier during his first year of college, began to give him problems with its keyboard (unrelated to the ill fated butterfly keyboards of MacBook models that came five years after the version that he owned) and, because his father rarely uses his PC laptop, they exchanged each other’s machines.

He added that he will consider looking into getting the new 16-inch MacBook Pro once it becomes available in India because, in his own words, it has allegedly changed the previous keyboard mechanism.

Already referred to here twice (in case you were wondering what was being referenced), , the butterfly keyboard, a design that Apple first introduced in 2015 — as reported by Wired magazine in an article published on this day last week — changed the design of the keys to have an innovative flapping wing-like mechanism under them, helping to make the MacBook lineup thinner and lighter but it also rendered them less reliable. The publication also called modern MacBook keyboards Apple’s biggest blunder in recent memory, noting that the company finally is taking steps to rectify the mistake with the latest 16-inch MacBook Pro having a whole new keyboard (which the tech giant calls a Magic Keyboard that features a scissor switch mechanism).

On whether Singh contributing his infographic on the history of the 15-inch MacBook Pro had anything to do with him having any confidential sources in Apple’s supply chain — since India is where the tech giant manufactures some of its products — the blogger and laptop enthusiast said it was just a mere coincidence.

To see exactly what I was inferring, take a look at this related article from back in April of this year about another India-based blogger whose own sources within Apple’s supply chain suggested that a new device to be called the iPhone XE was in the works for Q3 2019 (a report that I, earlier this month, since have declared to be erroneous information as the iPhone SE 2 is forecasted to be going into production next year with a predicted release for March of 2020).

With all of that out of the way and the air cleared (so to speak), one of the follow up e-mails that I received last week from Singh expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to have collaborated together on this mutual project of sorts, a, quid pro quo, if you will… cough! (a reference to the political firestorm currently going on in our government right now, specifically, with the POTUS).

“I am really happy that my work was good enough to be included as part of the ‘Mac Potpourri’ Mailbag’s inaugural edition. I didn’t imagine that it would actually even be considered by an authority website like yours!”

Thank you, too, as well Gagandeep for thinking of MacPrices and me personally with my column in this website in mind as the exclusive venue for showcasing and contributing your work (not to mention taking the time to create the infographic). And more importantly, visiting MacPrices, reading some of the articles in my column, and of course, the very kind words from your original email and that of your most recent message to me calling MacPrices an “authority website” which is such an honor (if I may say so myself)!

I do wish Singh good luck with both his studies at the University of Delhi and the success of his personal blog which I hope my readers will visit when they get the chance.

Plus, of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t remind him to come back and visit MacPrices to look up the best prices on the new 16-inch MacBook Pro — simply click on this link to go directly to the recently updated price tracker and section on our website — when he is finally in the market for purchasing that particular model Mac Notebook computer, or laptop as he likes to refer to it as, once it is available in India (and for anyone reading this right now who are looking as well, wherever you may be based out of).

Well, that about wraps it up for this, the very first edition of the “Mac Potpourri” Mailbag, where we take a look at e-mails sent in from readers like you and take the time to respond to your correspondence right here.

And? Until next time, don’t forget! I welcome and encourage you to get in contact with me in order to share your comments and feedback, regarding the articles you read in this column. You can do so by simply sending an e-mail to me at: j.leo@macprices.net