Honestly, it's a Godsend that Microsoft launched their new Surface devices just before Apple's event. Without them on the market, I could see creatives on older Macs just holding out for another few years (giving more credence to the suggestion that people just aren't interested in desktops/laptops anymore). The Surfaces, though, represent real competition – and I can see that translating into Apple ramping up Mac R&D instead of ramping it down.
The real issue, though, is that Apple are locked into 4-5 year design revisions for the MBPs. It's tough to see them responding to the Surfaces in any significant way for a couple of years, at least. I also think Apple have really hamstrung themselves in terms of trying to avoid Mac sales cannibalising iPad sales... and I think that's a hole that it's going to take them half a decade to dig themselves out of.
Honestly, it's a Godsend that Microsoft launched their new Surface devices just before Apple's event. Without them on the market, I could see creatives on older Macs just holding out for another few years (giving more credence to the suggestion that people just aren't interested in desktops/laptops anymore). The Surfaces, though, represent real competition – and I can see that translating into Apple ramping up Mac R&D instead of ramping it down.
The real issue, though, is that Apple are locked into 4-5 year design revisions for the MBPs. It's tough to see them responding to the Surfaces in any significant way for a couple of years, at least. I also think Apple have really hamstrung themselves in terms of trying to avoid Mac sales cannibalising iPad sales... and I think that's a hole that it's going to take them half a decade to dig themselves out of.