The new 12-inch Retina MacBook’s design is so radical that it may take some time for Apple users to get used to the design enough to actually buy it, says KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
The all-new MacBook’s single USB-C port may be a sticking point for some consumers, Kuo said in a Wednesday morning note to investors reviewed by AppleInsider, as the ecosystem surrounding the diminutive connector is still in its nascent stages and the need for expansion dongles may prove inconvenient. This, combined with its high starting price relative to the MacBook Air and expected constraints on supply, may mean that Apple could sell as few as 450,000 new MacBooks in the first half of this year.
That number would represent just a fraction of total Mac sales, which are predicted to top 10 million for the first half of 2015.
Apple’s newest MacBook has a starting price of $1,299, compared to $899 and $999 for the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air models, respectively. It should be noted that neither of those models boast the Retina display of the 12-inch MacBook.
The 12-inch MacBook also boasts a single USB-C port, replacing other MacBook models’ USB, Thunderbolt, and SD Card slots, which has been a matter of consternation in the social-sphere.
Kuo does believe the new MacBook will pick up steam down the road, as consumers learn to accept the USB-C ecosystem, and continue to focus on buying thinner and lighter devices.
