Episode Summary
Executive Summary: The episode centers on Apple’s new MacBook Pro lineup and Microsoft’s Surface Studio, comparing both as expensive, aspirational devices aimed at creative professionals. The hosts argue that the PC and Mac markets are moving upmarket, but Apple’s laptop redesign and TV app raise usability and lineup concerns, while Microsoft is using premium hardware to reshape Windows’ image.
Main Topics: Microsoft Surface Studio as a premium halo device (Priority: 5/5): The hosts debate whether the Surface Studio is a true next-gen PC or an aspirational showcase for Windows, focusing on its design, target market, and intentionally high price. Apple’s new MacBook Pro design and pricing (Priority: 5/5): They dissect the refreshed MacBook Pros, especially the keyboard, display, processor choices, port removal, and the steep price ladder that pushes the lineup further upscale. Touch Bar as Apple’s new interaction model (Priority: 5/5): A long discussion explores Apple’s refusal to add a touchscreen Mac and instead introducing the Touch Bar as a hybrid touch interface meant to replace fixed function keys. The future of expensive PCs and laptops (Priority: 4/5): The hosts argue that both Microsoft and Apple are betting the future of computing is smaller-volume, higher-margin hardware sold at much higher prices. Apple TV and fragmented television services (Priority: 4/5): They criticize Apple’s new TV app for being messy, incomplete, and constrained by cable and streaming partners, arguing TV remains the hardest consumer tech problem. Ports, dongles, and workflow pain (Priority: 4/5): The removal of SD slots, standard USB, and other legacy ports on Apple laptops is framed as a real professional workflow problem, especially for photographers and event users. Brand strategy, creative markets, and platform identity (Priority: 3/5): Both companies are using premium creative-focused devices to reshape how their ecosystems are perceived: Microsoft wants Windows to feel cooler; Apple wants the Mac to feel modern and flexible.
Key Arguments: Microsoft’s Surface Studio is less a mass-market PC than a halo product designed to make Windows hardware look creative, premium, and aspirational. Apple’s new MacBook Pro line is impressive in display quality and industrial design, but its pricing, port removals, and lack of SD slots make it less compelling for many pros. The Touch Bar is Apple’s philosophical answer to touch on laptops: a touch interface without turning the whole display into a touchscreen. Both Apple and Microsoft are likely moving toward fewer units sold at higher prices, because the PC market no longer behaves like a growth market. Apple’s TV app is a workaround for a broken TV ecosystem, not a real solution, because major services and cable partners still control access and data. The best computer interfaces increasingly assume two-handed, direct manipulation, but laptops still create friction when touch-like interaction is placed above a non-touch display.
Data Points: Surface Studio price: $3,000 - The Surface Studio is described as a premium all-in-one aimed at creative users. Surface Studio RAM: Up to 32 GB - Microsoft’s desktop offers high-end memory configurations. MacBook Pro 15-inch starting price: $1,799 - The hosts note the new 15-inch MacBook Pro starts at a high price. MacBook Pro config price: $2,399 - They cite the configuration Apple seems to want buyers to consider most. MacBook Pro max price mentioned: $4,200 - A fully loaded configuration is said to reach this level. Touchpad size comparison: Larger than an iPhone 6S Plus by about 30% around the entire device footprint - They compare the 15-inch MacBook Pro trackpad to an entire iPhone 6S Plus placed on top of it. Apple TV app ecosystem size: 8,000 apps - The hosts mention the Apple TV App Store size while discussing TV fragmentation. Masterclass Aaron Sorkin course length: 35 lessons, over 6 hours of video - Read during the ad break for Masterclass. GraphicStock trial: 7-day free trial with 140 downloads - Read during the ad break for GraphicStock. GraphicStock annual price: $99/year - Read during the ad break for GraphicStock. Apple history milestone: 25th anniversary of the first PowerBook 170 - Apple spends significant time referencing its laptop history during the event. PowerBook-to-new MacBook Pro speed claim: 6.8 million times faster - A comparison Apple makes in its presentation.
Pivotal Quotes: "I think the future of both PC and Mac is the thing that we saw this week. And I think the future is that they're just going to get more expensive." — Vlad Savov: On the broader market direction for premium computing devices. "This is the software equivalent of that. Crappy iTunes Motorocker phone, only Apple made it itself on its own hardware." — Nilay Patel: Criticizing Apple TV’s fragmented, workaround-heavy interface approach. "When you think Windows, what do you think? You think symphonies with spreadsheets." — Dieter Bohn: Discussing Microsoft’s effort to reposition Windows as creative and stylish.
Implications: The episode suggests premium computing is becoming more exclusive, with fewer buyers and more workflow compromises. Microsoft and Apple are both betting that creative professionals will pay for better hardware, but Apple’s port removals and TV fragmentation may frustrate pros and consumers alike.
About The Vergecast
The Vergecast is the flagship podcast from The Verge about small gadgets, Big Tech, and everything in between. Every Friday, hosts Nilay Patel and David Pierce hang out and make sense of the week’s most important technology news. And every Tuesday, David leads a selection of The Verge’s expert staffers in an exploration of how gadgets and software affect our lives – and which ones you should bring into yours.