Reflects shift to iPad for learning

Apple has now informed resellers that the educational version of the white MacBook, the last such model, is now discontinued, MacRumors reports. The $999 notebook was marked "end of life" for consumers last July, but the company continued to offer the model to educational institutions. The move marks the end of any non-aluminum Macs, and reflects the growing tendency of schools to focus on significantly-cheaper iPads as digital learning portals.

Consumers have widely embraced either more-powerful notebooks such as the MacBook Pro or higher-end Windows portables, or come to rely more on devices like the iPad and iPhone as their "portable" computing solution, leaving a more powerful machine at home. The iPad in particular has demonstrated great versatility beyond its original design, and Apple's recent push into textbooks and educational applications for iOS and the iPad has left the MacBook without a clear advantage over cheaper Windows laptops.

Notebooks now make up over half of all Mac sales, despite the growing popularity of the iMac as a home workstation. The company's strong pro notebook line, which can handle even demanding tasks such as pro audio and video creation, along with the popularity of the "ultrabook" progenitor the MacBook Air for less demanding users, has largely replaced the MacBook line at around the same price points.

by MacNN Staff