Apple to break the thousand buck barrier?
We reported a couple of days ago that financial analysts were speculating that Apple might use price cuts to stave off the effects of the credit crunch. If rumor is to be believed, that could happen imminently with an $800 laptop.
The story comes from inquisitr.com, which quotes a source as saying Apple retail stores have received a price list for a new range with 12 price points (four more than the current range). The lowest is an $800 laptop, three hundred bucks cheaper than the current entry model. If true, it would be the first Apple laptop with a list price below $1,000.
The price list apparently doesn’t include any technical details. Speculators are already floating the idea that the extra price points mean that Apple could be launching a completely new laptop, possible working on the Brick technology. That’s a new manufacturing process, due to be unveiled next week, which makes a MacBook from a single piece of aluminium, theoretically increasing sturdiness while cutting costs.
Inquisitr says its source is someone “we would categorize as reliable, would have access to such information, and who has been accurate in the past”. However, several commentators have questioned the rumor’s reliability, pointing out the source’s claim that retail stores usually get price lists 10 days before products go on sale is not the case.
It certainly wouldn’t come as a major surprise if Apple did cut prices. As far back as July, investment analyst firm Piper Jaffray said “”We believe there is an 80% chance Apple will introduce redesigned MacBooks and possibly new MacBook Pros at lower price points. Specifically, Apple may re-enter the $999 price point (currently $1099) with the MacBook, or test the $1,799 price point with the MacBook Pro (currently $1999).”
And the pressure for price cuts will have intensified with recent reports that Apple is losing market share among new computer purchases.
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October 10th, 2008
wouldn’t it be cool if they made it touchscreen and no keyboard. It would fit on your lap alot better and it wouldn’t want to tip off.