Apple’s “The spotlight turns to notebooks” event fuels $800 pricepoint rumor
By Ronald O Carlson
Rumors of the imminent launch of a sub $1000 Apple notebook are gaining credence with a number of media outlets having received invitations to a portable-specific media event next Tuesday.
Engadget reports it has received such an invitation:
The rumors were true folks. Apple is staging an invitation-only Town Hall event … It’s absolutely safe to say they’ll be showing off new laptops … Will this be an unveiling of a whole new form factor? Will this “Brick” mystery be put to bed? Will they come in rainbow colors?
Apple retail stores have apparently received revised price lists, which provide 12 price points for a new line of notebooks. The cheapest notebook is just US$800, which would just about bring it into competition with some of the more expensive “Netbooks”, as Intel calls them.
Back in July, an investment analyst firm Piper Jaffray said he believed there was an 80% chance Apple would 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),” he said at the time.
Here’s what the media invitation looked like:
Source: News.com
- Time—Oct 14 @ 10am (PST)
- Location—Apple’s 1 Infinite Loop Campus (Cupertino)
- Venue—Apple’s Town Hall
It will be interesting to see whether Steve unveils the fabelled $799 MacBook, or perhaps revised iMacs and minis? So many different things have been rumored over the past few months for once it’s hard to be certain what will happen.
However, with the economic climate getting tougher by the day, a range of cheaper Apple notebooks might be just what Apple needs to maintain marketshare in an increasingly tougher market.
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