Apple to Drop Prices of Notebooks?

MacRumors · 02:19 PM

Investment bank Piper Jaffray issued a note today based on Apple's future outlook in 2008 and 2009. During their financial conference call, Apple told investors that they expect the company's gross margins will by down to 31.5% (from 34.8%) in Q4 2008 with expectations of further declines down to 30% for fiscal 2009.

The investment bank believes that while Apple tends to be conservative in their predictions, they also expect that Apple may be preparing to cut prices of existing prices to maintain sales momentum. They believe there's an "80% chance" that Apple will introduce redesigned MacBooks and possibly MacBook Pros at lower price points. Specifically, the quote prices starting at $999 (down from $1099) for the MacBook and $1,799 (down from $1999) for the MacBook Pro. They also expect "slightly redesigned" iPods and "lower-cost" iPod Touches in time for the holiday buying season.

Apple's financial conference call has sparked off a flurry of speculation about their future "mystery" product. A Page 2 rumor even reintroduces an unconfirmed possibility of a MacBook Touch.

Article Link

macenforcer · Jul 22, 2008, 01:59 PM

Bout freakin time.

AliensAreFuzzy · Jul 22, 2008, 02:00 PM

That would be super as I will soon be in the market for a new laptop to replace my original MBP.

MacGeek7 · Jul 22, 2008, 02:00 PM

That's good to hear...maybe I won't have to wait so long to update my MB

t0mat0 · Jul 22, 2008, 02:01 PM

MB and MBP multi-touch is not a matter of if, but when.

Why would Apple cut its profit margins? It isn't Dell, making low end kit, with small margins, so why do it? Piper Jaffray seems to have been going out on a limb here. They'll bump everything i'd imagine. Wouldn't see APple reducing any price points much, if at all, unless they have a better line planned.

Glueeater · Jul 22, 2008, 02:01 PM

lala the Tuesday threads are closing in!

angemon89 · Jul 22, 2008, 02:01 PM

These new rumors are awesome. First MacBook touch now this. Woot!

arian19 · Jul 22, 2008, 02:03 PM

so the new MBP most be around the corner

salbenacci · Jul 22, 2008, 02:04 PM

How about the MBA? If the price for the MBP drops to $1,799 (which is currently the price of the standard MBA), how much do you guys think the MBA would cost?

AliensAreFuzzy · Jul 22, 2008, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salbenacci

How about the MBA? If the price for the MBP drops to $1,799 (which is currently the price of the standard MBA), how much do you guys think the MBA would cost?

I'd guess probably down to $1,599. But I wouldn't expect to see that until they release an updated version.

urbanskywalker · Jul 22, 2008, 02:07 PM

I hope they don't loose the student price cut in the change.

Sky Blue · Jul 22, 2008, 02:08 PM

I can see Apple lowering the MacBook prices...

...CD-ROM drives and 512MB for everyone!

solipsism · Jul 22, 2008, 02:08 PM

Looking at how much business Apple does with Macs and the projection for the next quarter Mac sales the estimated price drop and the gross margin estimate don't add up.

What is more likely is that the cost of the notebooks will rise. For example, aluminum in the MacBook line and better display panels.

Freezerburnt · Jul 22, 2008, 02:08 PM

I think that a price drop would be great, as long as education discounts stay the same (however I see this as very unlikely, as you can currently get $200 a Macbook Pro, meaning the price would be down to something around $1500 for the lower end model).

What do you think? Do you think that a price drop would affect the Education Store pricing at all?

Nik · Jul 22, 2008, 02:09 PM

That's about time!

Peace · Jul 22, 2008, 02:09 PM

More speculation from a financial analysts. Just what we need.

not saying they're wrong though

macenforcer · Jul 22, 2008, 02:10 PM

Well when you can get a fully loaded Lenovo Thinkpad for $1200 something is very wrong. Even if apple drops the prices by $500 its still a ripoff but at least less of one. Right now its is borderline illegal.

Sky Blue · Jul 22, 2008, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glueeater

lala the Tuesday threads are closing in!

Even worse than that ... those fake media invites will be circulating soon!

Xavier · Jul 22, 2008, 02:11 PM

Interesting. I think I might be back in the market for a new MBP with the redesign after all

Snowcat001 · Jul 22, 2008, 02:11 PM

I would LOVE to see a slogan like this

!!!!!

kabunaru · Jul 22, 2008, 02:12 PM

About time Apple... About time...
Now if you can only drop the Mac Pro's price to $2299 and iMac's (basic) to $999 and then it would be very nice.

Squonk · Jul 22, 2008, 02:12 PM

I lower cost MB? Yes please!

Can they deliver a lower priced MB with LED back lighting?

So, we might have something like:
MB 13", 1GB, 160GB, combo $999
MB 13", 2GB, 200GB, SD $1199
MB 13", 2GB, 250GB, SD Black $1399

MBP 15", 2GB, 200GB, SD $1799
MBP 15", 2GB, 320GB, SD $2299 (faster)
MBP 17", 2GB, 320GB, SD $2599

That would be very cool. And just think of the refurb pricing - OH YEAH!!!

Nik · Jul 22, 2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowcat001

I would LOVE to see a slogan like this

!!!!!

With a contract which costs 10$ a month, yay!

wake6830 · Jul 22, 2008, 02:12 PM

Figures. I just gave up and bought my wife a MBP last week.

chinodragon · Jul 22, 2008, 02:13 PM

YAY! im going to save myself a couple bucks now

Jul 22, 2008, 01:58 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Apple to Drop Prices of Notebooks? Investment bank Piper Jaffray issued a note today based on Apple's future outlook in 2008 and 2009. During their financial conference call, Apple told investors that they expect the company's gross margins will by down to 31.5% (from 34.8%) in Q4 2008 with expectations of further declines down to 30% for fiscal 2009. The investment bank believes that while Apple tends to be conservative in their predictions, they also expect that Apple may be preparing to cut prices of existing prices to maintain sales momentum. They believe there's an "80% chance" that Apple will introduce redesigned MacBooks and possibly MacBook Pros at lower price points. Specifically, the quote prices starting at $999 (down from $1099) for the MacBook and $1,799 (down from $1999) for the MacBook Pro. They also expect "slightly redesigned" iPods and "lower-cost" iPod Touches in time for the holiday buying season. Apple's financial conference call has sparked off a flurry of speculation about their future "mystery" product. A Page 2 rumor even reintroduces an unconfirmed possibility of a MacBook Touch. Article Link Last edited by arn : Jul 22, 2008 at 02:19 PM.

Jul 22, 2008, 02:00 PM	#4
MacGeek7 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2007	That's good to hear...maybe I won't have to wait so long to update my MB __________________ Cleveland 2005-12-10 Chicago 2009-09-12 East Lansing 2010-06-30 Chicago 2010-07-06?

Jul 22, 2008, 02:01 PM	#5
t0mat0 macrumors 68040 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Home	MB and MBP multi-touch is not a matter of if, but when. Why would Apple cut its profit margins? It isn't Dell, making low end kit, with small margins, so why do it? Piper Jaffray seems to have been going out on a limb here. They'll bump everything i'd imagine. Wouldn't see APple reducing any price points much, if at all, unless they have a better line planned. __________________ Looking forward to big things by Apple in 2009

Jul 22, 2008, 02:01 PM	#7
angemon89 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The place where Apple designs stuff	These new rumors are awesome. First MacBook touch now this. Woot! __________________ iMac, MacBook, iPhone 3GS Assembled in China

Jul 22, 2008, 02:07 PM	#11
urbanskywalker macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2007	I hope they don't loose the student price cut in the change. __________________ I still remember the old days of LC computers, OS 7.5, and StyleWriter printers that cost hundreds of dollars.

Jul 22, 2008, 01:59 PM	#2
macenforcer Banned Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Colorado	Bout freakin time.

Jul 22, 2008, 02:00 PM	#3
AliensAreFuzzy macrumors Demi-God Join Date: May 2004 Location: Madison, WI	That would be super as I will soon be in the market for a new laptop to replace my original MBP.

Jul 22, 2008, 02:01 PM	#6
Glueeater macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2008	lala the Tuesday threads are closing in!

Jul 22, 2008, 02:03 PM	#8
arian19 macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2008	so the new MBP most be around the corner

Jul 22, 2008, 02:04 PM	#9
salbenacci macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2008	How about the MBA? If the price for the MBP drops to $1,799 (which is currently the price of the standard MBA), how much do you guys think the MBA would cost?

Jul 22, 2008, 02:08 PM	#12
Sky Blue macrumors 68040 Join Date: Jan 2005	I can see Apple lowering the MacBook prices... ...CD-ROM drives and 512MB for everyone!

Jul 22, 2008, 02:08 PM	#13
solipsism macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2008	Looking at how much business Apple does with Macs and the projection for the next quarter Mac sales the estimated price drop and the gross margin estimate don't add up. What is more likely is that the cost of the notebooks will rise. For example, aluminum in the MacBook line and better display panels.

Jul 22, 2008, 02:08 PM	#14
Freezerburnt macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2008	What About Education Pricing? I think that a price drop would be great, as long as education discounts stay the same (however I see this as very unlikely, as you can currently get $200 a Macbook Pro, meaning the price would be down to something around $1500 for the lower end model). What do you think? Do you think that a price drop would affect the Education Store pricing at all?

Jul 22, 2008, 02:09 PM	#15
Nik macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Germany	That's about time!

Jul 22, 2008, 02:09 PM	#16
Peace macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: On top of the Storm Peaks waiting for the Time-Lost Proto Drake	More speculation from a financial analysts. Just what we need. not saying they're wrong though

Jul 22, 2008, 02:10 PM	#17
macenforcer Banned Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Colorado	Well when you can get a fully loaded Lenovo Thinkpad for $1200 something is very wrong. Even if apple drops the prices by $500 its still a ripoff but at least less of one. Right now its is borderline illegal.

Jul 22, 2008, 02:11 PM	#19
Xavier macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2006	Interesting. I think I might be back in the market for a new MBP with the redesign after all __________________ Flickr - MBP

Jul 22, 2008, 02:11 PM	#20
Snowcat001 macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Belgium	I would LOVE to see a slogan like this !!!!!

Jul 22, 2008, 02:12 PM	#21
kabunaru Guest Join Date: Jan 2008	About time Apple... About time... Now if you can only drop the Mac Pro's price to $2299 and iMac's (basic) to $999 and then it would be very nice.

Jul 22, 2008, 02:12 PM	#22
Squonk macrumors 65816 Join Date: Mar 2005	I lower cost MB? Yes please! Can they deliver a lower priced MB with LED back lighting? So, we might have something like: MB 13", 1GB, 160GB, combo $999 MB 13", 2GB, 200GB, SD $1199 MB 13", 2GB, 250GB, SD Black $1399 MBP 15", 2GB, 200GB, SD $1799 MBP 15", 2GB, 320GB, SD $2299 (faster) MBP 17", 2GB, 320GB, SD $2599 That would be very cool. And just think of the refurb pricing - OH YEAH!!! __________________ iSwitched in 1988 MP quad 2.8 (4GB/1.5TB/ATI 2600), iPhone, iPods

Jul 22, 2008, 02:12 PM	#24
wake6830 macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2007	Figures. I just gave up and bought my wife a MBP last week.

Jul 22, 2008, 02:13 PM	#25
chinodragon macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2008	YAY! im going to save myself a couple bucks now __________________ 13" Macbook, 2.0 GHz, 512 GB Ram, 80 GB HD; 30 GB Ipod

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