Apple to Introduce Cheaper Macs?

[MacRumors]

AppleInsider reports that Apple is preparing to introduce cheaper Macs as soon as this spring. The move reportedly comes in response to consumer buying patterns shifting toward cheaper computers, including those in the netbook category.

Still, people familiar with the matter say Apple's move towards more affordable Macs isn't so much a response to Redmond's marketing antics as it is an interim solution to combat the proliferation of budget notebooks -- often called netbooks -- until the company is ready to introduce its own take on the market in the much rumored Newton-like web tablet, a project which is taking considerably longer to complete than once anticipated.

The report presumes that the pricing changes would appear in the consumer MacBook and iMac lines, although exact details on models and price points remain unknown.

While exact pricing is unclear or still undetermined at this time, the Mac maker earlier this month quietly flaunted its capacity to deliver a premium system at near recession pricing when it began offering educational institutions a 2GHz, 20-inch aluminum iMac for $899. Even when priced at a $100 to $150 markup for the consumer markets -- as Apple is more than likely eager to preserve its margins -- such an offering would make a material dent in the entry-level cost of owner or switching to a Mac.

AppleInsider claims that the MacBook could see price reductions as part of a minor revision to Apple's notebook lines in the near future.

Article Link: Apple to Introduce Cheaper Macs?

[rhett7660]

Maybe the Microsoft commercials are having an effect on apple's pricing.

Glad to see they might lower them... I am interested to see what they offer as a "cheaper" Mac thou.

[snowmoon]

Let's be serious, when has Apple pricing *ever* been affected by outside forces?

[rhett7660]

Originally Posted by snowmoon

Let's be serious, when has Apple pricing *ever* been affected by outside forces?

Exactly.. hence the rolling of the eyes.. lol.........

[crackbookpro]

Originally Posted by snowmoon

Let's be serious, when has Apple pricing *ever* been affected by outside forces?

ditto...

[MikeTheC]

While I don't take quite the knee-jerk reactionary view that some others do vis a vis Safari, the simple truth of the matter is that I don't use Safari because I find Firefox to better suit my needs.

[NoExpectations]

If the factory can make more, then lower the price (up to the point where Quantity X Unit Margin = Max Profit). If not, then why lower the price if you are already selling as many as you can make? However, based on last quarter's numbers, it appears that Apple is not at 100% factory capacity.

Don't ge me wrong....as a consumer, I want the lowest possible price. Apple, as a publicly traded company, wants the highest possible profit.

[djchristie]

If Apple were bothered why did they put the price of the Mac Mini up during a recession?

[iPie]

Originally Posted by djchristie

If Apple were bothered why did they put the price of the Mac Mini up during a recession?

Q-are they selling any?

Apple sales seem to be down, I would guess that the mini is suffering more than MacBooks.

In this recession, they will not be able to count on Mac users to upgrade as often as they might once have. So they are going to need to convert Microsoft users to Mac and this segment is under pressure from fewer potential consumers (private and professional) willing to spend less money.

[Goona]

Originally Posted by iPie

Q-are they selling any?

Apple sales seem to be down, I would guess that the mini is suffering more than MacBooks.

In this recession, they will not be able to count on Mac users to upgrade as often as they might once have. So they are going to need to convert Microsoft users to Mac and this segment is under pressure from fewer potential consumers (private and professional) willing to spend less money.

Well PC sales are down faster than Macs and they are dropping their prices like crazy, what gives?

[DaBrain]

Originally Posted by djchristie

If Apple were bothered why did they put the price of the Mac Mini up during a recession?

Yep! I'll believe this when I see it!

[wizard]

Originally Posted by djchristie

If Apple were bothered why did they put the price of the Mac Mini up during a recession?

That hits the nail on the head! Especially considering that the new Mini should be cheaper to produce.

What may be coming is an XMAC which is about time.


Dave

[grapefruitx]

It is about time, the 15 inch plus Macbooks are way to expensive in UK £. However i do doubt this Rumor, unless the proliferation of "Free" netbooks is seriously worrying them, or they did get there Market research wrong WRT the latest generation of Macbook, in which case why don't they just drop the price, (oh i forgot they chose to machine it out of solid Aluminum Billet).

I am also not a fan of the Netbook or Mac tablet idea, what do you do with a Netbook, its to small for serious work, apart from bit of text editing same for the tablet, Apple makes products that "do Something" ie iPod is a music player, iPhone is a telephone, Macbook is a personal computer.

The only thing vaguely useful could be a 3G, GPRS, GPS, motion sensor, always on iPhone with a keyboard, even so you still have to have a Phone and a laptop so why would you bother?

No for me unless there is a new plastic macbook to prop up the range at the bottom this rumor is bunkum

[opeter]

Originally Posted by djchristie

If Apple were bothered why did they put the price of the Mac Mini up during a recession?

Apple, give me a 2,26 GHz Mac mini for 500 €!

[MatthewCobb]

x (Credit Crunch) + y (success of Netbooks and iPod Touch) = Hello Apple market-defining device! Cheap, too!

[jb1280]

I could see them doing something with the macbook line similar to what they did with the iMac line - moving the 24" down to the upper 20" model's spot. Adding value to the line without disrupting the price points.

Not sure what that could exactly entail with the notebooks though...

[organerito]

If Apple wants move to the next level, they have to lower their prices. Perhaps, they have convinced 10 to 15% of Americans and 5-10% of the world to have a Mac, but if they keep the same prices they will never dominate the computer market. They'll keep doing well, but slowly. Furthermore, linux and Apple had a chance to break Microsoft during the Vista period. It is going to be a lot more difficult for some people to go mac when they can have Windows 7, which is very good, by the way.

[MacBiscuit]

I don't see why people are so sceptical. They did this before several years ago around the time of the first mac mini and the iBook G4 (which was cheaper than the G3 IIRC...) This was the point I managed to get a few people to switch, as for a while they were actually price competitive with 'quality' PC hardware.

[Pika]

Originally Posted by organerito

If Apple wants move to the next level, they have to lower their prices. Perhaps, they have convinced 10 to 15% of Americans and 5-10% of the world to have a Mac, but if they keep the same prices they will never dominate the computer market. They'll keep doing well, but slowly. Furthermore, linux and Apple had a chance to break Microsoft during the Vista period. It is going to be a lot more difficult for some people to go mac when they can have Windows 7, which is very good, by the way.

Microsoft had a chance to break themselves with vista and they did. they just had their first quarterly loss in something like 20 years.

[bry223]

Originally Posted by organerito

If Apple wants move to the next level, they have to lower their prices. Perhaps, they have convinced 10 to 15% of Americans and 5-10% of the world to have a Mac, but if they keep the same prices they will never dominate the computer market. They'll keep doing well, but slowly. Furthermore, linux and Apple had a chance to break Microsoft during the Vista period. It is going to be a lot more difficult for some people to go mac when they can have Windows 7, which is very good, by the way.

I agree, although Windows 7 isnt as good as OSX it's still very solid and a step in the right direction for MS. Apple wont have alot of ammo to fire off on the Windows OS front but will probably still say "Hey our stuff looks prettier at least".

[Goona]

Originally Posted by organerito

If Apple wants move to the next level, they have to lower their prices. Perhaps, they have convinced 10 to 15% of Americans and 5-10% of the world to have a Mac, but if they keep the same prices they will never dominate the computer market. They'll keep doing well, but slowly. Furthermore, linux and Apple had a chance to break Microsoft during the Vista period. It is going to be a lot more difficult for some people to go mac when they can have Windows 7, which is very good, by the way.

Even if they lower their prices, they will never dominate the computer market.

[mr.steevo]

Originally Posted by jb1280

I could see them doing something with the macbook line similar to what they did with the iMac line - moving the 24" down to the upper 20" model's spot. Adding value to the line without disrupting the price points.

Not sure what that could exactly entail with the notebooks though...

Hi,

If Apple puts a FireWire port in the MacBook that would definitely add value.

s.

[ajones46]

i still think the #1 reason people still don't switch is the price of the mac. Sure, you're paying for quality, but even the refurb'd macs still "aren't that cheap". I think that if apple made a $600-$700 netbook (or even a stripped macbook) i'd snatch it up in a second.

[YMark]

Originally Posted by mr.steevo

Hi,

If Apple puts a FireWire port in the MacBook that would definitely add value.

s.

BS. Next to nobody make a notebook purchasing decision based on a FireWire port.

[natebookpro]

Not really seeing this happening. They might offer more for the same price or offer less for less, but I dont see the same item for less.