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Apple Looking to Launch $799 MacBook Air in 3Q 2012?
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I think the speculation it is ed only and a "thin client" client-server approach comports with all the other rumors and trends I see.
Once the iPad 2 price was dropped $100 several school districts adopted it. If an Air/Mac of any description were dropped to $800-900 more schools would adopt it. Probably not enough to make real news however.
Microsoft and Google both have cloud apps now and Apple is probably not far behind making theirs part of an ed bundle.
The trick is entirely about maintaining required margins for stockholders while also meeting the conflicting need of low prices for ed. Intel chip prices are the driver here. The new lower power, tiny die size x86 compatible systems are for the first time on the outer bounds of that price field. I think I even saw an article about Intel actually lowering prices from the initial pricing estimate of the new line, indicating rates and yields are on the upper limit of expectations.
We'll see. It's only a rumor.
Rocketman
Once the iPad 2 price was dropped $100 several school districts adopted it. If an Air/Mac of any description were dropped to $800-900 more schools would adopt it. Probably not enough to make real news however.
Microsoft and Google both have cloud apps now and Apple is probably not far behind making theirs part of an ed bundle.
The trick is entirely about maintaining required margins for stockholders while also meeting the conflicting need of low prices for ed. Intel chip prices are the driver here. The new lower power, tiny die size x86 compatible systems are for the first time on the outer bounds of that price field. I think I even saw an article about Intel actually lowering prices from the initial pricing estimate of the new line, indicating rates and yields are on the upper limit of expectations.
We'll see. It's only a rumor.
Rocketman
striker33 said:
Indeed. Could be worse - you could live in Canada, where the dollar has been stronger than the US dollar for a number of years now, yet most items still cost more in Canadian $ than they do south of the border...
Let's mash two rumors into one!
Maybe this would fit into a $799 device?
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1159591/
Maybe this would fit into a $799 device?
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1159591/
Two compromises: 2.5" rotating hard drive instead of SSD, and a cheap processor. Apple could sell a laptop that looks like an MBA and works like an MBA, just a lot slower, for less than $799. Whether they'd want to do that is an entirely different matter. And as others noted, "Digitimes" means this rumor is completely baseless.
Haven't heard it from Tim Cook yet, but Steve Jobs was always quite adamant about making live tough for competitors. For example, with iPad 2 for $499, competitors can sell something for $399 and make a bit of money. With iPad 2 for $399, that makes live a whole lot tougher. Best way to do this is to wait until the competitors have a product that looks like it could compete, and then kick them by reducing the price.
Last edited:
Mad Mac Maniac
macrumors 601
I hope this is true, because I think Apple needs to get back to a $999 13" Macbook. I think that could be possible
Assuming the mba/mbp lines don't merge (and the new rumored 15" mba) I could see these being the starting prices
11" mba $799
13" mba $999
13" mbp $1199
15" mba $1499
15" mbp $1799
why do you say that? Majority of articles have a ? in them.. This is a rumor site. until something has happened it is a question.
Assuming the mba/mbp lines don't merge (and the new rumored 15" mba) I could see these being the starting prices
11" mba $799
13" mba $999
13" mbp $1199
15" mba $1499
15" mbp $1799
why do you say that? Majority of articles have a ? in them.. This is a rumor site. until something has happened it is a question.Cats, cats, cool cats, daddy-os;
Just to clarify: "post-pc" is a marketing phrase.
Furthermore, the reference is "how we think about pc's" and not
in the literal sense. Lot's of rock band's since
"post-rock". Bad example.
I'd hate to point out the obvious; but iphone & ipad look way much like
"stage 2" of Apple's roundabout way of converting Windows/IBM-Compatible
customers to Macintosh computers.
iPod served to re-interpret the brand image. It allowed them
to get into the cell phone market. Next, they advertised
the tablet, not as a "notepad computer" but as a "iPad".
iOS is tip-top shape (and related to OSX) for a reason. Impressions, impressions, impressions. Apple markets, solely, direct to the consumer/end user. They don't have the infrastructure to make impressions at the enterprise level.
Wait for the developer conference, you'll figure it out if you haven't.
I'm assuming this is the year that Apple intends on achieving major growth in
the desktop/laptop market. It's the only area of growth they have left.
iPhone has more or less plateau'd, and iPad is getting there.
Furthermore, I doubt (and bet Apple doubts) the marketplace is
ready for this fancy television set of rumor. Look at the entire
population that purchases "tv sets" as a whole. I don't think
that kind of product can succeed (at the highest potential) until
today's 14-25 year old demographic is tomorrows 25-35 year old.
Apple's been succeeding at being a market leader in many categories.
When they find they aren't unique, they pull out. Example:
Final Cut Pro X. Premiere kept looking more like Final Cut with each
release. So, they killed final cut, made something different. The
customers they "lost" were already going to switch, Apple had the foresight.
That said, Apple isn't the market leader with desktops/laptops (they should be)...and especially not in the OS category (they really really should be).
They haven't pulled the plug on that market yet..... so...'tink maybe
Macrumors commentators ought to re-arrange their outlook on what's to come?
Just another rambly, all opinion-no-fact comment to throw into the mist.
Just to clarify: "post-pc" is a marketing phrase.
Furthermore, the reference is "how we think about pc's" and not
in the literal sense. Lot's of rock band's since
"post-rock". Bad example.
I'd hate to point out the obvious; but iphone & ipad look way much like
"stage 2" of Apple's roundabout way of converting Windows/IBM-Compatible
customers to Macintosh computers.
iPod served to re-interpret the brand image. It allowed them
to get into the cell phone market. Next, they advertised
the tablet, not as a "notepad computer" but as a "iPad".
iOS is tip-top shape (and related to OSX) for a reason. Impressions, impressions, impressions. Apple markets, solely, direct to the consumer/end user. They don't have the infrastructure to make impressions at the enterprise level.
Wait for the developer conference, you'll figure it out if you haven't.
I'm assuming this is the year that Apple intends on achieving major growth in
the desktop/laptop market. It's the only area of growth they have left.
iPhone has more or less plateau'd, and iPad is getting there.
Furthermore, I doubt (and bet Apple doubts) the marketplace is
ready for this fancy television set of rumor. Look at the entire
population that purchases "tv sets" as a whole. I don't think
that kind of product can succeed (at the highest potential) until
today's 14-25 year old demographic is tomorrows 25-35 year old.
Apple's been succeeding at being a market leader in many categories.
When they find they aren't unique, they pull out. Example:
Final Cut Pro X. Premiere kept looking more like Final Cut with each
release. So, they killed final cut, made something different. The
customers they "lost" were already going to switch, Apple had the foresight.
That said, Apple isn't the market leader with desktops/laptops (they should be)...and especially not in the OS category (they really really should be).
They haven't pulled the plug on that market yet..... so...'tink maybe
Macrumors commentators ought to re-arrange their outlook on what's to come?
Just another rambly, all opinion-no-fact comment to throw into the mist.
Maybe they hope to make huge headway? Maybe they're trying to attract the pre-college/starting college crowd. If that is the case, the price point is perfect.
If I'm Apple, I take a small profit margin and make a inexpensive, quality product. This way college students run their cheaper machine and replace it with a more expensive new machine.
----------
Based on what evidence? Every iPhone ever released has sold better than the previous. The iPhone shows no sign of slowing.
While it might be unlikely, I don't think it's impossible. I nearly purchased a refurbished Macbook Air last year for $699.
This quote is from CNN:
"In 2011 the price of a refurbished, fourth-generation 11-inch MacBook Air dropped from $849 to $699 (17%). Not bad for a notebook that's single-handedly changing the laptop industry. Apple is bound to refresh its MacBook Air in 2012, and the new model (which would be the sixth generation) is guaranteed to drive refurb prices down even lower. Don't care for a refurb unit? In 2011, we also saw aggressive deals on new, current fifth-generation MacBook Airs with prices dropping from $999 to $850 (14%)."
This quote is from CNN:
"In 2011 the price of a refurbished, fourth-generation 11-inch MacBook Air dropped from $849 to $699 (17%). Not bad for a notebook that's single-handedly changing the laptop industry. Apple is bound to refresh its MacBook Air in 2012, and the new model (which would be the sixth generation) is guaranteed to drive refurb prices down even lower. Don't care for a refurb unit? In 2011, we also saw aggressive deals on new, current fifth-generation MacBook Airs with prices dropping from $999 to $850 (14%)."
More RAM, bigger SSD, and a higher-clocked CPU. That's pretty typical for Apple's upgrade paths for computers.
Of course, if they really think consumers would be confused, they could always drop the entry-level machine down to an i3. That would probably still offer plenty of power for most users.
Apple's MO is to stay at a certain price point (Give or take $ 50) add features to that price point and price down the older generation.
Yes it will be a running arm instead of intel to lower chip costs and the need for such a large battery. Think a wifi iPad 2 with a overclocked cpu and a hinged keyboard. No reason that couldn't be 799 and run a stripped version of mountain lion that apple is working to run on arm (like iOS but with a mouse and cursor)
If I ever had to use a mouse and keyboard with iOS on a laptop or desktop, I would never buy an Apple product again. iOS is too dumbed down for a mobile operating system much less an actual computer OS.
I can see Apple doing this as a special to Education, but not for the mass public.
There's no reason for Apple to start chasing the Ultrabook manufacturers when in fact what's going on is the opposite -- the Ultrabook manufacturers are chasing Apple's success.
There's no reason for Apple to start chasing the Ultrabook manufacturers when in fact what's going on is the opposite -- the Ultrabook manufacturers are chasing Apple's success.
It is rather interesting to see how far Apple has slashed the prices on the refurbished MacBook Airs compared to the usual 7-10%.
I recall someone, somewhere on the internet elaborating on Intel's strategy with Ultrabooks but it escapes me right now. Why is Intel doing this again?
I have to fall back on no one wants to invest into R&D with the status quo of notebooks without Intel putting up the money first.
It is somewhat amusing to see that most Apple fans find the idea of Apple lowering prices absolutely repulsive. I wonder if t is some form of Stockholm Syndrome.
IMO 64GB is already ridiculous. If anything they will bump the others up and make this one the 64GB. No way would Apple ever ship a 32GB hard drive mac in 2012. That's practically an insult to their under-informed customers.
They would have to be a lot less than $799 for the average kid to get one. I have a MBP and with the Dev sub and the Apple Care it cost me close to $4000. My wife uses an $800 Laptop and my 3 kids have $400 laptops. No way would I give my kid an $800 machine. They are just not mature enough at 6, 8 and 11. They do have ipod touch and the oldest has an iPad. Even the ipad was only a 16GB wifi model. I like my MBP but my kids are growing up on Windows unfortunately. If I could get ½ descent Mac laptops for $400-$500 then sure they would have a Mac.
My guess would be that the current bottom end 11 inch $999.99 model they have now drops down to $799.99 as the entry level. While the newer ivy bridge mba models starting at 128gb and 4gb ram gets the 11 inch 999.99 slot. Not too different than the current iPad gen 3 at "regular" price and last years iPad 2 at a discount. And why not? It's more than capable and would be sold to someone like me.