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Apple to Drop Prices of Notebooks?

Mr Maui said:
Other companies make their profits on low margins and very high volume. Apple has hogher margins and prefers to make theirs on higher-quality, lower volume products.
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What makes you (and others) think that the quality of Apple products is higher than average? According to a recent study in my country, the percentage of laptops bought since 2004 that have not needed repair were as follows grouped by manufacturer (5728 respondents):

IBM/Lenovo 89.0 %
HP 86.7 %
Acer 84.7 %
Toshiba 84.4 %
Packard Bell 83.0 %
Dell 82.8 %
Medion 81.9 %
Apple 78.8 %
Fujitsu-Siemens 78.5 %
Zepto 68.0 %
 
macsmurf said:
What makes you (and others) think that the quality of Apple products is higher than average? According to a recent study in my country, the percentage of laptops bought since 2004 that have not needed repair were as follows grouped by manufacturer (5728 respondents):

IBM/Lenovo 89.0 %
HP 86.7 %
Acer 84.7 %
Toshiba 84.4 %
Packard Bell 83.0 %
Dell 82.8 %
Medion 81.9 %
Apple 78.8 %
Fujitsu-Siemens 78.5 %
Zepto 68.0 %
Click to expand...

Well, i'm not sure what "your country" is, and I'm not sure where you got your statistics (the basis of the "recent survey"), so if you have a link, I'd love to see it. Also, I'd love to compare those statistics on a worldwide level, not just a "your country" level.

My thoughts on this rumor site are my opinion, unless specifically STATED as fact (and then I back up with links or info). As for what makes me believe my position ... EXPERIENCE!
 
Pure speculation on my part

Here's my problem: Apple, for God's sake, we ain't living in 1999 anymore. DROP THE GODDAMN GMA 950 ALREADY!!! :mad:

Here are my Mac Mini specs that I'd purchase as soon as :apple: announces it:

2.9 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB RAM
500 GB hard drive
Blu-Ray SuperDrive (no combo drives plz)
Monitor included

Price: Only $299.

BJ
 
BJWanlund said:
Here's my problem: Apple, for God's sake, we ain't living in 1999 anymore. DROP THE GODDAMN GMA 950 ALREADY!!! :mad:

Here are my Mac Mini specs that I'd purchase as soon as :apple: announces it:

2.9 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB RAM
500 GB hard drive
Blu-Ray SuperDrive (no combo drives plz)
Monitor included

Price: Only $299.

BJ
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Yeah, and I'd like to be King of all Londinium and wear a shiny hat.

We all know how that's gonna work out.

jW
 
No Way

BJWanlund said:
Here's my problem: Apple, for God's sake, we ain't living in 1999 anymore. DROP THE GODDAMN GMA 950 ALREADY!!! :mad:

Here are my Mac Mini specs that I'd purchase as soon as :apple: announces it:

2.9 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB RAM
500 GB hard drive
Blu-Ray SuperDrive (no combo drives plz)
Monitor included

Price: Only $299.

BJ
Click to expand...

Dream on! That will probably happen in 2015. I just do not get you guys, Blu-ray will not happen for a long, long, long, long......
 
BJWanlund said:
Here's my problem: Apple, for God's sake, we ain't living in 1999 anymore. DROP THE GODDAMN GMA 950 ALREADY!!! :mad:

Here are my Mac Mini specs that I'd purchase as soon as :apple: announces it:

2.9 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB RAM
500 GB hard drive
Blu-Ray SuperDrive (no combo drives plz)
Monitor included

Price: Only $299.

BJ
Click to expand...

Who wouldn't? Here's my problem: Aston Martin, for god's sake, sell me a solid gold DB9 for $299.:mad:

I'll buy it as soon as Aston Martin announces it.
 
captnfun said:
I don't understand this, why is it every weekend in the newspaper I see ads for well configured PC's for as little as $500? And those all have 15" screens!

Why are the macbooks so expensive? Is the simple answer from Apple "Because we can!"
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It's a nice little hardware monopoly and the amazing thing is that some of the users prefer it that way and react with shock and horror at the prospect of their beloved status symbols being cheapened by anticipated price cuts.

I don't mind paying a small premium for an Apple laptop but not nearly twice as much. That not an OSX tax, but the ugly specter of monopolistic pricing.
 
Bubba Satori said:
It's a nice little hardware monopoly and the amazing thing is that some of the users prefer it that way and react with shock and horror at the prospect of their beloved status symbols being cheapened by anticipated price cuts.

I don't mind paying a small premium for an Apple laptop but not nearly twice as much. That not an OSX tax, but the ugly specter of monopolistic pricing.
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HA! Calling Apple a monopoly is beyond ridiculous! Yes, people are willing to pay more for the same hardware because it is an Apple machine that runs Apple software, but calling them a monopoly is beyond hilarious. I don't even think absurd does that one justice. Are you saying that Apple is bad because they have a monopoly on Mac OS X?

That's like saying Coca-Cola has a monopoly on Coke. Of course they have a monopoly on Coke, it is their product that they developed.
 
Mr Maui said:
Well, i'm not sure what "your country" is, and I'm not sure where you got your statistics (the basis of the "recent survey"), so if you have a link, I'd love to see it.
Click to expand...

Sure: http://www.taenk.dk/?sid=38&scid=7812&cid=7802

Not that it'll do you much good, I'm afraid. In addition to being in danish, the survey is not available for free.

Also, I'd love to compare those statistics on a worldwide level, not just a "your country" level.
Click to expand...

Me too, but I've been unable to find anything better. They basically had to go out and ask the consumer, presumably because they companies weren't telling.

My thoughts on this rumor site are my opinion, unless specifically STATED as fact (and then I back up with links or info). As for what makes me believe my position ... EXPERIENCE!
Click to expand...

OK. Just wondering if there were any harder evidence that I didn't know about.
 
Bubba Satori said:
It's a nice little hardware monopoly and the amazing thing is that some of the users prefer it that way and react with shock and horror at the prospect of their beloved status symbols being cheapened by anticipated price cuts.

I don't mind paying a small premium for an Apple laptop but not nearly twice as much. That not an OSX tax, but the ugly specter of monopolistic pricing.
Click to expand...

It's not a monopoly. What they do is tie a really great product to a not so great product in order to make the inferior product seem more valuable. It does hinder competition on the hardware front somewhat, but since Apple is not a monopoly, they cannot completely ignore the competition and the consumer. So they'll have to throw us some crumbs once in a while ;)
 
lowered prices would be awesome :)

MacRumors said:


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
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macsmurf said:
Sure: http://www.taenk.dk/?sid=38&scid=7812&cid=7802

Not that it'll do you much good, I'm afraid. In addition to being in danish, the survey is not available for free.

Me too, but I've been unable to find anything better. They basically had to go out and ask the consumer, presumably because they companies weren't telling.

OK. Just wondering if there were any harder evidence that I didn't know about.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind your Danish survey is based on 5700 users and covers 10 computer manufacturers. Based on equal voting, that would be 570 Mac users (along with the other 9 in the sample). Based on American marketshare it would be about 450 Mac users (Versus about 2200 Dell users). I assume the survey did not break it down to specific computers numbers in the survey). On such a small sampling (5700), it is hard to draw accurate numbers.

I have owned 9 Macs going back to a Mac IIci and have encountered a problem with only one (5300ce notebook ... which the Apple employee admitted to me was likely their worst built computer ever anyway). I have also owned 6 or 7 PCs (IBM, Dell, HP and Compaq), and I have had problems with EVERY ONE of them. So my personal experience is the basis for the solidity of my position. Plus, OSX outperforms Vista in every way AND is much more stable.


macsmurf said:
It's not a monopoly. What they do is tie a really great product to a not so great product in order to make the inferior product seem more valuable. It does hinder competition on the hardware front somewhat, but since Apple is not a monopoly, they cannot completely ignore the competition and the consumer. So they'll have to throw us some crumbs once in a while ;)
Click to expand...

Unlike Microsoft, which monopoilized nearly every box manufaturer (95% of the market at one point), even going so far as to demand that the Microsoft logo appear on boot-up before the box manufaturer's logo. That was a monopoly. And for those who disagree ... check the court rulings. ;)
 
Confirmation by Reliable Source

brendanspah764 said:
The first picture looks really cool. And it looks like it was taken off the future page of the new MacBook, but what are the odds of that really. But the second one, it looks like a picture of the MBA.
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Those pics are leaked official images. My friend works as product analyst in London for Apple and he confirmed the details of these pics, including the release date as 4th August (as per quote on photo page stating '2 weeks to go').

The pics can also be verified by refering to a previous rumor thread containing supplier images of a new MacBook enclosure. The images leaked by the supplier where 'factory' plain, whereas the leaked pics show the same enclosure with a black finish.
 
Confirmation by Reliable Source

owdin said:
I found pictures of a possible new macbook design
Looks quite realistic!

Also backlit keyboard

Comment says: "2 weeks to go :D"

Look for yourself

http://flickr.com/photos/33559336@N00/2675984634/in/photostream/

http://flickr.com/photos/33559336@N00/2675984626/in/photostream/

I hoop this will be the real deisgn :eek:
Click to expand...

Those pics are leaked official images. My friend works as product analyst in London for Apple and he confirmed the details of these pics, including the release date as 4th August (as per quote on photo page stating '2 weeks to go').

The pics can also be verified by refering to a previous rumor thread containing supplier images of a new MacBook enclosure. The images leaked by the supplier where 'factory' plain, whereas the leaked pics show the same enclosure with a black finish.
 
Sanchez27 said:
Those pics are leaked official images. My friend works as product analyst in London for Apple and he confirmed the details of these pics, including the release date as 4th August (as per quote on photo page stating '2 weeks to go').

The pics can also be verified by refering to a previous rumor thread containing supplier images of a new MacBook enclosure. The images leaked by the supplier where 'factory' plain, whereas the leaked pics show the same enclosure with a black finish.
Click to expand...

Riiiggghhhtttt..................
 
Sanchez27 said:
Those pics are leaked official images. My friend works as product analyst in London for Apple and he confirmed the details of these pics, including the release date as 4th August (as per quote on photo page stating '2 weeks to go').

The pics can also be verified by refering to a previous rumor thread containing supplier images of a new MacBook enclosure. The images leaked by the supplier where 'factory' plain, whereas the leaked pics show the same enclosure with a black finish.
Click to expand...

Troll?

At least say August 5th, so it'll be a Tuesday :cool:
 
ipodtouchy333 said:
Riiiggghhhtttt..................
Click to expand...
Seconded.

And that previous rumor thread was of a MacBook Pro case. :rolleyes:

August 4 does make sense, given past release history around that date. But it's a Monday.

Now, if August 4 is indeed the release date, and if Apple's having an event on that date, then we'll have an invitation by the night of 28 July.

This could also mean that the rumored new device coming in the next few months may not be a MacBook type at all, otherwise it would be released on August 4. iPods are generally released in September, so this device could be related to the iPod (iWrite mini-tablet?).

Comparison with the existing MacBook if anyone is interested:
 
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