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Apple to Drop Prices of Notebooks?

iMacmatician said:
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:
Click to expand...

Thanks for that! That's awesome.
 
nick9191 said:
Anyone ever heard of false economy here?

This is terrible. There turning into Dell. They sell dirt cheap products with negligible profit margins, in a highly competitive market. Lets hope he's right when he says cheaper as in $999 and $1799, not as in $399 per unit.

Customer service = worse
Build Quality = worse

Go back to the early 2000's I say, where a mac was at least twice as much as a comparable PC, at least the thing never broke down, and of course it kept the rif-raff out.
Click to expand...


i agree 100% im just glad i bought mine yesterday!
 
lmps56 said:
Really...keep prices and quality up!!! I really do not mind spending 2000-3000 bucks for a great quality computer!!!

I HATE (do not really like...) DELL!!!
Click to expand...

I keep hearing quality as an issue in relation to price, but don't all computer manufacturers basically buy the same components from the same 5 chinese production plants?

The R&D and Design happens in Cupertino, but once they get to actually building them, doesn't that happen overseas?

By the way, just got the DELL advertisement: 15 inch, core 2 duo laptop for $599, just in time for Back to School.

The question is could apple make the 13 inch macbook, with similar specs to Dell and charge $799 (instead of $1099) how many more switchers would you have. Thats $200 of pure profit if Apple can keep component costs in line with Dell.
 
If Apple is going to build the latest and greatest CPUs into the MBP the costs are gonna be bigger for Apple.

Why is that?

Let's take the following models as an example:

- 15" 2.7 GHz
- 15" 2.8 GHz (2.9 GHz BTO)
- 17" 2.8 GHz (2.9 GHz BTO)

(all CPUs do have a TDP of 35 watts)

This configuration with the fastest processors available is up to 200$ more expensive than the current CPUs in the MBPs on rollout.
2.8 GHz Centrino2-Penryn costs as much as the current 2.6 GHz BTO option.
The profit margin will be significantly smaller.

Is this the product transition we are facing?
 
Nik said:
If Apple is going to build the latest and greatest CPUs into the MBP the costs are gonna be bigger for Apple.

Why is that?

Let's take the following models as an example:

- 15" 2.7 GHz
- 15" 2.8 GHz (2.9 GHz BTO)
- 17" 2.8 GHz (2.9 GHz BTO)

(all CPUs do have a TDP of 35 watts)

This configuration with the fastest processors available is up to 200$ more expensive than the current CPUs in the MBPs on rollout.
2.8 GHz Centrino2-Penryn costs as much as the current 2.6 GHz BTO option.
The profit margin will be significantly smaller.

Is this the product transition we are facing?
Click to expand...
Penryn -> Montevina
2.1 GHz -> 2.27 GHz
2.4 GHz -> 2.4 GHz
2.5 GHz -> 2.53 GHz
2.6 GHz -> 2.8 GHz
2.8 GHz Extreme (45 W) -> 3.07 GHz Extreme (45 W), 2.27 GHz quad (35 W)
(The ones Apple is using are bolded, BTO is in italics)

Apple may keep the product margin by not significantly upgrading any of the other components.

Apple used to use the top-end and second-to-top-end CPUs in the MacBook Pro, now they use the second-to-top-end and third-to-top-end. They could go back to top-end and second-to-top-end to show a big speed increase.
 
iMacmatician said:
Apple used to use the top-end and second-to-top-end CPUs in the MacBook Pro, now they use the second-to-top-end and third-to-top-end. They could go back to top-end and second-to-top-end to show a big speed increase.
Click to expand...

Yes they should. 2.53/2.80GHz standard on the MBP, that would be consistent with lower margins (increased price of the cpus), especially if you pair that with more expensive DDR3-1066 RAM. I also believe they should offer the 17" model in two configurations. Higher rez display standard.

$1999 2.53GHz 15" MBP (1680*1050) glossy or matte, 2GB RAM
$2299 2.53GHz 17" MBP (1920*1200) glossy or matte, 2GB RAM
$2499 2.80GHz 15" MBP (1680*1050) glossy or matte, 4GB RAM
$2799 2.80GHz 17" MBP (1920*1200) glossy or matte, 4GB RAM
 
lmps56 said:
Really...keep prices and quality up!!! I really do not mind spending 2000-3000 bucks for a great quality computer!!!
Click to expand...

Agreed, I don't mind one bit paying more for a quality product. Part of the appeal is in the high-end fit and finish of the product. Macbook Pro just "feels" solid and sexy in your hands. It wouldn't be the same if they stripped it down, gave it a chintzy plastic case (ala dell) and a low price. No thx.
 
lupin..the..3rd said:
Agreed, I don't mind one bit paying more for a quality product. Part of the appeal is in the high-end fit and finish of the product. Macbook Pro just "feels" solid and sexy in your hands. It wouldn't be the same if they stripped it down, gave it a chintzy plastic case (ala dell) and a low price. No thx.
Click to expand...

I don't think we have to worry about apple stripping down the MB/MBP and making them cheap like competitors. Apple wouldn't do that.

I agree with what many have said here. I don't mind paying $2000 for the MBP, just increase the internals a bit so the "apple tax" isn't so large considering what is being offered by competitors for much less.
 
Why boderline illegal?

macenforcer said:
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.
Click to expand...

I thought that in a free market companies were allowed to set their own suggested prices. That would mean that Apple could suggest any price they would want. Thus they could have 500% margins if they wanted to.

The thing that I do not understand is how Apple can control their prices the way they do. I thought that manufactures setting the required selling price to be illegal in most states. But still they get by with it. That is why there is a difference between manufactures suggested retail price & the actual street price for most other than Apple's prices.

Bill the TaxMan
 
heisetax said:
I thought that in a free market companies were allowed to set their own suggested prices. That would mean that Apple could suggest any price they would want. Thus they could have 500% margins if they wanted to.

The thing that I do not understand is how Apple can control their prices the way they do. I thought that manufactures setting the required selling price to be illegal in most states. But still they get by with it. That is why there is a difference between manufactures suggested retail price & the actual street price for most other than Apple's prices.

Bill the TaxMan
Click to expand...

I don't believe that Apple controls the selling prices, at least outside their own stores. The reason that the street price is so close to list price is because the markup is so low that even list price is a lousy profit margin for a reseller. Back in the 80's the wholesale price was in the neighborhood of 60% of suggested retail. Then again, back in the 80's an entry-level Mac would set you back more than $2000 (in 1980's dollars. Add another $2500 for a 20MB hard drive). So today, even though you don't get a big discount off of list, buying a Mac is much, much better.
 
If Apple wants to keep the prices where they are, I am fine with it

I bought an iMac and MBP at prices that were high, imo, but having had both for over a year and a half, they are both WELL WORTH THE PRICE

Having had a Gateway and Dell laptop before the MBP, I hated them with a deep passion just after a few months due to instability
 
Actually, the Gateway I had gave me so many problems, I dumped it off on Dad just so I could have a Mac. :D

But my Dell desktop is still kicking. Kinda strange when you think about it.

BJ
 
Let me throw in that HP notebooks run pretty hot as far as laptops go... Plus mine has been having issues sleeping and hibernating... damn Vista...
If Apple drop prices, even a little, I'd be happy. But if they don't, it's not going to stop me from buying.
 
A price drop would be nice, but quality and reliability are paramount to me. Apple needs to stay on top of the market in those areas. IMO, that's why most people buy :apple: and the prime value of their brand.

Let the others play in the lower end markets: Apple = quality products that work (usually -- e.g, MobileMe(ss)). :D
 
captnfun said:
I keep hearing quality as an issue in relation to price, but don't all computer manufacturers basically buy the same components from the same 5 chinese production plants?

The R&D and Design happens in Cupertino, but once they get to actually building them, doesn't that happen overseas?

By the way, just got the DELL advertisement: 15 inch, core 2 duo laptop for $599, just in time for Back to School.

The question is could apple make the 13 inch macbook, with similar specs to Dell and charge $799 (instead of $1099) how many more switchers would you have. Thats $200 of pure profit if Apple can keep component costs in line with Dell.
Click to expand...


yeah its not like apple makes its own cpu's and ****.. plus they give us minimum specs for a full price
 
DjAmTraX said:
MacMall is having an Apple clearance sale. Another sign that something new is coming very soon. :)
Click to expand...


Some of that stuff is even older than you will find on Apple's refurb site (BlackBook with 2.16 ghz processor?). That's not a clearance, that's a garage sale. Still, like everyone else here, I've got a back to schooler that needs a new laptop and I would hate to buy the "old look" on the verge of new designs. Like buying last year's Ford with fins. ;)
 
tom53092 said:
I don't believe that Apple controls the selling prices, at least outside their own stores. The reason that the street price is so close to list price is because the markup is so low that even list price is a lousy profit margin for a reseller. Back in the 80's the wholesale price was in the neighborhood of 60% of suggested retail. Then again, back in the 80's an entry-level Mac would set you back more than $2000 (in 1980's dollars. Add another $2500 for a 20MB hard drive). So today, even though you don't get a big discount off of list, buying a Mac is much, much better.
Click to expand...

A little skeptical on this point. Unless Apple is selling at a loss on their education website, it would appear that there is room in there on the margin, and it is bizarre that Best Buy (and others) significantly discount other seller's own websites (check out retail on the Toshiba shop) but no discount off of retail on the Apple gear.
 
dstrauss said:
A little skeptical on this point. Unless Apple is selling at a loss on their education website, it would appear that there is room in there on the margin, and it is bizarre that Best Buy (and others) significantly discount other seller's own websites (check out retail on the Toshiba shop) but no discount off of retail on the Apple gear.
Click to expand...

I was speaking of Apple's wholesale pricing only.
As for education pricing, yes, there is lots of gross margin for Apple to discount when they wish and still make a nice profit. Wholesale pricing has no relationship to cost of goods sold. The low wholesale discount is one reason their profit margins are so high. In fact, there's no way an Apple dealer can stay in business selling Apple products at suggested retail. They make their money on add-ons, AppleCare, and whatever else they can sell you.
 
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