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?

 

[twoodcc]

i would like to see the prices come down, at least a little bit.

 

[allmIne]

I really, really doubt this.

 

[zombitronic]

I don't know about this. Apple's mantra is quality before quantity.

 

[NoExpectations]

It's all about Supply and Demand

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?

 

[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...

 

[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.

 

[rhett7660]

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

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

 

[macduke]

Doubt it!!

Although it would be nice since I'm hoping to get my fiance a Macbook sometime later this fall after we get married. Her Dell is going to hell right now and I told her that if she wants my tech support she needs to have a mac. I don't offer my services for pcs anymore!

 

[aprilfools]

The word "cheaper" is not a good word to use.
How about "less expensive"?

Regardless, consumer perception is:

cheaper = lower quality
less expensive = good or same quality but lower price.

 

[pacohaas]

If Apple did this for one year, gained market share, then slowly brought prices back to their usual points when newer revisions of hardware came out, they'd be sitting pretty with lots more Mac users than they currently have.

 

[ltldrummerboy]

I don't see this happening. But if they do lower prices the cause will likely be from cheaper hardware.

I don't mind paying a premium price for premium hardware.

 

[organerito]

it depends...

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.

 

[Le Big Mac]

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.

Right . . . the eduiMac and keeping the old MacBook (or maybe they could reissue a "MacBook Classic" with even older bits).

 

[iMacmatician]

This seems to me more of releasing additional lower-end models rather than dropping prices on existing models.

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.

Makes sense, although the mini-tablet will probably run iPhone OS, rather than being a cheaper Mac. Does this mean Mac prices will go back up after the tablet?

More specifically, consumers in the coming months can look forward to more affordable versions of both the 13-inch MacBook and iMac, according to people who've proven extremely reliable in predicting Apple's future business directions.

Cheaper iMac has been done before, back in 2006. MacBook—maybe the white MacBook will stay for a while longer? Or maybe the white MacBook will go down to $899 and a new $1099 aluminum MacBook will fill the gap.

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

An iMac and MacBook that are ultra-thin and run iPhone OS.

(kidding)

 

[Pixellated]

News just in - Tomorrow it is expected to snow heavily in hell

 

[iBecks]

Doubt it!!

Although it would be nice since I'm hoping to get my fiance a Macbook sometime later this fall after we get married. Her Dell is going to hell right now and I told her that if she wants my tech support she needs to have a mac. I don't offer my services for pcs anymore!

Damn, your fiance just may not offer you any services if you take this line with her.

 

[Peruchito]

steve jobs is rolling in his grave right now.

 

[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.

 

[Grimace]

'Not gonna happen. Apple just had a phenomenal quarter with few signs of letting up. Margins keep Apple profitable, while netbooks keep other companies from going under -- but not by much.

 

[Shanpdx]

Combination of different things

1) Deflation

2) state of econmoy

3) Better margins (apple has lots of cash, they can really get better price from vendor, read LG is got prepayment for display and Samsung gets prepayment for Flash memory)

4) Higher margins from mobile devices

5) Netbook or something similar coming so macbook go to $899

6) if iMac goes desktop CPU then they can birng down to $999

7) WWDC just 6 weeks away!!!