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Apple to Launch an $800 Laptop?
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Other rumors pointed to "very aggressive" pricing. $800 base model is not what I consider aggressive in the current laptop market (particularly if other posters are correct about the combo drive; that's just sad).
Before everyone jumps on me with comparisons to BMW v. Ford, let me just say I get it.
I'm not sure where these "very aggressive" pricing rumours originated.
Apple actually said at their last conference call that they expected profit margins to drift down from 34.8% to around 31.5%. That doesn't sound like an "aggressive" price drop to me. Of course, costs could be cut as well to bring prices down, but that probably means lower spec products rather than Apple simply giving you more for the same money. Component costs may also have dropped, but the drop seems unlikely to be that significant.
If there is a $800 laptop, it will simply be a lesser product.
I'm not sure if apple would devalue their whole macbook range by starting it at $800. One of the appeals of apple products is the high entry point price - and (putting value aside) this "elite club mentality" is the cause of much love/hate. This move would change the value perception of apple's whole line up.
But still, we are going to see tight times in the near future. Steve himself has acknowledged his awareness of this and the effect it will have on apple's product. So perhaps an $800 low end won't devalue the range at all in relation to tomorrow's dollar.
DejaVu, Apple, like any company, will price the product margin at what they hope is the optimal level. They had a big enough margin on the mini to drop the price a lot, but didn't feel the increase in sales volume would be worth the cut. They are just at the mercy of the consumer though, if the customer won't look at their range unless it starts at $800, then so be it. Also, some customer's will be brought in by the low $800, but end up not being able to resist a higher model once their first interest has been perked. I think we all know this feeling.
But still, we are going to see tight times in the near future. Steve himself has acknowledged his awareness of this and the effect it will have on apple's product. So perhaps an $800 low end won't devalue the range at all in relation to tomorrow's dollar.
DejaVu, Apple, like any company, will price the product margin at what they hope is the optimal level. They had a big enough margin on the mini to drop the price a lot, but didn't feel the increase in sales volume would be worth the cut. They are just at the mercy of the consumer though, if the customer won't look at their range unless it starts at $800, then so be it. Also, some customer's will be brought in by the low $800, but end up not being able to resist a higher model once their first interest has been perked. I think we all know this feeling.
Why does everyone want a macbook with a Dedicated GPU? We know the dedicated GPU is loads better, but the macbook is entry level equipment. Probably of 1/2 the mac users out there do not require a dedicated GPU, so no sense putting it in the macbook.
I am really hoping the high end is the Core 2 Extreme (Quad Core), and features Blu Ray. If not, I won't be destroyed, however it is going to make me (yes a somewhat Mac Zelot) look at Lenovo's high end W700 a bit more closely. With Quad core processors, and dual hard disk capability, it really puts some good "pro" feel into the concept of a mobile powerhouse. With that said, I think the Wacom is something I would never use, however the built in Color calibration is something that interests me.
If I went Lenovo you wouldn't have to worry about me going to Vista, something on the "open" source side of the fence would be in order . Either way, I would prefer to stick with Apple, but time and price will tell!
If I went Lenovo you wouldn't have to worry about me going to Vista, something on the "open" source side of the fence would be in order
. Either way, I would prefer to stick with Apple, but time and price will tell!
Sarcasm?
Ever try running Vista on one of these? I configured for my friend's business a Pentium Duo 1.8, 2 Gigs RAM, and a 128Meg DX10 GPU, and Vista BASIC runs okay...
Apple's Snow Leopard will actually run better on Intel machines with 512Megs (on my Mini right now)
Apple can release these laptops, and the new OS will take advantage of the more powerful chips to run on minimal memory, thus keep prices lower.
I just put Ubuntu Linux on an old P3 Thinkpad X20 with 384 Megs RAM and it runs great compared to XP that was on it.
Unix based is the way to go...
Could be possible - 12" WS, 1 Gigs RAM, 80 Gig HD, low end Intel Core 2 Duo (or i7?)
I remember the first line of overall pricedrops with new products, the Mac Classic, LC, and IIsi (see avatar).
People said, "A Mac for under $1000 - no way, would be garbage". Little did we know...
$800 MacBook is fine and dandy with me, even if it had integrated graphics and a combo drive or whatever - sounds like a holiday gift idea. My younger sister is doing one of those online homeschooling things, and as part of the school they provide the student with some cheap HP "business" PC. Long story short, that PC is all but unusable, despite being clean of any type of malware, and my sister is finding that she's having to resort to using our old G4 tower more and more in order to get anything done. Amazing that a G4 from 2001 running Leopard is still more usable and responsive than a PC running XP from 2007 that has better specifications all around. $800 MacBook is still a Mac.
The macbook is popular amongst college students, gaming is popular amongst college student, gaming almost requires a dedicated GPU.
entry level equipement for premium price ?
no offense ... but it's the year 2008 ... combo drive + intel graphics for 1000 bucks is nothing short of robbery
I've just been thru all the <£300 laptops at PC World's Online store for the UK.
9 machines. All had DVD writing abilities - one even with Lightscribe.
You have to spend £829 to get a Mac laptop with a DVD writer
How many of those had Mac OS X?
I'd rather have Mac OS X and a combo drive than Windows and a DVD burner
(obviously since my MacBook has a combo drive)
Actually, looks like Apple will now try for the K-12 market with the lower pricing.
The schools I visit for work are mainly PC's (except for a few on Mac - and they're in high-class neighborhoods
) since PC's are "cheaper". An $800 MacBook will make many schools start to think twice about getting PC's, as a half-decent PC for the classroom would cost not much less (another division got 10 HP Laptops for training purposes and those for $749 for something decent enough to run our corporate apps).
Not one of my college friends games on a computer, if you like to game you have an Xbox, PS3, Wii, or sorry to say, a pc. If you need a dedicated GPU you are just going to pay for it, iMac or Pro.
Based upon the specs on Snow Leopard, I would say a dedicated GPU is going to almost be a necessity. If they can really off-load processing duties to the GPU and harness a dual/quad core processor, it would be a smoking hot machine.
No kidding. What makes it fake in your opinion.
Oh and FYI
Forum Rules said:
That's a nice attitude towards Apple's customers. Not if those people had been shopping for laptops recently and seen what $800 buys you these days.
I don't even want an optical drive on my laptop. Not everyone needs it. Many/most have a desktop as well.
Joshua.
There is a whole downward trend to using desktops and an upward trend to laptops/mobile. I would not say discontinue the mini, although the discontinue/revamp rumors of the mini have been going on for years. if they do, then they better revamp apple TV for those who are using the mini as an entertainment server. I was even thinking of doing that myself now that new LCD tv's have a DVI or VGA port on the back. Now a 42" widescreen monitor for my mac
that would be cool, overkill but cool. I can see it now, me watching youtube on a 42". . But seriously, it would be cool to get a one TB external drive and rip all my DVD's to the mini. then I could just click to the one I wanted to watch.