I don't see lower pirces for Macs cause of that
1. Computers (and Macs are just computers in the end) consist of many parts.
The CPU still takes a bunch of the total value, but not as much as in the past.
This is one reason we won't see much difference, cause there just IS not much difference.
1899 instead of 1999 - oh yeeah wow.. still a lof of money; noone will claim that it was the CPU (even if it was)
2. Apple has a high margin but overall (compared to other direct pc sellers like dell or hp) a low volume.
sure, they would like to welcome a higher volume, but not if overall profit shrinks.
So apple will invest the money the get from lower costs on CPUs on other techniques and R&D, or even on higher clockspeeds.
In the end there will be no difference in price policy, but if, then only in technology.
either apple keeps the extra margin, but as far as i guess they are not that stupid again, or they reinvest it.
result: machines will stay the same price.
3. what it will help to us (apple customers)
if ibm produces, devilers and develops more cpus of the type apple needs (and so we want, or should want), the cpu development and process innovation will go on - and apple will profit from it; and intel (and so wintel) will NOT profit from it.
remember the rumors how much ibm wants to charge from intel?
the jump onto ibm's ppc from nintendo, sony(somehow at least) and microsoft will make sure that there will be ibm cpus in apple systems for the next few years for sure, and that we wont see a drop down like it happend to motorola; and to apple as well cause of that.
just my thoughts
