Cheaper Macs on the way - says Appleinsider

Sad Professor

Please let this be true as I'm waiting for the next refresh to get a Macbook. Seems terribly unlikely. But then again, recession, deflation, pressure from MS ads, anything is possible. Lets just hope they don't screw us over in order to subsidise lower US prices.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/04/30/apple_to_introduce_more_affordable_macs_sources_say.html

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. The MacBook -- which currently starts at $999 when fitted with a previous-generation polycarbonate enclosure and $1299 in an aluminum unibody casing -- is the bestselling Mac in terms of volume. The iMac is the most popular Mac desktop....

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 owning or switching to a Mac.

swingking

one of the reasons I don't buy PC machines is the cheap factor. I know that i'm paying good money for a mac and that time and effort has been put into the design and the build quality of the machine. I would hate to see Apple sourcing cheap parts so they could sell cheap machines. After all it's one of the only laptop manufacturers who make aliminium unibody designed machines

That said, Apple are losing out to netbook manufacturers and cheap pc manufacturers. There's no denying it; Apple are expensive and they won't have as many sales in a recession as people are opting for cheaper equipment.

Sad Professor

Well, cheaper is probably the wrong word. I should have said "more affordable".

There isn't going to be a big price drop or change in design. But they might manage to knock a hundred off the bottom of the consumer line.

Speed-bumped Macbooks are due shortly so perhaps they'll continue to sell the old ones at a reduced price. Kinda like they did with the white Macbook.

whiterebel

Can't see them dropping prices anyway, after their insane decision to increase prices at the last update. Unless of course they do their usual, and look after the US only with decreases.

oneofakind32

A price drop is the sensible thing to do right now. I can see the white macbook going for 799 and the aluminum macbooks coming down by roughly the same. They might even relaunch the white macbooks with some new features and new range of colours. What ever happens I think price cuts are going to be the big story coming out of wwdc09

conchubhar1

the price gap in the alminium to the normal ones - is fecking ridiculus!

RichyX

swingking wrote: »

one of the reasons I don't buy PC machines is the cheap factor. I know that i'm paying good money for a mac and that time and effort has been put into the design and the build quality of the machine. I would hate to see Apple sourcing cheap parts so they could sell cheap machines.

Pay the same money for a PC and you'll get just as much quality (if not more) from my experience.

conchubhar1

i like my time
so id pay 500 more for less problems for a mac tbh

dont have to use antivirus - not stuck with i.e and its ridiculus security problems
on the whole - lighter, sleeker, faster and million times easier ie - expose,spaces and dock

Elessar

I believe this when hell freezes over.

If anything it will be like their christmas "sales" - €50 off a €2000 Macbook Pro :rolleyes:

johnnysmack

why are macs so much more expensive than pcs?

sedohre

swingking wrote: »

I know that i'm paying good money for a mac and that time and effort has been put into the design and the build quality of the machine.

I disagree with what you say about the build quality as far as the casing goes. I have a MacBook, last version of the plastic model 2008. my topcase has cracked twice, the logic board had to be replace. There are many build issues, http://www.appledefects.com/wiki/index.php?title=MacBook

I'd love to replace the whole outer casing with a tougher plastic or metal. If there is a proper replacement case out there I'd love to change it at some stage

I also have a Dell laptop for years and I've never had any problems .

randombar

So I should probably wait till after the WWDC to buy a refurbed MacBook/Macbook Pro?? Got the girlfriend a Dell Mini 9, she doesnt like the size and that was the only PC Laptop I was going to get.

Long live Mac!!!