AppleInsider is reporting that Apple is going to be releasing some cheaper Macs, maybe. How many people think that this really matters? Here is the only question you need to answer: will Apple release a full computer (screen, keyboard, etc) for an equivalent price to that of a PC? The answer is no, and this is why [from DailyTech]:
“Macs have gone from an average price of $1,432 and $1,574, for desktops and laptops respectively in June ‘06 to $1,543 and $1,515 respectively in June ‘08. While much lower to start, PCs are now even lower in average sale price. The average PC notebook went from $877 to $700.”
Be realistic. The chance of Apple releasing a laptop that has even one gigabyte of ram for less than $800 is lunacy. They won’t do it. Now, people will of course say that the difference in the OS makes it worth the switch, and that may be true. But try telling that to your average Joe, that this different OS that still types and connects to his inter-tubes is worth the price margin. He will laugh in your face.
Finally, this will affect one market: college kids. This demographic has the biggest Mac fetish since Woz, and selling them cheaper computers means more will be sold. Simple economics, but to the mass market, I doubt we will see any real price changes that will bring Macs into the real mass market fold.
