Low-price Apple Netbook Coming Next Year

[Peaches]

Low-Price Apple Netbook Coming Next Year

Gregg Keizer, Computerworld

Monday, November 24, 2008 1:40 PM PST

"Apple Inc. will roll out a lower-priced and lighter-weight laptop in the first half of 2009 to compete in the growing "netbook" category, an analyst said today.

The slipping economy will force Apple to address a glaring omission in its line-up: the lack of a lower-priced laptop, said Ezra Gottheil, an analyst with Technology Business Research Inc.

"Apple is facing the possibility that as the economic news gets worse, that they're increasingly pricing themselves out of an important market," said Gottheil. "Economic conditions are accelerating this."

Apple won't compete directly with netbooks on price or form factor, Gottheil maintained, but will have to respond with something he characterized as an "entry-level notebook" that could compete with the $300-500 price tags of most netbooks. Currently, Apple's lowest-priced notebook is the older, white-cased MacBook , which the company retained when it unveiled new unibody MacBooks and MacBook Pros last month. That MacBook lists for $999, although Best Buy has launched a sale of Apple hardware that prices the model at $899."

More here: http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/arti..._next_year.html

Edited November 25, 2008 by Peaches

[isteve]

I don't see it happening, maybe something new like a big iphone but not a $500 netbook. Even with a bad economy right now Apple is doing well with ipod, iphone and the new Macbooks no reason to spoil sales with a budget computer yet.