3Q 2012: Ultrabooks $699.- vs MacBook Air $799.-

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

 

According to Digitimes, Apple is reportedly considering responding to the upcoming second-generation ultrabooks by launching a US$799 MacBook Air in the third quarter of 2012.

 Intel continues to aggressively push ultrabooks and is aiming to have the devices priced at US$699 in the second half of the year. However, if Intel is unable to bring down ASPs to its goal, the price gap between ultrabooks and the US$799 MacBook Air may further postpone the time ultrabooks become standardized,

Intel has already set aside a fund of US$300 million for ultrabooks and another US$100 million for developing its own application store. In addition, with its heavy investment in product promotions, the company believes the investments will help strengthen notebook brand vendors' morale and help increase ultrabook's share in the notebook market.

However, Digitimes believe that ultrabooks are unlikely to achieve strong sales performance until the launch of Windows 8.

Currently, Apple's 11-inch 64GB MacBook Air is priced at US$999 with a 128GB version priced at US$1,199. The 13-inch 128GB version is priced at US$1,299 and 256GB version is US$1,599. If Apple decides to launch a US$799 MacBook Air, Digitimes believes the strategy will damage ultrabooks allowing Apple to continue to press its advantage.

I won`t be surprised if Apple comes out with a total redefined MacBook Air in hardware and on software in the upcoming WWDC 2012 this June 11-15 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, in order to reach a $300.- less price device, that is a lot, something to think how Apple is going to do that. Is Digitimes news just a rumor? 

Related post:

HP, Lenovo, Asustek and Acer to launch second gen ultrabooks in May. Prices to drop to US$699.

2012: Apple to overhaul all product lines. iPad,iMac, iPhone and MB Air.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Apple plans to completely overhaul its product lineups, including iPad, iMac, iPhone and MacBook Air, in 2012 and is expected to finalize order volumes for key parts and components for the next-generation iPad in December, according to sources in the upstream supply chain.

Inventory of key parts and components for the next-generation iPads will be sufficient enough for the production of two million units by year-end 2011, the sources pointed out.

Apple has asked makers in the supply chain to develop flat panel modules and LED light bars for two iPad prototypes, codenamed J1 and J2, the sources revealed.

TPK Holdings will begin to supply touch panels to Apple in November before Wintek starts shipping comparable models in December, added the sources.

However, the next-generation iPhone and iMac are unlikely to be revealed until the second half of 2012, the sources added.

Related post: 

2012: Apple´s upgraded iPad 2 for March, iPad 3 for 3Q.

Leaked: New MacBook Air 2010 upcoming

Oct 20th Apple is holding a media event Back to Mac. Besides OS X Lion (10.7).  a new MacBook Air is finally going to be unveiled by Steve Jobs at the event. The new MacBook Air is rumored to have a 11.6-inch screen."

Engadget http://tinyurl.com/27mcr7sposted now a photo of what is supposed a newMacBook Air in a 13.3-inch size. 

The photo shows the inside. I see batteries and now space for a hard-drive.

 The new MacBook Air should sport the unibody design known from the MacBook Pro. 

The MacBook Air has not been updated in a while, so it will be interesting how thin Apple is able to make.  The MacBook Air would the become the iPad with QWERTY keyboard.

The iPad is .5 inch thin. 

Related post from Apple Insider: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/10/15/sources_apple_to_unveil_revamped_11_6_inch_macbook_air_next_week.html