Rumor: Apple to Launch $800 MacBook Air Later this Year
Is Apple prepared to lower the price of its entry-level MacBook Air in order to get a larger chunk of the ultrabook pie?
Apple's products have long been known for their high price tags. The company's MacBook Air line is priced significantly cheaper than its full-fledged notebook line (the MacBook Pro) and it starts at an already pricey $1000. It can run up to as much as $1700 if you go for the top of the line model. However, rumor has it Apple could be considering a cheaper MacBook Air that would see the base model fall to $800.
According to a report from Digitimes' sources, Apple is hoping to better compete with the Windows 8 ultrabooks launching later this year and is willing to offer a cheaper MBA in order to do it. While early ultrabooks were closer to the $1000 mark, prices are steadily coming down. These days, it's not difficult to snag an ultrabook for under $800.
The cheaper MBA is apparently going to be released in the third quarter of this year, but it's not yet clear if Apple plans to launch a whole new budget MacBook Air, or if this rumored $800 model will actually be the $1000 with a $200 price cut. The company doesn't exactly price new merchandise to sell but it's no stranger to dropping prices on older products.
CES this past January was ultrabook central and we're expecting to see another slew of super-slim extra light laptops at Computex in June. With AMD's Trinity APU launching this month, the ultrabook market is heating up fast. Will a $200 price cut from Apple be enough for Cupertino to stay competitive.

Nothing anti-Apple here; it is simply that they operate differently and you have to relearn everything about computers you -thought- you knew. It's not like switching from a Thosiba laptop to a Dell.
And then there are the interoperability issues. Your investment in PC software is lost as it will not work. Making the two systems talk to each other and exchange documents can be a challenge, especially to the mass market user.
I think it would take a much lower price point to convince the general PC public to seriously considering a market share changing switch.
Apple could be giving AMD another chance and going with a 17w Trinity APU now that the yield/supply issues are gone for a budget Macbook Air, that would be an attractive package.
Lower the price and the illusion and marketing pizzaz vanishes.
Apple should not get into the business of doing cost reduced versions for the unwashed masses.
btw: Apple rumors are a dime a dozen. This rumor sounds like some journalist thought it up during a lunch break.
i am not a fan of apple products but even i would go with this airbook then any crappy HP laptop
I don't really care if you don't like HP (although I have had great success with their products), Apple just gives you so little value for the money. My point was that HP gives you so much more value for your money, as do Acer, Dell, Lenovo, etc. It is hard to fathom why Apple is taken seriously other than by those who are seriously uninformed. And even though I may feel negative about Acer because of a bad experience I have had, I would still rather have an Acer than an Apple toy.
Android vs iOS
Windows vs Mac OS
The Ultrabook/Ultraportable market and tablet market will be EXACTLY the same. With Apple, only a dew configuration options/1 choice and 1 price. With Windows/Android, you get 100x more options. People nowadays just want form over function, and thus, Apple is most sought after, but soon people will realize, "Why get a 64GB + 2 GB MBA, when I can get a 128 GB + 4GB Ultrabook at the same price, and has a better GPU?"
On a side note, AMD will definitely rule the Ultrabook market. Their CPU's ain't that bad. I would definitely buy an Ultrabook with Trinity over Ivy Bridge. Why?
1. Great graphics, and you can play games on med. settings.
2. Great power consumption. 20 W max in an ultrabook.
3. Cheaper.
Yes the CPU is weaker, but it's not by TOO much. Trinity will be a lot faster than Ivy Bridge in gaming. AMD will rule the tablet/Ultrabook market and Intel will rule desktops/laptops. Also, can't wait for Kepler/Pitcairn in Ultrabooks, though it will take time to get the power consumption down. Personally if I were to buy an Ultrabook without discrete, I'd get Trinity, with discrete, I'd get an Intel with Kepler/Pitcairn.