Ultrabooks Could See Price Pressure Due to New Macbook Air

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A series of requests for quotations (RFQ) issued by Apple to Taiwan-based supply chain makers is apparently raising some concern among Ultrabook makers and their opportunity to market thin notebooks.

According to Digitimes, the RFQs affect MacBook Pro and MacBook Air computers as well as the speculation that Apple could lower the prices of its current notebooks to clear out its stock. The MacBook Air sells from $999 and the MacBook Pro from $1,199 at this time.

While any update to its Macbook Air is significant for all vendors that offer Ultrabooks, it would be rather silly to assume that Apple will not be updating its Air and all other notebooks this years, especially when we know that Intel is preparing the introduction of a new processor architecture.

As long as Ultrabook vendors are still trailing the concept of the MacBook Air, there may indeed be reason for concern that Ultrabook sales could be negatively impacted. Of course, vendors could also choose a route to innovation to differentiate their Ultrabooks from Apple's Macbook Air other than in SSD/HDD space, processor speed and coloring.

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Wolfgang Gruener
30 Comments Comment from the forums
  • amk-aka-Phantom
    Of course, vendors could also choose a route to innovation to differentiate their Ultrabooks from Apple's Macbook Air other than in SSD/HDD space, processor speed and coloring.

    Cut the BS... how else do you want to "innovate"? Anything more complex than dumb simplicity of Apple's devices and sheeple cry that it's "too complex" and "nerdy". What do you want other vendors to do, stick an LCD on the ultrabook a-la Razer Blade? No, seriously, WHAT INNOVATION do you expect rather than better tech specs? Okay, I saw a Samsung ultrabook that managed to have an ODD and remain thin... I think that's all you can do. WHAT MORE?
    Reply
  • DjEaZy
    ... i wanna a macbook air with a AMD APU...
    Reply
  • abbadon_34
    Since when has any mac put price pressure on a pc?
    Reply
  • freggo
    how can a Mac Book be a serious replacement for PC type hardware?
    Different OS, different software, steep learning curve. Who in his right mind would bother with it.

    You end up saving a few bucks on hardware and spent a ton to replace your PC software.
    Maybe I am missing something here but this argument about price pressure makes no sense to me.
    Reply
  • -Jackson
    9442543 said:
    how can a Mac Book be a serious replacement for PC type hardware?
    Different OS, different software, steep learning curve. Who in his right mind would bother with it.

    You end up saving a few bucks on hardware and spent a ton to replace your PC software.
    Maybe I am missing something here but this argument about price pressure makes no sense to me.
    But you have to consider all the iSheep --Ahem, stupid consumers who have no knowledge or care for this, only the fact that the product is shiny and pretty.
    Reply
  • de5_Roy
    ultrabooks were never relevant. :D
    if intel really wants to sell ultrabooks, they should either lower cpu prices or stick ulv core i3 and pentium cpus with hd 2500/4000 igpus in them.
    Reply
  • Afrospinach
    abbadon_34Since when has any mac put price pressure on a pc?
    Ultrabooks are pretty outrageously priced and I dare say apple has a better showing in this segment vs the market as a whole.
    Reply
  • kawininjazx
    DjEaZy... i wanna a macbook air with a AMD APU...
    Apple has been the only company smart enough to not use AMD CPUs.
    Reply
  • lamorpa
    Then again, you 'd want to buy a Mac, so, for most people, the point is moot.
    Reply
  • InvalidError
    AfrospinachUltrabooks are pretty outrageously priced and I dare say apple has a better showing in this segment vs the market as a whole.You can find Ultrabooks down to about $700... but at that price, the feature set looks more like an overpriced supercharged nettop running Windows than something I would like to use as an alternative to a PC or want to buy over a $500 conventional laptop.

    I agree, Ultras are currently much too expensive for what they are worth to most people.
    Reply