View this article at: http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/10/09/piper.on.new.macbooks/
Thursday, Oct 09, 2008 2:25pm
Piper: new MacBooks may hit $899 mark
The MacBooks at Apple's special notebook event next week may drop even further than anticipated, Piper Jaffray senior analyst Gene Munster says. Having already predicted $999 models earlier, the researcher now estimates that the new models may dip as low as $899. This will reportedly come despite apparent moves to more upscale components, including a switch to aluminum; Munster anticipates a multi-touch trackpad similar to those given to the Air and Pro.

The analyst also anticipates some similar changes to the MacBook Pro but at a more modest level. A price cut to $1,899 is considered possible and may be accompanied by a more advanced trackpad. The MacBook Air is also predicted to get a minor update, though Munster rules out the likelihood of a tablet or otherwise touchscreen-enabled Mac for the gathering.

A price drop has been regarded as potentially crucial to Apple, which has to compete both in a poorer economy and against steadily declining notebook prices. It's also unknown whether the company has yet to reveal its mystery product transition that will lower the company's margins; some have asserted that the reference applies to the $229 iPod touch, though Apple has never confirmed this.