Rumours hint at £500 MacBook

Speculation is mounting that Apple plans to enter the £500 laptop fray with a MacBook sporting a 13in screen.

Gene Munster, an analyst at investment bank Piper Jaffray, told Apple Insider that the move is part of an overall strategy to cut gross margin to 31.5 per cent for the current quarter and down to 30 per cent for 2009.

"We believe there is an 80 per cent chance Apple will introduce redesigned MacBooks and possibly new MacBook Pros at lower price points," he said.

"Specifically, Apple may re-enter the $999 price point (currently $1,099) with the MacBook, or test the $1,799 price point with the MacBook Pro (currently $1,999)."

The arrival of a £500 MacBook would bring further big name competition to the burgeoning netbook market.

The analyst also predicted "lower-cost touch-based iPods" in time for the holiday buying season, but believes that Apple will continue to price most products at a premium.

"We believe Apple is getting slightly more aggressive with its pricing, but overall the company is not diverting from its strategy of premium pricing," he said.

See also:

iPhone fever fills AT&T coffers

US provider cashes in on Apple smartphone  24 Jul 2008

Apple continues record run

Mac and iPod sales fuel $1bn quarter  22 Jul 2008

Hold off on iPhone 3G, says analyst

Corporates should consider new handset a 'beta release'  18 Jul 2008

Apple sales rise 38 per cent in Q2

Fastest growing computer manufacturer in the US  18 Jul 2008

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