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Apple may be releasing sub $1000 macbook later this year

appleinsider.com — Thinking of buying a new macbook, you might want to hold off for a while, because apple may be releasing new macbooks in the future, and the macbooks may also be getting a lot cheaper.

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  • TheBead, on 07/22/2008, -14/+165Sub meaning $1000 - $1.
    • timusca, on 07/22/2008, -17/+58Last I checked, $999 < $1000. Would you prefer them to advertise a sub-$3000 notebook? While true, it doesn't exactly portray a lower price.

      And don't single Apple out on this... Wal-Mart and other retailers do it ALL the time by saying, "get X product for less than $10!" when the price is $9.99+tax. It is a marketing strategy that has been in use for decades.
      • Puppetfunk, on 07/23/2008, -22/+4Oregon doesn't have Tax so your argument doesn't convince me at all.
      • tattertech, on 07/23/2008, -1/+18You might want to try reading. Apple isn't saying anything. Wall Street analysts are saying there's evidence to point to reduced price points on Macs because of their statement about tighter margins.
      • timusca, on 07/23/2008, -5/+3@tattertech

        I know what the article was saying... my point was that Apple has done it before. Remember the Mac mini for "less than $500"? Yeah, it was $499.
    • trispear, on 07/23/2008, -2/+26Thanks, I was thinking that it was an underwater watercraft / $1000 macbook combo until you washed away my confusion.
    • maximatron, on 07/23/2008, -11/+6Those jokes about Apple products being expensive don't miss to make me laugh! Even after a thousand times!

      /sarcasm
    • Evi1d33d, on 07/23/2008, -0/+18But black will cost extra.
    • EricJD, on 07/23/2008, -1/+8Yeah. You can already get a MacBook for $999 with an education discount at the Apple Store.
    • brundlefly76, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1I wanted to buy a cheap Mac for developing an iPhone app - but there ARE NO cheap Macs - the $599 Mini is a complete rip-off:

      http://www.stationstops.com/2008/07/23/apple-not-c ...
    • 3amboo, on 07/25/2008, -0/+1One dowla a lot of money!
  • BioXD, on 07/22/2008, -15/+50i just hope they don´t start reducing the product quality, i love my macbook and i think the price right now is fair enough for what you get.
    • flawedprefect, on 07/23/2008, -14/+8...Like the Air - we made it so thin.. by taking everything you REALLY need in a macbook out.
      • rimantas, on 07/23/2008, -5/+11Yeah. And it is best selling item on the Apple store. People must be stupid, heh?
        More likely your assumptions what _most_ need in notebook are stupid.
        My decision to buy Air was based on how I used my iBook:
        I never had replaceable battery for it and was not going to get one, I used it with wifi exclusively, so ethernet port was not needed, I never needed more than one usb port and used dvd drive to watch movies only before I got iMac.
        On the other hand screen and keyboard was used every time I worked on iBook so full-size backlit keyboard and bright screen of Air is what I REALLU appreciate. And compactness of it, of course.
      • doctordbx, on 07/23/2008, -7/+10Actually the first theory you put forward... people must be stupid... I think that's the most plausible one.
      • Raphyy, on 07/23/2008, -2/+11Actually the Air isn't really your everyday laptop. It's more for the people who live to travel and can't afford to have something that takes too much space. You make yourself look stupid by thinking you are actually funny.

        Die. /thread
      • flawedprefect, on 07/24/2008, -0/+1That's what the EEEPC is for.
    • evillawngnomes, on 07/23/2008, -4/+9You still paid too much for it.
    • hmphargh, on 07/23/2008, -2/+2From my experience, they already have cut on quality. I've had to have my macbook's bezel replaced 2 times because of cracking, which was only covered after buying a $169 (student discounted) Apple Care warranty, and my battery failed. They might look pretty, but they sure as hell don't have quality on their side, my thinkpads have held up much better than my macbook, and I (ab)use them a lot more than my macbook.
    • smoger, on 07/23/2008, -3/+3is it *possible* to reduce the product quality from what it is now?
  • madblunted, on 07/22/2008, -11/+6This would be nice... I hope they are not cathode tube screens...
    • Orcmors, on 07/23/2008, -1/+13I doubt that even Apple can get people to buy laptops with CRT screens.
      • dsgamer, on 07/23/2008, -1/+8I think you just challenged Steve Jobs....not good
      • Virgule, on 07/23/2008, -3/+2hey now I bought _the_ very last CRT my local Future Shop had on the floor. A 19 inch big ass bertha. I had to redesign and rearrange my desk for it.

        Can't buy what is not available anymore. R.I.P. CRT. We won't miss you too much

        So now digg me down to oblivion since it has ***** to do with the topic.
      • digitalpencil, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3i think he's talking about CCFL instead of LED
      • madblunted, on 07/28/2008, -0/+1Yes.. Cold Cathode Florescent Lighting Tubes..
  • SquareEnix, on 07/23/2008, -7/+11lets hope its not exorbitantly overpriced overseas.
    • digitalpencil, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2damn skippy! i was really happy when the iPhone 3G came out here in the UK for just £99 with £30 contract.. Still expensive, but i'm really considering one now that my ipod is kept together with gaffa tape.. Hopefully this marks a more universal pricing system for apple.. i'm sick of getting ripped off for everything!
  • carlos259, on 07/23/2008, -4/+33So is it a sub-$1000 notebook, or a touch computer priced at a low profit margin?

    or, even better, a sub-$1000 touch notebook? ^_^
    • benologist, on 07/23/2008, -4/+2http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/compute ...
      $899

      A 9% reduction in the basic MacBook model will probably come with 9% less power. It would be pretty silly to expect Apple to give you more for less.
      • consonance, on 07/23/2008, -4/+8Funny, a computer company giving you "more for less" is what the entire industry does, year after year after year.

        In 1999 a 10GB hard drive cost $200. Do 320GB hard drives cost $6400 today? Of course not. Prices decrease over time--sometimes in a matter of months. Why, today Intel announced price drops for some of its CPUs, with new, more powerful models entering the market at the price points of the previous models. I call that giving you "more for less," don't you?
      • benologist, on 07/23/2008, -2/+2Apple releasing a sub-$1000 notebook isn't going to be some revolutionary piece of hardware that shapes the industry or creates a new one. It'll be a nice laptop but it won't in any way be better, cooler, faster, more featured or whatever else than their high-end models. It'll just be cheaper and weaker hardware, and that's what I meant by you're not going to get more for less.
      • clockdist, on 07/23/2008, -2/+2Not necessarily... the iPhone is faster, better and cheaper.
      • benologist, on 07/23/2008, -1/+2It's cheaper because it's being subsidized. The only way laptops get subsidized is by crapware bugging you to buy the full version a few weeks after you get it.

        The iPhone's also a bad comparison unless it's being compared to the iPod Touch. The Touch isn't a better device it's a slightly stripped down version of the same device that's cheaper ($300 outright vs. $200 + contract).
      • Virgule, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1@consonance.
        I think they like to charge us more for new stuffs so they can recoup the R&D costs as soon as possible. Then it drop closer to the actual manufacturing cost. Its a scheme.

        Also, with electronics, cost of production is invertly proportional to the quantity produced.

        So, they could simply refuse to use the cutting edge crap and adopt last week's technology to help greatly reduce costs.
  • ChaosProfessor, on 07/23/2008, -12/+2im ordering mine next week. I work at a School so I get the free Ipod touch booh yah
    • AhrenBa, on 07/23/2008, -1/+3Don't you think you should wait to see if they release the updated MacBooks in the coming months?
      • farfromsubtl, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1Why? Then, the deal will be over for students.
    • wondertwins, on 07/23/2008, -0/+5dude, it hasnt been even CONFIRMED and your saying that your ordering next week? wtf are u smoking
  • poontangpirate, on 07/23/2008, -19/+8sub $1000 macbook meaning a macbook for $999.99

    Still, it's a MacBook, so it's awesome.

    http://smashum.com
    • Mardala, on 07/23/2008, -2/+1It'll have a hand crank and come in green. Anyways it'll still be too much, imo.,
  • Netik09, on 07/23/2008, -4/+47Why don't they just say $999.95 plus tax and shipping and handling?
    • ThatGeek, on 07/23/2008, -3/+19you dont quite understand marketing do you?
    • h4mx0r, on 07/23/2008, -2/+10because it's $999.94 plus tax and s&h.
    • DeFex, on 07/23/2008, -1/+6dont forget $400 for a $40 ram upgrade.
    • DesignNerd, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Because they are not Ron Popeil?
    • ichunxo, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2Last I checked anything $50+ ships for free from Apple.
    • Scheissen, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Because Apple does not put the taxes on their own products.
  • mastertrevor, on 07/23/2008, -4/+11And the Apple rumor mill starts churning all over again.
    • Rikm, on 07/23/2008, -1/+2At least this one makes more sense than the "Macbook touch" rumour also on the front page.
    • shazbotben, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2Again? Isn't it always churning?
  • fruscianteisgod, on 07/23/2008, -5/+6good news for college kids like me i guess, i dropped 1100 on a Dell and its done its job so i cant complain but a macbook for that price is a good reason for me to start saving
    • gradivus, on 07/23/2008, -10/+5Well its a good thing they dont teach money management in college otherwise you would be pissed.
    • consciousNOT, on 07/23/2008, -5/+0Maybe they will teach you punctuation and capitalization in college so that money spent on your Dell won't be wasted.
    • bmwracer0, on 07/23/2008, -0/+21100 on a Dell? What the hell were you doing?
      • fruscianteisgod, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2 well it was a little under 1100 but i rounded up. it had a 15 inch screen dual core, more RAM,a bigger hard drive because i am a music junkie. and some other upgrades that figure includes shipping and handling
      • arjie, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1I spent the equivalent of 1300 USD on a Dell XPS M1330 (lighter, more RAM, better processor, cheaper) and got more than I would have for a Macbook at the same price. (I checked both out) For those not particular on operating system, the Macbooks are just a horrible deal.

        Disclaimer: While other Mac users have shown me how the price comes out to only slightly higher if you get your RAM from elsewhere and then install it yourself, I did not want to mess with the case of my laptop. I wanted to just purchase something that I wouldn't have to fiddle with. I have a desktop for that.
      • bmwracer0, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2Fair enough. I just got a new macbook on clearance for 650, so I guess 1100 for a Dell seems like a lot to me.
  • skeletorcares, on 07/23/2008, -16/+40the Air2 - now with even less features.
    • digitalpencil, on 07/23/2008, -0/+17"we've removed the trackpad, keyboard and all the ports! It fits into a birthday card envelope now although you do control it by whistling.."
    • dgblackout, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1zing!
    • shinythingy, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Air Max!!!
    • demonstro, on 07/25/2008, -1/+1'FEWER' , not 'LESS'.
  • alfreeland, on 07/23/2008, -3/+3'bout time.
  • RTFishUL, on 07/23/2008, -7/+7This is annoying, I wanted to get a macbook for college, and a few weeks after I get there apple's going to step up and be like "LOL new macbooks, screw you to all you college kids that just bought new ones"

    seriously, this is aggravating.
    • madmac625, on 07/23/2008, -0/+15Shift happens. You never have the latest and greatest thing for too long. Specs improve and prices drop.
      • RTFishUL, on 07/23/2008, -2/+1it's just annoying when it comes a couple weeks after I have to buy one for school.
      • tidu, on 07/23/2008, -0/+6That's their technique... they know 95% of their sales in June/July/August are from college students, so they clean out their stock for new stuff.
      • kinseyincanada, on 07/23/2008, -1/+3hahah Shift happens
    • ZombieSociety, on 07/23/2008, -1/+3It's not Apple's fault; it's yours for not knowing when to buy. How long have we known about the new Macbooks?
    • jamesdew, on 07/23/2008, -4/+3I have a solution, don't buy a macbook.
    • Frost9999, on 07/23/2008, -0/+4The rule for buying any computer hardware, even upgrades, is that you wait until the very moment you need it. Buying a Laptop now because you will need one in a month usually means that you lose out.. prices creep down and features improve in that month which means you lose out on value for money.

      The alternative plan to this is upgrading from one Macbook to the latest one... there is probably a point in time when the resale value of your used Macbook is optimal compared with the cost of the replacement. Anyone care to do the maths on that? It would have to be only one generation old so I guess less than 2 years between upgrades if you do it this way.

    • plimpton777, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Suggestion: Buy a used macbook over CL or eBay, from a trusted seller (Question the heck out of them, make sure it works, and get the original paperwork & receipt to ensure they're the original owner). Then flip it again on CL or eBay, and you'll probably only lose a couple of hundred dollars.
    • djdavetrouble, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Ahh youth, so naive. Soon young grasshopper you will learn that any new computer is already obsolete, even before it leaves its comfy box. Welcome to the neverending circle of product upgrades.
    • daniel2288, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2do your research and you would have known new macbooks were coming out soon
    • M4rx15t, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1If its less than 30 days old you can return it for a full refund and get the new deal...
  • Tyrghast, on 07/23/2008, -19/+9It will feature the hardware of a 400 dollar laptop and incompatibility with 90% of computer programs.
    • maanwi, on 07/23/2008, -7/+690% of computer programs meaning viruses, right?
      • Tyrghast, on 07/23/2008, -4/+5I use windows exclusively and I have never had a virus or BSOD.
    • eltrev, on 07/23/2008, -1/+3Yeah - because I need ALL of those other computer programs so I can be more productive. /sarc
      • Tyrghast, on 07/23/2008, -4/+2I, for one, love being able to do whatever I want and have it work on a machine of superior quality for a fraction of the price.
    • wellyuk, on 07/23/2008, -3/+10What can't a Macbook run? It can run any software available for Windows, OS X, Linux or any other desktop operating system you care to mention. So what is this 90% of software I'm unaware of? Hmm? My Macbook Pro currently runs Ubuntu, Windows XP (SP3) and OS X. I think I've got pretty much all popular bases covered. So.. this software you were saying it doesn't run. What is it?
    • wellyuk, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1No answer? Thought not.
    • Tyrghast, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1I didn't respond because I was sleeping, like a normal person. Just because your macbook runs all the popular OS's (like any computer can) it doesn't perform well in any of them.
      • wellyuk, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1You carry on talking bollocks. You've obviously never used a macbook or macbook pro. My Macbook Pro runs Call of Duty 4 on pretty much full detail. It runs Windows as well as, if not better than most non-Apple hardware. There's benchmarks out there that will back up my claim. How about you stop making ***** up, it makes you look like a *****.
      • Tyrghast, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1I'm making ***** up and looking like a *****? Let me set the record straight: My 1k desktop runs Crysis on Medium with 2x AA, something no computer with the ***** overpriced apple hardware can do. Link me those benchmarks (which don't exist, sorry but for the last 10 years your average desktop out-benches apple computers even when running apple software), because I've been involved with computer hardware and maintenance my entire life and can both personally and professionally vouch for the superiority of custom built (or hell, even Dell) PC's over Apple in terms of affordability, performance and reliance.
      • wellyuk, on 07/24/2008, -0/+1Your "personal and professional" vouching is meaningless. Who the ***** are YOU? You've been involved with computers your entire life? You're 19 years old. You haven't been around very long. I was using and programming computers over 10 years before your mother even dropped her pretty white panties for the guy next door and conceived the bastard that is Tyrghast.

        Why should your "personal and professional" vouch be of ANY significance to me? Particularly when you claim "for the last 10 years your average desktop out-benches apple computers even when running apple software".

        What?

        What the ***** are you talking about? You are simply inventing things. Stop making ***** up.

        Until OS X was rewritten for Intel and released in 2005, HOW THE ***** could the "average desktop" possibly run ANY Apple software other than through emulation and if you even DARE ***** claim that emulation would run apple software better than apple computers, you can get right to *****. What the hell are you talking about? How the hell could the average desktop run apple software? What piece of Apple software ran on both whatever operating system you are insinuating the "average desktop" ran 10 years ago AND MacOS? Name one single piece of software. You, sir, are a *****.

        I'm not going to provide you with any benchmarks because as far I'm concerned, this discussion is over. You are a fool of the highest order and you can go shove your "personal and professional" vouch right up your ***** arse.

        The only record you set straight is that you are completely and utterly uniformed and that you are actually a wanker.
  • KibblesnBitts, on 07/23/2008, -10/+4Of course they're doing this for AFTER people enter college

    Damn you apple
    -Incoming college freshman who just bought a macbook for school
    • slifty, on 07/23/2008, -0/+9Don't worry, you got a free $300 iPod Touch instead of a $100 discount.
      P.S. next time you are a freshman in college you should wait until after you get to campus. College stores tends to sell them for about $200 less anyway.
      • KibblesnBitts, on 07/23/2008, -1/+6I'll be sure to think of that in my next life.
        And my college store only sells Dell, and it's for retail price, but thanks for the tip

        -Feels like a jackass for not actually reading the article
      • theBlubberRanch, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2I think you get the discount and the ipod.
      • cleric04, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1Yea you get it for $999 and a ($300 retail) iPod Touch. So I guess next year it will be a better deal.
    • zxcasd, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2i got my laptop right before the montevina release, but u dont see me complaining

      -running Dell XPS M1330 + nVidia 8400-> 4 lbs !!!.... if the macbook had come with a graphics card and under $1500 total [my dell costed $1355 with 4 yr warranty]...... might have waited for the macbook
      • bmwracer0, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Since there aren't any games on a mac, you wouldn't need that graphics card anyway.
  • freshyill, on 07/23/2008, -1/+19Great news for people looking for the low end, but what I *really* want is a fully refreshed 15" MacBook Pro.
  • EinHarJar, on 07/23/2008, -6/+0i cant decide if i should go with a macbook or a windows laptop!
    • BlatheringIdiot, on 07/23/2008, -8/+1get BOTH

      get an ASUS core2 duo and dual boot hackintosh leopard 10.5 and XP. Vista is for chumps.
    • r3zonance, on 07/23/2008, -3/+2"get an ASUS core2 duo and dual boot hackintosh leopard 10.5 and XP. Vista is for chumps."

      Or just get Macbook with legitimate Leopard 10.5 and then Bootcamp/Parallels XP/Vista from that, perfectly acceptable and the Macbook is the more stable of the two (i.e. it will run Leopard well without an Software Update issues and without the "no display until OS X has booted" problem).

      That's a Windows fanboy response just saying avoid Apple because it's an Apple, not based on the technical merits of the solution or it's suitability for the purpose.

      Anyone who suggests Hackintosh over genuine Mac is definitely biased, as they are suggesting a fundamentally broken solution to a problem when a perfectly viable fully working solution already exists.
      • digitalbuzz, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Done the Hackintosh route on a spare box. Too much time getting everything to work. Ended up just blowing it out and kept it as a Linux box. I spend all my time on my MBPro for work and my other XP box for gaming anyways.
    • Natilator3, on 07/23/2008, -0/+0...or you could get Linux which is free and just as productive
  • 1timeuser, on 07/23/2008, -6/+1At what cost? The ONLY reason I want a Mac is for graphic design and video editing. The beefy hardware Macs tend have are very beneficial for these tasks.

    It's obvious they are trying to appeal more to the casual (read email, surf the web, write documents, watch videos, etc.) user who is not willing to spend large amounts of money on a laptop. I'm not sure they will have much success in that area until they get down to the >$700 level.
    • maanwi, on 07/23/2008, -1/+2
      • 1timeuser, on 07/23/2008, -3/+1What am I being ignorant about? I use my mac for graphic design and video editing... I like the beefy hardware. I don't see how they can charge so little unless they get rid the beneficial hardware and thus this thing becomes useless to me as I can buy a laptop that will do all those things for $500... Quit being a rabbid mac fanboy... you guys suck.
  • skyshock1, on 07/23/2008, -9/+4I'd like to see a macbook-mini. Sort of in the same vein as the Eee. Gimmie a 32GB SSD, maybe 512 ram, 12" screen, and price it at $299 and we're good to go.
    • trispear, on 07/23/2008, -2/+11Um, yeah. Even the eeePCs aren't that cheap.
    • tidu, on 07/23/2008, -4/+1332GB SSD alone is like twice the price... you're livin' in a DREAM WORLD, man!
      • BlueSkyfish, on 07/23/2008, -1/+4http://www.amazon.com/Transcend-32GB-ExpressCard-S ...
      • Rikm, on 07/23/2008, -1/+2@BlueSkyfish

        Not all flash drives are made equal.

        Try educating yourself about the differences between MLC (multi-level cell) and SLC (single-level cell) flash memory.

        Yes, memory IC designers have recently said they have come up with flash controllers that make up for the inadequacies in terms of speed and life-cycle of MLC, but they are not on the market yet.
    • tjk176, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3and then make a third version of OS X to run on it! cuz full blown leopard isn't going to run well on 512MB of RAM. unless it's just a bigger ipod touch
  • twtmc, on 07/23/2008, -6/+60Get it down to $800 and we will talk.
    • digitallysick, on 07/23/2008, -2/+9I second that, apple could fully take over with an $800.00 notebook.
  • ptFoe, on 07/23/2008, -9/+9This would be a turn off for all the rich snobs that like the Apple brand for it's exclusivity.
    • clockdist, on 07/23/2008, -3/+1buck 'em. The more ppl use Mac, the more the Windows-monopoly-stranglehold will be loosened
      • zxcasd, on 07/23/2008, -0/+0ya.... then hackers and virus-writers would start targeting macs.......... and then those mac vs vista advertisements would look stupid...
    • digitalpencil, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1i think most mac users will be as enthused as everyone else is about the prospect of a cheaper mac.
  • robbob, on 07/23/2008, -5/+4Apple = Pusher

    Giving you a little hit for the cheap, then you'll be addicted.
  • BehnoodMarvazi, on 07/23/2008, -2/+2Every damn time I want to buy one!!
  • SchmuckofNI, on 07/23/2008, -2/+1Why do I get this feeling its going to be black and white retro style?
  • SLockhart, on 07/23/2008, -5/+6Hopefully it's cheap without looking cheap, you know, like those white macbooks.
  • se1zure, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3I am looking into macs primarily for iphone software development (damn you apple for no windows iphone sdk!).

    Maybe this will work.
    • Balanced, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1The Mini would be your cheapest point of entry, then. You can reuse your existing monitor and such. I'd suggest if you have a desktop setup that does what you want now, throw a mini on a KVM.
    • zxcasd, on 07/23/2008, -0/+0hackintosh!!!
      • se1zure, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1tried that. couldn't get important software like photoshop or office 2007 to work properly.
  • ruddy, on 07/23/2008, -9/+3orly?!
    guess how i'm NOT gonna spend $1000...
  • almondfilter3, on 07/23/2008, -7/+5Sub $1000 anything from Mac would be a good start. If you know about parts and specs, its beyond easy to configure a way more powerful Windows machine for less money.
  • blankoboy, on 07/23/2008, -0/+34That's nice and all but can we PLEASE get a new Mac Mini (or other headless Mac). Tired of waiting.
    • m00nmaster, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2Still waiting here too.
    • yevkasem, on 07/23/2008, -2/+1yea but there's nothing wrong with the current mini, unless you want dedicated graphics.
      • thefandango, on 07/23/2008, -1/+4*blink*...................... DUH.
      • diggB, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1The current Mac Mini hasn't been refreshed for close to a year and even without considering graphics, is looking pretty long in the tooth (1.83GHz or 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 1-2GB of RAM).
    • DCstewieG, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1I would give my first born for a Mac Mini w/ Blu-ray and HDMI. Neh, make that $700. That plus Plex (the new name for the OSXMBC fork) would make one kick ass HTPC, especially as I have no need for TV in.
  • Photar, on 07/23/2008, -2/+3The entry level MacBook is $1099. So to get a sub $1000 notebook, they could just drop the price of the MacBook by $100, or maybe take all the ports and dvd drive out. Personally I'd like to see that, we have hundreds of MacBooks for use by high school students and the ports and dvd drive hardly ever get used.
  • stutimandal, on 07/23/2008, -1/+213.3" Core 2 Duo 1.66Ghz 512 MB ram, slot load CD-RW Macbook has been for $999 at Amazon for a year already. I hope they are not planning to reduce the RAM to 256MB due to high apple-ram prices.
    • friendlyman, on 07/23/2008, -1/+5I think it should be illegal to sell any computer with 512MB ram and a CD-RW Drive. It's down right insulting. 2GB and DVD-RW should be the minimum standard no exceptions!
      • zxcasd, on 07/23/2008, -3/+0theres something called self upgrade?

        $100 at newegg for 4GB ram....
    • digitalpencil, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2apple don't get ripped off for their ram prices, they just rip off their customers for ram upgrades!
      • returnofthemac, on 07/23/2008, -1/+0i'm sorry, if you cant replace your own ram on an apple product other than a mac mini, you are straight up mentally deficient.
      • digitalpencil, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1^ that's hardly the point. i've used macs for years and love my MBP more than my immediate family but apple rip off their customers for ram, end of story..
  • mike9173, on 07/23/2008, -0/+4bout time they got a new macbook

    i wanted an apple laptop for over a year now,
    i hated the look of the macbook and the macbook pro was too expensive
    finally a computer that hopefully will look good and preform
    • clockdist, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1I could understand not warming-up to the all-white MacBook, but the all-black looks pretty classy.
      • echolyean, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1The black mac books is also more expensive. For the iPhone 3G, though, the white one is more expensive. Hmm. I'm just glad I decided to (well, not "decided" - couldn't afford to yet) buy a new MacBook Pro and hold on to my PowerBook from '03 (which is still working ok, but has some issues). I just hope the new machines are going to be released in the not too distant future.
  • AZRoboto, on 07/23/2008, -3/+3Judging by the price of the Macbook Air, I cannot imagine how thick this thing will be.
  • srodolff, on 07/23/2008, -4/+11Well, let's see... I can get a Toshiba laptop with 17" 1440x900 display, 4GB RAM, Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0Ghz, 320GB HD, Supermulti layer DVD, built-in webcam and mic, built in FM tuner with antenna, and a 256MB ATI Radeon dedicated video card for $999.

    Will the Apple offering be anywhere close to this?
    • shauncullen, on 07/23/2008, -7/+617'' screen with that resolution is TERRIBLE, look at the 17'' Macbook Pro: 1920 x 1200. 2GB of ram instead of 4, I'll give you that, 2.6 Ghz processor instead of 2.0 ghz which makes up the ram difference, 250 GB HD instead of 320 GB, not much difference, dvd burners the same, same webcam and mic, why would you want an antenna and FM tuner in a computer is beyond me, and a 8600M GT with 512 megs of ram. : all in an aluminum shell barely 1 inches thick. Sure the Macbook Pro is 3 times the price, but damn it, its, in my opinion, 3 times the overall package. Throw OS X into the mix and the price difference is still there, but its worth it.
      • Dantetheinferno, on 07/23/2008, -4/+163x the price for

        Slightly higher resolution
        1/2 the RAM
        Slightly higher proccessor clock
        Less hard drive
        same DVD burner
        No antenna / FM tuner (Learn to travel)
        Slightly improved video card.
        APPLE LOGO!!!!

        Ya, I can really see why you'd want to pay 3x the money for something that's so much better. Steve's reality distortion field at work for ya.
      • GreenAlien, on 07/23/2008, -0/+114 by 9 res on a 17 inch screen is actually a sensible DPI.

        I have a 1920x1200 res 17 inch laptop and the real estate is all nice, but everything is so tiny. Doesnt do your eyes any good over prolonged use. (And yea yea I cranked up DPI setting and app zoom settings etc but it's a pain in the ass).
      • NightmareFox, on 07/23/2008, -0/+0"Slightly higher resolution"
        "Slightly higher processor clock"

        If you learn how to count, it's not so slight.

        I agree though, that the price difference is enormous; you really can't compare the two like that. I don't see many people at all with the 17" macbook pro, since you can get similar features for ridiculously less amounts of money... Even if OSX is mega sweet, I'd rather have 2k than Linux: Easy Version.
      • web2pointYo, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1My only question to Dantetheinferno is, if someone wants to buy the Apple laptop...why do you give a *****? Nevermind, I just read some of your other posts. Your an idiot.
    • srodolff, on 07/23/2008, -1/+7So, you're saying that a Macbook Pro with roughly comparible specs is 3 times as much.

      Thanks for making my point.

      Now, if that same config was $999, I'd be impressed.
    • Lancelot9201, on 07/23/2008, -2/+7All that hardware is great until you reveal that it runs "Vista". That kills 50% of its value.
      Being a certified Windows tech who converted I can honestly say I only recommend OS X to any of my family or customers. I don't get any of the headache calls for virus / spyware, new hardware driver issues, etc...
      ~Food For Thought~
      • over9k, on 07/23/2008, -0/+0You know you can always install Linux on it. Or even OSX x86.
      • nastronomical, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Oh ***** somone took the A+
      • jbdamann2004, on 07/26/2008, -0/+0Well... It looks like you won't get calls for software or gaming problems either, because of the lack of software titles, games, and even the limited amount of things to download not-quite-legit mp3s.
    • zxcasd, on 07/23/2008, -1/+0or a Dell XPS M1530, 15.4" LED LCD(or a high-res 1920x1200 if u want the optional BluRay drive)

      4GB, T8300, 250GB, webcam, fingerprint reader, 256MB nVidia 8600 for $1300?
    • pierre, on 07/23/2008, -2/+3yes, but it will run WINDOWS....hahahahah loser
      • zxcasd, on 07/23/2008, -1/+0hackintosh.... hahahha loser!
        [almost manage to get all my hardware working on my dell laptop in leopard :)
      • srodolff, on 07/23/2008, -1/+2Umm, Macbooks run Windows too........
    • digitalpencil, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1where from?!?
      • srodolff, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Costco.com
      • digitalpencil, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1wow, that is cheap! looks nice too although it's a bit chunky and the CPU's much faster in the MBP (6MB L2) and id prefer the nvidia over the ati but still, at prices like that, it's difficult to contend!
    • iknowbob, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1anywhere close...no, not at all. actually very far away from vista.
  • flawedprefect, on 07/23/2008, -2/+4Get rid of that ridiculous "combo" drive and we'll talk.
  • gothabilly, on 07/23/2008, -1/+0If it is really so, then it's indeed a great news.
  • tnoy, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1All Apple would have to do is allow the selection of a 1.8GHz C2D and a 80GB HDD for the base Macbook and it'll drop the price by at least $200.

    $900 and it'll barely eat into their profit margins.
  • jamesdew, on 07/23/2008, -0/+4I wonder when apple are going to release an UMPC, apple fanbois would eat that ***** up
    • Virgule, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3pardon my ignorance but what is an UMPC?
      • solidus636, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2Ultra-Mobile Personal Computer

        edit: Well dang it, someone already told you..but they didn't reply to you..oh well.
    • jamesdew, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3Ultra Mobile PC, like the eeePC, the MSI wind and the acer aspire one.
    • digitalpencil, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1i doubt they are.. they've already done the MBA and now with that new-fangled tablet on the way it wouldn't make sense to release a umpc as well..
    • Wakuko, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1MacBook Nano?

      *fap fap fap*
  • mrfresh, on 07/23/2008, -5/+2I have a feeling that if they do come out with some notebook which is less than $1000, then it will crippled in both the hardware and software features. First to go would probably be the optical drive, like the Air.

    Sadly, I will still probably buy it.... Stupid Apple...
    • solidus636, on 07/23/2008, -1/+2Tool.
    • digitalpencil, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1well of course it's going to have slower hardware, i wasn't expecting the first 4-core notebook for less money but how exactly do you propose they are going to limit it in terms of software "OS X lite edition"?
  • loganrapp, on 07/23/2008, -5/+2I love Apple, but they are overpriced. I think if they're serious in taking a bigger chunk of the laptop market, this is a good first step.
    • Sairynn, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Don't confuse "overpriced" with "expensive". Apple doesn't make cheap notebooks, but if you compare the hardware of Windows notebooks with similar prices you'll find that they are essentially equivalent.
  • druchtie, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1This could explain the new icon quicklook option in "Snow Leopard".
    • digitalpencil, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3how?
    • druchtie, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1With a full touch interface you don't want a keyboard in your face, all the time (no space bar). If you have a option to use quicklook with one simple tab on a icon it would be a much better user experience.
  • ilistenisee, on 07/23/2008, -1/+0specs?
  • Shivetya, on 07/23/2008, -1/+12They need a MacBook aimed at the World of Warcraft crowd.

    13.3 1440x900 or so, 4gb ram, dual core 2.4, 8600M for around 1100... 160gb hard drive.

    the only reason I avoid mac laptops (I have an imac) is the reasonably priced macbooks don't have discreet video)
  • solidus636, on 07/23/2008, -7/+1Or you do this:

    Buy a completely compatible notebook by checking the OSX86 Wiki and install Leopard on it.
    And Black Friday is a few months away, so except great laptops for cheap that are capable of running OSX86.

    Done =]
    • krische, on 07/23/2008, -1/+2So then what about when you need to install software updates?
      • solidus636, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2I said fully compatible. If you get a Core 2 Duo, most can install the Vanilla kernel and you can update like any real Mac would.
    • pierre, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1good luck with that is all i have to say......
  • grneye53, on 07/23/2008, -6/+1Hopefully back into that place they just dedicated to "BUSH"
  • pd69, on 07/23/2008, -2/+4I bought my first mac a few months ago (macbook air) and after having used windows all my life I would defiantly say the current prices are well worth it. A cheaper macbook will defiantly go down really well an no doubt increase there market share even further, the world will never be without microsoft though.
  • benofmerion, on 07/23/2008, -4/+5Until I see a mac that that isn't $500 more expensive than a Dell with the same if not worse parts, I'm not wasting my money.
  • consciousNOT, on 07/23/2008, -1/+5You can already get one for $999 by clicking on the education discount button on apple.com. C'mon people.
  • lebsoljah, on 07/23/2008, -13/+4Macbooks are for n00bs, I've owned one and would rather buy a pc
    • pierre, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2intelligent post.... very insightful....
    • TheKeithD, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1I've owned one and AM buying/building a PC!
    • Lancelot9201, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1Sounds like you didn't take the time to fully learn the OS X operating system or its benefits. Being a 15 yr. certified windows / Apple tech I can honestly say that not one person I've sold an Apple to has ever wanted to go back to windows, especially Vista. Not having to deal with spyware / virus, hardware driver issues or printer driver issues alone makes it worth while. Plus, if you really made an effort to use all that is included in OS X Tiger / Leopard you couldn't help but see that it's double the OS that Vista is.. Plus, add in the fact that support is offered free at any Apple store & your remark is even harder to understand, or appreciate. Finally, don't mistakenly take pride of ownership, enthusiasm over the ease of use & proven reliability as being a "n00bs"..
  • HenryFatass, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1They'll really be able to drop the price if they include an AirPort card with cell capability and require you to sign up for a 2 year AT&T data plan. Seems to work for selling iPhones...
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