Reports Point to Cheaper MacBook Air Launch This Year

It may be possible for a MacBook Air with a lower price tag to be released by Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) into the market by the third quarter according to a recent report from DigiTimes. The reported cheaper MacBook Air may be the response of Apple to the upcoming release of cheaper ultrabooks by PC manufacturers. The report indicated that the cheaper model of the MacBook Air may have a price tag of around $799. The report cited sources within the supply chain of the company.

The cheaper MacBook Air will likely affect sales of the ultrabooks if the average price of the device will not be brought down to the $699 goal. With the $799 price tag on a MacBook Air, it will not be easy to make the ultrabooks to become a standard in the market.

A huge investment was made by Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) in the development of the latest technology for its devices. The company has infused a good amount to software and hardware companies to improve its slim laptop devices. Around $100 million was spent by the company for software developers for the ultrabook.

However the launch of the ultrabook will likely take place after the Windows 8 OS is unveiled by Microsoft within the year although it appears that sales of Dell devices have been encouraging recently. Dell recently announced that the sales of the XPS 13 ultrabook, which has a price tag of around $999, was better than what the company expected.

The eleven-inch 64GB model of the MacBook Air has a price tag of $999 while the 128GB model is priced at $1,199. On the other hand the thirteen-inch 128GB model of the MacBook Air is priced at $1,299 and the 256GB model has a price tag of $1,599.

Earlier reports have also indicated that Apple may be planning to unveil a laptop hybrid that will offer the mobility of the MacBook Air along with the power of the MacBook Pro.