October 10, 2008, 10:05 AM — There's a reason more people buy Windows PCs than Apples. It doesn't have anything to do with technology, security, or perceived superiority. It's just cheaper. And Apple's long-standing strategy of charging a lot more and creating a "cool" image to support the high price isn't going to cut it during the recession. Sure, everybody loves to be cool when there's money in the bank, but when the economic axe starts to fall, we start to visit the dollar store and buy generic soup.
Is Apple finally getting with the program? There are unconfirmed rumors circulating that the company will come out with an $800 MacBook.
It would make sense for Apple to target the sub-$1000 notebook market; if the rumors are true, it would be the first time for Apple to go under the thousand dollar mark. Because let's face it, average middle-class Americans just won't pay three grand for a notebook computer in today's economy. So will Apple go from targeting Joe Cool to trying to target Joe Sixpack? It would be a big change for the company, but the release of a sub-$1,000 notebook would be a good start towards gaining broader appeal.
