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Do you think there will be a price cut on the iPad any time soon after it's released?

R

Riviera122

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 14, 2008
488
164
I like the idea of taking one to school, but I already have a netbook so I don't want to spend that much money on one.

Is my best bet waiting for the "back to school" deals?
 
Justin122 said:
I like the idea of taking one to school, but I already have a netbook so I don't want to spend that much money on one.

Is my best bet waiting for the "back to school" deals?
Click to expand...

Short answer is no.

In more depth, Apple has branded the price unbelievable so they feel the price is fine. As for BTS, I doubt you would make much of a saving if any at all.
 
I fully agree with @Bentron. The price is already amazingly low for such a device; I can't imagine it being any cheaper.
 
Apple is not a company that runs sales, so waiting for a "back to school" deal is pointless. However, Apple does offer student discounts on a lot of it's products, so it's possible they might offer you a slight discount for that reason.

As far as a price drop like the first iPhone had, shortly after launch. I think a lot of people are going to end up disappointed if they're waiting for that. That would only occur if iPad sales were very disappointing, and I don't see that being the case.
 
I don't see a price cut for awhile if for any reason, the iPad is going to be rolled out worldwide over the course of 2010. Apple usually only cuts prices on existing products for two reasons: 1) inventory is too high (surpasses a 4 week demand) or 2) the product has been EOLed and its replacement has been announced. Neither of those conditions are going to exist anytime soon.

Best case I can come up with is Apple gets aggressive during the holiday season and snips the prices, but best we can expect is maybe $50.

Of course once the Apple Resellers (Mac Mall, Mac Zone, etc) get hold of the iPad we might see some discounting or rebates on their end. But again, don't expect much -- $25 or a free accessory.
 
The closest thing to a price decrees will be in one year when the next gen comes out. It will probably have the same price points with double the memory and maybe a couple other hardware changes (like faster processor). This is the stereotypical Apple way and it helps to add value to their product line. The original iPhone price drop was an aberration not likely to be repeated.
 
I don't expect to see price cuts until the new models are out -- say about a year from now.

When the new models come out, the existing (now old) models will be sold for less.

BTW, not sure what the iPad upgrade cycle will be. The updates for iPods are usually in the fall. The updates for the iPhone are usually in the June-July timeframe. Will the iPad updates be in the springtime? Possibly.
 
Only if sales are bad they will bring the price down. Or wait a year. Probably they will bring down the current gen with $100 when Rev. 2 is released.
 
short and long answer is NO! they said they might lower prices if it was necessary to stimulate demand. With the huge number sold the first day I don't think sales will be a problem. They are pretty hard nosed on pricing by affiliates too. I waited a year for Amazon or Best Buy to have a good sale on the Touch and it was only when the new version came out did first gen prices drop. There is still the question of whether the 4.0 OS upgrade will cost you to upgrade in a few months but no one here knows that possibly not even Apple.
 
Nothing is amazing about the current prices. $500 for a 16gb, non-upgradable device less capable than a $300 netbook is typical for Apple. Anyone buying now is still paying the Apple tax, and thinks it is great because most predicted Apple would charge $1000 for it.
 
I remember thinking there's no way Apple would cut the price of the iPhone until the second revision, and they went to slashed $200 60 days later.

Who knows, although I suspect if they do cut prices it won't be by much. $100 would be max, probably more like $50. Considering the iPad is so much cheaper than we were expecting, I'm not sure $100 would really move many unemotional people around here.
 
Considering the momentum in pre order sales, I doubt if there will be a price cut anytime soon.

From Mac NN:
"Other reports note that Apple is telling some people, namely those switching from online to pickup orders, that demand is so intense the company cannot guarantee they will have an iPad on launch. The truth may be that Apple has been experiencing production problems, preventing it from building systems at the rate it has hoped to. Some sources involved in supplying Apple manufacturer Foxconn have denied this, however."
 
4DThinker said:
Nothing is amazing about the current prices. $500 for a 16gb, non-upgradable device less capable than a $300 netbook is typical for Apple. Anyone buying now is still paying the Apple tax, and thinks it is great because most predicted Apple would charge $1000 for it.
Click to expand...

I just love this argument. If you want a $300 netbook get one.

The infamous Apple Tax? Sure that's what you can call the vertically integrated hardware and software system that includes the iTunes media and app stores. No one else offers anything remotely close, and if they did, they would charge a premium. Nothing to say of the level of design and engineering.
 
4DThinker said:
Nothing is amazing about the current prices. $500 for a 16gb, non-upgradable device less capable than a $300 netbook is typical for Apple. Anyone buying now is still paying the Apple tax, and thinks it is great because most predicted Apple would charge $1000 for it.
Click to expand...

Or....we think it is a great price because it is the same price as the same sized Kindle and it has more memory than a Kindle and can do so much more than the Kindle can.

It really just depends on what you are comparing it to. See, I don't see an Apple tax. That $300 netbook can't do what I really like about the iPad, and that is have the form factor of a tablet/slate. IF you know of a tablet/slate form factor computer that is buyable now and is cheaper than $499 please provide a link to it (oh and it needs to be a 9 to 10 inch screen or greater - but not bigger than 12 inches).
 
Three possibilities, in order of likelihood:

1) storage bump and hardware upgrade in one year. Same price points.
2) storage bump *or* price drop before holidays, probably at September iPod refresh
3) iPhone style price drop after a few months.

#1 is a certainty, #3 is a longshot. #2 is possible, because Apple really wants this to be a mass consumer success.

And that's the way it is.
 
roland.g said:
I just love this argument. If you want a $300 netbook get one.

The infamous Apple Tax? Sure that's what you can call the vertically integrated hardware and software system that includes the iTunes media and app stores. No one else offers anything remotely close, and if they did, they would charge a premium. Nothing to say of the level of design and engineering.
Click to expand...

Good answer ;)
 
I have a netbook/32gb. ($299)
I have a tablet PC/60gb. ($499)
Both also have USB ports, MicroSD slots, Webcams, mic ports, and can still run any app with the same functionality as the included iPad apps as well as 99% of the useful ones available from the app store. Both play more media formats as well. Both have stereo speakers (yes cheap ones like the single iPad speaker).

What I appreciate about the netbook and PC is their ability to be improved as my uses for them increase. I'd love an iPad too, but until they prove it can print to my networked printer and be memory upgraded after purchase it's not worth $499/16gb to me. My tablet can be used anywhere the ipad could. It doesn't need another PC or Mac for content though.

Good point about the big Kindle being overpriced. I agree. I've got the $249 one. It's worth that.

As for "Will the price go down?", Jobs has indicated he would do what it took to keep hem selling, even lower the price if need be.
 
Refurbs will probably start tricking in, in a few weeks. That should knock $40-50 off the price.
 
Apple will probably keep the price and add features instead.

(As soon as they add a front video call camera, I'll get a bunch for our parents and other family. Until then, it's missing something we all consider crucial for our use. Don't need multitasking, but do need a camera.)
 
4DThinker said:
Nothing is amazing about the current prices. $500 for a 16gb, non-upgradable device less capable than a $300 netbook is typical for Apple. Anyone buying now is still paying the Apple tax, and thinks it is great because most predicted Apple would charge $1000 for it.
Click to expand...

When I buy the iPad, I plug it in for the first time and sync, and I'm on my way in minutes, not messing around with all sorts of .conf files just to get the wireless working. I wouldn't even consider Windows.

If you can point me to a netbook that can run all of my app store apps, full screen Google Maps, YouTube, and seamlessly syncs with all of my iTunes content, contacts, calendars and mail accounts, I'm listening.

Oh, that $300 netbook needs to weigh less than 1.5 lbs, have more than 10 hours of battery life WHILE IN USE, not just being on. And thinner than 0.5".

Seriously, I'm listening.
 
Bentron said:
Short answer is no.

In more depth, Apple has branded the price unbelievable so they feel the price is fine. As for BTS, I doubt you would make much of a saving if any at all.
Click to expand...

This sums it up for me.

I suspect Apple is losing money or barely breaking even on the 499 model from just hardware sales, so I think that is unlikely it will drop in price any time soon.

I think they priced the introductory model very aggressively.
 
santaliqueur said:
Seriously, I'm listening.
Click to expand...
You can stop. This is text. If you hear something while reading it then please see a doctor. You may have a brain tumor.

As for any other contentious point, please buy your iPad. I never tried to stop you.
 
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