Pricing doesn't make sense?

[drjsway]

I ordered a 11.6", 1.6ghz, 4GB, 128GB because that's what I wanted but I can't help but think I'm getting a bad deal.

Tell me if this makes sense:

11-inch : 128GB
1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
4GB memory
$1,399.00

13-inch : 128GB
1.86GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
4GB memory
$1,399.00

It's the exact same price and specs are equal, only I get a slower CPU, lower resolution screen, lower battery life, no SD slot.

I'm buying it anyway because, like I said, it's what I want, but how is Apple charging the same price for the 13", when it's obviously more expensive to produce?

 

[powerbook911]

I agree. That is a bit messed up, and the configuration I want too.

 

[Mhkobe]

I'm getting the 13.3, so this doesn't concern me, however, being the Apple enthusiast I am I decided to configure all of the models and noticed this too. It does seem a little bit odd to me, but I guess Apple thinks they can sell them. Perhaps they believe that not too many people want the 11.6 with 4Gb RAM?

 

[powerbook911]

maybe.

Maybe the "kind," of 1.6 chip is different than the 1.8 something in the 13.

Maybe it has to be a "special," chip to fit in the 11?

 

[drjsway]

maybe.

Maybe the "kind," of 1.6 chip is different than the 1.8 something in the 13.

Maybe it has to be a "special," chip to fit in the 11?

The 1.6ghz chip is a SU9600, around the same price as the 1.86ghz, maybe a few bucks cheaper.

IMO, Apple should've lowered the high end 11" $100, to $1,099, or increased the low end 13" $100. There seems to be a big price gap between low end 13" and high end 13" as well.

 

[drjsway]

I'm getting the 13.3, so this doesn't concern me, however, being the Apple enthusiast I am I decided to configure all of the models and noticed this too. It does seem a little bit odd to me, but I guess Apple thinks they can sell them. Perhaps they believe that not too many people want the 11.6 with 4Gb RAM?

Even without the 4GB, just upgrading to 1.6ghz puts it at the same price as the stock 13".

 

[Scottsdale]

It's really too bad they didn't take the 12" PowerBook approach. Back then, they gave true "pro" like functionality to the 12" PowerBook and everyone loved it.

I wish they would have given the 11.6" MBA at least the OPTIONS to BTO to an otherwise equivalent to 13.3" spec wise machine (minus the display obviously). For example, allow the $999 price tag with 64 GB NAND and $1199 with 128 GB NAND. Then also allow 1.6 GHz, 1.86 GHz, and 2.13 GHz CPU upgrades equivalent in price to same config as 13" MBA and only difference being smaller display. Then give the same 256 GB NAND in the 11.6" MBA as a BTO upgrade also.

To me what they did today makes a lot of sense. However, I would have appreciated better specs available in the 11" MBA. The GPU will be screaming great, but the CPU leaves something to be desired at only 1.6 GHz. Feels like they got the CPUs dirt cheap, and that's how they passed along the savings to get to $999.

At no point did I ever think it would only be $999 for the low end, but I think 1.4 GHz and 64 GB NAND is pretty slim. Also, don't like what they did making people buy the high-end of each to do the CPU upgrade. Seems a little off to me. However, I would bet it's so they can basically make a bunch of MBAs without too many different combinations. Not too difficult to do what they did, even if 4 GB RAM is soldered to the board. And for most users, 2 GB RAM is plenty for Snow Leopard.

 

[drjsway]

I wish they would have given the 11.6" MBA at least the OPTIONS to BTO to an otherwise equivalent to 13.3" spec wise machine (minus the display obviously). For example, allow the $999 price tag with 64 GB NAND and $1199 with 128 GB NAND. Then also allow 1.6 GHz, 1.86 GHz, and 2.13 GHz CPU upgrades equivalent in price to same config as 13" MBA and only difference being smaller display. Then give the same 256 GB NAND in the 11.6" MBA as a BTO upgrade also.

They weren't able to get faster CPUs in the 11.6" because the 11.6" use chips with a TDP of 10W while the chips in the 13" are 17W. 1.6ghz is the fastest Intel makes with a 10W TDP.

I suppose they could've allowed a 256GB upgrade, unless the 11.6" have half as many flash chips. For example, the 128GB might be 64+64 in 11.6" and 32+32+32+32 in the 13". If that's true, it might explain the price discrepancy. The 11" 128GB may just be using more expensive higher density flash than the 13" 128GB.