Is the Mac mini overpriced?
Since its updated Mac mini Apple online a week ago, I found myself being very lively discussion with friends, colleagues and others on the price of the mini.
As you know, the latest in Apple mini 2GHz Core 2 Duo with 3 MB of memory chip shared L2 cache. It also gives Nvidia GeForce 9400 integrated graphics, which replaces the limit Intel GMA 950 graphics in earlier models. A model with 1 GB of RAM and a 120GB hard drive, sells for $ 599, while the other, with double the memory and hard drive 320 GB costs $ 799. You notice that the same price of the old mini-configurations.
Yet some of the people to whom I spoke believe that Apple should have the opportunity to really put the Dell and other makers by reducing the price of the mini. With the economy the way it is, they say, Apple could make a breakthrough in low-end PC market.
On the surface argument of common sense. But I think some problems are inherent in this strategy.
First, Apple does not enter a price war with other PC manufacturers. No exit for all parties concerned, including consumers. The computers will be conducted with the background to keep prices down, companies keep lowering the prices (while looking for ways to cut costs) to maintain their competitiveness.
This is exactly what Apple, or type of product they expect from Cupertino. I’m counting on Apple to deliver a quality product at a reasonable price to the definition of “reasonable”, of course, be entirely subjective.
If Apple does not offer a $ 300 Mac mini, the company would be out of there or the lowest price ever, even after the economy recovers. Apple can never change the prices because people yell and scream. And society would be difficult to upgrade because it would keep costs low for the components to make a profit on sales mini.
Apple only has to remain within reach for low-cost computers. And I think that the company derives a price of $ 599. There is a certain degree of prestige to own an Apple product, any Apple product, and the company needs to protect people as well.
If someone goes to buy a computer that costs $ 499, but see the mini is only $ 100 more, I’m willing to bet the mini is still in management. Be in baseball, Apple can use its brand and the prestige factor to sell computers without entering into a price war. Add to that the mini is fine with all the features mentioned above, a 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics, and SuperDrive, and the mini looks like a competition, even if the price is a few dollars more than what proposed by the competition.
I understand everyone wants the lowest cost computer can get, so I. However, I believe there is a time when low prices beginning to affect the quality of the machine. I prefer to see Apple at the end of the line quality.
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