Rumor says Apple is preparing to launch a $799 MacBook Air by the second half of 2012. The price of this upcoming MacBook is $200 less than the company’s current cheapest model. Is it a new strategy against the new “Ultrabook” laptops that are coming to market? Could be. Hope, it’s not just a rumor.

At CES 2012, Ultrabooks were the top trend. At present, the price of Apple’s 11-inch 64GB MacBook Air is $999 and the price of a 13-inch 128GB MacBook Air is $1,299. However, according to the New York Times, it is “an ultra-slim laptop (think MacBook Air) that maxes out at 0.8 inches thick.”

Ultrabook manufacturers have so far struggled to match or beat Apple’s MacBook Air price which led to weak shipments of ultrabooks. But Intel remains committed to the initiative and is working with manufacturers to continue to bring prices down. It is unclear just how Apple would achieve a $200 price cut on the MacBook Air.

Source : DigiTimes