Windows 7 to bring cheaper laptops

The trend toward less expensive laptops continues, driven by the even lower prices of netbook computers, as evidenced by prices released in advance by both Hewlett-Packard and Toshiba.

Laptop prices have already tumbled over the last year, brought down by the popularity of netbook computers which, although less powerful than most laptops, are able to satisfy the demands of many consumers. As laptop manufacturers begin to set up pricing structures for new series of laptops whose release will coincide with the introduction of Windows 7, prices seem to be dropping yet further, even though the laptops themselves are becoming even more powerful, according to a CNET article.

Bob O’Donnell, an analyst at market-researcher IDC, recently said, “There’s a new reality in laptop pricing. It’s getting harder and harder to sell anything over $800.” O’Donnell even cited proof that the   average selling price of notebooks are falling below the prices of desktop computers in the retail marketplace, saying “That may have been an anomaly, but the fact that’s it’s even close is indicative of this phenomenon.”

For one example, consider the new HP 13-inch ProBook 5310m that is about 0.9 inches thin, weighs less than four pounds, and is contained in an aluminum top enclosure and a magnesium alloy bottom case. The price for such a laptop gem? HP recently announced that it would sell for $699. Compare that to the HP EliteBook 2530p business notebook series which was introduced at the middle of last year, priced at about $1,500, some $800 more than the thinner, lighter 5310m.

The same sort of price drops are happening in the newest line of notebooks from Toshiba, meaning that much more computer is costing much less money at Toshiba than it did last year, a phenomenon that seems to cut across all of Toshiba’s series, according to recently released price lists. These are the kind of price cuts that are almost guaranteed to drive consumers into the stores for new Windows-based laptops. It remains to be seen what this aggressive pricing will do to the bottom line of the largest laptop manufacturers.

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