14 DAY TRIAL // Acer expects Ultrabooks prices to drop significantly in the coming years, so much in fact that in 2013 the company believes these ultra-thin laptops will start at $499 (roughly 371 EUR), which will make them far more accessible for a wider range of users.
According to the Taiwanese company, prices will drop gradually from $1,000 US (750 EUR) for the current models to about $799-899 US (594 to 668 EUR) in the second quarter of 2012 after Intel launches its first Ivy Bridge processors.
In 2013, the drop will be even more significant, said Acer’s President Jim Wong in a talk with the DigiTimes publication, since more PC brand vendors will all start mass shipping such devices.
Intel has developed the Ultrabooks concept in order to counteract the ever-increasing popularity of tablets, which are eating away into the PC market.
However, the high costs associated with both manufacturing and the hardware components required for such ultra-thin laptops have kept Ultrabooks from becoming as widespread as Intel has hoped for.
Right now, the cheapest Ultrabook on the market is the Toshiba Portege Z835 which retails for $799.99 (594 EUR), but this is a Best Buy exclusive deal as the regular selling price of the ultra-thin being is actually set at $929 (689 EUR).
Those of us that can’t buy this model from Best Buy have to go instead for the HP Folio 13 or the Acer Aspire S3, both models being sold for $899.99 (roughly 699.9 EUR).
According to a recent report also published by DigiTimes, the BOM (bill-of-materials) for a 13-inch SSD-equipped Ultrabook model is estimated at $690 (518 EUR).
To this BOM manufactures have to add another $100 (75 EUR) in OEM costs and a $150 (112.6 EUR) bill for marketing & distribution raising the grand total to $940 (705 EUR), which hardly leaves any room for profit.