14 DAY TRIAL // Despite proving to be a bit of a flop, the iPhone 5c has yet to run its course. Apple still sells it with some degree of success, and there might be some evidence that it’s actually forcing some to consider the more expensive model. Think of it as the lure, whereas the 5s is the hook.
So why wouldn’t Apple do the same with the MacBook business? With a 12-inch Air rumored to be on the horizon, the company could try to dip its toe in cheaper waters and perhaps add some market share points.
Redditor Not_a_Lefty is the one who came up with the idea. He asks an interesting and rather bold question: “Would Apple ever make a ‘5C-like’ MacBook to compete with the Chromebook?”
He elaborates, saying, “By ‘5C-like’ I mean a colorful, plastic casing such as the one found on the iPhone 5C and lower specs than the current MacBook (Air). I believe a cheaper MacBook would greatly expand the current user base, and be a serious contender to the lower-end laptop market, especially if competitively priced against the Chromebook.”
He accepts it may well be “a very stupid idea,” but wants people’s opinions nonetheless.
As one would expect, Reddit is merciless. While some are supportive of the idea, most claim their own theories about why the 5c exists / sucks as a product / won’t happen again as long as Tim Cook lives. Some inevitably go into Steve Jobs’ Apple, as if that’s somehow relevant anymore.
One user, identified as Klumpmeister, appropriately points out that “Macbook Airs are the closest thing you are going to get as far as a budget laptop. They have been cutting prices on them for the past two years to stay competitive and affordable. There is no better time to be a mac user!”
But why not go the extra mile? Selling the Air in a polycarbonate chassis – perhaps not in a range of colors but in some future iconic pearl-white shade – for say $700/€700 would absolutely kill every living notebook out there. There’s a chance it might happen sooner than some would dare believe.
Others prefer a more sarcastic approach, answering “Yes. It's called an iPad.” To this guy’s credit, Apple indeed wants to position the iPad as close to the laptop as possible, at times even marketing it as a true replacement for the heavier hardware. Rumor has it Apple plans to introduce something similar to Microsoft’s new Surface, complete with a keyboard accessory and a bigger display.