Leading
computer manufacturers Hewlett Packard and
Toshiba have cut
laptop and
desktop prices on new machines featuring
Windows 7 . Despite the improved technology both in terms of
software and hardware, consumers buying new
PCs from the end of October will benefit from price cuts. Experts are citing rising competition and market insecurities as the major reasons for the price drops, while the popularity of the smaller and cheaper
netbooks has forced laptop and
desktop manufacturers to reconsider their pricing.
In the US, laptop sales have been weak for any
PC priced above $800, forcing manufacturers to offer more affordable solutions with the best performance possible for the price. Apple’s decision to cut the price of its
MacBook to $999 offered an indication of this, and reports suggest prices will be cut further.
Dell are pricing their new inspirons at a base price of $449, while Toshiba’s new Satellite PCs have the same base price. Hewlett Packard’s new Pavilion
laptops start at $549, as consumers indicate a willingness to sacrifice performance for affordability.
The new Windows 7
operating system from
Microsoft is set to become the biggest selling operating system ever, with a vast number of manufacturers pre-installing the operating system on their machines.