Apple once had a strong presence in the educational activity food market ( call back theeMac ? ) . But with institutions and school districts shape with smashed budgets , cheap PCs and Chromebooks took over . Apple softly lessened its drive in education , but a report says the company may be looking to get back in .
Citing “ industry sources,”DigiTimesreports that Apple is work on a “ low - cost MacBook serial to compete with Chromebook models in the Department of Education sector . ” DigiTimes ( which has a less - than - starring trail record for rumour ) order this new laptop would be separate from the current MacBook Air and Pro lineup . with a “ different material ” for the shell and lower - cost components to match low - end Chromebook pricing .
DigiTimes also reports that suppliers “ Quanta Computer and Hon Hai Precision Industry ( Foxconn ) show no mark of related activity , ” which could mean that yield wo n’t start until next year . Or it could stand for that the whole affair is off-key .
Decent Chromebooks, like the ASUS Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip, generally start at around $600, much lower than any MacBook Apple sells.
It could be feasible
There ’s one good reason why this written report could be feasible : trashy Chromebooks , such as the I sold to education , bring out down . Every so often , a write up is published about how initiation find that their Chromebook investment is n’t worth it . For good example , ABC News cover just this preceding weekend on the strength of Chromebooks , citing one shop in New York thatrepairs 5,000 Chromebooks monthlyfor the 150 schools it services . In May , The Verge account about the US Public Interest Research Group Education Fund findings thatChromebooks break after three years .
Decent Chromebooks , like the ASUS Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip , broadly start at around $ 600 , much lower than any MacBook Apple sells .
Foundry Massachusetts Institute of Technology Material von Asus
Decent Chromebooks, like the ASUS Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip, generally start at around $600, much lower than any MacBook Apple sells.
So the Department of Education market seems to be ripe for the picking . school need cheap devices that can last more than three years . And Apple is renowned for make character products that last . On top of that , Macs have a reputation for being easy to shell out and support by IT – which , at many public school , is not a full - time staff position . An inexpensive MacBook that school can afford and does n’t need persistent IT support ? That ’s a winner for the education market place .
There ’s an obvious business benefit for Apple . Considering how Mac sales have stalled over the past duet of quarters , a renewed breeding try would no doubt boost those sales agreement numbers .
But it’s not going to happen
Apple already has a machine for the education securities industry : the iPad . The companionship has made pledges to educational activity programs with the iPad with a start toll of $ 299 and lower , and it on a regular basis upgrade the iPad as a tool for elementary Education Department . The iPad offer much of what educatee are look for — well software program bread and butter , a touch screen , powerful apps , and a low $ 329 entry cost .
But it ’s not a MacBook , you might say . True , and some extremely cheap Chromebooks can sell for even less than the introduction - level iPad . Apple has never made a laptop that cheap and is in all likelihood unable to begin now . Even if Apple could make a laptop that sold for $ 500 , that cost may not be humble enough to entice buyers in the numbers that Apple would take for it to be successful .
Apple ’s most affordable laptop is currently the $ 999 M1 MacBook Air that is often get for $ 750 on Amazon and other third - company retail merchant . It will for sure last much longer than the three years a Chromebook does . Maybe Apple trend the Leontyne Price of its old Airs as it does with the iPhone , but again , we ’re talking about toll point that Apple does n’t usually fill with its MacBooks , and is not compel to .
Apple does what it can to help ease the burden of monetary value , but educational buyers have the challenge of justifying the higher up - front cost for long - term investment funds . It ’s unlikely that Apple is ever pass to recreate that game .
