Apple's Biggest Announcement at WWDC 2009: Price Cuts

Apple has always been known for its expensive line-up of computers. A common point of pride of Apple users is the "Mac Experience" and up-scale quality of Apple machines. Whether this description is accurate and the truth is argued to this day, although Apple has developed a loyal customer base over time.

Unfortunately, despite Apple's growing loyal base of customers and generally good sales over the last few years Apple has been starting to feel some losses in Mac sales due to economic recession. Apple has responded to this in their most recent WWDC keynote.

Apple has been known to make big announcements every year at its World-Wide Developer Conference (WWDC). While Apple made announcement about an update to the iPhone, Mac OS X Leopard, and their Macbook / Macbook Pro lines, the biggest news from Apple's keynote was the drop in prices.

Apple's next version of their operating system, Snow Leopard, will still retail at $130 new but an upgrade will be offered for $30. Snow Leopard isn't a large update to OS X compared to previous releases, therefore $30 is very reasonable. This is unusual for Apple however whom have never given a discount on OS X with the exception to those who just bought a Mac.

Apple's new iPhone, the 3GS, is priced at the same price points as the 3G used to have been, although the current 3G is now only $99, which is cheaper than any of the previous iPhones before it.

What is the most surprising out of any of Apple's price drops are the drops in price of the Macbook Pros and Macbook Airs, while giving a slight improvement in specs at the same time. The 15" Macbook Pro has dropped around $300 in price to $1699. The Macbook Air is now $700 cheaper.

Apple is starting to feel the economic pressure and has been dropping prices to try and cope. While prices all around have gotten better for Apple's more expensive products, Apple's entry-level machines, the white Macbook and Mac Mini, have yet to see drop in price. Because of this, those who are looking for a cheaper Mac computer to fit their budget may be out of luck, although those with a little more cash will be happy with Apple's new price points.

Despite drops in price, not all is getting cheaper with Apple. Apple will still charge $10 for people to upgrade their iPod Touches to the new 3.0 version of the iPhone OS. Current AT&T subscribers who wish to update to the new iPhone G3S will have to pay between $400 and $700. ouch.