Apple is reportedly developing a new, cheaper machine aimed at the education market. The launch would be planned for the year 2024.
The Cupertino company has always had a special relationship with the world of education, with computers specifically designed for the needs of teachers and students.
Apple lost its leadership to Google in the education sector
The arrival of Google with Chromebooks has redistributed the cards in the education market. The search engine offers machines offering quick access to its online services, most of which are free. These computers are also much cheaper than those developed by Apple.
Most Chromebooks sell for a few hundred euros, compared to several thousand for MacBooks and other iMacs. Despite the discounts granted to students and teaching staff, Macs are absolutely not competitive with the offer from Google and its partners, which have been very successful for several years.
According to the media DigiTimes, Apple has decided to recover its lost market share by confronting Google on its own turf. The Californian manufacturer is in fact in the process of developing its response to Chromebooks.
A new MacBook at a tight price in the pipeline for 2024?
This portable Mac would be a machine still made from metal, but with different materials than current MacBooks, and probably less expensive. Apple would not like to return to an all-plastic MacBook, which was so successful in the mid-2000s, but could be ready to lower its manufacturing standards to reduce costs.
The brand is planning a launch of this “ chromebook killer » during the year 2024, possibly a few weeks before the start of the school year, to benefit from the “Back to School” operation. This is aimed at students looking to buy their first device or renew their IT equipment.
For the moment, apart from these one-off promotions, Apple is focusing more on the iPad to attract younger populations. We saw this in particular with the release of the very latest iPad, whose communication very clearly targeted schoolchildren and students. This model is also compatible with a new Magic Keyboard, a case with a keyboard for easier writing.
If the iPad, with iPadOS updates, is getting closer and closer to the computer, the limitations of the operating system are still present and do not allow it to 100% replace a Mac. This new product could therefore reach an audience reluctant to abandon a computer for a tablet. The price will still have to be aggressive enough to convince him.
Source : DigiTimes
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