Fence-sitters beware: Apple already considering iPad price drop

by Stevie Smith - Feb 9 2010, 06:18

Apple hasn’t even officially unleashed the recently unveiled iPad tablet computer upon the world, and yet rumours are already circulating that the Cupertino-based gadget giant is preparing to hack down the device’s price points.

According to Credit Suisse analyst Bill Shope, unnamed Apple executives have indicated that pricing associated with the ultra-portable iPad computer will be “nimble” depending on a possible shortfall in levels of consumer interest.

“While it remains to be seen how much traction the iPad gets initially, management noted that it will remain nimble (pricing could change if the company is not attracting as many customers as anticipated),” Shope offered in a Wall Street Journal report concerning the new tablet system.

If past form with the iPhone is anything to go by, an iPad price cut may indeed by on the cards soon after launch as Apple looks to keep consumer appeal at the maximum. For example, the original iPhone handset received a whopping $200 USD price drop within two months of release.

Despite Shope’s apparent scoop on a potentially swift drop in price, most industry analysts believe demand will be strong and Apple will sell up to five million iPad units within the first year of its retail availability.

That being said, PC World reports that consumer marketplace Retrevo has seen consumer disinterest in the iPad double from 26 percent to 52 percent since the device was introduced by Apple on January 27.

The basic Wi-Fi version of the iPad (16GB) comes attached to a price tag of $499 USD – would an adjusted $449 USD price push cautious fence-sitters into the realm of tech temptation?

We fancy it just might.

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