Two sets of part numbers are circulating around the web tonight.
The first set is from Best Buy which show placeholders for new Apple notebooks at current prices. While some people are using this as a reason to doubt price drops on the new laptops, we should point out that a BestBuy employee has said that they have no prior knowledge from Apple and Best Buy employees insert these placeholders based on circulating rumors. Therefore, Best Buy part numbers have no predictive value whatsoever.
The second set of part numbers is more interesting and perhaps more plausible. These numbers were posted (via Zollotech) to an anonymous Blogspot account and claim to represent shipping part numbers to Apple's retail stores.
Here are the part numbers and prices into what we believe is the most likely breakdown, though we are adding our own speculation into the raw numbers:
- K29, MB382LL/A $899.00 - MacBook? LED Apple Display?
- M97, MB466LL/A $1,299.00 - MacBook
- M97, MB467LL/A $1,599.00 - MacBook
- M96, MB543LL/A $1,799.00 - MacBook Air
- M96, MB940LL/A $2,499.00 - MacBook Air
- M98, MB470LL/A $1,999.00 - 15" MacBook Pro
- M98, MB471LL/A $2,499.00 - 15" MacBook Pro
- M88, MB766LL/A $2,799.00 - 17" MacBook Pro
The $899 price corresponds to analyst predictions that Apple could be dropping the entry-level price of the MacBook. However, if these numbers are true, it contradicts previous claims of an $800 Apple laptop. It also introduces a rather large $400 price gap between the low end models. The $899 product appears to be a 24" LED Apple Display.
If Apple does introduce a $899 low end MacBook, analyst research suggests that it will increase the addressable notebook market by nearly 50% in terms of revenue.
We expect more information should trickle in as we approach the launch event.
Update: Boy Genius Report verifies that these prices are found in Apple's retail inventory from a "trusted" source.
