Intel Expected To Bring Ivy Bridge Launch Forward, Ultrabook Prices To Drop 30% In Next Few Months

Digitimes’ Monica Chen and Joseph Tsai report that Intel, which had originally planned to announce its new Ivy Bridge processors on April 29, is expected to bring the announcement forward to April 23, apparently to accommodate Asustek computer, Acer, Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard (HP), which according to insider sources at the various notebook players are all ready to release second-generation Ivy Bridge ultrabooks starting in May

Chen and Tsai also cite Intel’s PC Client Group vice president and general manager Kirk Skaugen predicting at an Intel Developer Forum in Beijing that ultrabook prices in the next few months will drop rapidly to US$699 from a more typical US$999 currently as the economies of scale kick in with higher shipment volumes.

They also note that at the show, in addition to showcasing upcoming second-generation ultrabooks, Intel also revealed some innovative design concepts for ultrabooks and several concept devices for Windows 8 as well.

Ultrabook Price Still a Challenge Say Analysts

IDG News’s Michael Kan reports that Ultrabooks are expected to sell better this year, due to a larger selection of models slated to arrive on the market. But pricing and competition from tablets will continue to temper consumer interest in ultrabook devices, according to analysts.

Kan notes that at Beijing on Wednesday, Intel said consumers can expect ultrabook prices starting at $699 within several months during the back-to-school period, and the lower price along with improved ultrabook features are expected help drive more consumers to buy the devices. However, he also cites Canalys research firm analyst Pin-Chen Tang saying that even at $699, Ultrabooks will still be too costly for many mainstream consumers, and that Intel and its ultrabook vendor partners will need to bring the starting price down to US$300 or $400. Kan also notes that on Wednesday, Intel revealed that it’s working with 10 global and Chinese vendors to build tablets running Windows 8.