Notebook vendors include Asustek Computer and Micro-Star International (MSI) have re-evaluated their strategies for the tablet PC market following Apple's launch of the iPad at a consumer-friendly price, according to industry sources.
The vendors originally planned to offer prices pegged at 20-30% lower than the Apple iPad, while they generally expected the device to cost as much as US$1,000. The US$499 entry-level price has caught vendors by surprise and means they will now need to adjust their price scales even lower to attract consumers, the sources pointed out.
However, starting a price war at below US$499 raises concerns that any profitably will be driven out of the nascent tablet PC market, before it even has a chance to take off. Vendors are currently evaluating their strategies hoping to avoid price competition, the sources noted.
via Unexpectedly low Apple iPad price forces notebook vendors to re-evaluate their tablet PC strategies.