Apple may be on the verge of doing the unthinkable: creating a low-cost laptop that can compete with Chromebooks.
Buy a Macbook for less than a Chromebook!
In schools, Chromebooks pretty much rule the market. They’re cheap, they’re built for central control, and they’re cheap. But they’re usually cheap. Especially compared to Apple’s laptops, which start at $1,000. According to a new rumor, Apple is planning a new, low-cost MacBook specifically aimed at the Chromebook-saturated education market. But Apple never, ever makes cheap computers, right? Not quite. And it once even made a special Mac just for education.
"Yes, a competitively priced Mac could challenge Chromebooks in schools. Price has been a major factor in Chromebooks' dominance. If Apple offers affordable Macs, it could attract educational institutions looking for a balance between cost and functionality," Jennifer Finley, a manager at academic ranking service Academic Influence, told Lifewire via email.
The education market is a big deal for a computer maker like Apple. We tend to stick with what we know when it comes to computing platforms, especially when switching platforms means buying new apps, moving all your photos, etc. In 2010, this photo became famous. It showed a lecture hall full of students behind a sea of glowing Apple logos at the Missouri School of Journalism. It's the kind of advertising you can't buy, and I'm willing to bet that most of those students are still using Macs today.
