Notebook flirts with $699 price tag
Notebook maker WinBook will attempt to turn consumer heads next week when it releases a laptop priced at $799 before a $100 rebate.
The WinBook J4 730 incorporates a 2GHz Intel Celeron chip, a 14.1-inch display, 256MB of RAM, a 20GB hard drive and a DVD-ROM drive.

With the release of the new machine for the retail market, WinBook will attempt to ride the wave of falling notebook prices that is luring buyers away from desktop PCs or is convincing them to pick up a laptop as a second PC. Notebook prices at retail, which still average about $1,300, according to NPD Techworld, have been falling steadily, as component prices have come down and competition has increased.

Although they still don't account for nearly as many units as desktops, notebook unit sales at retail have continued to post solid growth on a monthly basis, despite the economic downturn. This makes the category an important one for manufacturers and has helped to drive down prices on many models well below $1,000.

Meanwhile, the days are over when a $1,000 price tag meant cheap. At one time, notebooks that sold for $1,000 or less used lowly components like 12-inch screens. But many manufacturers are now fitting their $1,000 machines with 15-inch screens and CD burners. With rebates, the notebooks often dip well below the $1,000 mark.…
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