Ultrabook prices to reach $699 by next school year, Intel says

One of the few hindrances in the early days of the Ultrabook™ computer has been the high price tag the devices carry. This may soon change, as chipmaker Intel® says users can expect prices to come down to as low as $699 before students return to school this fall.

Technology news provider IDG News reports that Intel is working to boost the "retail visibility" of the Ultrabook and has identified students as a lucrative target for these efforts.

Speaking at the Intel Developer Forum in Beijing, Intel PC Client group general manager Kirk Skaugen also said that as many as 75 Ultrabook models based on the third-generation Ivy Bridge chipset will be available in the spring, IDG and others report.

Intel first announced the Ultrabook concept in May 2011 and has since worked to push the ultra-thin, highly portable notebook computers into the public spotlight. The company has predicted the Ultrabook will account for up to 40 percent of consumer laptop purchases in 2012. More conservative estimates from research firm IHS iSuppli put that figure closer to 13 percent.