Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) has denied claims of a $100 subsidy for Ultrabooks. This was first reported on Digitimes, which fueled widespread speculations of cheaper Ultrabooks in 2012. The rumor has since been denied by Intel. "There is no $100 dollar subsidy for Ultrabooks. It just simply doesn't exist," Intel spokesperson Bill Calder told various websites.

It is evident, however, that the success and failure of Intel's Ultrabook project hinges heavily on cost. As observed by PCWorld, the price of Ultrabooks currently ranges from $799 for a Toshiba Portege to $1,200 for a Lenovo IdeaPad U300S and $1,299 for an Aspire S3. This is obviously a grade higher than the maximum of $1,000 originally envisioned by Intel. 

The most obvious way to help bring down prices would be for Intel to offer some form of discount or financial incentive to Ultrabook manufacturers. As such, folks thinking of putting down money for a new Ultrabook may be advised to hold out for a little while more.

Moreover, recent remarks by Acer president Jim Wong hinted at cheaper Ultrabooks to come. As reported by Maximum PC, Wong predicts that the prices for Ultrabooks should drop $100 to $200 by mid-2012 due to high sales volume. Acer is already shipping 100,000 Ultrabooks per month, and this figure is expected to increase to 250,000 to 300,000 by end of this year.

Wong thinks the sheer number of Ultrabooks shipped will drive down component costs.

Would a $100 to $200 reduction in the price of an Ultrabook tempt you to get one?

For more:
- check out this article at PCWorld
- check out this article at Maximum PC

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