While I’m inclined to say I’m not surprised, seeing as how the iPhone 3G has faced the same axe, and I believe the iPod Touch will be treated the same if it has to survive in the new scenario, the Air price cut (by a respectable $500) might be to push people to buy more of the SSD Airs. I’m sure everybody who has “bought” an Air has the $1799 one, while all those $3098 ones are going to waste.⌘

They could also be trying to compete with new “thin” computers hitting the market (like the Lenovo X300), but this wouldn’t be the proper way to do that. Lack of an optical drive and more connectors is the problem people have, not the price (or actually, for that price). I’m convinced this is a part of the reason, because a price cut has a psychologically harder impact than adding features at the same price when the product has existed for a certain amount. This will make more sense if Apple introduces a third Air with all the missing features for that $500.⌘

Another reason could be the reason iPhone 3G had such a big price cut - cheaper parts. Apple has been slowly and steadily moving towards lowering their cost of production as a sustainable manufacturing model. This might be the latest avatar of that move. Maybe the remaining Mac lineup is next. This seems the most likely because it makes business sense.⌘

If the Mac lineup sees an upgrade or refresh in the next month or so, we’ll know exactly which way Apple is going.⌘