when the price of apple computers goes down, what probably happens to the demand for windows-based computers?

When the price of Apple computers goes down, the demand for Windows‑based computers will probably decrease.

Why this happens (simple microeconomics)

Apple computers and Windows‑based computers are typically considered substitute goods in economics: most people buy one or the other to do broadly similar tasks (work, school, browsing, media, etc.). When the price of a substitute falls, many buyers who were on the fence may switch toward the now‑cheaper option. So, step by step:

1. Apple drops its prices.
2. Some consumers who would have bought a Windows PC now see Apple machines as a better deal.
3. They “switch” from Windows to Apple.
4. As a result, at every possible price of Windows PCs, fewer people are willing to buy them.
5. In demand‑curve language: the demand curve for Windows‑based computers shifts left (demand decreases).

In the real world, there are nuances—brand loyalty, specific software needs, or ecosystem lock‑in (e.g., needing Windows‑only programs) can soften this effect—but in a standard intro‑economics setting, the expected answer is:

When the price of Apple computers goes down, the demand for Windows‑based computers decreases.