A G4/MWNY question...kinda confused
Okay, consensus seems to be that sometime in August, a new G4 line-up will be unveiled. Everything seems to point to it being a pretty nice rev. However, that's not what I'm here to talk about (don't care to debate specs/features, in other words).
No, what I was curious about is this: KNOWING that many people are starving for big, good G4 news (AND, knowing that their hardware lineup for MWNY was nothing too spectacular...even though the new iMac is really nice), why didn't Jobs opt to go ahead and unveil/announce these new G4s today, even if they weren't perhaps shipping for another few weeks.
Wouldn't be the first time they've done this, and if the specs/features were THAT good, people wouldn't mind a small wait, right? It would be worth it!
Just seems weird to me that Jobs has the MWNY audience, press, eyes-of-the-world, etc. and could've really laid everyone out by making the 17" iMac the expected final portion of the keynote, then having these new G4s as the "oh yeah, just one more thing..." surprise.
Now, a month later, these new G4s will get unveiled (at a Cupertino campus special event, I imagine?), but with MUCH less press, fanfare, attention, etc.
I'm sure Jobs and Apple have their reasons (probably good ones, too). It just seemed to me he could've, by announcing/demo-ing these new G4s this morning, a) made the keynote universally well-received, b) got the maximum press/exposure for these new G4s and c)...well, I can't think of a "c", but "a" and "b" are pretty good points.
Maybe these new G4s are going to be so good and nice and tricked-out, spec-wise, that Jobs and Apple simply want to give them their own little coming out party? I could imagine that being one of the reasons.
No, what I was curious about is this: KNOWING that many people are starving for big, good G4 news (AND, knowing that their hardware lineup for MWNY was nothing too spectacular...even though the new iMac is really nice), why didn't Jobs opt to go ahead and unveil/announce these new G4s today, even if they weren't perhaps shipping for another few weeks.
Wouldn't be the first time they've done this, and if the specs/features were THAT good, people wouldn't mind a small wait, right? It would be worth it!
Just seems weird to me that Jobs has the MWNY audience, press, eyes-of-the-world, etc. and could've really laid everyone out by making the 17" iMac the expected final portion of the keynote, then having these new G4s as the "oh yeah, just one more thing..." surprise.
Now, a month later, these new G4s will get unveiled (at a Cupertino campus special event, I imagine?), but with MUCH less press, fanfare, attention, etc.
I'm sure Jobs and Apple have their reasons (probably good ones, too). It just seemed to me he could've, by announcing/demo-ing these new G4s this morning, a) made the keynote universally well-received, b) got the maximum press/exposure for these new G4s and c)...well, I can't think of a "c", but "a" and "b" are pretty good points.
Maybe these new G4s are going to be so good and nice and tricked-out, spec-wise, that Jobs and Apple simply want to give them their own little coming out party? I could imagine that being one of the reasons.
Comments
Less cynical response: The new G4's are going to really kick ass, and would overwhelm the OS X Jaguar push in the keynote.
ting5
<strong>The new G4's are going to really kick ass, and would overwhelm the OS X Jaguar push in the keynote.
ting5</strong><hr></blockquote>thats what i tend to think... jobs' didn't want the new PM's to take the spot light away from what was an impressive keynote.. plus a whole host of other reasons.. like err.. if he announced that they were on their way, PM sales would stop almost entirely until the new machines shipped..
or, apple don't want to release new hardware at macworlds anymore in an effort to get more media coverage year round..
etc etc.
My feeling is that Apple wants to keep them for Jaguar to be released. That way, everyone will be looknig at the G4s and see Jaguar as well, or vice-a-versa. Either way, two products will be getting well supported.
The general consensus is that Apple is slowly moving away from hardware releases at Expos. Certainly, it wouldn't be the first time the major hardware has been released outside an expo. Can't wait until August or September! :cool:
<strong>
My feeling is that Apple wants to keep them for Jaguar to be released. That way, everyone will be looknig at the G4s and see Jaguar as well, or vice-a-versa. Either way, two products will be getting well supported.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Agreed. Probably because the new pmacs will have DDR333, AGP 8X and new graphics cards. Combined with quartz extreme, we should see real improvements in speed.
As far as good news, I don't see any on the G4 front. It's fallen so far behind. Of course it has, it's aimed at the embedded market, not Apple. That shift to embedded is Apple's problem with the PowerPC.
However, Apple can use that "downward shift for more sales" to it's advantage. IBM makes the Power line, only uses them in big ass servers, and wants more sales. The Power5 in 2004 retargets the Power line downwards, but still way ahead of anything Intel/AMD. So, wait for an ass-kicking in 2004.
Barto
Software for Apple is just as important, believe it or not.
Hardware sells itself. A separate event is a good idea.
[ 07-18-2002: Message edited by: Cobra ]</p>
Excess Power Mac Inventory
'nuff said
<strong>
Excess Power Mac Inventory
</strong><hr></blockquote>
AND
maybe they won't be ready for a month after August 13th (or whenever). It would seem unlikely for them to announce a product 2 months in advance.
AND
maybe they are not sure yet the quantities they can get from their chip supplier.
maybe they have nothing mor than a little speed bump to 1.266 GHz (iWorld at Apple take lots of resources, building the coolest calendar take all their people during 3 months)
<img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />
<strong>
maybe they have nothing mor than a little speed bump to 1.266 GHz (iWorld at Apple take lots of resources, building the coolest calendar take all their people during 3 months)
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Considering that they have a huge development effort on Jaguar right now, they updated iTunes, and who knows what other new stuff is underway... your comment is more than a little unfair.
If you look at the pile of rumours floating around I think you'll see a pretty compelling argument for why the PM update was delayed:
- The new motherboard wasn't ready yet (according to Moki).
- The faster G4 yields aren't high enough yet.
- There is tons of existing inventory.
- MacWorld has a consumer focus.
- A rollout timed to coincide with Jaguar has many benefits.
- nVidia's (and ATI's) new graphics chips won't be unveiled until at least August.
- The market is weak and sales are flat.
Given even half of these things, introducing a new PowerMac this week would just be dumb. The excess inventory is a big one, and I wonder if we'll see even deeper discounts to try and drive sales a bit faster.
One thing I heard loud and clear was BlueTooth support coming with Jaguire, and soon after iSync comes out. But non of their current offerings have BlueTooth built in. For this to be a selling point, they almost have to have it as standard or BTO option.
Back this up with NO speed increas in any of their hardware, yet obviously there are enough 1Ghz processors for Apple and the upgrade manufacturers.
And finally, their entire product line is ready for a speed bump based on Apples history. (The possible exception bieng the Xserve).
I think that in Aug/Sept time frame that we will see new hardware across the board. The iMac/e-Mac/iBook/Titanium PowerBook will get speed increases, and possibly more. The PowerMacs are READY for some major revisions, at least the people who buy the PowerMacs are.
<strong>
Considering that they have a huge development effort on Jaguar right now, they updated iTunes, and who knows what other new stuff is underway... your comment is more than a little unfair.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Excuse me Sir Jobs, but people are waiting for the cooles best hardware not the coolest calendar.
[quote]<strong>
- The new motherboard wasn't ready yet (according to Moki).
</strong><hr></blockquote>
That's dramatic
[quote]<strong>
- The faster G4 yields aren't high enough yet.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I hope that Steve makes us wait beacuse of the G5 not a 1.5 GHz G4 wiithout DDR
[quote]<strong>
- There is tons of existing inventory.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
This is because of their strategy. Updating CPU every 3 months with speed bump of 100MhZ has the side effect of making people wait for 3 more months to have better hardware. This is why they have inventory. Peoples were waiting MWNY. And know they will wait August, september and maybe January. If you're not in a hurry to buy a new computer, just wait (iWait
[quote]<strong>
- MacWorld has a consumer focus.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
After yesterday show : YES !
[quote]<strong>
- A rollout timed to coincide with Jaguar has many benefits.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
SJ can presents both at the same time and said will be shipped on September
[quote]<strong>
- nVidia's (and ATI's) new graphics chips won't be unveiled until at least August.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
See previous answer
[quote]<strong>
- The market is weak and sales are flat.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Put better hardware, with OS X.2 and you will sale Mac at 3000$ not iPod at 500$
[quote]<strong>
Given even half of these things, introducing a new PowerMac this week would just be dumb. The excess inventory is a big one, and I wonder if we'll see even deeper discounts to try and drive sales a bit faster.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I think yes. Because PMac, PBook and iBook sales will decrease. Only the iMac 17 and iPod-PC will save Apple (XServe ?).
[ 07-18-2002: Message edited by: Appleworm ]</p>
<strong>[Look at me, I'm a litte troll, yes I am]</strong><hr></blockquote>
Stupid trolls.
<strong>
Stupid trolls.</strong><hr></blockquote>
hey, brother <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
Any other arguments to improve the forum ?
<strong>
- nVidia's (and ATI's) new graphics chips won't be unveiled until at least August.</strong><hr></blockquote>
actually you can read a ATI R300 review at <a href="http://www.anandtech.com"; target="_blank">www.anandtech.com</a>
<strong>The full-price, $129 charge for Jaguar now makes even more sense. Its an incentive to buy the new Power Macs in August or September--you dont have to pay for OSX.2</strong><hr></blockquote>
Bravo Reynard, thats exactly what I thought when the price was announced. I'll wait until August to buy any new iron. If New G4s/G5s are announced on Aug 12th or 13th, then they'll probably start shipping around the same time that OSX 10.2 does (24th ), and therefore be bundled with Jaguar.
Thats just one more reason not to buy the current G4s.
<strong>
My feeling is that Apple wants to keep them for Jaguar to be released. That way, everyone will be looknig at the G4s and see Jaguar as well, or vice-a-versa. Either way, two products will be getting well supported.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
This is pretty much what I posted at:
<a href="http://forums.appleinsider.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=002071"; target="_blank">http://forums.appleinsider.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=002071</a>;
Speculations about announcement and later availability: Imagine Steve announces a speedbump (processors@1,2+GHZ + DDR + Jaguar = double speed) end of August with "available within 90 days". Where would that bring you? Right! Xmas-season!!!
Keeping up the hype for more than 3 months is almost impossible, but given they have optimum PR-support 90 days can be made.
This really would make sense!
<strong>
actually you can read a ATI R300 review at <a href="http://www.anandtech.com"; target="_blank">www.anandtech.com</a></strong><hr></blockquote>
Yeah, I read that after posting. Oh well, ATI usually doesn't ship for months after an announcement anyhow, so I'm not that far wrong.
<strong>
Yeah, I read that after posting. Oh well, ATI usually doesn't ship for months after an announcement anyhow, so I'm not that far wrong.
Yeah, though it would be cool if they shipped as they said - 30 days after announcement. Could mean they can be sticked into the new PowerMacs (if there will be any). If the performance is as they say I'd be glad to pay 400 for it...
<strong>
Yeah, I read that after posting. Oh well, ATI usually doesn't ship for months after an announcement anyhow, so I'm not that far wrong.
ATI Press Release, "ATI Technologies Inc. today announced that its groundbreaking new RADEON(tm) 9000 PRO and RADEON(tm) 9700 visual processors will be coming to Macintosh in the late summer and early fall."
Well, that means at least a month.
Barto