Digitimes: Magnesium Alloy iMacs next year

[ZO]

http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/top_n...fm?NewsID=7466

Magnesium iMac for ’04?

By Macworld staff

This morning's DigiTimes <http://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/Ar...pages=A1&seq=1> has a report that's guaranteed to make the Mac rumour-mill churn away that little bit faster – it claims Apple will release a new iMac in 2004 with a magnesium-alloy case.


The report states: "The new iMac Apple Computer is going to launch in the first quarter of next year will have a magnesium-alloy case and a high proportion of plastic parts for cost reduction."


The report from Taiwan's respected tech industry publication cites "sources" for its claims. DigiTimes explains that iMac sales have been lacklustre in the quarter "due to higher prices".


Macworld's online poll this week confirms the iMac to have lost the edge for sales against competing products in Apple's range. Just four per cent of readers who voted would like to see an iMac under their tree this year, with the majority of voters hoping for other Apple products.


The report also claims Apple suspended plans for a tablet PC-like Mac in September, because of costs.


DigiTimes believes the new iMacs will appear in January or February.

Would be nice to have a new form factor, cubish, mag-alloy, iMac... just get sales goin' again!

[pscates]

After long and careful thinking on the whole subject, I've concluded that Apple needs to return to the colored jellybean design.



THAT'S when iMacs were flying off the shelves!

[kraig911]

you could be correct

[~ufo~]

I couldn't agree more mr scates

I've ranted and raved about this before.

only italians (and, as someone kindly pointed out, interior designers) like that clean industrial look of all white, or all black.

I for one think the key lime iBook was the coolest product ever to come from apple, that's what caught my eye and arroused my interest in the company.

the current iMac is not bad, but it doesn't come near the cuteness of my green crt iMac over here....

it's just the sweetest thing....

bring back the colour in our digital lives

[pscates]

Originally posted by kraig911 you could be correct

I usually am...

[salmonstk]

Current iMac is great- its just pricey compared with eMac so people have a hard time justifying it.

Get proced down on eMac and the iMac and leave the general form factor alone for now.

Its ok if the sales are now huge as long as people are buying an eMac instead.

[murbot]

There might have been an iMac under my tree this year.

Farkin' stinky bastich!

[cubist]

Blech. So let's say Apple makes the arm plastic (green plastic, for our friend ufo) and reduces the price to $799 and eliminates the eMac. Will they fly off the shelves then?

No.

In its day, the jellybean iMac was a fast computer. It may not have been in the top rank, but it was at least competitive. Today's iMac is too slow. Reducing the price may improve sales some, but they're not going to sell like hot cakes. I won't buy one, even if they make the arm and base flower power.

Put a G5 in it, now that's another story. But it doesn't sound like that's what's happening.

[kraig911]

I for one think the current iMacs run great. I personally think if they did offer them at 799 that they would fly off the shelves, People hardly look at processing power as they do other features now such as, digital video, audio and such. Intel is megahertzed out, with the advent of Panther I see no reason to think that it runs super slow anymore.

What we need is sales incentives for the people selling them besides guys like you and me who are just out for the platform and the customer and not commisions. Where Hp's and Compaq's are higher.

[Powerdoc]

The rumor of Digitimes also told that the first i mac they will ship will be the 20 inch.

If this info is correct, it's a very important one. Why ?
Because it means that Apple has scheduled that their supply will be low, thus they limit the offer to the high end.

Why the supply will be low ?
Because of the case ? : i doubt it. The case is not the most difficult part of a computer, even in Magnesium.

Because of the hardware ?
Much more interesting here. Considering that both the G4 mobo and the G5 mobo already exist, i only see one thing wich can limit the supply :
the processor.

My conclusion is There will be a new processor in the new I mac
Two choices :
- the 750 vx codename Mojave
- the G5 at 90 nm (the initial supply will be low, it make sense)

[pscates]

Okay, if Apple releases a 20" iMac with a G5 in it for under $1400, I don't want to hear ANY of you spec-whore clowns bitchin' ever again about ANYTHING, got that?



If the above machine isn't good enough for you (and any "envelope-pushing" work you like to delude yourself into thinking you're doing), then do us all a favor and go to hell.

[rickag]

Originally posted by pscates
Okay, if Apple releases a 20" iMac with a G5 in it for under $1400,

I could afford it, only if it were $1200 and came with a standard sized AGP card and one PCI-X slot.


i just had to be the first with the sarcastic reply

[geekmeet]

Originally posted by pscates
Okay, if Apple releases a 20" iMac with a G5 in it for under $1400, I don't want to hear ANY of you spec-whore clowns bitchin' ever again about ANYTHING, got that?



If the above machine isn't good enough for you (and any "envelope-pushing" work you like to delude yourself into thinking you're doing), then do us all a favor and go to hell.

AWESOME POST!
this has me cracking up!

[satchmo]

For the umteenth time, drop the price by a couple hundred dollars, give it a better video card and give it DVI out for true desktop spanning. That, or make the iMac's screen usable as an external
People don't want products that will be obselete within a year. Build in a bit of flexibility.
Only then will it begin to get respect.

[pscates]

I have to say, two years into the things I REALLY thought they would've dropped in price by now.

I mean, shouldn't the 20" be priced more like the current 17", the 17" down in the $1399 range and so on?



But I dont know. Just wish they were. Charging $2199 for the 20" seems a tad excessive. I would've loved to have bought my Mom one at a more $1700-ish price.

I'll wait for six months until these things start to hit the refurb store and see how cheap they are then!

[salmonstk]

We all bitch cause the iMac doesnt sell like it used to. But Apple has achieved with the iMac and emac what it wanted with the Cube. A high end and low end consumer model.

I would prefer see the eMac updated a bit in form factor. Try and shrink it a bit.

Oh and on the G5 front, with 90nm coming out for the PowerMac at higher clock speeds maybe they could afford some 12 nm chips to put in the iMac.

[Wrong Robot]

I highly Doubt apple will return to colors anytime soon.

They turned the PC world onto the appeal of colorful computers, but then got hosed by repeated misconceptions that apple only sells "fruit flavored kids toys" and the dreaded "I dont buy computers based on what color they are" Yes I still hear those comments today.

the current aluminum books have a bluish sheen though, caused by the LCD refracting off the case I'd imagine, but at any, it's VERY subtle and very neat.

I think that maybe apple will release colored computers again somewhere down the line, possibly once the PC world is starting to make industrial looking metal designs.

Either way, the eMac is eating into the iMac sales hardcore, if the iMac will still be steve jobs' darling, then it's going to need to drop it's price by a few hundred across the board.

[pscates]

Well, I was being slightly sarcastic when I called for a return of colors.



But only slightly...they WERE gorgeous.

And anyone not buying one because "they were colored kids toys" or whatever is obviously an ignorant, clue-deprived individual who didn't do their research and missed owning a nimble, sharp little computer that served (and still serves) the needs and demands of tons of proud, happy jellybean iMac owners (of which I was one, and, as of next week, will be again). Just because they couldn't get past the colors? That's THEIR problem.



These people aren't secure in their masculinity or something...

[murbot]

A 1.25GH G4 with a gig o' RAM is totally powerful enough to run all of the cool software Apple stuffs into it. The display is arguably the most important part of your computer using experience too, as that is how you interact with the thing, and that freaking monster display is amazing.

Therefore, the 20" iMac is the best computer ever, and you all need to have a nice big glass of STFU.

[Wrong Robot]

I always thought that the jellybean iMac was the PERFECT dorm room gaming machine.

only two problems, back then gaming was even worse on macs, and the 8 meg ati rage 128 pro(while admirable, stunk)

but, the form factor, the price, the appeal, it was perfect.

Currently that's the only big market item that macs are weak with, games, while it's getting better, it still has a while to go, and even then, people still don't believe that you can do anything on macs.



while those people I mentioned might be ignorant not-do-research-before-purchase types, they are still a large part of the market

[Amorph]

murbot gets a beer!

What is it with Steve and magnesium, anyway? He really seems to like that stuff. Anyway, if they've found a way to make a substantially less expensive iMac, bully for them. I consider the 20" iMac to be a brilliant design for a consumer machine, but it really sorely needs to come down below $2K. Preferably a ways below $2k.

I'd like to see how this impacts the case design, too. I can only assume that Apple used stainless steel the first time for a reason.

[pscates]

MURBOT YOU BASTARD!!!

I just sprayed a half-mouth full of soda onto my desk and front of my shirt when I read your "have a nice big glass of STFU" comment.



Man, I look HORRIBLE now. Everyone keeps asking me "what happened"?

[Wrong Robot]

Ya...that was too good.

(See sig) 8)

[pscates]

Originally posted by Wrong Robot
while those people I mentioned might be ignorant not-do-research-before-purchase types, they are still a large part of the market

Then they get the gadget/gimmick-laden, bloated, shitty ass tech-support-hotline-connected computers they deserve.

[mmmpie]

I suggest that it is unlikely you will see any magnesium. Its not a pretty metal anyway - it might get a white paint job, but I think it will be the internal frame, just like it is in laptops. Providing a large heatsink, and a very solid structure to support the machine.

I just cant see the monitor arm being replaced with a plastic one - the metal one is already a bit sloppy. Im guessing that to get more plastic parts into the machine means dumping the arm, and going with a new form factor.

Could this mean that rather than iMac replacement we are going to get an eMac replacement? Bringing LCD to the low end?

My reading of the rumor was that a new 20" monitor would be introduced at the same time - presumably in G5 styling.

[TWinbrook46636]

Macworld screws up again. The DigiTimes article clearly states:


The next generation of the “New iMac” that Apple Computer is going to launch in the first quarter of next year will have a magnesium-alloy case and a high proportion of plastic parts for cost reduction, according to sources in Taiwan’s IT industry.

Apple uses a stainless steel and zinc alloy to manufacture its current generation of New iMacs, the sources said.


So they are talking about the internals being made of magnesium-alloy instead of stainless steel and zinc. Externally it will still be made of plastic.

[Bigc]

Originally posted by Amorph
murbot gets a beer!

What is it with Steve and magnesium, anyway? He really seems to like that stuff. Anyway, if they've found a way to make a substantially less expensive iMac, bully for them. I consider the 20" iMac to be a brilliant design for a consumer machine, but it really sorely needs to come down below $2K. Preferably a ways below $2k.

I'd like to see how this impacts the case design, too. I can only assume that Apple used stainless steel the first time for a reason.

Mag(nesium) wheels were the coolest thing you could get for wheels on your car in the 60's...

[Lemon Bon Bon]

What the iMac3 means is anyone's guess.

Apple's consumer line needs a sort out. A re-think.

I haven't seen the 20inch iMac2 in person. But I'd guess it LOOKS the part. But with underspecced cpu and graphics card for an outrageous sum of money? No thanks.

The macworld.co.uk poll reflected current feelings. PowerMacs, iPods and Powerbooks/iBooks. The iMac2 and eMac get a laughable 5% vote between them. If the iMac or eMac want to be no.1 in Christmas wants next year? Something drastic needs to change. As it is, they're both flawed. And the disappointing sales reflect that.

What a turnaround in the last few years. Now the PowerMac is outselling the iMac!

Cut the price. Cheaper 'plastic' components. A G5. A decent graphics card.

It's as obvious now as when the Cube was ridiculously overpriced. At least you could expand the damn thing...

You can scream 'Spec whore' all you want. But you'll just be a Pussycat singing along with the rest of the cat's chorus of niche boutique buyers... And the original coloured iMac wasn't that. Niche.

Lemon Bon Bon

[musicaltone]

Digitimes? Weren't they the folks that had everyone sold on the 15.4" PowerBook? Sounds like another outfit with zero sources pushing for page hits to me - anything to bring in the advertisers.

Nothing like Appleinsider of course. If you see a news item there you can be more or less certain it is gonna happen. Oh, yes and no ads.

[Amorph]

Originally posted by Lemon Bon Bon
I haven't seen the 20inch iMac2 in person. But I'd guess it LOOKS the part. But with underspecced cpu and graphics card for an outrageous sum of money? No thanks.

Funny, since consumers are ditching towers for laptops in droves. Fire-breathing CPUs and GPUs are obviously not very high on the list of consumer demands (hint: most consumers aren't trying to render 3D on the cheap ). On the other hand, consumers do have a hunger for large screens.

The macworld.co.uk poll reflected current feelings.

It might have reflected current feelings in those who responded to a web poll by macworld.co.uk. It's nearly impossible to conclude anything substantial from that.

It's as obvious now as when the Cube was ridiculously overpriced. At least you could expand the damn thing...

The Cube is not expandable in any way that is relevant to the consumer market. Trust me on this. I've expanded my Cube. The business of adding a hard drive required me to drive to every hardware store in town looking for a miniscule allen wrench sized just so to fit into a difficult, narrow gap in the Cube's internals. I've been toying with the idea of replacing the stock RADEON (the fan is getting obnoxious) and I'm not at all looking forward to that. Cube-edition graphics cards are rare and expensive, and the contortions required to retrofit other graphics cards are... unattractive (I have to cut into what?!). That's not even going into the problems posed by the case and the DC/DC unit, neither of which were engineered with expandability in mind - they provide enough power and heat dissipation for the stock configurations, period.

You can say that the iMac requires a price drop, and I'll be right there with you. It is sad that the PowerMac is outselling the iMac, and Apple can change that by bringing the price down (and killing the 15" outright - the 17" is the top selling right now according to the Apple Store's top ten list, price notwithstanding).

What the iMac needs to do is hit a more realistic consumer price point and offer a clear alternative to the 14" iBook.

[murbot]

I'd like to apologize for any damage done to Paul's, or anyone else's screen.



See, if you were using an LCD iMac, you'd have been able to quickly rotate that sucker out of harm's way with one finger.

And Wrong Robot is the winner of the Sig Of The Week award. PM Amorph to see what you've won! heh heh

[Carson O'Genic]

Can somebody please let me in on what STFU means. Thank you.

[Powerdoc]

Originally posted by Carson O'Genic
Can somebody please let me in on what STFU means. Thank you.

FU means probabily $$$$ You, for the rest i have forget ...

[SonOfSylvanus]

Originally posted by Carson O'Genic
Can somebody please let me in on what STFU means. Thank you.

Shut The F**k Up

[Carson O'Genic]

Originally posted by SonOfSylvanus
Shut The F**k Up

Now I feel stupid, I guess I'll just STFU.

[Matsu]

Because I often have the benefit of talking to people more interesting than myself, I come across lotsa interesting esoteria.

Why does Steve likey magnesium so? (If he actually likes it at all?)

It could be that it's light, very very strong, and pretty easy (and cheap) to work with these days. Casting magnesium is getting easier all the time, add some high speed polish and it as a beuatiful lustre too -- not as bright as chrome or stainless, but deeper and a little darker.

Working with magnesium is cool, and it's everywhere: cameras, Panasonic's nearly indestructible laptops, the frame of the iBook IIRC, motorcycle parts, and soon, entire engine blocks!

I'd love to see a polished magnesium powerbook, tres chic.

A magenesium iMac would be nice too.

Apple still needs a headless consumer machine, mebbe a cube redux, priced right, single low G5, standard Graphic card, decent price.

[dfryer]

Just don't light that magnesium on fire!!

[Matsu]

Turns out to be a bitch to put out, haha...

But really, its flash point is so high, that any conditions that would have lit it up would be catastrophic anyway. It's used as a structural element these days in a lot of stuff. BMW will put in an engine block soon, motorcycles use it increasingly. I don't think it's much of a problem for modern magnesium alloys.

[TWinbrook46636]

Don't be expecting the next iMac to be made out of Magnesium or any other alloy!

What the DigiTimes article seems to be is indicating is that the internal chasis will be made of Magnesium instead of Zinc, the Stainless Steel swingarm will be eliminated and more plastics will be used, all in an effort to bring the price down.

In other words, this either marks the return of a true all-in-one iMac design or they are confusing this with an all new falt-panel eMac.

[THT]

If Apple wants the iMac to be a big seller, they need to have the next iMac cost $999 to $1499. It doesn't really matter what is in it. If the eMac is available at the same time and presuming it costs $699 to $999, the new iMac won't be that big of a seller as the original.

Regardless, the iMac won't be as big a seller as the original anyways since a majority of budget buyers will be buying the iBook G4.