During the keynote, Steve shows off the new PowerMac G4. 2 models. Both single processor. 866MHz and 1.0GHz and no L3 cache. Both with PC133 128MB RAM (the bare minimum for OS X) and with 40, 60GB HDD, respectively. Either CDRW or combo drives and with GeForce2 MX video card for the low end and GeForce3 for the mid-range. Prices are $999 and $1499 for them. Not bad little boxes and great prices. But they are not even close to what we expected and there's no high end in the bunch.
Then the 'one more thing'. 4 new G5 configs in new cases. 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6GHz with 512KB L2 cache. 256 and 512MB RAM options and Super-drives across the board. GeForce3 or maybe the new radeon 8500's as video options and include DDR-SDRAm running at 266MHz with 400MHz system bus. 60-80-100GB HDDs using ATA/133 and the faster firewire will be onboard. They won't be available until Febuary and the prices will be $1999, $2499, $2999 and $3499 for a dual 1.4GHz option.
Now all you naysayers that think Apple wont allow another case to disrupt their perfect little quadrant lineup, consider this: didn't they do the same with the Cube? But where the Cube failed the PowerMac G4 will succeed. Why? Because by using pre-existing designs, they will cut r&d overhead, it will have much more expandability, and use more common parts.
The case against this senario: the iMac. Apple would either have to stick with a G3 for the iMac LCD and price it low ($1000-$1300), put a G4 in it at 1GHz with 133MHz bus with LCD and keep it at $1500 (this would likely mean only one model of imac with DVD/cdrw combo drive) and keep the combo drive out of the PowerMac line. Or they would discontinue the iMac. I think the latter is the less likely senario.
I know this theory has quite a bit of holes but it's a likely transition for the G5. Get some G4's out to hold us over for about a month until the G5's ship out. The G5's would have to be expensive at first to make up for the r&d spent on it but when it's recouped by the summer, Apple can finally get rid of the PowerMac G4 for good and lower the price on the next reincarnation of the G5, and that would allow the LCD iMac to mature with more models and options.
Then the 'one more thing'. 4 new G5 configs in new cases. 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6GHz with 512KB L2 cache. 256 and 512MB RAM options and Super-drives across the board. GeForce3 or maybe the new radeon 8500's as video options and include DDR-SDRAm running at 266MHz with 400MHz system bus. 60-80-100GB HDDs using ATA/133 and the faster firewire will be onboard. They won't be available until Febuary and the prices will be $1999, $2499, $2999 and $3499 for a dual 1.4GHz option.
Now all you naysayers that think Apple wont allow another case to disrupt their perfect little quadrant lineup, consider this: didn't they do the same with the Cube? But where the Cube failed the PowerMac G4 will succeed. Why? Because by using pre-existing designs, they will cut r&d overhead, it will have much more expandability, and use more common parts.
The case against this senario: the iMac. Apple would either have to stick with a G3 for the iMac LCD and price it low ($1000-$1300), put a G4 in it at 1GHz with 133MHz bus with LCD and keep it at $1500 (this would likely mean only one model of imac with DVD/cdrw combo drive) and keep the combo drive out of the PowerMac line. Or they would discontinue the iMac. I think the latter is the less likely senario.
I know this theory has quite a bit of holes but it's a likely transition for the G5. Get some G4's out to hold us over for about a month until the G5's ship out. The G5's would have to be expensive at first to make up for the r&d spent on it but when it's recouped by the summer, Apple can finally get rid of the PowerMac G4 for good and lower the price on the next reincarnation of the G5, and that would allow the LCD iMac to mature with more models and options.
