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That's it...I'm OFFICIALLY on record: new iMac will be two-piece unit

post #1 of 79
12/30/01 at 10:22am
Thread Starter 


One week out, that's what I'm going with.

I'm convinced they spent too much time in research and engineering on the whole Cube thing just to let it die away after only a year.

The Cube, priced at $1799 and wedged into that weird spot between the iMac and the G4 tower, was kinda doomed from the start.

But, if it REPLACED the iMac...

Just seems to make more sense than any all-in-one I've seen mocked-up, talked about, etc.

Just imagine a glossy white Cube with a matching white 15" or 17" LCD Display. They've managed to figure out how to cram a hot G4's guts into an 8" cube, so surely they can do it with a G3 or a newer, cooler-running G4 (isn't that the Apollo or something?).

And, with the recent TiBook upgrade, we know Apple now has a line on slot-loading DVD/CD-R combo drives.

Of course, all the above hinges on two things:

1. Apple somehow amends their thinking (3 years down the road) that the iMac HAS to be an all-in-one design. If THEY can abandon that premise, then you guys can too.

2. Apple finally lowers their LCD monitors to a bit more reasonable and affordable prices.

The Cube reborn...replace the iMac as we know it. Give customers a choice in display size. Use ADC to make it so that any idiot can connect the two. With a Cube body and LCD Display, you're STILL going to have a small footprint and "cute" factor.

All the hard work, R&D, planning, etc. has already been done. The G4 Cube and current displays already exist. You're just giving them a new skin, calling it an iMac and REPLACING (not adding to) a currently shipping product.

That's it. Don't wanna hear anymore about it.

Lalalalalalalala...I'm not listening...lalala.



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post #2 of 79
12/30/01 at 10:29am
[quote]Originally posted by pscates:
<strong>
1. Apple somehow amends their thinking (3 years down the road) that the iMac HAS to be an all-in-one design. If THEY can abandon that premise, then you guys can too.

2. Apple finally lowers their LCD monitors to a bit more reasonable and affordable prices.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

1) I never got the feeling that Apple in any way thinks the iMac line has to be a all-in-one.

2) LCD screen prices are on the rise again.
oy!
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oy!
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post #3 of 79
12/30/01 at 10:34am
Thread Starter 
[quote]Originally posted by xype:
<strong>

1) I never got the feeling that Apple in any way thinks the iMac line has to be a all-in-one.

2) LCD screen prices are on the rise again.</strong><hr></blockquote>

1) Well then, that's all the better, isn't it?

2) So they'd better get going...
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post #4 of 79
12/30/01 at 10:37am
I'd love a reasonable specced $~1200 cube and a $~800 LCD - would look great on my desk!
oy!
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post #5 of 79
12/30/01 at 10:42am
What do you all think about bundling a monitor? Should they do this? Or should they have some major campaign to show that it'll work with normal monitors?

Amorya
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post #6 of 79
12/30/01 at 10:42am
Whether you're right or not, Mr. pscates, all I'm saying is that Mr. Jonathan Ive can do no wrong in my book. The new iBooks and the iPod are just gorgeous, and I honestly can't wait to see his new take on the iMac.
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post #7 of 79
12/30/01 at 10:44am
The iMac has to be all-in-one.

Sure, some of you would like a cheap Cube, but I used my first Cube this past week, and let me tell you -- it is NOT user-friendly. Plugging cables in the bottom is one of the stupidest things Apple's ever done, the whole separate power supply and speakers thing is a pain in the ass, and for what? A pretty little cube that you can't expand? Oh yay.

The underlying theme behind the iMac is SIMPLE, and Apple would be stupid to diverge from that. And all-in-one IS simple.

If you want a real display, buy a damn tower, people. You're not the iMac's target audience.

Alex
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post #8 of 79
12/30/01 at 10:46am
  • Anders
  • Feared and Biased Moderator
[quote]Originally posted by pscates:
<strong>
1. Apple somehow amends their thinking (3 years down the road) that the iMac HAS to be an all-in-one design. If THEY can abandon that premise, then you guys can too.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I don´t think either that iMac means all-in-one. I have tried very hard to think up how a LCD all-in-one could look like and I cannot come up with any design not done by the PC makers. There are only so many ways you can combine a flat screen and a base if they have to be in the same chassis

[quote]Originally posted by pscates:
<strong>
2. Apple finally lowers their LCD monitors to a bit more reasonable and affordable prices.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

As xype writes LCD is on the rise but this is a problem for the LCD-in-iMac idea, not the Cube-as-iMac sub-idea.

Apple sunk a substantial amount of money into a design that most/all people think is the coolest computer design EVER and "everyone" still wants one. Why use money to design a new iMac that won´t be as cool as the Cube? The money saved on not doing a new design could pay for parts of the higher price a LCD would cost. It will propably be bundled with a not so refined/more simple 15 inch LCD.

I give the cube idea a 40-50% chance, the continuing of the current form factor 30-40% and another LCD design 20-30%.
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post #9 of 79
12/30/01 at 10:54am
Mr. Pscates,

I really hope you're right. Apple, sell me a cube for 799 and let me hook-up my own monitor and I'll buy one straight away.
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post #10 of 79
12/30/01 at 10:55am
  • Anders
  • Feared and Biased Moderator
[quote]Originally posted by Alexander:
<strong>
The underlying theme behind the iMac is SIMPLE, and Apple would be stupid to diverge from that. And all-in-one IS simple.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

The Cube would mean one more wire (from cube to monitor). In return you get USB in front of you on the screen.

The seperate phone jack box would go away and be put in the cube. The "eject the core" would not be possible and the PCI would be taken away to make room for more and larger internal stuff (was the internal HD a 2,5 or 3,5 drive?). In other words they would "downgrade" it so it wouldn´t hurt PM sales. But you still have the possibility to put in another screen card (propably the most wanted feature among iMac users).
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post #11 of 79
12/30/01 at 11:05am
Thread Starter 
I agree, Belle...completely. They haven't lamed anything up YET (well, there's that whole pattern thing from last year, but I don't think that was Ives as much as some OTHER people...).

I, too, think that whatever iMac they unveil next week (or whenever) is going to be a stunner, all-in-one or not.

I certainly do dig the iBook and its pretty white shell, so whatever they do to the iMac, I hope they at least work that aspect into it somehow. I think that would be gorgeous.

As for the Cube not being simple...what?!?

:confused:

Yes, I agree that the "ports underneath" thing could be a drag (hooking and unhooking a digital camcorder, PDA, digital camera, etc. on any sort of frequent basis would get to be quite a hassle).

Perhaps that would be one of the small modifications or improvements they would make? Maybe the ports are now located on the lower back, like any other computer? That would be easier, wouldn't it?

Everytime I would see a Cube in a store, that was the thing that always got to me too: "do I have to turn this thing around and tilt it up everytime I want to connect or disconnect something?!?!"



But the ADC thing...come on. One cable. It's idiot-proof. If someone can't handle that, they probably don't need to be buying a computer to begin with.

I think a two-piece iMac like I outlined in my initial post would solve more problems than it creates.

Just seems a crying shame to waste all that effort spent on the Cube. People loved it, but pricing and weird, "not sure why this exists..." placement dealt it a pretty harsh blow.

But if it replaced the iMac (and was actually CALLED the iMac...so there's no confusion), then people have two choices when it comes to desktops:

the consumer iCrowd can get a small, cute Cube with iMac-like features and specs (high-MHz G3, combo drive, usual ports, iApps, decent video card, stylish/cool design AND a choice of display sizes...which, if I recall, has been a longtime gripe related to the iMac from day one).

"We're not only going to INCREASE the size from the old 15" iMac CRT...we're going to give you a choice..."



And the pros, of course, can still get the full-size towers (G4 or G5, whatever that comes to be).

[ 12-30-2001: Message edited by: pscates ]</p>
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post #12 of 79
12/30/01 at 11:08am
  • Anders
  • Feared and Biased Moderator
And of course they would keep one of the old iMac models as a sub-1K model for education.
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post #13 of 79
12/30/01 at 11:10am
[quote]Originally posted by Anders:
<strong>
The Cube would mean one more wire (from cube to monitor). In return you get USB in front of you on the screen.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

Ok, let's say it's a "modified" cube that doesn't have the current Cube's shortcomings in the simple department.

So you have one more wire, and one more box (the monitor).

Where do the speakers go? One (or even two) speakers in the cube itself would be a step backwards. Speakers in the monitor would require special monitors, and do you really think that they would make a 22" iMac monitor? And you couldn't share with the Pro users, because do they really want speakers in their monitor? Aren't the color schemes supposed to distinguish the consumer and pro lines?

The iMac is also simple in the purchasing phase -- one box has everything you need. If you buy a monitor separately, that's another box. Sure, you and I can cope, but *we're not the iMac's target market*. The iMac is for people who are very basic computer users, and are comforted by everything coming in the same box. There's NO chance that it won't work together, etc. It's psychological.

And Steve is very all-in-one. Remember the original Macintosh? And Steve dictates what Apple does.

As much as you guys want a cube-iMac thing that would be everything that you personally want in a computer, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

Alex
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post #14 of 79
12/30/01 at 11:11am
Apple releasing an iMac that is a reconfigured cube would be corporate suicide. After all the hoopla leading up to this Macworld the press would eat them alive if this was the big supprise. The fact is in the cube was a good idea that didn't find its market. Apple will just have to cut its losses and move on. They might be able to adapt some of the technology in future products but not the design itself
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post #15 of 79
12/30/01 at 11:15am
Thread Starter 
Yes...keep a Snow $700 (or thereabouts) model for the school crowd. Maybe even sell it only through the education channel, like that older all-in-one G3 from a few years ago?

What normal, non-education user is going to opt for a smaller-screened, lower-powered, CD-ROM-equipped CRT iMac anyway, when they could have a GHz-level processor, combo drive, snazzy video card, etc.

But keep one Snow model (in the interest of unifying the whole color thing: the iStuff gets glossy white...) for education buyers.

The rest of the world, however, moves on and probably doesn't mind paying $1200 or so for such a kick-ass new version of the iMac.
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post #16 of 79
12/30/01 at 11:20am
I bet you it won't be a two piece unit, but it will have a repositionable screen.

The Cube won't be coming back as the iMac, I'm sorry. The Cube was a troubled concept. It didn't take up less space with the huge power supply, and it added a tangle of cables that were very hard to reach.

If they could figure out a way to get rid of the huge PS brick, then maaaaybe...
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post #17 of 79
12/30/01 at 11:21am
It sounds very nice, but I wonder if that is a good move for the education sector.
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post #18 of 79
12/30/01 at 11:24am
2 CRT models, 2 LCD models - All one-piece units

#1 - 15" CRT
CDROM
slower processor
etc.
$699

#2 - 15" CRT
Combo Drive
etc.
$899 ($100 more for faster processor, $100 more for the combo drive than #1)

#3 - 15" LCD
Combo Drive
etc.
$1299 ($400 more for the LCD than #2)

#4 - 15" LCD
Combo Drive
G4(!)
improved graphics
$1599 ($200 more for G4, $100 more for better graphics than #3)

I'm not gonna to engage in specs speculation (processor, HD, RAM, colors, etc.), just general themes and prices.

SdC

[ 12-30-2001: Message edited by: suckfuldotcom ]</p>
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post #19 of 79
12/30/01 at 11:24am
posted by pscates to a different post topic:

Don't call it something lame like the iCube. That's too easy and stock. Just call it the iMac and people will accept it.
__________________________________

how about iMac3 (dang, how do i make the 3 smaller and moved up 1/2 a space so it cubed instead of 3??)

so it would be spoken as iMac-cubed...

could it hold a super-drive??

i would buy one in a heartbeat if it had superdrive as an option or on an s.e. model...if not, i would lean toward a tower, but maybe would still get the iMac...could always record iMovies on VCD....g
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post #20 of 79
12/30/01 at 11:25am
I think it will be an all-in-one because:

1) it is simple and portable and that is the over-arching design philosphy of the iMac.

2) Educational sales are important and the more parts there are, the more parts there are to break.

3) 1024X768 is extremely usable at 15" and in order to keep the price low, they will want to bundle it. Imagine having to buy a 17" Apple LCD separately. It would no longer be a cheap computer.

Furthermore on the LCD front, Apple has stated very firmly that it is out of the CRT business if for no other reason than the fact that governments are now considering legislating computer companies to pay for the clean up of all the toxic lead they have released into the environment through selling CRT monitors. I'm sure there are other reasons, but I suspect this is a huge part of the move to LCD.

I vote that the new iMac will definitely be an all-in-one with a 15" LCD.
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post #21 of 79
12/30/01 at 11:26am
Thread Starter 
[quote]Originally posted by Alexander:
<strong>Ok, let's say it's a "modified" cube that doesn't have the current Cube's shortcomings in the simple department.

Where do the speakers go? One (or even two) speakers in the cube itself would be a step backwards. Speakers in the monitor would require special monitors, and do you really think that they would make a 22" iMac monitor? And you couldn't share with the Pro users, because do they really want speakers in their monitor?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Well, since we're not thinking in the old-way "iMac has to be all-in-one" mode, remember how the Cube shipped with those spherical Harman/Kardon "softball" speakers? Sounds better (actually had some good bass, believe it or not), you can put them where you want on your desk for better separation. If Apple's so big on this iTune/iPod/digital music thing, bundle those cool speakers that are way better than any built-in ones sound anyway.

[quote]Originally posted by Alexander:
<strong>The iMac is also simple in the purchasing phase -- one box has everything you need. If you buy a monitor separately, that's another box. Sure, you and I can cope, but *we're not the iMac's target market*. The iMac is for people who are very basic computer users, and are comforted by everything coming in the same box. There's NO chance that it won't work together, etc. It's psychological.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Well, this is where Apple might have to get off their butt a bit and accompany these new machines with some INFORMATIVE, useful marketing. And the Apple retail stores will be up on the deal, knowing how to explain this to first-timers. As far as CompUSA and places like that, Apple is going to have to make a series of posters, display cards and spec sheets that CLEARLY and EASILY state to the consumer (via text and an actual photo?) that "you buy this iMac and you can hook THIS Apple 15" or THIS Apple 17" display to it...". They can bundle the damn thing in a package, for all I care. 15" iMac or 17" iMac.

Maybe it CAN all come in one box? Who's to say it can't?

Apple is going to have to demand that their CompUSA and Circuit City reps get a clue in 2002. I don't know.

I can't think of EVERYTHING, guys...



[ 12-30-2001: Message edited by: pscates ]</p>
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post #22 of 79
12/30/01 at 11:28am
I have to agree with alexander on this one. The iMac was very simple, and yet expandable. Don't forget "Think Simple". The iMac is a machine for the PITS (Person in the Street). The PITS idea was that anyone could plug in the computer, with minimal hassle, and be greeted with a very friendly OS. Both hardware and software had to be simple yet stable and efficient. That was the concept behind the original 128k mac, and became the concept behind the iMac. I don't think Apple would make it more complicated for the person in the street, henceforth no "cube" like iMac. The cube was a good concept, but it died. Get over it.
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post #23 of 79
12/30/01 at 11:28am
  • Anders
  • Feared and Biased Moderator
Alexander: I don´t think they would offer the new iMac with different screens. It would be sold with a 15 inch LCD (an more simple and rough version than their "pro" 15 inch) for no other reason than to seperate it from the PowerMacs. I can see a problem with the speakers but it easier to come up with a solution to that problem than to make another model. It could be build in the monitor if they made the part of the monitor under the screen thicker (=less elegant than the pro 15 inch) or include the old Cube speakers (yes I know: now two more wires than the current iMac but frankly: How stupid IS the average computer buying american? Do he also need help plugging in the coffee machine? The speakers have a USB connector so he won´t try to connect it to the VCR).

Mike D: I disagree. It would make a hit also in the press. Whenthe Cube was released the press was amazed but saw the price as a problem. If we got a cheaper Cube-as-iMac they would say "Finally Apple got it right. A stylish computer at a reasonable price". And remember the press releass where Apple put the <a href="http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2001/jul/03cube.html" target="_blank">Cube on ice</a>

[ 12-30-2001: Message edited by: Anders ]</p>
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post #24 of 79
12/30/01 at 11:30am
As a person who is planning on buying one of the new iMacs on the 7th... I must say that, despite how much i would love a cube ( i think its gorgeous) it would be a marketing nightmare. From a financial point of view, most investors will say that the cube was a horrible mistake. Just as there are many of us that view the cube as a brilliant piece of engineering, there are also many people who still associate it with "wow, apple sure screwed up". I don't know how easy it would be to change those ideas. Whenever Apple unveils a new product, the hype surrounding it has as much to do with its appearance as it does its specs. I could just imagine Jobs being interviewed on MSNBC with his "new iMac" and hearing the interviewer say "Steve, isn't that a cube? wasn't that a huge mistake last year?"
To sum up my point, as much as I love the Cube, i just don't know if the RDF is strong enough to make non-macaddicts view a new iMac cube as something different than the old cube that failed miserably.
but hey, as i said before, if it is a new cube, i'd be the first in line to buy one.
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post #25 of 79
12/30/01 at 11:33am
  • Anders
  • Feared and Biased Moderator
...

[ 12-30-2001: Message edited by: Anders ]</p>
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post #26 of 79
12/30/01 at 11:34am
Scates, good thinking. I love the idea but the thing I hate with the Cube is the ports on the bottom. Real pain in the ass. Besides the ports problem the Cube would be a perfect replacement fot the iMac.
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post #27 of 79
12/30/01 at 1:38pm
this is not going to happen at all.

the iMac is an all-in-one. it's a success because its an all-in-one, it's cheap because its an all-in-one, its cool because its an all-in-one.

this idea makes no sense. the only place a cube has is if it is between the iMac and PowerMac.
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post #28 of 79
12/30/01 at 1:41pm
A 2 piece design is feasible, of course.

I do not think it will happen though.

Having everything in one unit is inevitably cheaper to produce than having 2 separate pieces.

I do agree that the ADC connector makes hooking up everything a no-brainer.

But still.....
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post #29 of 79
12/30/01 at 1:49pm
I really don't understand this argument that Apple will not produce anything but an all-in-one consumer machine because it wouldn't be simple?!

Over 90% of consumers seem to struggle on with the grotesque set-ups of the majority of Windows machines. It may be awkard and require some people to call tech support, but I didn't see any sign that many of those 90% switched to the iMac because it was all-in-one.

Though I agree that a Cube resurrection would be a bad idea, I don't see why Apple couldn't produce something just slightly larger than the Nintendo Cube and bundle it with a 15 inch ADC display. It'd be a piece of cake to set up for anyone who gave their kids a Nintendo, Playstation 2, X-Box, or whatever else for Christmas.

Larger displays could be offered as BTO options.

Get the design right, and you've got a machine that's infinitely more luggable than the current beast, and only one step more difficult to set up - after the keyboard, mouse, power and network connections go in, there's one simple connector for the display. Hardly a terrifying prospect!
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post #30 of 79
12/30/01 at 1:53pm
I would rather see a microtower slightly bigger than the Cube with a front loading CD/DVD, front and rear mounted ports, internal power supply, and good access hatch.

As far as an all in one LCD iMac looking like the PC offerings, that is true in a way, but I put my faith in Ives. Apple will always find a way to Look Different.

Chris
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post #31 of 79
12/30/01 at 1:53pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, I guess so. Don't know much about the economics of it all.

But regarding the whole "all-in-one = simple, two-piece = complicated", I guess I expect too much from people.



I don't buy into or accept that as the reason for anything. Economics? Sure. Marketing standpoint? Yes. Bad taste left by previous Cube experience? Why not. Those are all legitimate, good points as to why it probably won't happen.

But the other stuff:

Are there really this many helpless dumbasses out there? Can one cable truly be THAT much of a setback to the current computer-buying public?

I mean, wouldn't these same exact people wander into CompUSA, a Gateway store or a Sears and buy some wild-ass tower/monitor/printer/speaker PC? And those aren't going to have a cool ADC type of connection. Have you seen the cabling and wiring coming out of the average PC?

Believe me...anything Apple puts out HAS to be an improvement in ease-of-use over 90% of PCs being sold as we speak.

:confused:

I don't work in a computer store, so I guess I don't see the extent to which most computer buyers are clueless and have to have their hands held through the entire process.

I guess it's simply too much to ask that people do a little pro-active research on their own and educate themselves and that Apple and computer stores make sure the right information is being given to these buyers, especially first-time buyers.

Sorry, guys...but I don't buy that whole "a cube and a monitor is too tough for people" bullcrap. If those people aren't buying an iMac, then they're going to go buy a PC and I guarantee you that there are more cable, wires and connection/hooking up hassles in your average PC than in ANYTHING Apple is currently producing.

Give me a break.

[ 12-30-2001: Message edited by: pscates ]</p>
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post #32 of 79
12/30/01 at 1:57pm
Thread Starter 
Haha...Belle, you must've posted yours "can't be any worse than a PC set-up..." post as I was writing mine.



You should see the cables and wires coming out of my Mom's Compaq. Holy crap. And she's nowhere near a hard-core, "power user". But she can read a manual and figure it out.

Anything Apple did would involve two less cables right off the bat, thanks to ADC.
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post #33 of 79
12/30/01 at 1:59pm
not that anyone needs any more of a sign that a new iMac is coming, but macwarehouse is not only giving away free RAM, but also a free TV tuner of sorts and a free printer with purchase of an iMac... the suspense is killing me. i want a time machine.
<a href="http://www2.warehouse.com/apple/promos/applematrixa.asp" target="_blank">http://www2.warehouse.com/apple/promos/applematrixa.asp</a>
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post #34 of 79
12/30/01 at 2:03pm
Thread Starter 
God, how I'd love for this to somehow happen next Monday because I'd love to rub it in the face of a few of you.



"Can't, won't, shouldn't, wouldn't, impossible, never happen, etc..."

Jeez.

[closing my eyes and wishing REALLY hard for a two-piece iMac...star light, star bright, first star I s...]



Many of you probably didn't think the new iBook would be white and square and lacking colors. And you probably didn't think Apple had an mp3 player up their sleeve either.

You guys know EXACTLY as much as I do...which is, basically, NOTHING.



[ 12-30-2001: Message edited by: pscates ]</p>
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post #35 of 79
12/30/01 at 2:09pm
[quote]Originally posted by sobelizzard:
<strong>As a person who is planning on buying one of the new iMacs on the 7th... I must say that, despite how much i would love a cube ( i think its gorgeous) it would be a marketing nightmare. From a financial point of view, most investors will say that the cube was a horrible mistake. Just as there are many of us that view the cube as a brilliant piece of engineering, there are also many people who still associate it with "wow, apple sure screwed up". I don't know how easy it would be to change those ideas. Whenever Apple unveils a new product, the hype surrounding it has as much to do with its appearance as it does its specs. I could just imagine Jobs being interviewed on MSNBC with his "new iMac" and hearing the interviewer say "Steve, isn't that a cube? wasn't that a huge mistake last year?"
To sum up my point, as much as I love the Cube, i just don't know if the RDF is strong enough to make non-macaddicts view a new iMac cube as something different than the old cube that failed miserably.
but hey, as i said before, if it is a new cube, i'd be the first in line to buy one.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I disagree. Apple is not stupid enough to call the new iMac the "iMac Cube" or something similiar. We are using the term cube in this forum as a common point of reference. If Apple would redesign the G4 Cube to eliminate its orginial short-coming and call it the "iMac" I don't believe investors or media would consider it an automatic failure just because it is cubed shaped.

The reason Apple put the G4 Cube on "ice" is because it didn't really have a place in Apple's consumer or pro line-up at the time (we all agree on this). If MacWorld brings PowerMac G5 to light, and wants to move it's iMac line to the G4, then all of the sudden a modified G4 Cube could easily fit into it's consumer line-up.

Apple could easily sell only two iMacs. One with a 15" LCD monitor and one without . Plain and simple. If you want to add a 21" CRT monitor or purchase an Apple LCD monitor, its up to you.

Just my two sense.
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post #36 of 79
12/30/01 at 3:53pm
  • Anders
  • Feared and Biased Moderator
[quote]Originally posted by sobelizzard:[QB "Steve, isn't that a cube? wasn't that a huge mistake last year?"[/QB]<hr></blockquote>

Steve: "Yes it was a big mistake because we we tried to sell our most exclusive computer ever at a exclusive price. We learned from that and have now decided to sell the worlds most exclusive computer for a price that you yesterday "only" could get our basic computer for"

Listen to yourself: Everybody would love to have this thing but don´t think the investors/Joe Average/whatever would like it. Well Joe Average is no more average than us and the investors love what customers love and even more if it didn´t cost anything to develop. Then more money can go into the development of the iPod II

[ 12-30-2001: Message edited by: Anders ]</p>
"I reject your reality and substitute it with my own" - President Bush
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"I reject your reality and substitute it with my own" - President Bush
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post #37 of 79
12/30/01 at 4:42pm
[quote]Originally posted by pscates:
<strong>God, how I'd love for this to somehow happen next Monday because I'd love to rub it in the face of a few of you.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

You know, I don't disagree that a stand-alone iMac without a monitor is a good idea - cheaper price, more monitor options. I just don't think it's going to happen. Apple doesn't have anything to gain by de-coupling the monitor. It won't make a CRT so the only option is left is a 17" LCD that will be far too expensive for the iMac buyer. And if people don't get the monitor from Apple, then Apple isn't making as much money on the iMac because they've lost the monitor sale.

If it's integrated there no extra cables, power adaptors, plugs etc... And they can keep the price as cheap as possible. It will have more or less the same screen as the pismo powerbook, which is a very good size for most things.

But if you're right and they do make the iMac a cute little cube, we'll probably be seeing a cheapo 15" iMac monitor crop up too...
HEE HEE!! Dual G5 2Ghz. 2 Gig RAM. Yeah baby.
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HEE HEE!! Dual G5 2Ghz. 2 Gig RAM. Yeah baby.
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post #38 of 79
12/30/01 at 4:44pm
All I know is that was an awful lot of research and design work with the cube to just discontinue it after a year.

I don't see why a cube like design should be more expensive than the all in one. An external power-supply should be inherently cheaper. You commision/buy a unit and don't have to worry about heat/current etc issues with the PS in the case. In fact the design and build of the all-in-one iMac probably makes it more expensive than a generic tower and monitor PC combination -- tighter tolerances, and a lot of work to sort out the monitor, PS, motherboard heat and current issues.

You take a cube. You leave the AGP slot, and I/O compliment. You drop one of the ram slots, and you put in an easier to fab G3 or Apollo (later on). Not to mention cheaper combo/slot loads. Without a monitor, you could sell one easily for 799. It ought to be just as cheap if not cheaper to produce than the iMac. It's even easier to update throught it's minimum 2 - 3 year life cycle. Apple can add newer video cards/faster CPu's without revising the MoBo.

You can sell a 799 version (without monitor) and a 999 version (with monitor), and more expensive versions with combo drives and huge HDDs.
IBL!
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IBL!
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post #39 of 79
12/30/01 at 4:59pm
I think that you're overlooking the tangle factor.

The external power brick and external speakers made the cube have a LOT of tangle factor. Very different from the iMac ethos of "2 plugs and you're on the internet" of old. It may not be the forefront anymore, but it's still paramount.

I even believe that the wire tangle with the new iMac (all in one, natch) will be further reduced with, get this, wireless keyboard and mouse.

Not bluetooth, necessarily. AirPort could be adapted for this, i'm sure.
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post #40 of 79
12/30/01 at 5:01pm
I haven't done alot of research, and maybe I have missed a fact announcing that it will definately be a 15" LCD....but something tells me that we might be greeted with a 14"LCD. If you consider that when Apple terminated the 17" CRT, it replaced it with an LCD of pretty much the same viewable area (remember, I said "pretty much") of the CRT. The people will not lose screen size, just gain in screen quality.

Also, about the talk of a 2 piece iMac, I think that we will still see the iMac as a one-piece. I manage an Apple reseller here in Australia, and you can't imagine how many people are amazed at the all-in-one design and no-clutter feature of the iMac. The simplistic design of the iMac is what made it the success it has been to date. My only wish, and I know it wont happen, is to see just one PCI slot in the iMac. So many musicians and the like who want to buy a low cost machine and need to put in a better sound card etc would be a God-send!!

Whatever they decide to make the iMac, you can bet you last buck that it will be a killer. This is Apple's bread and butter product. They screw that up, they're gonna make their life very difficult.

Finally, on a slightly different note, I am so glad that Apple themselves in the States are entering the retail market, for as you may not know, Australia has had a very much established Apple retail presence. I think you will start to see Apple behaving differently in regards to product announcements/retail behaviour etc. They are in the retail boat now, and will realise that retail is a very different animal to phone/mail order!! They will start to see things the retailer's way!

<img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
Joecool only answers the phone when he knows it's for him...
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Joecool only answers the phone when he knows it's for him...
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