You and Addabox seem to think that Americans should be dumb and not care about what they are buying. That they should just over-pay and make Apple richer for outdated hardware
Uh, no, I don't think that's what they're saying.
They're saying, "You live in America, which has a market economy, and no one is holding a gun to your head to buy something you don't want at a price you don't want to pay."
Why not just make a Mac Pro Mini - with a mini aluminum enclosure with the opportunity for owners to make some hardware upgrades instead of being sealed off like most Apple products.
You'd think Apple would want to exploit Snow Leopard's Grand Central Dispatch and OpenCL with new, capable hardware -- at the consumer level.
Does anyone else find the port locations to be extremely irritating? I don't keep my iPhone cable plugged into my iMac all the time because i use the cable along with the AC Charger adapter. When I have to sync I'm constantly having to dig into the back by feel to find the USB port.
Same with headphone's when my bluetooth headset is charging. I have to resort to the cord variety and it again requires digging around into the back to find it.
Here's hoping they at least move it to a side, or the lower front, or something.
Who buys specs? Some perhaps, but this is not the market for the iMac.
Quote:
Originally Posted by addabox
The average buyer checks out a machine and makes a judgement based on a variety of factors-- price, looks, ease of use, apparent quality, etc.
For a lot of people, an all in one machine that looks great and does everything they want it to in a snappy fashion is exactly what they want. They have no idea and could care less where the innards fall within Intel's lineup. It's been a while since pretty much any system sold (excepting netbooks) didn't have plenty of power to do what most people do with their computers [/I]
Oh, I think it's pretty clear what they are saying. The average American is dumb and can't figure out that a $1500 computer is better than a $300 netbook if it looks all pretty and has a big shiny Apple logo on it.
Please, even my mother-in-law and grandmother can read the spec card on a display and are able to compare one computer to another and if there is something they don't understand, they know enough to ask someone who is knowledgeable and have them help them buy the "better" computer.
Does anyone else find the port locations to be extremely irritating? I don't keep my iPhone cable plugged into my iMac all the time because i use the cable along with the AC Charger adapter. When I have to sync I'm constantly having to dig into the back by feel to find the USB port.
Same with headphone's when my bluetooth headset is charging. I have to resort to the cord variety and it again requires digging around into the back to find it.
Here's hoping they at least move it to a side, or the lower front, or something.
Noooooo - leave them on the back. I hate seeing open ports visible on a computer. I'd much rather grope around or turn the thing slightly than give up the clean appearance of the iMac.
Please, even my mother-in-law and grandmother can read the spec card on a display and are able to compare one computer to another and if there is something they don't understand, they know enough to ask someone who is knowledgeable and have them help them buy the "better" computer.
Just as they should! And that will teach Apple a lesson, no?
What's the problem here? What exactly are you complaining about?
Originally Posted by justflybob; Pity the agnostic dyslectic.
As I have clearly stated before: Techstud is neither.
Again- change you byline dude. I's really disgusting and offensive. I'm surprised you're not banned out of here for degrading people with disabilities.
Because glare iMacs are the only thing offered- Are you that dense?
He may be dense, but your answer fails.
Why is Apple selling MORE glossy screens then they EVER sold of the matte screens, when people could, instead, buy any number of other computers with matte screens available on the market?
Why is Apple selling MORE glossy screens then they EVER sold of the matte screens, when people could, instead, buy any number of other computers with matte screens available on the market?
OMG- not you too!!!
OK here goes:-= Almost 2 1/2 years ago there was like this new invention from Apple called (let me remember)- oh yes, the iPhone!
And wouldn't you know this caused a lot of- switchers!!. Also in this period there was something released from Microsoft (what was it called?) - oh yes- VISTA!!!!
Both of these caused - what? ANs: A ton of SWITCHERS!!! Got it?
This cause more Mac - BUYERS!!! got it!! Glossy screened iMacs were the only new iMacs available in that period.
You don't need a degree in brain surgery to figure this out.
Why is Apple selling MORE glossy screens then they EVER sold of the matte screens, when people could, instead, buy any number of other computers with matte screens available on the market?
Let me ask you -Why is APple selling matte screens on the 17 " Pro- NOW?
Why did they quietly add matte to the 15" Pro - NOW?
I dunno... as far as a desktop screen that you sit 1 1/2 feet from I think anything bigger than 24" starts to demand you sit further away from the screen, which starts to negate the whole desktop idea and starts to look like a TV. I use 2 monitors for the extra screen real-estate, but neither is bigger than 24".
Anyone currently using a 27" or 30" monitor as their main display? How is it sitting that close to such a big screen?
Dual core? I think most users were hoping of Core i7 based machines...
Most users here. Most users over on MacRumors perhaps. most users in the whole market, probably not
Most users want a machine that works for what they want to do. whether it has a dual core i7 or a quad core i2 or whatever matters little.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lkrupp
A feature or option that either is or isn't present will cause the usual suspects to declare the new iMac line a D.O.A. deal killer.
no shite sherlock and watson
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quadra 610
A little early, but right on time for Christmas.
actually not early at all. if they release now folks have time to do the budget math before they start shopping.
Quote:
Originally Posted by B747
Indeed but if the rumour that they are thinner is true...will the machines handle the heat?
assuming that thinner means front to back, don't you think they would have a solution for that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronbo
Very amusing. Like they were authorized to discuss the matter at all.
indeedy deed. if this is real, whoever is saying anything ain't going into details for one reason only. details would get him/her/them totally caught.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stukdog
In addition, I've noticed that Amazon has been out of the high end Mac mini for the last 5 days. It makes me wonder if they've depleted that inventory so the high end Mac mini can be upgraded a bit more to set itself apart.
something I am curious about. is Amazon running their own warehouses for this stuff. it makes some sense. they buy in bulk and they might get a better discount. if so, then it begs the question are they out because the model has been cut by Apple to run down the old and make way for the new. or is it out because Amazon, believing the rumors, didn't buy more thinking they were about to get stuck with old machines.
after all, we haven't had the flurry of rumors from Best Buy and such about being told the current models were in short supply etc
Quote:
Originally Posted by samurai1999
But, anyway, what Apple should do is revamp the MacMini
i don't know about your specs but I do agree that the MacMini could handle a boast. it isn't even up to the specs of the 13" Macbook pro.
Quote:
Originally Posted by teckstud
Goddbye- you fugly racconed iMac. Begone with the black border once and for all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by teckstud
This has to mean that disgusting black eye-lined racoon is finally gone!!!!!!! Rejoice!!!!
just for that, I hope they keep the 'raccoon'
Quote:
Originally Posted by John the Geek
SD card slot, just like the laptops.
dear god no. make it a generic slot and let us pick
or do the SD on the low end and make the upper users choice.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bugsnw
You're all formally invited to my iMac Launch Party. I'm working on a video now. I need one black guy, one older woman, a hottie, and a nerd. It's important to show that being hip crosses all ethnic and socioeconomic lines.
will there be activities.
Quote:
I actually hope they don't have Blue-Ray. We need to move towards solid state anyhow. No moving parts. Steve Jobs can continue to encourage the industry to move towards fatter pipes so we can stream this stuff. Or get it to fit on new, higher capacity SD cards.
something folks keep forgetting about with the Blu-ray issue. the Itunes store. they just upgraded the movies on the store to this new 'extras' business. why? to promote downloads over disks.
if they go and put in a built in blu-ray they are backpedaling on this issue.
now I could see them perhaps updating SL to work with an external drive for those that insist. or perhaps an internal option for the Pro for the business users. but an internal in the mini and imacs I can't see, at least not as a standard option
Quote:
Get it all under $2K, including Apple Care.
or crazier thought. dump Apple Care as an add on. just make the warranty 3 years, same conditions.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GRevolution
No no no! Apple has GOT to start using desktop chips in the iMacs.
Because you say so. You are typical of the smaller part of the market that Apple is going after with the imacs. the folks they are going after don't care about the chip type, number of chips etc. they glaze over and tune out. what they care about is that they can do what they want without the computer freezing or taking all night for a simple task. and that the computer won't be obsolete in 2 years.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wizard69
Or look at this post and see the fanbois ready to take whatever Apple throws at them.
actually some of us have the business sense to see what Apple is up to with the line and where the focus is and we understand that what folks here are demanding is not what the focus audience is going to care about.
Apple Retail trains their peeps to ask 'what are you looking to do with your computer'. spend enough time in the stores and you hear that question in one form or another enough to know that this has been pounded into the sales people. they are like robots saying it. why do they ask. because the answer gives them the data of consumer/prosumer/professional. And they have whole subteams for the professionals and the businesses. and guess what desktop sells the most for that group. the Mac Pro. the iMacs are going to the parents that want a game machine for the kids, or grandma that needs that 20" screen to see what she's doing.
So when Apple is making design calls about the iMac (and even the Mini to some degree) they are looking at the answers to that question. Yes there are some professionals that use iMacs. Heck I work freelance for an editing house that does PSA and Industrials and I run Final Cut Studio on a 3.06 iMac with a second LED display hooked up to it. Would I love to have an imac with a bigger hard drive, faster processor and an esata connection. Heck yeah I would. Do I expect them to. No. Because I know that my needs are not typical of the market. I would settle for a cheaper starting price on the Mac Pro since the company can't quite afford the towers and would rather not lease (although I think I have them about convinced on that route)
Quote:
Originally Posted by trboyden
If that is true, than the Mac market has done a complete 180 from where it was even just a couple of years ago. Mac users have always been more computer literate, pursuing bleeding-edge technology since the early days of desktop publishing. Most of the Mac users I know and have supported always went out and bought the latest stuff as soon as it came out - that is how Apple earned its brand loyalty.
those folks are still there. but they are a small part of the potential market. For Apple to grow in share they need to get the non techies as well.
Quote:
The advent of consumer use of Macs is a recent trend
define recent. cause the whole One-to-One program was started to deal with the growing consumer count among Mac users. in fact the whole Apple Retail was to snag those consumer users that were PC.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Marsh
No kids...
funny you say that. cause my best friend is a caterer with 3 kids who use the family computer for homework, games etc.
and guess where that computer is. mounted on the wall at the end of the breakfast bar where Shel can use it for cooking podcasts, invoicing etc. AND keep an eye on what the kids are doing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by christopher126
I personally like Apple's preoccupation with elegance (thinness) and less cables for that matter.
actually Pucca and Garu want me to tell you that they are pissed about that change. now they have fewer cables to play with. Especially when I went wireless and keep the keyboard and mouse in a drawer when I am not at home.
although it is fun to 'back to my mac' and flip the camera on and scare them off the desk.
Quote:
I used to think the white intel iMac was the 'bee's knees' until I got accustomed to the aluminum iteration. Now the white looks somewhat dated.
not to mention that it's easier to paint the alum casing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by teckstud
Glare is an issue. WHy do you think they still use the old cinema display in Apple class on Fifth Avenue? So everyone can see it. You can't see it from every angle with all that glare. YOu have to constantly move it .
I'll take my white matte iMac screen anyday over the current screen.
Why do you think matte is back on the Pros?
note that matte is not back on all of them. only the highest end that the business users were getting has matte in the box. the rest you have to custom order online. however it does show that Apple is willing to test the issue. As I hope they will with at least the high end iMacs and the LED display. Because sometimes we aren't at liberty to move things so the option, even at a slightly higher price, would be nice.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bugsnw
SJ once told a story about how he appreciates an artisan or craftsman who pays attention to how the BACK of the product looks. Like a dresser. Yes, it's true that no one is going to see the back, so there might not be an obvious argument for using good wood and finishing it nicely. But the craftsman knows it's there.
no joke. I have to stare at the back of the other guy's computer all day and I would rather have the 'cheap plastic' of the mac than the candy colored back of a Dell any day.
Quote:
And just to go back and kinda refute the "iMacs are for buyers who don't care" argument, I always enjoy Apple's web presentation of the new features and comparisons to the prior model's power use, graphics abilities, CPU performance, size, weight, etc. Apple takes the effort to explain their new product in detail, with the current iMac boasting five headings: Design, Features, Mac OS X + iLife, Environment, Tech Specs. While it's probably true that most PC buyers don't understand or care about technical details, I think the Average Mac buyer certainly does.
that stuff works because Apple (both in the keynotes and the staff in stores) has a tendency to follow up the details with 'and this means'. so you can tune out the details about the specs and just here the 'why do I care about this'. Unlike the shirts at some places that just try to wow you with the details and leave you wondering if they actually know the answer to the Why?
Quote:
Originally Posted by teckstud
Thank god Apple realizes the mistake they made modelling everything based upon the iPhones looks.
I wouldn't be so sure they call it a mistake. After all, how many computers have they sold recently.
and before you bring up the whole LED display as an example, remember that it lacks a lot of the innards of an imac so it simply has no need for 'the chin'. and that could be why that detail is lacking
Quote:
Originally Posted by Squarepants
How about a keyboard with multi-gesture pad! Why don't we have one of these yet? And why should laptop users have all the fun!
i could go for that. although I really like this one mock up I saw for a fully touchscreen keyboard that would charge labels according to what you were doing. so if you are typing you might see the letters (in your choice of QWERTY or other), if you are running FCP you would see the shortcuts, in a game you might see the controller labels if it uses kids, etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DJRumpy
Does anyone else find the port locations to be extremely irritating?
a little I wouldn't mind if they added front audio ports and perhaps front usb. or at least side. but if they do front they need to do something to cover it up when you aren't using it. slide off panel or something. having naked ports on the front is like seeing your granny in her panties. ugh.
I'm sure what ever they put out will still keep them 1 step ahead of others. But regardless of what they put it it will always be ahead of every computer company in the world due to one factor... OS X. Let's face it, that is the the king in the land of transistors. It can do anything we want it to. It can be anything we want it to be. It can even run every other OS on the planet.
And because it can run every OS on the planet and do so faster and better than the other guys... It is everything we want and need.
You can cry for mega flop sudo-core chips and GPU's beyond compare but the fact is that it doesn't matter because what they offer now is more than enough for 90% of the people on the planet. You need more? They have a system for you, it's called a MacPro. If your into apps that demand more than an iMac can handle then your not gonna find an All-in-One system anyways.
Love it or hate it they make the best because they use the best. And it's the best that make what they use.
Ok, back to the wish list...
Can I opt in for a smaller iMac with 1080 res? With a total power consumption of less than 40 watts. Gimme a MacMini with a 17-18.5" HR Screen and package the whole deal around $799. 2.0ghz, 2gb, 160gb HD with a super drive is plenty. HP's got an iMac look-a-like coming out October 22nd priced at $599 for the same bit of kit above cept it uses AMD's 3250e cpu (not bad, been using one for 2 weeks now along side the mini).
THEN make the high end mini a 2.2ghz base and 2.53 optional with 4gb, 320gb (7200rpm BTO) at $749... Still keeping the base Mini where it sits with maybe a price reduction or throw in the mini kybd and mini mouse. I think the Mini needs to be packaged with a kybd and mouse now. Small organic packaging and toss it on the shelves of any super-box store at $599.
Top it all off, SD Card slots on all, mini gets it right below the aluminum ring, center. iMac gets one dead center of the Apple logo (so to not smudge up the design with a slot).
Make the boxes green and white.
With the updates coming to iMac and MacBooks it's going to be a CPU update at least. So Core i series will probably be a go since no updates to the "Core" involve more performance just lower power (MacBook Air?).
Comments
You and Addabox seem to think that Americans should be dumb and not care about what they are buying. That they should just over-pay and make Apple richer for outdated hardware
Uh, no, I don't think that's what they're saying.
They're saying, "You live in America, which has a market economy, and no one is holding a gun to your head to buy something you don't want at a price you don't want to pay."
Why not just make a Mac Pro Mini - with a mini aluminum enclosure with the opportunity for owners to make some hardware upgrades instead of being sealed off like most Apple products.
You'd think Apple would want to exploit Snow Leopard's Grand Central Dispatch and OpenCL with new, capable hardware -- at the consumer level.
Hear, Hear!!
As I have clearly stated before: Techstud is neither.
Otoh, if you caught a very bad pun in my post......
If they don't make it thinner soon, I'm switching to Windows!
Same with headphone's when my bluetooth headset is charging. I have to resort to the cord variety and it again requires digging around into the back to find it.
Here's hoping they at least move it to a side, or the lower front, or something.
Who buys specs? Some perhaps, but this is not the market for the iMac.
The average buyer checks out a machine and makes a judgement based on a variety of factors-- price, looks, ease of use, apparent quality, etc.
For a lot of people, an all in one machine that looks great and does everything they want it to in a snappy fashion is exactly what they want. They have no idea and could care less where the innards fall within Intel's lineup. It's been a while since pretty much any system sold (excepting netbooks) didn't have plenty of power to do what most people do with their computers [/I]
Oh, I think it's pretty clear what they are saying. The average American is dumb and can't figure out that a $1500 computer is better than a $300 netbook if it looks all pretty and has a big shiny Apple logo on it.
Please, even my mother-in-law and grandmother can read the spec card on a display and are able to compare one computer to another and if there is something they don't understand, they know enough to ask someone who is knowledgeable and have them help them buy the "better" computer.
Does anyone else find the port locations to be extremely irritating? I don't keep my iPhone cable plugged into my iMac all the time because i use the cable along with the AC Charger adapter. When I have to sync I'm constantly having to dig into the back by feel to find the USB port.
Same with headphone's when my bluetooth headset is charging. I have to resort to the cord variety and it again requires digging around into the back to find it.
Here's hoping they at least move it to a side, or the lower front, or something.
Noooooo - leave them on the back. I hate seeing open ports visible on a computer. I'd much rather grope around or turn the thing slightly than give up the clean appearance of the iMac.
Please, even my mother-in-law and grandmother can read the spec card on a display and are able to compare one computer to another and if there is something they don't understand, they know enough to ask someone who is knowledgeable and have them help them buy the "better" computer.
Just as they should! And that will teach Apple a lesson, no?
What's the problem here? What exactly are you complaining about?
No kidding.
Apple offer 3 laptops and 2 others (total of 5) masquerading as desktops. Le biscuit tin. Le laptop on a stand.
Lemon Bon Bon.
As I have clearly stated before: Techstud is neither.
Again- change you byline dude. I's really disgusting and offensive. I'm surprised you're not banned out of here for degrading people with disabilities.
And you fail to insult or amuse. Shu!
Otoh, if you caught a very bad pun in my post......
Oh I am soo offended by your lame insults. Please stop - I can't take it. You are so AWSUM!
Because glare iMacs are the only thing offered- Are you that dense?
He may be dense, but your answer fails.
Why is Apple selling MORE glossy screens then they EVER sold of the matte screens, when people could, instead, buy any number of other computers with matte screens available on the market?
Heh heh. On the matter of density, man, you have no peer! You da stud!
YOur insults are soo clever and imaginative. Too bad you have nothing to add of consequence to the thread itself.
Matte is back and Apple's never going back!
He may be dense, but your answer fails.
Why is Apple selling MORE glossy screens then they EVER sold of the matte screens, when people could, instead, buy any number of other computers with matte screens available on the market?
OMG- not you too!!!
OK here goes:-= Almost 2 1/2 years ago there was like this new invention from Apple called (let me remember)- oh yes, the iPhone!
And wouldn't you know this caused a lot of- switchers!!. Also in this period there was something released from Microsoft (what was it called?) - oh yes- VISTA!!!!
Both of these caused - what? ANs: A ton of SWITCHERS!!! Got it?
This cause more Mac - BUYERS!!! got it!! Glossy screened iMacs were the only new iMacs available in that period.
You don't need a degree in brain surgery to figure this out.
JEESH!
Just as they should! And that will teach Apple a lesson, no?
What's the problem here? What exactly are you complaining about?
My god- you're relentless. Thank god it's just not me.
He may be dense, but your answer fails.
Why is Apple selling MORE glossy screens then they EVER sold of the matte screens, when people could, instead, buy any number of other computers with matte screens available on the market?
Let me ask you -Why is APple selling matte screens on the 17 " Pro- NOW?
Why did they quietly add matte to the 15" Pro - NOW?
Yup... I cannot crossgrade from a tower to an iMac until they have more than 2 cores...
Shame I cannot afford the towers anymore either. What a pain...
I really they hope they have some quad-cores as BTO options.
I believe Intel has officially introduced i7 platform for notebooks recently, so there is no reason why iMacs wouldn't have any.
Well, no real reason at least
I dunno... as far as a desktop screen that you sit 1 1/2 feet from I think anything bigger than 24" starts to demand you sit further away from the screen, which starts to negate the whole desktop idea and starts to look like a TV. I use 2 monitors for the extra screen real-estate, but neither is bigger than 24".
Anyone currently using a 27" or 30" monitor as their main display? How is it sitting that close to such a big screen?
Uh, I believe Mr Magoo is.
Dual core? I think most users were hoping of Core i7 based machines...
Most users here. Most users over on MacRumors perhaps. most users in the whole market, probably not
Most users want a machine that works for what they want to do. whether it has a dual core i7 or a quad core i2 or whatever matters little.
A feature or option that either is or isn't present will cause the usual suspects to declare the new iMac line a D.O.A. deal killer.
no shite sherlock and watson
A little early, but right on time for Christmas.
actually not early at all. if they release now folks have time to do the budget math before they start shopping.
Indeed but if the rumour that they are thinner is true...will the machines handle the heat?
assuming that thinner means front to back, don't you think they would have a solution for that.
Very amusing. Like they were authorized to discuss the matter at all.
indeedy deed. if this is real, whoever is saying anything ain't going into details for one reason only. details would get him/her/them totally caught.
In addition, I've noticed that Amazon has been out of the high end Mac mini for the last 5 days. It makes me wonder if they've depleted that inventory so the high end Mac mini can be upgraded a bit more to set itself apart.
something I am curious about. is Amazon running their own warehouses for this stuff. it makes some sense. they buy in bulk and they might get a better discount. if so, then it begs the question are they out because the model has been cut by Apple to run down the old and make way for the new. or is it out because Amazon, believing the rumors, didn't buy more thinking they were about to get stuck with old machines.
after all, we haven't had the flurry of rumors from Best Buy and such about being told the current models were in short supply etc
But, anyway, what Apple should do is revamp the MacMini
i don't know about your specs but I do agree that the MacMini could handle a boast. it isn't even up to the specs of the 13" Macbook pro.
Goddbye- you fugly racconed iMac. Begone with the black border once and for all.
This has to mean that disgusting black eye-lined racoon is finally gone!!!!!!! Rejoice!!!!
just for that, I hope they keep the 'raccoon'
SD card slot, just like the laptops.
dear god no. make it a generic slot and let us pick
or do the SD on the low end and make the upper users choice.
You're all formally invited to my iMac Launch Party. I'm working on a video now. I need one black guy, one older woman, a hottie, and a nerd. It's important to show that being hip crosses all ethnic and socioeconomic lines.
will there be activities.
I actually hope they don't have Blue-Ray. We need to move towards solid state anyhow. No moving parts. Steve Jobs can continue to encourage the industry to move towards fatter pipes so we can stream this stuff. Or get it to fit on new, higher capacity SD cards.
something folks keep forgetting about with the Blu-ray issue. the Itunes store. they just upgraded the movies on the store to this new 'extras' business. why? to promote downloads over disks.
if they go and put in a built in blu-ray they are backpedaling on this issue.
now I could see them perhaps updating SL to work with an external drive for those that insist. or perhaps an internal option for the Pro for the business users. but an internal in the mini and imacs I can't see, at least not as a standard option
Get it all under $2K, including Apple Care.
or crazier thought. dump Apple Care as an add on. just make the warranty 3 years, same conditions.
No no no! Apple has GOT to start using desktop chips in the iMacs.
Because you say so. You are typical of the smaller part of the market that Apple is going after with the imacs. the folks they are going after don't care about the chip type, number of chips etc. they glaze over and tune out. what they care about is that they can do what they want without the computer freezing or taking all night for a simple task. and that the computer won't be obsolete in 2 years.
Or look at this post and see the fanbois ready to take whatever Apple throws at them.
actually some of us have the business sense to see what Apple is up to with the line and where the focus is and we understand that what folks here are demanding is not what the focus audience is going to care about.
Apple Retail trains their peeps to ask 'what are you looking to do with your computer'. spend enough time in the stores and you hear that question in one form or another enough to know that this has been pounded into the sales people. they are like robots saying it. why do they ask. because the answer gives them the data of consumer/prosumer/professional. And they have whole subteams for the professionals and the businesses. and guess what desktop sells the most for that group. the Mac Pro. the iMacs are going to the parents that want a game machine for the kids, or grandma that needs that 20" screen to see what she's doing.
So when Apple is making design calls about the iMac (and even the Mini to some degree) they are looking at the answers to that question. Yes there are some professionals that use iMacs. Heck I work freelance for an editing house that does PSA and Industrials and I run Final Cut Studio on a 3.06 iMac with a second LED display hooked up to it. Would I love to have an imac with a bigger hard drive, faster processor and an esata connection. Heck yeah I would. Do I expect them to. No. Because I know that my needs are not typical of the market. I would settle for a cheaper starting price on the Mac Pro since the company can't quite afford the towers and would rather not lease (although I think I have them about convinced on that route)
If that is true, than the Mac market has done a complete 180 from where it was even just a couple of years ago. Mac users have always been more computer literate, pursuing bleeding-edge technology since the early days of desktop publishing. Most of the Mac users I know and have supported always went out and bought the latest stuff as soon as it came out - that is how Apple earned its brand loyalty.
those folks are still there. but they are a small part of the potential market. For Apple to grow in share they need to get the non techies as well.
The advent of consumer use of Macs is a recent trend
define recent. cause the whole One-to-One program was started to deal with the growing consumer count among Mac users. in fact the whole Apple Retail was to snag those consumer users that were PC.
No kids...
funny you say that. cause my best friend is a caterer with 3 kids who use the family computer for homework, games etc.
and guess where that computer is. mounted on the wall at the end of the breakfast bar where Shel can use it for cooking podcasts, invoicing etc. AND keep an eye on what the kids are doing.
I personally like Apple's preoccupation with elegance (thinness) and less cables for that matter.
actually Pucca and Garu want me to tell you that they are pissed about that change. now they have fewer cables to play with. Especially when I went wireless and keep the keyboard and mouse in a drawer when I am not at home.
although it is fun to 'back to my mac' and flip the camera on and scare them off the desk.
I used to think the white intel iMac was the 'bee's knees' until I got accustomed to the aluminum iteration. Now the white looks somewhat dated.
not to mention that it's easier to paint the alum casing.
Glare is an issue. WHy do you think they still use the old cinema display in Apple class on Fifth Avenue? So everyone can see it. You can't see it from every angle with all that glare. YOu have to constantly move it .
I'll take my white matte iMac screen anyday over the current screen.
Why do you think matte is back on the Pros?
note that matte is not back on all of them. only the highest end that the business users were getting has matte in the box. the rest you have to custom order online. however it does show that Apple is willing to test the issue. As I hope they will with at least the high end iMacs and the LED display. Because sometimes we aren't at liberty to move things so the option, even at a slightly higher price, would be nice.
SJ once told a story about how he appreciates an artisan or craftsman who pays attention to how the BACK of the product looks. Like a dresser. Yes, it's true that no one is going to see the back, so there might not be an obvious argument for using good wood and finishing it nicely. But the craftsman knows it's there.
no joke. I have to stare at the back of the other guy's computer all day and I would rather have the 'cheap plastic' of the mac than the candy colored back of a Dell any day.
And just to go back and kinda refute the "iMacs are for buyers who don't care" argument, I always enjoy Apple's web presentation of the new features and comparisons to the prior model's power use, graphics abilities, CPU performance, size, weight, etc. Apple takes the effort to explain their new product in detail, with the current iMac boasting five headings: Design, Features, Mac OS X + iLife, Environment, Tech Specs. While it's probably true that most PC buyers don't understand or care about technical details, I think the Average Mac buyer certainly does.
that stuff works because Apple (both in the keynotes and the staff in stores) has a tendency to follow up the details with 'and this means'. so you can tune out the details about the specs and just here the 'why do I care about this'. Unlike the shirts at some places that just try to wow you with the details and leave you wondering if they actually know the answer to the Why?
Thank god Apple realizes the mistake they made modelling everything based upon the iPhones looks.
I wouldn't be so sure they call it a mistake. After all, how many computers have they sold recently.
and before you bring up the whole LED display as an example, remember that it lacks a lot of the innards of an imac so it simply has no need for 'the chin'. and that could be why that detail is lacking
How about a keyboard with multi-gesture pad! Why don't we have one of these yet? And why should laptop users have all the fun!
i could go for that. although I really like this one mock up I saw for a fully touchscreen keyboard that would charge labels according to what you were doing. so if you are typing you might see the letters (in your choice of QWERTY or other), if you are running FCP you would see the shortcuts, in a game you might see the controller labels if it uses kids, etc.
Does anyone else find the port locations to be extremely irritating?
a little I wouldn't mind if they added front audio ports and perhaps front usb. or at least side. but if they do front they need to do something to cover it up when you aren't using it. slide off panel or something. having naked ports on the front is like seeing your granny in her panties. ugh.
And because it can run every OS on the planet and do so faster and better than the other guys... It is everything we want and need.
You can cry for mega flop sudo-core chips and GPU's beyond compare but the fact is that it doesn't matter because what they offer now is more than enough for 90% of the people on the planet. You need more? They have a system for you, it's called a MacPro. If your into apps that demand more than an iMac can handle then your not gonna find an All-in-One system anyways.
Love it or hate it they make the best because they use the best. And it's the best that make what they use.
Ok, back to the wish list...
Can I opt in for a smaller iMac with 1080 res? With a total power consumption of less than 40 watts. Gimme a MacMini with a 17-18.5" HR Screen and package the whole deal around $799. 2.0ghz, 2gb, 160gb HD with a super drive is plenty. HP's got an iMac look-a-like coming out October 22nd priced at $599 for the same bit of kit above cept it uses AMD's 3250e cpu (not bad, been using one for 2 weeks now along side the mini).
THEN make the high end mini a 2.2ghz base and 2.53 optional with 4gb, 320gb (7200rpm BTO) at $749... Still keeping the base Mini where it sits with maybe a price reduction or throw in the mini kybd and mini mouse. I think the Mini needs to be packaged with a kybd and mouse now. Small organic packaging and toss it on the shelves of any super-box store at $599.
Top it all off, SD Card slots on all, mini gets it right below the aluminum ring, center. iMac gets one dead center of the Apple logo (so to not smudge up the design with a slot).
Make the boxes green and white.
With the updates coming to iMac and MacBooks it's going to be a CPU update at least. So Core i series will probably be a go since no updates to the "Core" involve more performance just lower power (MacBook Air?).
Ohh... Towel Please,