That French <a href="http://www.macbidouille.com/niouzcontenu.php?date=2002-12-18"; target="_blank">site</a> is predicting 1 GHz iMacs and a new expensive top of the line model. Nothing shattering, but it gives a little credence to my earlier predictions.
To those suggesting the bottom of the line will bump only to 867, that is entirely possible, but I remain a fan of the 1 GHz chip across the board. Selling any desktop computer with a sub 1 GHz chip is pretty hard to justify in the year 2003, even by Apple.
Besides, remember when the original iceBooks were introduced with 500 MHz chips across the board? That was very cool and created perhaps the best bang-for-buck lineup in Apple's history. This exact same idea would carry over brilliantly to the consumer desktops. If they all have 1 GHz G4s in them, then the buying decision instantly focuses in on the features that truly matter: screen type, size and resolution and optical drive.
I guess what I'm getting at is an all 1 GHz G4 lineup lets the customer focus on the digital hub and not the speed of the chip, which is of course Apple's whole plan in a nutshell.
I think that Ensign has it right, Apple needs tome big hype now, and the most realistic that they have for January is a move to a minimum of 1ghz, even better if they update the FSB to 166 (167 whatever) or 200 mhz at the same time. As noted in many other threads they have the room to manuver with the PM's bieng dual processors. Also of note it the fact that PowerLogix is talking about releasing dual 1.25 Ghz upgrades for the Cubes. This signals that the G4's will be readialiably available in January at the 1ghz speed. There has been some modification to the processor so that it produces less heat and requires less power than the 800 mhz processor currently used by Powerlogix since this is burning out the DC to DC boards in current Cubes. Also they would not come out with a 1 ghz upgrade for the cube becouse of heat concerns. This all bodes well for the iMac, though it dosnt confirm anything about the future.
Actually I think that Apple really needs a "big hype" show like when they introduced the G4's originally. With Games ( rememeber the Halo demo) AV ala Philips, communication with Sony/Ericson, etc....and of course the best upgrades that they can muster....January might be too soon for this but it is better than a year from January....
SJ will argue, why from now on you just need Jag and no more 9er:
* best system ever.
* unique integration of the digital hub: itunes4, imovie3, iSync, iPhone (iNet phone), iChat (with Video), bluetooth (now integrated in all apple computers)
* one more thing, TaaDaa!!
iWorks!
all you need for home and business, running only on X.....
-----
hardware? all tft (no more 15"), all 16:9. all 1GHz, lil' improvements for the geeks of us....
for pros? announcement of quad processors, nice case, white and titan, no revolution
-----
that's all? one more thing: a toys-4-the-boys thingie, video with ipod.
-----
again:
MWSF will NOT be a hardware thing, it's X-DAY!!
the webcam-video-pod is JUST a marketing gadget! don't fumble with the press "just" with software, you need something for the hands, you can make a photo of it....
"iWorks", drop the "s", then it becomes a verb. I Work = iWork.
It would be something for Chimera/Navigator to become the default Mac OS X browser. After using 0.6 since it's release, I don't see why Apple would need to work it's UI magic, when the Chimera team already has.
[quote] The Hardware session will be very directed "mobility" and "without wire". <hr></blockquote> Translated from <a href="http://www.macbidouille.com"; target="_blank">www.macbidouille.com</a> in regards to a europian apple conf. on Jan 8. Day after the keynote.
I agree... a $1400 17" LCD 1ghz G4 Combo sounds a little high... but not if they really are planning on bringing the 1.8ghz PPC 970 to us in August...
(which could mean 1.25ghz iMac G4's...)
</strong>
<hr></blockquote>
??? i don't get the logic? what can the 970 in august have to do with a higher priced iMac???
[quote]
]QB]
The 700 to 1ghz jump isn't overly unrealistic (but where are all those 867mhz CPU's gonna go?); However, when paired with 15" to 17" LCD, it really does start to push... that's $200 more for maybe $400+ worth to the consumer...
...
...
By doing this over a longer period of time, Apple can keep the hype up, and thus keep the sales up.
...
People will be happy with a 167mhz jump on the bottom line, and the jump to 1ghz can be performed in time for Eductional Season...
(Plus, if they make too much of a jump now, what will they do with surplus???)[/QB]<hr></blockquote>
i think 167 mhz in a year!!! is much too little to keep people happy... as mhz increases the mhz-jump has to increase to keep up a good percentage-speed-advantage when comparing to current systems... i buy a new mac when it is at least three times as fast overall than my current system... if they continue to bump 166mhz in a year - well, this is lame... and therefore won't happen - 1Ghz minimum!
Apple has started doing deals on the Dual-867 machines here. That is within 2 months of launching the machine in India.
They have started doing deals on the 15inch Imacs bundling MSOffice at less than half the retail price.
I guess these are on the way out for sure.
Here are some of my guesses:-
1. Imacs updated with bigger screen, one model with touch sensitive display.
2. Laptops redesign with ability of screen to tilt and swivel like FP Imac.
3. New MacPad. 12.1 screen super slim design. WIFI and Bluetooth capable. Can automatically sink with any mac once within accessable distance. Will have touch sensitive screen and use Inkwell tech. to its advantage. Will have full functional OSX capability. This is most probably the TOY for the BOYS!Should cream the Windows versions
4. New range of High End machines that would be targetted at the High End segment. Design would be based on the Cube. High end performance - Mid Range pricing.
Apple has started doing deals on the Dual-867 machines here. That is within 2 months of launching the machine in India.
They have started doing deals on the 15inch Imacs bundling MSOffice at less than half the retail price.
I guess these are on the way out for sure.
Here are some of my guesses:-
1. Imacs updated with bigger screen, one model with touch sensitive display.
2. Laptops redesign with ability of screen to tilt and swivel like FP Imac.
3. New MacPad. 12.1 screen super slim design. WIFI and Bluetooth capable. Can automatically sink with any mac once within accessable distance. Will have touch sensitive screen and use Inkwell tech. to its advantage. Will have full functional OSX capability. This is most probably the TOY for the BOYS!Should cream the Windows versions
4. New range of High End machines that would be targetted at the High End segment. Design would be based on the Cube. High end performance - Mid Range pricing.
<a href="http://www.cube-zone.com/"; target="_blank">Cube-Zone</a> is also claiming a 19" iMac along with the discontinuation of the 15" models. This is in line with my predictions, but if that rumored price for the 19" iMac is really over 3K, I'll eat my hat.
I think it's possible that a 19" iMac will come in at about $2499, that $3499 price is way off. I also think it will have a slightly larger base.
Sully,
Keynote will be webcast via Qucktime. Unless you have a high speed connection it will be awful - jittery and constant buffering. Tech TV may also show it although they didn't show the last Keynote.
Speculation at MacOSRumors is backing up my prediction. Not that anybody believes them.
Bluetooth is what MWSF2003 with be remembered for, I'm saying it again. It would give Apple that unique "we're a step ahead" feel again to have wireless keyboards and mice on all models standard. Personally I hate cables of all kinds and am looking forward to only needing a power cable to use my computer setup.
also recall that they will show off the xraid/xserve combo at mwsf. we saw a semi-official announcement at apple canada about a month ago. not sure why it didn't go out the door already. maybe they want to show it off on stage?
what i don't get is that most of the lines (let's say half at least) are supposedly booting into os x only come that keynote (while some models will remain os 9-able until june). so either we are going to see a LOT of new hardware, or just the same-old same-old with updated firmware/roms, right?
and iapps galore. and .mac discounted to US$68 WITH the purchase of a new mac (why else do you think they tested the price at the thanksgiving "sales"?).
honestly, i think the "big thing" will be something with the ipod. something we didn't see coming... but do you think we'll get the same gut-wrenching hype that preceded last year's expo? i hope not. i think it set expectations WAY too high.
Unless they will do something dramatic like double the clock speeds I doubt that the keynote will involve faster computers. The last several speed bumps happened without even a press release.
And bluetooth is just too boring to take center stage. Half the articles in the mainstream press have been debating whether bluetooth is dead or not.
The keynote will be about things that give a broad spectrum of people a reason to buy a Mac - rendezvous (display movies, slide shows etc. on your new TV, play iTunes on your FW stereo), iChat (people love to talk, maybe with a white board, video conferencing), new versions of iDVD and iMovie, OS X itself.
And of course, the Apple Stores. There are now more than 50 stores and they are profitable. This is a huge change compared to two years ago.
<strong>also recall that they will show off the xraid/xserve combo at mwsf. we saw a semi-official announcement at apple canada about a month ago. not sure why it didn't go out the door already. maybe they want to show it off on stage?
what i don't get is that most of the lines (let's say half at least) are supposedly booting into os x only come that keynote (while some models will remain os 9-able until june). so either we are going to see a LOT of new hardware, or just the same-old same-old with updated firmware/roms, right?
and iapps galore. and .mac discounted to US$68 WITH the purchase of a new mac (why else do you think they tested the price at the thanksgiving "sales"?).
honestly, i think the "big thing" will be something with the ipod. something we didn't see coming... but do you think we'll get the same gut-wrenching hype that preceded last year's expo? i hope not. i think it set expectations WAY too high.
[ 12-19-2002: Message edited by: rok ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
one other thing... superdrive updated to 4x in all desktop models (i think pioneer just announced these were shipping, so you know apple will jump all over that).
Comments
To those suggesting the bottom of the line will bump only to 867, that is entirely possible, but I remain a fan of the 1 GHz chip across the board. Selling any desktop computer with a sub 1 GHz chip is pretty hard to justify in the year 2003, even by Apple.
Besides, remember when the original iceBooks were introduced with 500 MHz chips across the board? That was very cool and created perhaps the best bang-for-buck lineup in Apple's history. This exact same idea would carry over brilliantly to the consumer desktops. If they all have 1 GHz G4s in them, then the buying decision instantly focuses in on the features that truly matter: screen type, size and resolution and optical drive.
I guess what I'm getting at is an all 1 GHz G4 lineup lets the customer focus on the digital hub and not the speed of the chip, which is of course Apple's whole plan in a nutshell.
Actually I think that Apple really needs a "big hype" show like when they introduced the G4's originally. With Games ( rememeber the Halo demo) AV ala Philips, communication with Sony/Ericson, etc....and of course the best upgrades that they can muster....January might be too soon for this but it is better than a year from January....
[ 12-18-2002: Message edited by: @homenow ]</p>
keynote will be X-Day
SJ will argue, why from now on you just need Jag and no more 9er:
* best system ever.
* unique integration of the digital hub: itunes4, imovie3, iSync, iPhone (iNet phone), iChat (with Video), bluetooth (now integrated in all apple computers)
* one more thing, TaaDaa!!
iWorks!
all you need for home and business, running only on X.....
-----
hardware? all tft (no more 15"), all 16:9. all 1GHz, lil' improvements for the geeks of us....
for pros? announcement of quad processors, nice case, white and titan, no revolution
-----
that's all? one more thing: a toys-4-the-boys thingie, video with ipod.
-----
again:
MWSF will NOT be a hardware thing, it's X-DAY!!
the webcam-video-pod is JUST a marketing gadget! don't fumble with the press "just" with software, you need something for the hands, you can make a photo of it....
19 days and counting....
It would be something for Chimera/Navigator to become the default Mac OS X browser. After using 0.6 since it's release, I don't see why Apple would need to work it's UI magic, when the Chimera team already has.
Barto
<strong>IMO Apple needs to work on reducing prices. They need to offer a desktop under $1K.</strong><hr></blockquote>
How about the eMac?
It's starting to sound a lot like bluetooth.
<strong>
I agree... a $1400 17" LCD 1ghz G4 Combo sounds a little high... but not if they really are planning on bringing the 1.8ghz PPC 970 to us in August...
(which could mean 1.25ghz iMac G4's...)
</strong>
<hr></blockquote>
??? i don't get the logic? what can the 970 in august have to do with a higher priced iMac???
[quote]
]QB]
The 700 to 1ghz jump isn't overly unrealistic (but where are all those 867mhz CPU's gonna go?); However, when paired with 15" to 17" LCD, it really does start to push... that's $200 more for maybe $400+ worth to the consumer...
...
...
By doing this over a longer period of time, Apple can keep the hype up, and thus keep the sales up.
...
People will be happy with a 167mhz jump on the bottom line, and the jump to 1ghz can be performed in time for Eductional Season...
(Plus, if they make too much of a jump now, what will they do with surplus???)[/QB]<hr></blockquote>
i think 167 mhz in a year!!! is much too little to keep people happy... as mhz increases the mhz-jump has to increase to keep up a good percentage-speed-advantage when comparing to current systems... i buy a new mac when it is at least three times as fast overall than my current system... if they continue to bump 166mhz in a year - well, this is lame... and therefore won't happen - 1Ghz minimum!
[ 12-19-2002: Message edited by: Krassy ]</p>
Apple has started doing deals on the Dual-867 machines here. That is within 2 months of launching the machine in India.
They have started doing deals on the 15inch Imacs bundling MSOffice at less than half the retail price.
I guess these are on the way out for sure.
Here are some of my guesses:-
1. Imacs updated with bigger screen, one model with touch sensitive display.
2. Laptops redesign with ability of screen to tilt and swivel like FP Imac.
3. New MacPad. 12.1 screen super slim design. WIFI and Bluetooth capable. Can automatically sink with any mac once within accessable distance. Will have touch sensitive screen and use Inkwell tech. to its advantage. Will have full functional OSX capability. This is most probably the TOY for the BOYS!Should cream the Windows versions
4. New range of High End machines that would be targetted at the High End segment. Design would be based on the Cube. High end performance - Mid Range pricing.
Less than 18 days lets see....
Apple has started doing deals on the Dual-867 machines here. That is within 2 months of launching the machine in India.
They have started doing deals on the 15inch Imacs bundling MSOffice at less than half the retail price.
I guess these are on the way out for sure.
Here are some of my guesses:-
1. Imacs updated with bigger screen, one model with touch sensitive display.
2. Laptops redesign with ability of screen to tilt and swivel like FP Imac.
3. New MacPad. 12.1 screen super slim design. WIFI and Bluetooth capable. Can automatically sink with any mac once within accessable distance. Will have touch sensitive screen and use Inkwell tech. to its advantage. Will have full functional OSX capability. This is most probably the TOY for the BOYS!Should cream the Windows versions
4. New range of High End machines that would be targetted at the High End segment. Design would be based on the Cube. High end performance - Mid Range pricing.
Less than 18 days lets see....
<strong>
They have started doing deals on the 15inch Imacs bundling MSOffice at less than half the retail price.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Is that half the retail price of Office or the whole machine?
<strong>
Is that half the retail price of Office or the whole machine?</strong><hr></blockquote>
That would be related to the last subject in his sentence. M$Office.
Less than three weeks to go?
I think it's possible that a 19" iMac will come in at about $2499, that $3499 price is way off. I also think it will have a slightly larger base.
Sully,
Keynote will be webcast via Qucktime. Unless you have a high speed connection it will be awful - jittery and constant buffering. Tech TV may also show it although they didn't show the last Keynote.
Speculation at MacOSRumors is backing up my prediction. Not that anybody believes them.
Bluetooth is what MWSF2003 with be remembered for, I'm saying it again. It would give Apple that unique "we're a step ahead" feel again to have wireless keyboards and mice on all models standard. Personally I hate cables of all kinds and am looking forward to only needing a power cable to use my computer setup.
Screed
what i don't get is that most of the lines (let's say half at least) are supposedly booting into os x only come that keynote (while some models will remain os 9-able until june). so either we are going to see a LOT of new hardware, or just the same-old same-old with updated firmware/roms, right?
and iapps galore. and .mac discounted to US$68 WITH the purchase of a new mac (why else do you think they tested the price at the thanksgiving "sales"?).
honestly, i think the "big thing" will be something with the ipod. something we didn't see coming... but do you think we'll get the same gut-wrenching hype that preceded last year's expo? i hope not. i think it set expectations WAY too high.
[ 12-19-2002: Message edited by: rok ]</p>
And bluetooth is just too boring to take center stage. Half the articles in the mainstream press have been debating whether bluetooth is dead or not.
The keynote will be about things that give a broad spectrum of people a reason to buy a Mac - rendezvous (display movies, slide shows etc. on your new TV, play iTunes on your FW stereo), iChat (people love to talk, maybe with a white board, video conferencing), new versions of iDVD and iMovie, OS X itself.
And of course, the Apple Stores. There are now more than 50 stores and they are profitable. This is a huge change compared to two years ago.
<strong>My ... with only 1 upgrade to existing hardware. ...</strong><hr></blockquote>
I hope that one upgrade is faster cpu's, DDR 200MHz FSB across all product lines
<img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />
<strong>also recall that they will show off the xraid/xserve combo at mwsf. we saw a semi-official announcement at apple canada about a month ago. not sure why it didn't go out the door already. maybe they want to show it off on stage?
what i don't get is that most of the lines (let's say half at least) are supposedly booting into os x only come that keynote (while some models will remain os 9-able until june). so either we are going to see a LOT of new hardware, or just the same-old same-old with updated firmware/roms, right?
and iapps galore. and .mac discounted to US$68 WITH the purchase of a new mac (why else do you think they tested the price at the thanksgiving "sales"?).
honestly, i think the "big thing" will be something with the ipod. something we didn't see coming... but do you think we'll get the same gut-wrenching hype that preceded last year's expo? i hope not. i think it set expectations WAY too high.
[ 12-19-2002: Message edited by: rok ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
one other thing... superdrive updated to 4x in all desktop models (i think pioneer just announced these were shipping, so you know apple will jump all over that).