I started a thread Blade Runner - Modular Powermac that advanced the idea of a "modular" board that could be used in blade servers, or in a modular Powermac.
Sort of a universal motherboard architecture to be implemented across the "boards" as a cost savings and accelerated bring to market plan. Puting the 970 and all supporting chips, including memory, onto one blade like motherboard, to be used and reused across the platform.
"Powermacs will remain as they are. The 970 based computers will be completely different in form and will have a new name. They will be considerbly more expensive then the current PowerMac line. This is a given as ramping up new chips means less output and higher prices at first. Look for a price range of $2999 and up for low end system. This is the way it will be. Those that think it will come on the market at $1500 need a reality check."
The reality is that one 1.8 GHz 970 seem to be on par with a P4/3GHz (something the current dual 1.42 G4 is not). Apples towers has been behind the Winboxes during the whole G4 era and the sales have been slumping ofr a long time. Apple can charge a lot for really fast dual 970 that are faster than the P4s. But if the 970 is 3-6 months away the P4 will be at 3.6 Ghz or so so single 970 and slower duals will just bring parity to the 2.5-3.6 GHz P4.
If Apple will sell the lowend SP G4 for $2999 speedwise on par on then a midrange P4 at 2.8 GHz, how well will they sell
After 4 years of lagging performance Apple need to make an impact with both a 64 bit OS (bragging rights) and really good computers. If they price the 970 towers way above the current one the impact will lessen.
With all the talk of Apple of wanting to increase market share, I suspect Apple will revert to it's comfortable BMW/Cube mentality. Meet the pent-up demand by gouging the faithful. However, I sincerely hope Apple goes for "market share" this time around.
"After 4 years of lagging performance Apple need to make an impact with both a 64 bit OS (bragging rights) and really good computers. If they price the 970 towers way above the current one the impact will lessen.
With Motorola constantly lagging on speed, the G4 will not reach a decent peformance for the "bang for your buck."
While only the selected few get the 970s with great performance, great pipeline for enormous growth and a large price tag? That just does not sound right.
If they want to promote these machines to everyone who currently owns a PowerMac then they will price them right and get rid of the sour G4.
Besides, the Xserve was Apple's first move in the Enterprise market (well since Steve has ben back) and it is more affordable then all the things on the market. I see them going at the Workstation arena in the same regard.
Comments
Originally posted by boy_analog
Long and narrow, huh? Sounds like a blade to me.
I started a thread Blade Runner - Modular Powermac that advanced the idea of a "modular" board that could be used in blade servers, or in a modular Powermac.
Sort of a universal motherboard architecture to be implemented across the "boards" as a cost savings and accelerated bring to market plan. Puting the 970 and all supporting chips, including memory, onto one blade like motherboard, to be used and reused across the platform.
...
The reality is that one 1.8 GHz 970 seem to be on par with a P4/3GHz (something the current dual 1.42 G4 is not). Apples towers has been behind the Winboxes during the whole G4 era and the sales have been slumping ofr a long time. Apple can charge a lot for really fast dual 970 that are faster than the P4s. But if the 970 is 3-6 months away the P4 will be at 3.6 Ghz or so so single 970 and slower duals will just bring parity to the 2.5-3.6 GHz P4.
If Apple will sell the lowend SP G4 for $2999 speedwise on par on then a midrange P4 at 2.8 GHz, how well will they sell
After 4 years of lagging performance Apple need to make an impact with both a 64 bit OS (bragging rights) and really good computers. If they price the 970 towers way above the current one the impact will lessen.
Originally posted by DrBoar
"After 4 years of lagging performance Apple need to make an impact with both a 64 bit OS (bragging rights) and really good computers. If they price the 970 towers way above the current one the impact will lessen.
Apple should make the whole switch:
Workstatinon:
2.0GHz, 2.5GHz (quad)
xServe:
1.5GHz (single/ dual)
Power Mac:
1.5GHz, 2.0GHz, 2.5GHz (dual)
Powerbook:
1.0GHz, 1.2GHz
iMac:
1.0GHz, 1.2GHz
iBook:
600MHz, 800MHz
eMac:
600MHz, 800MHz
One more thing: Cube2
600MHz, 800MHz
PPC970 & 64bit across the line
Originally posted by Fat Freddy
Apple should make the whole switch:
Workstatinon:
2.0GHz, 2.5GHz (quad)
I do not believe that we will see anything more than duals for quite a while.
Originally posted by Transcendental Octothorpe
I do not believe that we will see anything more than duals for quite a while.
I agree....
Dave
In theory it is a good money maker.
With Motorola constantly lagging on speed, the G4 will not reach a decent peformance for the "bang for your buck."
While only the selected few get the 970s with great performance, great pipeline for enormous growth and a large price tag? That just does not sound right.
If they want to promote these machines to everyone who currently owns a PowerMac then they will price them right and get rid of the sour G4.
Besides, the Xserve was Apple's first move in the Enterprise market (well since Steve has ben back) and it is more affordable then all the things on the market. I see them going at the Workstation arena in the same regard.