I like that. The users sit around and cry together that they could have bought PowerBooks.
I really don't understand this attitude. I am not putting forth an exclusionary product matrix here. I've said all along that Apple should have a 3 tiered laptop product matrix and maybe one boutique laptop system: the current iBook, the current Powerbook G4 at about 20-30% discount, and a highend 1.5" thick Powerbook G5. The one boutique system would be an ultra-mobile laptop without optical drive.
So, Mac users would not be losing one single thing. In fact, they gain a 20 to 30% discount on the Powerbook G4 and a high performance desktop-replacement laptop system.
Oh yeah, if the optical drive is in the keyboard, the eMacs would also be smaller too!
My idea would be a nice wireless keyboard/computer hybrid. Via bluetooth or magic it would communicate the info to a well designed and simple monitor. What could look more simple and clean than that? (add a bluetooth mouse to this)
Being a flat-panel iMac owner (which I love) myself, I'd like to say that I think the iMac's time is at an end. Why? Because iBooks and PowerBook are getting so powerful now that there just doesn't seem to be any sense in having an all in one unit with a flat panel unless it also has portability. Maybe this isn't completely apparent now, but an Apple laptop with a 15" screen is eventually going to widdle it's way down to the $1500+ price range where our beloved iMac currently resides, and since the monitor mounted to that arm can't get much larger than it already is, the current iMac will simply not make sense anymore. So what do I purpose? Why, the return of the Cube of course! Here's the most logical desktop line-up I can think of for say, May of 2004. From cheapest to most expensive:
G5 Cube:
1.3Ghz G5
Combo Drive
80GB Hard Drive
$600
eMac:
1.3Ghz G5
17" CRT
Combo Drive
80GB Hard Drive
$800
eMac:
1.6Ghz G5
17" CRT
Superdrive
120GB Hard Drive
$1100
G5 Cube:
2Ghz G5
Superdrive
160GB Hard Drive
$1400
G5 Cube:
3Ghz G5
Superdrive
200GB Hard Drive
$1800
Powermac G5:
Dual 2Ghz G5
Superdrive
160GB Hard Drive
$2000
Powermac G5:
Dual 2.5Ghz G5
Superdrive
200GB Hard Drive
$2500
Powermac G5:
Dual 3Ghz G5
Superdrive
200GB Hard Drive
$3000
And of course RAM and Graphics cards would increase as price goes up as well, but you get the general idea. With this setup, the Cube can in no way be a failure. First of all, it fills that cheap headless Mac market that everyone thinks Apple needs to get into, and second it fills the $1000-$2000 desktop price range without any possible competition from other Apple desktops (because there wouldn't be any), so a user would have to get a Cube if they wanted a desktop in that price range. It couldn't NOT sell! Of course, this plan relies heavily on the Powermacs being an entire Dual processor line-up, which I don't think is unrealistic at all. They've done it in the past, and with the Powermacs currently starting at $2,000, they should be an all-dual lineup. Just a note that the Cube I have in mind would have a swappable graphics card (thus making it superior to the iMac) and could hold up to 2GB of RAM. Personally, I see something for everyone in this lineup, and can't spot a system that isn't a good price/performance ratio. Thoughts?
Why have an eMac if the G5 Cube is only $600? Get rid of it too.
The G5 Cube must be a simpler design. Something like Powerlogix's new aluminum cube case, but even simpler. Power supply must be built-in (no muffler). I'd prefer ports on the side and slot on the front (it'll have to be vertical) but that's just me.
And it's got to have a fan. Hopefully a big, quiet one like the eMac's. Face it, the fanless design is a failure: it's got to be incredibly hot in there before you get any reasonable amount of air movement by convection.
Actually, if you make the mobo physically compatible with the old Cube, I could buy one and upgrade the innards of my acrylic Cube... I wouldn't mind that too much!
I've just seen my first G5 and it is bloody enormous!
The iMac may not have sold in vast numbers, although I am not convinced that it under performed at all, but it is the best designed computer ever made.
The idea that this revolutionary design will be shelved for the return of the cube is nonsense.
Apple should , and probably will, tweak the design and plonk in a G5. A stylish G5 machine at an all inclusive price with 17 or 19 inch monitor. I seriously doubt that the moveable arm will be disbanded altogether, it would be a great loss. By all means make a cheaper arm, but to actually remove it would be a step backwards. As for returning to a CRT monitor iMac, well there already is one and it's called the eMac.
I think my 800mhz G4 iMac should serve me for several more years at least as I have yet to come across any task I try which it has trouble with. It may have been slightly pricier than the competition but it is a stylish powerhouse which has paid for itself many times over already.
people dont buy macs because of "gigahertz" or harddrive size.
honestly...is that why you purchased your mac?
NO.
we buy macs because they are easy to use and they are cool.
thats why.
the original imac became a pop phenomenon,somewhat like the current ipod.
the new imacs and emacs just arent "cool" enough.
they are suppose to be apples low-cost alternative in the consumer space(dont laugh) but arent,and they arent cool either.
apple needs to stop trying to appeal to the "WINDOWS" crowd and start appealing to us the mac faithful.
whats killing the imac and emacs are the DESIGN.
you know it and i know it.
i think that apple should make the imac THE must have gadget for geeks.
lets face it,if apple did that they could even RAISE the price of the imac and people would buy it.
the design must be ultra-cool,am i saying that it should be eye-candy?
you damn bippy i am!!
apple is the only computer company thats cool,so why stop being that and conform to the same whack designs and business practices other computer companys do?
it doesnt make sense.
design sells people.
get it through your heads.
i personally think the new imac should be in tablet form so you can take it with you.
it should have handwriting recognition and have voice input and with bluetooth.
maybe a built-in isight?
would something like this cost more than the current imacs?
yes!
if the design was cool would people buy it?
hell ya!!
i think apple realizes that.
the current imac dont have the bag for the buck to compete with pcs and arent cool enough for the gadget freaks.
people dont buy macs because of "gigahertz" or harddrive size.
honestly...is that why you purchased your mac?
NO. the new imacs and emacs just arent "cool" enough.
they are suppose to be apples low-cost alternative in the consumer space(dont laugh) but arent,and they arent cool either.
apple needs to stop trying to appeal to the "WINDOWS" crowd and start appealing to us the mac faithful.
It's that kind of thinking that would continue to cause Apple's market share to dwindle. I'm not one of those people who thinks that if Apple doesnt expand their market share they are doomed, but every business needs to work on increasing their sales, and sellnig overpriced and underpowered computeres isn't going to do that. Currently, Apple's $1,000-$2,000 desktop offerings are just too bizarre and unexpandible for for most people. Their $2000-$3000 systems are fantastic, but that's not where the majority of computer sales go. Why do you think Dell sells so many computers? Replace the iMac with a monitorless box that has an upgradeable graphics card, and Apple would sell a lot more computers. Add to that a low-end headless system that sells for $600, and Apple would see a huge increase in desktop sales. Keep the eMac around for schools and whoever else this supposed market for all-in-one computers includes. The majority of people don't buy iMacs because of their design - they buy them because Apple's real desktop systems start at $2,000. I'm not suggesting that Apple's design efforts should take a back seat, but without the hardware to back up that $1,300-$1,800 price tag, it doesn't matter how pretty it is.
Keep the eMac around for schools and whoever else this supposed market for all-in-one computers includes. The majority of people don't buy iMacs because of their design - they buy them because Apple's real desktop systems start at $2,000.
No, they buy them for the design and simplicity. This includes a lot of first time computer users. The current iMac is a good (and cool) design - especially the Arm. Its main problem is its price and, to some extent, its speed. Make it with a better price/speed ratio and people will buy more. Further modify it as I have suggested earlier in this thread, and you will see them sell even faster.
No, they buy them for the design and simplicity. This includes a lot of first time computer users. The current iMac is a good (and cool) design - especially the Arm. Its main problem is its price and, to some extent, its speed. Make it with a better price/speed ratio and people will buy more. Further modify it as I have suggested earlier in this thread, and you will see them sell even faster.
Besides, Apple's desktop systems start at $1,299. PM G4. 1.25Ghz. And the $1,599 model, if you can stomach it, is an even better value with it's dual processors.
I think the current design but with a little smaller base and a few other changes. I doubt we will see a G5 in them. The 7447 should go up to 1.8Ghz or so at least. I mean if the .18µ chips could go up to 1.42Ghz the .13µ should at least make it to 1.8Ghz right. I say the G5 iMac will have a whole new case but not for another year. But apple has been on a role recently.
I was at newegg and saw a PC cube box for sale. Looks pretty good for PC box. Although I swore i would never buy another PC again. $259 for a bare bones box looks like a pretty good deal.
Who am i kidding. I'll be spending $1299 - $1799 for a new G5 (or G4) cube with 17" widescreen display. That is if they actually ever make such a thing.
Comments
Originally posted by cubist
I like that. The users sit around and cry together that they could have bought PowerBooks.
I really don't understand this attitude. I am not putting forth an exclusionary product matrix here. I've said all along that Apple should have a 3 tiered laptop product matrix and maybe one boutique laptop system: the current iBook, the current Powerbook G4 at about 20-30% discount, and a highend 1.5" thick Powerbook G5. The one boutique system would be an ultra-mobile laptop without optical drive.
So, Mac users would not be losing one single thing. In fact, they gain a 20 to 30% discount on the Powerbook G4 and a high performance desktop-replacement laptop system.
Oh yeah, if the optical drive is in the keyboard, the eMacs would also be smaller too!
G5 Cube:
1.3Ghz G5
Combo Drive
80GB Hard Drive
$600
eMac:
1.3Ghz G5
17" CRT
Combo Drive
80GB Hard Drive
$800
eMac:
1.6Ghz G5
17" CRT
Superdrive
120GB Hard Drive
$1100
G5 Cube:
2Ghz G5
Superdrive
160GB Hard Drive
$1400
G5 Cube:
3Ghz G5
Superdrive
200GB Hard Drive
$1800
Powermac G5:
Dual 2Ghz G5
Superdrive
160GB Hard Drive
$2000
Powermac G5:
Dual 2.5Ghz G5
Superdrive
200GB Hard Drive
$2500
Powermac G5:
Dual 3Ghz G5
Superdrive
200GB Hard Drive
$3000
And of course RAM and Graphics cards would increase as price goes up as well, but you get the general idea. With this setup, the Cube can in no way be a failure. First of all, it fills that cheap headless Mac market that everyone thinks Apple needs to get into, and second it fills the $1000-$2000 desktop price range without any possible competition from other Apple desktops (because there wouldn't be any), so a user would have to get a Cube if they wanted a desktop in that price range. It couldn't NOT sell! Of course, this plan relies heavily on the Powermacs being an entire Dual processor line-up, which I don't think is unrealistic at all. They've done it in the past, and with the Powermacs currently starting at $2,000, they should be an all-dual lineup. Just a note that the Cube I have in mind would have a swappable graphics card (thus making it superior to the iMac) and could hold up to 2GB of RAM. Personally, I see something for everyone in this lineup, and can't spot a system that isn't a good price/performance ratio. Thoughts?
The G5 Cube must be a simpler design. Something like Powerlogix's new aluminum cube case, but even simpler. Power supply must be built-in (no muffler). I'd prefer ports on the side and slot on the front (it'll have to be vertical) but that's just me.
And it's got to have a fan. Hopefully a big, quiet one like the eMac's. Face it, the fanless design is a failure: it's got to be incredibly hot in there before you get any reasonable amount of air movement by convection.
Actually, if you make the mobo physically compatible with the old Cube, I could buy one and upgrade the innards of my acrylic Cube... I wouldn't mind that too much!
The iMac may not have sold in vast numbers, although I am not convinced that it under performed at all, but it is the best designed computer ever made.
The idea that this revolutionary design will be shelved for the return of the cube is nonsense.
Apple should , and probably will, tweak the design and plonk in a G5. A stylish G5 machine at an all inclusive price with 17 or 19 inch monitor. I seriously doubt that the moveable arm will be disbanded altogether, it would be a great loss. By all means make a cheaper arm, but to actually remove it would be a step backwards. As for returning to a CRT monitor iMac, well there already is one and it's called the eMac.
I think my 800mhz G4 iMac should serve me for several more years at least as I have yet to come across any task I try which it has trouble with. It may have been slightly pricier than the competition but it is a stylish powerhouse which has paid for itself many times over already.
Originally posted by THT
I really don't understand this attitude.
He was punning off your use of "commiserate," which means, literally, to be miserable together (or to share misery).
You meant "commensurate," FYI.
please stop!
people dont buy macs because of "gigahertz" or harddrive size.
honestly...is that why you purchased your mac?
NO.
we buy macs because they are easy to use and they are cool.
thats why.
the original imac became a pop phenomenon,somewhat like the current ipod.
the new imacs and emacs just arent "cool" enough.
they are suppose to be apples low-cost alternative in the consumer space(dont laugh) but arent,and they arent cool either.
apple needs to stop trying to appeal to the "WINDOWS" crowd and start appealing to us the mac faithful.
whats killing the imac and emacs are the DESIGN.
you know it and i know it.
i think that apple should make the imac THE must have gadget for geeks.
lets face it,if apple did that they could even RAISE the price of the imac and people would buy it.
the design must be ultra-cool,am i saying that it should be eye-candy?
you damn bippy i am!!
apple is the only computer company thats cool,so why stop being that and conform to the same whack designs and business practices other computer companys do?
it doesnt make sense.
design sells people.
get it through your heads.
i personally think the new imac should be in tablet form so you can take it with you.
it should have handwriting recognition and have voice input and with bluetooth.
maybe a built-in isight?
would something like this cost more than the current imacs?
yes!
if the design was cool would people buy it?
hell ya!!
i think apple realizes that.
the current imac dont have the bag for the buck to compete with pcs and arent cool enough for the gadget freaks.
THINK DIFFERENT
Originally posted by Amorph
He was punning off your use of "commiserate," which means, literally, to be miserable together (or to share misery).
You meant "commensurate," FYI.
Ack. I've made that mistake more then once.
Originally posted by geekmeet
no no no!
please stop!
people dont buy macs because of "gigahertz" or harddrive size.
honestly...is that why you purchased your mac?
NO. the new imacs and emacs just arent "cool" enough.
they are suppose to be apples low-cost alternative in the consumer space(dont laugh) but arent,and they arent cool either.
apple needs to stop trying to appeal to the "WINDOWS" crowd and start appealing to us the mac faithful.
It's that kind of thinking that would continue to cause Apple's market share to dwindle. I'm not one of those people who thinks that if Apple doesnt expand their market share they are doomed, but every business needs to work on increasing their sales, and sellnig overpriced and underpowered computeres isn't going to do that. Currently, Apple's $1,000-$2,000 desktop offerings are just too bizarre and unexpandible for for most people. Their $2000-$3000 systems are fantastic, but that's not where the majority of computer sales go. Why do you think Dell sells so many computers? Replace the iMac with a monitorless box that has an upgradeable graphics card, and Apple would sell a lot more computers. Add to that a low-end headless system that sells for $600, and Apple would see a huge increase in desktop sales. Keep the eMac around for schools and whoever else this supposed market for all-in-one computers includes. The majority of people don't buy iMacs because of their design - they buy them because Apple's real desktop systems start at $2,000. I'm not suggesting that Apple's design efforts should take a back seat, but without the hardware to back up that $1,300-$1,800 price tag, it doesn't matter how pretty it is.
Originally posted by THT
Ack. I've made that mistake more then once.
NP. Next time you're in the Chicago area we'll commensurate over a beer.
Complete redesign apparently still in the offing, though the majority of the article has to do with manufacturing and shipping.
(Oh, and Kasper can take some spelling lessons from his new reporter. She's wonderful.)
hear hear
Originally posted by Cory Bauer
Keep the eMac around for schools and whoever else this supposed market for all-in-one computers includes. The majority of people don't buy iMacs because of their design - they buy them because Apple's real desktop systems start at $2,000.
No, they buy them for the design and simplicity. This includes a lot of first time computer users. The current iMac is a good (and cool) design - especially the Arm. Its main problem is its price and, to some extent, its speed. Make it with a better price/speed ratio and people will buy more. Further modify it as I have suggested earlier in this thread, and you will see them sell even faster.
Originally posted by Chinney
No, they buy them for the design and simplicity. This includes a lot of first time computer users. The current iMac is a good (and cool) design - especially the Arm. Its main problem is its price and, to some extent, its speed. Make it with a better price/speed ratio and people will buy more. Further modify it as I have suggested earlier in this thread, and you will see them sell even faster.
Besides, Apple's desktop systems start at $1,299. PM G4. 1.25Ghz. And the $1,599 model, if you can stomach it, is an even better value with it's dual processors.
More Cube
I was at newegg and saw a PC cube box for sale. Looks pretty good for PC box. Although I swore i would never buy another PC again. $259 for a bare bones box looks like a pretty good deal.
Who am i kidding. I'll be spending $1299 - $1799 for a new G5 (or G4) cube with 17" widescreen display. That is if they actually ever make such a thing.