If you were CEO....
How would you make the line-up?
Here's mine, for MWNY:
PowerMac G5 at 1.2, 1.4, 1.6Ghz
SuperDrive across the board.
256MB, 256MB, 512MB
64MB GeForce 3
same price as G4's now...
Return of the G4 CUBE!!!
Apollo G4 Cube at 933Mhz, 1.0Ghz
256MB, 256MB
32MB GeForce 3
Combo, Combo (superdrive as optional)
$1,299 and 1,499 stand alone computer
$1,499 and 1,699 with 15" LCD
iMac and iMac SE:
867Mhz and 933mhz Apollo G4
128MB, 256MB
DVD-ROM, Combo
15" LCD
999.00 and 1,100
16MB ATi Radeon
sorry, im in a hurry and just threw that together...
ill edit it later, and do portables later....
[ 12-30-2001: Message edited by: gumby5647 ]</p>
Here's mine, for MWNY:
PowerMac G5 at 1.2, 1.4, 1.6Ghz
SuperDrive across the board.
256MB, 256MB, 512MB
64MB GeForce 3
same price as G4's now...
Return of the G4 CUBE!!!
Apollo G4 Cube at 933Mhz, 1.0Ghz
256MB, 256MB
32MB GeForce 3
Combo, Combo (superdrive as optional)
$1,299 and 1,499 stand alone computer
$1,499 and 1,699 with 15" LCD
iMac and iMac SE:
867Mhz and 933mhz Apollo G4
128MB, 256MB
DVD-ROM, Combo
15" LCD
999.00 and 1,100
16MB ATi Radeon
sorry, im in a hurry and just threw that together...
ill edit it later, and do portables later....
[ 12-30-2001: Message edited by: gumby5647 ]</p>
Comments
I think that company might lose money... those prices seem a bit low to me
If I was the CEO, i would probably come to the same conclusion (barring any really stupid ideas) as Steve is going to. He is no idiot, and tries to do what is best for APPLE not YOU. That is the way it should be. If it was any different, he wouldn't be the CEO as simple as that.
<strong> If I was the CEO, i would probably come to the same conclusion (barring any really stupid ideas) as Steve is going to. He is no idiot, </strong><hr></blockquote>
Are you implying that you are no idiot? Can you prove that or is it only a rumor?
<strong>who said any of my ideas had to make sense or be realistic? </strong><hr></blockquote>
yeah i guess, but i mean COME ON!!!
also, i didnt see the MWNY at the top, so im sorry for going off like that...
But seriously tho, a lot of people just throw up specs that they would like to see w/o even thinking about it being physically possible, economically feasable, or even useful...
Also, there is another thread for things like this that the mactivist started (what do you have and what do you want).
Your heading implied that it had to be realistic...
-Paul
<strong>
Are you implying that you are no idiot? Can you prove that or is it only a rumor? </strong><hr></blockquote>
you know how steve can be thickheaded sometimes!
(I like how I'm throwning around his name like he's my neighbor or somthing)
And I do classify myself as an idiot. Only an idiot would wait until the last day to start his college application essays!
-Paul
Edit: forgot somthing...idiot
[ 12-30-2001: Message edited by: psantora ]</p>
[ 12-30-2001: Message edited by: G4Dude ]</p>
<strong>And I do classify myself as an idiot</strong><hr></blockquote>
me too! is there a club we can join?
Won't get into specifics regarding chips and MHz (those would be constantly increasing and improving as time went on).
But overall:
Stick to the four quadrant lineup:
Consumer laptop
Consumer desktop
Pro laptop
Pro desktop
Nice, easy, makes sense.
However, would design each machine in that lineup (consumer AND pro) to be a little more customizable, in regard to video card, hard drive, etc.
That way, my customers and loyal users could truly have the Mac they want and not feel as though they have to take a hit on one or two features or specs, just to get three or four others they want.
A set-up like this would recognize the existence of "prosumers", people a couple of steps up from grandma, but not quite hardcore 3D animators.
If they want a laptop with a little more video performance, let 'em have it.
They're happy and we keep a customer.
Digital devices:
I don't know. This iPod seems really cool and I'd like to have one myself. Again, avoiding specifics, I would only say this: I would take a methodical and well-reasoned approach to expanding beyond the basic computer 4-quadrant computer line up.
I WOULD NOT waste time, money and resources on limited-appeal, "Sharper Image" items for a platform with already a small piece of the pie.
There would have to be a hardcore, LOUD demand for it. Then we'd do it in a way nobody else has thought of, making it totally worth the money the consumer spends for it...and completely worth the time and effort we spent developing it. In other words, no G4 Cube fiascos.
Marketing presence
I would go into overdrive on clever, hard-hitting and well-written advertising, both print and television. I would dispel the myths and bullcrap and I'd make it to where people actually went "holy shit! I want a Mac!!!".
That isn't happening now. It's just not. It COULD be, but it's not.
I don't see any effort expended by Apple (in any true, meaningful way) in this particular arena.
And it's sad.
You can bet your ass that if I ran the company that had the iBook, iPod, OS X, iMovie, iTunes, a Titanium supercomputer laptop, AirPort, iDVD, Final Cut Pro, etc., it would be trumpeted from the rooftops worldwide and anyone who DIDN'T have a Mac would honestly feel like they're really missing out on something special and cool.
Pricing
I'd try my best to perhaps bring some things down to reasonable, common levels. No reason some of Apple's stuff costs what it does. The top-of-the-line iMac IS NOT worth what they're charging for it. It's a joke, and most of the world has caught on and don't think it's that funny.
I'd try to shift away from the nichey, expensive "boutique" image (however, NOT veer into "cheesy, low-grade bullcrap for the lowest dollar territory" either) and make the Mac a true, honest-to-goodness option for all the people out there who currently don't consider it one.
That's what I would do if I were CEO. Nothing truly groundbreaking or earth-shattering, I guess. Just some tightening up and some common sense re-evaluation of past practices and approaches.
1. PowerMac G5 Towers for Pro's and Consumers with a lot a money.
2. PowerMac G4 Towers for Prosumers (an area Apple still doesn't acknowledge exists, which is the cause for 95% of the bitching in this forum)
3. iMac/Cube hybrid for Consumers and everyone else.
4. TiBook G5 (or equivalent) - again for Pro's and consumers with a lot of money.
5. TiBook G4 (or equivalent) for Prosumers
6. iBook for Consumers and everyone else.
7. Digital Devices (i.e., iPod)
Education customers can pick any system that best suits their needs.
Sweet and Simple. Everyone is happy.
Just my two cents.
[ 12-30-2001: Message edited by: Dave K. ]</p>
I think I am transforming in to ... M. Dell................no! some one save me, save me.....................
<strong>All I can say is you will never see a G3 and a superdrive together. Without altivec, the encoding process would just be back to 10x and up in time.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Where is that said?
I agree tho...
-Paul
I was basicaly just going to support my idea that the iMac would get a G4 in a week...
-Paul
however, apple is trying to earn the average people market, so better than just selling different models that fall into only certain groups, apple should allow more custimization amongst models, also apple more than just having good products, definatly has to beef up their ad campaigns, their ads are cool and all, but they don't really show the average computer users [B]WHY[/B} they should by an apple product, whereas though I don't like alot of gateway and dell commercials, they do at least say "you get this this and this, and its fast" even if it isn't REALLY fast, the average comptuer user doesn't know that, and likewise will be more tempted to buying it....but apples ad campaigns is for another thread in another forum
-later
<strong>the Prosumer market is marginally small, A large amount of apple users could be considered prosumers, in the sense that they are professional consumers, they know about computers enough to know that apple computers are the best
however, apple is trying to earn the average people market, so better than just selling different models that fall into only certain groups, apple should allow more custimization amongst models, also apple more than just having good products, definatly has to beef up their ad campaigns, their ads are cool and all, but they don't really show the average computer users [B]WHY[/B} they should by an apple product, whereas though I don't like alot of gateway and dell commercials, they do at least say "you get this this and this, and its fast" even if it isn't REALLY fast, the average comptuer user doesn't know that, and likewise will be more tempted to buying it....but apples ad campaigns is for another thread in another forum
-later</strong><hr></blockquote>
Prosumer market small?? You have to be kidding me. How many Mac & PC users do you know that can add a PCI expansion card or upgrade a hard drive to name a couple? How about building your own PC? This is the prosumer market. And this market is probably the biggest segment in all of computing.
Right now Apple computer is ignoring this segment by pricing their "professional line" outside the reach of most consumers (including me!!). Apple lowend tower sells for $1700 and does not include a monitor. Even if you add a cheap 17" CRT monitor you will be close to $2000 (including tax). That is utter ridiculous for a consumer to pay just to surf the web, play games, and manage home finances (just to name a few). For professionals who make money on a computer, that price is justified.
In order for Apple to keep existing Mac users and to "snag" some PC users they need to create a justifible price computer that is upgradable so people can "tinker" with their system.
The iMac line is great for computer users that think installing RAM is a big deal. It is non-upgradable junk to many experience Mac/PC users that need more, but are unwilling to pay a professional system premium.
In summation, I believe the prosumer market is currently the biggest segment of computing today and if Apple continues to ignore, will be very costly to them in the future.
Thanks
[ 12-31-2001: Message edited by: Dave K. ]</p>