What do you want to see in an iMac update?
This is what I would want to see:
1. 15-inch LCD
1.5 GHz PowerPC G4
ATI Radeon 9000 Pro w/ 64MB of DDR SDRAM
256MB DDR333 SDRAM
80GB Ultra ATA hard drive
Combo Drive
$1199
2. 17-inch widescreen LCD
1.6 GHz G5
ATI Radeon 9600 Pro w/ 64MB of DDR SDRAM
512MB PC3200 RAM
160GB Serial ATA hard drive
8X SuperDrive
$1699
2. 20-inch widescreen LCD
1.6 GHz G5
ATI Radeon 9600 Pro w/ 64MB of DDR SDRAM
512MB PC3200 RAM
160GB Serial ATA hard drive
8X SuperDrive
$1999
If something like this were to happen, I would buy #2 in a second!
1. 15-inch LCD
1.5 GHz PowerPC G4
ATI Radeon 9000 Pro w/ 64MB of DDR SDRAM
256MB DDR333 SDRAM
80GB Ultra ATA hard drive
Combo Drive
$1199
2. 17-inch widescreen LCD
1.6 GHz G5
ATI Radeon 9600 Pro w/ 64MB of DDR SDRAM
512MB PC3200 RAM
160GB Serial ATA hard drive
8X SuperDrive
$1699
2. 20-inch widescreen LCD
1.6 GHz G5
ATI Radeon 9600 Pro w/ 64MB of DDR SDRAM
512MB PC3200 RAM
160GB Serial ATA hard drive
8X SuperDrive
$1999
If something like this were to happen, I would buy #2 in a second!
Comments
Originally posted by dferigmu
This is what I would want to see:
1. 15-inch LCD
1.5 GHz PowerPC G4
ATI Radeon 9000 Pro w/ 64MB of DDR SDRAM
256MB DDR333 SDRAM
80GB Ultra ATA hard drive
Combo Drive
$1199
2. 17-inch widescreen LCD
1.6 GHz G5
ATI Radeon 9600 Pro w/ 64MB of DDR SDRAM
512MB PC3200 RAM
160GB Serial ATA hard drive
8X SuperDrive
$1699
2. 20-inch widescreen LCD
1.6 GHz G5
ATI Radeon 9600 Pro w/ 64MB of DDR SDRAM
512MB PC3200 RAM
160GB Serial ATA hard drive
8X SuperDrive
$1999
If something like this were to happen, I would buy #2 in a second!
I am fairly certain it would be "all or nothing" for CPU choice. Also I would expect the video chip on the low end model to match the chip from the eMac with same or increased VRAM.
Other than that I would expect specs similar to what you have but with 1.33GHz G4 on low end and 1.5 for middle and top model (perhaps 128MB VRAM on top model).
1.6 ghz G5 256 mb RAM, $999
1.8 ghz G5 256 mb RAM $1299
2.0 ghz G5 512 mb RAM $1599
Optional monitor:
17" Widescreen $399
19" widescreen $799
21" Widescreen $1299
23" Widescreen $1599
But only when the Powermac go to this:
Dual 2.2 - $1799
Dual 2.4 - $2499
Dual 2.6 - $2999
Granted that the Monitors will probably be more than that, I think they Could be that cheap, as they would sell more, if not bundled with the iMacs.
It's not going to happen. It will never happen. The iMac will always be an overpriced machine meant to lure in people who base their purchases on what a computer looks like, not how good it actually is. Compare the 15" 1 GHz iMac to the 12" 1 GHz iBook:
1.0 GHz vs. 1.07 GHz (iBook wins)
256 kb L2 vs. 512 kb L2 (iBook wins)
1024x768 vs. 1024x768 (Tie)
Combo Drive vs. Combo Drive (Tie)
256 MB RAM vs. 256 MB RAM (Tie)
80 GB 7200 RPM vs. 30 GB 4200 RPM (iMac wins)
32 MB GeForce 4MX vs. 32 MB Radeon 9200 (iBook wins)
$1299 vs. $1099 (iBook wins)
Bulky vs. Tiny and light (iBook wins)
I mean, come on! WTF is going on when the desktop equivalent of the iBook costs MORE and is not as good? I guess you could compare the 14" iBook to the 15" iMac, since the screen sizes are similar and the hard drive is 40 GB instead of 30. Then they'd cost the same, but the iBook would still be better.
I guess you could say the 17" iMac provides nearly as much power as the 17" PowerBook, and the same screen area, for about $1000 less... but in reality, the iMac is 250 MHz slower, uses a previous-generation processor with less L2 cache, comes with less RAM, has a far worse video card, no included wireless connectivity, and of course it isn't portable like the PowerBook.
My prediction is that the next iMac update will be just as crappy as all the previous ones. 1.25 to 1.4 GHz G4s, still a pathetic 32 MB of VRAM on the low end, still only 64 MB on the high end, still 256 MB of RAM across the board, and the same price points for the same screen sizes. $1299 for the 15", $1799 for the 17", and $2199 for the 20".
Originally posted by JCG
I think that the most importent thing that we need to see in the next iMac is a starting price in the "sweet spot" that they acknowledged that they are priced above.
That is the tricky part, if you price them too close to the eMac, you kill the eMac. The iMac as an AIO is hard to swollow. It is time to chop off the head or kill it all together.
Maybe a new line called the "PowerMac G5 Mini".
Originally posted by oldmacfan
That is the tricky part, if you price them too close to the eMac, you kill the eMac. The iMac as an AIO is hard to swollow. It is time to chop off the head or kill it all together.
Maybe a new line called the "PowerMac G5 Mini".
However, Apple is on record as saying that the iMac is not hitting the price point that it needs to in able to be a successfull product.
1.6 Ghz G5
1280x1024 resolution display
512MB RAM (DDR 400, single channel)
120GB HD
5:1 Audio out
Superdrive
17 inch iMac
1.8 Ghz G5
Same resolution as todays 20 inch
512MB RAM (DDR 400, single channel)
160GB HD
5:1 Audio out
Superdrive
20 inch iMac
2.0 Ghz G5
****ing great, wide-screen resolution
1GB RAM (DDR400, single channel)
200GB HD
Same as above
Now we're talking good shit. Too bad it won't happen, especially not the displays.
Originally posted by Zapchud
15 inch iMac:
1.6 Ghz G5
1280x1024 resolution display
512MB RAM (DDR 400, single channel)
120GB HD
5:1 Audio out
Superdrive
17 inch iMac
1.8 Ghz G5
Same resolution as todays 20 inch
512MB RAM (DDR 400, single channel)
160GB HD
5:1 Audio out
Superdrive
20 inch iMac
2.0 Ghz G5
****ing great, wide-screen resolution
1GB RAM (DDR400, single channel)
200GB HD
Same as above
Now we're talking good shit. Too bad it won't happen, especially not the displays.
And the prices would be?
Originally posted by JCG
However, Apple is on record as saying that the iMac is not hitting the price point that it needs to in able to be a successfull product.
Hence why a change needs to take place. The eMac was just updated, the iMac was not.
As the days go on speculation blooms as to the fate of the iMac.
Originally posted by Luca
People have been waiting for the flat panel iMac to really define its place in the product matrix since a few months after its introduction. Since mid 2002, it has been an overpriced, underpowered, and limited machine that offers the worst aspects of both desktops and laptops - bulkiness, fragility, and the inability to upgrade. Other than the initial value (which actually WAS excellent, for early 2002) and the form factor, it really has no advantage over a PowerBook or iBook.
It's not going to happen. It will never happen. The iMac will always be an overpriced machine meant to lure in people who base their purchases on what a computer looks like, not how good it actually is. Compare the 15" 1 GHz iMac to the 12" 1 GHz iBook:
1.0 GHz vs. 1.07 GHz (iBook wins)
256 kb L2 vs. 512 kb L2 (iBook wins)
1024x768 vs. 1024x768 (Tie)
Combo Drive vs. Combo Drive (Tie)
256 MB RAM vs. 256 MB RAM (Tie)
80 GB 7200 RPM vs. 30 GB 4200 RPM (iMac wins)
32 MB GeForce 4MX vs. 32 MB Radeon 9200 (iBook wins)
$1299 vs. $1099 (iBook wins)
Bulky vs. Tiny and light (iBook wins)
I mean, come on! WTF is going on when the desktop equivalent of the iBook costs MORE and is not as good? I guess you could compare the 14" iBook to the 15" iMac, since the screen sizes are similar and the hard drive is 40 GB instead of 30. Then they'd cost the same, but the iBook would still be better.
I guess you could say the 17" iMac provides nearly as much power as the 17" PowerBook, and the same screen area, for about $1000 less... but in reality, the iMac is 250 MHz slower, uses a previous-generation processor with less L2 cache, comes with less RAM, has a far worse video card, no included wireless connectivity, and of course it isn't portable like the PowerBook.
My prediction is that the next iMac update will be just as crappy as all the previous ones. 1.25 to 1.4 GHz G4s, still a pathetic 32 MB of VRAM on the low end, still only 64 MB on the high end, still 256 MB of RAM across the board, and the same price points for the same screen sizes. $1299 for the 15", $1799 for the 17", and $2199 for the 20".
I think the better comparison would be to the 14" high-end iBook. With your predicted update, the low-end iMac will basically be the same as the 14" iBook except for the hard drive (iMac bigger/faster), but the iMac will be $200 less. As far as my prediction, I have no clue, except that I expect my comparison above will be the minimum. But why have we not seen the updated iMac yet? My hope is that the change will be more dramatic than just a processor upgrade.
Originally posted by jwdawso
I think the better comparison would be to the 14" high-end iBook. With your predicted update, the low-end iMac will basically be the same as the 14" iBook except for the hard drive (iMac bigger/faster), but the iMac will be $200 less. As far as my prediction, I have no clue, except that I expect my comparison above will be the minimum. But why have we not seen the updated iMac yet? My hope is that the change will be more dramatic than just a processor upgrade.
That is my hope, I hope Steve reinvents it. I hope it is as dramatic as the first iMac.
Originally posted by jmb1115
absolutely no way it'll happen... those same specs, including a 17" studio display, in a powermac G5 is currently priced at $2748 on the Apple store web page. You think they'll sell the same hardware in an iMac for $1000 less? Even if updated PowerMacs are coming, this seems like a bit much.
Bit much? Just remember that Powermac G5s and the displays are outdated and overpriced. $699 for a 17" display? I can find better ones for $200-300 less.
Originally posted by dferigmu
Bit much? Just remember that Powermac G5s and the displays are outdated and overpriced. $699 for a 17" display? I can find better ones for $200-300 less.
Example please.
Originally posted by oldmacfan
Example please.
Oh come on! Just look at the prices for 17" Samsung, NEC, or Sony displays and you'll see.
1. 15-inch LCD
1.8 GHz G5
ATI Radeon 9600 Pro w 64MB
256MB DDR400 128-bit SDRAM
80GB Ultra ATA hard drive
Combo Drive
$1,299.00
2. 17-inch widescreen LCD
2.4 GHz G5
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro w 128MB
256MB DDR400 128-bit SDRAM
160GB Serial ATA hard drive
8X SuperDrive
$1,799.00
2. 20-inch widescreen LCD
2.4 GHz G5
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro w 128MB
256MB DDR400 128-bit SDRAM
160GB Serial ATA hard drive
8X SuperDrive
$2,199.00
That's what I would like to see, and my family alone would probably buy two or three of them.
Of course, Apple will not do it. Either IBM is incapable of suppling enough fast G5s at the current time, or there are some idiots over at Apple who think that consumers shouldn't want fast computers -- while at the same time tying to push consumers into editing digital video.
Originally posted by dferigmu
Oh come on! Just look at the prices for 17" Samsung, NEC, or Sony displays and you'll see.
Ok, I will, now go look at the 23" models.
Originally posted by oldmacfan
Ok, I will, now go look at the 23" models.
Here you go
$300 less
Your point is somewhat valid though. If you want a 20" widescreen I haven't seen anything better or cheaper than apple's. But if you want a 17", apple's are way overpriced. The 23" is an ok deal, and I'll write it off as an apple tax, but there is not excuse for the 17". It needs to go widescreen 1440x900 and lose $100 to $200 off of its price tag if it even wants to start competing.
Originally posted by sworthy
Here you go
$300 less
Your point is somewhat valid though. If you want a 20" widescreen I haven't seen anything better or cheaper than apple's. But if you want a 17", apple's are way overpriced. The 23" is an ok deal, and I'll write it off as an apple tax, but there is not excuse for the 17". It needs to go widescreen 1440x900 and lose $100 to $200 off of its price tag if it even wants to start competing.
Agreed on the 17", but the 23" is the lowest on BestBuy.com which had 4 to compare. I used BestBuy as an example because of it's foot print in the retail market place. As for the 20", I found no other widescreen models.
My only other complaint would be contrast. In which Apple is behind on.
I wonder if that has to do with ADC?