Where's the expensive/luxury consumer Mac?
Sorry for posting a new thread, but I believe this is slightly different from the Headless Mac threads.
Now that the eMac's gone the iMac is again the cheapest integrated Mac experience. (You could argue that the mini replaces the eMac but I'll leave that for now)
I'll say that the iMac is now the entry level mac, having just the essential that one could possibly need.
Now, if I'm looking for a better Mac, right now, the Xeons in the Mac Pro seems to be a bit too much for an average user. (granted the average user wouldn't probably need anything more than an iMac)
What are my options?
the bigger screen iMac? that's just the same, I want a bit of expandability, granted most things can be had on USB or Firewire now...
If apple were to upgrade the big screen iMac with a proper video card, that might work...
Make it a proper media centre with TV/Cable card or something
Definitely an option in black...
if the base iMac's gonna have Core2Duo, the top one might as well have Core2Duo Extreme, coupled with the video card difference, would this be too confusing towards the customers?
Right now the iMac is positioned almost back to the level of the original G3
The G4 iMac was quite expensive when it first came out, and Apple history is littered with such machines: the Cube, TAM, the Black MacTV/LC520 , the Black Performa 5400
Or maybe Apple will update the iMac to fill this gap and leave the low end to the Mini.
Headless Mac right now seems a bit of a wishful thinking
Now that the eMac's gone the iMac is again the cheapest integrated Mac experience. (You could argue that the mini replaces the eMac but I'll leave that for now)
I'll say that the iMac is now the entry level mac, having just the essential that one could possibly need.
Now, if I'm looking for a better Mac, right now, the Xeons in the Mac Pro seems to be a bit too much for an average user. (granted the average user wouldn't probably need anything more than an iMac)
What are my options?
the bigger screen iMac? that's just the same, I want a bit of expandability, granted most things can be had on USB or Firewire now...
If apple were to upgrade the big screen iMac with a proper video card, that might work...
Make it a proper media centre with TV/Cable card or something
Definitely an option in black...
if the base iMac's gonna have Core2Duo, the top one might as well have Core2Duo Extreme, coupled with the video card difference, would this be too confusing towards the customers?
Right now the iMac is positioned almost back to the level of the original G3
The G4 iMac was quite expensive when it first came out, and Apple history is littered with such machines: the Cube, TAM, the Black MacTV/LC520 , the Black Performa 5400
Or maybe Apple will update the iMac to fill this gap and leave the low end to the Mini.
Headless Mac right now seems a bit of a wishful thinking
Comments
David
Sorry for posting a new thread, but I believe this is slightly different from the Headless Mac threads.
Now that the eMac's gone the iMac is again the cheapest integrated Mac experience. (You could argue that the mini replaces the eMac but I'll leave that for now)
I'll say that the iMac is now the entry level mac, having just the essential that one could possibly need.
Now, if I'm looking for a better Mac, right now, the Xeons in the Mac Pro seems to be a bit too much for an average user. (granted the average user wouldn't probably need anything more than an iMac)
What are my options?
the bigger screen iMac? that's just the same, I want a bit of expandability, granted most things can be had on USB or Firewire now...
If apple were to upgrade the big screen iMac with a proper video card, that might work...
Make it a proper media centre with TV/Cable card or something
Definitely an option in black...
if the base iMac's gonna have Core2Duo, the top one might as well have Core2Duo Extreme, coupled with the video card difference, would this be too confusing towards the customers?
Right now the iMac is positioned almost back to the level of the original G3
The G4 iMac was quite expensive when it first came out, and Apple history is littered with such machines: the Cube, TAM, the Black MacTV/LC520 , the Black Performa 5400
Or maybe Apple will update the iMac to fill this gap and leave the low end to the Mini.
Headless Mac right now seems a bit of a wishful thinking
The problem with your argument, although sound in theory, is that application will likely be a different story. While I don't claim to be an expert on heat issues, a Core 2 Extreme would probably run too hot to fit into the iMac's case as it is now--right now, the iMac is using a mobile processor (not a desktop processor like Core 2 Extreme).
The same theory works with the graphics card: Apple's hobbled by the iMac's design as to what graphics card it can put in. In fact, a while back the news came out that the ATI graphics cards in the iMac were coming underclocked, presumably to manage heat.
So for a Core 2 Extreme, a headless mac is really the only option Apple has, barring significantly redesigning the iMac. While a headless mac at $999 is wishful thinking, $1499 and above is not (and, in fact, with Core 2 Extreme, it would have to be at least $1999).
The problem with your argument, although sound in theory, is that application will likely be a different story. While I don't claim to be an expert on heat issues, a Core 2 Extreme would probably run too hot to fit into the iMac's case as it is now--right now, the iMac is using a mobile processor (not a desktop processor like Core 2 Extreme).
The same theory works with the graphics card: Apple's hobbled by the iMac's design as to what graphics card it can put in. In fact, a while back the news came out that the ATI graphics cards in the iMac were coming underclocked, presumably to manage heat.
We do not know yet if Apple put the Yonah in the iMac because a) it was the only chip whose thermal output was acceptable b) it was the only chip available. I'm leaning to b.
For that matter, haven't Mac graphics cards traditionally been underclocked compared to PC cards?
The G5 was a desktop processor and that worked in the iMac case they are currently using. How does the G5 compare to the Core 2 Duo Extreme?
Not in the first gen case, my god does mind bug me every day. It has been "repaired "many a many times. The screen gets too hot to touch, the fan noise is constantly irritating, logic board capcitors, power supplys. I think the case and the superdrive are the only original items left. "I've had the same broom for 20 years, it's had 14 new heads and 17 new handles"
However by the rev B and the last iMac G5 they pretty much had that nailled, with a thinner design and beefier graphics card. Albeit at the cost of being able to DIY repair it, but then also the need for the DIY repair was removed.
Sorry I don't have the ability to make drawings, since a sketch would be the easiest way to see this thing. When it is closed in the transportation mode, it is 12 inches high, 18 inches long and 6 inches thick. It could have a handle on top to carry like a briefcase, but padded cases would surely appear.
It would have a tray loading optical drive, standard 3.5 in HDD, four RAM strip sockets, and a graphic card, not integrated graphics. The choices would be low end graphics for the office and email crowd, and goes all the way up to a pretty high end card for the gamers. With its size and volume, it should take a desktop CPU, since it has room for fans. It of course has all the normal I/O and wireless stuff, some possibly as options.
In the operating mode it is 18 inches wide, 12 inches deep and 4.5 inches high. It is essentially an old fashion desktop form factor, excluding display. The display is on top of the desktop box, but it is not hinged at the back like a notebook display. Rather, the bottom of the display slides forward when it is opened so the screen is near the front of the desktop box. The tilt of the display can be adjusted by the user. The most likely mechanism to support it would be an arm on each side of the display that connects near the display's center point.
When the display is closed, the bottom edge slides to the back and the arms fold down. The side supports on the display allow it to pivot while providing support. Most likely, in the desktop mode the screen would be left up, in viewing position. It might be closed if it will not be used for a while, to keep it from getting dusty.
Well, that's it. Comes in black, or white, or whatever color Steve wants.
Jerry
Link
Hmmm now does this sound remotely similar to oh I don't know... how about an "Inexpensive Pro Mac"?
Isn't it true that the half dozen or so threads (like this one) are all pretty much asking for the same thing?
I want a "Game Mac"
Yea, nobody comes right out and says it but that's exactly what they want.
1 - Single (fast) C2D CPU Config
2 - Replaceable/Upgradable Video Card
3 - Expandable RAM
Oh and CHEAP!
Now I'm not gonna rain on anyones parade and say "Apple's NEVER gonna give this to you!" but could we at least settle on one single thread for this type of discussion? I guess I already known the answer to that last question but I figured I'd try anyway...
Dave
please, expensive/luxery and consumer in the same sentence!!! there is a reason those don't fit together
Consumer != cheap
Case in point: Bose, B&O
Just because someone can afford a Mac Pro doesn't mean that he'd be best served by it, instead of maxing out the CPU/RAM/HDD, the consumer would be better off with more integrated peripherals.
But then again it's un mac like to sacrifice the simplicity by bloating the machine with useless features, for example the Sony Vaio line had built in cameras in their notebooks long before Apple, also built in TV tuner/ Media centre, Apple had only begun implement these features when the market is ready (built in iChat) and I for one, like it that I can go and buy an external TV tuner for my mac that can be Cable, DVB-T or satellite instead of paying for a built in analog tuner that I won't use... but again some people might love the "blinged out" Mac
snoopy, you just described a Dell XPS M2010, and thats $4000 worth of Dell.
Link
Well they both have a display on top and can be carried like a briefcase. The one I envisioned has the display toward the front and a detachable keyboard. It would be bulkier too so it could be built with inexpensive desktop parts.
The display is difficult to imagine without a picture, but I'll try. The bottom of the LCD panel is attached to a flat bar on top of the box. As you slide the bar forward, the panel tips back. Moved just a little back and the panel is vertical. Move it all the way back and the panel tips forward until it is lying face down on top of the box. An arm on each side is attached to a pivot half way up the panel.
It's just a brainstorm, and I wouldn't particularly want one. About a year or two ago, someone posted a request for a portable desktop Mac. He used computers as a musician but didn't like notebooks. This is just my conception of it.