A small, quick clarification: I'M not one of the "feel let down my Macworld Expo..." types.
My needs, requests and wishes are all very modest and are MORE than met by Apple's current offerings, hardware- AND software-wise.
My only real complaint with Apple is in regards to their marketing and - to a smaller degree - the lack of customization/flexibility in their offerings (for example, WHY can't someone buy a 17" iMac with only a combo or CD-RW drive and things of that nature).
Other than those two small things, I'm quite happy. I always look forward to the keynotes, and - with the exception of the occasional boring stinker like last summer's - enjoy them quite a bit.
I've never come on here afterwards, crying and moaning and threatening "defection" and all that nonsense.
<strong>As much as I would like to see the G5 come out in Jan. there is one thing that bothers me. Apple obviously spent a lot of money designing these systems (along with the Xserve). Designing that controller chip could not have been easy or cheap. </strong><hr></blockquote>
I agree in that the 'Unified Motherboard Architecture' has done great things for Apple's bottom line. But on every motherboard Apple releases, _every_ feature of every chip is not necessarily expressed. The XServe, for instance, supports 4 independent ATA buses, _and_ the CD Drive. The Powermac isn't supposed to be able to handle that many independent ATA buses. The Northbridge/'System Controller' chip in both the new Powermac and the the one in the XServe are probably very similar.
And there's nothing saying that one of the 'unexpressed' feature of the current Northbridge isn't a RapidIO port. Or a Hypertransport port. Or both, just in case. It could also support DDR for the FSB, but I'm not convinced that's the way things are going.
I mean, the current version of the silicon might not actually have anything on it, but the _design_ at least has to be flexible enough to do whatever is ultimately needed. And I expect it is.
I've been using Apple products for.....mmmm, 20 years now or so and for 2 years....i've been waiting for something.
G4 were nice when introduced. First iMac, new iMac, iBook and PowerBook are great products...that for sure....but yes, something is missing.
Apple been stuck on the processor side too long now. They have a choice to make....keep moto as their supplier, change supplier, or invest somehow with a supplier.
Also....Apple must stop being happy with their 3-5% user base. If their products are so great, they must show them to more people, and more people must use them.
I love apple, but if I compare an apple with an apple, I will take the cheaper one...if quality is equal.
Apple MUST lower their prices.....and give more BTO options.
I still believe in Apple...but waiting to see them comming back....or Steve will have is butt kick again.
....good think though....Apple curve (AAPL) as been going better then MS for a year now in average. Quite surprising.
Holy crap PSCATES, great post! You really really hit the nail on the head...
As far as MWSF, there is no way in H that there will be a brand new Powermac...not this soon after a big revision...
And as far as the post about this being the groundwork for the next proc. (ie "yikesv.2), I would say "I hope not". DDR is where the industry is today, they didn't prepare for the future, they just caught up to the present. DDRII is right around the corner as is serialATA and Hypertransport. Why does apple still include UltraATA66 for gods sake, are they really saving that much by not making both controllers ATA100, or even RAID built in considering the market for this thing. Anyhoo, The next chip will hopefully be on an all new platform w/ some future (soon to be current) tech.
Oh yeah, I'm also very happy with the current releases!
I was just thinking about the new IBM chip and was wondering...
Is it possible there could be a whole new mac in the works?
For instance, they keep the powermac with the next revision getting a speedbump and the product is transformed into a prosumer tower. It would keep the motoG4, but have the newer tech, such as serial ATA/DDRII etc. Because really, there is no real consumer mac that can be upgraded easily...
Then a NEW model is introduced a step above the powermac, becoming the NEW powermac. Sporting an expensive/fast G5/power4 IBM whatever and new tech. targetted at the powerusers/industry people and would tie in with the recent apple purchases.
Eventually the IBM chip would trickle down, but look how long the G4 took to trickle. Would this be too diverse a product line for apple or is it possible? Just a thought...
This reminds me of a quote from George Will (conservative op-ed columnist and big baseball fan) about the value of being a Cubs fan (and I'm paraphrasing - I don't have the exact quote):
"Rooting for the Cubs teaches a very valuble lesson in life, in that if you hope and pray for success with all your heart and remain steadfastly loyal to the team, they will lose anyway."
Great for you to have dissapointment on MWs but then the whole ecconomy for the past 2yrs have been a dissapointments.
To do things that the "nagging disappointment camp" wants them to do, they need money. Lots of it.
But that might turn on to be those one-hit wonders of the .com bloom that blew up in there face when they couldn't pay the loan.
Apple played it modest for the past 2yrs, never slashing prices, kill off customization, etc.
It might suck for the consumers, but for a business, it's a general safety plan to weather the storm.
Why push for a G4 ghzs' with loads of shit at full speed when all you're appealing to is a shrinking market?
There are lots of roads here, apple choose decently safe one. At least they're still alive.
As always it's what you want vs. what you have. Apple would like a couple of billion dollars extra to do all the R&D and by up CPU designers, but they don't.
And there's nothing saying that one of the 'unexpressed' feature of the current Northbridge isn't a RapidIO port. Or a Hypertransport port. Or both, just in case. It could also support DDR for the FSB, but I'm not convinced that's the way things are going.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I have thought about that too, but even if it's not yet the case it should be easy to add at least DDR FSB, with this new design they're pretty much prepared if the G4 should ever support it.
It's a delicate little Controller with all its seperate busses.
This reminds me of a quote from George Will (conservative op-ed columnist and big baseball fan) about the value of being a Cubs fan (and I'm paraphrasing - I don't have the exact quote):
"Rooting for the Cubs teaches a very valuble lesson in life, in that if you hope and pray for success with all your heart and remain steadfastly loyal to the team, they will lose anyway."
I shudder to think how things MIGHT be if Apple never got in trouble and held back in the whole MHz thing. If, over the past 3 years or so (the Jobs' "iEra"), and Macs were on par - MHz-wise - with PCs, our jobs would be SO much easier.
Fact is, I don't give two damns about MHz and numbers. My 800MHz G4 iMac does EVERYTHING - and then some - I want it to. And guess what? SO did my 400MHz G3 iMac DV!
But in real life, people ARE into numbers, specs, "bragging rights", etc. and as cool as OS X (and it is), the iApps are (and they are) and the whole digital hub thing is (and it is), etc. the average person - like it or not - isn't swayed by that. I talk to enough PC/Windows users (newbies, fence-sitters, possible converts/switchers, diehard PC users, etc.) and hardly any of them seem too impressed by the who OS/iAppl/digital hub thing (which is INCREDIBLY sad to me because, to me, THAT'S the whole joy and beauty of USING the Mac...the elegant, "it just works!" vibe of it all).
No, they look and see 500MHz, 667MHz, 800MHz, etc. and base their call on THAT.
They shouldn't. It sucks. It's lame. There are other factors. There's more to life than sheer MHz, etc. We all know that (or accept it).
But it's just true.
This time last year - after pumping me for info/help for months about a laptop - my Dad goes and gets a $1399 Toshiba something-or-other because "it's faster than the iBook...and I get 'more for the money'".
We can argue until the cows come home about whether he's "right or wrong". Fact is, THAT'S what he believes and based his decision on.
Again, I sometimes think how differently things COULD be, perception-wise, if Apple had never gotten stuck a few years ago and we cruised right along with Intel (or even just a LITTLE behind) and no Mac right now was LESS than 1GHz.
All the consumer stuff would be in the low-GHz range (where the NEW G4's are right now!) and the pro stuff (TiBook and Power Macs) would EASILY be knocking on the 2GHz - or more - ceiling!
Again, I don't care. But what about all those people out there who have said - in the past couple of years "yeah, the OS is cool and I dig iTunes...but I can get this Compaq at 1.5GHz for only..."
Right or wrong, THAT'S how people think and how they make decisions. Speed, speed, speed. Numbers, numbers, numbers.
If Apple can't (because of Motorola and their difficulties or whatever) get speeds WELL into the mid-upper GHz range within a year or so), then they need to REALLY start touting the OS, the iApps, the whole "Mac vibe", the ease-of-use, the availability of mainstream software, lower prices, etc.
Something.
The "Switch" campaign is nice. It's encouraging. It's a small step in the right direction.
But it just lays there. It's too bland. It's too cuddly. It wants to be nice and petted and creep in your head sideways.
That's fine and all. But I think there's a HUGE clump of people out there who that approach simply doesn't speak to or work on.
I hope - before I die - I get to live to see an Apple campaign that comes out and is as compelling and inspiring and makes people simply go "OH MY GOD...I'm getting a Mac TODAY!" than anything else they've tried so far.
George Will is right. Sitting here, as a loyal user and fan, knowing how great this stuff is and how FUN it is to use a Mac, it's like you want to kick Apple in the butt and go "WHAT are you guys doing? You're sitting on the coolest EVERYTHING: industrial design, OS, consumer apps, I/O, etc. And nobody knows. Or cares".
Or - should I say - not in the sorts of numbers we'd like.
hey matsu i kinda of agree with you. we at radio shack were just faxed our deval schedule, it's messed up. we get a product for about 3 months and it goes on devalued status. not losing money just kind of like a warning. then they just stop putting them in the warehouse. then afer three months the bleeding starts. 10% a month. We have a computer at my store that we got on accident. and it was 1300 its not 797 with a $100 instant rebate. And you can see how long we must have had it.
<strong>I was just thinking about the new IBM chip and was wondering...
Is it possible there could be a whole new mac in the works? ...
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I was wondering the same thing, but I think it will be much more dramatic. Two things here. First, it has taken a long time to develop the G5. It could be put into an expensive high-end computer with rather low sales. Or, it could be put into all PowerMacs and servers, and sell a whole bunch. I suspect Apple has chosen to sell a whole bunch, at a lower price. In quantities, it should not be any more than two G4, and one G5 should out perform the dual G4s easily.
The second thing is that Apple is hurting because the Motorola G4 has not kept up. Apple needs the G5 in the PowerMac line to catch up, and even pass the compitition.
There could be a really high end Mac too, for running things like Shake and Maya, and compete with SGI. It might have dual or quad G5s.
<strong>I know I shouldn't tell you this, but Microsoft is planning a big release for autumn 2003. DON'T buy anything from Microsoft, at least until autumn 2003.
<strong>This is the first time and probably the last time I will ever write about whats on the horizon for Apple, but I thought I'd share a piece of vague info that I just got. I work in the an industry where it is commonplace to have to "sign your life away" when working with clients who don't want their products "being announced" before the announcement dates.
With that said, I recently spoke with someone who spoke with someone (who I cannot name for obvious reasons because they work for Apple) who told me that MWSF is gonna be awesome. He didn't tell me why, but he said "don't buy anything until then."
He also said that he finds it funny that most people don't realize that Apples' products are usually done months if not years ahead of their announcement dates. What just came out now on Aug. 13 was done almost a year ago. So whats coming out for MWSF is already done I guess.
I know thats vague, but in this case, I didn't have to sign my life away so I thought I'd share any valuable info. Cheers.</strong><hr></blockquote>
If you guys who are reading this need a machine now BUY it!
This is what hurts Apple.
I just bought a PowerBook 800, even though the next update is likely to have a DVD-R drive (which I do need) but I need to be productive NOW...
Maybe Steve Jobs should start a Mac Cult (iCult) complete with secret language so that the fanatics can have their own religion. Steve can promise all the members that if they bow down and worship him (and buy enough Apple gear) that they'll go to a heaven loaded with amazing Apple supercomputers that gleam in 20 dimensions and totally blow away anything in existence.
What do people think? That Steve Jobs and Co. sit all day twiddling their thumbs? How many times have we seen people say "Intel is about to release a 3Ghz chip and Apple has barely broken 1Ghz" then in the next sentence claim they know that MHz isn't everything. ARGH!
The latest G4 design existed to some degree as long as a year ago. Whatever Apple are going to come out with in October is probably almost complete, for the most part. I'm sure SJ doesn't waste his time browsing forums like we do
IMHO, I'd like Apple to come out with a US$999 cube.
He also said that he finds it funny that most people don't realize that Apples' products are usually done months if not years ahead of their announcement dates. What just came out now on Aug. 13 was done almost a year ago. So whats coming out for MWSF is already done I guess.</strong><hr></blockquote>
That's actually not true -- the motherboard in the new Macs was definitely not done a year ago. There was another motherboard that was _supposed_ to be done a year ago, but it was so delayed that they made this less ambitious motherboard, and fast-pathed it to release.
The second thing is that Apple is hurting because the Motorola G4 has not kept up. Apple needs the G5 in the PowerMac line to catch up, and even pass the compitition.
There could be a really high end Mac too, for running things like Shake and Maya, and compete with SGI. It might have dual or quad G5s.</strong><hr></blockquote>
There is no G5 -- at least not defined as: "a kick-ass desktop chip from Motorola" -- there are, however, some very interesting alternatives looming on the horizon.
The IBM chip for one, and the Opteron for another. It's going to be a rough 9 months or so from here on out, but there are going to be some very interesting things after that time period.
I wish it'd come earlier than that, but I just don't see it happening.
No, they look and see 500MHz, 667MHz, 800MHz, etc. and base their call on THAT.
They shouldn't. It sucks. It's lame. There are other factors. There's more to life than sheer MHz, etc. We all know that (or accept it).
But it's just true.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I agree with you. I don't use a Mac because of its Blazing Speed? - I don't need Blazing Speed? for what I do (although I'll take all the Blazing Speed? I can get anyway!). It's the intangibles that make it so great to use. And until someone has used one for a while, they don't realize how important those things are.
It IS all about bragging rights. Why do we care which College football team is #1? Will it help bring peace to the Middle East or cure AIDS? Why do people wrap themselves up in a sports team and live or die with its wins and losses? Does anyone believe that sitting on a couch 800 miles from the actual contest has any actual bearing on the outcome? And yet when our team wins, we strut around as though we were personally responsible for the victory. Why? Bragging rights, nothing else.
Rooting for Apple is like rooting for my favorite sports team. I have no real influence on the outcome of anything but I want them to "win" anyway (or at least be ahead for a while). Even though they're behind, I keep hoping they'll start a big rally in the bottom of the 9th and pull it out. Every MacWorld, every product release, is a chance for Apple to hit a Grand Slam and pull ahead. And, like rooting for the Cubs, no matter how hard we hope and pray, and no matter how steadfastly loyal we are, it never happens. After enough disappointments (even when due to unrealistic dreams), we get frustrated; hence the yowling in Mac land over these new machines. They're not a Grand Slam, but they're a solid two-RBI double, anyway. So although we're still behind, the gap is not as large as it was, and that's a hopeful sign.
As for those whose total consideration of the quality of a machine is based solely on the speed of the processor, another quote comes to mind, this time from H. L. Mencken:
"You'll never go broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public."
Microsoft has built an empire with that credo. <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
I've always come in here reading about Apple for a different reason maybe than most. I have a PowerBook that works great, its a 667 and I have a Cinema Display with it. I can do everything I need with it, I think it could be a little faster, but hey... that's always the feeling for my work it seems.
I really like Apple as a company, and the main reason why I read these rumor sites is because of my concern for them. I am not going to buy another PB for at least a year, but I don't want Apple to fall in the gutter because of bad choices, Motorola not caring, etc. because I love working with the Mac and also, I have THOUSANDS invested in Mac software. If Apple were somehow to tank, I'd have to use a damn PC and spend thousands and thousands getting new upgrades. I have too much money and emotional investment in the Macintosh. I think my feeling is like a parent concerned about their kid in college, and they like to check on them every once in a while. Apple I think is starting to really hurt with the Motorola snafu which is obviously crippling a great deal of the forward movement, so I keep reading with some glimmer of hope of greatness coming soon. So this is my angle, any others like me?
There is no G5 -- at least not defined as: "a kick-ass desktop chip from Motorola" ...
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I was not refering to a Motorola chip. My reply was to someone asking about the IBM chip described in the agenda for the Microprocessor Forum in October. I called it a G5 because that is what I believe it is, when Apple gets it. I hope it only takes half the 9 months you predict. If it cost no more than twice the price of a G4, it could replace the present dual G4s, provided one G5 performs that well or better. If clock rates were high enough it certainly would.
LOL That machine served it's purpose...I bought one just before it was EOL'd , and used it 'til Beige G3s came out...oh those were the days...try 7.6 on it? it was like 10x slower than OS X on iBook 500 :eek:
But anyway, I'm at a point where I rush for new chip releases...Got the first G3s, got a first G4 (sawtooth 450 back in Oct '99), and getting a G5 whenever it hits the market...I'm almost willing to bet that G5s won't boot into OS9 no matter what...
Now, where's 9.5 Apple promised? they probably have 1 or 2 guys hidden at some forgotten corner working on it...
Comments
My needs, requests and wishes are all very modest and are MORE than met by Apple's current offerings, hardware- AND software-wise.
My only real complaint with Apple is in regards to their marketing and - to a smaller degree - the lack of customization/flexibility in their offerings (for example, WHY can't someone buy a 17" iMac with only a combo or CD-RW drive and things of that nature).
Other than those two small things, I'm quite happy. I always look forward to the keynotes, and - with the exception of the occasional boring stinker like last summer's - enjoy them quite a bit.
I've never come on here afterwards, crying and moaning and threatening "defection" and all that nonsense.
That would be OTHERS here...
<strong>As much as I would like to see the G5 come out in Jan. there is one thing that bothers me. Apple obviously spent a lot of money designing these systems (along with the Xserve). Designing that controller chip could not have been easy or cheap. </strong><hr></blockquote>
I agree in that the 'Unified Motherboard Architecture' has done great things for Apple's bottom line. But on every motherboard Apple releases, _every_ feature of every chip is not necessarily expressed. The XServe, for instance, supports 4 independent ATA buses, _and_ the CD Drive. The Powermac isn't supposed to be able to handle that many independent ATA buses. The Northbridge/'System Controller' chip in both the new Powermac and the the one in the XServe are probably very similar.
And there's nothing saying that one of the 'unexpressed' feature of the current Northbridge isn't a RapidIO port. Or a Hypertransport port. Or both, just in case. It could also support DDR for the FSB, but I'm not convinced that's the way things are going.
I mean, the current version of the silicon might not actually have anything on it, but the _design_ at least has to be flexible enough to do whatever is ultimately needed. And I expect it is.
I've been using Apple products for.....mmmm, 20 years now or so and for 2 years....i've been waiting for something.
G4 were nice when introduced. First iMac, new iMac, iBook and PowerBook are great products...that for sure....but yes, something is missing.
Apple been stuck on the processor side too long now. They have a choice to make....keep moto as their supplier, change supplier, or invest somehow with a supplier.
Also....Apple must stop being happy with their 3-5% user base. If their products are so great, they must show them to more people, and more people must use them.
I love apple, but if I compare an apple with an apple, I will take the cheaper one...if quality is equal.
Apple MUST lower their prices.....and give more BTO options.
I still believe in Apple...but waiting to see them comming back....or Steve will have is butt kick again.
....good think though....Apple curve (AAPL) as been going better then MS for a year now in average. Quite surprising.
As far as MWSF, there is no way in H that there will be a brand new Powermac...not this soon after a big revision...
And as far as the post about this being the groundwork for the next proc. (ie "yikesv.2), I would say "I hope not". DDR is where the industry is today, they didn't prepare for the future, they just caught up to the present. DDRII is right around the corner as is serialATA and Hypertransport. Why does apple still include UltraATA66 for gods sake, are they really saving that much by not making both controllers ATA100, or even RAID built in considering the market for this thing. Anyhoo, The next chip will hopefully be on an all new platform w/ some future (soon to be current) tech.
Oh yeah, I'm also very happy with the current releases!
Is it possible there could be a whole new mac in the works?
For instance, they keep the powermac with the next revision getting a speedbump and the product is transformed into a prosumer tower. It would keep the motoG4, but have the newer tech, such as serial ATA/DDRII etc. Because really, there is no real consumer mac that can be upgraded easily...
Then a NEW model is introduced a step above the powermac, becoming the NEW powermac. Sporting an expensive/fast G5/power4 IBM whatever and new tech. targetted at the powerusers/industry people and would tie in with the recent apple purchases.
Eventually the IBM chip would trickle down, but look how long the G4 took to trickle. Would this be too diverse a product line for apple or is it possible? Just a thought...
<strong>
We - as Mac users - are afflicted with a terminal case of "ohyeahwaittilnexttime-itis", aren't we?
It's ALWAYS "next year", "next quarter", "next rev", "next Macworld", "next update", etc.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
This reminds me of a quote from George Will (conservative op-ed columnist and big baseball fan) about the value of being a Cubs fan (and I'm paraphrasing - I don't have the exact quote):
"Rooting for the Cubs teaches a very valuble lesson in life, in that if you hope and pray for success with all your heart and remain steadfastly loyal to the team, they will lose anyway."
Kinda like being a Macintosh devotee, methinks.
To do things that the "nagging disappointment camp" wants them to do, they need money. Lots of it.
But that might turn on to be those one-hit wonders of the .com bloom that blew up in there face when they couldn't pay the loan.
Apple played it modest for the past 2yrs, never slashing prices, kill off customization, etc.
It might suck for the consumers, but for a business, it's a general safety plan to weather the storm.
Why push for a G4 ghzs' with loads of shit at full speed when all you're appealing to is a shrinking market?
There are lots of roads here, apple choose decently safe one. At least they're still alive.
As always it's what you want vs. what you have. Apple would like a couple of billion dollars extra to do all the R&D and by up CPU designers, but they don't.
~Kuku
<strong>
And there's nothing saying that one of the 'unexpressed' feature of the current Northbridge isn't a RapidIO port. Or a Hypertransport port. Or both, just in case. It could also support DDR for the FSB, but I'm not convinced that's the way things are going.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I have thought about that too, but even if it's not yet the case it should be easy to add at least DDR FSB, with this new design they're pretty much prepared if the G4 should ever support it.
It's a delicate little Controller with all its seperate busses.
bye.
<strong>
This reminds me of a quote from George Will (conservative op-ed columnist and big baseball fan) about the value of being a Cubs fan (and I'm paraphrasing - I don't have the exact quote):
"Rooting for the Cubs teaches a very valuble lesson in life, in that if you hope and pray for success with all your heart and remain steadfastly loyal to the team, they will lose anyway."
Kinda like being a Macintosh devotee, methinks.
Yeah. IF I was concerned, or a numbers freak
I shudder to think how things MIGHT be if Apple never got in trouble and held back in the whole MHz thing. If, over the past 3 years or so (the Jobs' "iEra"), and Macs were on par - MHz-wise - with PCs, our jobs would be SO much easier.
Fact is, I don't give two damns about MHz and numbers. My 800MHz G4 iMac does EVERYTHING - and then some - I want it to. And guess what? SO did my 400MHz G3 iMac DV!
But in real life, people ARE into numbers, specs, "bragging rights", etc. and as cool as OS X (and it is), the iApps are (and they are) and the whole digital hub thing is (and it is), etc. the average person - like it or not - isn't swayed by that. I talk to enough PC/Windows users (newbies, fence-sitters, possible converts/switchers, diehard PC users, etc.) and hardly any of them seem too impressed by the who OS/iAppl/digital hub thing (which is INCREDIBLY sad to me because, to me, THAT'S the whole joy and beauty of USING the Mac...the elegant, "it just works!" vibe of it all).
No, they look and see 500MHz, 667MHz, 800MHz, etc. and base their call on THAT.
They shouldn't. It sucks. It's lame. There are other factors. There's more to life than sheer MHz, etc. We all know that (or accept it).
But it's just true.
This time last year - after pumping me for info/help for months about a laptop - my Dad goes and gets a $1399 Toshiba something-or-other because "it's faster than the iBook...and I get 'more for the money'".
We can argue until the cows come home about whether he's "right or wrong". Fact is, THAT'S what he believes and based his decision on.
Again, I sometimes think how differently things COULD be, perception-wise, if Apple had never gotten stuck a few years ago and we cruised right along with Intel (or even just a LITTLE behind) and no Mac right now was LESS than 1GHz.
All the consumer stuff would be in the low-GHz range (where the NEW G4's are right now!) and the pro stuff (TiBook and Power Macs) would EASILY be knocking on the 2GHz - or more - ceiling!
Again, I don't care. But what about all those people out there who have said - in the past couple of years "yeah, the OS is cool and I dig iTunes...but I can get this Compaq at 1.5GHz for only..."
<img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
Right or wrong, THAT'S how people think and how they make decisions. Speed, speed, speed. Numbers, numbers, numbers.
If Apple can't (because of Motorola and their difficulties or whatever) get speeds WELL into the mid-upper GHz range within a year or so), then they need to REALLY start touting the OS, the iApps, the whole "Mac vibe", the ease-of-use, the availability of mainstream software, lower prices, etc.
Something.
The "Switch" campaign is nice. It's encouraging. It's a small step in the right direction.
But it just lays there. It's too bland. It's too cuddly. It wants to be nice and petted and creep in your head sideways.
That's fine and all. But I think there's a HUGE clump of people out there who that approach simply doesn't speak to or work on.
I hope - before I die - I get to live to see an Apple campaign that comes out and is as compelling and inspiring and makes people simply go "OH MY GOD...I'm getting a Mac TODAY!" than anything else they've tried so far.
George Will is right. Sitting here, as a loyal user and fan, knowing how great this stuff is and how FUN it is to use a Mac, it's like you want to kick Apple in the butt and go "WHAT are you guys doing? You're sitting on the coolest EVERYTHING: industrial design, OS, consumer apps, I/O, etc. And nobody knows. Or cares".
Or - should I say - not in the sorts of numbers we'd like.
<strong>I was just thinking about the new IBM chip and was wondering...
Is it possible there could be a whole new mac in the works? ...
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I was wondering the same thing, but I think it will be much more dramatic. Two things here. First, it has taken a long time to develop the G5. It could be put into an expensive high-end computer with rather low sales. Or, it could be put into all PowerMacs and servers, and sell a whole bunch. I suspect Apple has chosen to sell a whole bunch, at a lower price. In quantities, it should not be any more than two G4, and one G5 should out perform the dual G4s easily.
The second thing is that Apple is hurting because the Motorola G4 has not kept up. Apple needs the G5 in the PowerMac line to catch up, and even pass the compitition.
There could be a really high end Mac too, for running things like Shake and Maya, and compete with SGI. It might have dual or quad G5s.
<strong>I know I shouldn't tell you this, but Microsoft is planning a big release for autumn 2003. DON'T buy anything from Microsoft, at least until autumn 2003.
[ 08-14-2002: Message edited by: fryke ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
No, no, no....you've got it all wrong.
It should read "Don't EVER buy anything from Micro$oft.
<strong>This is the first time and probably the last time I will ever write about whats on the horizon for Apple, but I thought I'd share a piece of vague info that I just got. I work in the an industry where it is commonplace to have to "sign your life away" when working with clients who don't want their products "being announced" before the announcement dates.
With that said, I recently spoke with someone who spoke with someone (who I cannot name for obvious reasons because they work for Apple) who told me that MWSF is gonna be awesome. He didn't tell me why, but he said "don't buy anything until then."
He also said that he finds it funny that most people don't realize that Apples' products are usually done months if not years ahead of their announcement dates. What just came out now on Aug. 13 was done almost a year ago. So whats coming out for MWSF is already done I guess.
I know thats vague, but in this case, I didn't have to sign my life away so I thought I'd share any valuable info. Cheers.</strong><hr></blockquote>
If you guys who are reading this need a machine now BUY it!
This is what hurts Apple.
I just bought a PowerBook 800, even though the next update is likely to have a DVD-R drive (which I do need) but I need to be productive NOW...
What do people think? That Steve Jobs and Co. sit all day twiddling their thumbs? How many times have we seen people say "Intel is about to release a 3Ghz chip and Apple has barely broken 1Ghz" then in the next sentence claim they know that MHz isn't everything. ARGH!
The latest G4 design existed to some degree as long as a year ago. Whatever Apple are going to come out with in October is probably almost complete, for the most part. I'm sure SJ doesn't waste his time browsing forums like we do
IMHO, I'd like Apple to come out with a US$999 cube.
<strong>
He also said that he finds it funny that most people don't realize that Apples' products are usually done months if not years ahead of their announcement dates. What just came out now on Aug. 13 was done almost a year ago. So whats coming out for MWSF is already done I guess.</strong><hr></blockquote>
That's actually not true -- the motherboard in the new Macs was definitely not done a year ago. There was another motherboard that was _supposed_ to be done a year ago, but it was so delayed that they made this less ambitious motherboard, and fast-pathed it to release.
<strong>
The second thing is that Apple is hurting because the Motorola G4 has not kept up. Apple needs the G5 in the PowerMac line to catch up, and even pass the compitition.
There could be a really high end Mac too, for running things like Shake and Maya, and compete with SGI. It might have dual or quad G5s.</strong><hr></blockquote>
There is no G5 -- at least not defined as: "a kick-ass desktop chip from Motorola" -- there are, however, some very interesting alternatives looming on the horizon.
The IBM chip for one, and the Opteron for another. It's going to be a rough 9 months or so from here on out, but there are going to be some very interesting things after that time period.
I wish it'd come earlier than that, but I just don't see it happening.
<strong>
No, they look and see 500MHz, 667MHz, 800MHz, etc. and base their call on THAT.
They shouldn't. It sucks. It's lame. There are other factors. There's more to life than sheer MHz, etc. We all know that (or accept it).
But it's just true.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I agree with you. I don't use a Mac because of its Blazing Speed? - I don't need Blazing Speed? for what I do (although I'll take all the Blazing Speed? I can get anyway!). It's the intangibles that make it so great to use. And until someone has used one for a while, they don't realize how important those things are.
It IS all about bragging rights. Why do we care which College football team is #1? Will it help bring peace to the Middle East or cure AIDS? Why do people wrap themselves up in a sports team and live or die with its wins and losses? Does anyone believe that sitting on a couch 800 miles from the actual contest has any actual bearing on the outcome? And yet when our team wins, we strut around as though we were personally responsible for the victory. Why? Bragging rights, nothing else.
Rooting for Apple is like rooting for my favorite sports team. I have no real influence on the outcome of anything but I want them to "win" anyway (or at least be ahead for a while). Even though they're behind, I keep hoping they'll start a big rally in the bottom of the 9th and pull it out. Every MacWorld, every product release, is a chance for Apple to hit a Grand Slam and pull ahead. And, like rooting for the Cubs, no matter how hard we hope and pray, and no matter how steadfastly loyal we are, it never happens. After enough disappointments (even when due to unrealistic dreams), we get frustrated; hence the yowling in Mac land over these new machines. They're not a Grand Slam, but they're a solid two-RBI double, anyway. So although we're still behind, the gap is not as large as it was, and that's a hopeful sign.
As for those whose total consideration of the quality of a machine is based solely on the speed of the processor, another quote comes to mind, this time from H. L. Mencken:
"You'll never go broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public."
Microsoft has built an empire with that credo. <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
[ 08-15-2002: Message edited by: TJM ]</p>
I really like Apple as a company, and the main reason why I read these rumor sites is because of my concern for them. I am not going to buy another PB for at least a year, but I don't want Apple to fall in the gutter because of bad choices, Motorola not caring, etc. because I love working with the Mac and also, I have THOUSANDS invested in Mac software. If Apple were somehow to tank, I'd have to use a damn PC and spend thousands and thousands getting new upgrades. I have too much money and emotional investment in the Macintosh. I think my feeling is like a parent concerned about their kid in college, and they like to check on them every once in a while. Apple I think is starting to really hurt with the Motorola snafu which is obviously crippling a great deal of the forward movement, so I keep reading with some glimmer of hope of greatness coming soon. So this is my angle, any others like me?
<strong>
There is no G5 -- at least not defined as: "a kick-ass desktop chip from Motorola" ...
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I was not refering to a Motorola chip. My reply was to someone asking about the IBM chip described in the agenda for the Microprocessor Forum in October. I called it a G5 because that is what I believe it is, when Apple gets it. I hope it only takes half the 9 months you predict. If it cost no more than twice the price of a G4, it could replace the present dual G4s, provided one G5 performs that well or better. If clock rates were high enough it certainly would.
<strong>I bought a IIvx ...
...you were saying?</strong><hr></blockquote>
LOL That machine served it's purpose...I bought one just before it was EOL'd , and used it 'til Beige G3s came out...oh those were the days...try 7.6 on it? it was like 10x slower than OS X on iBook 500 :eek:
But anyway, I'm at a point where I rush for new chip releases...Got the first G3s, got a first G4 (sawtooth 450 back in Oct '99), and getting a G5 whenever it hits the market...I'm almost willing to bet that G5s won't boot into OS9 no matter what...
Now, where's 9.5 Apple promised? they probably have 1 or 2 guys hidden at some forgotten corner working on it...