i would want to have small computer with everything that PB G4 have but without battery, mouse pad, HD drive and monitor.. you can buy HD by yourself and inject it like in Xserve...
i would want to have small computer with everything that PB G4 have but without battery, mouse pad, HD drive and monitor.. you can buy HD by yourself and inject it like in Xserve...
I think you should have the keyboard and mouse on the actual machine, but that would cost about $40 more.
If you have a display at work and a display at home, and you carry the uMac (with the keyboard and mouse) around with you, shouldn't they have a discount for having two displays, or two or more displays with a uMac?
Over all, this would sell. And sell. And sell. And sell.
Great Idea.
*Hints to Steve-"You know, this is a great idea, make it now! Stop waiting already!"*
OR, as a more elegant, less-blocky version, take my iBook 04 design from nsousansousa's thread (and those wonderful photorealistic mockups Jimzip created) and make THAT the look (an enlarged iPod mini).
The rounded edges would make for a more "luggable" design, comfortable to pick up and hold and carry.
Maybe it's because I had an Apple //c for years, but I'm kind of fond of the idea of keeping the keyboard and trackpad there.
Otherwise, what we're looking at here is the sort of PC you see in some enterprise deployments and point-of-sale systems. I'm not as enthusiastic about its prospects otherwise. A Mac sold on the assumption that it will be used as a headless network server or paired with a salvaged PC monitor is a geek toy that will get handily outsold by the Xserve. If it's $500, Apple won't make any money on it, either. That makes it a nonstarter. It's sort of like an LC, except that all the machines in the LC line were bundled with Apple monitors.
I have no idea how this would be a better machine for one's daughter than an eMac, or even an iBook. Those would even make perfectly decent little servers - with console included!
Apple just said they aren't getting into the cheap PC market, because they don't see anyone making any money there. That means a) they can't figure out how to sell into it profitably, and b) the market is not sustainable generally.
This is your usual Photoshop mock-up. But having thought about the design issues I think Mr. Ives would do a better job. I reckon you would want the optical drive slot and mini display on the front edge - and the connections on the back edge.
If all the connections were bundled together it could be snapped into a complimentary display unit to make a nice workstation with one action. Rather than attaching numerous individual connectors.
I personally don't like all in ones because I find that I upgrade CPUs ever two years and displays every four years.
Most of the people who don't like this idea seem to be thinking the same thing - It's not a great first computer. I'd agree but that is not the point at all.
The intention behind this proposal is not a first/entry-level PC . There are better (but not cheaper) Apple products for that. But this is something different it is indended as a utility /appliance machine. Cheap enough to casually deploy for specific applications. And yes, it is more of a versatile smart iPod than it is a screenless iBook.
Despite my reservations about the design, it shows how it could be a pretty thing.
This is your usual Photoshop mock-up. But having thought about the design issues I think Mr. Ives would do a better job. I reckon you would want the optical drive slot and mini display on the front edge - and the connections on the back edge.
Man oh man, that's exactly it! Sign me up -- I'm using my MDD tower for this purpose right now, and would love to have a small, connected device instead.
We've done this before; take a look at some Apple history... Back a few years ago when the Mac IIfx was the kahuna machine on the block and the "average" Mac sold was a Mac SE there was a big time hue and cry for a "headless SE". It was thought that a less expandable, less powerful Mac was just what the market wanted, and the Mac IIsi was the result.
It sold in quantities well enough to remain unchanged in the lineup for something like three or four *years*, which is nearly unbelievable by today's standards.
This could be where the high end iPod goes away and in its place comes a 500 dollar desktop computer, designed as the switcher machine. Incredible idea. You have a monitor already(if not get one), you have the iPod(hopefully), now just get the 500 dollar computer and you have the complete Apple solution at a low cost.
This could be where the high end iPod goes away and in its place comes a 500 dollar desktop computer, designed as the switcher machine. Incredible idea. You have a monitor already(if not get one), you have the iPod(hopefully), now just get the 500 dollar computer and you have the complete Apple solution at a low cost.
that would sell like hotcakes, college students and the schools would go with them. great for dorm room and they could nix the windows labs for $400 with edu discounts. it would go great in existing labs useing dells because the monitors could be kept through 3 upgrade cycles and they would be quieter and undoubtidly use far less power than the 350-400 watt power supplys and the security, enough said,
Huh, people keep adding stuff to this slab to make it a 'headless iMac' all over again. I'd rather rip stuff out.
I'd love an Apple media render node. With, basically, a G4, 256M RAM and some kind of network, FW800 or GigE or both. (Even FW400 would work for my desires.) They'd NetBoot from your mac, set up automatically with XGrid, and make themselves available for parallel media rendering. My personal use would be for audio (remember that a typical musician's studio these days is already a bunch of embedded computers processing in parallel) with Logic Pro and its CPU-hungry plugins. Mmmm, hundreds of reliable isochronous audio channels with guaranteed available processing power, auto-configured with Core Audio and Core Midi over FW...
Others might use such a node for XGrid-aware Photoshop filters, or Shake compositing procedures, or FCP renders, or Xcode compilations. Apple can take advantage of these render nodes in all their Pro media apps. Third parties could use published APIs to take advantage of nodes.
I'm thinking, actually, about Apple changing the rules for selling computational power. So you've got your tower, with a replaceable graphics card, as a home base for media projects, and then, instead of replacing the tower as often, you just add on media nodes. I'd just keep stacking and replace the tower when I hit internal bandwidth limits, at which point I upgrade and keep my media render network.
In fact, you could imagine a render network adding a lot of value to, say, a 20-inch iMac. That big beautiful screen with a computer attached could stay right there on my audio desk, and it won't become obsolete until it can't run the latest Logic core, because the media nodes do most of the processing.
The big issues: could render node sales make up for tower cannibalization? Well, I think a big market for render nodes would be people (like me) who've instead gone the CPU upgrade route. Sell one of these to me for something between the price of a G4 upgrade card and the cheapest eMac and I've bought new Apple hardware, with the Apple margin, even if the Mac I'm using is second-hand.
Points to ponder: What components would be essential for such a node? What are possible networking schemes (like four auto-negotiating FW ports that could set up a wired mesh network or something) and what's the most effective balance between internal and external bandwidth? How quiet could they be? Would they come in colors? Would they work with the iWalk? ('Cause that's the deal-breaker for me.)
I hope this sparks some discussion. I've been contemplating this one a while.
There is going to be a desperate NEED to sell into this market profitably. Apple better figure it out, but they have a bit of time.
When I saw the iBook looking modules further up in this thread, my brain fast forwarded to circa 2008, and the widespread availability of HDTV, and a good many progressive scan sets on the market aswell.
One 1080p plug on that box, and a spot under my big screen were my first thoughts.
The set top has been held back by two entwined aspects: User interface and screen resolution.
1920x1080 goes a long way to fixing both. Text will finally be legible at normal UI text to screen ratios, that means less of a need to cripple the UI for a 640x480 color shifting interlaced analogue display.
Think 3 chip DLP/LCD's...
It's coming to a couch near you.
Oh yes...
I Mac on the big screen...
PVR (using iCal) DVD burning/editing, iLife, email, buy-record-listen to music, digital slide shows...
well, if the "uMac" or whatever it will be called, will have this produkt, click here , then you can watch you movies (witch you store on HD), DVDs and pictures thrue this product... imagine iPod connectivity thrue bluetooth!! but that is a different story...
Comments
but the keyboard must stay...
Originally posted by danko
i would want to have small computer with everything that PB G4 have but without battery, mouse pad, HD drive and monitor.. you can buy HD by yourself and inject it like in Xserve...
but the keyboard must stay...
No HD? Oh, ok.
If you have a display at work and a display at home, and you carry the uMac (with the keyboard and mouse) around with you, shouldn't they have a discount for having two displays, or two or more displays with a uMac?
Over all, this would sell. And sell. And sell. And sell.
Great Idea.
*Hints to Steve-"You know, this is a great idea, make it now! Stop waiting already!"*
I'd buy it:
OR, as a more elegant, less-blocky version, take my iBook 04 design from nsousansousa's thread (and those wonderful photorealistic mockups Jimzip created) and make THAT the look (an enlarged iPod mini).
The rounded edges would make for a more "luggable" design, comfortable to pick up and hold and carry.
Disregard the colors and the "seam" for opening (it's not a laptop now).
Ports on the other side...
Otherwise, what we're looking at here is the sort of PC you see in some enterprise deployments and point-of-sale systems. I'm not as enthusiastic about its prospects otherwise. A Mac sold on the assumption that it will be used as a headless network server or paired with a salvaged PC monitor is a geek toy that will get handily outsold by the Xserve. If it's $500, Apple won't make any money on it, either. That makes it a nonstarter. It's sort of like an LC, except that all the machines in the LC line were bundled with Apple monitors.
I have no idea how this would be a better machine for one's daughter than an eMac, or even an iBook. Those would even make perfectly decent little servers - with console included!
Apple just said they aren't getting into the cheap PC market, because they don't see anyone making any money there. That means a) they can't figure out how to sell into it profitably, and b) the market is not sustainable generally.
If all the connections were bundled together it could be snapped into a complimentary display unit to make a nice workstation with one action. Rather than attaching numerous individual connectors.
I personally don't like all in ones because I find that I upgrade CPUs ever two years and displays every four years.
Most of the people who don't like this idea seem to be thinking the same thing - It's not a great first computer. I'd agree but that is not the point at all.
The intention behind this proposal is not a first/entry-level PC . There are better (but not cheaper) Apple products for that. But this is something different it is indended as a utility /appliance machine. Cheap enough to casually deploy for specific applications. And yes, it is more of a versatile smart iPod than it is a screenless iBook.
Despite my reservations about the design, it shows how it could be a pretty thing.
C.
Originally posted by Carniphage
This is your usual Photoshop mock-up. But having thought about the design issues I think Mr. Ives would do a better job. I reckon you would want the optical drive slot and mini display on the front edge - and the connections on the back edge.
Man oh man, that's exactly it! Sign me up -- I'm using my MDD tower for this purpose right now, and would love to have a small, connected device instead.
-John
It sold in quantities well enough to remain unchanged in the lineup for something like three or four *years*, which is nearly unbelievable by today's standards.
Great idea then, still a good idea now.
-Gator
What you're really talking about here is an Xserve mini.
Does it come in colors!!!! I want a pink one!
Originally posted by danko
something like that maybe?
i would buy it...
looks great but if it is within 500$ of the pbook, I would go laptop
Originally posted by Messiahtosh
This could be where the high end iPod goes away and in its place comes a 500 dollar desktop computer, designed as the switcher machine. Incredible idea. You have a monitor already(if not get one), you have the iPod(hopefully), now just get the 500 dollar computer and you have the complete Apple solution at a low cost.
that would sell like hotcakes, college students and the schools would go with them. great for dorm room and they could nix the windows labs for $400 with edu discounts. it would go great in existing labs useing dells because the monitors could be kept through 3 upgrade cycles and they would be quieter and undoubtidly use far less power than the 350-400 watt power supplys and the security, enough said,
I'd love an Apple media render node. With, basically, a G4, 256M RAM and some kind of network, FW800 or GigE or both. (Even FW400 would work for my desires.) They'd NetBoot from your mac, set up automatically with XGrid, and make themselves available for parallel media rendering. My personal use would be for audio (remember that a typical musician's studio these days is already a bunch of embedded computers processing in parallel) with Logic Pro and its CPU-hungry plugins. Mmmm, hundreds of reliable isochronous audio channels with guaranteed available processing power, auto-configured with Core Audio and Core Midi over FW...
Others might use such a node for XGrid-aware Photoshop filters, or Shake compositing procedures, or FCP renders, or Xcode compilations. Apple can take advantage of these render nodes in all their Pro media apps. Third parties could use published APIs to take advantage of nodes.
I'm thinking, actually, about Apple changing the rules for selling computational power. So you've got your tower, with a replaceable graphics card, as a home base for media projects, and then, instead of replacing the tower as often, you just add on media nodes. I'd just keep stacking and replace the tower when I hit internal bandwidth limits, at which point I upgrade and keep my media render network.
In fact, you could imagine a render network adding a lot of value to, say, a 20-inch iMac. That big beautiful screen with a computer attached could stay right there on my audio desk, and it won't become obsolete until it can't run the latest Logic core, because the media nodes do most of the processing.
The big issues: could render node sales make up for tower cannibalization? Well, I think a big market for render nodes would be people (like me) who've instead gone the CPU upgrade route. Sell one of these to me for something between the price of a G4 upgrade card and the cheapest eMac and I've bought new Apple hardware, with the Apple margin, even if the Mac I'm using is second-hand.
Points to ponder: What components would be essential for such a node? What are possible networking schemes (like four auto-negotiating FW ports that could set up a wired mesh network or something) and what's the most effective balance between internal and external bandwidth? How quiet could they be? Would they come in colors? Would they work with the iWalk? ('Cause that's the deal-breaker for me.)
I hope this sparks some discussion. I've been contemplating this one a while.
forgot to fix SuperDrive in the picture.. but it will have it too
When I saw the iBook looking modules further up in this thread, my brain fast forwarded to circa 2008, and the widespread availability of HDTV, and a good many progressive scan sets on the market aswell.
One 1080p plug on that box, and a spot under my big screen were my first thoughts.
The set top has been held back by two entwined aspects: User interface and screen resolution.
1920x1080 goes a long way to fixing both. Text will finally be legible at normal UI text to screen ratios, that means less of a need to cripple the UI for a 640x480 color shifting interlaced analogue display.
Think 3 chip DLP/LCD's...
It's coming to a couch near you.
Oh yes...
I Mac on the big screen...
PVR (using iCal) DVD burning/editing, iLife, email, buy-record-listen to music, digital slide shows...
iMac on the big screen!
Originally posted by Matsu
One 1080p plug on that box, and a spot under my big screen were my first thoughts.
Originally posted by bunge
Add an analog TV out.
Great minds think alike, and we do too.