1.25 GHz PowerMac G4 to become low-end?
An interesting quote from <a href="http://news.com.com/2100-1040-977881.html?tag=fd_top"; target="_blank">this</a> article at C|Net.
[quote] "Apple's professional customers are rapidly adopting Mac OS X, with more than 80 percent now choosing Mac OS X as their default OS," the company said in the statement. <strong>"To accommodate a minority of our pro customers still running Mac OS 9 applications such as QuarkXPress, Apple will continue to offer a 1.25GHz dual-processor Power Mac that will boot into Mac OS 9 until June."</strong><hr></blockquote>
Now does this mean:
1.) The 1.25 GHz will become the low-end model, as is done with the old G4s in the education market
2.) The 1.25 GHz will be the high-end model until June?
3.) The 1.25 GHZ PowerMac will be the last G4 Power Mac and the fastest one left to boot OS 9.
So, what's the real story?
(Remember, we had no idea that Apple was indeed going to release the iMac flat-panel they did, nevermind the G4 processor in it, until the leaked time article the night before the keynote.)
[ 12-14-2002: Message edited by: DHagan4755 ]</p>
[quote] "Apple's professional customers are rapidly adopting Mac OS X, with more than 80 percent now choosing Mac OS X as their default OS," the company said in the statement. <strong>"To accommodate a minority of our pro customers still running Mac OS 9 applications such as QuarkXPress, Apple will continue to offer a 1.25GHz dual-processor Power Mac that will boot into Mac OS 9 until June."</strong><hr></blockquote>
Now does this mean:
1.) The 1.25 GHz will become the low-end model, as is done with the old G4s in the education market
2.) The 1.25 GHz will be the high-end model until June?
3.) The 1.25 GHZ PowerMac will be the last G4 Power Mac and the fastest one left to boot OS 9.
So, what's the real story?
(Remember, we had no idea that Apple was indeed going to release the iMac flat-panel they did, nevermind the G4 processor in it, until the leaked time article the night before the keynote.)
[ 12-14-2002: Message edited by: DHagan4755 ]</p>
Comments
Given that they previously said MacOS9 boot capability was going away at MWSF I'd guess that the machine they are talking about might be a special-order option. It doesn't really tell us anything about the rest of their lineup, or even that only one machine will have that MacOS9 boot option. They said that the iMac2 signaled the end of the CRT at Apple, but they backed off with that too (eMac).
[ 12-14-2002: Message edited by: Programmer ]</p>
<strong>All it really means is that Apple will keep a 1.25 GHz dual processor machine that is able to boot MacOS 9 in its lineup until the middle of next year.
Given that they previously said MacOS9 boot capability was going away at MWSF I'd guess that the machine they are talking about might be a special-order option. It doesn't really tell us anything about the rest of their lineup, or even that only one machine will have that MacOS9 boot option. They said that the iMac2 signaled the end of the CRT at Apple, but they backed off with that too (eMac).
[ 12-14-2002: Message edited by: Programmer ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
when i think about it that seems a bit strange... the eMac was introduced so close after the iMac2 they must have known about it ???? or what is it?
Getting back to the topic of this thread, I think the answers are no, no, and no.
The next PM rev will be available sometime between now and the end of February, and the dual 1.25 will be the only machine left from the current lot - and thus the only one still able to boot OS 9. The newer models will probably be based on the next 74xx chip in Motorola's latest map (7457? I forget). They will have a slightly faster 200MHz MPX bus (the PDFs from Motorola indicate such a part exists and/or is compatible with said chip), and therefore Apple will probably put in new boot ROM and other new internals to go with that new FSB.
Basically they'll keep all the same core technologies but boost the MPX and the Boot ROM so they will only do X and the DDR will perform a little better than it does now.
"80% of Apple's professional customers using X"
Come on, that's just bollocks. Apple's hoping for 20% by the end of the year, so how did they suddenly go from that target to beating it by 400%!?
Additionally, I think that Apple saying that they now will have an option for those running 9.x indicates the low level of X take-up (why bother if greater than 80% are using X!?) and that they don't expect to have a new model out before next Summer.
<strong>Foul!
"80% of Apple's professional customers using X"
Come on, that's just bollocks. Apple's hoping for 20% by the end of the year, so how did they suddenly go from that target to beating it by 400%!?
Additionally, I think that Apple saying that they now will have an option for those running 9.x indicates the low level of X take-up (why bother if greater than 80% are using X!?) and that they don't expect to have a new model out before next Summer.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I think you're misinterpreting the quote: they are saying 80% of new buyers are choosing to use OSX instead of OS9. This doesn't reflect on the existing installed base, which is approaching 25% last I heard.
As for the whole Mac using population, Apple would be lucky to have 50% on OS X by this time next year. You'd be *amazed* how many people who use Macs at home have only "heard" of OS X, but don't know much about it / haven't installed it. A couple months back I thought only the people running old Macs weren't jumping on the band wagon, but there are people with fairly new iMacs and G4s from 2 and 3 years ago that haven't a clue.
Guess they have other things on their plate to worry about.
[ 12-15-2002: Message edited by: Moogs ]</p>
At least, I would like ot believe this is possible. Motorola has proven time and again they are really good at disappointing customers so we'll have to wait and see...
My dilemma is I have three choices after MWSF: buy the low end tower (whatever that happens to be) for 15% off. Buy a Sonnet card at regular prices, or just buy nothing until next fall when the new monster macs (hopefully) arrive. But even if the dual 1.25 is the low end, it is majorly choked. I have chance to use them every day along with the dual 867 and 1000's - there's really not much difference between the middle and high end on most tasks.
I almost feel like I'd be better saving my $1300 for later in the year but I'm not guaranteed I'll still have the chance to use that discount....
"If you want to continue using OS 9 to boot, you will have to buy our most expensive Power Mac."
That is good motivation to adopt OS X and tell Quark to get the heck out of the way.
<strong>3.) The 1.25 GHZ PowerMac will be the last G4 Power Mac and the fastest one left to boot OS 9.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I'm betting on this...well, at least the last 7455. The pics I've seen on the web of the chips inside shipping 1.25/G4s boxes have a "XC" prefix rather than "MPC". What I think this means is that Mot still hasn't "certified" the 1.25 and Apple has horded the uncertified ones for the past 8 months. It may explain why Mot hasn't listed the 1.25 as available or even announced that they have it. I think the 1.25 is the last 7455 and Apple's box will become an expensive OS9 boot machine for all those Quark users. Come Jan or Feb all new machines will use a whole new G4 and not just a faster version of the current chip.
More like, they'd make the high end the low, and release more powerful machines (even if not 970 based machines) that only boot X. THAT would give any professional or educational user incentive to consider finally moving to OS X, because no one wants to upgrade to a machine that's already "on the plank"....
I would think Apple would simply flex it's muscle by not installing or selling other OS9 configs. Not that they would somehow make it impossible to install. And although I do not know for sure, if it were me, I would make people still using it pay a premium and buy the most expensive PC. Now that is motivation to move from the old OS(that doesn't bode well for the next few months at least though).
Of course I could be wrong.
<strong>I think it means that the 1.25 ghz will remain the high end and that Apple is telling OS 9 users this:
"If you want to continue using OS 9 to boot, you will have to buy our most expensive Power Mac."
That is good motivation to adopt OS X and tell Quark to get the heck out of the way.</strong><hr></blockquote>
How do you figure? You are neglecting the fact that Apple will release an update in jan/Feb. The 1.25 may not be the low end, but it will not be the high end. Even so, if you want to run 9 for a while, why wouldn't get the fastest machine that will carry you a few years?
It would seem to me that, like in the education store where Apple has a special configuration to help education customers get into the G4 tower space, there would likewise be a similiar circumstance for those graphic/Quark users. This would be in the leftover PowerMac G4s 1.25 GHz models. Here's an example from the very Apple Store for Education I'm referring to:
<strong>
Duh, why can't we have those 1199 QuickSilvers in Europe!
Can a european student buy them from the US store?
Become the low-end, that is.
Lemon Bon Bon
<strong>Let's keep in mind - Just because Apple doesn't give you an OS9 CD, doesn't mean it won't actually sell machines that can't boot to it.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I think that is exactly what is about to happen. Fundamental processor/Mobo redesigns that will not allow OS9 to run specifically because of how that OS is programmed.
I can't find the link now.. but some news was just floating around about future considerations and how OS9 will ONLY be able to run in a shell program (Classic)
They can either have the current 1.25 as a Yikes thing in the low end or have it as a trailing special order like Apple did with the G4/533 for a long time for the education market.
1.25 and then 1.4 and 1.5-1-6 with a 200 MHz bus like an option. ATI 9500 in the midrange and 9700 or high end nVIDIA in the other.
If the goal is to keep the G4 at 1/2 the clockspeed of the P4 they better rev them up substantially