New iMac In September

[MacRumors]

As shown on the Apple Store:

Apple has stopped taking orders for the current iMac as we begin the transition from the current iMac line to an all-new iMac line which will be announced and available in September.

We planned to have our next generation iMac ready by the time the inventory of current iMacs runs out in the next few weeks, but our planning was obviously less than perfect.

We apologize for any inconvenience to our customers.

Rumors (thread (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2004/06/20040604142722.shtml), thread (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2004/05/20040510053824.shtml)) circulated of an updated iMac sporting a G5 processor prior to wwdc, but indications were made (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=76889) that it would not be released at that time.

[the_mole1314]

Apple admiting a new product? WTF? Is hell freezing over?

[csubear]

As shown on the Apple Store:



Rumors (thread (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2004/06/20040604142722.shtml), thread (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2004/05/20040510053824.shtml)) circulated of an updated iMac sporting a G5 processor prior to wwdc, but indications were made (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=76889) that it would not be released at that time.


cheers to apple for doing the right thing.

[bobindashadows]

Holy crap? Apple announcing a product ahead of time?!

[MoparShaha]

Holy crap? Apple announcing a product ahead of time?!Exactly. This is probably the first time in history.

[Doctor Q]

This is a very un-Apple-like way to announce a new iMac lineup. An apology on a page in the Store!?!?!? Did they mean to do it this way?

[azdude]

Apple admiting a new product? WTF? Is hell freezing over?

My thoughts exactly. This must have been a huge screwup, because it is *way* out of character.

Apparently they ran out of stock while waiting for the iMac G5... ok. Fine, but what really confuses me is that the "New One" wasn't ready enough to at least show off at WWDC and get huge press????? WTF?

[saabmp3]

"Apparently they ran out of stock while waiting for the iMac G5... ok. Fine, but what really confuses me is that the "New One" wasn't ready enough to at least show off at WWDC and get huge press????? WTF?"
Edit: Maybe they think that pro users are willing to wait for a pre-release product while home users just won't put up with that. I think pro users understand why they can order something and wait fora couple months for it to arrive while the average home users just doesn't get that concept ( and for a good reason).

Oh this makes me so happy to hear apple doing this.

And finally, no more freaking "iMac tomorrow" posts!

BEN

[deepkid]

This is so unlike Apple. However, they've handled product introductions and other matters rather differently since Steve promised 3Ghz a year ago.

I like it.

[brap]

<quagmire>all riiiight!</quagmire>

Apple did the right thing. It's going to be a long 3 months, man...

[thatwendigo]

Cue the 'omg teh powarbookz are coming!' and 'G4 is teh sux!' rants.

[dongmin]

As shown on the Apple Store:



Rumors (thread (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2004/06/20040604142722.shtml), thread (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2004/05/20040510053824.shtml)) circulated of an updated iMac sporting a G5 processor prior to wwdc, but indications were made (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=76889) that it would not be released at that time.

Holy crap!

This has to be the worst product scheduling ever!

My guess: the G5 iMac is done, rolling off the assembly line minus the 970fx. IBM is still not able to deliver the chips in volume, at least not enough to feed the Power Macs, Xserves, AND iMacs.

[Armsreach]

Is it possible that they truly were planning on releasing this at WWDC and that because of chip problems it didn't pan out? Insane. I'm just waiting for the, "So that means that the new Powerbooks are coming in August, right?" :p

<edit>D'oh! All you quick typers out there.</edit>

[CMillerERAU]

Very wierd... This makes me wonder how different this new imac is, obviously not the same enclosure by a long shot. Perhaps the previous rumors of a LCD w/CPU on the back are true? I'd think it hilarious if they did something like that with the new 30" display. Hard to not have another MacTV with screen size like that, no matter how much Steve J. hates it.

[blasto333]

Apparently they ran out of stock while waiting for the iMac G5... ok. Fine, but what really confuses me is that the "New One" wasn't ready enough to at least show off at WWDC and get huge press????? WTF?

Very Good point. Why not announce it then and say shipping in September?!?!?

[Bakey]

Holy crap? Apple announcing a product ahead of time?!

What!? Unlike the dual 2gig G5!! Sorry, couldn't resist... I'll quit with the sarcasm right now!!!

[ccuilla]

It's going to be a long 3 months, man...

Optimistically, it could be only 2.

:)

[intrepkid21]

Glad i told some dude at Compusa to wait for the imac G5's today.

[blueBomber]

I guess loose lips can't sink ships if there is no product to ship. Very un-Apple like (but it's cool that they can own up to it).

[azdude]

I'm just waiting for the, "So that means that the new Powerbooks are coming in August, right?" :p

If MR people had a brain, then this article would actually put that to rest. Apple never has problems *THIS* *GIGANTIC*. If IBM's yields (likely cause) are so low, does anyone really expect to get Powerbooks soon *too*?

/me Crosses fingers for a little bit of MR sanity, then cries and gives up in hopeless realism.

[michaelrjohnson]

As commented on above, I have never seen Apple pre-announce an upcoming new product line before in my many, many years of Apple-watching!

It's both shocking and comforting to know when there will be a new product. IMHO, this is a good thing to avoid dragging out an old product (and not get flack for it).

[Macmaniac]

September!! Omg that is way to long, we several iMacs on order for our customers and our suppliers have zero stock! Apple better have some huge reserve to ship to their distributors or people are going to have to wait 3 months, that is ridiculous. Of course when they announce the new iMacs they won't ship until October.

[MacsRgr8]

Truly unbelievable!

This must be a huge "mix" up.... :confused:

[VectorWarrior]

Great news that the iMac is being updated but to me this seems to be another screw up of sorts/disappointment to come out of apple over the last few months. They promised us that this year was going to be something special... what goin on apple?

[the silver fox]

Very Good point. Why not announce it then and say shipping in September?!?!?

Maybe the specs on the chips aren't finalised.

[ITR 81]

I knew something was up when they took my 15in iMac and then replaced it with 17in iMac.

I figured it was to make way for new iMacs.

I guess my story got overlooked.

[dongmin]

My thoughts exactly. This must have been a huge screwup, because it is *way* out of character.

Apparently they ran out of stock while waiting for the iMac G5... ok. Fine, but what really confuses me is that the "New One" wasn't ready enough to at least show off at WWDC and get huge press????? WTF?Yeah, this IS rather weird on Apple's part. They MUST have a few working iMac prototypes. I take back what I said, they must be having some SERIOUS engineering issues if they can't even show a prototype.

Hey, only 62 days until September!

If they're shipping in September, then could we expect an announcement sometime in July or August. The next big Mac event???

[Mudbug]

Very Good point. Why not announce it then and say shipping in September?!?!?

well, there's probably some REALLY GOOD reason under the hood why, because steve has never stepped away from the spotlight to do much of anything. This is a snafu on somebody's part, and I'm willing to bet Mr. Jobs ain't happy about it one bit.

On the flip side, there's a couple of shows coming up to showcase the new model, and anticipation of it's new shape/form/processor/whatever will surely build to a frenzy (even more than normal, I would assume) by it's actual release date. (MacWorld, ExpoParis)

[invaLPsion]

This is ingenius marketing by Apple. If they have to "prepare" for a transition to a new line, this must be a gigantic update.

Let the hype begin. :)

[Lancetx]

Yeah, this IS rather weird on Apple's part. They MUST have a few working iMac prototypes. I take back what I said, they must be having some SERIOUS engineering issues if they can't even show a prototype.

Hey, only 62 days until September!

If they're shipping in September, then could we expect an announcement sometime in July or August. The next big Mac event???

I guess we'll all have to tune in for Steve's keynote in Paris to get the details. As for stores that still have current iMacs in stock, I wonder if they'll be discounted since they're technically discontinued models now.

[Phelark]

Specuation people, speculation!

If the hype machine is warming up for September, this will be TRICKED OUT! I wonder if it will have toaster support.

Oooooh, and I was in the market for a new Mac tooo.

[azdude]

If they're shipping in September, then could we expect an announcement sometime in July or August. The next big Mac event???

That's just it... Apple doesn't have another big Mac event until Jan.... They aren't going to the next MacWorld IIRC.

EDIT: NM... forgot about Paris.

[The Tuck]

It is very unlike Apple, but all the same, I can't help but smile when I think about it. :cool:

[Darwin]

Well, Apple may have told us of a new iMac

I'm sure they have a surprise, i mean they have actually said we are getting a new model so if the surprise of new iMacs is gone there must be something pretty cool in this machine

Same thing kinda of happened when the G5 was shown on Apples website, yet at the WWDC they still wowed us

[Rower_CPU]

That's just it... Apple doesn't have another big Mac event until Jan.... They aren't going to the next MacWorld IIRC.

Apple Expo Paris (http://www.apple-expo.com/)

[Hawthorne]

The blood's got to be at least ankle-deep in the iMac development area over this one.

[The Tuck]

Detachable display with built in wireless and tablet in the screen?

[unfaded]

September!! Omg that is way to long, we several iMacs on order for our customers and our suppliers have zero stock! Apple better have some huge reserve to ship to their distributors or people are going to have to wait 3 months, that is ridiculous. Of course when they announce the new iMacs they won't ship until October.

What about AVAILABLE IN SEPTEMBER do you not get? That would highly discount an October availability.

[ITR 81]

September!! Omg that is way to long, we several iMacs on order for our customers and our suppliers have zero stock! Apple better have some huge reserve to ship to their distributors or people are going to have to wait 3 months, that is ridiculous. Of course when they announce the new iMacs they won't ship until October.

If they do you like they did me they will upgrade your order.

All 15in are being filled by 17in iMacs and one can assume all 17in iMacs are being filled by 20in iMacs.

[The Tuck]

I went to the Paris Expo in 2002, but it wasn't much more than a repeat of the July MacWorld. There's something much more in store this year I hope.

[dongmin]

Maybe the specs on the chips aren't finalised.

Apple probably CANNOT commit to a particular range of G5s for the iMacs to make an announcement and be taking orders.

It's crazy--the chip situation can't be THAT fluid?!?! Yeah the 3 ghz in a year projection was boneheaded, but IBM can't even project two months into the future???

Well, the upshot to all this is: No more G4s in the iMacs!

[1macker1]

This is great! Finally a def. date. I bet there are some cold people in hell right now.

[xtekdiver]

Apple admiting a new product? WTF? Is hell freezing over?

Hell sure is a cold place. Wow, this is a new one for Apple. There is a new rumor site www.apple.com -- check it out. Put's MacRumors to shame. ;)

[quagmire]

<quagmire>all riiiight!</quagmire>

Apple did the right thing. It's going to be a long 3 months, man...

Why did you quote me? I didn't say anything.

On topic. G5's G5's. If apple doesn't release a G5 imac in september and with a speed bumped G4. How many people will be pissed?

[Balooba]

They must be making more profit on the New Models than then old ones. Otherwise they should really have just made more of the current iMacs, at least enough to supply the store until the Back-to-school campaigns.

At the moment the only desktop G4 is the eMac which probably costs "next to nothing" to make anyway.

It could also be that the sales have plummeted anyway and that they hope the really desperate Mac buyers will go for a PowerMac G5 instead.

[maxmag]

Ok - so I had lunch with my friend Steve today. His last name begins with S and ends in S and we ate at a restaurant in Cupertino. You guess the rest. Anyway, apparently what happened was the product was supposed to have demoed at the wwdc, but chip outputs weren't high enough. Stevie wants to get away from introducing products at conferences anyway, so he figured he'd just have it announced on the website anyway. Plus, it may be delayed until the end of September. Also - Stevo has a new ipod in the works that has an aluminum one-piece enclosure similar to the mini - as well as a new control wheel like the mini too. Plus a couple other features that you might find pretty shocking. Anyway guys, have fun.
Later,
KDawg

[kidA]

good on them for doing the right thing. sure it's uncharacteristic, but they've never really had to deal with a problem like this. the problem isn't really that the imac g5 is late, it's that they've already stopped production of the imac g4. products have been late before, but the old models have still been around well after new product announcements. apple just stopped production too early in hopes that the imac g5 would be ready sooner. my guess is that it's not apple's fault, but a problem with a supplier.

[xtekdiver]

I'm surprised that they didn't post an artist's conceptual drawing and then remove it due to Apple legal :)

[The Tuck]

Umm. You know Steve? Yeah...

[SpaceMagic]

First un-aqua like "Gadgets" in Tiger, now pre-announcing products! I think Apple has finally lost the plot!

I'm thinking Paris Expo, September.

New Design. G5 Hopefully.

Being cynical --- they have ONLY done this because everyone is criticising them for not releasing iMacs, and it's had an effect on their share price!

[keysersoze]

PIZZA BOX iMAC HERE I COME!!!!

I KNEW it was true!!!

:) :) :)

[makkystyle]

September!! Omg that is way to long, we several iMacs on order for our customers and our suppliers have zero stock! Apple better have some huge reserve to ship to their distributors or people are going to have to wait 3 months, that is ridiculous. Of course when they announce the new iMacs they won't ship until October.

You did read that it said "announced and AVAILABLE in September"????? And also you do realize that, no, they do not have any reserves???? It seems like a pretty straightforward statement to me.

[BornAgainMac]

Apple should have a tab on their website called rumors. It is better than hunting around in the online store for that information. They can bill it as the most accurate rumor site on Apple on the planet.

[dongmin]

If MR people had a brain, then this article would actually put that to rest. Apple never has problems *THIS* *GIGANTIC*. If IBM's yields (likely cause) are so low, does anyone really expect to get Powerbooks soon *too*?

/me Crosses fingers for a little bit of MR sanity, then cries and gives up in hopeless realism.

this and the fact that Apple has come out and explicitly stated no Powerbook G5s before the end of the year.

http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/2004/06/09/apple/index.php?redirect=1086765595000

sorry for the OT post.

[DMann]

Apple admiting a new product? WTF? Is hell freezing over?

Apple would like to catch the Back-to-School wave,
and this will possible help that happen. An announcement
and demo at the Paris Expo on iMac's birthday will be
very likely.

[mactarkus]

We diehard mac rumor watchers had enough suspense with unconfirmed, wild speculation about Apple activity. With this juicy news, how will anybody sleep? Imagine if Apple starts releasing bits and pieces of details as we head into September...a shot of the corner of the iMac, a spec or two here, a fancy new designation! I thought waiting for my CTO 2.5 GHz G5/Nvidia 6800Ultra was going to be tough. Now I have to wait to see what's in store on the iMac front too?

[gekko513]

This doesn't sound like good news to me. It sounds like Apple is in trouble. They have no real computer offer between $1000 and $2000 for the next months. If you consider the fact that the iMac was very old and has been an even worse purchase ever since the eMac got upgraded, Apple will have no good offer between $1000 and $2000 for almost half a year! :eek:

[madrobby]

At the austrian store the prices are announces as "-1,20" Euros for each one of them, but you can't order them... :rolleyes:

http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/austrianstore.woa/90105/wo/u45ExmtbUmQq2WmmcI7oZVXUcmO/0.0.7.1.0.6.21.1.2.1.1.0.0.1.0

[DMann]

First un-aqua like "Gadgets" in Tiger, now pre-announcing products! I think Apple has finally lost the plot!

I'm thinking Paris Expo, September.

New Design. G5 Hopefully.

Being cynical --- they have ONLY done this because everyone is criticising them for not releasing iMacs, and it's had an effect on their share price!

That, and the fact that Paris Expo falls on iMac's B-day....

[musicpyrite]

Ok - so I had lunch with my friend Steve today. His last name begins with S and ends in S and we ate at a restaurant in Cupertino. You guess the rest. Anyway, apparently what happened was the product was supposed to have demoed at the wwdc, but chip outputs weren't high enough. Stevie wants to get away from introducing products at conferences anyway, so he figured he'd just have it announced on the website anyway. Plus, it may be delayed until the end of September. Also - Stevo has a new ipod in the works that has an aluminum one-piece enclosure similar to the mini - as well as a new control wheel like the mini too. Plus a couple other features that you might find pretty shocking. Anyway guys, have fun.
Later,
KDawg

wtf?

How do all you newbies come in here and tell us all this amazing stuff about products and updates.(unless your being sarcastic)

:confused:

[jobberwacky]

Just tried the UK and the Swiss store. Looks like Europeans are expected to acquire those legacy systems :D

[HyperliteG4]

Umm. You know Steve? Yeah...

the guy said his friend's first name was Steve and last name began with an S and ended with an S

not to be confused with Steve JobS

[kangaroo]

For those of you who follow the iMac numbers (read: avg vol/mo.)--what's the potential revenue loss here?

As for cause--I suspect inadequate IBM yields to support the demand for a major upgrade heading into the Xmas season. :eek:

[Peyote]

Cue the 'omg teh powarbookz are coming!' and 'G4 is teh sux!' rants.


Yah know...complaining about people that talk like that is just as annoying as the people that actually talk like that. I'm starting to think more people on here bitch about the people that talk about products that are obviously not ready yet, than there are the people that are actually being bitched about. Sorry, don't take this personally, I'm just getting tired of people complaining about people's unrealistic expectations...you CAN ignore them you know...

-end rant

[DMann]

This doesn't sound like good news to me. It sounds like Apple is in trouble. They have no real computer offer between $1000 and $2000 for the next months. If you consider the fact that the iMac was very old and has been an even worse purchase ever since the eMac got upgraded, Apple will have no good offer between $1000 and $2000 for almost half a year! :eek:

The delay is likely because of 970FX cooling complications
with the smaller unit of the iMac. I suspect an announcement
sooner than September, however......

[fraeone]

Boy oh boy. At least we know when to wait for. I vote for AFFORDABLE G5s. (And a headless option! yeah I wish..) The new G5s have increased in price (!). Plus chip yields can't be as big of a problem for these because they won't be dualies.

With Apple announcing that the PowerMac G4s were almost gone, and now this, there is nothing in the mid range at all. I hope these don't debut at similar prices to the current G5 lineup. I love my PowerBook but desktop Macs need to be a little more price competitive (so I can afford one).

[nagromme]

September is two months away. Apple will survive IBM's delay--and so will customers forced to choose an eMac. It's no LCD, but it iS a great display and the same powerful computer inside--for less money.

And PowerMac G4s still start at $1299--not a bad option either.

[cryptochrome]

So what about macworld? Any rumors about what may be introduced then? It's at the end of this month (seems like a good time to preview/push forward the new iMac).

[crees!]

Great news that the iMac is being updated but to me this seems to be another screw up of sorts/disappointment to come out of apple over the last few months. They promised us that this year was going to be something special... what goin on apple? "Great news that the iMac is being updated... seems like a screw up" Talk about a contradiction in a half! Your comment makes no sense at all. I'd suggest laying off the crack. Oh, and last I checked September is still remaining in this year.

[macridah]

woo hoo ...

When apple says announced and available ... that better not mean order an iMac and receive it months later.

Is it a G5? is it a totally new case? When I read this article http://www.thinksecret.com/news/wwdc04apple.html

notice what the source says "Besides, Apple is just starting to build this product in Asia, we're told."

I guess the nearest event to annouce it is the mac expo in paris. That's cool. I'll get one only if it's @ least 2GHz.

BUt when I come to think about it, like others have been posting, why not announce it at the wwdc and say it's available in sept.

[reyesmac]

This is really amazing. I have never heard of anything like this happening. It makes me wish they would come out with it sooner. They need to bundle the new imacs with iPods that can dock in a slot on the iMac. And a removable display. This is probably going to be bad publicity though because we can wait one month, but two? Thats stretching it. They should lower the price of the G4 tower for a while to make up for it.

If they wanted to get rid of inventory that badly, they must think whatever they do have will sell like crazy.

[PRØBE]

Holy crap!

This has to be the worst product scheduling ever!

My guess: the G5 iMac is done, rolling off the assembly line minus the 970fx. IBM is still not able to deliver the chips in volume, at least not enough to feed the Power Macs, Xserves, AND iMacs.






That sounds about right to me.

[wrldwzrd89]

Boy oh boy. At least we know when to wait for. I vote for AFFORDABLE G5s. (And a headless option! yeah I wish..) The new G5s have increased in price (!). Plus chip yields can't be as big of a problem for these because they won't be dualies.

With Apple announcing that the PowerMac G4s were almost gone, and now this, there is nothing in the mid range at all. I hope these don't debut at similar prices to the current G5 lineup. I love my PowerBook but desktop Macs need to be a little more price competitive (so I can afford one).
You are absolutely right - what happened to mid-range Macs? Regarding your point on price of desktop Macs, the prices won't get any lower as long as Apple's manufacturing costs and bundled software stay the same.

[brap]

Why did you quote me? I didn't say anything.
Family guy quagmire. Feh...

[fabsgwu]

If they're truely out of invintory of current iMac's there's no reason to "Surprise" us at some event right before it's ready. Better to build hype and have a moth or two for an ad blitz. I'm guessing it was a combination of greater demand and G5 issues; they're missing back-to-school season again.

[Nermal]

Why did you quote me? I didn't say anything.

LOL :D

...or were you being serious? :eek:

[MacFan26]

Apple would like to catch the Back-to-School wave,
and this will possible help that happen.

I would be cool if they could be available in August, when more of the education sales are. Oh well, September's not bad. This is probably the only time I've ever seen a company apologize for running out of a product like that. I wonder what caused the delay.

[Chip NoVaMac]

Holy crap!

This has to be the worst product scheduling ever!


Anyone see a new job posting for product management? :D

[aswitcher]

This is ingenius marketing by Apple. If they have to "prepare" for a transition to a new line, this must be a gigantic update.

Let the hype begin. :)


Yes. Finally a clear sign that the line is in for a major overhaul.

So they haven't released the specs because
a) they want to clear the rest of the imacs out
b) they haven't settled on the final configs (chips?)
c) they don't want to give the competition 2 months head start

I expect a G5. 1.6 is my bet. Maybe a 1.8 and 2 for high end.

I expect a dome - given Steve's search...although the fact he didn't find a computer dome might actually mean there is no dome in the next...

I expect METAL shell! I think the new 20 and 23 mean we are going to see the same "look" in the consumer line.

I am hoping for different colours.

I suspect different "arm" inline with the new stand concept...maybe something that keeps the screen better balanced so they can reduce the overall weight of the 20"...maybe a iMac that slots into/onto the base of the current new screens!!!! Ok, got a bit carried away :o

I think 17 and 20...maybe, just maybe a 23... Apple have always hauled the market up on screens

I expect a wireless METAL look keyboard and mouse! Finally.

I expect slot loading drive 8x super...which actually clears the keyboard height! Maybe that new ink writer one that allows you to lazer your art onto your newly burned disk.

I expect firewire and USB 2 on the screen and/or at least front mounted. Possibly a special iPod seating arrangement/holder option...

WiFi built in as standard. If they dont go with the new screens then maybe a version with the antenae in the screen like the powerbooks

Maybe, just maybe an iPod like interface on the screen or iMac base to control music! Probably dont need this if you have an iPod but it would look cool and be pretty practical for most people.

New Speakers! Maybe WiFi speakers for streaming? Probably too expensive... Maybe quad/dolby 5.1 option. Maybe iPod like volume/music control on one of those! At least an audio out like the Airport Express with fibre option.

all for now

[afields]

Well I for one, am excited. At least we know when it's coming now. Thats to bad for some that they are no longer taking orders on the old mac. Hopefully it will they will ship the beginning of September. It almost certainly will be a G5.

Let the speculation begin!!! :) :) :D

[isgoed]

I am so curious what the specs and price will be like, I am hoping for an upgradable graphics card. The coming months will be some of the most interesting rumorwise

At the austrian store the prices are announces as "-1,20" Euros for each one of them, but you can't order them... :rolleyes:

http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/austrianstore.woa/90105/wo/u45ExmtbUmQq2WmmcI7oZVXUcmO/0.0.7.1.0.6.21.1.2.1.1.0.0.1.0

Yeah, really curious. This is the first time I see such a thing on the apple site. I was just on the apple store site checking the price of the geforce 6800 with a dual 1.8 PM when I saw this news on macrumors. All you poster should take a look at the site, because i think a lot of you made your post straight away in order to be the first (While I read this thread, it grew 40 posts), but it really looks awkward

BTW, Apple Expo — Paris is on Aug 31-Sep 4 http://www.apple.com/hotnews/
(see list of events on the right)

[age234]

Oh boy, 60 days! That's such a looooooooooong time!!!!!!!!

[/sarcastic]

Come on, just build a bridge and get over it. It's in September. That's really not a long time. Think about it: 60 days ago, I was just done with spring break. It doesn't seem like it was that long ago.

Quit whining about it. It is what it is, and no amount of whining will change it.

[crees!]

This is ingenius marketing by Apple. If they have to "prepare" for a transition to a new line, this must be a gigantic update.

Let the hype begin. :) I think you read Apple's statement wrong. They initially planned to have the new iMac ready to ship when supplies of the current iMac were hitting bone dry in the next week or two. But somewhere there was a setback and the new iMacs are not ready. So instead of producing more of the current machine they are putting a hold until the new iMacs are ready. Ingenius? Not at all. Unexpected delays? Most likely.

[morkintosh]

Apple admiting a new product? WTF? Is hell freezing over?

nope, they just got caught with their pants down! Sort of hard to run out of inventory of a product with not explaination as to when new stuff is coming.

[3.1416]

Better to build hype and have a moth or two for an ad blitz.
Wouldn't a panther or tiger be better? :)

[dizastor]

In a surprise move, today in Cupertino, California Apple CEO Steve Jobs held a press conference to once again backpedal on a previously made statement:

"In January, at MacWorld I stated that 2004 would be a great year for the Mac platform... due to unforseen product delays and 'the entire industry hitting the wall at 90nm' I would like to state that the 'Great year' for the mac platform will begin in 2005. Thank you for your time."

Lets hope the leap to 65nm isn't quite this rough.

[musicpyrite]

Oh boy, 60 days! That's such a looooooooooong time!!!!!!!!

[/sarcastic]

Come on, just build a bridge and get over it. It's in September. That's really not a long time. Think about it: 60 days ago, I was just done with spring break. It doesn't seem like it was that long ago.

Quit whining about it. It is what it is, and no amount of whining will change it.

I think we have a right to complain.

Apple has no desktop computer in the $1000-2000 range.

That's not good.

[Skraemer123]

anyone notice when SJ was demoing Spotlight his searches were imac paris and birthday?

[isgoed]

anyone notice when SJ was demoing Spotlight his searches were imac paris and birthday?

Good catch sherlock, I don't remember birthday though.

I do have a prediction:

STYLE: iPod Mini Colors with metal

[afields]

Looks like Appleinsider wasn't full of ***** afterall. Thinksecrets claim that apple was "laughing" at the rumors looks to be untrue. My guess is that apple did intend to release the imac sooner.

[Aciddan]

Originally Posted by thatwendigo
Cue the 'omg teh powarbookz are coming!' and 'G4 is teh sux!' rants.

You know, it's a good thing I finished drinking my morning coffee - for some reason "G4 is teh sux!" tickles my chortle gland... Now I have to figure out a way to put that phrase into a conversation today (it's even funnier spoken out loud):

Poor Sod: How are you?
Me: G4 is teh sux!
Poor Sod: Oh My God! My ears! It Burrrrns!

Now, just so I can remain on topic ;) - If you are in Australia, you can still buy iMacs from the apple store (as of 10 minutes ago when I checked). Apparently, I have found Apple's missing inventory :D

-- Dan =)

[jayscheuerle]

G5 iMacs? Aluminum enclosures?
Apple is putting a G5 in their consumer machine before their pro laptops get them?

Starting at $2000 for the 17" model ($1200 sans display)...

So Apple is completely abandoning the consumer market... nothing but expensive pro machines from here on out (and shut your yaps about the eMac)...

The amount of heavily fanned, open-air cooling space in the lowest end G5 tower has more volume than the current iMac takes up. What kind of cooling system are you dreamers thinking of? Liquid helium?

Maybe there's a reason there was no fanfare for these machines...

[azdude]

anyone notice when SJ was demoing Spotlight his searches were imac paris and birthday?

Hahah... brilliant!

[virividox]

this is a first eeeek

[sockeatingdryer]

Now my new eMac is looking older... ;) I thought I was being smart, getting a great deal. That was just confirmed with Boger's statement about G5 delays. And now, this. They should have said this sooner... I could've waited a couple months, darn it! :mad:
Oh, well, I'm still keeping this eMac 'till graduation... Go Class of 2006! :p

[Chip NoVaMac]

Apple would like to catch the Back-to-School wave,
and this will possible help that happen. An announcement
and demo at the Paris Expo on iMac's birthday will be
very likely.

Unless they can really ramp up production, they will lose market share for the back to school period. The eMac is affordable, but big and heavy for school. The PB's maybe to pricey for some compared to the offering on the current iMac side.

Though this does dovetail into a thread here that Apple may do a PB and iPod promo. This would be one way to keep some market-share for those that don't want to wait.

[PRØBE]

Ok - so I had lunch with my friend Steve today. His last name begins with S and ends in S and we ate at a restaurant in Cupertino. You guess the rest. Anyway, apparently what happened was the product was supposed to have demoed at the wwdc, but chip outputs weren't high enough. Stevie wants to get away from introducing products at conferences anyway, so he figured he'd just have it announced on the website anyway. Plus, it may be delayed until the end of September. Also - Stevo has a new ipod in the works that has an aluminum one-piece enclosure similar to the mini - as well as a new control wheel like the mini too. Plus a couple other features that you might find pretty shocking. Anyway guys, have fun.
Later,
KDawg



Oh hush with your rumor summary. Everything you said has been being kicked around for months.

[aafuss1]

Also the same message is posted at the iMac website. It is great to see that a new iMac will be released in September (it is long overdue for an update).

[Porchland]

Is it possible that they truly were planning on releasing this at WWDC and that because of chip problems it didn't pan out? Insane. I'm just waiting for the, "So that means that the new Powerbooks are coming in August, right?" :p

<edit>D'oh! All you quick typers out there.</edit>

They could have shown SOMETHING. Makes me think there's going to be another show of some sort -- maybe at Macworld.

[afields]

Looks like Appleinsider wasn't full of ***** afterall. Thinksecrets claim that apple was "laughing" at the rumors looks to be untrue. My guess is that apple did intend to release the imac sooner.

Good point.

[rdowns]

The blood's got to be at least ankle-deep in the iMac development area over this one.

Why? We don't know if the problem is at Apple. Could be IBM and chip yields or, bite my tongue, Motor, er, Freescale and a new G4 going in an iMac.

I so want a G5 iMac. At least I know I'll get it in September or October.

[aldo]

Oh boy, 60 days! That's such a looooooooooong time!!!!!!!!

[/sarcastic]

Come on, just build a bridge and get over it. It's in September. That's really not a long time. Think about it: 60 days ago, I was just done with spring break. It doesn't seem like it was that long ago.

Quit whining about it. It is what it is, and no amount of whining will change it.

Are you insane? The iMac is Apple's best selling computer (well, lumped with the eMac). This is like Microsoft saying it won't be selling Office for 60 days.

This is a total disaster. The whole year has been and Apple must be thanking Steve for investing so much in iPod and ITMS otherwise this would of been an absolutely disastrous year for them.

[iGary]

G5? :D

or 1.5 ghz G4? :eek:

[SeanMcg]

Apple announces ship date, ship date slips - we complain that they announced too early.

Apple tries to prevent people's orders from being cancelled due to exhausted inventory and we complain.

We complain about Microsoft copying Apple and calling it innovation, and then we complain that our favorite, truly innovative company is not doing things the way they "always" did.

(Just an observation - and an oversimplified one at that - but not a complaint ;) )

(As for the Apple buyers outside the US, I wouldn't be surprised if the same warning starts gradually rolling through the other stores, since they don't all ship from the same place.)

[miradu]

A quick note in responce to people think that Apple could have just produced more iMacs to fill the gap -

Most likely Apple built up a stock pile that was supposed to last until two weeks from now or so, in the mean time they most likely retooled their assembly line for the new mac at a fairly high cost and have run into production problems. Now they can't go back and make more old imacs because they do not have the production capabilities;it would be a huge amount of money to go back the old factory toolings... So they're stuck. Manufactoring is a very expensive part of the computer process...

[azdude]

G5? :D

or 1.5 ghz G4? :eek:

A 1.5 ghz G4 would be unlikely to qualify as an "All-new Lineup", nor would it have yield problems *this bad.*

[LaMerVipere]

This is fab news, perhaps I will pick one up for college. :D

[goglamosh]

Apple has no desktop computer between $1000-$2000? How about these: http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/71507/wo/Yc6gbTTdJuh02aso8aj1yu1NTxQ/0.0.7.1.0.6.21.1.8.1.0.0.0.1.0?

[maita]

Could it be so that there is a different problem for Apple - namely it's not so much with IBM as with MOTO?!

could it be that G4 are "no more"?

the g5 imac's are not ready and so there is nothing to sell/buy

could it be that it is a designated decoy of something different entirely?

[themacman]

Why did you quote me? I didn't say anything.

On topic. G5's G5's. If apple doesn't release a G5 imac in september and with a speed bumped G4. How many people will be pissed?

More then i can count with the worlds fingers and toes

[Chip NoVaMac]

Why? We don't know if the problem is at Apple. Could be IBM and chip yields or, bite my tongue, Motor, er, Freescale and a new G4 going in an iMac.

I so want a G5 iMac. At least I know I'll get it in September or October.

Yeah, but Apple should have had better planning IMO. With their just in time inventory system (BTO) it should have been easier to keep a minimum G4 iMac's in channel.

The other factor is that Apple could now be looking for a new manufacturer. For the blame could be with the plant that did the G4 iMac, and they could be the ones to do the G5 iMac. They may not have the capacity to produce more than one line at a time. Does anyone know if Apple sole sources the iMac G4?

[PRØBE]

...I thought waiting for my CTO 2.5 GHz G5/Nvidia 6800Ultra was going to be tough. Now I have to wait to see what's in store on the iMac front too?





Show off :)

[bertagert]

Come one people. This IS NOT good news. Apple will be losing a lot of income because of this. Who cares if they release new imacs in July or September? It doesn't matter either way. The problem is they don't have anything to sell which means they don't bring in money. Again, this is a very very bad thing. Watch the stock plunge a bit tomorrow.

Before you guys jump all over me, yes, its nice that a new imac is coming out. Not having anything to sell in the mean time is not so nice.

I've high-lighted the important words in my post so you can see the problems more clearly.

[sdf]

Exactly. This is probably the first time in history.

You're joking, right? It's been 50% at best the last few years for whether a product is ready to ship when announced.

What is new is pre-announcing an announcement without including glorius, detailed specs. Which makes me think it competes favourably with the current crop of G5 towers. :)

[Chip NoVaMac]

Apple has no desktop computer between $1000-$2000? How about these: http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/71507/wo/Yc6gbTTdJuh02aso8aj1yu1NTxQ/0.0.7.1.0.6.21.1.8.1.0.0.0.1.0?

Yeah, but Apple has already said production has stopped on that one if I saw a note here correctly. Also talk about "old tech"!

[må¥å]

SJ comment on this is going to be an amazing mac year could also mean a new game plan for the company they are going to do untraditional releases and announcements that were not done previously.

REMEMBER the TIGER OS is 64-bit so they have to move most of they hardware line to 64-bit along with software for 2005 so it burn the competition out of the arena. The eMac and iBook still might have G4 however TIGER has support for those lines no biggy.

With the iMac G5 innards spaced out flat that meant that the G5 chip can be cooled easier and with AL that is the magic recipe, no need for hugh fans like the Tower since its not expandable.

This is Great news even though its not like Apple, this is the new Apple we are seeing with Support for MAC + PC ;)

Something tells me at MWSF 2005 we will see PB G5 2GHz min model along with a 3.5GHz PM and the iMac G5 top end at 2GHz.

[sdf]

bertagert, bud, some of us got it. Although I suppose the ones that didn't really do need red words. :)

[iGary]

Apple has no desktop computer between $1000-$2000? How about these: http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/71507/wo/Yc6gbTTdJuh02aso8aj1yu1NTxQ/0.0.7.1.0.6.21.1.8.1.0.0.0.1.0?

The single 1.25 is the only one available. The BTO options have been discontinued.

[primalman]

They could have shown SOMETHING. Makes me think there's going to be another show of some sort -- maybe at Macworld.

Like the Paris Expo? Which is in September BTW.

[rdowns]

the guy said his friend's first name was Steve and last name began with an S and ended with an S

not to be confused with Steve JobS

You learn something new every day. I always wondered what SeusS' first name was.

[PRØBE]

At the austrian store the prices are announces as "-1,20" Euros for each one of them, but you can't order them... :rolleyes:

http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/austrianstore.woa/90105/wo/u45ExmtbUmQq2WmmcI7oZVXUcmO/0.0.7.1.0.6.21.1.2.1.1.0.0.1.0



What are you talking about? Are you lost in the wrong thread or am I missing something? Perhaps you understood "itunes" instead of "iMac"?

[manu chao]

I know that it takes weeks if not months to ramp up a production of a (new) line of computers.

But, why on earth did they not order another lot of let's say 100 000 iMacs (current modell), as soon as is it became clear that the new iMac wouldn't make it on time. I know they might have had problems getting all the components together, and restarting a production line can be terrible expensive. But better not making no profit at all when selling them, than not being able to sell anything at all.
(o.k. they probably did the calculation and it would have been horribly expensive for them.)

Now, let them buy used iMacs on E-bay or start a trade-in program for iMacs and sell them in their refurb store.

[dontmatter]

man, I've got no idea how to rate this. September is a long way. now is more than late enough. But, I think it's a good move of apple's to actually talk about it, make people know they arent' just being stupid. Now, they do need to stop having such hurdles with doing everything. Then again, that they say all this about technical problems makes me think it's definately a g5, and maybe more cool stuff, too

[Krevnik]

SJ comment on this is going to be an amazing mac year could also mean a new game plan for the company they are going to do untraditional releases and announcements that were not done previously.

REMEMBER the TIGER OS is 64-bit so they have to move most of they hardware line to 64-bit along with software for 2005 so it burn the competition out of the arena. The eMac and iBook still might have G4 however TIGER has support for those lines no biggy.

With the iMac G5 innards spaced out flat that meant that the G5 chip can be cooled easier and with AL that is the magic recipe, no need for hugh fans like the Tower since its not expandable.

This is Great news even though its not like Apple, this is the new Apple we are seeing with Support for MAC + PC ;)

Something tells me at MWSF 2005 we will see PB G5 2GHz min model along with a 3.5GHz PM and the iMac G5 top end at 2GHz.

The PM got a 12% speedbump in 12 months, and they are supposed to pull off something like a 40% speedbump in 6? I don't think so.

[bar italia]

This is fab news, perhaps I will pick one up for college. :D

Be sure to give us an update!

[Hemingray]

Wow... that's unprecedented. ...wow. Well, at least Apple has the balls to admit it! Doesn't bother me a bit, because I know it'll be worth the wait. Apple, don't worry, you still rock. :)

[whooleytoo]

While this is probably a massive cock-up by Apple, just imagine the pent-up demand this will create! The new iMac could be Apple's fastest selling Mac ever!

[elo]

A quick note in responce to people think that Apple could have just produced more iMacs to fill the gap -

Most likely Apple built up a stock pile that was supposed to last until two weeks from now or so, in the mean time they most likely retooled their assembly line for the new mac at a fairly high cost and have run into production problems. Now they can't go back and make more old imacs because they do not have the production capabilities;it would be a huge amount of money to go back the old factory toolings... So they're stuck. Manufactoring is a very expensive part of the computer process...

Exactly, Miradu. We have no way of knowing what the problem was, but they certainly would have kept selling iMacs in the meantime if they could.

On another point, everyone's math is wrong. The announcement should not be read at saying it will be 60 days with no iMac. It's *90* days with no iMac. You don't announce a particular month and then deliver at the beginning of that month.

I think it's hard to read this as anything other than an unmitigated disaster for Apple. Most people buy computers in the very price range that Apple has now vacated. This will help notebook sales, but could negatively impact Apple's market share--that's a lot of missed sales.

One other thing: I don't know why anyone is surprised or upset by the idea that the G5 may make it into an iMac before a PowerBook. It simply isn't ready to be a notebook chip right now and the G4 remains an excellent chip for notebooks. It's much better for Apple to use the best technology it can in each individual model.

elo

[madrobby]

What are you talking about? Are you lost in the wrong thread or am I missing something? Perhaps you understood "itunes" instead of "iMac"?

You are missing something. The current price for an iMac in the Austrian Apple store is -1,20 Euros (a negative number, that is)... Try the link. Alas, no "order" buttons... :(

[stuepfnick]

The delay is likely because of 970FX cooling complications
with the smaller unit of the iMac. I suspect an announcement
sooner than September, however......

You are right, it will be announced on August 31st. Apple Expo Paris Keynote. Just think about: "Paris" "iMac" "birthday", if that's not a clear hint from Steve, what elese? (these were the search queries of the spotlight demo at WWDC)

[whooleytoo]

Very Good point. Why not announce it then and say shipping in September?!?!?

Maybe it was like this:

Apple planned to have the 3GHz PowerMacs out by now, but they've been delayed. So perhaps there isn't enough of a performance gap between the new iMac and current PowerMac lines, so they had to hold off announcing it until faster G5s come along?

[Coca-Cola]

I wonder if Freescale Semiconductor(Motorolla) going public soon has anything to do with this?

[Lancetx]

AAPL stock was beaten pretty good in after-hours trading as a result of this announcement. It's down $1.80 a share from this afternoon's close.

[unsigned]

This snafu calls to mind an article I read recently taking Apple to task for it's secretive nature - IT directors were loath to use Apple products (specifically the XServe) because they felt they could never guage or plan around definite product releases. Likewise the education market, where, along with the eMac, the iMac is a huge seller.

So, by admitting their problem, Apple is building some credibility outside of it's followers. The secretive hype machine is awesome for us mac fanatics but is of no interest to a Dell user. But I guess being able to plan purchases gives a reassurance.

Also, we're seeing some changes in the OS, where Apple is "coming down" a tad bit from the high horse stance. Specifically, Dashboard, and the CoreImage eyecandy features - meant to provide nice store appeal.

(I'm not mad about the Dashboard widgets anymore anyway. Someone will just make some with a Apple pro type interface for those of us who want it, and maybe the Power machines could ship with them and the consumer machines the colorful ones.. why not)

[madrobby]

The delay is likely because of 970FX cooling complications
with the smaller unit of the iMac. I suspect an announcement
sooner than September, however......

You are right, it will be announced on August 31st. Apple Expo Paris Keynote. Just think about: "Paris" "iMac" "birthday", if that's not a clear hint from Steve, what elese? (these were the search queries of the spotlight demo at WWDC)

Wish he had searched for "PowerBook", "next" and "Tuesday" :D

[BruinJohn]

I think Apple is announcing the new iMac early so they can stop their slide on Nasdaq. It went down like 30 cents after WWDC cuz I guess the people thought there were going to be new iMacs. But we'll see when Apple streams their quarterly profits report in a couple of days.

By the way, UCLA is selling the iMacs for really great prices. The 20" 1.25 G4 for 1699, 17" for 1399, 15" for 899! Or something like that. If you are affiliated with UCLA and want an iMac, go get one of these!!

[iGary]

"The PM got a 12% speedbump in 12 months"

2.0 - 2.5 = .5

.5/2 = .25

:confused:

[Belly-laughs]

Could it be so that there is a different problem for Apple - namely it's not so much with IBM as with MOTO?!

That wouldn´t come as a surprise. Maybe the e600 is the chip and Freescale has failed to deliver? Or, I´m sorry to bring this up, maybe Apple don´t want the iMac to be too superiour to the PBs, awaiting an e600 PB upgrade?

could it be that it is a designated decoy of something different entirely?

Keep that thought :)

[appleguy]

This is a very un-Apple-like way to announce a new iMac lineup. An apology on a page in the Store!?!?!? Did they mean to do it this way?

Well its a bit hard to sell something if you don't have it....

[whooleytoo]

Any chance someone just hacked the Apple store??? :o

[MacEyeDoc]

This has got to be a low point for Apple.

A computer company that has to post a notice at it's online store saying they don't have actually have any computers to sell.

Sorry pal, no iMac's today, come back in the fall.

What was that Monte Python skit about the Cheese Shop, where they advertise 102 brands of cheese, but don't actually have any in the store?

Customer: I'd like a nice new iMac please.
Apple: Sorry, the last one's just gone out the door.
Customer: Ok, I'll just jump up to the Dual 2.5 G5
Apple: Well, you'll have to wait abit on that.
Customer: iPod mini?
Apple: Er, nope.
Customer: Apple Airport Express?
Apple: We're popping some more - not quite done yet.
Customer: Ok. I'll take one of those great looking new LCD displays.
Apple: Ummm, you see . .
Customer: New Nvidia Ultra graphics card?
Apple: Nada
Customer: Do you in fact have ANY new computer products in your store?
Apple: Let me get back to you on that . . . .

[Lepton]

If there was some glitch in the production of new iMacs, why not just keep producing the old ones a tiny bit longer to avoid a gap? No one would have been the wiser. It must have been way too late - production must have stopped. With this announcement, it seems likely production didn't just stop, but they already retooled for the new ones. Perhaps they were already producing the new ones, all seemed on schedule, but some last minute problem cropped up with the device that was so bad it would have caused a recall, or free hardware repair, or some such. So they hit the big red button, everything came to a halt very suddenly indeed, and they are testing/fixing hundreds from the first run, and were forced into this hasty and odd announcement. <--All speculation

[Hemingray]

Come one people. This IS NOT good news. Apple will be losing a lot of income because of this. Who cares if they release new imacs in July or September? It doesn't matter either way. The problem is they don't have anything to sell which means they don't bring in money. Again, this is a very very bad thing. Watch the stock plunge a bit tomorrow.

Before you guys jump all over me, yes, its nice that a new imac is coming out. Not having anything to sell in the mean time is not so nice.

I've high-lighted the important words in my post so you can see the problems more clearly.

You make it sound like Apple only sells iMacs. Yes, they'll hurt from this, but not by much. Between iPods, iTMS, the new PowerMacs, the new displays, the PowerBooks, iBooks, eMacs, xServes, and software, I don't think they're in too bad a shape, do you?

[må¥å]

The PM got a 12% speedbump in 12 months, and they are supposed to pull off something like a 40% speedbump in 6? I don't think so.

Its actually 25% since WWDC 2003.

Where is the optimism mate ;) :) :D

[rdowns]

SJ comment on this is going to be an amazing mac year could also mean a new game plan for the company they are going to do untraditional releases and announcements that were not done previously.

REMEMBER the TIGER OS is 64-bit so they have to move most of they hardware line to 64-bit along with software for 2005 so it burn the competition out of the arena. The eMac and iBook still might have G4 however TIGER has support for those lines no biggy.

With the iMac G5 innards spaced out flat that meant that the G5 chip can be cooled easier and with AL that is the magic recipe, no need for hugh fans like the Tower since its not expandable.

This is Great news even though its not like Apple, this is the new Apple we are seeing with Support for MAC + PC ;)

Something tells me at MWSF 2005 we will see PB G5 2GHz min model along with a 3.5GHz PM and the iMac G5 top end at 2GHz.

Pass the crack pipe. Apple is going to release a 64 bit OS that less than 10% of their installed base can buy and use.

Some of Tiger will be 64 bit, it will run on older G4s and, most likely, G3s since Apple sold them until several months ago.

PB G5s are a ways off, and Apple has said so. Early 2005 is probably very, very optimistic.

As for this iMac fiasco, were I an Apple board member, Steve would be flying coach on his private jet until this is worked out.

[Lancetx]

I just hope eMac production is running at full capacity now because they'll have to fill in the void now for at least 2 months...

[toontra]

If there was some glitch in the production of new iMacs, why not just keep producing the old ones a tiny bit longer to avoid a gap? No one would have been the wiser. It must have been way too late - production must have stopped. With this announcement, it seems likely production didn't just stop, but they already retooled for the new ones. Perhaps they were already producing the new ones, all seemed on schedule, but some last minute problem cropped up with the device that was so bad it would have caused a recall, or free hardware repair, or some such. So they hit the big red button, everything came to a halt very suddenly indeed, and they are testing/fixing hundreds from the first run, and were forced into this hasty and odd announcement. <--All speculation

That'll do until a better explanation comes along.

First the 3G promise for the PMs and now this - Steve is losing the plot big time.

[iGary]

Its actually 25% since WWDC 2003.

Where is the optimism mate ;) :) :D

"The PM got a 12% speedbump in 12 months"

2.0 - 2.5 = .5

.5/2 = .25

Beat ya to it.


:p

[iZac]

I reckon IBM did some major rug pulling on Apple.

"yes, we will have volume lower heat G5s for your iMac, yes we will have volume lower heat G5s for your iMac, yes we will have volume lower heat G5s for your iMac...Oh, seems we can't" *face palm*

Who knows, but Steve Jobs voice did seem raw at WWDC... maybe it was all that screaming he's been doing to IBMs processor dept. ;)

[lem0nayde]

Apple needs to abandon the all-in-one. Put a G5 in the new iMac and let people buy whatever kind of monitor they want. If they're rich, they can get a $3500 30" LCD monitor, if not they can use their old PC's 17" CRT.

If Apple made an attractive, headless machine with the speed of a G5 and the 64bit-capable Tiger - I think they could sell a lot more people on the idea of switching to a Mac. Imagine if the next iMac line said "starting at $650" - now that would be something truly different from Apple. Suddenly people would want a Mac to go with their iPod - because, why not? They're easier to use, Tiger is awesome looking and they aren't expensive anymore.

This would go over especially well if Apple extended their claws further into the living room by incorporating an iTunes-like version of TV recording, wireless bluetooth remote and all. Make the iMac more than an iMac and suddenly switching to the Mac platform isn't so much a computer choice, as it is a overall home entertainment choice.

Joe

p.s. - I guess not having anything to sell until the end of September pretty much means that Apple can kiss their school sales goooooodbye. Looks like the poor kiddies will have to be Windows zombies.

[Michael Vance]

"I think pro users understand why they can order something and wait fora couple months for it to arrive while the average home users just doesn't get that concept ( and for a good reason).

BEN

I called the Apple online store to ask about when the dual 2.5gig machines would ship and the guy said he didn't know anything more than what it said. Sometime in July. I called B&H and they said late July or early August. After waiting so long I'm rethinking my plan and may get a Dell dual 3.2gig machine which just had a big price reduction. Still more exprensive than the Mac but a lot faster and it's available now. Funny that, you can actually buy the stuff on the Dell online store.

More than a year after Steve Job's promise to have a dual 3gig machine and still the faster Mac computer sold today is 2gigs. Apple is pathetic.

[rt_brained]

Could a shortage of G5 processors in the pipeline have anything to do with a combination of the following?:

1) IBM's inability to keep up with demand for G5 processors.

2) Apple stresses the G5 supply even more and schedules a much-needed upgrade to the iMac line. They stop production of G4 iMacs anticipating that inventories will sell just in time for planned rollout of new iMac G5s.

3) Just as production gets started on iMac G5s, an $8.5 million order is placed for 1,544 dual G5 X-Serves for the U.S. Army.

Granted, it's just 3,088 chips, but could a sudden demand to fulfill a contract of that magnitude have been enough to create a hiccup in an already diminished supply pipeline? Didn't Virginia Tech's order do much the same thing months ago?

[JOD8FY]

Well this is a shock. I would have thought that Apple might have said that new iMacs are coming in a few months or something, but not actually a specific month.

I'm a little disappointed with the release date of these, though. September... :(. It does sound like it's going to sport a completely new form factor. I really like this form factor, but I'm sure Apple will create something just as spectacular in this latest revision.

Here's to new iMacs!
JOD8FY

[iGary]

Apple needs to abandon the all-in-one. Put a G5 in the new iMac and let people buy whatever kind of monitor they want. If they're rich, they can get a $3500 30" LCD monitor, if not they can use their old PC's 17" CRT.

That's not the purpose of the iMac.

[JOD8FY]

iTunes is at 97,787,635 for those trying for the next 100,000 iPod. :p

I just checked and it was 94 million, not 97 ;). This is a nice promo, though....

JOD8FY

[dizastor]

You learn something new every day. I always wondered what SeusS' first name was.

Seuss' first name was actually Theodore... but yeah... you were making a joke.

[Lancetx]

I just checked and it was 94 million, not 97 ;). This is a nice promo, though....

JOD8FY

Besides, the promo doesn't begin until the count hits 95 million anyway. :p

[iGary]

I just checked and it was 94 million, not 97 ;). This is a nice promo, though....

JOD8FY

A long day at the edit desk...I think it's time to go home! :D

[appleguy]

I guess we'll all have to tune in for Steve's keynote in Paris to get the details. As for stores that still have current iMacs in stock, I wonder if they'll be discounted since they're technically discontinued models now.
Well economiclly speaking.
prices should go up as there is no stock

[stylewriter]

Apple admiting a new product? WTF? Is hell freezing over?
Nope, Still hot here

[jobberwacky]

Just tried the UK and the Swiss store. Looks like Europeans are expected to acquire those legacy systems :D
That's history. The same (English-language) message as in the US store now appears everywhere.

[må¥å]

Pass the crack pipe. Apple is going to release a 64 bit OS that less than 10% of their installed base can buy and use.

Some of Tiger will be 64 bit, it will run on older G4s and, most likely, G3s since Apple sold them until several months ago.

PB G5s are a ways off, and Apple has said so. Early 2005 is probably very, very optimistic.

As for this iMac fiasco, were I an Apple board member, Steve would be flying coach on his private jet until this is worked out.

50% of Apple's user base uses OS X. Don't know how many have the G5 I am going to guess far less, duh :)

That said what better way to get people ready for a 64-bit OS than introduce the G5 in a consumer line (iMac).

You never know mate its best to be optimistic than to think this is another moto phase.

Maybe I am smoking something in my PIPE its a new substance called OPTIMISIM :D

[AliensAreFuzzy]

Anyone notice what 3 of the 4 messages Steve searched in Mail during his keynote were about a "half dome". Maybe a hint at the design of the new iMac? Ads with the half dome in Yosemite?

[Freg3000]

As Igloo has said, AppleInsider looks to have been right before this "less than perfect" situation. They are not taking ThinkSecret's "laughing" criticism too lightly, especially after this apparent justification.

Employees tell us that Apple is laughing at the rumors on this one -- spearheaded by recent analyst prognostications -- and the company is loving the hype that just makes everyone want to pay attention to WWDC even more.

The statement also does its part to debunk rumors that Apple has been "laughing" at recent reports and analyst's statements that positioned an iMac G5 introduction around the time of its World Wide Developers Conference.

[rjfiske]

Apple needs to abandon the all-in-one.

You're from NYC so I respect you for that... my whole family-in-law lives in Long Island. So therefore I won't chew apart this statement too much. :p

But I do have to say the all-in-one like the iMac and eMac is what drove me to switch to Apple in the first place. I thought the design was brilliant. And I just love it when I show people the iMac... and they say "Where's the rest of it?" (When they say "Where's the cd drive".. now that's a close second).

Some Mac users (and more importantly the switchers) do so because of ease (one-button mouse), security, design, etc. They do not do so because they know exactly what needs they have. I personally would never get an iMac because I want expandability. But my Mom, who is ACHING to get her hands on an iMac, would never ever need anything beyond an all-in-one.

So I personally hope Apple never abandons it. I hope they continue to supplement it. Here's hoping September knocks our socks off.

[sfwalter]

Cupertino we have a problem :D

[toughboy]

Why did you quote me? I didn't say anything.

On topic. G5's G5's. If apple doesn't release a G5 imac in september and with a speed bumped G4. How many people will be pissed?


ME!

[bertagert]

You make it sound like Apple only sells iMacs. Yes, they'll hurt from this, but not by much. Between iPods, iTMS, the new PowerMacs, the new displays, the PowerBooks, iBooks, eMacs, xServes, and software, I don't think they're in too bad a shape, do you?
Yes, I do actually. No imacs, can't get a 2.5ghz PM till end of July/early August at the soonest, can't get a new display and you can't get a ipod mini. Meaning, they don't have much to sell right now so not only has the 3rd quater gone bad, but the current quater will be bad as well. Being a business, they need to bring in money. Over the next three months they won't be bringing in what they should.

I will admit that I was planning on selling my Apple stock in September/October. This isn't going to be good for me personally. However, personal stuff aside, this makes Apple look bad as well.

[Frixo Cool]

I just hope that new iMac will have new aluminum-style casing - that should force Apple to AT LAST make a proper and color-matched keyboard and mouse for G5 pro-systems.

Just take a look at current 30" Cinema with that cheap funny white eMac keyboard! It looks like mighty tiger in balet shoes :-(.

[CubaTBird]

you will still see a g4 in the imac come september, just beefed up. For example, 1ghz, 1.2 ghz, and 1.5 ghz ~ simlar to those found in the powerbook g4's. :o

[moosecat]

A whole generation of college freshmen will go off to school this year without an Apple because of this. And their next computer is unlikely to be an Apple as a result... And the next ...

To the extent Apple still carries disproportionate weight in the educational market, this is a serious blow to whatever is left.

This is a major, major screw-up.

[AliensAreFuzzy]

you will still see a g4 in the imac come september, just beefed up. For example, 1ghz, 1.2 ghz, and 1.5 ghz ~ simlar to those found in the powerbook g4's. :o

Why would they need a completely new design for that? If they were just going to beef up the processors, then why not keep the current design? That way they wouldn't be in the mess they're in now.

[Asapin]

The first thing I thought is "20th aniversary mac?"

I hope it's a g5 cube. Then I can replace my g4 cube. :D

[sfwalter]

Just a thought, Apple could turn this problem into a marketing oppurtunity. Every couple of weeks Apple could reveal some clue or hint to a feature in the new iMac and make a contest out of it.

I remember when Apple was coming out with the Apple IIgs there were ads in the back of magazines that said a new Apple was coming. It had a sheet over the Apple IIgs but you could see a mouse poking out from beneath the covers. This would truly get the Apple rumormill going crazy,

Just a thought

[Mr. Anderson]

all I can say is Wow! - not the Apple way of announcing a new product.

The stock is going to drop off a lot on this - kind of shocking, no?

Makes me very curious what the new machine is actually going to be. :D

Good move by Apple, though.

D

[Photorun]

As said a few times here, I'd have to say the iMac was probably on the dockett for WWDC, or as a hopeful maybe a month out, but ouch, something happened, something not too good in the planning phase. I'd have to say it probably IS in fact them trying to shoehorn a G5 into the thing, after all, if it was a G4 they'd have had it and Ive hasn't been behind on one design project to date, in fact he's usually ahead of Jobs with ideas (which Jobs shoots a lot down). How bizarre that Apple said that, maybe we're all asleep dreaming this??!?

[stukick]

Who cracked Apple's website and wrote this?

Stop teasing us!!

[mac-er]

Back when the FP iMac was introduced, I remember that Steve-o seemed to say that mounting the CPU vertically on the back of the monitor (like Gateway) was the equivalent of opening the gates of hell. (Slower optical drive speed, etc).

If they come out with a vertically mounted CPU...I want to see him 'splain his way out of that one.... :)

[appleguy]

A whole generation of college freshmen will go off to school this year without an Apple because of this. And their next computer is unlikely to be an Apple as a result... And the next ...

To the extent Apple still carries disproportionate weight in the educational market, this is a serious blow to whatever is left.

This is a major, major screw-up.


What about the eMac?
They are decent computes

[aldo]

A whole generation of college freshmen will go off to school this year without an Apple because of this. And their next computer is unlikely to be an Apple as a result... And the next ...

To the extent Apple still carries disproportionate weight in the educational market, this is a serious blow to whatever is left.

This is a major, major screw-up.

Well said. This is a total disaster for apple.. I can't believe they have let this happen.

They have had way too long for them to redesign it so I think they need a few warning shots across their bow. How the hell is Apple gonna gain market-share (which regardless of what most think here, is getting exceeding bad. Developers are not coming to the platform like they could be) with no good computers to sell :S?

[aldo]

What about the eMac?
They are decent computes

Most dorm rooms are better with an LCD monitor than a CRT. Much more space and less heat.

[Photorun]

I called the Apple online store to ask about when the dual 2.5gig machines would ship and the guy said he didn't know anything more than what it said. Sometime in July. I called B&H and they said late July or early August. After waiting so long I'm rethinking my plan and may get a Dell dual 3.2gig machine which just had a big price reduction. Still more exprensive than the Mac but a lot faster and it's available now. Funny that, you can actually buy the stuff on the Dell online store.

More than a year after Steve Job's promise to have a dual 3gig machine and still the faster Mac computer sold today is 2gigs. Apple is pathetic.

Go buy one of those imitation Dull pieces of crap then. You're wrong, the 2.5 would spank the Dull in almost all categories, my 2.0 DP bests the 3.0 Dull which there is also one in my office in almost everything except Flash exporting. Now troll, go please take your fuzzy incorrect logic and kindly go away and eff yourself.

[Sun Baked]

Darn, I was thinking that the changes under the hood of the new DP 1.8 signaled the possiblity of a new consumer Mac.

Now I don't know what to think, guess I'll have to see some more leaks.

Hopefully this Apple leak means that IBM is finally starting to ship the 970FXs in bulk.

[aldo]

Go buy one of those imitation Dull pieces of crap then. You're wrong, the 2.5 would spank the Dull in almost all categories, my 2.0 DP bests the 3.0 Dull which there is also one in my office in almost everything except Flash exporting. Now troll, go please take your fuzzy incorrect logic and kindly go away and eff yourself.

Of course it does, it's dual-CPU. But a lot of people don't need the power that dual 2.5gig provides - a single 3.6ghz is quite good for most people.

[appleguy]

Most dorm rooms are better with an LCD monitor than a CRT. Much more space and less heat.

True but people are making out there is nothing for inside the dorm.
the eMac Should go in, then sell the emac on eBay in Sept. and buy the new iMac

[AliensAreFuzzy]

Of course it does, it's dual-CPU. But a lot of people don't need the power that dual 2.5gig provides - a single 3.6ghz is quite good for most people.

But Michael Vance was saying that the Dell was faster. So Photorun was just correcting him.

[tekriter]

how do you keep selling the iMacs for anywhere near list price?

[Lancetx]

A whole generation of college freshmen will go off to school this year without an Apple because of this. And their next computer is unlikely to be an Apple as a result... And the next ...

To the extent Apple still carries disproportionate weight in the educational market, this is a serious blow to whatever is left.

This is a major, major screw-up.

I think that's a bit harsh. It's not like iBooks and eMacs aren't still available to any school or student that wants one. Not to mention they're both less expensive as well. This event won't kill education sales nearly as much as you think.

[aldo]

But Michael Vance was saying that the Dell was faster. So Photorun was just correcting him.

Ah yes. Sorry, I screwed up on that one. But, seriously, the Dell will be far faster at gaming assuming it has a capable graphics card. So I'm somewhat reedeemed :)

[rjfiske]

http://money.cnn.com/2004/07/01/technology/apple.reut/index.htm

"Analysts said that Apple shouldn't be hurt by the lack of an iMac for the back-to-school shopping season, which is important for the company, because it has emphasized other models for the education market.

In the education market, Apple has historically emphasized its iBook notebook PC and the eMac desktop machine rather than the iMac computer..."

[aldo]

True but people are making out there is nothing for inside the dorm.
the eMac Should go in, then sell the emac on eBay in Sept. and buy the new iMac

Uh, most people don't buy computers to sell a month later on eBay. Are you seriously suggesting the million-odd freshman all buy emacs and then put them on ebay :confused: . Most people want one computer that they take with them all the way through college.

Only people on here would consider buying a computer to sell again a few weeks later.

[AliensAreFuzzy]

Ah yes. Sorry, I screwed up on that one. But, seriously, the Dell will be far faster at gaming assuming it has a capable graphics card. So I'm somewhat reedeemed :)

Unless that 2.5 G5 had the 6800 ultra. Then the G5 might give it a run for it's money. (for available games obviously. The Dell beats the G5 in selection)

[Bear]

Recommendation: Can't Buy - Updates soon
instead of
Recommendation: Don't Buy - Updates soon
:cool::D:cool::D:cool::D:cool::D:cool::D

[stuepfnick]

you will still see a g4 in the imac come september, just beefed up. For example, 1ghz, 1.2 ghz, and 1.5 ghz ~ simlar to those found in the powerbook g4's. :o

That won't happen. Just G4 speedbumps they could have roll out alongside the eMac/iBook/Powerbook upgrades. It must be something that makes problems. If it's really still the same old G4 there must be some other huge advantage.
I would love to have a decent graphics card and at least a G5 light or G5 mobile from Freescale. Or maybe even a G4+ (fs) with a 200 Mhz DDR FSB, announced as 400 Mhz FSB.
I guess if it's a G5, then it will be an aliminum case too, to visualize the new generation.
But time will tell.. that will be an exciting keynote at Mac Expo in Paris. (31 Aug)

[aldo]

http://money.cnn.com/2004/07/01/technology/apple.reut/index.htm

"Analysts said that Apple shouldn't be hurt by the lack of an iMac for the back-to-school shopping season, which is important for the company, because it has emphasized other models for the education market.

In the education market, Apple has historically emphasized its iBook notebook PC and the eMac desktop machine rather than the iMac computer..."

Well I do agree with that somewhat, but I still think that this is not a good thing for education sales. The current imac is a POS though, so really I'm sure most people would of chose the emac over it anyway. But Apple won't be happy at not getting the rich middle class college students dollars this season for the most overpriced product in the lineup.

[Lancetx]

http://money.cnn.com/2004/07/01/technology/apple.reut/index.htm

"Analysts said that Apple shouldn't be hurt by the lack of an iMac for the back-to-school shopping season, which is important for the company, because it has emphasized other models for the education market.

In the education market, Apple has historically emphasized its iBook notebook PC and the eMac desktop machine rather than the iMac computer..."

I agree wholeheartedly and this basically says the same thing I was pointing out earlier. All of the big contracts with schools that you hear about these days are involving iBooks anyway, not iMacs. iMacs haven't been a huge player in schools since the CRT G3 models disappeared almost 2 years ago. The eMac replaced those anyway, not the FP iMac. And in the past year or so, the iBook is now as big a player as the eMac is in that market if not more so.

[stuepfnick]

Recommendation: Can't Buy - Updates soon
instead of
Recommendation: Don't Buy - Updates soon
:cool::D:cool::D

Yes, I would love to see that too! :D

[rt_brained]

...were I an Apple board member, Steve would be flying coach on his private jet until this is worked out.
Steve would like you to know that his private jet already sports Coach leather seats, but thanks you for your suggestion and applauds your fine taste!

[Lancetx]

Well I do agree with that somewhat, but I still think that this is not a good thing for education sales. The current imac is a POS though, so really I'm sure most people would of chose the emac over it anyway. But Apple won't be happy at not getting the rich middle class college students dollars this season for the most overpriced product in the lineup.

I would think if they had that kind of money, they'd spring for a 12" or 15" PowerBook before spending the same on a 17" or 20" iMac anyway. Basically half of Apple's sales are notebooks these days anyway. The desktop isn't nearly the player it was even a couple of years ago, so the temporary loss of the iMac won't be that big of a deal.

[Michael Vance]

Go buy one of those imitation Dull pieces of crap then. You're wrong, the 2.5 would spank the Dull in almost all categories, my 2.0 DP bests the 3.0 Dull which there is also one in my office in almost everything except Flash exporting. Now troll, go please take your fuzzy incorrect logic and kindly go away and eff yourself.

It's not true I use both machines for high end video and 3D production. I know what both can do. But no matter. I'm sure if I forgo my plan to buy a Mac and get a Dell instead, you'll insist it's a victory for Apple. That at least is predictable enough.

[3.1416]

you will still see a g4 in the imac come september, just beefed up. For example, 1ghz, 1.2 ghz, and 1.5 ghz ~ simlar to those found in the powerbook g4's.
Not. A. Chance. Apple would be raked over the coals if they stopped selling iMacs for 2 months, then came back with a whopping 20% speed increase. It's remotely possible they'll have a G4 successor from Freescale, but with Tiger's focus on 64-bit computing it will almost certainly be a G5.

[moosecat]

I agree wholeheartedly and this basically says the same thing I was pointing out earlier. All of the big contracts with schools that you hear about these days are involving iBooks anyway, not iMacs. iMacs haven't been a huge player in schools since the CRT G3 models disappeared almost 2 years ago. The eMac replaced those, not the FP iMac.

I think there are two "education" markets, and the Reuters article quoted above (or the unnamed "analysts") confuse them. There is (1) the market for large purchases by institutions; and (2) the market for individual purchases by students.

I agree that this error probably wouldn't have much effect on (1), because the Apple segment of that market is dominated by eMac and iBook sales, and because it operates on a different schedule. But of course it will have an effect on (2). Maybe I exaggerated a little in saying that a "whole generation" of students will go Apple-less, but I still think there will be a significant number of back-to-school shoppers who will look to PCs when they can't find a small-footprint LCD desktop from Apple.

[iChan]

i would love to see apple release a new product category into their matrix.

Consumer Displays

Powermac = pro displays

iMac = consumer displays

15", 17", 19"... 4:3


unlikely, I know...

[dongmin]

I do have a prediction:

STYLE: iPod Mini Colors with metal

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

No pink iMacs please. Please. Pink is OK for a hand-held consumer device, NOT for a desktop machine with a 20" monitor.

What we know:
-The iMac will have a G5. Why else would it require a complete redesign?
-The iMac will retain its all-in-one form factor. The iMac is identified with such a design. If they were doing something competely different, like a Cube, they wouldn't be calling it an iMac. Sorry for all those pizza box fans out there.
-Appleinsider is total crap. Thinksecret again proved to be right. Regardless of what the reason was, they called 'no iMac at WWDC' and they were right. By two plus months!

You guys know what's funny: under http://www.apple.com/hardware/, it still says "New iMacs." Ha ha they haven't been updated in about 9 months and they're now officially discontinued!

[rdowns]

...were I an Apple board member, Steve would be flying coach on his private jet until this is worked out.

Steve would like you to know that his private jet already sports Coach leather seats, but thanks you for your suggestion and applauds your fine taste!

That was effin' funny. :D

[joeboy_45101]

Okay my friends it's time, and when I say it's time I mean it's TIME. The Apocalypse is upon us, and this is a clear sign. Apple must know something and is preparing to go out in a bang! Now if you don't mind I'm going to go read to the blind girl, hopefully I can rack up some good karma points. ;)

[Chip NoVaMac]

Apple needs to abandon the all-in-one. Put a G5 in the new iMac and let people buy whatever kind of monitor they want. If they're rich, they can get a $3500 30" LCD monitor, if not they can use their old PC's 17" CRT.


Actually if the rumors about the new iMac G5, it was to have a "hanging display" on the pizza box cpu. So it would be possible to use the new displays on it, as well at the third party VESA compatible monitors.

[rendezvouscp]

This is really really surprising. I was expecting to see that title, but not that info. This is really interesting. Wow. The iMacs are going to have G5's!
–Chase

[Dave00]

Some of Tiger will be 64 bit, it will run on older G4s and, most likely, G3s since Apple sold them until several months ago.

The developer release of Tiger currently will run just fine on a 900Mhz G3.

--D

[rdowns]

The developer release of Tiger currently will run just fine on a 900Mhz G3.

--D

Excellent. Then I'll run it on my 800 MHz G3 iBook and my iMac G5.

[neutrino23]

The Paris Expo starts August 31. No mention of a keynote yet that I can see. You have to believe that Apple is being very conservative with this information release. Possibly Steve will announce them 8/31 for immediate delivery?

[mac-er]

-Appleinsider is total crap. Thinksecret again proved to be right. Regardless of what the reason was, they called 'no iMac at WWDC' and they were right. By two plus months!


Actually, the only reason Thinksecret was "right" was because Apple screwed up.

By all indications, new iMacs were going to be introduced at WWDC. Apple itself says that they hoped to have new iMacs available when the current supply of G4 iMacs ran out in a few weeks. That would've put the introduction of the new iMac during WWDC (if the new iMac was supposed to have shipped in a few weeks).

[appleguy]

Uh, most people don't buy computers to sell a month later on eBay. Are you seriously suggesting the million-odd freshman all buy emacs and then put them on ebay :confused: . Most people want one computer that they take with them all the way through college.

Only people on here would consider buying a computer to sell again a few weeks later.

What about buying an iBook then.

[aldo]

The Paris Expo starts August 31. No mention of a keynote yet that I can see. You have to believe that Apple is being very conservative with this information release. Possibly Steve will announce them 8/31 for immediate delivery?

Uh there is. I have already registered for it at http://www.apple-expo.com/uk/keynote/. My first keynote speech infact :D

[joeboy_45101]

I hope there's a keynote and Steve explains EVERYTHING. We all know why the the PowerMacs didn't get to 3Ghz, and it's completely understandable. 2.5 Ghz is nothing to spit at. Maybe the new(er) iMacs were cooking people alive or something. But look on the bright side, if Apple can get a G5 into the small (I assume) enclosure of a iMac then they are one big step closer to getting it into the PowerBook. :D

[centauratlas]

I am sure Steve J is REALLY chewing someone out right about now. Talk about a major f up, that is 2 months (16.67%!!!) of their selling time for the iMac. PLUS all the people who want one for school which starts in mid to late August. That is the only reasonable reason to announce that now letting people know when it will be available.

[thatwendigo]

If Apple made an attractive, headless machine with the speed of a G5 and the 64bit-capable Tiger - I think they could sell a lot more people on the idea of switching to a Mac. Imagine if the next iMac line said "starting at $650" - now that would be something truly different from Apple. Suddenly people would want a Mac to go with their iPod - because, why not? They're easier to use, Tiger is awesome looking and they aren't expensive anymore.

The "speed of the G5" comes from a lot more than just the chip, some of which is going to cost you pretty heftily no matter what else is cut. Even removing a processor and keeping it to singles isn't going to cut the price down anywhere too close to the eMac because, well, that peky economy of scale is going to get you every time. Yes, a lot of PC manufacturers are moving forward with new technologies and labeling them as being reltiavely cheap - at the expense of their own business, of course. I've yet to see any headlines proclaiming that the profit-starved me-too companies are climbing out of their losses.

A G5 iMac won't be much cheaper without some kind of behind-the-scenes finagling, even without an LCD. Apple couldn't even make the far less technologically advanced G4 eMac into a sub-$700 machine. How in the world is it going to happen with more expensive components?

This would go over especially well if Apple extended their claws further into the living room by incorporating an iTunes-like version of TV recording, wireless bluetooth remote and all. Make the iMac more than an iMac and suddenly switching to the Mac platform isn't so much a computer choice, as it is a overall home entertainment choice.

Steve's said this isn't happening soon, and the TV (unless it's HD quality) is a TERRIBLE monitor. Game consoles run at ridiculously low resolutions, which is why they can be speedy and pretty on worse hardware. That's the only reason. You don't want to be web browsing or trying to type on a 640x480 screen at fifteen or more feet of distance, do you? Talk about blurry!

p.s. - I guess not having anything to sell until the end of September pretty much means that Apple can kiss their school sales goooooodbye. Looks like the poor kiddies will have to be Windows zombies.

They already are. :rolleyes:

[yip]

I can only see one explanation for Apple posting this. They have something very very big to announce in September, they must be confident that they have something that will have as big an impact as the introduction of the original bondi blue iMac. It's just bad business otherwise to annouce that what is there main line will be unavialble for two months, they must know that what will come in September will be so big that it will compensate for the next two months of no iMacs.
Just imagine that you are a company that is confident of releasing a product in two months time, that will have the impact of the original iMac or the iPod, the lack or revenue from iMac sales until Septemer wouldn't matter in the long run.
Thats the only explanation i can believe in for this message on the Apple store, i can't believe Apple would mess up after what they have done in the last few years, i think they know what they are doing.

[Dreadnought]

The problem with the new Imac has to be a heat problem, more then they have expected. How would Apple get sooo much heat out of such a small box and still keep it silent? They will have to make some sort of fluid cooling system. There was an article/rumor a while back that Apple was talking with some company that had developed a new kind of liquid cooling system, and I am not talking about the one in the new PM! This one could be built in laptops. The fluid wasn't waterbased, but something new, more like a paste. Don't know the exact things anymore.

Anyway, IBM has a problem with producing enough fast cpu's, therefore the "rejects" will run at a lower clockspeeds. So there are probably enough chips, so it has to be a heatproblem! The same was with the Xserve (why isn't that one clocked any higher then 2.0? That model can make noise!!) and with the new PM's. Think about it and add up all the previous rumors, it all makes sense. My prediction is an entry model with a G5 1.4, the mid a 1.6 and the high end 1.8. In that way there is also enough speed difference between a PM and an iMac.

[iMeowbot]

Now they can't go back and make more old imacs because they do not have the production capabilities;it would be a huge amount of money to go back the old factory toolings... So they're stuck.
Well yeah, and this goes double because Apple just finished dismantling all of its own manufacturing capability. Once everything is outsourced, a whole bunch of flexibility goes out the window.

[joeboy_45101]

News.com.com has a article about this today. They quote Apple,"We planned to have our next-generation iMac ready by the time the inventory of current iMacs runs out in the next few weeks, but our planning was obviously less than perfect." So AppleInsider and ThinkSecret were both correct. It seems Apple was hoping to run out of the old iMacs in time for WWDC, but when they didn't they couldn't introduce the new one. The article continues on about how Apple can't start up production on the G4 iMac because they wouldn't be able to get hold of the custom core logic chip. :)

[mac-er]

I'm ready for another digital camera incident at a Keynote...

Too bad the g5 iMac didn't come "up" from stage floor when he asked for the 30" monitor to come up.

Or I want the thing to spin so fast, it knocks the product off the stage. It would be bad for the product, but hi-frickin'-larious. ('specially Steve's reaction) :D

[ALoLA]

It's not true I use both machines for high end video and 3D production. I know what both can do. But no matter. I'm sure if I forgo my plan to buy a Mac and get a Dell instead, you'll insist it's a victory for Apple. That at least is predictable enough.

Why would we consider your purchasing a Dell a victory for Apple? :confused:

[mhouse]

As someone who works with Macs, this update is long overdue. Its almost impossible to sell someone an iMac now. Frankly, if Apple had its stuff together they would have had a new iMac long before now. The last upgrade to the eMac made it almost impossible to sell an iMac.

I want to throw this out though: maybe the iMac will continue to be a G4. I kind of hope so actually. A redesigned iMac with a G5 is no big deal.Especially if the price goes up. Does anyone really think IBM has enough G5 chips to sell in iMac volumes AND still start at 1299?

I think there are better design and pricing options if they stick with a G4. If Apple is just planning to make a really pretty new box with a G5 in it, I wouldn't bother. Its not worth the effort and cost. Even to justify the current pricing structure (1299-2199), the design would have to be amazing and functional beyond what we have seen before. Something like the 'detachable tablet' idea that has been bandied about. A display that can be detached and communicates with the base via wifi maybe?

Anyway, if its just a new design with a G5 I don't believe sales will be helped at all (other than a short early-adopter burst). And they need help: the iMac has been Apple's lousiest seller for quite a while now.

[Freg3000]

-Appleinsider is total crap. Thinksecret again proved to be right. Regardless of what the reason was, they called 'no iMac at WWDC' and they were right. By two plus months!

AppleInsider is not total crap. As Mac-er said, it seems as though everything was ready for iMacs to be released earlier this week at WWDC, suggesting that AI was right. Also, TS's assertion that Apple was laughing is a little strange, since now we fully expect a new iMac to appear in less than 2 months at the Paris Expo Keynote on August 31st.

If MacRumors were to say "Apple ready to release new iBooks as early as tomorrow," but then something happens at the last minute which moves the announcement back one day...was MacRumros wrong? No. Apple just changed the date at the last minute. It happens all the time.

I can't find the quote right now, but I think Arn is on the record as saying that there are only three reliable rumors sites left: MacRumors, ThinkSecret, and AppleInsider.

[TheWama]

As a college student, I can say that the vast majority of student computer buyers are in the market for a laptop, not a desktop. This is the trend in the market and students, as young people, are early adopters in this sense.

The iMac was getting old, and probably was not a huge part of their business, not to say it's not bad.
What's important is that they get the next iMac right.

At least now we know when.

[joeboy_45101]

Something like the 'detachable tablet' idea that has been bandied about. A display that can be detached and communicates with the base via wifi maybe?


Hey that was my idea, well kind of I stole parts of it from other people. But I stole the parts and put them all together so it's rightfully mine. :rolleyes:

[primalman]

Remember, only Apple is not taking orders on the Online Store for the iMac. Your local Apple Reseller, and the brick and mortor Apple Stores probably have some if you really want one.


To the ones who think the EDU sales will be hurt:

Most of those orders have been made, and Apple has a history of holding stock for sale in that channel, so if a school needs 500 iMacs, they should get those. Budgets have no doubt been approved and orders in. Note that Apple was experiencing delays in consumer delivery of eMacs and iMacs a couple of months ago, and I bet not to fill EDU orders at that instant, but loading the EDU channel for delivery in the summer. School does start in less than 50 days in most places, so plans are already in motion. I got my machines for my lab [24 G5s :) 4 weeks ago.


That Apple has nothing to sell:

In the last sales quarter, the Emac/iMac sales were in line with PowerMac sales, so losing some sales due to very low volume of iMacs will be no that bad. Plus, there are some no doubt out in the retail channel. You all make it sound like Apple sells only iMacs. ? Have you looked at the store lately? Anyway, Apple sells more iBooks than any other Mac unit, I am sure they have plenty of those.

[w00tmaster]

"Apparently they ran out of stock while waiting for the iMac G5... ok. Fine, but what really confuses me is that the "New One" wasn't ready enough to at least show off at WWDC and get huge press????? WTF?"
Edit: Maybe they think that pro users are willing to wait for a pre-release product while home users just won't put up with that. I think pro users understand why they can order something and wait fora couple months for it to arrive while the average home users just doesn't get that concept ( and for a good reason).

Oh this makes me so happy to hear apple doing this.

And finally, no more freaking "iMac tomorrow" posts!

BEN

That doesn't make sense, because developers are the most universal community in terms of hardware of interest there is. Guess what, when the new iMac comes out, the developers are going to want to be able to take advantage of everything the platform has to offer. In other words, in order for the iMac to become a success, the developers need to develop stuff for it!
Imagine you want to port a somewhat cpu intensive app to the mac. Even though the power macs can handle it, that only represents a small part of the (admittedly) small Apple market. What would really seal the deal for you is if you knew that the consumer level desktop would be able to handle it.
I just think that Apple didn't have the iMac ready by the WWDC(I think they will debut it in Paris though, note Steve's searches when showing off spotlight)

[vuc78000]

I guess that SJ hated the design they showed him!

So they can't anonce, since they are doing a new design. As soon as they know what it will look like they can annonce and start taking orders.

The techincal stuff as far as fixing cooling, slower chip, display suplies that can all be worked out inline, but what is the only thing that can't allow you to take an order?

.V

[SeaFox]

AAPL stock was beaten pretty good in after-hours trading as a result of this announcement. It's down $1.80 a share from this afternoon's close.


Really, and it just went down recently because Apple didn't announce a new iMac at WWDC, which some analysts were expecting. Now Apple announces they will have a major update coming up and the stock is driven down instead of up on the news. You'd think work of a major product update would have a good effect. Just another example of how cheated Apple is by Wallstreet.

You're damned if you do, damned if you don't in Cupertino

[Jovian9]

R.I.P. G4 iMac.
I for one am disappointed that this design is now gone. Sure I want a G5 in the iMac....but I've had one of these on my desk since they were introduced (well, about 2 months after they were introduced b/c that's how long it took to get my order). I have become an Apple fan and believer b/c of the G4 iMacs......b/c of their power, no they never were the fastest.....b/c of their price, no they were not cheap.........b/c they are beautiful machines that are comfortable to use and the design is flawless. I've had lots of Macs, including a 17" 1.33GHz PowerBook now......but none have drawn me in like the G4 iMac. The G4 iMac ended my days of PC using and I've never looked back. So to all of you who have done nothing but blast the G4 iMacs for months on end in these threads..........know that many of thousands of dollars have gone and many more thousands will go to your favorite company from my wife and I b/c of this machine. There is still a market for machines that aren't the cheapest or fastest..........but are designed the best and can turn heads. Once you can draw someones attention, 3/4 of the battle is over.

[Sabbath]

This really is bizare, although Apple often doesn't ship stuff in right away, this is a whole different announcement. I've never seen anything like it from Apple.

They actually have no iMac to sell in the next 2/3 months, there are no iPod minis around (especially not here :(), and the 2.5 PMs and displays are not available yet . I'm sure Apple must have something good up their sleves and for sure I'm excited about it but I am a bit worried about this current situation. They need products to sell, in order to make money and thus innovate new products. It must be a major cock up that has caused this or they have something big up their sleves.

[mac-er]

Why would we consider your purchasing a Dell a victory for Apple? :confused:

Because Michael Vance is assuming that most Mac-heads on here will respond with the typical "We don't need your kind buying Apples, and Apple is better off not having someone like you using their computer.

[w00tmaster]

They must be making more profit on the New Models than then old ones. Otherwise they should really have just made more of the current iMacs, at least enough to supply the store until the Back-to-school campaigns.

Apple's manufacturing facilities probably aren't that vast, and they probably don't have the cash to invest in new facilities for the new iMacs while maintaining the old ones. The old facilities are probably in the process of being converted to build the new iMacs, and the staff being trained on how to do so. I can't be 100% sure though, sure wish this site had someone on the inside of Taiwanese computer manufacturing :P

[pigwin32]

Apple needs to abandon the all-in-one. Put a G5 in the new iMac and let people buy whatever kind of monitor they want. If they're rich, they can get a $3500 30" LCD monitor, if not they can use their old PC's 17" CRT.

If Apple made an attractive, headless machine with the speed of a G5 and the 64bit-capable Tiger - I think they could sell a lot more people on the idea of switching to a Mac. Imagine if the next iMac line said "starting at $650" - now that would be something truly different from Apple. Suddenly people would want a Mac to go with their iPod - because, why not? They're easier to use, Tiger is awesome looking and they aren't expensive anymore.

I agree, an AlCube would be sweet, take some of the engineering out the iMac line and give consumers a little extra control over their wallets. Surely the economics of the swivelling LCD don't stack up. The extra cost to build it into the platform plus the opportunity cost of the consumer who already has a decent monitor and would like to upgrade/migrate from their existing platform but can't justify tossing their monitor out with the beige boat anchor.

The computer is now just a component of a larger system and the analogy to an entertainment system is very apt. I can't afford to upgrade all my components so I'll buy a new amplifier and save a while for the new flat-panel tv.

Apple isn't stupid, someone is getting a whole lot of grief for the iMac cockup, but they sell computers and I don't want a computer stuck to the back of my monitor unless it's a G5 PowerBook. :)

[Chip NoVaMac]

As someone who works with Macs, this update is long overdue. Its almost impossible to sell someone an iMac now. Frankly, if Apple had its stuff together they would have had a new iMac long before now. The last upgrade to the eMac made it almost impossible to sell an iMac.

I want to throw this out though: maybe the iMac will continue to be a G4. I kind of hope so actually. A redesigned iMac with a G5 is no big deal.Especially if the price goes up. Does anyone really think IBM has enough G5 chips to sell in iMac volumes AND still start at 1299?

I think there are better design and pricing options if they stick with a G4. If Apple is just planning to make a really pretty new box with a G5 in it, I wouldn't bother. Its not worth the effort and cost. Even to justify the current pricing structure (1299-2199), the design would have to be amazing and functional beyond what we have seen before. Something like the 'detachable tablet' idea that has been bandied about. A display that can be detached and communicates with the base via wifi maybe?

Anyway, if its just a new design with a G5 I don't believe sales will be helped at all (other than a short early-adopter burst). And they need help: the iMac has been Apple's lousiest seller for quite a while now.

You have me thinking. What about a dual G4 1.5 iMac? XBench wise it would be close to a single G5 1.6 in score. And would buy sometime to get the G5 chip thing fixed. And would still be able to fit into a $1299 to $2199 range (of course the $1299 might be a single processor). It would also fill the niche left empty by the PM G4.

[3.1416]

I want to throw this out though: maybe the iMac will continue to be a G4. I kind of hope so actually. A redesigned iMac with a G5 is no big deal.Especially if the price goes up. Does anyone really think IBM has enough G5 chips to sell in iMac volumes AND still start at 1299?

If they don't, then Apple has no hope in the consumer desktop space. A 1.5GHz G4 is a *joke* at $1300. If you want a cheap G4, Apple already has it with the eMac.

[thatwendigo]

I think there are better design and pricing options if they stick with a G4. If Apple is just planning to make a really pretty new box with a G5 in it, I wouldn't bother. Its not worth the effort and cost. Even to justify the current pricing structure (1299-2199), the design would have to be amazing and functional beyond what we have seen before.

Well, in order to even get close to what the G5 can do, there has to be a revamp of the support systems - RAM, ASIC, storage, optical, and other interfaces. A switch to the G5 would require massive revampings that would, indeed, make the iMac more powerful than it has ever been before.

However, I agree with you in principle. The iMac needs to do something more dramatic than just change the processor. This is "wow time" for Apple, and they need to make it count again.

Something like the 'detachable tablet' idea that has been bandied about. A display that can be detached and communicates with the base via wifi maybe?

No. No, No, NO. Read about this subject before repeatedly suggesting this! (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=881578&postcount=142)

Hey that was my idea, well kind of I stole parts of it from other people. But I stole the parts and put them all together so it's rightfully mine. :rolleyes:

I really hope that you're kidding.

[wdlove]

I guess that SJ hated the design they showed him!

So they can't announce, since they are doing a new design. As soon as they know what it will look like they can announce and start taking orders.

The technical stuff as far as fixing cooling, slower chip, display supplies that can all be worked out inline, but what is the only thing that can't allow you to take an order?

.V

You would think that Steve would allow his designers more freedom. After all Apple has been winning awards for their designs.

[ralphh]

You make it sound like Apple only sells iMacs. Yes, they'll hurt from this, but not by much. Between iPods, iTMS, the new PowerMacs, the new displays, the PowerBooks, iBooks, eMacs, xServes, and software, I don't think they're in too bad a shape, do you?

PMJI, but although yes, Apple will survive this, from an investor's point of view, this is a disaster. Ninety days=one fiscal quarter without a product that, IIRC, represents 20% of the company's revenue stream.

I feel really sorry for anyone holding the stock right now. It will recover in a few months, but in the meantime a lot of private and institutional shareholders who need to sell their shares are probably screwed.

[flyfish29]

Great news that the iMac is being updated but to me this seems to be another screw up of sorts/disappointment to come out of apple over the last few months. They promised us that this year was going to be something special... what goin on apple?

It could have been a major defect in the new design.

I think apple is being spread too thin. Think how many new things they have taken on in the last two or three years. Safari, .Mac, G5, OSX, 64 bit stuff, displays, iPod, iTunes and Music Store, all the idvd, iApps, etc. not to mention probably dozens of more projects. Some things are going to slip through. Of course they usually don't publicly admit to screwing up royally.

The real reason they don't publicly announce new CONSUMER products early is quite simple if you ask me: Lets say they did announce at a developer conference. the only press that matters to most "consumer model" customers is that a new iMac is coming out. The average Joe Blow customer would not realize they are not already out and visit a computer store searching for an iMac. They might visit Comp USA and see their not out for three months at least and purchase another computer while they are there. That would be bad in my book. Most typical consumers see a new product and want it then. They dont' want to wait usually. (not that we do, but we understand and want the latest and fastest stuff, but the average comsumer doesn't...just a cool thing.

On the other hand, Apple could have ridden the Sony PS2 or Nike Jorday bandwagon of marketing and created just enough product to make supply very low therefore resulting in very high demand. But of course to do this they needed to have some product which I am guessing is not possible which makes me think it is not a chip supply problem or something like that but a design flaw or defect. If it was a chip supply problem they could have realeased the new iMac just on Apple.com and then to the general retailers and etailers later...course would have pissed many off...and rightfully so.

[ffakr]

Apparently they ran out of stock while waiting for the iMac G5... ok. Fine, but what really confuses me is that the "New One" wasn't ready enough to at least show off at WWDC and get huge press????? WTF?

WWDC is not a format for announcing consumer grade products. Really, the only reason Jobs talks about stuff like the iPod at WWDC is so he can reassure the audience that the company is doing well.

Apple stopped production and that decision was probaby made a while ago. They likely fulfilled a bulk order with some Tawanese company that was signed months ago.
Apple admitted that they intended to stop production around now, and then purge inventory.. but their plans are off.. apparently the inventory is low and the replacements are late.
This time table would make sense normally, as Apple has plenty of opportunities to release products in the near future. MWNY (or is it Boston.. or does anyone care) is this month. Paris is coming up soon... and Apple does want to de-couple hardware announcments from major trade shows.. so it would make sense to plan on a release between NY and Paris.

[celaurie]

From a Red's Roadhaus chat...

ebola: iMac G5s would be cool
celaurie: G5 iBooks would be kewler.
celaurie: F the powerbook kiddies and ramp the iBook.
celaurie: Imagine that.
celaurie: That would grab headlines! And further immortalise the cause.

(Yes, I am still alive) :D

~ cel

[iMeowbot]

I think there are better design and pricing options if they stick with a G4. If Apple is just planning to make a really pretty new box with a G5 in it, I wouldn't bother. Its not worth the effort and cost. Even to justify the current pricing structure (1299-2199), the design would have to be amazing and functional beyond what we have seen before. Something like the 'detachable tablet' idea that has been bandied about. A display that can be detached and communicates with the base via wifi maybe?
A removable display is definitely a possibility, they do have a design patent application on file for a (rather extensive) expansion of the swing arm idea. Wireless? I really doubt it. The bandwidth isn't there, and the application (which was available online briefly but since has apparently been made non-public) definitely showed cabling provisions.

That particular application did not depict any CPU enclosures that I could see browsing through 150ish pages, so it could very well be part of a separate product (but the LCD panels shown looked very iMac-ish, not like the new panels introduced at WWDC). Shoulda woulda coulda saved those damned tiffs...

[snahabed]

No way!!!

I put several man hours of persuasion into switching a friend.... he wanted a desktop, didn't like the eMac, and no $ for a powermac... so he decided to order an iMac.... like, tomorrow.

I do believe we may have lost a switcher here! I think Apple should compensate me for all that time wasted ;)

[macfan76]

has a new ipod in the works that has an aluminum one-piece enclosure similar to the mini - as well as a new control wheel like the mini too. Plus a couple other features that you might find pretty shocking. Anyway guys, have fun.
Later,
KDawg
Do you mind to share the shocking features? Please... Its just a rumor site, no one would believe you anyway. :rolleyes: Its inevitable that they release another thing in aluminum, why not the iPod, right. :)

[xtekdiver]

Just a thought, Apple could turn this problem into a marketing oppurtunity. Every couple of weeks Apple could reveal some clue or hint to a feature in the new iMac and make a contest out of it.

I remember when Apple was coming out with the Apple IIgs there were ads in the back of magazines that said a new Apple was coming. It had a sheet over the Apple IIgs but you could see a mouse poking out from beneath the covers. This would truly get the Apple rumormill going crazy,

Just a thought

I agree. This kind of thing would help create a lot of hype an anticipation for the impending release of a new iMac. Subtle hints and images that suggest. It would be ingenious and certainly help waivering buyers into waiting.

[xtekdiver]

No way!!!

I put several man hours of persuasion into switching a friend.... he wanted a desktop, didn't like the eMac, and no $ for a powermac... so he decided to order an iMac.... like, tomorrow.

I do believe we may have lost a switcher here! I think Apple should compensate me for all that time wasted ;)

Online Apple store isn't the only place to get one. There are a lot of other options for buying a new mac. Apple store in your local mall would be a good place to start.

[joeboy_45101]

Maybe Steve Jobs is taking a page out of Mikey Moore's playbook. "No, you can't buy this product." "We're not really sure when your going to be able to buy this product." Apparently this makes people go nuts for it. :eek: