$499 Headless iMac?

[MacRumors]

Based on "highly reliable sources", Think Secret reports that Apple is expected to announce a $499 G4 iMac at Macworld Expo, probably 1.25GHz, with 256MB of RAM, a 40GB to 80GB hard drive, a Combo optical drive, USB 2.0, Firewire 400, 10/100Base-T Ethernet, a modem, and support for Airport Extreme, VGA, and DVI, packaged with Appleworks and a special version of iLife without iDVD.

The new Mac is said to be incredibly small and will be housed in a flat enclosure with a height similar to the 1.73 inches of Apple's Xserve. Its size benefits will include the ability to stand the Mac on its side or put it below a display or monitor.

Apple has been working on the low-end Mac for almost a year, sources report. Indications are Apple has been working mostly on finding the right mix of price, performance and features that would motivate Windows users to consider a Mac, and less on the actual engineering of the product. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to design a bare-bones PC," said one source familiar with the project. "What it takes is a team of marketing and software experts to find the right mix to convince Windows users to buy a Mac at a price that is not much more than the cost of an iPod."

[Doctor Q]

The target audience is said to be Windows users looking for a cheap, second PC. Amazing that they could be working on this for a year and we are just hearing about it.

[Nermal]

I showed this to a Macless friend, and he said that if it's true, he'd be very happy. I'm sure a lot of other people will feel the same way

[Freg3000]

To make it perfect, knock another 50 dollars of the price if you buy it at the same time you buy an iPod. That's the target audience after all.

[rendezvouscp]

It is amazing, and at that price, almost irresistible. One might buy one just to have another Mac available. It could be "revolutionary."
-Chase

[rendezvouscp]

Originally Posted by Freg3000

To make it perfect, knock another 50 dollars of the price if you buy it at the same time you buy an iPod. That's the target audience after all.

Ooo, that'd be awesome, and perfect for marketing. Do Apple do!
-Chase

[narco]

I really wanted to get a Cube as a second Mac in the house, but this sounds better. I'll have to wait and see what it looks like first, but I think it's a good move on Apple's part.

Fishes,
narco.

[Abstract]

Oh god, a new G4 desktop. Why not give it at least a 1.5GHz G4? The benefit of getting this system should be that it is absolutely tiny. Otherwise, they basically just made a headless eMac. YAY!!

[Chip NoVaMac]

For those of us that need portability, without the price of a notebook this could be an answer!

[Durandal7]

If true, I'll take one. I would prefer a slightly faster processor but this is about the type of cheap system I am in the market for.

[WM.]

I'm thinking a GeForce 5200 at best.

No whining.

[skymaXimus]

Wow, this sounds like the perfect companion to my PowerBook. Using .Mac (or some other sort of) synchronization this could be very sweet indeed.

[DMann]

This will be a truly brilliant move,
for starting an OSX revolution.
Tiger will no doubt outperform
Panther speedwise on this new
headless wonder..... Market share
might even cruise into the double digits!

[J-Squire]

I think I'll stick with my G5 iMac

[SiliconAddict]

If true I will pick two up the day they come out. One for my mom and one for me. I want a Mac but am waiting for a PowerBook revamp. (see sig.) And an iMac is just too expensive at this point. This would be perfect. If Apple did this I seriously think they could catch some market share in the next couple years. Honestly at that kind of price point I think most people would be willing to “try” out a Mac. Hell I spent more on my new iPaq 4700 for X-Mas then what the suggested/rumored price would be.
If this does come true it may be a sign that Jobs and co understands that market share does matter. Maybe Jobs is no longer happy being confined to being a niche player and if so all I can say is its about god **** time. http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/foru...s/headbang.gif

And before people start crapping on such a device keep in mind that there are MANY Windows users who aren't looking for a fast GPU. Aren't looking to be able to run the latest and grestest games. If the average user can get a Mac for cheap to replace their ageing Windows 9x desktop so much the better for Apple. I know some are going to see such an idea as stupid but frankly if you want to see MS go down this is the only way.
I say bring it on. Next X-Mas I would be willing to donate a couple of such systems to toys for tots at that price.

PS- I just hope to heck you can upgrade the RAM....256MB

[budugu]

Originally Posted by WM.

I'm thinking a GeForce 5200 at best.

No whining.

I would be happy to see a GeForce 5200. Lets not hope it is a Ati9200(32MB)!! I would get one too (if it has a DVI!)!

[Reality Cheque]

Freaking Incredible!!!

Apple has been triggering shotgun blasts to its own head all these years by not offering a reasonably low-cost headless Mac. It's about time these otherwise brilliant people figured out that market share does matter!

More market share --> means more interest from developers --> means better choices at lower costs for Mac customers --> means happier customers with more $$ to spend on Apple --> means more revenue --> means more R&D money --> means better, more diverse product line --> means more market share -->...

Now if they would only step out of that other insanity bubble just long enough to fix the one-button mouse into something usable (hey, we know they can do it -- and better than anyone else-- it's the why they don't that no one understands).

[one3]

The description of this sounds a little like a mockup I did a month or two ago:

http://applepete.com/concepts/images/icentre.jpg

[SiliconAddict]

Umm question...What has Think Secret's rep been lately in regards to rumor accuracy?

[SiliconAddict]

Originally Posted by Reality Cheque

Now if they would only step out of that other insanity bubble just long enough to fix the one-button mouse into something usable (hey, we know they can do it -- and better than anyone else-- it's the why they don't that no one understands).

Hey I'm willing to concede the one button mouse thing if this really does come true. Replacing the mouse is trivial. Well it is for desktops.

[chewbaccapits]

This is the time of year when I always proclaim that I be rumor horny....!!!

[adam1185]

Originally Posted by SiliconAddict

Umm question...What has Think Secret's rep been lately in regards to rumor accuracy?

They've been pretty spot on I'd say...I can't think of any mistakes they have made in a long time.

[ChrisWB]

This is awesome! I'll try to get one for my mother if this is true.

One3, that's a great creation.

[Chaszmyr]

Originally Posted by adam1185

They've been pretty spot on I'd say...I can't think of any mistakes they have made in a long time.

ThinkSecret has been either right or close to right on pretty much everything they've published for the last 2 years.

[DMann]

Originally Posted by J-Squire

I think I'll stick with my G5 iMac

True, I've got the iMac G5 next to a Dual 2.5, and
probably won't go for one. But for Windoze users,
this might just be the vehicle to port them into the
real world.....