New All-in-One Mac for Education?

[Legacy]

It will be called the eMac no doubt. No need for name change.

Standard specs:

15" TFT wide/Airport/Gigabit Ethernet/Firewire 400/4xUSB

I think we'll see two models:

$799: Core Duo 1.66/512RAM/60GB/GMA950/Combo
$999: Core Duo 1.83/512RAM/80GB/GMA950/Super

NB MacMini will be the same as the above, only headless for $599/$799 using laptop parts however.

iMac will get bumped up to:

$1299: 17"/Core2Duo 2.0/512RAM/160GB/X1600 128MB/Super
$1699: 20"/Core2Duo 2.16/512RAM/250GB/X1600 256MB standard/Super

 

[4God]

It will be called the eMac no doubt. No need for name change.

Standard specs:

15" TFT wide/Airport/Gigabit Ethernet/Firewire 400/4xUSB

I think we'll see two models:

$799: Core Duo 1.66/512RAM/60GB/GMA950/Combo
$999: Core Duo 1.83/512RAM/80GB/GMA950/Super

NB MacMini will be the same as the above, only headless for $599/$799 using laptop parts however.

iMac will get bumped up to:

$1299: 17"/Core2Duo 2.0/512RAM/160GB/X1600 128MB/Super
$1699: 20"/Core2Duo 2.16/512RAM/250GB/X1600 256MB standard/Super

Not bad. I sure hope the iMacs get a better bump than that though.
I personally would like to see a 23" iMac with a 2.33 Core2Duo for $2099.

 

[~Shard~]

With Merom, Conroe and Woodcrest coming out, it would make sense for Apple to use a Core Duo in this machine, as the price of the Core Duos will decrease significantly once Intel's new Core 2 Duo offerings are out. The eMac has to be a very cost-conscious offering, so Apple would not stick a brand new Core 2 Duo proc in them, especially when most of their other products at that time would still be using Core Duos. Can't have the eMac out-spec the rest of the Mac line-up after all!

But yeah, to keep costs down and make the machine more attractive to the educational institutions I'd expect Apple to put in a Core Duo, and have it built similar to the Mac mini and MacBook - perhaps even with a glossy screen! And don't forget integrated graphics as well...

 

[mccldwll]

My prediction/guess has been/is a detuned 17" imac core duo, smaller hd, combo (superdrive also available for video lab work), no isight (trouble in a school setting) which could be available almost immediately for fall semester purchasing. My prediction/hope is that the new imac will be a larger form mini which will dock to a cinema display w/ isight (and available only as a unit), but which can be removed and carried to tv room (who wants the distraction/style of the present imac by tv). May be possible to also buy isight enabled cinema displays separately to which minis can dock.

 

[CrackedButter]

I wonder if they'll keep the eMac name... I'm sure this system won't be too far off from the 17" intel iMac. Maybe integrated graphics and a slower CPU. I wonder how cheap they'll try and make it. If I remember correctly the eMacs started at $799 or so...it would be nice if they had a sort of Intel Mac Mini system with a built-in display.

Steve Jobs said he wanted to have "Mac" in the product's name now so rather than call the eMac an "eMac" I think they will re-christen the eMac to the "eMac".

I'm going out on a limb here btw, don't blame me if I get it wrong but give me the credit if its right because you heard it here first.

 

[Doctor Q]

Students don't necessarily have less demanding requirements than other buyers these days, as students do video editing and other demanding tasks on their computers at schools. But starting prices have to remain low due to competition and (at least here in California) always-tight budgets. And low prices means something's gotta give - screen size, performance, or other shortcuts.

Apple would be wise to bundle plenty of software into these models (iLife and iWork at a minimum), since they can do that without adding to manufacturing costs and it'll help them in head-to-head competition with PCs.

 

[w_parietti22]

I was thinking something along these lines:

eMacs:

Good:
15" Widescreen 1280 x 800 - Glossy
1.5ghz Core Solo
Combo Drive
60gb HD
Intergrated Graphics
512mb of RAM

Price: $699

Better:
15" Widescreen 1280x800 -Glossy
1.66 Core Duo
Combo Drive
80gb HD
Integrated Graphics
512mb of RAM
Price: $749

Best:

17" Widescreen 1440x900 -Glossy
1.83ghz Core Duo
4x SL SuperDrive
100gb HD
ATI Radeon X1300 graphics with 64MB
1gb of RAM

$999


iMacs:

Good:
17-inch widescreen 1440x900 -Glossy or Matte Optional
2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo
512MB (single SO-DIMM) 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
160GB Serial ATA hard drive
8x DL SuperDrive
ATI Radeon X1600 graphics with 128MB
Price: $1,299

Better:
20-inch widescreen 1680x1050 Glossy or Matte Optional
2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo
1gb (single SO-DIMM) 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
250GB Serial ATA hard drive
8x DL SuperDrive
ATI Radeon X1800 graphics with 256MB

Price: $1,499

Best:
23-inch widescreen 1920 x 1200 Glossy or Matte Optional
2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo
1gb (single SO-DIMM) 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
250GB Serial ATA hard drive
8x DL SuperDrive
ATI Radeon X1800 graphics with 256MB

Price: $1,699

There could be a possibility of taking out the 17" iMac all together and the Mac Mini would require a price reduce.

 

[dops7107]

Why can't Apple give us a low-cost MacTower? The Intel MacPros are not out yet. The current PowerMac G5 prices are ridiculous. I don't want to get an iMac because I already have a big LCD screen. I don't want a MacMini because I need better storage, expandability and graphics!

Arrrgh! Apple! Think of the average geek.

Gotta agree with you there - I've been wondering about this for a long time. It's an obvious gap in their line-up which every other computer manufacturer seems to cover. Having siad that, there aren't any other manufacturers that really can rival Apple for all-in-ones

 

[shadowmoses]

I think the specs will be:

$599 or £399

-17" Standard screen not wide (its an edu model, no need for widescreen)
-512mb RAM upgradeable to 2gb
-GMA950 64mb Intergrated graphics possibly 128mb
-3.5" HD (Probably 120-300gb)
-Normal processor not mobile maybe the new Celeron D or something like that
-Slot Loading Combo or Superdrive (possibly standard tray loading depending on design route)
-AE built in, and bluetooth

All in a enclosure simular to the iMac G3's but smaller and more compact but not as compact as the Intel iMac's. It will be very tough and industrially designed...

I don't see why Apple would use portable components like core processor's when a Celeron D or something like that is a very efficient processor and would do the job fine, allowing Apple to produce these usints at a very affordable price.....

Also why should they use 2.5" Hard drives they arent pushed for space and they cost more so there is no need....

ShadoW

 

[BlizzardBomb]

it'll more likely use a 17" 1280x1024 glossy protected screen.

Apple uses 16:10 and always will.

I was thinking something along these lines:

eMacs
Good - $699
Better - $749
Best - $999

iMacs
Good - $1,299
Better - $1,499
Best - $1,699

There could be a possibility of taking out the 17" iMac all together and the Mac Mini would require a price reduce.

You're specs aren't far off My only problem is that it's far too many models. Apple have already simplified the laptops (MacBook Family vs. 2 iBooks sizes and 3 PB sizes) so why complicate the desktops? Personally, I hope the just keep the iMac design and just change what's inside it. Here's what I think would happen:

17" iMac (1440x900) - $999/£749
Core 2 Duo, either Conroe E6300 (1.86GHz) or Merom T7200 (2GHz)
512MB RAM, 160GB HD, SuperDrive
X1600 128MB

20" iMac (1680x1050) - $1,499/£1,149
Core 2 Duo, either Conroe E6400 (2.13GHz) or Merom T7400 (2.16GHz)
1GB RAM, 250GB HD, SuperDrive
X1600 Pro 128MB -> 256MB as an upgrade

23" iMac (1920x1200) - $1,999/£1,549 (Come on Apple, you know you want to )
Core 2 Duo, either Conroe E6600 (2.4GHz) or Merom T7600 (2.33Ghz)
1GB RAM, 250GB HD, SuperDrive
X1600 XT 256MB -> 512MB as an upgrade

I've put Conroe/Merom because even though Conroe is cheaper than Merom at the equivalent clock speed it all comes down to heat. I really think putting Conroe in it shouldn't be a problem though if the iMac could handle G5s.

The price can't be too low, or else it will choke Mac Mini sales (like what Mac Mini vs. eMac did). No integrated graphics on the iMac, but the Mac Mini should keep it for the next revision and have a G965 instead which will perform a lot better.

Apple have been selling displays at the same price for a while now and the cost to Apple must of dropped a fair bit so it's time for them to pass the savings on to us

 

[sam10685]

hope the price is affordable... and a boost in the imac specs would be nice too.

 

[Lollypop]

I think the specs will be:

$599 or £399

-17" Standard screen not wide (its an edu model, no need for widescreen)
-512mb RAM upgradeable to 2gb
-GMA950 64mb Intergrated graphics possibly 128mb
-3.5" HD (Probably 120-300gb)
-Normal processor not mobile maybe the new Celeron D or something like that
-Slot Loading Combo or Superdrive (possibly standard tray loading depending on design route)
-AE built in, and bluetooth

All in a enclosure simular to the iMac G3's but smaller and more compact but not as compact as the Intel iMac's. It will be very tough and industrially designed...

I don't see why Apple would use portable components like core processor's when a Celeron D or something like that is a very efficient processor and would do the job fine, allowing Apple to produce these usints at a very affordable price.....

Also why should they use 2.5" Hard drives they arent pushed for space and they cost more so there is no need....

ShadoW

That sounds ight to me. But have the components easily upgradable like the macbook. The edu market wants something cheap over the long run as well, having the ability to upgrade things without external help will be cool. Dont think apple will go over 64megs for integrated graphics soon, there is no reason, the more they "add" the less memory there is for the OS.

 

[matticus008]

23" iMac (1920x1200) - $1,999/£1,549 (Come on Apple, you know you want to )
Core 2 Duo, either Conroe E6600 (2.4GHz) or Merom T7400 (2.33Ghz)
1GB RAM, 250GB HD, SuperDrive
X1600 XT 256MB -> 512MB as an upgrade

[...]
The price can't be too low, or else it will choke Mac Mini sales (like what Mac Mini vs. eMac did). No integrated graphics on the iMac, but the Mac Mini should keep it for the next revision and have a G965 instead which will perform a lot better.

The prices are way too low, but the specs are reasonable, except that I doubt there will be a 23" all in one at all. Just looking at the 23" you can tell that Apple wouldn't even sell a PowerMac (without the 23" display) for that price--even $2799 would be an optimistic price for something like that right at introduction.

 

[Di9it8]

My prediction/guess has been/is a detuned 17" imac core duo, ... no isight

Taking out isight allows them to minimise costs and address the privacy issues.
This is also the time to update Apple Works as a package, to compete with MS Office.

But the absolutely critical issue is that education purchasing takes 3-9months lead in, so therefore the education purchasers need to now what is available for January next year.

The cheapest thing for Apple to do is just to rebadge one of their existing iMacs, whilst the rest of the range is speed bumped etc.

 

[BlizzardBomb]

The prices are way too low, but the specs are reasonable, except that I doubt there will be a 23" all in one at all. Just looking at the 23" you can tell that Apple wouldn't even sell a PowerMac (without the 23" display) for that price--even $2799 would be an optimistic price for something like that right at introduction.

Cost to Apple (estimates apart from Conroe):

23" display - $1,000
Conroe E6600 - $315 (would be a lot less with bulk pricing)
X1600 XT - $100
RAM, HD, Optical Drive - $250

Total - $1,665

Reasonable isn't it?

 

[mklos]

I wouldn't be surprised if Apple used the 15.4" Glossy Widescreen from the MacBook Pro, with an option to get the 17" Glossy Widescreen from the MacBook Pro. Throw in a 1.66 Core Duo, 512MB DDR2 SODIMM, 60 GB notebook HD, Integrated Intel GMA950 graphics, AirPort/Bluetooth Wireless, with optional CDRW or SuperDrive (no optical standard). Selling for around $799 with the 17" w/SuperDrive and 80 GB notebook HD going for $999.

Glossy screens would be great in a school atmosphere with kids ALWAYS putting their fingers on the display. A glossy display would be easy to clean and more durable.

Schools don't need optical drives in every computer. Its plain not necessary and a lot of them prefer if they weren't in there. Then you don't have to worry about students/teachers bringing in burned CDs, installing applications from CDs, etc... You can use Apple Remote Desktop to do nearly anything that would require a CD. Schools can always buy a couple external CDRW and/or DVDRW Drives for use around the school. This would save Apple some money. If Apple wants to sell a Mac that will compete with Dell, its gotta be around the $799 mark or lower if possible. With a flat screen display, they gotta strip out everything from the iMac that isn't necessary like the iSight Cam, Remote/FrontRow, ATI Graphics, large displays, and optical drives.

 

[w_parietti22]

Apple uses 16:10 and always will.



You're specs aren't far off My only problem is that it's far too many models. Apple have already simplified the laptops (MacBook Family vs. 2 iBooks sizes and 3 PB sizes) so why complicate the desktops? Personally, I hope the just keep the iMac design and just change what's inside it. Here's what I think would happen:

17" iMac (1440x900) - $999/£749
Core 2 Duo, either Conroe E6300 (1.86GHz) or Merom T7200 (2GHz)
512MB RAM, 160GB HD, SuperDrive
X1600 128MB

20" iMac (1680x1050) - $1,499/£1,149
Core 2 Duo, either Conroe E6400 (2.13GHz) or Merom T7400 (2.16GHz)
1GB RAM, 250GB HD, SuperDrive
X1600 Pro 128MB -> 256MB as an upgrade

23" iMac (1920x1200) - $1,999/£1,549 (Come on Apple, you know you want to )
Core 2 Duo, either Conroe E6600 (2.4GHz) or Merom T7600 (2.33Ghz)
1GB RAM, 250GB HD, SuperDrive
X1600 XT 256MB -> 512MB as an upgrade

I've put Conroe/Merom because even though Conroe is cheaper than Merom at the equivalent clock speed it all comes down to heat. I really think putting Conroe in it shouldn't be a problem though if the iMac could handle G5s.

The price can't be too low, or else it will choke Mac Mini sales (like what Mac Mini vs. eMac did). No integrated graphics on the iMac, but the Mac Mini should keep it for the next revision and have a G965 instead which will perform a lot better.

Apple have been selling displays at the same price for a while now and the cost to Apple must of dropped a fair bit so it's time for them to pass the savings on to us

How about something like this:

Mac Minis:

Good:
1.66GHz Intel Core Duo
512MB memory
60GB Serial ATA hard drive
Combo drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
Intergrated Graphics
Optional TV-Tuner

Price: $499

Best:
1.83GHz Intel Core Duo
512MB memory
80GB Serial ATA hard drive
4x SL SuperDrive
Intergrated Graphics
Built-In TV tuner

Price: $599

eMacs:

Good:
15" Widescreen 1280 x 800 - Glossy
1.66ghz Core Duo
Combo Drive
60gb HD
Intergrated Graphics
512mb of RAM

Price: $699

Best:
15" Widescreen 1280x800 -Glossy
1.83ghz Core Duo
4x SL SuperDrive
80gb HD
Integrated Graphics
512mb of RAM
Price: $799

iMacs:

Good:
17-inch widescreen 1440x900 -Glossy or Matte Optional
2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo
512MB (single SO-DIMM) 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
160GB Serial ATA hard drive
8x DL SuperDrive
ATI Radeon X1600 graphics with 128MB
Price: $1099

Better:
20-inch widescreen 1680x1050 Glossy or Matte Optional
2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
1gb (single SO-DIMM) 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
250GB Serial ATA hard drive
8x DL SuperDrive
ATI Radeon X1800 graphics with 256MB

Price: $1,499

Best:
23-inch widescreen 1920 x 1200 Glossy or Matte Optional
2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
1gb (single SO-DIMM) 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
300GB Serial ATA hard drive
8x DL SuperDrive
ATI Radeon X1800 graphics with 256MB

Price: $1,799

 

[mklos]

I think the specs will be:

$599 or £399

-17" Standard screen not wide (its an edu model, no need for widescreen)
-512mb RAM upgradeable to 2gb
-GMA950 64mb Intergrated graphics possibly 128mb
-3.5" HD (Probably 120-300gb)
-Normal processor not mobile maybe the new Celeron D or something like that
-Slot Loading Combo or Superdrive (possibly standard tray loading depending on design route)
-AE built in, and bluetooth

All in a enclosure simular to the iMac G3's but smaller and more compact but not as compact as the Intel iMac's. It will be very tough and industrially designed...

I don't see why Apple would use portable components like core processor's when a Celeron D or something like that is a very efficient processor and would do the job fine, allowing Apple to produce these usints at a very affordable price.....

Also why should they use 2.5" Hard drives they arent pushed for space and they cost more so there is no need....

ShadoW

I don't see Apple using a 17" regular display. It would actually cost Apple just as a widescreen in the long run much because that would be the only model to use a regular 17" LCD display. Also no way in hell is Apple going to sell a Mac with a 17" screen for $599. IMO, its just not possible. I doubt they'll be able to sell a 15 or 15.4" widescreen for $599.

I doubt you'll see Apple use the Celeron in any Mac. Its old technology and Apple won't use old technology. The CoreDuo is going to go down in price so I don't think pricing on the CPU will be an issue. Using a CoreSolo isn't really saving Apple any money either since its just a CoreDuo with one of the core disabled and is just a few bucks less in bulk.

If you have a 15" LCD AIO, then you're really pressed for space so a notebook HD is a must unless you want a 3" thick computer? You're possibly thinking this will have a CRT display in it? It most certainly won't and wouldn't be a good move if they did.

Optical drives aren't necessary for all educational computers. Like I posted previously its like having floppy drives in every computer. You have to keep an eye on students/teachers bringing in CDs from home, installing programs, etc... Its just a mess with some school districts. Make it an option for either a CDRW/DVD Combo Drive, or SuperDrive.

Wireless is a must for a lot of school districts and can be very handy if implemented correctly. It will allow for easy moving of the computers, less cables, and no problems with bad cables, or students pulling the ethernet cable out of the computer. It also enables things like wireless printing using either bluetooth or AirPort, cleaner work area, etc... Just enable MAC Address Filtering and don't broadcast the signal and any district would be pretty damn secure.

 

[matticus008]

Best:
15" Widescreen 1280x800 -Glossy
1.83ghz Core Duo
4x SL SuperDrive
80gb HD
Integrated Graphics
512mb of RAM
Price: $799

iMacs:

Good:
17-inch widescreen 1440x900 -Glossy or Matte Optional
2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo
512MB (single SO-DIMM) 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
160GB Serial ATA hard drive
8x DL SuperDrive
ATI Radeon X1600 graphics with 128MB
Price: $1099

You've bested the current MacBook by $400+. From there, your prices get progressively worse, all the way to downright ludicrous for your 23" iMac, which you're selling for $500 more (less than the price of a base model mini) than just the (non-Apple competing) displays sell for. The Apple display is just $400 less--even if they drop the price to below that of competitors (to 999), you're talking about selling a $1400+ computer for just $600.

 

[4God]

The prices are way too low, but the specs are reasonable, except that I doubt there will be a 23" all in one at all. Just looking at the 23" you can tell that Apple wouldn't even sell a PowerMac (without the 23" display) for that price--even $2799 would be an optimistic price for something like that right at introduction.

Well, as I mentioned in an earlier post, $2099 would probably be more feasable.
Let's take away the price of a 20" display - $799 from the current 20" iMac.
Now you have iMac guts for around $899. Then add the price of a 23" display - $1199.
Where does that leave us? Just about $2099. Hmmmm....close, not factoring in the
extra acrylic and so on. Not exactly perfect, but reasonably close IMO.

 

[matticus008]

Cost to Apple (estimates apart from Conroe):

23" display - $1,000
Conroe E6600 - $315 (would be a lot less with bulk pricing)
X1600 XT - $100
RAM, HD, Optical Drive - $250

Total - $1,665

Reasonable isn't it?

No. Let's say $900 for the display, $300 for the CPU, $350 for the other parts you've mentioned. You're still leaving out the logic board (~$50), wireless components ($25), keyboard/mouse/remote/iSight/accessories/AC adapter ($150), case/cooling/power supply ($85), and the minimum ~20% markup (for labor, shipping, packaging, R&D, inventory tracking, marketing, capital cost recovery, and profit).

All together: $2349, bare minimum, and I didn't even mention software R&D or planned support costs, and I've even undercut your price proposals in a few areas.

 

[IndyGopher]

Apple uses 16:10 and always will.

Considering all the fairly radical changes Apple has rolled out in the last couple of years, that statement is basically asinine.

 

[BlizzardBomb]

Considering all the fairly radical changes Apple has rolled out in the last couple of years, that statement is basically asinine.

Ok, Apple uses 16:10 and will for a while

No.

Let's say $900 for the display, $300 for the CPU, $350 for the other parts you've mentioned. You're still leaving out the logic board (~$50), wireless components ($25), keyboard/mouse/remote/iSight/accessories/AC adapter ($150), case/cooling/power supply ($85), and the minimum ~20% markup (for labor, shipping, packaging, R&D, inventory tracking, marketing, capital cost recovery, and profit).

All together: $2349, bare minimum, and I didn't even mention software R&D or planned support costs, and I've even undercut your price proposals in a few areas.

I'm almost certain that it is possible at $2,000. If Apple can sell a 20" at $1,699, a 23" at $1,999 with similar specs should be easily possible. Remember that the aluminium case of the ACDs probably costs more than the plastic of iMacs, so I'm now guessing that the display itself would cost Apple $800 possibly less.

 

[Spectrum]

Ok, Apple uses 16:10 and will for a while

Apart from the origianal iMac G4, the old cinema display 17", and the retired PB15" (15:10)

And what is the obsession people are having with putting glossy screens on the thing????? That would be sh**e.

 

[~Shard~]

And what is the obsession people are having with putting glossy screens on the thing????? That would be sh**e.

Just look at the MacBooks - it's the style of the times!