$499 Headless iMac?

[LaMerVipere]

I have a couple questions...

If Apple is going to introduce this "headless iMac" in such a small enclosure and with an older G4 processor, what does this spell for Apple down the road?

Consumers would expect it to get smaller and faster as time went on; is the G4 that expandable for the foresseable future? How small can it get? And more importantly, will consumers want a 1.25GHz G4 a year from now, when the rest of the Mac desktops are deep into the G5 world? And what about when the OS goes 64-bit?

 

[Sir_Giggles]

A headless Mac is a good move for Apple, since the LCD business is being commoditized and competition from Samsung's Zero Defective Pixel policy would mean a lowering of profits on Apple displays.

The real strength of Apple has always been software design and hardware integration, everything else should be subsidized by other companies.

 

[Timelessblur]

Here's one that is closest to the specs (Win XP Home - Gimme a break! With OS X everyone gets the full version + developer tools) of the cheapest PowerMac G5 ( at 1395 education price). A bit closer, eh? I think the 375 is worth the additional software, ease of use/productivity factor, plus Apple's history and the innnovations to come. Some may not see it as worth it, and that's OK, just be fair about comparisons. ....



CPU: (754-pin) AMD ATHLON64 2800+ CPU w/ Hyper Transport Technology [+512]


_PRICE: (+1022)

_view_: normal
Subtotal:
$1,022.00

ummm I might like to correct you on the pice. the AMD64 2800+ is $129 not 512 so after the price ajust ment the computer is a little over 700.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-452&depa=1 is the chip I dont know where in gods green earth that you got 512 for that chip but is it hugely wrong

 

[Mainyehc]

I can imagine a drop in LCD prices, but not in correspondence to this. Also the price drops would probably not be worth writing home about. What I have seen alot is when people are getting a new computer they already have their old monitor left over good to go. Granted this will be some hideous setups with that beautiful Mac and an ugly beige screen connected, but if it gets buyers than so be it.

jon

SPOT ON! That's it! If true, this is the best idea Apple has come up with since the introduction of the iPod. Picture this: people have old PCs, with old but functional CRT monitors; they buy one of these $500 Macs and toss their old PCs out of the window, and hook their replacements to the old monitors. Of course that means they have a fugly setup, but that shouldn't go on for too long... Once those people, who probably were already delighted with the iPod's aesthetics and functionality, will understand the full scope of that "digital lifestyle" thing... By then, they may need a new Mac, or since Macs seem to last forever, they can buy an LCD screen, be it Apple branded or not.

And hopefully, Apple could introduce a cheaper 17'' screen. There are price drops every now and then, so LCD screens will be more affordable a few years from now, I guess... While I'm at it, remember this: an iMac 20'' is priced at $1899, and a 20'' Cinema Display (which I'm almost positive that is the same found in the iMac, I've seen them side by side) is priced at $1299, meaning that you're buying a cheap flat single G5 1.8 GHz that should cost $599, with a *very* expensive monitor which costs twice slapped in front of it!!

Of course, we all know that things aren't always what they seem. I wouldn't be surprised if I found that Apple's profit margins on their diplay line are totally obscene... I remember reading somewhere that the same display as one of the Cinema Displays, in a different enclosure from another brand, cost a lot less (something in the $100-$400 range) than the Apple branded one, and I don't think that an aluminium enclosure and stand, plus a FireWire and USB hub are *that* expensive...

 

[macrobay]

maybe apple will release one of those thin CRTs CNET has been talking about...only 1-2in thin, but CRT so the price is MUCH cheaper!

 

[GFLPraxis]

If Apple is going to introduce this "headless iMac" in such a small enclosure and with an older G4 processor, what does this spell for Apple down the road?

Consumers would expect it to get smaller and faster as time went on; is the G4 that expandable for the foresseable future? How small can it get? And more importantly, will consumers want a 1.25GHz G4 a year from now, when the rest of the Mac desktops are deep into the G5 world? And what about when the OS goes 64-bit?

Freescale (division of Motorola that does the G4 processor) is working on new G4's.

They've already announced that the new G4's go up to 2 GHz and can be single or dual core. A dual core 2 GHz G4 only takes 25w at MAX. That's AWESOME. A dual core 2 GHz G4! A single chip that can outrun a low end PowerMac and keep up with a 1.8 dual processor one....

And the single core one can be scaled back a bit for 10w power consumption.

They're also working on adding 64-bit extensions.

I see the future with 64-bit dual core 2 GHz G4's in the low end (eMac?), and dual core 3 GHz G5's in middle (iMac?) and dual dual core 3.5 or 4 GHz G5's in the top (PowerMac?). iBooks with single and PowerBooks with dual cores, running at 2 GHz.

Sweet

Just my guess.

 

[GFLPraxis]

Here's one that is closest to the specs (Win XP Home - Gimme a break! With OS X everyone gets the full version + developer tools) of the cheapest PowerMac G5 ( at 1395 education price). A bit closer, eh? I think the 375 is worth the additional software, ease of use/productivity factor, plus Apple's history and the innnovations to come. Some may not see it as worth it, and that's OK, just be fair about comparisons. ....



CPU: (754-pin) AMD ATHLON64 2800+ CPU w/ Hyper Transport Technology [+512]


_PRICE: (+1022)

_view_: normal
Subtotal:
$1,022.00

ummm I might like to correct you on the pice. the AMD64 2800+ is $129 not 512 so after the price ajust ment the computer is a little over 700.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-452&depa=1 is the chip I dont know where in gods green earth that you got 512 for that chip but is it hugely wrong

I want to point out that the PowerMac he's comparing it to is a SUCKY deal.

Compare it to the iMac G5 instead. $1119 with education discount, approx. equivilant processor (okay, .2 GHz difference, big deal), with a $500 flatscreen added to the mix!

 

[Mord]

ummm I might like to correct you on the pice. the AMD64 2800+ is $129 not 512 so after the price ajust ment the computer is a little over 700.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-452&depa=1 is the chip I dont know where in gods green earth that you got 512 for that chip but is it hugely wrong

that $512 is not just the cpu it's makeing up the price of all the other stuff they give you free like the motherboard.

look at the site before posting.

 

[Jo-Kun]

I'm in the market for an iBook to work on location next year...

but on location I don't need to move it around or use battery power...

hmmmz if this rumor is right and depending on the specs (for instance not using 4200rpm laptopdrives in this one (wich even might become the case since it's possible design might end up using iBook components all the way...)) I might consider getting one of these with a 15 or 17 flatscreen, build it into a case, so it can be carried safely. open up the box, turn it on and work on location with my mac...

come home, boot as target, move everything onto my G5 for the 'hard' work...

so everything I will get when I get an iBook, but maybe if it uses better drives inthere and gives my flexibility in use of display... I might get one because I don't need battery operation... since I'm in a studio or so so there always is power for my flashes, so allso for a mac...

 

[Timelessblur]

that $512 is not just the cpu it's makeing up the price of all the other stuff they give you free like the motherboard.

look at the site before posting.

well either way the spec and the price do not line up since I built a more powerful sytem with pretty much better everything for 1300 and that was before several of the items in there got massisve price cuts. basicly to rebuilt that same system now including the cost of software it would cost me less than a 1k and yes that is with a amd64 in it and I know higher end parts.

 

[barnett25]

A headless Mac is a good move for Apple, since the LCD business is being commoditized and competition from Samsung's Zero Defective Pixel policy would mean a lowering of profits on Apple displays.

The real strength of Apple has always been software design and hardware integration, everything else should be subsidized by other companies.

I'm assuming you got the samsung information from slashdot, unfortionately that post has been edited to show that that offer only applies to South Korea. And I was just about ready to go out and buy a samsung becuase of this policy too.

 

[barnett25]

well either way the spec and the price do not line up since I built a more powerful sytem with pretty much better everything for 1300 and that was before several of the items in there got massisve price cuts. basicly to rebuilt that same system now including the cost of software it would cost me less than a 1k and yes that is with a amd64 in it and I know higher end parts.

Yeah, but you can't build your own OS X.

 

[Timelessblur]

Yeah, but you can't build your own OS X.

yes I can. just have to install pearPC on it. only it will go at a crawl and is really slow. but I can put OS X on it.

 

[Rootman]

hmmmz if this rumor is right and depending on the specs (for instance not using 4200rpm laptopdrives in this one (wich even might become the case since it's possible design might end up using iBook components all the way...)) I might consider getting one of these with a 15 or 17 flatscreen, build it into a case, so it can be carried safely. open up the box, turn it on and work on location with my mac....

Even if they use iBook PCB components, I don't see them using a slow drive. The only reason they do this in the iBooks is to save battery power, not money. You can put a faster drive in any iBook without altering the motherboard. I'd like to see them use the 15" Powerbook board instead of the iBook design for this, since they can easily offer the onboard ATI with either 64 or 128 megs BTO like they do with the Powerbooks. Maybe the Powerbook has a slot for additional VRAM. If they are using an existing design, why not use the better-performing Powerbook innards?

 

[Rootman]

yes I can. just have to install pearPC on it. only it will go at a crawl and is really slow. but I can put OS X on it.

Let's start a thread for people who are so obstinant they are going to run OSX on Athalons. Wake up. This is a $500 computer! It's cheap enough to let your dog use. It's an accessory for your iPod.

The Wintel people will understand the Mac people the day the Arabs and Israelis get along. When the Yankees and Red Sox get along, you will. When Manchester United and Manchester City lie down like lambs, you will all be living in platform harmony. Meanwhile, get over it. A pox and a Netski virus on both your houses.

 

[Sir_Giggles]

I'm assuming you got the samsung information from slashdot, unfortionately that post has been edited to show that that offer only applies to South Korea. And I was just about ready to go out and buy a samsung becuase of this policy too.

Yeppers, it's from Slashdot. News for Nerds. Stuff that matters. I believe Samsung is using S.Korea as a test bed. THey could easily and quickly apply the same policy across all markets, so Apple should still be on the loop regarding this.

My 20" ACD has no dead pixels, but my PB has one dead pixel. Drives me insane, and reduces the overall resale value but what can you do?

 

[Rootman]

my PB has one dead pixel. Drives me insane, and reduces the overall resale value but what can you do?

Make it into a headless Mac.

 

[ibjoshua]

i doubt he is the only one here who prefers function over form
...
for me the primary thing is whats inside and what is running on the computer not which shape the powerbutton has or if it fits my furniture

Exactly what I was trying to say before. Except I managed to mangle my sentence completely.

I said: Well designed quality hardware is a nice but I don't think most of us buy Macs for the software.

But I meant: Well designed quality hardware is nice but I think most of us buy Macs for the software.

I was tired.

I think most of us buy Macs because they're Macs. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

i_b_joshua

 

[BillD222]

I want to point out that the PowerMac he's comparing it to is a SUCKY deal.

Compare it to the iMac G5 instead. $1119 with education discount, approx. equivilant processor (okay, .2 GHz difference, big deal), with a $500 flatscreen added to the mix!

It was a comparison to a byo PeeCee tower, so I did it with the PM G5. The 1.8 is what people begged for, they wanted upgradability. I don't need that as much as I used to, so that's why I wasn't upset after I got my iMac G5 1.8. If you compare an iMac to a PeeCee Tower, you're just mixing it up too much. the mac guy'll say factor in the design, the PeeCee guy'll say ypou can't upgrade it, and so on. That's why I compared to the PM G5 1.8, which is a good "compromise". I agree, however, that getting the iMac with the same specs w/ a 17" LCD widescreen makes it even a closer price.

Timlessblur: My post was a rebuttal to someone who built an inferior box on theis site climing it to be the same a a PM g5 at $600 and some. I simply tried to put in some closer figures. Also, as already pointed out, the $512 is where the base system starts with that processor, going up the like $1200. You then need to add your own components/software.

PS This thread is really going - one of the best in a while. The only thing that'll say if this is a good move for Apple and its (and maybe future)customers is, if it really happens and how well it sells. Everything else (including me) is just noise...

 

[morgantruce]

Apple to Announce $99 iMac !

 

[herrmill]

$99 iMac. Now that was funny!

 

[Sir_Giggles]

G6? That processor aint even out yet. I call out that article fake.

 

[GFLPraxis]

G6? That processor aint even out yet. I call out that article fake.

Did you see the title of the web page?
"The Spoof"

Did you see the disclaimer at the bottom?

"The story as represented above is written as a satire or parody. It is fictitious."

No duh

 

[CubaTBird]

yea what can i say, i mean if this does come out, i think its great for apple, but seriously, where does that put the emac? i think apple should just axe that product and just stick it to the man with the imac mini.. i feel that should be enough

 

[GFLPraxis]

yea what can i say, i mean if this does come out, i think its great for apple, but seriously, where does that put the emac? i think apple should just axe that product and just stick it to the man with the imac mini.. i feel that should be enough

It's not too bad. While this will have specs similar to the CURRENT eMac, by the time it comes out the eMac will have better specs, therefore this will be inferior to the eMac slightly in specs and not have the monitor.