Apple Announces New iMacs, Mac Minis, AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule

[knownikko]

You can't be serious with that reply? So I could compare a bottom-end Mac mini to a Dell XPS and say "both do the work I need a computer to do". The XPS will do it a lot faster, but hey, the mini will finish encoding this HD movie eventually right!

Of course I'm serious. Compare apples to apples (pun intended). A Dell XPS One (all-in-one, similar to the iMac) doesn't cost all that much less. There are other premiums to be placed on things like customer support, design, SOFTWARE, etc.

Those things matter to some people and certainly have a monetary value.

Your HD video comparison is moot because you're addressing machines in two completely different market segments. A computer the size of a box of candy is obviously going to have a price premium over a conventional mid-tower design. Going small costs money. That's like complaining that a laptop has inferior specs to a regular workstation for the same price.

 

[mudenza]

No graphics bump, the GT130 is a 8800 GS rebranded two times (8800 GS -> 9600 GSO -> GT130 )

Just as I had thought

 

[rhpenguin]

Lemme ask you this: Is the hardware/software setup from Apple reliable?

From what i've heard Apple's OS is streamlined to run with the hardware they choose to use in the imac, mini, etc. I build my own Pc's and I can tell you that I'm sick of defective DOA motherboards, memory, and other components coming from manufacturers.

I have two PC's waiting for new parts because of failing parts. Every time I receive replacements something is dead, piss poor QC'in on the manufacturer end.

This is my main reason for considering an imac even with the older specs. I don't want to run a hacked system (meaning Hackintosh) with PC parts that will possibly fail. From what I see, Apple hardware seems to be lasting longer than most...But maybe that is because there are more PC users...I dont know...just a thought.

The other great part is applecare. With PC components you have to RMA, which is a pain in the ass; pay for shipping, wait, receive it dead again...

any thoughts?

I hear ya. I've had PC parts die. But my last build, I picked parts from well respected manufacturers (Asus, OZC, ThermalTake (For PSU's and HSF's), BFG, WD HDD's). This machine has been rock solid and running overclocked for ages.

It's all in the part selection. A good power supply goes a LONG way too ensuring success as well.

 

[wesleyh]

It would be interesting to see the traffic statistics for the most well known hackintosh websites and see just how much of an increase in traffic these sites have had since the announcement.

Can someone get these stats?

 

[Torajima]

Lemme ask you this: Is the hardware/software setup from Apple reliable?

More reliable than your average PC, but that isn't really saying much.

 

[nm156]

Yea, my parts are high end. I found that it doesn't matter. I've had Asus, GigaByte, MSI, DFI...they all have DOA's from time to time and more frequently lately. My PSU is Corsair, the one made by Seasonic and is very robust...My best component. My memory is high end G. SKill with the Micron D9's...so no problem there. Just bad luck I suppose.

I love building and maintaining my own stuff, but it quickly gets old when your office is a disaster because you have two pc's torn apart and have to pack parts up to ship off to manufacturers...only to get DOA's in return. It's a struggle.

 

[depulse]

Why must BMWs, Mercedes and all those luxury cars cost so much? Why can't I buy any of them for the same price as a Toyota Camry?! Even in this economy, you would think they could slash the price of a $35,000 luxury car down to $18,000...

Because BMW and Mercedes are using higher quality materials, have stricter quality control standards and do not buy from the lower bidder.

A Mac contains more or less the same material inside as everything else on the market. And they have the monopoly, if you want to run OSX fully legally and without hassles.

That said, the price Mercedes charges for add-ons can often add up to more than the cost of a full car from another brand, so yes, you pay alot for having a Mercedes star in the front of your car....

 

[rhpenguin]

More reliable than your average PC, but that isn't really saying much.

I beg to differ. That's why I do the Hacintosh thing.

 

[macswitcha2]

Nope, the 4 Gb memory is horrendously expensive....

What are they thinking? That's outrages, $1000 to upgrade?

 

[Getinkedtattoos]

!!!!!

I just bought a Brand New iMac 24" 1 1/2 weeks ago @ Best Buy, I have had it for 11 days now and the return policy is 14 days!!! Thank GOD!!! Now I have to erase everything I have put on here in the past 11 days (apx. 220 GB) and take myself back up to the Best Buy CS Desk, get my refund (Which unfortunately gets snail mailed back to me 10-14 BUSINESS DAYS!!!!!) Then I can order the iMac that I have been waiting for!!! I am Very Stoked about the upgrades, although I JUST ordered 4 GB of RAM 2X2gb for my current iMac... I will just have to either get the guy to cancel the RAM order or sell it (Anyone looking for 4 gb ram for iMac 2.8??) I really don't know why everyone seems so upset, I realize why all of you UK people are pissed off but everyone else, stop crying, these are decent upgrades, their not STELLAR upgrades but worthwhile to say the least!!!

 

[HLdan]

If you're a brand new Mac purchaser, or you're coming from a vintage G4, then these new Mac's might make sense since they are your only options. They are still exceedingly overpriced compare to their PC alternatives. But at least you get to stay on your favorite OS.

If Apple doesn't come out with newer, better, cheaper hardware at around the same time Windows 7 comes out (likely Fall 2009), then the heady days of Apple increasing their market share are over.

Wow, doesn't take much to impress you huh? You have no faith in Snow Leopard? Windows 7 is not a big upgrade from Vista, in fact it's just a service pack with a few fixes Vista should've had in the first place.
Just because there's no "new" features gonna be in Snow Leopard doesn't mean Apple is not going to sup it up to make it better outside of the under the hood fixes.

 

[RazorAnt]

Yea, interesting how the wireless keyboard style has now become the STANDARD WIRED KEYBOARD. So if you go into an Apple Store and want an iMac, you'll get the smaller, crappier keyboard with no number pad and WIRED. Who wants that??

I just called my local Apple store. I was told that if you want the number pad, you can buy it for an extra $49 or do a special order online. The swap is free online, but it makes the order a special order and it ships in 2 to 4 days.

I guess since I've been waiting this long, another week for the special order and shipping won't hurt too bad.

 

[Kaptajn Haddock]

128Mb or 256Mb graphics Mac Mini???

I can't figure out whether the amount of graphics RAM is controlled by how much RAM you put in the Mac Mini or if I have to choose the model with bigger harddrive to get 256Mb RAM. I would prefer to buy the 120Gb harddrive verison and just upgrade the RAM to 4Gb, but will that give me more graphics RAM or will it stay at 128Mb no matter what?

 

[rashdown_online]

UK Prices...

Oh my god UK Prices WAY TOO EXPENSIVE. FORGET IT!!!

OK, that's it.

after some 8 years of loyal service to the Mac, I'm buying a WinTel box when my current iMac packs up on me. as it's cheaper to buy a new PC for what i need it for. The new MacMini is perfect for my needs. But there is no way on gods green earth i'm paying that much.

Be carefull Apple. And don't screw around like back in 1997! We're moving to cloud computing with cloud delivered apps (for the main-stream consumer) and that just means a device, any device, to access these cloud services. The mac mini is a perfect home device as is the iPhone. But so is a cheap laptop, or old piece of kit from eBay!

Shame. I enjoy the mac experience, and was looking forward to continuing it. But the price points are insulting.

Maybe there's something else out there? Maybe Google has something???

 

[Mj2sL]

I was getting ready to buy my first Mac, the cheapest iMac. Now I'll either pick up the old one if I can get a decent price, or I'll wait for Windows 7.

Things I don't like:
- ditched FW400 port (I want to use a FW400 audio interface plus a FW800 external harddisk)
- shared video memory
- higher price

 

[rhpenguin]

Yea, my parts are high end. I found that it doesn't matter. I've had Asus, GigaByte, MSI, DFI...they all have DOA's from time to time and more frequently lately. My PSU is Corsair, the one made by Seasonic and is very robust...My best component. My memory is high end G. SKill with the Micron D9's...so no problem there. Just bad luck I suppose.

I love building and maintaining my own stuff, but it quickly gets old when your office is a disaster because you have two pc's torn apart and have to pack parts up to ship off to manufacturers...only to get DOA's in return. It's a struggle.

That's a pisser. My last two builds have not given me an ounce of grief. I have an AMD box that I run Linux/MythTV on and it's constantly doing stuff 24/7. No issues. My main rig (the one in my sig) also rock solid. Maybe I'm just lucky.

Both machines use Asus MoBo's, OZC RAM, and BFG video cards..

Thermaltake PSU's though, can't beat 'em.

 

[jouster]

Basically this thread is 32+ pages of proof that Apple's market is dominated by consumers with little knowledge of specs, but a preference for OS X or shiny design or buying something from the folk who make iPods.

The rest of us - who might know or care about FSBs, clock rates, GPU specs and so on - are no longer their target market. These iMacs will likely sell very well, as their predecessors have. Apple barely even differentiates their products at all, now: the laptops and iMacs are distinguished only by screen size.

I think that they feel that there are enough consumers doing consumer type things with iPhoto and iTunes (and other apps) to keep fueling sales indefinitely, or until the next big thing. This has pretty much been their strategy since the digital hub was first announced.

 

[nm156]

That's great. I just built a small HTPC rig with an Asus/AMD Kuma combo. So far it's solid and it didn't cost much. The first board I tried was a crappy gigabyte amd board..DOA..lol... It will be running 24/7, we'll see how that goes.

I will check out thermaltake for my next build. But, I'm still considering the imac just to have for quality and reliability for school work and overall aesthetics. What do you think?

 

[packeteer]

mac mini price is unacceptable!

AU$1050 (US$675) for the base Mini is just crazy. I bought a brand name PC with the same specs for half that price!

 

[milo]

The iMac has a custom motherboard with insane chip density as well as a highly specialised design.

The components are the same or similar, but a pile of chips isn't a computer.

But does that custom motherboard with insane chip density as well as a highly specialised design run the software any better?

Sure seems like paying for style over substance.

 

[HLdan]

Since the news dropped at lunch time, the following has happened:

My brother, computer novice, who I asked to wait for a new Apple desktop release (iMac or Mini) will now buy a Dell or similar. Reason: way overpriced for spec compared to rivals.

A PC stalwart who was seriously considering an iMac or high-end Mini laughed at the news and said "I do not an empty wallet in a recession".

Me, OSX stalwart, waited and waited with cash ready for a new desktop (Mini or iMac) will now shop around for a PC to run Windows 7.

Apple lost three customers in the space of a few hours.

That's such BS! It's been no secret that Apple charges a lot for their computer and there was no mention that they might be lowering prices with the new hardware. So if you're gonna lie, you might want to tell one that we can believe.

 

[drlunanerd]

Is it just me or is the new Mac Mini horribly under-powered?

My 2 year old MacBook has the same spec (minus the graphics card of course).

Not really, the processor it uses is better than your MacBook even at a lower clock speed as it uses newer generation Intel fabrication (45nm vs 65nm I think). I like it a lot, just not at the price Apple UK are asking

 

[macswitcha2]

I just bought a Brand New iMac 24" 1 1/2 weeks ago @ Best Buy, I have had it for 11 days now and the return policy is 14 days!!! Thank GOD!!! Now I have to erase everything I have put on here in the past 11 days (apx. 220 GB) and take myself back up to the Best Buy CS Desk, get my refund (Which unfortunately gets snail mailed back to me 10-14 BUSINESS DAYS!!!!!) Then I can order the iMac that I have been waiting for!!! I am Very Stoked about the upgrades, although I JUST ordered 4 GB of RAM 2X2gb for my current iMac... I will just have to either get the guy to cancel the RAM order or sell it (Anyone looking for 4 gb ram for iMac 2.8??) I really don't know why everyone seems so upset, I realize why all of you UK people are pissed off but everyone else, stop crying, these are decent upgrades, their not STELLAR upgrades but worthwhile to say the least!!!

Would you pay for a BMW knowing that it has the engine of a Toyota Corolla?

 

[packeteer]

I love building and maintaining my own stuff, but it quickly gets old when your office is a disaster because you have two pc's torn apart and have to pack parts up to ship off to manufacturers...only to get DOA's in return. It's a struggle.

thats why you should buy a brand name PC with an onsite warranty!

 

[inkswamp]

Slices up the 'Humble Pie' for the nay sayers

I am one of the naysayers and I'm not eating any humble pie. The naysayers had history and reason on their side. The pro side had emotional arguments based on what they really, really wanted to see. I'm not embarrassed being on on rational side even if it was proved wrong. There were some fishy things about the Mini leaks. And this Mini update goes against every previous update pattern we've seen from Apple and frankly, I'm a little disappointed they've stuck with such a dated design. That's so out of character for Apple and it lends credence to those annoying arguments that Apple doesn't care about the Mac anymore.