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

[ABG]

@ABC

hahah. i have to be careful not to contradict myself from earlier. But all i was trying to show was the other side of the debate which is under represented. Its too easy to just be one of the masses moaning at Apple's price hikes.

But i do think that they are way too high (given the circumstances. my earlier posts were just to show that these prices were probably worked out numerically, by an souless accountant ) , I do think that Apple should have just accepted lower profit margins in the UK (I assume, it is quite a small market).

Just as Apple never took into account the £1=$2 they are not taking into account the fact that the pound is falsely low.

So I do think Apple have overpriced in the UK, I'd love to recommend my family to get a Mac but there is no way I can justify those prices for them. But i was showing how the prices could be considered "correct"

PS. As a sidenote, is it not a problem that where everything else is subject to inflation, we expect computer prices to fall, not just by the fact that every year you get better specs for the same cost (usually ) but also that everytime there is an update people are expecting a literal £50 - £100 drop.

PPS. I always think comparing Dell prices is a bit pointless anyway, I mean, there is more to a mac than just components and a plastic box.

Fair enough

From my perspective the market has moved on - I'm still interested in paying a premium for a quality product, but to increase prices when the competition is dropping theirs is not a move I'd make lightly were I making decisions for Apple.

I wanted a Mac Mini to use as an add-on to a media centre. I was willing to pay £400 for a Mini over a same feature £250 EEE box. Just. And that's ignoring the cheaper PCs with 1TB Hdd, blue ray drives, powerful graphics cards etc for around £500 - too big and noisy for what I wanted.

Anyway - I suspect today will be a date long remembered in Apple corporate history. I assume the overall European market for Apple is small, so hopefully it won't suffer too much, but I do think they have miscalculated on the price increases for such modest updates.

 

[Jimmdean]

The P7350 is much less than $200.

Not according to Google... I was surprised myself.

 

[jackfrost123]

Sadly, yes, you'll get hit. New York in it's bloodlust for throwing money into a giant, kickback-filled, taxpayer-robbing hole taxes anything coming into the state that's shipped, it includes most online merchants now. It stinks. It won't make up for New York's deficit or crumbling infrastructure but you're better off just having it shipped to a tax-free state and picking it up or something.

So wait a sec, I want to understand this cause I am European, all the apple store prices are exluding vat right? Do you guys pay vat? Do you pay state tax? How much is it? So all you have to do is drive out to a no tax state and then drive in to n.y without declaring that you bought a laptop...can you service it in ny?

 

[NT1440]

Get a life.

Says the big guy smack talking to a 17 year old.

I have never said macs aren't high priced. What I HAVE said is that this is APPLE, apple doesn't lower prices because most of their target is going to pay the price anyway. Apple has shown itself to be one of the most recession resistant tech companies out there. If that somehow hurts you real deep down inside I'm sorry.

And thanks for assuming I'm a bum, it shows your true colors just calling out someone and assuming you know their lifestyle because you can read how old I am.

 

[Beric]

Granted it's upgradeable and comes in lower in cost than a MBP but dang, that's one ugly machine!

If you've ever seen one in person, it looks like a professional business notebook. But looks don't matter to me. I can about performance, or more accurately, value."Trendyness" is not something that is important to me.

I learned today in my journalism class about how every person is in a specific marketing category. I happen to be in the "thinker" category, or one who cares about value, and cost-versus benefit. I feel the Apple OS gives me value, and purchased my current Mac based on that assumption. However, IMHO the newly increased prices of Apple, while the prices of the rest of the industry drop like crazy, now means to me that a PC's cheaper price and better specs are outweighing my perceived benefits of the Apple OS over Windows.

As such, I patiently wait for Apple to release a better-value computer, but set my sights on what has greater value now.

 

[Eidorian]

Not according to Google... I was surprised myself.

Surprise me since the P8400 starts off at US$209 per 1000.

 

[ABG]

Mac Mini gets gradually more expensive and marginally better...
Mac Mini dies.

It is brilliant isn't it. All this time people have been arguing about whether the Mac Mini would be killed off or get an update. And Apple do both in one go!

Its win-win!

 

[bluefido]

Says the big guy smack talking to a 17 year old.

I have never said macs aren't high priced. What I HAVE said is that this is APPLE, apple doesn't lower prices because most of their target is going to pay the price anyway. Apple has shown itself to be one of the most recession resistant tech companies out there. If that somehow hurts you real deep down inside I'm sorry.

And thanks for assuming I'm a bum, it shows your true colors just calling out someone and assuming you know their lifestyle because you can read how old I am.

I love Apple, but again, not that much. Remember, Apple was only a $100 million loan from MS away from being bankrupt. Don't assume it can't happen again if they continue to piss off its loyal customers.

 

[Achillyse]

Fair enough

From my perspective the market has moved on - I'm still interested in paying a premium for a quality product, but to increase prices when the competition is dropping theirs is not a move I'd make lightly were I making decisions for Apple.

I wanted a Mac Mini to use as an add-on to a media centre. I was willing to pay £400 for a Mini over a same feature £250 EEE box. Just. And that's ignoring the cheaper PCs with 1TB Hdd, blue ray drives, powerful graphics cards etc for around £500 - too big and noisy for what I wanted.

Anyway - I suspect today will be a date long remembered in Apple corporate history. I assume the overall European market for Apple is small, so hopefully it won't suffer too much, but I do think they have miscalculated on the price increases for such modest updates.

Hah i got your username wrong. FAIL

Yeah, i do think that Apple should have reduced prices to gain customers who will become loyal to Apple in the future when we are not stuggling in a recession (perhaps "not lose" should be sued rather than "gain" but you get the gist)

I would think the mini pricing was to discourage home theatre use, which i quite fancied prior the update, except the iMac pricing follows a similar pattern hence why i think they were worked out numerically as i showed.

I don't have a family to support and i am not in the market for a mac having bought a macbook recently so I dont feel the hikes anywhere near as badly as some of you. I will freely admit that.

I wish Apple would see that a low priced Mac, like the iPod nano, could let them rule in the computer world. Or at least if it is expensive its needs to have additional features or at least a different feature set to distinguish it. like the iPhone.

 

[crisss1205]

So wait a sec, I want to understand this cause I am European, all the apple store prices are exluding vat right? Do you guys pay vat? Do you pay state tax? How much is it? So all you have to do is drive out to a no tax state and then drive in to n.y without declaring that you bought a laptop...can you service it in ny?

When you buy something in the state you have to pay the local tax. In other word it is cheaper if you buy it in NYC than upstate or Long Island. For example, if you buy it in Nassau county you have to pay 8.625% and if you buy it in NYC you have to pay 8.375% Tax (State and Local)

 

[lucab1982]

Says the big guy smack talking to a 17 year old.

I have never said macs aren't high priced. What I HAVE said is that this is APPLE, apple doesn't lower prices because most of their target is going to pay the price anyway. Apple has shown itself to be one of the most recession resistant tech companies out there. If that somehow hurts you real deep down inside I'm sorry.

And thanks for assuming I'm a bum, it shows your true colors just calling out someone and assuming you know their lifestyle because you can read how old I am.

It doesn't hurt me, I am a shareholder! And am disappointed that they have brushed aside the euro market slightly. I didn't read into your lifestyle, I stated facts (apart from the zit popping )

Enjoy these years, no shame whatsoever, its a part of growing up. I wish I was still living off the fat of the land!

 

[NT1440]

I love Apple, but again, not that much. Remember, Apple was only a $100 million loan from MS away from being bankrupt. Don't assume it can't happen again if they continue to piss off its loyal customers.

Apples current base is by no means the "loyal fans" anymore.

 

[flopticalcube]

Sorry i'm sure its been answered already today; Which is better, the old HD2600 iMac graphics card, or the new 9400m?

and which will run snow leopard best?

HD2600 is better.

 

[Beric]

Apple has shown itself to be one of the most recession resistant tech companies out there.

This is true so far. However, I would argue both that this will change over the next few quarters, and that with both of Apple's recent refreshes (notebook and desktops) actually increasing the cost of their products, while only marginally increasing the benefit, it not bode well for them in the midst of the recession, as cost-versus benefit becomes all that matters.

 

[Jimmdean]

Surprise me since the P8400 starts off at US$209 per 1000.

one of those OEM v. retail discrepancies I'm sure... hardly matters - we all know Apple isn't paying anywhere near retail anyway...

 

[Zyniker]

Just ordered a MacMini.

 

[Jimmdean]

HD2600 is better.

not necessarily. It's quite possible the NVIDIA parts are going to get all the acceleration-goodness and the ATI parts won't. We don't really know at this point...

 

[MrT8064]

HD2600 is better.

Cool thanks, Which is better out of HD2600 or GT 120?

 

[Eidorian]

one of those OEM v. retail discrepancies I'm sure... hardly matters - we all know Apple isn't paying anywhere near retail anyway...

I can get OEM parts. Not by the 1000 but I can get OEM parts.

 

[jackfrost123]

HD2600 is better.

Are you sure about that, links?

 

[NT1440]

I didn't read into your lifestyle, I stated facts (apart from the zit popping )

Yup, I don't have to earn my own money or anything!

You know nothing of my living situation, so if you could kindly stick to actual facts from now on and not comment on my personal life I'd greatly appreciate it. Not every teenager has a responsibility free life.

 

[NT1440]

This is true so far. However, I would argue both that this will change over the next few quarters, and that with both of Apple's recent refreshes (notebook and desktops) actually increasing the cost of their products, while only marginally increasing the benefit, it not bode well for them in the midst of the recession, as cost-versus benefit becomes all that matters.

Fortuneatly for both of our opinions, we have to wait and see.

As for the underlined, that really depends on who your target customers are.

 

[PMR]

Are you sure about that, links?

http://www.notebookcheck.net/

Do your research about mobile cards

 

[mrfrosty]

In the UK at least, I suspect this move will cost Apple in the long term.

I am a Software Consultant who works in an industry consumed by Windows users and Windows systems. Die-hard Apple fans like me do a good job of sparking interest in potential switches - god knows how much Apple owe me in commission for the free promotion I give them!

But my brand loyalty only goes so far, and the UK iMac pricing is an unmitigated disgrace.

I cannot recommend these machines to anyone at these prices. Furthermore, I won't be spending my own hard-earned on the 24" iMac I've been planning to buy for over 6 months.

Poor show Apple.

Exactly the same here.....it's gone past justifiable i think. I'm a total fanboy but I just cannot justify that cost anymore. I don't mind paying over the odds for something beautiful........but I won't let Apple take the pi55 out of me.

 

[nojoka]

The Mac Mini is a fairly lackluster upgrade that is priced $100-$200 too much, IMO.

There is also no solution for someone like me, who has an excellent 24" external monitor, but can find no Mac desktop with a decent graphics card that has no display. The Mac Mini would be attractive, if it had better graphics , at least as an option. But you can't drive a 24" display at full resolution with integrated graphics, even on a movie, let alone gaming.

My Macbook that has Intel GMA950 integrated graphics can play 1080p video perfectly fine hooked up to a 24" 1920x1200 LCD.