Apple Looking to Launch Lower-Cost iMac in 2014

[Hildegerd]

Maybe they could achieve this by bringing back the 17" iMac?

Good point.

 

[TallManNY]

From its design and features it's a lower-spec phone and thus must be marketed below the iPhone 5S. Call it upper-middle-class, but it competes with the Nexus and Galaxy III range.

The top-tier market is totally saturated and there's not much to grow there with the current iPhone. Everyone who's in this target group and who's up to Apple already has one.

And if Apple can't grow then they have a problem.

I disagree because I don't believe the spec's can be compared between Apple and Android devices. Also I don't believe Spec's are important. It's main feature is that it runs iOS7 which looks good, performs really well and has access to huge ecosystem. So I think it destroys old Nexus and G S3. I'm sure sales of the 5c will be ten times sales of the G S3 in the coming 12 months.

Top tier market is filled with folks who are ALL going to buy a new smartphone within the next three years, most sooner than that. Saturation really comes when that market starts holding onto its phones for four or five years. In other words when it stops buying. I'm not sure if we will ever get to that point. Certainly that isn't happening for another decade. Phones are just advancing too quickly. A three year old phone is too lacking in function compared to what is available and available at a price point that is easy for the top tier market to bear. So, the top tier market is going to be a ready source of sales for years to come.

 

[s2mikey]

I don't really know how anyone can really make the argument that DVD's and blu-rays are "obsolete." If they were Amazon wouldn't have such a huge collection of blu-ray releases for sale. People wouldn't be eagerly looking forward to the releases of seasons of Game of Thrones on blu-ray, etc. etc. Blu-ray players wouldn't be a staple of most households.

The issue is that Apple doesn't WANT people watching media via optical drive on their computers. It wants people to download media via itunes. Also, a 21.5" imac and 27" imac ARE exactly the kind of computers people would watch a series of GoT if imacs supported blu-ray.

I have a cMBP and I think the optical drive could be removed without me missing it. But on a desktop? That's purely a business move to increase the chance that people will rely on Apple's app store and itunes.

I dont get that either - blu-rays and DVDs are plenty current and I dare any of you "digital-only" monkeys to try and compare your cloud-based HD presentation to my blu-ray disc presentation. I assure you that you'd be on the short end of the stick. And, the blu-ray disc comes with a nice case, cover art, and sits nicely on my media shelf for everyone to check out & view. In other words, my disc-based HD can beat up your cloud-based HD.

And, this just in - you are correct about Apple wanting you to buy their overpriced, proprietary video files from iTunes. Eff that crap. No thanks. Ill stick with my $10 to $20 dollar blu-rays that have state of the art image quality, lossless audio, and everything that goes with it.

Screw digitial-only media. NOT interested!

Optical media is far from obsolete. For example there's not downloadable content that matches BluRay's picture quality. Some software is still only distributed on physical media (for example some operating systems).

Thanks for getting it! Like I said.... Im up for the battle anytime. iTunes quality vs blu-ray disc. It would be the most lopsided battle ever. By the time the first Copyright screen appeared it would be obvious that blu-ray wins easily

 

[/dev/toaster]

So how do you install the game to begin with before applying the no CD crack?

My broadband is lousy. I bought Company of Heroes 2 on DVD recently, expecting to install it from the DVD, which is basically nothing more than an activation key and steam installer. I then had to download 9GB of data before I could play it. Contrast that with Rome Total War 2 which also came on DVD and activated on steam but made use of the DVDs to install the game, meaning I could get up and playing almost immediately.

Both games can be played without the need for a disc in the drive, one made my experience much more satisfying and didn't try my patience.

So, buy an external drive and get a better connection. Again, edge cases.

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Optical media is far from obsolete. For example there's not downloadable content that matches BluRay's picture quality. Some software is still only distributed on physical media (for example some operating systems).

Sure, for video ... and Apple doesn't support it. So what is your point ? Bluray is only around until bandwidth catches up more.

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Oh dear, I am obsolete. I must deal with this right away or my tech cred will be totally wiped out. Mustn't have that.

I have provided four reasons why not having an optical drive would be a pain in the neck, and could easily come up several more. Your only argument in response, the only one anybody has made in response, is that I should not have these needs. This strikes me as a ridiculous argument with just enough arrogance added to make it annoying. The fact remains, I do have these needs, and I suspect many many others do as well. Nothing you've said argues anything else to the contrary or provides any solutions to these problems. Sorry, but hacks and cracks don't count.

These are all edge cases and you are the minority. Clearly, you aren't choosing a product that fits your needs. Go buy something else.

 

[fat jez]

So, buy an external drive and get a better connection. Again, edge

You really think I like being stuck with this connection? I'm in the UK, it's the best I can get without moving.

Apple may want everyone to download everything, but few countries have the infrastructure to support it.

 

[IJ Reilly]

These are all edge cases and you are the minority. Clearly, you aren't choosing a product that fits your needs. Go buy something else.

You are wild guessing in a way that satisfies your own sense of superiority. You have no idea whatsoever whether my needs are a minority, majority or a plurality. Neither do I, actually. The difference is, I admit it. But at least we know now for certain that you have no other response but to be dismissive.

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You really think I like being stuck with this connection? I'm in the UK, it's the best I can get without moving.

Apple May want everyone to download everything, but few countries have the infrastructure to support it.

Just so we know, everybody with different needs than his is an "edge case." By definition, apparently.

 

[fat jez]

Just so we know, everybody with different needs than his is an "edge case." By definition, apparently.

Oh I'll admit I don't use my optical drive often, but I use it often enough I wouldn't want to be without one and there's certainly no need to drop one from a desktop machine. I can buy dropping one in a mobile device, just.

In my view at least, the world is not ready for a download environment. Internet speeds are not universally high enough that people want to wait 10 hrs for a game or application to download, never mind the time it would take a for a bluray quality movie to come down (that stuff on iTunes is far too heavily compressed for HD quality). We will get there, but not yet. In some places, I give it 10 years or more.

 

[stubeeef]

how about one at the same price but WITH AN OPTICAL DRIVE!!!

That would be cheaper.

At least make it an option for heavens sake.

 

[fermat-au]

At the end of the day I chose to buy Mac mini's instead. I can only hope Apple rethinks the design of the iMac in the next release.

Mac minis and non-Apple displays?

I think Apple is going non-serviceable design on all Macs. First the laptops were it does have the advantage of making it slimmer and lighter. Then the iMac and now the "High end" Mac Pro.

 

[The Bad Guy]

These are all edge cases and you are the minority. Clearly, you aren't choosing a product that fits your needs. Go buy something else.

No. The minority are buying iMacs. The Minority are buying MacBook Airs / Retina MacBook Pros.

Apple's best selling computer has an optical drive.

So try again and stop being such a condescending douche while you're at it.

 

[tongxinshe]

I have already listed four reasons why I do need them, at least for now. You are welcome to not use them yourself, but no thanks on making that decision for me. I believe I can handle that one on my own.

Good point about flash drives, but they still won't work for at least three of the purposes I have already mentioned.

Don't buy CDs any more, get the MP3 version directly.

Don't buy or rent DVDs any more, stream it over the internet, it's cheaper that way.

Don't every think about Bluerays, they are not going to ever fly.

 

[RenoG]

Wow based on many of the comments here I'm beginning to believe that nerds don't own tv's and blue-ray players. Do you guys own a couch? Or do you really sit in an office chair at a desk watching your two plus hour movies?

 

[fat jez]

Wow based on many of the comments here I'm beginning to believe that nerds don't own tv's and blue-ray players. Do you guys own a couch? Or do you really sit in an office chair at a desk watching your two plus hour movies?

Apple TV? The device Apple would prefer us to watch movies on (streamed/downloaded) instead of on Bluray

 

[Arfdog]

Sorry mate, but you're dead wrong.

EVERY time I sell an iMac or go to sell an iMac, the comment is - "Oh, that DOESN'T come with a DVD drive??...that sucks".

The 'average buyer' thinks the exact opposite to what you're saying.

It's all well and good to try and explain the world is moving away from optical media. But the cruxt of it is -

a) In Australia, our internet isn't fast enough for proper downloadable digital delivery.

b) The exclusion of a SuperDrive is REALLY only a means to drive sales to the MAS. Thinner AIO desktop computers? Nobody cares.

c) People want a ****ing DVD player / writer.

Simple.

Sorry, I'm afraid you're dead wrong yourself. Australia is a very small market, therefore it doesn't matter if the average Australian wants a DVD driver. It's going the way of the dodo and soon even Australia will have internet fast enough to keep up with the world.

Here in America, we have internet, it's fast enough. People who buy a computer will have internet, Netflix, and therefore almost no use for a DVD player. Thus, it should get canned for space and energy efficiency.

As a computer company philosophy, it's the right move to dump backwards tech.

"simple"

 

[IJ Reilly]

Oh I'll admit I don't use my optical drive often, but I use it often enough I wouldn't want to be without one and there's certainly no need to drop one from a desktop machine. I can buy dropping one in a mobile device, just.

In my view at least, the world is not ready for a download environment. Internet speeds are not universally high enough that people want to wait 10 hrs for a game or application to download, never mind the time it would take a for a bluray quality movie to come down (that stuff on iTunes is far too heavily compressed for HD quality). We will get there, but not yet. In some places, I give it 10 years or more.

I think what Apple has done inadvertently is eliminated one of the good reasons to own an iMac. That one good reason being it will do whatever you need done, the laptop or iPad having limitations. I can live without the ability to play a DVD movie on my iPad because I know I can rip it on the iMac and copy it over.

Don't buy CDs any more, get the MP3 version directly.

Don't buy or rent DVDs any more, stream it over the internet, it's cheaper that way.

Don't every think about Bluerays, they are not going to ever fly.

Aren't you too hip for the planet?

I already own hundreds of CDs, some are ripped some are not. I still buy them occasionally when the music isn't available in any other format (and this is still true if your tastes don't run to the mainstream). Also, used CDs are (1) still generally cheaper than digital downloads, and (2) can be ripped to whatever level of compression or uncompressed format that suits your needs.

If you don't rent or buy DVDs anymore it probably means you (1) have mainstream tastes, and (2) don't care if something you really liked can be watched a second or third time. The first is true because very few classic films are available for streaming. It's okay that you presumably don't care about classic films, but it isn't okay to denigrate others who do care. The second is true because streaming availability changes all the time depending on the whims of the rights holders. A series you liked will probably simply vanish one day without notice. I see complaints about this on Netflix all the time. The streaming may be gone but the discs will still be available. So it depends on whether this matters to you.

No opinion about Blu-ray, but it does appear to be the only method of delivering full HD. So I guess it depends on whether that matters to you.

 

[Dambuster43]

In a year do a survey and ask who actually used the DVD and how much, I'm betting a large majority used it a few times, maybe install some software and not much more.

I agree in a lot of places Internet speeds are not great for streaming but that's improving and my point was the majority won't use the computer to watch movies, they'll use a DVD play on their TV.

Yes it pushes up the sale of external DVDs but it's the suckers thinking they need one that Apple is catching. Personally if I need an external drive I'll get BluRay when the time comes.

This sucker does need one to distribute media files. But , more to point, whatever the cost saving to Apple, they make more money by A. saving the cost of the DVD and any warranty obligations..and B, they have increased the purchase price and C. they will sell more external DVD writers.

There are lots of things I don't use in Mountain Lion, the cost of which is included in the price. i don't use Safari much..and would not miss it if it was removed. How would you feel if Safari was dumped? Just because you don't use the DVD, don't decry those of us who do. Yours is the attitude that Apple et al see and know they can cut bits out at will..with no outcry..save money in production and increase sales to those who used the axed items.

BTW, they cannot watch a DVD on TV ora photo slide show or an home made iMovie...Because they ripped out the DVD drive.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Here in America, we have internet, it's fast enough. People who buy a computer will have internet, Netflix, and therefore almost no use for a DVD player. Thus, it should get canned for space and energy efficiency.

A peculiar comment, given that the U.S. has one of the lowest broadband adoption rates in the western world. Large parts of the country can't even get it.

 

[The Bad Guy]

Sorry, I'm afraid you're dead wrong yourself. Australia is a very small market, therefore it doesn't matter if the average Australian wants a DVD driver. It's going the way of the dodo and soon even Australia will have internet fast enough to keep up with the world.

Here in America, we have internet, it's fast enough. People who buy a computer will have internet, Netflix, and therefore almost no use for a DVD player. Thus, it should get canned for space and energy efficiency.

As a computer company philosophy, it's the right move to dump backwards tech.

"simple"

Hahaha...sure I am. That's why the entry level (traditional) MacBook Pro 13" is their best selling unit in the US too.

Seriously, what is it with some of you guys? Is it really that hard to fathom that your precious Apple can make missteps? That other people can have different needs to you guys who spend 24hrs a day on the net?

Newsflash: You People Are The Minority!!

Moreover is it too hard to see that the (premature) removal of optical disks is nothing more than a means to artificially drive traffic to the MAS and iTunes Store?

As soon as you finish setting up any brand new Mac you'll have at least 2 updates available on the MAS. iPhoto is one and iMovie is another. Why is that? They never update their Mac software. Must be coincidence right.

Apple removed the optical drive as a means of benefitting it's loyal customer base. To be on the cutting edge. Hahaha...sure it did.

 

[fat jez]

Totally agree. Apple's strategy recently has been all about driving people to the Mac App Store or iTunes.

 

[Gudi]

Newsflash: You People Are The Minority!!

Newsflash: This Isn't A Democracy.

Multimedia PCs with CD-ROM drives were the new **** in 1995. Optical media are no longer the future (for Apple). Other technologies like streaming are far superior. For the sole reason of backwards compatibility there is an optional external (adapter) drive. And thats it.

 

[Poisonivy326]

Apple TV? The device Apple would prefer us to watch movies on (streamed/downloaded) instead of on Bluray

Wow. So because Apple wants you to watch media via Apple TV you do it?

 

[fat jez]

Wow. So because Apple wants you to watch media via Apple TV you do it?

I do not. But Apple would prefer I do that and purchase movies from them and not on optical format. Ditto AAC files from iTunes instead of CDs.

 

[Poisonivy326]

I do not. But Apple would prefer I do that and purchase movies from them and not on optical format. Ditto AAC files from iTunes instead of CDs.

I stream most of my music from iTunes. Movies however I frankly think many of the streaming services suck if you want something out of the mainstream. I just feel like Apple has every right to make an enclosed ecosystem but the garden wall for the idevices (iPhone, iPad) should be higher than the wall for an iMac. Just my opinion.

 

[Arfdog]

Hahaha...sure I am. That's why the entry level (traditional) MacBook Pro 13" is their best selling unit in the US too.

Seriously, what is it with some of you guys? Is it really that hard to fathom that your precious Apple can make missteps? That other people can have different needs to you guys who spend 24hrs a day on the net?

Newsflash: You People Are The Minority!!

Moreover is it too hard to see that the (premature) removal of optical disks is nothing more than a means to artificially drive traffic to the MAS and iTunes Store?

As soon as you finish setting up any brand new Mac you'll have at least 2 updates available on the MAS. iPhoto is one and iMovie is another. Why is that? They never update their Mac software. Must be coincidence right.

Apple removed the optical drive as a means of benefitting it's loyal customer base. To be on the cutting edge. Hahaha...sure it did.

Ok drive traffic to the iTunes store?? Because iTunes makes up such a massive cross-section of total internet traffic right?

Newsflash: People Who Use The Internet Are The Minority??? LOL get real

As for updates, it's better than having SCORES of updates for a Windows machine.

Apple has made clear missteps (iPhone 5C, putting Tim Cook in charge, etc). Removal of a tech used by a vanishing minority isn't one of them.

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A peculiar comment, given that the U.S. has one of the lowest broadband adoption rates in the western world. Large parts of the country can't even get it.

A statistic that's quickly being resolved, world-wide, not just the US. Therefore obsoleting physical media.

Large areas.... of sparse population.... don't currently get it. But they will soon. Urban areas are hooked up.

 

[IJ Reilly]

A statistic that's quickly being resolved, world-wide, not just the US. Therefore obsoleting physical media.

Large areas.... of sparse population.... don't currently get it. But they will soon. Urban areas are hooked up.

Not so. Plenty of people living even on the very edge of major urban areas can't get broadband, at least not from the usual sources at affordable prices. Neither the cable companies nor the phone companies show any interest in serving them, so they are SOL. The U.S. ranks something like 25th in broadband connectivity, behind nearly every nation in Europe, and the speed and quality of the service we do get is generally not as good. Ten years ago we were 6th. Falling further behind is recognized as a growing competitive disadvantage. It is not a problem that is being solved. And even if it was, physical media are not being obsoleted yet, for the reasons I have already enumerated.