Apple Warning Retail Stores of iMac and Mac Mini Supply Constraints?

[MattInOz]

On the other hand I have absolutely no doubt that when a new iMac comes out that my year old iMac will quickly fetch 50-60% of its brand new purchase price (if not more) allowing me to upgrade to the new model for a reasonable price.

It could fetch that on the only market, but your family isn't going to let it go to the open market, and they'll want mates rates to boot.

The iMac may have a productive life to me of 2-3years yet they keep ticking along in the extended family for 5-8 years after.

 

[Maserati7200]

I have a feeling that nothing is going to happen in the future, or something minor (ie spec bump) and that all these people fantasizing about how they want the new iMac to be like and are excited find out this, will go haywire and we'll be flooded with angry posts.

Just like it always is.

 

[PeterQVenkman]

I have a feeling that nothing is going to happen in the future, or something minor (ie spec bump) and that all these people fantasizing about how they want the new iMac to be like and are excited find out this, will go haywire and we'll be flooded with angry posts.

Just like it always is.

You're probably right.

But... let us dream!

 

[Maserati7200]

I have a feeling that nothing is going to happen in the future, or something minor (ie spec bump) and that all these people fantasizing about how they want the new iMac to be like and are excited find out this, will go haywire and we'll be flooded with angry posts.

Just like it always is.

BTW what I meant to say near future, not future, because the iMac will get updates eventually...

 

[AidenShaw]

I wonder if anyone has stats on how many machines ever get upgraded.

I think that this might be the wrong question.

I'd ask "how many machines are upgraded at the point of sale, or repaired later"?

I believe that you're correct in that the after-market upgrade scenario is a niche (but a niche that keeps lots of money flowing to Newegg and others).

I'll bet, however, that a lot of those mini-towers don't leave Best Buy before the Geeks add some memory, a bigger or second (or third) disk, and maybe a better graphics card (since many integrated graphics systems have a PCIe x16 slot for a dedicated graphics card).

I also would bet that a fair number of hard drives fail, and a PC user can replace her own disk while the Apple user has to make an appointment at the Genius Bar.

 

[Buzz Bumble]

BTW what I meant to say near future, not future, because the iMac will get updates eventually...

Nope. Apple are actually planning to downdate the iMac ... the next release will use a Motorola 6502 processor, have a mono 12" screen (with a user choice of green or amber filter in front) have a beige case colour, ADB ports, Mac serial ports, built-in 5" floppy disk drive, ... and all for US$999.

 

[CQd44]

Nope. Apple are actually planning to downdate the iMac ... the next release will use a Motorola 6502 processor, have a mono 12" screen (with a user choice of green or amber filter in front) have a beige case colour, ADB ports, Mac serial ports, built-in 5" floppy disk drive, ... and all for US$999.

I'll have 3!

 

[DisMyMac]

I also would bet that a fair number of hard drives fail, and a PC user can replace her own disk while the Apple user has to make an appointment at the Genius Bar.

Many new computers are sold because men are too ashamed to have porn-filled hard drives replaced.

I had to fix one computer from an older gentleman who "didn't know what he did!".... He obviously panicked after learning about cookies and browsing history, and decided the best idea was to drag EVERYTHING into the trash. Sheesh! Be proud of your private life!

 

[Maserati7200]

Many new computers are sold because men are too ashamed to have porn-filled hard drives replaced.

I had to fix one computer from an older gentleman who "didn't know what he did!".... He obviously panicked after learning about cookies and browsing history, and decided the best idea was to drag EVERYTHING into the trash. Sheesh! Be proud of your private life!

HAHAHA!! I actually laughed out loud!!!!

 

[Buzz Bumble]

I also would bet that a fair number of hard drives fail, and a PC user can replace her own disk while the Apple user has to make an appointment at the Genius Bar.

I haven't bothered to look closely at the iMac-clones from the likes of Dell and HP, but I doubt they're particularly easy to get into either. (It wouldn't surprise me that even if they are easier to open, once you do get inside you'll find they are a pig of a layout to actually do anything with.)

Many of the whiners here are trying to compare the iMac to more normal "box and screen" PCs. People who want to continually plug in upgrades should buy a Mac Pro - the iMac has never been designed for that purpose, neither is your lounge room DVD player, so if you want to upgrade to Blu-Ray you have to buy a new one. The fact that Apple's sales are growing and other companies are still trying (and failing) to copy the iMac is proof enough that Apple is on the right track for the majority of average users, but there will always be those who simply have to complain.

 

[Joe The Dragon]

I think that this might be the wrong question.

I'd ask "how many machines are upgraded at the point of sale, or repaired later"?

I believe that you're correct in that the after-market upgrade scenario is a niche (but a niche that keeps lots of money flowing to Newegg and others).

I'll bet, however, that a lot of those mini-towers don't leave Best Buy before the Geeks add some memory, a bigger or second (or third) disk, and maybe a better graphics card (since many integrated graphics systems have a PCIe x16 slot for a dedicated graphics card).

I also would bet that a fair number of hard drives fail, and a PC user can replace her own disk while the Apple user has to make an appointment at the Genius Bar.

But the thing with apple is the mini is weak and the mac pro is way to much.

also the build in screen in imacs is trun off as well the $1500 system with on board video.

Just have a $1000-$1500 tower.

 

[Eidorian]

I haven't bothered to look closely at the iMac-clones from the likes of Dell and HP, but I doubt they're particularly easy to get into either. (It wouldn't surprise me that even if they are easier to open, once you do get inside you'll find they are a pig of a layout to actually do anything with.)

I really suggest you take a look at the service manuals first.

 

[thermodynamic]

You have to realize that people were expecting the same 'big things' from the last iMac refresh and it turned out to be nothing more than a spec bump.

Apple is extremely reluctant to embrace Blu-Ray because they view it as a transient technology that will eventually be supplanted with cloud based delivery of media (they aren't building a billion dollar data center in North Carolina to sell Blu-Ray movies from the studios).

I do see them eventually offering it as a BTO since they are beginning to look foolish by not adopting the premier AV technology for playback and authoring of high definition content.

If Apple releases an iMac with a Blu-Ray drive option AND a mobile i7 processor then they have a sale with me. A matte screen option would be icing on the cake.

Apple moves glacially though, such things are highly unlikely, although I do think we'll see a new chassis and some other minor new features from them this go round.

A shame; blu-ray discs will ALWAYS have higher quality -- I mean, who will download a 25GB movie file? Downloadable movies may be 1080p format, but they certainly won't look as good if overly compressed... even with iTunes, the current video downloads are softer than their DVD equivalents. No thanks.