An unregistered reader wrote...
"The technology allegedly exists right now and Apple just satisfied any reasonable personal or pro user with the Imac2."
How do you figure that? Some pros, like web designers, could probably do just fine with one of the new iMacs. But for data throughput-intensive work, like 3D or video, the faster the machine, the better. Yes, you can do this stuff on an iMac, but pros in studios who do the higher-end stuff need the most power possible. An iMac ain't it. I can guarantee that when the next CGI-intensive commercial or movie comes out, it will not have been done with iMacs, 800MHz G4 or not. If nothing else, the 15" monitor's a hindrance. (Some programs, like Softimage e.g., require a very large screen.) And, when you can get maybe 3x-4x the rendering speed out of a dual-Athlon for a 67% higher price, why would you go with an iMac?
It all depends on what you want to do. The new iMacs do have a decent chip in them now, and the monitor's spacious enough for lots of graphics (and other kinds) of work. But for the high-end stuff (read: film and some video work), hi-powered towers are needed.
One bit of optimism I have for this whole thing is that Apple is usually very cautious about cannibalization. I can not see the current MTs lasting too long in their current condition. They're either going to see a major power boost or they're going to have to have a price drop. Either way, it can work toward our advantage.
Now I think Apple should have announced, at the very least, MT price cuts and/or promos this past Monday. But even if they're late, I think they'll be announcing SOMETHING soon.
