I think a lot of people miss the point in the AIO vs. headless deal. They don't have to cannibalize one another. They can complement one another. If Apple releases an iMac, it's going to appeal to the iMac market for people that want an all-in-one enclosure desktop that suits a very different demographic than I feel a more utilitarian budgeted Cube or Mac LC or whatever they elect to call it would. It can share componentry and architecture/specs, vary in some ways if necessary to appeal to the different tastes of both clientele (maybe an upgradable AGP slot instead of soldered in, although honestly I can live with built-in, as this *WOULD NOT* be anymore a gaming machine than an iMac, the G5 desktop is more like an Alienware PC which is geared for gaming)... but can be suitable to both sides and appeal to both factions. I think there's honestly an array of people that don't want to be tethered to a monitor, other's though want the AIO. Give us both... and share the R&D costs of the architecture across both and it can work extremely well and Apple won't lose any profits and they'll get more people into Macs more quickly and without cutting corners. Even if there's no announcement via Paris... I am still going to hold out because the iMac/eMac isn't what suits me. It never will.
As for the naysayers... it worked in the past... i.e. the old Mac LC lineup that lasted 3 generations and was exactly what most reasonably "realistic" people are really clamoring for. I think the time is ripe again for such a computer from Apple. It's not an upgradable as sin PC, but it's got the features a lot of people want without being tethered to a monitor without a choice to pick what size they really want. Granted I don't see a LC hooked up to a 30" LCD (on-board video likely wouldn't support it) but... a 23" Apple Cinema could work nicely. Or for those that can't shell out $1,000+ on an LCD, a 17-19" normal screen would work. Either via Apple or someone else... the increased volume of sales shipments would help Apple gain marketshare, even if they don't necessarily increase their profitability on the sale of monitor/LCD glued together as one. They lose sales on people that don't want that though, and that wait for either something they do want, or 'til they can afford something that quite honestly might be more than they need... but at least it fulfills their requirements/tastes.
When I speak of Utilitarian Budgeted Cube/LC, I don't mean miniscule compact over-engineered to the point of expensive fetish item like the previous incarnation. I don't care if it's a pizza box, a cube, or some other shape... if it's a headless single processor desktop, it's all I need. Otherwise, I'll wait awhile and get a G5 desktop, but I can guarantee it'll be quite a bit as other priorities come first. If that's true of me, I'm sure there's countless others' in the same boat. An iMac or eMac doesn't appeal to me. I want to choose my monitor, and survive with what monitor I have now (17" CRT) 'til I can get what I desire later on. Maybe a 20" LCD a year down the road when I can better afford it, if not... something 17-20" from Apple or otherwise that's within my reach. I'm not after 60 fps at Doom III... I want something decent enough that'll be supported by Core Image/Video eventually in Tiger, that's got a little bit of processing muscle, and that can serve me as long as this upgraded 9600 I soldier on with.
The iMac/eMac isn't going to cut it, and a G5 can take me a year to logically afford when other things come up that cut into that hefty sticker. We need something in between, that suits the non-AIO crowd, without necessarily stealing sales from the AIO's. Complementary, not defeatest. That's the key. It's not an iMac if it's not AIO, it's not an eMac if it's not AIO. It's something different. What that is named... I don't care... but I do want one, and if Apple builds it they'll have my cash reasonably soon and that of many other's apparently (except those unrealistic types that'd complain if they didn't get a GeForce Ultra Mega Super Titanium with Chrome fender skirts for peanuts and the ability to upgrade everything on it). That's the point. 😀
As for the naysayers... it worked in the past... i.e. the old Mac LC lineup that lasted 3 generations and was exactly what most reasonably "realistic" people are really clamoring for. I think the time is ripe again for such a computer from Apple. It's not an upgradable as sin PC, but it's got the features a lot of people want without being tethered to a monitor without a choice to pick what size they really want. Granted I don't see a LC hooked up to a 30" LCD (on-board video likely wouldn't support it) but... a 23" Apple Cinema could work nicely. Or for those that can't shell out $1,000+ on an LCD, a 17-19" normal screen would work. Either via Apple or someone else... the increased volume of sales shipments would help Apple gain marketshare, even if they don't necessarily increase their profitability on the sale of monitor/LCD glued together as one. They lose sales on people that don't want that though, and that wait for either something they do want, or 'til they can afford something that quite honestly might be more than they need... but at least it fulfills their requirements/tastes.
When I speak of Utilitarian Budgeted Cube/LC, I don't mean miniscule compact over-engineered to the point of expensive fetish item like the previous incarnation. I don't care if it's a pizza box, a cube, or some other shape... if it's a headless single processor desktop, it's all I need. Otherwise, I'll wait awhile and get a G5 desktop, but I can guarantee it'll be quite a bit as other priorities come first. If that's true of me, I'm sure there's countless others' in the same boat. An iMac or eMac doesn't appeal to me. I want to choose my monitor, and survive with what monitor I have now (17" CRT) 'til I can get what I desire later on. Maybe a 20" LCD a year down the road when I can better afford it, if not... something 17-20" from Apple or otherwise that's within my reach. I'm not after 60 fps at Doom III... I want something decent enough that'll be supported by Core Image/Video eventually in Tiger, that's got a little bit of processing muscle, and that can serve me as long as this upgraded 9600 I soldier on with.
The iMac/eMac isn't going to cut it, and a G5 can take me a year to logically afford when other things come up that cut into that hefty sticker. We need something in between, that suits the non-AIO crowd, without necessarily stealing sales from the AIO's. Complementary, not defeatest. That's the key. It's not an iMac if it's not AIO, it's not an eMac if it's not AIO. It's something different. What that is named... I don't care... but I do want one, and if Apple builds it they'll have my cash reasonably soon and that of many other's apparently (except those unrealistic types that'd complain if they didn't get a GeForce Ultra Mega Super Titanium with Chrome fender skirts for peanuts and the ability to upgrade everything on it). That's the point. 😀
