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iBox?
- Thread starter edesignuk
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I have been thinking of doing the same, I know a place where I can get new Apple Motherboards etc to build a computer. I could then put it in a cheap PC case. The cost is a lot cheaper than buying a new Mac.
If he does manage to pull it off, I will be one of the first to but one. But I do have some sugestions for the computer.
-Get rid of the modem, if someone still needs a modem they can get a USB one.
-Give it 5.1 sound (or at least the option for it) This can be done by adding a PCI card
-the back needs to be redesigned to be able to fit 2 PCI and 1 AGP card.
If he does manage to pull it off, I will be one of the first to but one. But I do have some sugestions for the computer.
-Get rid of the modem, if someone still needs a modem they can get a USB one.
-Give it 5.1 sound (or at least the option for it) This can be done by adding a PCI card
-the back needs to be redesigned to be able to fit 2 PCI and 1 AGP card.
Yes, all that space seems wasted back there.
It's got virtually the same ports as an iBook in five times the area.
It's got virtually the same ports as an iBook in five times the area.
He seems really worried about all the legal aspects to it but those server companies (I think it's IVS) sells current mac models in 3U rackmounts. All he would have to do was find exactly who manufactures the logic boards and buy them straight from there. If this pans out I'd gladly get one.
This move will really hurt apple and i dont see them letting it happen by any means. Even him trying to make them will cost apple massive ammounts of money in legal issues. Apple will not provide support for the third party computer and if it is made into production im sure apple will attempt to make a new version of OS X which cant be run on it. There is a reason apple shut down Power Computing and all the other 3rd party makers, they were buring apple, why is this person who seems to like macintoshes so much trying to hurt the company as well?
The company you speak of buys PowerMac G4s, and basically just stuffs the guts of them into a rack mount enclosure. They don't buy logic boards from a third party.
I have an issue with the design...
The computer case is flat, that is susitable for placing a monitor on the top. Becasue of the dimensions, it will be a ctr monitor., now, that would look uglie because no monitor looks like the cpu.
There is where I would sugest to create a minitower model for the cpu, a flat screen would not crash against the desing.
The computer case is flat, that is susitable for placing a monitor on the top. Becasue of the dimensions, it will be a ctr monitor., now, that would look uglie because no monitor looks like the cpu.
There is where I would sugest to create a minitower model for the cpu, a flat screen would not crash against the desing.
Flawed design
How long before he is shut down? I estimate it to be days.
Was that graphic above genuine? If so the device should offer the option to change the graphics card and yes, more USB and FireWire ports need to be back there. A 56kbs modem is simply redundant.
How long before he is shut down? I estimate it to be days.
Was that graphic above genuine? If so the device should offer the option to change the graphics card and yes, more USB and FireWire ports need to be back there. A 56kbs modem is simply redundant.
More Information...
The guy interviewed is a regular poster (Insider) and as such, followed up the article with a post here:
DealMac Forums
You can search the DM Forums for iBox for more information on his plans.
The guy interviewed is a regular poster (Insider) and as such, followed up the article with a post here:
DealMac Forums
You can search the DM Forums for iBox for more information on his plans.
It would be nice if I could buy these quite bare, and insert the old harddrives from my works PC's and use the current monitors and keyboards and such.
But the work PC's are all VGA (video) and PS2 (keyboards), so this never will funcion...
I think this computer iBox can only succeed if enough corporate customers get interest in it. Imagine a mac on your coworkers desks running OS X!
But the work PC's are all VGA (video) and PS2 (keyboards), so this never will funcion...
I think this computer iBox can only succeed if enough corporate customers get interest in it. Imagine a mac on your coworkers desks running OS X!
First of all, this isn't designed to be a PowerMac replacement-it's designed to be a cheap Mac alternative. Therefore, all of the bells and whistles will be, and should be removede. Quit saying that in order for it to succeed it needs to be able to do this and that. I think the guy is on to something big there. And about Apple getting hurt? Boo-freakin'-hoo. How many times have we said that Apple is a business? Well, so are other companies, and if Apple wants to stasy competetive, I'm pretty sure that they could design something as cheap, but better, so maybe this will make them do it. I think this guy would help Apple, just like Power Computing was doing-PowerComputing had the best machines on the market when they were around, and they were cheaper than Apple. I still say, if they can do it, so can Apple. Competition is what a free market is all about.
Regards,
Gus
No net gain
If he does succeed (and I don't think he will due to intellectual property), then all it will mean is that Apple hardware prices will come down and software (OS, iLife, etc.) prices will go up. Apple has to make profits somewhere.
Net gain: zero.
And of course Apple won't support you if you have any OS or application problems.
And the whole idea is silly. Who would want to buy a BMW-compatible car frame so that you could stick in a BMW engine and some cheap, leftover seats from your last car?
If he does succeed (and I don't think he will due to intellectual property), then all it will mean is that Apple hardware prices will come down and software (OS, iLife, etc.) prices will go up. Apple has to make profits somewhere.
Net gain: zero.
And of course Apple won't support you if you have any OS or application problems.
And the whole idea is silly. Who would want to buy a BMW-compatible car frame so that you could stick in a BMW engine and some cheap, leftover seats from your last car?
Re: No net gain
what a non-sense post.
what leftover parts? they are parts from new machines...it's all apple parts, so with your analogy...what parts is he putting in there that aren't bmw? It's putting bmw parts in like a neon. sure it'll be ugly as hell, but it'll blow most cars off the road performance wise. maybe there are a lot of people who care what your computer looks like, but I don't really care because if it's a server it's shoved in your closet, or just under your desk. my computers are extremely "ghetto'ed" out, but who cares, b/c it's given me extra performance.
sure apple's designs are wonderful...but the same parts, thrown in a white box...that'll do the same thing...why not?
Originally posted by bikertwin
If he does succeed (and I don't think he will due to intellectual property), then all it will mean is that Apple hardware prices will come down and software (OS, iLife, etc.) prices will go up. Apple has to make profits somewhere.
Net gain: zero.
And of course Apple won't support you if you have any OS or application problems.
And the whole idea is silly. Who would want to buy a BMW-compatible car frame so that you could stick in a BMW engine and some cheap, leftover seats from your last car?
what a non-sense post.
what leftover parts? they are parts from new machines...it's all apple parts, so with your analogy...what parts is he putting in there that aren't bmw? It's putting bmw parts in like a neon. sure it'll be ugly as hell, but it'll blow most cars off the road performance wise. maybe there are a lot of people who care what your computer looks like, but I don't really care because if it's a server it's shoved in your closet, or just under your desk. my computers are extremely "ghetto'ed" out, but who cares, b/c it's given me extra performance.
sure apple's designs are wonderful...but the same parts, thrown in a white box...that'll do the same thing...why not?
I wonder if he sold the box (under a different name) without an OS or install something like Yellow Dog Linux and only market it that it is capable of running OS X which is sold separately if Apple legal can do anything about it. If he's selling machines to run a different OS I don't imagine that Apple could do anything but buy him out.
I think it would be nice if Apple introduced a mini-tower with just AGP and one PCI.
Yeah, it'll never happen. He's screwed.
I think it would be nice if Apple introduced a mini-tower with just AGP and one PCI.
Yeah, it'll never happen. He's screwed.
At best this is going to be somthing of a cult hit. Apple has nothing to worry about, as this guy has numerous obsticles in his way, such as:
- Sourcing motherboards; relying on repaired returns is hardly likely to provide a regular flow of reliable hardware.
- Supply; who's going to sell them? Not Apple Stores or key Mac Resellers.
- What's his after sales service going to be like?
- Will he sell with OS X pre installed? If so how does he stand legally?
I say good luck to him, but he has his work cut out. Just making a cheap PC (it won't be a Mac as it's not an Apple) that runs MacOS X will be hard enough, but selling it's going to be really tough.
- Sourcing motherboards; relying on repaired returns is hardly likely to provide a regular flow of reliable hardware.
- Supply; who's going to sell them? Not Apple Stores or key Mac Resellers.
- What's his after sales service going to be like?
- Will he sell with OS X pre installed? If so how does he stand legally?
I say good luck to him, but he has his work cut out. Just making a cheap PC (it won't be a Mac as it's not an Apple) that runs MacOS X will be hard enough, but selling it's going to be really tough.
AmigaOne G3/G4 + Mac on Linux + Mac OS X EQUALs pseudoClone
Repackaged Spare Parts + Third Party CPU + new case NOT EQUAL Clone
Repackaged Spare Parts + Third Party CPU + new case NOT EQUAL Clone
He's boldly going where Apple has been before. The difference here, is that he'll offer hard drive-less, processor-less models, as well as full-fledged machines (MacMinute has more info).
The move truly is bold, though. The Power Computing days were back in the Amelio and Company era. We're in a whole new Jobsian era of Apple. Things are very different down in Cupertino, now. It'll be interesting to see how Jobs responds, as we all know his position on Mac clones.
So, John Fraser, good luck. You'll probably need it.
The move truly is bold, though. The Power Computing days were back in the Amelio and Company era. We're in a whole new Jobsian era of Apple. Things are very different down in Cupertino, now. It'll be interesting to see how Jobs responds, as we all know his position on Mac clones.
So, John Fraser, good luck. You'll probably need it.
Re: Re: No net gain
The article says that he will sell bare bones machines so people can reuse old parts or use new ones. Other posters said much the same thing.
People buy Hondas and mod them. Mercedes owners generally don't mod their cars.
A Mac is an experience, it's not a bunch of parts.
If you reduce it to just a bunch of parts, you have a PC. That's not necessarily bad (each has its place) but then you no longer have the Mac experience, the Apple tech support, the ease of use, the consistency, etc.
The article says that he will sell bare bones machines so people can reuse old parts or use new ones. Other posters said much the same thing.
People buy Hondas and mod them. Mercedes owners generally don't mod their cars.
A Mac is an experience, it's not a bunch of parts.
If you reduce it to just a bunch of parts, you have a PC. That's not necessarily bad (each has its place) but then you no longer have the Mac experience, the Apple tech support, the ease of use, the consistency, etc.
jayscheuerle
macrumors 68020
Brilliant!!
I'm dying for one of these. I've got a fully loaded beige G3 and if the processor or motherboard goes, I'd love to just take my drives, pci cards, CDRW, whatever and put it in with a newer processor. $650 is a LOT cheaper than $1500...
I'm dying for one of these. I've got a fully loaded beige G3 and if the processor or motherboard goes, I'd love to just take my drives, pci cards, CDRW, whatever and put it in with a newer processor. $650 is a LOT cheaper than $1500...
It would be nice to give apple a little competition. They have a strangle hold on their devices that inhibits competition. With competition comes innovation. Look at the PC market. It's a prime example of how competition can drive prices down and still have innovations. Good for him