iMac/eMac Rumor Wrapup: Winners and Losers

[Bear]

Re: Slot Loading drives?

Originally posted by NicoMan
A lot of people were, like, POSITIVE, that the new iMacs were going to come out with slot-loading drives. What happened to those guys??

NicoMan

As much as I really like having the slot loading drive on the PowerBook, it doesn't make sense on a consumer line.

Since slot loading drives don't support anything other than standsized round discs, that crates a problem for people who get odd sized discs. And frankly how many calls do you think Apple wants to deal with because someone put a non-standard disc in an iMac or iBook?

No, I am not saying there are that many dumb people. I am saying people might not think of the consequences or thay just might not realize them.

 

[MOM]

the nature of rumors

I agree that this site and think secret are the most reliable lately. However, I would just like to point out that rumors come with varying degrees of advanced notice. Its one thing to have an excellent source, one perhaps sees the advertisements for the new products, and can tell you with great certainty what is coming in a day or two. Other sites may have sources in different places that have more info on future products. A 19" iMac may have been under consideration, and may still be, but the idea may have been placed on the backburner until display costs come down and the economy improves. Doesn't mean the rumor was wrong or that it was just speculation. Offcourse, from our perspective we will probably never know.

 

[arn]

Re: the nature of rumors

Originally posted by MOM
I agree that this site and think secret are the most reliable lately. However, I would just like to point out that rumors come with varying degrees of advanced notice. Its one thing to have an excellent source, one perhaps sees the advertisements for the new products, and can tell you with great certainty what is coming in a day or two. Other sites may have sources in different places that have more info on future products. A 19" iMac may have been under consideration, and may still be, but the idea may have been placed on the backburner until display costs come down and the economy improves. Doesn't mean the rumor was wrong or that it was just speculation. Offcourse, from our perspective we will probably never know.

very true... many of the more conceptual products may simply be planned... but never released.

arn

 

[edenwaith]

eMac supplies & upgrades

At first, I didn't even notice that the eMac prices had dropped somewhat since there was no announcement on Apple's web site, or good indicator that 'hey, the eMacs are cheaper!'

I'm curious if this might be because there might be quite a lot of eMacs in stock, and Apple is lowering the prices on them to try and clear out the channels a little faster in the process. And then later, perhaps they will upgrade the line somewhat.

Also, what is up with the CRT iMac line? It looks like they are still being sold, despite the now-pokey features they have (i.e. no CD-RW). When the new iMac came out, I thought it was certainly different, but one of my main concerns was that it looked too delicate for a class room filled with small children. That monitor screams out to kids: "Pull me! Tug me! Break me!" However, the eMac seems to have answered that concern.

 

[york2600]

Why I stopped reading MacOSRumors

Besides the fact that they don't get anything right, update the site like once a month, ask for a crazy amount of cash, and may I stress never get anything right here's why I dont read them anymore:

A while back they had this 2 page rant about MacWorld. They talked about how it was a complete waste of time and how they were all too good for it etc etc. Then they went on to talk about how Apple's head of PR was a "dike bitch".

Why does this matter?

A) It shows they are totally imature
B) It shows they are not professional in their "work" (if you can call it work)
C) I'm not gay, but you just don't say that about people. It doesn't matter if they deserve it or not, but if you want to maintain a base of readers you don't say stuff like that.

Just my 2 cents

-Tim

 

[Mattski]

Originally posted by Shadowfax


yeah, the technologies talk to each other. as in, your AP extreme will detect the slower BS and downgrade the frequency to that and talk at 802.11b speeds... i can't help you on range, i thought 802.11g wasd shorter range (being 2x the frequency), but i can't speak intelligently on that one.

802.11g and 802.11b work on identical frequencies (2.4ghz). Not sure how they get it up to 54mbps, however I would assume there is some compression technology in there somewhere.

802.11b scales down from 11 to 5.5,2 & 1mbps as you move further from the base station. 802.11g also has this technology.
So the real question is what range can we get from 802.11g at 54mbps. I'd tend to think it would throttle down fairly quickly, however we won't have any real idea until the product ships.

Any 802.11g base station or card can talk a purely 802.11b language, which allows complete interoperability between the 2 standards, just at a maximum of 11mbps.

This would be really difficult if 802.11g were at a different frequency to 802.11b, as usually this would require dual componentary in the devices to be able to communicate at 2 frequencies in different ranges, ie 2.4 and 5ghz.

802.11a cards are at a higher frequency (5ghz) but have no backwards compatibility at all. It's a good thing (for consumers) that Apple has the wisdom not to use it.

 

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by Mattski


802.11g and 802.11b work on identical frequencies (2.4ghz). Not sure how they get it up to 54mbps, however I would assume there is some compression technology in there somewhere.

802.11b scales down from 11 to 5.5,2 & 1mbps as you move further from the base station. 802.11g also has this technology.
So the real question is what range can we get from 802.11g at 54mbps. I'd tend to think it would throttle down fairly quickly, however we won't have any real idea until the product ships.

Any 802.11g base station or card can talk a purely 802.11b language, which allows complete interoperability between the 2 standards, just at a maximum of 11mbps.

This would be really difficult if 802.11g were at a different frequency to 802.11b, as usually this would require dual componentary in the devices to be able to communicate at 2 frequencies in different ranges, ie 2.4 and 5ghz.

802.11a cards are at a higher frequency (5ghz) but have no backwards compatibility at all. It's a good thing (for consumers) that Apple has the wisdom not to use it.

right, ok, i got a and g confused. i guess 802.11g has more range (one would think), if not at full speed. once again, who cares, though? few connections can saturate 802.11b, and if you want to transfer a lot of files, it's better to just plug into a 100baseTX network, IMO. that's how i do it, at any rate.

 

[york2600]

Originally posted by Shadowfax


right, ok, i got a and g confused. i guess 802.11g has more range (one would think), if not at full speed. once again, who cares, though? few connections can saturate 802.11b, and if you want to transfer a lot of files, it's better to just plug into a 100baseTX network, IMO. that's how i do it, at any rate.

Trust me lots of connections can saturate 802.11b. Maybe not home use, but business and education use. For those 802.11b is a very poor performing technology. My school had a class with 20 laptops used for everything in class. At the beginning of each class 20 people would log on to a Windows 2000 client/server network. During login each users profile was pushed across the network. They averaged at about 20 megs each. Sometimes it took 15 minutes to log in with all the traffic. Wireless operates much like a hub and therefore the slower the traffic the more congestion becomes apparent. It was really bad. 802.11G would help things out greatly in that kind of environment. Since Apple pushes that exact type of solution in the classroom Airport Extreme's bandwidth is very important to Apple being competitive.

 

[Mattski]

Originally posted by york2600



Trust me lots of connections can saturate 802.11b. Maybe not home use, but business and education use. For those 802.11b is a very poor performing technology. My school had a class with 20 laptops used for everything in class. At the beginning of each class 20 people would log on to a Windows 2000 client/server network. During login each users profile was pushed across the network. They averaged at about 20 megs each. Sometimes it took 15 minutes to log in with all the traffic. Wireless operates much like a hub and therefore the slower the traffic the more congestion becomes apparent. It was really bad. 802.11G would help things out greatly in that kind of environment. Since Apple pushes that exact type of solution in the classroom Airport Extreme's bandwidth is very important to Apple being competitive.

In high density wireless environments the best way to get a higher speed is to increase the density of the base stations. So perhaps the best thing Apple has done for it's wireless users with Airport Extreme is not the 54mbps access, but is the much lower price tag, making it possible to have more base stations.

 

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by Mattski


In high density wireless environments the best way to get a higher speed is to increase the density of the base stations. So perhaps the best thing Apple has done for it's wireless users with Airport Extreme is not the 54mbps access, but is the much lower price tag, making it possible to have more base stations.

i was about to say, it's really stupid to log 20 people onto a base station. even at 54 mbps, it's going to bog down. i was just talking 3 or 4 users.

 

[daveg5]

10,000 RPM SERIAL ATA DRIVES MAY BE ON THE WAY!!!!

how much to trust the source, guess we'll know in 6 days.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/story.html?id=1044471776

Dave G5: Of course I dont believe it but it would be nice.
Hopefully this is true as i use a exspensive scsi drive now for the fast access time and boot drive in the multitasking osx and it helps but what price performance.
a good 10000 36GB ultra 320 drive with 4.5 ms access and 70+ transfer rate, 5 year warranty will cost you $190-$250 seagate and fujitsu.
I would gladly take a 120GB 10000 SATA drive in its place.

 

[chmorley]

Re: Slot Loading drives?

Originally posted by NicoMan
A lot of people were, like, POSITIVE, that the new iMacs were going to come out with slot-loading drives. What happened to those guys??

Not to shrink from the criticism, I was one who stated that. I agree (and stated then) that it didn't make sense. However, I had been told by someone I believed a reliable source--who had told me in November that the new Powerbooks would be aluminum--that this was the case.

What can I say? I was wrong.

Chris

 

[MOM]

Re: Why I stopped reading MacOSRumors

Originally posted by york2600
Besides the fact that they don't get anything right, update the site like once a month, ask for a crazy amount of cash, and may I stress never get anything right here's why I dont read them anymore:

A while back they had this 2 page rant about MacWorld. They talked about how it was a complete waste of time and how they were all too good for it etc etc. Then they went on to talk about how Apple's head of PR was a "dike bitch".

Why does this matter?

A) It shows they are totally imature
B) It shows they are not professional in their "work" (if you can call it work)
C) I'm not gay, but you just don't say that about people. It doesn't matter if they deserve it or not, but if you want to maintain a base of readers you don't say stuff like that.

Just my 2 cents

-Tim

Yes, I remember that article. I agree with your comments, Tim. It was very bitter. My impression of them dropped a lot that day.

 

[iTry]

Re: video out question

Originally posted by daddy-mojo
So, does anyone know if the s-video/composite out option on the new 17" imac will allow for a tv monitor to be used in final cut pro? This could be my deciding factor as to whether I have to spend twice that to go to a tower (with a fair amount of extras added in). I know that the normal vga out just mirrors the desktop. I'm hoping that s-video out will work the same way as in powerbooks or after market video cards. Thanks in advance.

Very good question!! And one I wouldn't mind knowing the answer to. My guess is possible, but unlikely. Don't forget that, as far as I'm aware, FCP outputs to firewire all the time. In other words, keep your DV camera connected to the comp via firewire, then connect the cam to your video monitor using composite or s-video and it should convert the firewire stream.

Even if this option fails, there are a lot of external devices for video output on the market for £200 - £300 (not sure about the $ price!)

I'm going to buy a 17" on monday, so when it arrives I'll come back on here and let you know my results...

Need to buy a new TV as well, since my current one's turned green, so it's impossible to colour balance!!!

EDIT: Forgot this bit. Who the hell wants a slot loader? They're a pain in the proverbial! I'd much rather have a nice platter!!! You're only bitter 'cause you spill your coffee when it goes back in!

 

[NewMcMAC]

My NEW IMAC

My new 17" IMAC was to be shipped by 2/11 but it appears to be delayed now until the 26th. This sucks..... Of course the other products that I ordered have shipped and are collecting dust in my home office.
Anyone else in this dilema?
NewMcMAC

 

[possible switch]

My new 15" is supposed to ship "on or before 2/14." They better not delay my order! I'm simply not patient. My Office X came today, and I'm ready to use it!