'Intel Inside' no more.

[egor]

Wow, I was thinking that they would replace them because they looked tacky and outdated.. even when they first came out..

..so to see the replacements being more of the same begs the question.. why are they wasting money on this re-branding of the same brand?!?

Was hoping for something a lot more sleek.

Not that I'd want a sticker on an apple machine though.. although I do have five stickers on my homebuilt PC.. it already looked tacky, I may as well have taken it one step further.

 

[Quartz Extreme]

I hope Apple doesn't go forward to removing Firewire with the iBook line and to rub it in they put a Firewire logo crossed out on a sticker in addition to the Intel sticker.

Perhaps they will add that back in the spec if they read the comments posted a few weeks ago by everyone. New iBooks will ship in Feb 2006 (delayed to add firewire back in and remove all the stickers).

I sure hope they don't take away Firewire. It's bad enough that it isn't on the iPod with video. It is still the standard for DV camcorders, Apple's own iSight, and most serious external storage devices.

 

[D-Style]

For what it is worth, my PowerBook G3 has "PowerPC" that is a trademark printed on the bezel. I don't see this too different from the "Intel Inside" nonsense.

Anyways, I agree with those that say there will not be any stickers on the upcoming "Mactels". Maybe something on the box or on the advertising materials, but NOT on the computer itself.

 

[aswitcher]

Here are some colored logos that were on Wikipedia.

Here are some more that were on x86-secret.com.
The Celerons are a lighter blue and the Xeons are a darker blue or black.

I would like to see some more visual indications of cores for quick universal recognition. Single core - single cog/chip pic; dual core - linked pics etc. Maybe multiple Intel circles to indicate the number of cores...

 

[MyLeftNut]

Apple will sell their soul for $50 reduction in prices? How cheap do you think they are? This isnt about Apple competing (sorry I have to use the car dealership analogy) against Daewoo. Their market is the likes of Mercedes and BMW competing against each other, do you see silly stickers all over their products?

While the Intel switch came as a big surprise, it is the engine, not the outside. Therefore while the ads might be on the boxes it is highly unlikely that Intel will be on the outside of the product itself. Impossible? No. Improbable? Yes.

Apple, I would argue, still want a number pf points of difference to charge the premium they do (mind you it is a better overall package), working towards the lowest common denominator is not one of them. And yes, I am a snob.

 

[Seasought]

While the Intel switch came as a big surprise, it is the engine, not the outside. Therefore while the ads might be on the boxes it is highly unlikely that Intel will be on the outside of the product itself. Impossible? No. Improbable? Yes.

Seems like a reasonable compromise between both worlds. I too, am puzzled why they pushed for this new change when there really isn't much of a change (and the stickers still look like crap imo).

And yes, I am a snob.

And so am I.

 

[m-dogg]

Yes! Hated that sticker! Will the annoying sound on commercials go away too? Gosh, I hopes so...

Interesting Intel factoid abut the sound in those commercials - I had an opportunity to go to an Intel facility back in May (nothing computer/IT related so I don't have any scoops on that type of thing) for a couple of days and at occasional times during the day that Intel jingle plays softly over the loudspeakers throughout the complex and as a reminder for workers to stretch and get up/move around to help with ergonomics issues. I thought it was so freaking strange the first time it happened - All of a sudden all the Intel employees got up and starting stretching and stuff in the middle of a discussion, and the people from other companies (like me) just kind of sat there dumbfounded. Seemed like some kind of crazy psychology experiment!

I have to say though, before I left I actually thought it was a good idea. Sometimes people get so caught up in their work you can forget to keep yourself active and break away from the computer screen.

So yes, I was participating in the stretch-sessions before I left! But anyway, that's what I will always think of when I hear that sound now.

 

[SiliconAddict]

Intel Core Duo is such a boring name. . .


Bring on the Intel Core Quadro

Seriously though the Duo logo isn't half bad. I wouldn't mind having it on my computer if for no other reason then to brag that my PowerBook is a dual core system. I’m just shallow that way.

 

[Peace]

http://www.viiv.com

 

[SiliconAddict]

Interesting Intel factoid abut the sound in those commercials - I had an opportunity to go to an Intel facility back in May (nothing computer/IT related so I don't have any scoops on that type of thing) for a couple of days and at occasional times during the day that Intel jingle plays softly over the loudspeakers throughout the complex and as a reminder for workers to stretch and get up/move around to help with ergonomics issues. I thought it was so freaking strange the first time it happened - All of a sudden all the Intel employees got up and starting stretching and stuff in the middle of a discussion, and the people from other companies (like me) just kind of sat there dumbfounded. Seemed like some kind of crazy psychology experiment!

I have to say though, before I left I actually thought it was a good idea. Sometimes people get so caught up in their work you can forget to keep yourself active and break away from the computer screen.

So yes, I was participating in the stretch-sessions before I left! But anyway, that's what I will always think of when I hear that sound now.

I wonder if NBC does that in their HQ.

 

[steve_hill4]

My guess is there will be discreet Intel branding - e.g. an "Intel Inside" logo printed one-color in grey on the underside of the new PowerBook. No stickers - that just isn't Apple's style. I suspect that Apple would choose to forgo some Intel marketing bucks in order to avoid this kind of stickering. Apple managed without co-marketing bucks from IBM/Freescale, so anything they get out of Intel will just be a bonus.

That sounds passable with the majority of users, something similar to laser engraving on iPods would come up nice, but only on the underside, (maybe even hidden under the battery if apple really want to keep the outer casing clean).

 

[conradzoo]

I am shocked. Talking about stickers!? Please....

 

[steve_hill4]

I think some of the negative reaction to having a next generation Intel sticker on a Mac is from a leftover dislike of the opposing camp. I wonder how the reaction would differ if Apple was going to use an amazing new IBM processor and planned to put that chip's logo on new Mac cases. Probably fewer complaints.

I'd still rather not have any stickers, not just because Macs should have the cleanest look possible, but for another reason as well: While the brain of a Mac might be the processor chip, it's the heart and soul that makes it what it is, and that's Mac OS X.

How beautiful a description.

Anyway, to go back to your initial comments, I thought about exactly what you said and if there were to be a new Freescale/IBM G6 and a sticker was planned, I think lots would be against it, (not quite as much as they are against Intel though), but many others who are against the Intel stickers would be applauding the new stickers as wonderful and much better than the Intel attempts. It is a lot of them vs us and I think even within the first couple of years of the Apple-Intel partnership, many will be against certain aspects of the arrangement.

And to add to an earlier comment about Intel Cores and Apples, I'm sure Intel and Apple won't have missed the marketing potential of this. Just think of the homepage of apple.com in 12 months time, "Apples now with Intel Cores". Some will laugh, some will take a few seconds to spot the pun and then smile, others will whince at a corny joke, but still secretly admire it. The marketing ploy would work though.

 

[Peace]

And to add to an earlier comment about Intel Cores and Apples, I'm sure Intel and Apple won't have missed the marketing potential of this. Just think of the homepage of apple.com in 12 months time, "Apples now with Intel Cores". Some will laugh, some will take a few seconds to spot the pun and then smile, others will whince at a corny joke, but still secretly admire it. The marketing ploy would work though.

Apple Corps might be a bit tiffed!

 

[~Shard~]

That sounds passable with the majority of users, something similar to laser engraving on iPods would come up nice, but only on the underside, (maybe even hidden under the battery if apple really want to keep the outer casing clean).

I had thought of this too - laser engraving would be much cooler than using stickers. However, with stickers a user can at least remove it with little difficulty - if it were engraved, a user would be stuck with it whether he liked it or not.

 

[steve_hill4]

I am shocked. Talking about stickers!? Please....

I know, but this is Mac Rumors, what would you expect?

 

[EricNau]

I had thought of this too - laser engraving would be much cooler than using stickers. However, with stickers a user can at least remove it with little difficulty - if it were engraved, a user would be stuck with it whether he liked it or not.

I have to say, those stickers are a pain to remove. Seems like that spot on the computer is never the same with all of the scratching, ripping, etc. Usually I just leave them there (even though I hate them). So either way I'm stuck with something there.

I think laser engraving would be cool, but like steve_hill4 said, on the underside. (nobody looks at the bottom anyway)

 

[cgc]

as long as the sticker can be removed (and no sign on tampering would stay) let them stick a sticker on the macs.

Removing the sticker would probably void your warranty

 

[artifex]

Apple will sell their soul for $50 reduction in prices? How cheap do you think they are? This isnt about Apple competing (sorry I have to use the car dealership analogy) against Daewoo. Their market is the likes of Mercedes and BMW competing against each other, do you see silly stickers all over their products?

While the Intel switch came as a big surprise, it is the engine, not the outside. Therefore while the ads might be on the boxes it is highly unlikely that Intel will be on the outside of the product itself. Impossible? No. Improbable? Yes.

Apple, I would argue, still want a number pf points of difference to charge the premium they do (mind you it is a better overall package), working towards the lowest common denominator is not one of them. And yes, I am a snob.

Let's see, $50 would be a 5% reduction in retail price for a $1,000 laptop.
That'd be $3,000 off a $60,000 car. Do you think if BMW or Mercedes could get the engine manufacturer to cut $3,000 off the price of a car by sticking a bumper sticker on it, they wouldn't do it?

Come on, it's a stupid sticker. It's not etched or anything.

I don't think Apple will have stickers, but it's because they're already a sweetheart customer. I've speculated previously that Intel had a bunch of engineers working with Apple to make sure these first hardware releases came out great, as showpieces of their latest technology, and now we have rumors that Intel is actually designing a motherboard for Apple.

And yes, you are a snob.

edit: Apple would not be against stuff like this as long as they still got their margins, I'm sure. And this actually increases their margins, because instead of making the guesstimated 20%, or $200, off the $1000 machine, they now make the same $200 off a $950 machine, or slightly over 21%.

And if the buyers use the savings to buy even more machines in bulk, it gets even better. You have $20,000 to spend on 20 computers for a school computer class. If they have stickers, suddenly, you can get the 21st computer, the teacher's, for "free" and still save $50, that you can use to pay for a dumb switch or something to network them. Or you're a company that needs 200 machines for the new offices. Now, you can add 10 machines to use as spares or for commuters, and still save $500, that you can spend on decent switching and extra cabling. Meanwhile, instead of Apple making $4000 off that sale of 20 computers to the school, they've made $4200 off 21. And that company purchase? $42,000 off 210 instead of $40,000 off 200. If they could get 5% back on a stupid sticker, they should. Consumers will benefit, the bottom line will benefit, and it will give Apple a bigger percentage of the market.

 

[steve_hill4]

I had thought of this too - laser engraving would be much cooler than using stickers. However, with stickers a user can at least remove it with little difficulty - if it were engraved, a user would be stuck with it whether he liked it or not.

But laser engraving on the bottom of a PowerBook, or even under the battery, near the serial numbers etc would be a good compromise.

 

[aegisdesign]

No, not on the machines themselves, but on the boxes they ship in. Hell, even the machines at one time carried the PowerPC logo (my old 7500 did). That was pre-Steve though.

Nope. My iMac G5 box doesn't even mention the PowerPC anywhere on the box never mind a PowerPC logo. Neither does my iBook G3 box.

I remember the PowerPC logo on the older Macs though but back then it was so confusing between 68K and PPC models that I suspect they had to. Maybe they'll do something like that again although with their heightened aesthetic I'd highly doubt it.

 

[Tupring]

I could maybe see a logo or something on the box but I also agree that there is no way Jobs will let an Intel sticker on any mac product.

Then why would he allow an Intel processor?

 

[aegisdesign]

IMHO Intel should be paying Apple to be even associated with them. It's a big, big win for them that the most innovative computer company going today has chosen them instead of IBM, AMD, Sun or whoever else.

 

[steve_hill4]

I would like to see some more visual indications of cores for quick universal recognition. Single core - single cog/chip pic; dual core - linked pics etc. Maybe multiple Intel circles to indicate the number of cores...

For those who know what they're looking for, it will be no problem. For those looking in adverts and on the Dell website, a simple description explaining it has a single or dual core should be enough, (maybe even a page explaining the differences). For those who are buying from store, that's what sales assistants are there for, although I am up against it at times trying to explain to some of my colleagues what the new technologies are, (man I need to get out of there and into a career in journalism, and soon).

 

[aegisdesign]

Interesting Intel factoid abut the sound in those commercials - I had an opportunity to go to an Intel facility back in May (nothing computer/IT related so I don't have any scoops on that type of thing) for a couple of days and at occasional times during the day that Intel jingle plays softly over the loudspeakers throughout the complex and as a reminder for workers to stretch and get up/move around to help with ergonomics issues. I thought it was so freaking strange the first time it happened - All of a sudden all the Intel employees got up and starting stretching and stuff in the middle of a discussion, and the people from other companies (like me) just kind of sat there dumbfounded. Seemed like some kind of crazy psychology experiment!

I think that jingle would remind me to get up and find another job if I worked there. That would be more annoying than the constant Windows startup chimes you get throughout the day in an office listening to people reboot their PCs forgetting they've not switched the sound off.