Is anyone conciously putting off getting a Mac now and opting for the Mactels?

[law guy]

I'll be happy with my Macs for years to come - so the timing is fine for me.

BUT It does look like sales are a bit off - I note that the apple top sellers has only the iMac down at 20 and tiger and otherwise you'd think Apple only sold iPods from the list. In the past I've seen iMacs up higher with minis in there too. PMs sometimes after updates.

 

[ksz]

...Since Apple is now using the same hardware, they can't just sit there and wait for the improvements to pile up and then introduce "rev b." They will be "fluid" like the PC business is now.

Since Apple has historically designed their own motherboards I assumed they would continue to do so even after the switch to Intel processors. But I think you raise a common sense argument -- why should Apple continue to design their own boards when hundreds of choices are available from the various motherboard manufacturers? Maybe Apple will continue to design their own laptop motherboards, but use third party boards for desktops where standard AT/X and BTX form factors will suffice.

 

[mxpiazza]

Since Apple has historically designed their own motherboards I assumed they would continue to do so even after the switch to Intel processors. But I think you raise a common sense argument -- why should Apple continue to design their own boards when hundreds of choices are available from the various motherboard manufacturers? Maybe Apple will continue to design their own laptop motherboards, but use third party boards for desktops where standard AT/X and BTX form factors will suffice.

i'm guessing Apple is going to use an on-board chip solution for installation of OSX, any mobos without the chip would not be able to install OSX. this would pretty much insure apple's development of their own mobos, or be extremely hands-on with a third party development team to make sure OSX wasn't on a dell or anything... thats my best guess.

 

[ReanimationLP]

I've decided I'm gonna buy me an iBook G4 to hold me over until the Powerbooks are transferred to Intel, then I'm buying a PB.

 

[wrldwzrd89]

I'm not planning on buying a new Mac until 2007 anyway, when all the Mac lines will have Intel processors inside...so it doesn't really matter.

 

[Lacero]

I won't be upgrading my dual G5 till summer of 2007 as well. The G5s are so fast that I don't really see the need to upgrade in the near future.

 

[mkrishnan]

It has pushed me in the direction of waiting for the smallest iBook / PB (12" or whatever replaces it) to get Intel processors, but if a compelling deal comes along to trade up to a faster G4 iBook, I might just do it.

 

[ksz]

i'm guessing Apple is going to use an on-board chip solution for installation of OSX, any mobos without the chip would not be able to install OSX. this would pretty much insure apple's development of their own mobos, or be extremely hands-on with a third party development team to make sure OSX wasn't on a dell or anything... thats my best guess.

I was thinking about that too, but then Apple will not prevent users from installing Windows. To install Windows, you need a motherboard with standard PC firmware (BIOS), but to install Mac OS you will probably need some additional proprietary firmware. Apple can still use commodity motherboards and rewrite or extend the firmware for dual OS support.

 

[Abstract]

People are waiting because they're afraid of buying into old technology, as they know Intels are coming. However, its not like the entire Mac world will make a miraculous, simultaneous switch over to the Intel Macs, only those people who buy new systems in 1 years time. The large large majority of us will still use G4s and G5s. Nobody will be left behind if they buy a Mac now.

If you bought a Mac today, you'll still get 3-4 years of use out of it and STILL not be behind the technology curve.

 

[mxpiazza]

I was thinking about that too, but then Apple will not prevent users from installing Windows. To install Windows, you need a motherboard with standard PC firmware (BIOS), but to install Mac OS you will probably need some additional proprietary firmware. Apple can still use commodity motherboards and rewrite or extend the firmware for dual OS support.

i'm sure apple will mod PC motherboards and put a chip on them that OSX installer will check for... Apple won't "officially support" windows on their machines, but they would be stupid not to make it so windows runs on their boxes, and it will...

 

[me_94501]

-nt-

Not putting it off at all. If all goes well (and if I have $520 more in cash) I'll have a new eMac by the end of next month.