Last Minute WWDC Notes...

[nexusfx]

I don't think so.

Actually they only said the Powerbook was a ways off. They made no such statement for the iMac, only that putting a G5 in it would be a challenge.Last year there was Panther, G5 towers, and iChat AV, all of which are very interesting to regular users.True, but the G3 was a competitive processor when the iMac was still using it. Today, the G4 isn't, especially at the iMac's price points. The iMac needs a G5 (and a price cut) yesterday, and Apple would be nuts not to release it as soon as possible. There's no way they'd hold off on G5 iMacs until they can go into Powerbooks as well. Unfortunately it's looking increasingly like they *can't* get a G5 into the iMac today, which is disturbing. If IBM doesn't get better somewhat soon, Steve may be dusting off the x86 plan again.

Well your right about one thing, right now they *can't* get the G5's in Powerbooks or iMacs. There is a *real reason*, Apple hasn't been pushing IBM to manufacture the processors down to fit the smaller machines because for the last year they've been trying to scale the architecture to 90nm, so that it would be easier for IBM to fit the G5 technology in smaller machines, now that that has been taken care of, they can focus on scaling the G5's down, hell, they're already in an Xserve with 90nm tech, all they have to do is just go from there. It will take some time, but we'll all be happy when it happens, until we hear the rumor about the price point, then we'll be pissed off again

Oh yeah, about x86.......ahem........NEVER AGAIN! I just think Steve would be too stubborn to go back, and I *admire* him for it,

"SCREW x86!" IT'S SERVED IT'S PURPOSE, and thanks for the memories

 

[netytan]

Yo guys, anyone heard anything yet? Thats if its even started lol. Also, if macrumors is getting a feed. What the link etc. The excitment - my first release .

Later,

Mark

 

[Dahl]

Is it true that LCD component prices have not dropped as they predicted to over the past year?

That's something I read once not long ago.
Supplies have been in such high demand, there were no reason to lower the price.

 

[iDave]

isn't a macworld coming up soon?

Yes, in Boston, but Apple's not going to be there.

 

[DrGruv1]

A nice 15" LCD for $400?

yea, right, ill buy a sub 400$ display when I could buy a sub 500$ computer....

Maybe not for you (or me) but others with a price point that can't spend another grand after the computer for a monitor.

 

[DTphonehome]

This is one of the few reasons why I hate rumors: when the actual product comes out at a higher price, everyone is pissed. Same thing with the iPod mini. Everyone is going to dwell on the fact that the new 20" is more expensive, rather than focusing on the fact that there are NEW displays! Grrrr.

// narco

I think that the reason people would be upset if prices are not lowered is simply because in 18 months, nearly every other LCD display on the market has dropped dramatically in price. Since 18 months ago, LCD production has ramped up considerably, and new manufacturing techniques have allowed for far fewer factory defects, thus lowering the cost of production significantly. That savings should be passed on to the consumer.
I personally have been waiting for new displays so I can buy one, but if the prices quoted are accurate, I won't, I'll go for another brand instead, or wait for a G5 iMac. But, I'll wait until after the announcement to pronounce judgement. It may all be a false rumor.

--DT

 

[joeboy_45101]

If the new iMac G5 is going to be marketed as a pro-sumer machine, then wouldn't it make sense to introduce it at WWDC. I'm going with AppleInsider on this one, all the people that are saying that there is no way for Apple to intro a consumer device at a developer's conference are still stuck in the mindset of the iMac being a consumer product. I think that with the iMac upgrade tomorrow we will also see the iMac "redefined" as a product that can be useful as a high-end consumer machine and a low-end professional machine. The upgraded iMac will be a kind of bridge.

 

[macnews]

Just because there is now a 20" display at $1300, and there may be a 20" display tomorrow at $1300, that does not mean nothing has changed. The current apple displays lag badly in LCD technology. The 20" has a contrast of 350:1, which, frankly, sucks. This update could also improve the viewing angle, brightness, resolution (unlikely) and refresh rate, as well as add ports.

All 20" LCDs are no more equal than all laptops with 1 Ghz processors are equal. Bottom line is that even if apple releases new 20" and 23" displays tomorrow at the same prices, they could be significantly better bargains than they are now. Because right now we are paying top dollar for second rate tech - top dollar for first rate tech would be a lot better.

I know you posted a second post comparing a sony monitor but I really have to question your knowledge here. The viewing angle, contrast, add ports? Apple has one of the better viewing angles on the market. And ports? Apple has ports. It took many other companies over a year to put ports on their monitors. Many may have them now but Apple led the way IMHO. Now of course you can get ports and speakers too - but those speakers leave a lot to be desired.

I will agree Apple monitors are not TOP of the line but they are close, along with Sony. The one thing Apple was good at doing, better than many other LCD monitors according to Consumer Reports a year ago, was the amount of dead pixels out of the box. Quality is something you pay for and when it comes to dead pixels over the life of the monitor, I will take a lower contrast ratio.

 

[g4cubed]

If Apple keeps the prices the same, with no major improvements to warrant the price hold then Steve's been smokin' again. Could be the reason he forgot what he was saying at the past announcement. I know this is suppose to be just a developers conv., but with Apple not at Macworld I should hope to hear a little more than Tiger and monitors. But we'll see in a few hours. Let's hope for the best and wait to be dissappointed

 

[xtekdiver]

A new mac

I think if this report is true then it is further evidence that a new Mac is going to be released. If pro models have monitors at 20",23",30" AND there are not going to be new iMacs, then what will fill the space left behind? Could it be a new headless Mac that will sport a smaller but different display? Perhaps the current G4 iMacs will replace the eMacs and we will see a new "home" computer; by "home" I mean entertainment focused. Could this be our hanging display?

 

[DMann]

Agreed

Last year:
Safari 1.0
Panther (featuring exposé, iChat AV, a new finder, File Vault)
iSight
PowerMac G5

This Year:
Tiger (featuring a new Safari, Pipeline, Dashboard, and smart playlists everywhere)
New Displays at odd prices

WEAK!!!!
This needs the new iMacs or some small gadgets as well we're not even thinking of.

Hopefully, this is not the reason for the lack of Quicktime event streaming.

 

[Trowaman]

All right, it is now the 28th where I am and there are 10 hours and 20 minutes to the big show. I'll be here on this website watching to see what happens. Good luck tomorrow, Apple. Please don't disapoint the many men and women who are reading these forums.

And to every one else in the states, get some sleep.

See ya guys in 10.

 

[Windowlicker]

as long as they drop the price of the 17" displays I'm happy. wanna get one.

 

[QCassidy352]

I know you posted a second post comparing a sony monitor but I really have to question your knowledge here. The viewing angle, contrast, add ports? Apple has one of the better viewing angles on the market. And ports? Apple has ports. It took many other companies over a year to put ports on their monitors. Many may have them now but Apple led the way IMHO. Now of course you can get ports and speakers too - but those speakers leave a lot to be desired.

I will agree Apple monitors are not TOP of the line but they are close, along with Sony. The one thing Apple was good at doing, better than many other LCD monitors according to Consumer Reports a year ago, was the amount of dead pixels out of the box. Quality is something you pay for and when it comes to dead pixels over the life of the monitor, I will take a lower contrast ratio.

Just saying "they have 'ports'" is pretty pointless. Are they ports that you need? Firewire ports would be a very nice upgrade, IMO.

Yes, apple's viewing angle is good - but the contrast ratio and brightness are not. The 20" even has higher brightness than the other two (they have 200 cd/m2).

You're right, Apple did lead the way regarding displays - in a lot of ways, ports and otherwise. At the time of its release, the current line up was top-notch. But since then, other companies have been catching up to, and even surpassing, apple's tech specs. And yet apple still charges top dollar as if they had a superior product.

Another quick comparison: the formac 2010. A 20" monitor with just as good a viewing angle, 250 brightness, and a stellar 600:1 contrast ratio. AND, formac guarantees no more than 2 dead pixels - or you get a new one. I don't believe apple's policy is that generous (it wasn't even close about a year ago, but they may have gotten on the ball.) All for the same $1300 apple charges.

The bottom line is that there are quite a few options out there with specs that are the same or better for equal or less money. I've given you two very quick examples, and there are more out there. Apple is combining good-but-not-great specs with top end pricing. I'm not sure how or why you're defending that.

Anyway, hopefully it'll all be better in the morning.

 

[jbob]

Do try to keep up!

7pm Monday here in NZ

Bring on the XStation4

 

[ryanw]

Yo guys, anyone heard anything yet? Thats if its even started lol. Also, if macrumors is getting a feed. What the link etc. The excitment - my first release .

Later,

Mark

Hopefully there's a keynote to watch live... I really hope the last 6 months of waiting for the WWDC Keynote won't end with just more rumors to read.

 

[weezer160]

got i hope this isn't true. that would totally suck! 1300+ (tax) for the baseline model! don't you think that the presence of the newer 30" should lower the price of the displays that have been there for a long while? the only possible reason why someone would want to maintain the prices of the baseline and the one above would be major improvements and/or modificatios to it's appearance, otherwise, keeping the prices the same will deter people like me from buying even the base model. if the prices are the same, then their new appearance better be excellent at least!

 

[sambo.]

my two cents.....

yuh, apple is charging top dollar for their displays. now, apple displays are nice, no argument here on that. but i don't believe they are that much nicer than comparable offerings from other manufacturers to warrant the premium pricing.
with the abandoning of ADC in favour of the universal DVI, there is no reason for buying an apple display, other than for the logo on it in preference to any other manuf's displays, this should (in theory) make apple lower the prices of their screens.
if some of the rumours are correct, why on earth would i pay three times the price of a 20" for a 30"? yuh, a 30" screen would be nice, very nice and i want one. but with that pricing structure i'd either buy two 20" screens or a 24" from samsung/hitachi/sony........ you get the drift, and put the extra cash into something else (an iPod/ new Nikon D2H et al).
apple will be doing themselves another disservice if they don't have a sub $1000- display option in the line-up. the offerings from other screen manuf's are just too good to warrant the extra coupla grand.

 

[klaus]

Hopefully there's a keynote to watch live... I really hope the last 6 months of waiting for the WWDC Keynote won't end with just more rumors to read.

As mentioned a couple of times before, no LIVE broadcast. Delayed one, after the keynote has finished is more likely

 

[ts1973]

I was thinking along a strange line just now : it seems as if Apple always startd the prices on a high level for their display products. For example : when the 17" came out, it was also something like $1000. Right now, my guess is they need the high price point to pay for the costs of shipping, handling, etc. I think Apple just isn't able to make a profit on a $500-$600 display.

 

[broken_keyboard]

One of the best things about being a Mac user is frequent OS updates and big keynotes. They have already said OS updates will be less frequent and now no keynote broadcast. *pout*

 

[aswitcher]

One of the best things about being a Mac user is frequent OS updates and big keynotes. They have already said OS updates will be less frequent and now no keynote broadcast. *pout*

So when I log on 6am tomorrow my time (3 hours after the broadcast) whose going to have the best and mostd detailed review? Advice?

 

[MacFan26]

One of the best things about being a Mac user is frequent OS updates and big keynotes. They have already said OS updates will be less frequent and now no keynote broadcast. *pout*

Keynotes have been one of the things I look forward to most! Who else brings so much excitement to a product release? Oh well, I think it doesn't really make a difference, especially if they still stream them afterwards

 

[broken_keyboard]

So when I log on 6am tomorrow my time (3 hours after the broadcast) whose going to have the best and mostd detailed review? Advice?

Try going to the Apple events website first and they might have a delayed stream you can watch
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/whatson/appleevents/

It would be more fun watching than just reading a summary. I don't know who would have the best summary.

 

[broken_keyboard]

Keynotes have been one of the things I look forward to most! Who else brings so much excitement to a product release? Oh well, I think it doesn't really make a difference, especially if they still stream them afterwards

I would still prefer live. Maybe they think the live broadcast is cutting in to their ticket sales, but I would guess that it just conjecture - the ticket prices would be the main thing. I am single with a lot of disposable income and a huge Mac fan, and a developer, but still it was too pricey to justify.