Limited iMac Availability Suggests Possible Refresh

[Eidorian]

Yeah with Apple and MS competing on different levels (one controls all hardware and makes a good OS, one runs on almost any hardware but doesn't make as good an OS-IMO) we're kind of in the paradox of damned if you do, damned if you don't, I'm pretty sure if they competed on the same level (as things stand without considering Windows 7 since it's not in final release) OS X would have double or even triple of the market share it does, but Apple doesn't seem to care as much about market share as it does profit margins.

Which is why I find it very amusing when the marketshare people show up not realizing that Apple is just in it for the money. Gasp, the money.

I enjoy Apple's operating system experience but I've hit the point on the hardware side where they can design themselves out of a black hole and not impress me enough to buy another Mac. I haven't done any upgrades to my Macbook since 2007 and I don't see a reason to do so any time so.

It was at its zenith out of the box and I see no need to replace it.

 

[RebootD]

Please forgive the long banter.. and Uncle Joe references.

...has someone willing to pay $1000 for it, can you say the same about any PC that cost about the same and is 2 years old?

I think it's sad someone would pay top dollar for 3 year old technology, but hey it's great for us right? I wouldn't buy an old computer with the exception of a current model refurb windows or mac. But my other point is I can build a new PC right now for $1,100 with quad core i7/2x HDDs/6GB ram or pay $400-$700 more for an underpowered/un-upgradable iMac so I can maybe make $500 in 5 years time. Doesn't sound like a fair trade off to me right now. I'd rather have the fastest hardware for the lower price and donate my old one to Uncle Joe so he can get rid of that G4 he still has.

I also think you have to take OS into account, now I'm not one of those fanboys that thinks OS X is the best, but I think it does handle limited or older hardware better than Vista

Except with Snow Leopard comes out and it doesn't support non-Intel based Macs you mean? Apple isn't Microsoft and they don't want to be in that predicament of Uncle Joe trying to run 10.6 on his G4. They want you to buy new hardware. I actually applud them for it because this legacy support is what bloats microsoft OS's.

and though I (admittedly) do not have any benchmarks or stats to prove it I bet a 2 year old iMac does it faster than a 2 year old PC.

You just said you cannot prove it so why are you stating it? I love debating but you have to be able to back it up. My wife's Vista PC I built runs just as good now as it did in 2007 because we take care of it. (She just won't use a Mac I don't get it)

Remember that unfortunetly Apple is not catoring to the Pro market anymore, it's all about the consumer. Most consumers don't know anything about benchmarks, most consumers (unless gamers) don't push their video card, RAM, or even processor.

Finally something we agree on! Which is where my current frustration comes from. I KNOW I can sell my iMac and build a new pc system for about $400 more if I really felt like it but I just don't want to. (But the knowledge kills me)

What consumers do know is that they deal with virii which makes Mac OS X a real treasure in their mind.

You had me until this part. 10 year PC user - 0 Virus. I would love to take a poll as to how many pc users actually got a 'killer virus' that ruined their lives and put this myth to rest.

 

[MasterNile]

I think it's sad someone would pay top dollar for 3 year old technology, but hey it's great for us right? I wouldn't buy an old computer with the exception of a current model refurb windows or mac. But my other point is I can build a new PC right now for $1,100 with quad core i7/2x HDDs/6GB ram or pay $400-$700 more for an underpowered/un-upgradable iMac so I can maybe make $500 in 5 years time. Doesn't sound like a fair trade off to me right now. I'd rather have the fastest hardware for the lower price and donate my old one to Uncle Joe so he can get rid of that G4 he still has.

Except with Snow Leopard comes out and it doesn't support non-Intel based Macs you mean? Apple isn't Microsoft and they don't want to be in that predicament of Uncle Joe trying to run 10.6 on his G4. They want you to buy new hardware. I actually applud them for it because this legacy support is what bloats microsoft OS's.

Ok well first off, I think you have to realize a lot of the people that frequent this forum are more computer literate than the majority of computer users. Snow Leopard doesn't add a whole lot of features, it's under the hood which most users will not notice anyway.

You just said you cannot prove it so why are you stating it? I love debating but you have to be able to back it up. My wife's Vista PC I built runs just as good now as it did in 2007 because we take care of it. (She just won't use a Mac I don't get it)

You built the PC, which right off the bat shows more knowledge of computers than the average consumer, but does it run EyeTV, iTunes, and Safari on 1GB RAM?

Finally something we agree on! Which is where my current frustration comes from. I KNOW I can sell my iMac and build a new pc system for about $400 more if I really felt like it but I just don't want to. (But the knowledge kills me)

I know your frustration, I'm slightly above the average consumer on my computer knowledge, my iMac I got out of my wife's suggestion which would be an average consumer, but believe me I considered some PCs with much better specs long and hard before getting my iMac (first Mac) and 2 years later I think I made a good decision.

You had me until this part. 10 year PC user - 0 Virus. I would love to take a poll as to how many pc users actually got a 'killer virus' that ruined their lives and put this myth to rest.

Ok your 1 anecdote about 10 years virus free, plus mine which is about the same as a PC user, vs my youngest sister in law who got a virus/malware/spyware every other day on her computer and my oldest sister in law who gets one about every month, and keep in mind we are more knowledgeable than the average consumer.


EDIT: Something I just thought of, my wife has also put malware on my XP partition on my iMac before, just by sleeping on the bluetooth mouse with a firefox page open (yeah it's kind of a shady site she was at but we use it all the time awake with no problem-common sense and all) this was after she wanted to use XP over OS X, needless to say she uses Mac OS X now, so something as simple as that can make you convert even if you prefer XP.

 

[Eric S.]

You had me until this part. 10 year PC user - 0 Virus. I would love to take a poll as to how many pc users actually got a 'killer virus' that ruined their lives and put this myth to rest.

Great - my wife got one that wiped out her entire XP system.

 

[mikewoodld]

You had me until this part. 10 year PC user - 0 Virus. I would love to take a poll as to how many pc users actually got a 'killer virus' that ruined their lives and put this myth to rest.

Agreed. I use both Mac and PC, though I've used PC for 10 years now and I too have had a total of 0 viruses over the 4 or 5 machines.

 

[RebootD]

You built the PC, which right off the bat shows more knowledge of computers than the average consumer, but does it run EyeTV, iTunes, and Safari on 1GB RAM?

Well I'm not a windows apologist and Vista does require more ram than xp/osx but I've used a 1.8ghz G5 era PowerMac with 1GB of ram with 10.4 (My last job was cheap and never upgrades apparently) and it 'ran' but not anywhere near a happy experience. So yeah +1 but it's kinda a moot point with beach ball parties.

I know your frustration, I'm slightly above the average consumer on my computer knowledge, my iMac I got out of my wife's suggestion which would be an average consumer, but believe me I considered some PCs with much better specs long and hard before getting my iMac (first Mac) and 2 years later I think I made a good decision.

And that is great, I mean you now know my entire history (because I don't know how to keep anything short, OBVIOUSLY) but I also chose a Mac because my entire industry (design/photography) use Macs and even though I can build/tweak a windows box I love the simplicity of apples OS but that single point isn't selling me much these days you know? I know I don't want another iMac unless they can start using better hardware / make it at least HD swappable, but I also have no use for a future 16 Core Mac Pro so I may not have a choice soon!

And I do apologize for my elitist no viruses jargon I've been throwing around, obviously people have virus attacks and I wasn't saying it isn't possible, just that I'm obsessive with keeping my home networks secure as much as possible and I assume everyone else does too =)

 

[EmperorDarius]

totally false.

i used my computer for the internet audio production and just like any normal pc without any a antivirus program for over a year with no problems.

maybe im lucky?
but if you know what your doing with your computer its very easy to avoid virus worms spyware etc.

So you know that you don't have some rootkit in there that makes you part of a botnet because....?

 

[iPaddy]

So I'm guessing no advert at the superbowl?

 

[OrganMusic]

Except with Snow Leopard comes out and it doesn't support non-Intel based Macs you mean? Apple isn't Microsoft and they don't want to be in that predicament of Uncle Joe trying to run 10.6 on his G4. They want you to buy new hardware. I actually applud them for it because this legacy support is what bloats microsoft OS's.

I'm writing this on a 10-year old PowerBook G3 running Tiger. It won't do any heavy lifting of course, but for light web browsing and email it's faster than some (Windows) machines half its age.

 

[preservative]

You guys are making me sick! I am about to buy an iMac but you are making me wonder about that decision - I sure as hell don't want to be associated with this crazy and blind cult.

You blind sheep! Discuss the products and stop talking crap about PCs and MS all the time. I always feel nauseous after trying to read this forum for info on new Macs and instead get a dose of your brainwashed chanting.

Get a grip, you are alienating me from buying a Mac, is that what you really want!? You give Apple a bad name...

No one is alienating anyone. I think people are questioning why OS X isn't sold as an OS. Buy an imac for sure if you do not already own a mac.

I have spent a small fortune on apple products and I think have a right so express my views. But you only learn by mistakes

 

[nevermind50]

Be quiet about it - you'll make the fanbois wonder about some of their fundamental beliefs.

If you have something good, you talk about it. If not, you talk about the supposed bad things that the other guy has.

"Mac vs. PC" - say no more....

There are of course lots of good things to talk about regarding the Mac, to suggest otherwise is nonsense.

However, it seems to me that several posters on this thread are in denial about virus problems on the PC (I happened to pick on this poor unfortunates post because of its inflammatory nature). Whilst it's true that antivirus software is unnecessary if you use a bit of common sense, it is also true to say that not all computer users fall into that category.

Therefore to extrapolate from your own personal experiences that there is "no problem" is either stupid or worse, mendacious propaganda.

 

[nevermind50]

Except with Snow Leopard comes out and it doesn't support non-Intel based Macs you mean?

Can you give me a reference for this, or are you just making stuff up?

 

[Tallest Skil]

Can you give me a reference for this, or are you just making stuff up?

PowerPC support is dropped; just get used to it.

The beta is Intel-only, and even Core Duo chips might have support dropped.

 

[macmee]

Can you give me a reference for this, or are you just making stuff up?

Google'd it and found:
http://www.macnn.com/articles/08/06/11/snow.leopard.intel.only/

 

[Yamcha]

There are of course lots of good things to talk about regarding the Mac, to suggest otherwise is nonsense.

However, it seems to me that several posters on this thread are in denial about virus problems on the PC (I happened to pick on this poor unfortunates post because of its inflammatory nature). Whilst it's true that antivirus software is unnecessary if you use a bit of common sense, it is also true to say that not all computer users fall into that category.

Therefore to extrapolate from your own personal experiences that there is "no problem" is either stupid or worse, mendacious propaganda.

We are not in denial, I don't know how you've used your PC, but you have to be careful with where you download, I never use P2P(limewire) anymore, I learned that a long time ago, if you stick with torrents or rapidshare links, then you'll be fine, chances of getting viruses are low. Your just brainwashed by Apple, first off PC's don't have any problems with them, its the Operating System, has nothing to do with the PC, if you've ever run Linux/OSX on a PC you'll know how stable it is, absolutely no crashes, ever! I'd say even more reliable then a Apple, because of the trusted Motherboard/Memory brands.. PC's are great, Operating systems are where the issues come from, PC's last even longer then Apple systems, Hard Drives, Memory, Cpu, Video Cards, LCDS all have 3 year manufacturer warranty, and unlike Apple you don't pay extra for the next 2 years, PC's are solid!!! I've overclocked mines like crazy and bought it in 2007 and its still faster then the most expensive iMac..

Its Apple that had to go and start using Intel, because there G5's were no longer good enough. Intel has started with PC's and been with them till today.

 

[BenDang]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-GB; rv:1.9.0.5) Gecko/2008120122 Firefox/3.0.5)

I'm also preparing my G4iMac for retirement.According to the reseller last Sturday "just wait a couple of weeks".

 

[BenRoethig]

PowerPC support is dropped; just get used to it.

The beta is Intel-only, and even Core Duo chips might have support dropped.

That's the whole point of snow Leopard, create a single 64-bit only Intel build without all the hardware baggage from the past to improve system speed and stability and make it easier for programmers.

 

[Tommigun]

Now you guys are even defending the policy of Apple updating the hardware once every couple of years as being something good, due to the resale value? You guys sure know how to twist everything around.

 

[MasterNile]

Now you guys are even defending the policy of Apple updating the hardware once every couple of years as being something good, due to the resale value? You guys sure know how to twist everything around.

If you're refering to me I was not defending anything, I was stating facts, Macs have good resell value, I didn't say the reason for it was good or bad, that's just how it is.

 

[nevermind50]

PowerPC support is dropped; just get used to it.

The beta is Intel-only, and even Core Duo chips might have support dropped.

To my knowledge, Apple have not confirmed that they're abandoning PowerPC support in future releases of OSX. Until then, statements like yours are just conjecture, stated as "fact".

 

[NoNameBrand]

Mean while back at netbook team Apple........umm.......

Apple said they weren't interested in building a cell phone or an iPod with video, once, too.

 

[Eric S.]

To my knowledge, Apple have not confirmed that they're abandoning PowerPC support in future releases of OSX. Until then, statements like yours are just conjecture, stated as "fact".

That's true; Apple has not officially announced it and it is speculation. But as speculation goes, it's pretty solid, given that all of the developer's builds have been Intel-only.

 

[diamond.g]

Here's to hoping for some CableCard love from Apple....

 

[star-affinity]

Sigh.

All I want is an Apple mini-tower with a recent desktop processor, expansion bays for a few internal drives and a decent graphics card. I would gladly pay $1500 for it just like I did my Power Mac G3 (B/W) and Power Mac G4.

I don't want a $2500 workstation, an all-in-one or a small form-factor PC that hasn't been updated in two years. I want a freaking consumer mini-tower that every other manufacturer sells. Are they trying to push "enthusiasts" to the Hackintosh community?

Dell's XPS Studio is now $949 for a quad-core 2.66Ghz Core i7 processor, 6GB of ram and even comes with a 23" monitor! You can chant "Mac OS X" all you want, but at some point that advantage tends to subside.

I'm with you on every point here.

I'll third that.
It really sucks that Apple offers so few (and for long periods old) hardware options.
Why is it that the other companies manage to have more up-to-date hardware?
Like that black Dell here in the thread... and the price. Oh, sometimes I wish I didn't care so much for Mac OS X and its software so I could just go and build a Windows/Linux box instead...

 

[BenRoethig]

Here's to hoping for some CableCard love from Apple....

iTunes downloads are as close as we're going to get as long as Jobs has influence. Steve hates TV and his biases are Apple policy.