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Low End G4 Box?

WWDC?

wasn't there an article stating that the apple stores have received boxes that are not to be opened until the 23rd?
Could it be this one? if not the 970's, then maybe this would be another option..

for me it also does sound good.. I'm probably gonna need a new computer after a year or so (if I move out). and I don't think that I'll have too much spare money as a student. I also know I can't live wihout a computer. maybe I'll end up buying some 12" laptop.. or this.
 
Originally posted by Windowlicker
wasn't there an article stating that the apple stores have received boxes that are not to be opened until the 23rd?
Click to expand...
No. That was an article that claimed there were boxes in warehouses somewhere with seals that said they weren't to be opened until the 23rd. It was MacBidouille, and it was referring to the 970s.
 
maybe it will be available as some sorta switcher kit

includes:
- that program for transferring your hard drive

- nessecary adapters

- .mac subscription

mmm

maybe
 
Forget the switcher, think about what it could do in the education market! Espically us poor college students! This machine would be perfect for starting out in computer science with! After a year, I would buy a PPC970, hopefully rev 2 or 3 :p
 
Originally posted by From Win to Mac
I think it would be good, since we're coming more and more to a realisation that the 970 will not be in PowerMacs, but in an Xserve type thing.
Click to expand...
The 970 will come in the Powermac at WWDC. MacBidouille's motherboard is probably from a new Xserve that will also use the 970.

This G4 "box" is a good idea because the 970 will be in the Powermac line. People who want the angle of a pro machine, without the added price and power will have a new option.
 
finally

Think about 10.3 multiple user login!!
One big fat 970 mac and the rest are clients hanging on that big machine. This would be great for small business. And maybe even large. And don't forget schools. An G4 could easily handle gui compositing the rest is done by those giant balls of the 970 chip.

That are my thoughts :)
 
sense

The problem is that currently the emac is cannibalising the imac. If they really come out with this new low-end box, they must set the emac end-of-life.
I think that there will be at maximum three price segments of mac machines. PowerMacs (based on 970) for Business Creatives / Pros, the iMac (at higher clockspeed) in the middle segment and at the lower end of their product line the iBox (or whatever). But this box would only be limited expandable (no agp, no pci, just one more ram expansion).
 
Originally posted by pyrotoaster
While I see using the old PC monitor as a great idea, I see compatability issues (correct me if I'm wrong, of course).
Click to expand...
I don't think there would be a compatibility problem. Monitor is as much plug n play as it gets, the only thing Apple would have to do is to have a VGA output or an appropriate adapter. I think that a computer like that could do wonders for their market share. One of the most imporatant aspects of such a computer would be a low price. A lot of people I know won't switch just because of the price, but they otherwise love macs. They would also need a very strong marketing campagin, worldwide. Let us hope that the prophecy does come true. :D
 
Originally posted by hvfsl
Well I would get one of these Macs if they came out. I dont have the money to spend $2000+ on a new computer every two years so I have to get PCs most of the time I upgrade my computer. And people are complaining about confusions in product lines, well Dell has several thousand and it sells far more computers. But I just hope the new Mac if it is true has the following:

1 AGP 4x slot
1 PCI slot
2 RAM DDR333 RAM slots
2 IDE connectors
Firewire400
USB1.1

I will upgrade most of the components with PC bits like getting a cheap PC Graphics Card and flashing its bios. But knowing apple if this is true it will be heavily crippled using very old tec like:
ATI 32MB 128ultra graphics
No expansion
PC100 RAM
Max 2 IDE devices
20GB HD
Click to expand...


I think you should give Apple a bit more credit than that. The low-end eMac has better specs then that (apple.com/emac/specs.html) for $799. I agree moreso with the top list you gave. Except I think that it may have 2 PCI slots, support for 2 HDD's, and hopefully FireWire 800 and USB 2.0.
 
I see this as a way for Apple to make money off of their stockpile of G4 processors. I'm not so sure switchers would be too impressed with the specs of a G4 "box".

If they plan on switching to a PPC 970 after they've sold all their G4's, then they'll have something.
 
Originally posted by valek
The problem is that currently the emac is cannibalising the imac. If they really come out with this new low-end box, they must set the emac end-of-life.
I think that there will be at maximum three price segments of mac machines. PowerMacs (based on 970) for Business Creatives / Pros, the iMac (at higher clockspeed) in the middle segment and at the lower end of their product line the iBox (or whatever). But this box would only be limited expandable (no agp, no pci, just one more ram expansion).
Click to expand...
I know I won't be crushed if the eMac is discontinued (but it made such a good paperweight!!), but Apple needs to have an all-in-one machine available to the education market.

Maybe we'll see the eMac return to its old edu-only position, or maybe we'll a new machine take its place there. Either way works.
 
That would be great! I almost convinced 2 of my friends to get macs, but there parents decided to go for the 600 dollar cheap PC that has a 4 to 1 GHZ/Price ration. Now if there was a 600 dollar mac that would play games, edit with imovie ok, and burn CDs fast I think apple could make alot of new mac users.

I just hope they don't ruin a good idea with a crappy product. Apple has a tendency to be awesome and crappy at the same time.
 
Just FYI: the Macplus site expressly mentions that this is a CONCEPT in the form of a document going around Cupertino. (I was partly raised in French, so you can trust me, babelfish doesn't do the original text justice). It is by no means a product in development (let alone sitting in a warehouse somewhere, that's hopefully the 970's) by their account. They litterally state the following:

"ce n'est pas parce que ce rapport (et sans doute des dizaines d'autres, de teneurs variées) circule dans certaines spères de Cupertino qu'il sera suivi d'effet"

which means:

"It's not because this report (and undoubtedly many others, with different contents) is making the rounds in certain circles at Cupertino that its recommendations will be followed"


That being said, I definitely see a market for a headless low-end home machine or server box. At a lower pricepoint than they have mentioned, though...
 
dye eMac dye! make way for the Cube!

G4 (Since 970s Are Now More Powerful)
Combo Drive (CD-RW/DVD)
Slot Loading Drive
Stainless Steel Outside
Fully Upgradable
Under $700!
:D:):D:):D:)
 
I think this would be a good idea. Focus it at switchers who do not want to buy extra hardware. My parents are completely jelouse of what I can do on my mac, however, they do not want to shell out all of the money to buy an entirely new computer when their monitors, keyboards, mice, and so one work fine. This could be good, but only if it is marketed correctly! I want to see Apple commercials showing poeple how easy it is to use OS X and how cool the hardware looks.
 
As history and my memory serves me, whenever a computer company takes a giant step forward, lots of older technology dies. We are on the edge of ushering in the debut of commonplace status for 64 bit cpu machines, and we are speculating that Apple will now market G4 based iCube-x's (or whatever we are guessing they will be) at a reasonably competitive price to lure more switchers. Are we overlooking the aspect of value to be found in OSX? Why would apple be introducing old technology as they pave the way for the rest of the computer world?
 
i'd buy 6

Originally posted by gwuMACaddict
arn... i hope your right. that is all.


:D
Click to expand...

with my business expanding and the need for more customer service / support people, I would love to buy some cheap macs and run them all wirelessless with OS X. We are looking at cheap PCs, because they are cheap! web browsing, word processing, spreedsheets is what I am looking for. not buying a powermac for that.

go apple
 
here's a thought

here's a thought for you - instead of creating a new segment machine, how about this: after the 970 (hopefully) comes out this summer/fall/winter/whatever, just take the leftover pm g4's and sell them for 700 bucks! :).

or not.

but imagine the switch campaign you could do with this: have some guy come up to his pc, slowly disconnect his monitor, mouse, keyboard n usb printer, and then just pick the peecee up and throw it on the ground. then he calmly picks up his new cube (or whatever), plugs the monitor, mouse, kb, and printer back in, fires it up, and away he goes!

matt

p.s. i'd really like to see that commercial...
 
Originally posted by hvfsl
... But I just hope the new Mac if it is true has the following:

1 AGP 4x slot
1 PCI slot
2 RAM DDR333 RAM slots
2 IDE connectors
Firewire400
USB1.1
Click to expand...

Apple if you can make this for $600 I'd buy one in a second.

Physicsnerd
 
This is some of the best news I have heard recently on this site because I think this is exactly what Apple needs. But it makes me wonder, this makes three expected computers does it not? The xStation, PowerMac 970's, and now this. How realistic is all of this?

P-Worm
 
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