New Hardware in April/March?

[aswitcher]

I agree that Apple needs a consumer Mac that can increase overall marketshare, and leads to more people using the Mac OS. The problem I have with a "headless" computer is that it forces people to buy a non-Apple display. Why spend $500 to $1000 on a Mac, then have to spend almost as much on an Apple display? So a solution needs to be introduced.

SNIP

Actually the headless Mac is not designed necessarily to support non-Apple displays but to overcome the problem that iMacs have where 2-3 years down the track you have a lovely 20" display on a seriously outdated computer. If the display were seperate you could just switch the box. Personally this is one of the main reasons I won't buy an iMac.

 

[DeepIn2U]

bling bling

on the Gold Mini iPods, LOL. I can see Snoop & his Pimp friend wearing htose on a gold chain in a retro era/scene Hip-Hop video, for real my snizell.

I think that the delay for possible G5 PowerBooks may not only be related to OS integration of power-stepping the G5 a-la XServes, but probably because they may be THE first laptops to incorporate High-resolution 32-bit OLED screens, large sizes 12/15/17 inches!!

If Apple, Sony or Sharp, IBM, and whom ever manufacturer's their mobos can pull that off - in high-quality numbers, then it'll be the first time that an inanimate object gets me hard!

 

[aswitcher]

SNIP
I think that the delay for possible G5 PowerBooks may not only be related to OS integration of power-stepping the G5 a-la XServes, but probably because they may be THE first laptops to incorporate High-resolution 32-bit OLED screens, large sizes 12/15/17 inches!!

If Apple, Sony or Sharp, IBM, and whom ever manufacturer's their mobos can pull that off - in high-quality numbers, then it'll be the first time that an inanimate object gets me hard!

Mmm. They had so many problems with quality control on screens last year that a shift to new tech might have occured, but would they really have had enough time to properly test entirely new technology so as not to repeat similiar problems before 2005 rolls around?

Must say that it would be worth the wait if they did.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Mmm. They had so many problems with quality control on screens last year that a shift to new tech might have occured, but would they really have had enough time to properly test entirely new technology so as not to repeat similiar problems before 2005 rolls around?

Must say that it would be worth the wait if they did.

Indeed it would be worth the wait, hence the hope I have for it. This will allow a significant reduction in power consumption, which could be offset for a powerful gpu for graphics. Kodak is also one of the forerunners of this OLED technolgy. I read a pres release on Brighthand.com that Sony has announced an OLED solution into a summer release (Japan, most likely) of a PDA. Where already seeing signs of success of OLED on a miniscal scale. regarding testing, I think that Sharp, Sony, Kodak, Philips will be doing that because a company like Apple would give them free advertising and the quality associated with their products would be a testament to future sales to other corporations (Dell, Gateway, Panasonic, IBM, etc). One thing I hope Apple does if they are considering OLED into Laptops is how it affects/lack of strain on the Human eye on usuage of 1- 3- 5-10hours of use.

Then again if Apple could release PowerBooks utilizing OLED on 17" screens then its a safe guess that their Displays would also incorporate this as well.

I think this will be a good year. Keeping fingers crossed.

 

[PRØBE]

Headless imac

Actually the headless Mac is not designed necessarily to support non-Apple displays but to overcome the problem that iMacs have where 2-3 years down the track you have a lovely 20" display on a seriously outdated computer. If the display were seperate you could just switch the box. Personally this is one of the main reasons I won't buy an iMac.

IMO the ideal solution would be to maintain the current or similar form factor imac, but redesign the way the screen is attatched in order to allow it to be removed. The imacs could then be sold either with or without display and users could just sell the base when they want to upgrade and hang on to the screen. I'm sure Apple could handle the engineering side of this and it would allow consumers more flexibility and choice.

People could also just choose to upgrade the display and keep the same base.
Any thoughts on this?

 

[FatSweatyChimp]

The imacs could then be sold either with or without display and users could just sell the base when they want to upgrade and hang on to the screen.

---

People could also just choose to upgrade the display and keep the same base.
Any thoughts on this?

That would be great

Imagine after a couple of years you could just unscrew the base and fit a new one on, and it all works perfectly. Easiest upgrade ever!

 

[aswitcher]

IMO the ideal solution would be to maintain the current or similar form factor imac, but redesign the way the screen is attatched in order to allow it to be removed. The imacs could then be sold either with or without display and users could just sell the base when they want to upgrade and hang on to the screen. I'm sure Apple could handle the engineering side of this and it would allow consumers more flexibility and choice.

People could also just choose to upgrade the display and keep the same base.
Any thoughts on this?

Well that's deifnetly been suggested as an option by some. I wonder though if more flexibility would come from a entirely seperate monitor and base arrangement, allowing G5PM to use monitors (dual) on "stalks", and allowing the cpu to be moved where the user thinks is most convienient.

 

[PRØBE]

Well that's deifnetly been suggested as an option by some. I wonder though if more flexibility would come from a entirely seperate monitor and base arrangement, allowing G5PM to use monitors (dual) on "stalks", and allowing the cpu to be moved where the user thinks is most convienient.

The detatchable imac displays could be designed to clip into an "istand" so they could be used separately from the imac base station.

 

[takao]

The detatchable imac displays could be designed to clip into an "istand" so they could be used separately from the imac base station.

hey i like that idea !! thought about it before
that would be awesome thats exactly what i would want for the next imac

and those base station would have the additional usb ports etc. i guess it wouldn't be too difficult to realize because apple is already using power/monitor signal in one connector

 

[acerbas]

Actually the headless Mac is not designed necessarily to support non-Apple displays but to overcome the problem that iMacs have where 2-3 years down the track you have a lovely 20" display on a seriously outdated computer. If the display were seperate you could just switch the box. Personally this is one of the main reasons I won't buy an iMac.

Interesting point. I have read this thread with interest since I am in the market for a new Mac (I think?) but Apple doesn't market anything right now that floats my boat. I am struggling along with a 5 year old G3 266 D.T. and I would like to upgrade to a computer on which I can run O.S. X but I am disenchanted with the selection. My son just bought a G5 but he is a professional videographer and needs the power. I don't, but since he lives in Hawaii I'd like a machine that supports iSight. I went to Comp U.S.A. and looked at Macs, but the G5 is huge, expensive, and you need an expensive separate display and external speakers. I loath the industrial design of the tutti-frutti iLamp. Supposedly it is compact, but when you factor in the goofy little external speakers it takes up plenty of real estate, too, and as depicted above you have to toss an expensive, beautiful monitor when the box has outlived its utility. I would migrate to Wintel before I would buy an iMac. I like the design of the eMac (I bought my wife one last year and she loves it), especially with the built in speakers, but the CRT is hard on my ageing eyes, and it lacks support for Bluetooth and USB 2.0, and it is pretty darned slow by contemporary standards. It had not occured to me before but a headless iMac might be what the doctor ordered. Say a G5 chip with 64 bit processing running at 2.5 ghz with a superdrive, second optical drive slot, second drive bay, and a couple of PCI slots (hey, I'm talking about a G5, except about a third the size), but I'm not holding my breath. I guess the best I might hope for is a rev. 2 eMac with a G5 chip and Bluetooth and USB 2. An LCD display would be icing, but not likely. I wonder if Apple ever reads these posts, or do they just sit around in their ivory tower and feed us what they think we want?

 

[aswitcher]

SNIP
It had not occured to me before but a headless iMac might be what the doctor ordered. Say a G5 chip with 64 bit processing running at 2.5 ghz with a superdrive, second optical drive slot, second drive bay, and a couple of PCI slots (hey, I'm talking about a G5, except about a third the size), but I'm not holding my breath. I guess the best I might hope for is a rev. 2 eMac with a G5 chip and Bluetooth and USB 2. An LCD display would be icing, but not likely. I wonder if Apple ever reads these posts, or do they just sit around in their ivory tower and feed us what they think we want?

Well a return to the cube then...hey tomorrows Tuesday, so here's hoping

As for Apple listening, I get the impression its not Apple but Steve Jobs who has to think an idea has merit, else it don't happen.

 

[johnnyjibbs]

Interesting point. I have read this thread with interest since I am in the market for a new Mac (I think?) but Apple doesn't market anything right now that floats my boat. I am struggling along with a 5 year old G3 266 D.T. and I would like to upgrade to a computer on which I can run O.S. X but I am disenchanted with the selection. My son just bought a G5 but he is a professional videographer and needs the power. I don't, but since he lives in Hawaii I'd like a machine that supports iSight. I went to Comp U.S.A. and looked at Macs, but the G5 is huge, expensive, and you need an expensive separate display and external speakers. I loath the industrial design of the tutti-frutti iLamp. Supposedly it is compact, but when you factor in the goofy little external speakers it takes up plenty of real estate, too, and as depicted above you have to toss an expensive, beautiful monitor when the box has outlived its utility. I would migrate to Wintel before I would buy an iMac. I like the design of the eMac (I bought my wife one last year and she loves it), especially with the built in speakers, but the CRT is hard on my ageing eyes, and it lacks support for Bluetooth and USB 2.0, and it is pretty darned slow by contemporary standards. It had not occured to me before but a headless iMac might be what the doctor ordered. Say a G5 chip with 64 bit processing running at 2.5 ghz with a superdrive, second optical drive slot, second drive bay, and a couple of PCI slots (hey, I'm talking about a G5, except about a third the size), but I'm not holding my breath. I guess the best I might hope for is a rev. 2 eMac with a G5 chip and Bluetooth and USB 2. An LCD display would be icing, but not likely. I wonder if Apple ever reads these posts, or do they just sit around in their ivory tower and feed us what they think we want?

I'd start praying hard if you want a 2.5GHz iMac. When it moves to G5, I'd expect it to be 1.6-2.0 GHz, single processor. The eMac will always have a CRT - otherwise it would be an iMac. It is designed primarily as a cheap machine for the education market (hence "e"). CRTs will always be cheaper and more sturdy than LCDs. Sounds like you need to buy a G5 tower and put it under your desk.

 

[PRØBE]

I'd start praying hard if you want a 2.5GHz iMac. When it moves to G5, I'd expect it to be 1.6-2.0 GHz, single processor. The eMac will always have a CRT - otherwise it would be an iMac. It is designed primarily as a cheap machine for the education market (hence "e"). CRTs will always be cheaper and more sturdy than LCDs. Sounds like you need to buy a G5 tower and put it under your desk.

If you are going to hide your mac under a desk, then you might as well buy a decent PC for 1/3 the price. I do however think the G5 towers are ungainly and that Ives allowed the practical problems of the chips heat dissapation overly dictate the case design. Apple has gone from the smooth elegant design to clunky over-sized industrial. If next generation water cooled G5s would emit steam and hiss, the image would be complete.

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

Apples whole desk top line needs work, The Cheese Grater really turned me off and was ready to buy but the size and styling does nothing for me, Imac I like but its so throw away and with such a dated cpu/graphics its a poor investment, Emac is very practical but it hampered with poor video like Imac and again very dated Cpu. The whole line of desk tops sucks and they need to redo all of them. Not one of these machines have had sales like Imac Crt, Apple is missing the boat and then crippling all its consumer stuff so its no surprise sales have sucked. Every Model has bad flaws except the Dual G5s. Single G5s are in way to big of case, other stuff is almost obsolete. The Hardware needs Help Big time. How many more months will it take Apple? oh yeah they want to sell pods and forgotten computers?

 

[wdlove]

If you are going to hide your mac under a desk, then you might as well buy a decent PC for 1/3 the price. I do however think the G5 towers are ungainly and that Ives allowed the practical problems of the chips heat dissipation overly dictate the case design. Apple has gone from the smooth elegant design to clunky over-sized industrial. If next generation water cooled G5s would emit steam and hiss, the image would be complete.

I would like to politely disagree. After initial shock of the new G5 tower design was over, many have become fans. I'm one that really likes the design. It has a very strong presence to go with a powerful machine inside.

We just need to be patient. WWDC will be here in 120 days. Apple and Steve want to put out an awesome machine. They do monitor forums, they want to listen to their customers suggestions to fix problems.

 

[PRØBE]

I would like to politely disagree. After initial shock of the new G5 tower design was over, many have become fans. I'm one that really likes the design. It has a very strong presence to go with a powerful machine inside.

We just need to be patient. WWDC will be here in 120 days. Apple and Steve want to put out an awesome machine. They do monitor forums, they want to listen to their customers suggestions to fix problems.

My views of the "unAppleyness" of the G5 towers was confirmed when they failed to pass the ultimate of tests....The Girlfriend. When faced with a row of 15 PCs and (as usual) just 1 Mac (a PPC G5) I asked my GF to pick out which one she thought was a mac. It took her 3 guesses, followed by a "That thing! It's huge!" She was only impressed when I showed her the "interior design" of the tower which I also think is way more attractive than the outside.

I blame Motorola for the crippling of all the consumer line. Not Apple

 

[clr900]

Personally I love the look of the G5 Towers both inside and out. It should never be hidden under a desk. I think it has a commanding presence and should be proudly displayed, the huge Apple logo just emphasizes its dominance and style. I can't wait to buy one when the Rev B is released.

 

[aswitcher]

SNIP

We just need to be patient. WWDC will be here in 120 days. Apple and Steve want to put out an awesome machine. They do monitor forums, they want to listen to their customers suggestions to fix problems.

I hope your right.

 

[spinko]

...We just need to be patient. WWDC will be here in 120 days. Apple and Steve want to put out an awesome machine.....

add another 120 days for the actual shipments to occur ..

 

[invaLPsion]

I hope your right.

I hope he's wrong. If I have to wait until WWDC I might as well purchase a new 3.4 GHz P4...

 

[a17inchFuture]

add another 120 days for the actual shipments to occur ..

Yeah, so if pbooks rea among the new lineup, it will onyl have been a year since they updated it! Gret business! Especially for a line that is already WAY behind! Much further behind than that crappy moto g4 1.5 processor will mend. They need to get the friggin g5 in the books already. Screw the Xserves, pbooks will outsell them in a heartbeat, and you won't be the laughing stock of your own consumers!

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

Yeah, so if pbooks rea among the new lineup, it will onyl have been a year since they updated it! Gret business! Especially for a line that is already WAY behind! Much further behind than that crappy moto g4 1.5 processor will mend. They need to get the friggin g5 in the books already. Screw the Xserves, pbooks will outsell them in a heartbeat, and you won't be the laughing stock of your own consumers!

Its to late they all ready are getting laughs or rather snores. I love what Probe said about all they need is some steam coming out of the Space Heaters. very funny indeed. I wonder what ever happened to neatgekko, jan,feb,now march? Apple better do some very very big things soon with a lot of products otherwise they will no longer be known as a computer company but simply a sony walkman mp3 maker. Very Hard to recommend any of their hardware except the walkmans.

 

[aswitcher]

SNIP
Apple better do some very very big things soon with a lot of products otherwise they will no longer be known as a computer company but simply a sony walkman mp3 maker. Very Hard to recommend any of their hardware except the walkmans.

They have a couple of nice phones, pdas and cameras...

 

[Opteron]

We just need to be patient. WWDC will be here in 120 days. Apple and Steve want to put out an awesome machine. They do monitor forums, they want to listen to their customers suggestions to fix problems.

Here's a suggestion, release a new computer. It's been nearly a year and no new releases or major updates.

 

[Michael Vance]

What I hate is the circus involved in trying to buy an Apple computer. Make a mistake there and you can literally spend twice as much as you would if you had waited another couple of weeks, or get a computer that has only three fourths the power of one that comes out the next week. On top of that every month there is a new rumor about new hardware coming out next month, regardless of all facts. So there's always this rumor floating around about next month, so you wait because you don't want to make a stupid mistake and then when the rumor is proved false, it auto updates to be whatever month follows next. Get caught waiting a couple of months and then when nothing materializes, you start to think that if you buy now, having already waited fruitlessly for a few months, that it will all the more painful if you buy now and then there really is new hardware next month. So you end of waiting a few more months and then nothing still comes so you wait some more and then nothing comes and then you realize that Apple is slow as crap about updating their line of machines and their main market has shifted to focus on selling portable music machines, so you say wtf and just buy the computer you need and then next week the new computers are announced.

With Apple you just can't win. If I didn't need a Mac to run Final Cut Pro I wouldn't think of buying one as they are so underpowered and overpriced.