New iMac G5 Announced

[KeareB]

Order Status

Ordered mine on Aug 31 at 6:30 a.m., order status is for delivery to be on or before Sept 30. Incidentally, after I ordered, I received 2 emails confirming my order. The second email had the wrong configuration (I ordered one 512 MB DIMM, the second order added a second 512 MB DIMM). I phoned Apple, and its rep told me that he could fix the order, but he couldn't do so without cancelling the original order. I told him I would not tolerate losing my spot in the queue (if that acually means something) as a result of Apple's error, and he replied that he would take the matter up with his supervisor.

Same thing happened to me with respect to the 512KB 1 DIMM memory choice "upgraded" by Apple to the 1GB 2 DIMM (with upgraded price). Had to cancel and resubmit, and then Apple fixed it when same problem happened.

Order Date (revised): 08/31/2004 10:55 AM PST
Order: IMG5 20/1.8/1GB/250GB/SD/APX/FCE/BT/WL/L
ETA: 9/29/2004 (on or before).

Unchanged since original order. No calls. But no irregularities in shipping/billing address.

 

[rdowns]

Same thing happened to me with respect to the 512KB 1 DIMM memory choice "upgraded" by Apple to the 1GB 2 DIMM (with upgraded price). Had to cancel and resubmit, and then Apple fixed it when same problem happened.

Order Date (revised): 08/31/2004 10:55 AM PST
Order: IMG5 20/1.8/1GB/250GB/SD/APX/FCE/BT/WL/L
ETA: 9/29/2004 (on or before).

Unchanged since original order. No calls. But no irregularities in shipping/billing address.

I had same problem. After calling them back to deal with different ship to address, I asked to speak with a supervisor and politely and firmly asked if their order mistake cost me my queue position. Had me on hold for 10 minutes, came back and assured me I didn't lose my place. I ordered 8/31 at 3:17 am PT.

 

[512ke]

The second best selling Mac the iBook. It has an ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 with 32MB DDR video memory. Sales are booming. Most consumers love the iBook. The iMac is aimed at the same market. There is obviously a huge base of users (like me) who don't need a fast graphic card...

 

[Daveway]

iMac

I just ordered my imac but i have some questions that yall could maybe clear up. If i plug in my keyboard into the usb2 port does that mean that the usb port on the keyboard will be usb2? Also, i ordered my config w/ a superdrive and although it says dvd-r/cd-rw i have heard about it being able to use dvd-rw. Is this possible? And im no longer a newbie, so dont spoon feed me

 

[unsigned]

imac g5 is an awesome value for the money

I dunno if this was done in an earlier thread, but I went to dell.com and tried to price a similar system to the 1.6ghz imac. Obviously their systems aren't as "sexy" but I picked a skinny one, with the slowest available chip, and with a 17" flat panel.

*note* that I added a bunch of software, because they charge you for something like iTunes (granted, you can get it free for windows) and iPhoto (granted, picasa is free now) and for cd burning software (prolly can find it free, also) and for office software (likewise), but there is value in apple having that built in.

Anyway, the config is below, but the final ticker is:

Apple: $1299
Dell: $1,945.90

and that's with a geforce4 MX!

if you look around _name brand_ systems, they don't even come close to the imac on price. And the value of the design is intangible.. but for something as exquisite as the imac, who could imagine it going for less than $2k from a PC vendor?




---
Dell Dimension 4600C
Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor with HT Technology (2.80GHz, 800 FSB)
PPA288H
[221-4451]
1

Operating System
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional
WPXP
[313-7222][420-1922][412-0409][412-0688][463-2282]
11

Memory
FREE UPGRADE! 512MB Dual Channel shared DDR SDRAM at 400MHz (2x256M)
512M4P
[462-2562]
3

Keyboards
Dell® Quietkey® Keyboard
QK
[310-1582]
4

Monitors
17 in 1704FPT Ultrasharp™ Digital Flat Panel Display
1704FP
[320-4027]
5

Video Cards
64MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce4 MX™ Graphics Card with TV-Out and DVI
64NV420
[320-0746]
6

Hard Drive
80GB Ultra ATA/100 Hard Drive
80
[341-0837]
8

Floppy Drive and Additional Storage Devices
No Floppy Drive Included
NFD
[462-2735]
10

Mouse
Dell® 2-button scroll mouse
SM
[310-1871]
12

Network Interface
Integrated 10/100 Ethernet
IN
[430-0441]
13

Modem
56K PCI Data/Fax Modem
DFAX
[313-1943]
14

Document Management
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 6.0
AAREAD
[412-0705]
15

CD or DVD Drive
24x CD-RW / DVD-ROM Combo Drive
24COMBO
[313-2234][430-0945]
16

Sound Card
Integrated 5.1 Channel Audio
IS
[313-2758]
17

Speakers
Dell A425 Speakers w/Subwoofer
A425
[313-2134]
18

Productivity Software
WordPerfect Office 12 - Includes WordPerfect, QuattroPro, Presentations
WPOM
[412-0555][412-0702]
22

Security Software
Norton Internet Security™ 2004 15-mth (3 extra mths included)
NIS15M
[412-0667]
25

Digital Music
Dell Jukebox Premium - Jukebox PLUS w/ lifetime upgrades to future versions
MMPLAT
[412-0693]
27

Digital Photography
Photo Album Premium - Enhance, Organize, and Share Photos
DPSPREM
[412-0522]
28

Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options
3 Year Limited Warranty plus 3 Year At-Home Service plus Nights and Weekend
SQ3OS
[950-4402][950-3339][412-0359][902-5560]
29

Dial-Up Internet Access
6 Months America Online Internet Access Included
AOLDHS
[412-0585][412-0625][420-3224][412-0687]
37

Multimedia Options
No Multimedia Options Requested
NMM
[313-2277]
39

Operating System Enhancements
Microsoft® Plus! Digital Media Edition
DME
[412-4000]
65

Enhanced Software for CD or DVD Burner
RecordNow! Deluxe - Burn, Copy and Label CDs
RNDLX
[430-0949]
72

Personal Finance Software
Microsoft® Money 2004 Standard
MNY
[412-0551]
83

Dell Media Experience
Dell Media Experience™ Deluxe
DMXDLX
[412-0671]
115


TOTAL: $1,945.90

 

[Timelessblur]

hate to nite pick but time to blast you "Dell" but I just went though and re did you dell to truely matching the prices. Try I cut the price down to $1,280 not this BS number

Started with a Dell 4600

the pent 2.8

Monitors
17 in 1704FPT Ultrasharp™ Digital Flat Panel Display

The OS is XP home. Pro is not needed I have used both and unless you truely need pro and do stuff that it requires you dont need it. You need to know the diffence bettween the 2 and what real limition there are with XP home.

umm I list the stuff that may be cut and was cut

Enhanced Software for CD or DVD Burner. Nope dont need it XP does have a burning program built in and so does the music player.

WordPerfect Office 12 - Includes WordPerfect, QuattroPro, Presentations nope change that to MSworks and it the same as appleworks for the most part

Microsoft® Plus! Digital Media Edition. WTF are you using that for. It does not really add anything at all trust me on that I wasted my money on that program for some reason

Dell Jukebox Premium - Jukebox PLUS w/ lifetime upgrades to future versions. Umm iTune for windows is umm FREE and is the exact same program so that can be cut.

3 Year Limited Warranty plus 3 Year At-Home Service plus Nights and Weekend umm even apple does not offer that. Hell apple does not offer at home support so go back to the standard one.


Dell Media Experience™ Deluxe umm yeah you add more BS and crap that the apple does not have



I am sorry but you so call even system was more powerful. Also remeber you need to configure the apple system to match 2. LIke oh adding ram up to 512 and remeber this is faster ram that is in the apple.

The apple new price is 1375 after upping the ram to match.

 

[mhar4]

I've done some price comparison, too, trying to convince a friend that she doesn't want to buy a Dell or HP or some other generic Windows PC, and even if the iMac isn't cheaper, it is certainly competitive with PC equivalents. One of the great things about Apple is you see what you get and you get what you paid for. Looking at Dell's impossible site, it's obviously designed to suck you in with a really low base price which then balloons once you add "extras" like a monitor. You could certainly get a Dell for a lower cost than an iMac, but like-for-like, they're pretty close.

Things like expandability or usability, style or portability are impossible to quantify, but for me the iMac makes a good proposition whatever your preference.

 

[aswitcher]

well the powerbooks excellent 15.2" screen is more than sufficient for most and cheaper than a 17". the emac could get an LCD top model.
base 1.5 combo $599, super drive $799, superdrive plus 15.2 wide screen similar to imac at 1.6 $999.
QUOTE]

Well thats sort of what I am thinking, because Steve has always wanted to dump the crt and shipping must cost a bomb for 20kg units.

Maybe 2005 they might phase it out in favour of an lcd or at least introduce a new emac, although I wonder if they will resist because it would canabalise iMac sales...

 

[Savage Henry]

Maybe 2005 they might phase it out in favour of an lcd or at least introduce a new emac, although I wonder if they will resist because it would canabalise iMac sales...

In the same way that the original eMac did? Which is why they don't split the e's and i's sales figures seperately.

Personally, with the price where it is, I don't think Apple will throw too much more unrecoupable money at R&D for the eMac becase the margins just aren't there to support it. IMHO I think that's what they've done with the new iMac. Less money on R&D in an effort to try and bring it to consumer price levels, unlike the previos version that spent years in design.

 

[aswitcher]

In the same way that the original eMac did? Which is why they don't split the e's and i's sales figures seperately.

Personally, with the price where it is, I don't think Apple will throw too much more unrecoupable money at R&D for the eMac becase the margins just aren't there to support it. IMHO I think that's what they've done with the new iMac. Less money on R&D in an effort to try and bring it to consumer price levels, unlike the previos version that spent years in design.

I see your point but given apples r&d budget and need to refresh their lines, the emac is looking at some update I think in the next year or so...maybe I am wrong and they will stay with crt but I think lcds are becoming highly popular and apple need to consider what the competition (Dell) are doing..

 

[iBoris]

hate to nite pick but time to blast you "Dell" but I just went though and re did you dell to truely matching the prices. Try I cut the price down to $1,280 not this BS number

Started with a Dell 4600

the pent 2.8

So, do we know if the pent 2.8 is equivalent to the 1.6G5, that's why I went for an AMD Athlon 64bit processor.

At work I used to use a Pentium 2.8 with 1gb ram, persuaded my bosses to change to a PowerMac 1.6GHZ with 1.5gb Ram. There was a noticle increase in speed in photoshop.

 

[Savage Henry]

I see your point but given apples r&d budget and need to refresh their lines, the emac is looking at some update I think in the next year or so...maybe I am wrong and they will stay with crt but I think lcds are becoming highly popular and apple need to consider what the competition (Dell) are doing..

I couldn't agree more. In 12 months time the iMac G5 wil either have improved in it's tech specs or the price will have come down, and either way the eMac will look out of sync in the consumer line. I just think that the more they plough the higher the bottom line contribution will need to be. If they slap on the LCD, which makes perfect market and physical sense, they'll have to make cutbacks elsewhere in the product just the make the line viable, which the bulk-buying Dell has in spades.

Time will tell, but I certainly think you are right.

 

[thatwendigo]

hate to nite pick but time to blast you "Dell" but I just went though and re did you dell to truely matching the prices. Try I cut the price down to $1,280 not this BS number

*yawn*

Wake me up when you figure out that the reason people add these things is so that XP and the Wintel box are even remotely close to what you get with a mac. Here's my stab at the Dell site:

Dell Dimension 4600
Intel Pentium 4 2.8ghz
Windows XP Pro (for security and usability reasons)
Microsoft PLUS! Digital Media Edition (to get remotely close to iLife)
512MB PC3200 RAM (2x256)
80GB ATA HD (not an SATA drive)
16x DVD+RW/+R with MyDVD Deluxe and RecordNow!(once more, to approximate the mac usability)
Norton Internet Security 2004 (limited time subscription)
Dell E172FP 17" Flat Panel
GeForce FX 5200 Ultra 128MB
SoundBlaster Audigy 2 (for 5.1 and firewire, but still no optical SPDIF)
Dell QuietKey Keyboard and USB Optical Mouse
Dell Media Experience Deluxe
Dell Media Experience Deluxe with Lifetime Subscription (iTunes isn't bundled with it and downloads don't count)
Photo Album Premium

Cost: $1,561


Apple iMac G5
IBM PowerPC 970(FX?) 1.6ghz
MacOS X 10.3
512MB PC3200 (1x512)
160GB SATA HD
4x DVD-R (laptop drive, so it's going to be slower)
Bluetooth
Apple Bluetooth Mouse and Keyboard
iLife

Cost: $1,573

So... You get a faster optical and more VRAM on the Dell, but a faster and larger HD, wireless mouse and keyboard, and the advantage of not using Windows on the mac. I know which one I'd choose.

 

[macidiot]

Come on, this is not a PowerMac, no matter how much we would like it to be! This iMac is much more upgradeable than any previous incarnation and we are still complaining about "design flaws"!

I am personally still in awe as to how Apple could pull off such a beautiful feat of engineering (albeit aesthetically not very nice to look), getting so much and a G5 processor into a "pizza box."

Well, its basically a laptop design thats about twice as big as a laptop. And remember, it is using some laptop components and the speed is scaled back compared to a G5 tower.

It is a nice bit of engineering. So now where is the G5 laptop?

 

[macidiot]

I don't see it as belittle–ing those who want improved GPU performance. I rather see it as putting those who do want to upgrade in a class of their own. Listen to the keynote again. The target audiences are not running high–end games or imaging software morning, noon, and night. They can, but they don't. These machines are put on the front counter or in the office at a small business, used many as a way to keep in touch with family, used as a stepping stone to bigger and better things (from the iPod to the Power PC with 30" monitor :drool: ).

Sure, being able to play with the insides as much as a big Mac would be fun but but not as consumer friendly. Don't forget the millions out there who want to open the box, plug it in, and go but not have to worry about if they got the right card, worry about how to put it in, pay someone to do it, have to get an updated version in six months, etc. Look there are plenty of folks still using first generation iMacs out here. Sure would be nice to upgrade for many but it just keep chugging along. So why? It really is, "the little computer that could."

well, like I said, if your happy with the specs and fit the profile that Apple is marketing to, buy 4 of them, knock yourself out. But as I, and many others have pointed out, they should have included some way to either upgrade the video or offer a BTO option for those that are interested in such things. Put another way, if the 256MB ram was soldered to the motherboard and there was no upgrade path, a lot of people would be complaining. Even though the "target" audience would probably get along acceptably with that much ram. And its been pointed out several times, people posting aren't all hardcore gamers. Like me. I play maybe 3-4hours worth of games on my Mac a month. Not much. But when I do play I like to have a quality gaming experience.

And I don't know if belittle was the right word. But there has been plenty of unpleasant postings towards those that think the imac gpu design is flawed. Admittedly, its gone both ways in the flaming...

 

[macidiot]

Having played gams on the xbox I can assure you the minimum is 640X480, even the dreamcast and saturn had that as a minimum, that said you need HDTV or a VGA or dvi adapter and monitor to take advantage of those res, the Standard tv dosent do the XBox justice, my brother has his hooked to an LCD display and sometimes a crt and it looks great, however, I am not sure if it is in millions or thousands of colors at that higher res?

xbox supports 1080i resolution. 1920x1080. DD5.1. But its interlaced compared to computer monitors which are all progresive scan. Without getting technical, progressive scan effectively doubles the resolution vs an interlaced signal.

gamecube supports 480p. DPLII

ps2 supports 480p. DPL

480p is progressive scan dvd quality. If you have a HD set, 480p is greater than 640x480. Something like 768x480(I forget what it is in widescreen). Old tube tv's are generally inferior to computer crt's(since tv is typically built for an interlaced signal and 320x240).

But just because the consoles support these higher standards, doesn't mean the games do. Only a small percentage of the games support these higher resolutions. Mostly because the majority of consoles are hooked up to tv's that can't take advantage of the greater resolution. If you hook up any console to a tv via rca or s-video, your pretty much just going to get 320x240 interlaced. Possibly 480i. I'm pretty sure progressive scan or better requires at least a component connection.

 

[kangaroo]

PC AIO w/iMac G5 form factor

It doesn't have Apple's panache but the form factor is close enough to take note of:

iDOTpc

(Take a look at the Flash Demo)

 

[Timelessblur]

*yawn*

Wake me up when you figure out that the reason people add these things is so that XP and the Wintel box are even remotely close to what you get with a mac. Here's my stab at the Dell site:

Dell Dimension 4600
Intel Pentium 4 2.8ghz
Windows XP Pro (for security and usability reasons)
Microsoft PLUS! Digital Media Edition (to get remotely close to iLife)
512MB PC3200 RAM (2x256)
80GB ATA HD (not an SATA drive)
16x DVD+RW/+R with MyDVD Deluxe and RecordNow!(once more, to approximate the mac usability)
Norton Internet Security 2004 (limited time subscription)
Dell E172FP 17" Flat Panel
GeForce FX 5200 Ultra 128MB
SoundBlaster Audigy 2 (for 5.1 and firewire, but still no optical SPDIF)
Dell QuietKey Keyboard and USB Optical Mouse
Dell Media Experience Deluxe
Dell Media Experience Deluxe with Lifetime Subscription (iTunes isn't bundled with it and downloads don't count)
Photo Album Premium

Cost: $1,561


Apple iMac G5
IBM PowerPC 970(FX?) 1.6ghz
MacOS X 10.3
512MB PC3200 (1x512)
160GB SATA HD
4x DVD-R (laptop drive, so it's going to be slower)
Bluetooth
Apple Bluetooth Mouse and Keyboard
iLife

Cost: $1,573

So... You get a faster optical and more VRAM on the Dell, but a faster and larger HD, wireless mouse and keyboard, and the advantage of not using Windows on the mac. I know which one I'd choose.

I never said the wintel box was cheaper. It more like it competively priced. Just when you build it up and make that big of a diffeces as the guy before it has to be corrected

 

[Voiteur]

go white plastic

I ordered a 20" on Aug 31 and they say it will ship 0n the 29th...
I'm not crazy about the design, specifically the white plastic (the ipod looks okay small but at 20"???). I really wish they would go back to the clear of the G3 iMac or switch to all aluminum... Even (gasp) grey high quality plastic would look better than white. But, I really had to buy a new one.
So, I'm wondering what genius out there will make some sort of cover/ camoflauge for my new giant white elephant- anything to break up the great white expanse that is the bottom (perhaps a sleeve like the ipod?).
Also, I didn't go with the bluetooth because I'm not into switching batteries and goin all crazy with the cell phones, am I missing some other use?
Finally, everyone seems to be down on the vid card for gaming... I don't do gaming, but I do use final cut and after effects. Will the "crappy" video card effect my use of these programs (sounds like a stupid question). I was fine with the video capabilities of a dual 1 G4 silver.

 

[Lancetx]

As was alluded to in a news story two days ago , it's now clear that the new iMac is highly user serviceable/upgradeable. This seals the deal for me and I'm definitely sold the iMac now for sure.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86812

 

[iyves]

When I saw the pictures I too thought "emac regurgited" and that Ives lost his magic touch to do something less new and more common. But I saw it today at the Expo and my mind changed completely, it is obvious, the way it should be, the white under the screen isn't heavy at all, most probably because in the pictures we can't appreciate the materials.
Anyway I had not intention to buy one before a few months and I ordered a 20". They told me it should arrive beginning of October.
My only critic compared to iMac G4 would be the sound, difficult to judge at an Expo but seemed very weak and poor. I hope they make Airtunes systemwide very quickly, because too watch a DVD it is either a cable or those tiny speakers...

 

[Savage Henry]

As was alluded to in a news story two days ago , it's now clear that the new iMac is highly user serviceable/upgradeable. This seals the deal for me and I'm definitely sold the iMac now for sure.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86812

Yep, it certainly has more versatility than ever before, and I think that is the selling point to many hard-lined Mac enthusiasts. IMO the selling point to switchers is the "from the makers of the iPod..." tag-line.

So it has the potential to be quite big. I personally don't need it now, but in 12 months time, after a slightly upgraded spec, I can see my credit card taking the strain.

 

[Mac Boy-Canada]

I will hold off for the eMac G5 (let's hope there is one!).

Think about it: Apple needs an education model to sell. Schools need education models to buy. Although the iMac has an education model, there are some schools that require optical drives. I am confident that apple will release an eMac G5 that will be slower, yet will have a 15" LCD.

 

[JerseyMike73]

I just ordered my imac but i have some questions that yall could maybe clear up. If i plug in my keyboard into the usb2 port does that mean that the usb port on the keyboard will be usb2? Also, i ordered my config w/ a superdrive and although it says dvd-r/cd-rw i have heard about it being able to use dvd-rw. Is this possible? And im no longer a newbie, so dont spoon feed me

The USB ports on the current Apple keyboards are USB 1.1, not 2, no matter what USB port it is plugged into. Also, as far as I'm aware, Apple has stuck to its guns in only supporting dvd-r.

 

[zim]

I will hold off for the eMac G5 (let's hope there is one!).

Think about it: Apple needs an education model to sell. Schools need education models to buy. Although the iMac has an education model, there are some schools that require optical drives. I am confident that apple will release an eMac G5 that will be slower, yet will have a 15" LCD.

I don't see what you are talking about? All the iMacs have optical drives, education included.

I doubt we will see a G5 eMac anytime soon. I don't think that they will make the same mistake as they did before, having two closely competing systems.