New iMac In September

[TheWama]

Education market is mostly in for Laptops

As a college student, I can say that the vast majority of student computer buyers are in the market for a laptop, not a desktop. This is the trend in the market and students, as young people, are early adopters in this sense.

The iMac was getting old, and probably was not a huge part of their business, not to say it's not bad.
What's important is that they get the next iMac right.

At least now we know when.

 

[joeboy_45101]

Something like the 'detachable tablet' idea that has been bandied about. A display that can be detached and communicates with the base via wifi maybe?

Hey that was my idea, well kind of I stole parts of it from other people. But I stole the parts and put them all together so it's rightfully mine.

 

[primalman]

Chiming in

Remember, only Apple is not taking orders on the Online Store for the iMac. Your local Apple Reseller, and the brick and mortor Apple Stores probably have some if you really want one.


To the ones who think the EDU sales will be hurt:

Most of those orders have been made, and Apple has a history of holding stock for sale in that channel, so if a school needs 500 iMacs, they should get those. Budgets have no doubt been approved and orders in. Note that Apple was experiencing delays in consumer delivery of eMacs and iMacs a couple of months ago, and I bet not to fill EDU orders at that instant, but loading the EDU channel for delivery in the summer. School does start in less than 50 days in most places, so plans are already in motion. I got my machines for my lab [24 G5s 4 weeks ago.


That Apple has nothing to sell:

In the last sales quarter, the Emac/iMac sales were in line with PowerMac sales, so losing some sales due to very low volume of iMacs will be no that bad. Plus, there are some no doubt out in the retail channel. You all make it sound like Apple sells only iMacs. ? Have you looked at the store lately? Anyway, Apple sells more iBooks than any other Mac unit, I am sure they have plenty of those.

 

[w00tmaster]

"Apparently they ran out of stock while waiting for the iMac G5... ok. Fine, but what really confuses me is that the "New One" wasn't ready enough to at least show off at WWDC and get huge press????? WTF?"
Edit: Maybe they think that pro users are willing to wait for a pre-release product while home users just won't put up with that. I think pro users understand why they can order something and wait fora couple months for it to arrive while the average home users just doesn't get that concept ( and for a good reason).

Oh this makes me so happy to hear apple doing this.

And finally, no more freaking "iMac tomorrow" posts!

BEN

That doesn't make sense, because developers are the most universal community in terms of hardware of interest there is. Guess what, when the new iMac comes out, the developers are going to want to be able to take advantage of everything the platform has to offer. In other words, in order for the iMac to become a success, the developers need to develop stuff for it!
Imagine you want to port a somewhat cpu intensive app to the mac. Even though the power macs can handle it, that only represents a small part of the (admittedly) small Apple market. What would really seal the deal for you is if you knew that the consumer level desktop would be able to handle it.
I just think that Apple didn't have the iMac ready by the WWDC(I think they will debut it in Paris though, note Steve's searches when showing off spotlight)

 

[vuc78000]

My guess as to why it got pulled:

I guess that SJ hated the design they showed him!

So they can't anonce, since they are doing a new design. As soon as they know what it will look like they can annonce and start taking orders.

The techincal stuff as far as fixing cooling, slower chip, display suplies that can all be worked out inline, but what is the only thing that can't allow you to take an order?

.V

 

[SeaFox]

AAPL stock was beaten pretty good in after-hours trading as a result of this announcement. It's down $1.80 a share from this afternoon's close.

Really, and it just went down recently because Apple didn't announce a new iMac at WWDC, which some analysts were expecting. Now Apple announces they will have a major update coming up and the stock is driven down instead of up on the news. You'd think work of a major product update would have a good effect. Just another example of how cheated Apple is by Wallstreet.

You're damned if you do, damned if you don't in Cupertino

 

[Jovian9]

R.I.P. G4 iMac.
I for one am disappointed that this design is now gone. Sure I want a G5 in the iMac....but I've had one of these on my desk since they were introduced (well, about 2 months after they were introduced b/c that's how long it took to get my order). I have become an Apple fan and believer b/c of the G4 iMacs......b/c of their power, no they never were the fastest.....b/c of their price, no they were not cheap.........b/c they are beautiful machines that are comfortable to use and the design is flawless. I've had lots of Macs, including a 17" 1.33GHz PowerBook now......but none have drawn me in like the G4 iMac. The G4 iMac ended my days of PC using and I've never looked back. So to all of you who have done nothing but blast the G4 iMacs for months on end in these threads..........know that many of thousands of dollars have gone and many more thousands will go to your favorite company from my wife and I b/c of this machine. There is still a market for machines that aren't the cheapest or fastest..........but are designed the best and can turn heads. Once you can draw someones attention, 3/4 of the battle is over.

 

[Sabbath]

This really is bizare, although Apple often doesn't ship stuff in right away, this is a whole different announcement. I've never seen anything like it from Apple.

They actually have no iMac to sell in the next 2/3 months, there are no iPod minis around (especially not here ), and the 2.5 PMs and displays are not available yet . I'm sure Apple must have something good up their sleves and for sure I'm excited about it but I am a bit worried about this current situation. They need products to sell, in order to make money and thus innovate new products. It must be a major cock up that has caused this or they have something big up their sleves.

 

[mac-er]

Why would we consider your purchasing a Dell a victory for Apple?

Because Michael Vance is assuming that most Mac-heads on here will respond with the typical "We don't need your kind buying Apples, and Apple is better off not having someone like you using their computer.

 

[w00tmaster]

They must be making more profit on the New Models than then old ones. Otherwise they should really have just made more of the current iMacs, at least enough to supply the store until the Back-to-school campaigns.

Apple's manufacturing facilities probably aren't that vast, and they probably don't have the cash to invest in new facilities for the new iMacs while maintaining the old ones. The old facilities are probably in the process of being converted to build the new iMacs, and the staff being trained on how to do so. I can't be 100% sure though, sure wish this site had someone on the inside of Taiwanese computer manufacturing

 

[pigwin32]

Apple needs to abandon the all-in-one. Put a G5 in the new iMac and let people buy whatever kind of monitor they want. If they're rich, they can get a $3500 30" LCD monitor, if not they can use their old PC's 17" CRT.

If Apple made an attractive, headless machine with the speed of a G5 and the 64bit-capable Tiger - I think they could sell a lot more people on the idea of switching to a Mac. Imagine if the next iMac line said "starting at $650" - now that would be something truly different from Apple. Suddenly people would want a Mac to go with their iPod - because, why not? They're easier to use, Tiger is awesome looking and they aren't expensive anymore.

I agree, an AlCube would be sweet, take some of the engineering out the iMac line and give consumers a little extra control over their wallets. Surely the economics of the swivelling LCD don't stack up. The extra cost to build it into the platform plus the opportunity cost of the consumer who already has a decent monitor and would like to upgrade/migrate from their existing platform but can't justify tossing their monitor out with the beige boat anchor.

The computer is now just a component of a larger system and the analogy to an entertainment system is very apt. I can't afford to upgrade all my components so I'll buy a new amplifier and save a while for the new flat-panel tv.

Apple isn't stupid, someone is getting a whole lot of grief for the iMac cockup, but they sell computers and I don't want a computer stuck to the back of my monitor unless it's a G5 PowerBook.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

As someone who works with Macs, this update is long overdue. Its almost impossible to sell someone an iMac now. Frankly, if Apple had its stuff together they would have had a new iMac long before now. The last upgrade to the eMac made it almost impossible to sell an iMac.

I want to throw this out though: maybe the iMac will continue to be a G4. I kind of hope so actually. A redesigned iMac with a G5 is no big deal.Especially if the price goes up. Does anyone really think IBM has enough G5 chips to sell in iMac volumes AND still start at 1299?

I think there are better design and pricing options if they stick with a G4. If Apple is just planning to make a really pretty new box with a G5 in it, I wouldn't bother. Its not worth the effort and cost. Even to justify the current pricing structure (1299-2199), the design would have to be amazing and functional beyond what we have seen before. Something like the 'detachable tablet' idea that has been bandied about. A display that can be detached and communicates with the base via wifi maybe?

Anyway, if its just a new design with a G5 I don't believe sales will be helped at all (other than a short early-adopter burst). And they need help: the iMac has been Apple's lousiest seller for quite a while now.

You have me thinking. What about a dual G4 1.5 iMac? XBench wise it would be close to a single G5 1.6 in score. And would buy sometime to get the G5 chip thing fixed. And would still be able to fit into a $1299 to $2199 range (of course the $1299 might be a single processor). It would also fill the niche left empty by the PM G4.

 

[3.1416]

I want to throw this out though: maybe the iMac will continue to be a G4. I kind of hope so actually. A redesigned iMac with a G5 is no big deal.Especially if the price goes up. Does anyone really think IBM has enough G5 chips to sell in iMac volumes AND still start at 1299?

If they don't, then Apple has no hope in the consumer desktop space. A 1.5GHz G4 is a *joke* at $1300. If you want a cheap G4, Apple already has it with the eMac.

 

[thatwendigo]

I think there are better design and pricing options if they stick with a G4. If Apple is just planning to make a really pretty new box with a G5 in it, I wouldn't bother. Its not worth the effort and cost. Even to justify the current pricing structure (1299-2199), the design would have to be amazing and functional beyond what we have seen before.

Well, in order to even get close to what the G5 can do, there has to be a revamp of the support systems - RAM, ASIC, storage, optical, and other interfaces. A switch to the G5 would require massive revampings that would, indeed, make the iMac more powerful than it has ever been before.

However, I agree with you in principle. The iMac needs to do something more dramatic than just change the processor. This is "wow time" for Apple, and they need to make it count again.

Something like the 'detachable tablet' idea that has been bandied about. A display that can be detached and communicates with the base via wifi maybe?

No. No, No, NO. Read about this subject before repeatedly suggesting this!

Hey that was my idea, well kind of I stole parts of it from other people. But I stole the parts and put them all together so it's rightfully mine.

I really hope that you're kidding.

 

[wdlove]

I guess that SJ hated the design they showed him!

So they can't announce, since they are doing a new design. As soon as they know what it will look like they can announce and start taking orders.

The technical stuff as far as fixing cooling, slower chip, display supplies that can all be worked out inline, but what is the only thing that can't allow you to take an order?

.V

You would think that Steve would allow his designers more freedom. After all Apple has been winning awards for their designs.

 

[ralphh]

You make it sound like Apple only sells iMacs. Yes, they'll hurt from this, but not by much. Between iPods, iTMS, the new PowerMacs, the new displays, the PowerBooks, iBooks, eMacs, xServes, and software, I don't think they're in too bad a shape, do you?

PMJI, but although yes, Apple will survive this, from an investor's point of view, this is a disaster. Ninety days=one fiscal quarter without a product that, IIRC, represents 20% of the company's revenue stream.

I feel really sorry for anyone holding the stock right now. It will recover in a few months, but in the meantime a lot of private and institutional shareholders who need to sell their shares are probably screwed.

 

[flyfish29]

Great news that the iMac is being updated but to me this seems to be another screw up of sorts/disappointment to come out of apple over the last few months. They promised us that this year was going to be something special... what goin on apple?

It could have been a major defect in the new design.

I think apple is being spread too thin. Think how many new things they have taken on in the last two or three years. Safari, .Mac, G5, OSX, 64 bit stuff, displays, iPod, iTunes and Music Store, all the idvd, iApps, etc. not to mention probably dozens of more projects. Some things are going to slip through. Of course they usually don't publicly admit to screwing up royally.

The real reason they don't publicly announce new CONSUMER products early is quite simple if you ask me: Lets say they did announce at a developer conference. the only press that matters to most "consumer model" customers is that a new iMac is coming out. The average Joe Blow customer would not realize they are not already out and visit a computer store searching for an iMac. They might visit Comp USA and see their not out for three months at least and purchase another computer while they are there. That would be bad in my book. Most typical consumers see a new product and want it then. They dont' want to wait usually. (not that we do, but we understand and want the latest and fastest stuff, but the average comsumer doesn't...just a cool thing.

On the other hand, Apple could have ridden the Sony PS2 or Nike Jorday bandwagon of marketing and created just enough product to make supply very low therefore resulting in very high demand. But of course to do this they needed to have some product which I am guessing is not possible which makes me think it is not a chip supply problem or something like that but a design flaw or defect. If it was a chip supply problem they could have realeased the new iMac just on Apple.com and then to the general retailers and etailers later...course would have pissed many off...and rightfully so.

 

[ffakr]

Apparently they ran out of stock while waiting for the iMac G5... ok. Fine, but what really confuses me is that the "New One" wasn't ready enough to at least show off at WWDC and get huge press????? WTF?

WWDC is not a format for announcing consumer grade products. Really, the only reason Jobs talks about stuff like the iPod at WWDC is so he can reassure the audience that the company is doing well.

Apple stopped production and that decision was probaby made a while ago. They likely fulfilled a bulk order with some Tawanese company that was signed months ago.
Apple admitted that they intended to stop production around now, and then purge inventory.. but their plans are off.. apparently the inventory is low and the replacements are late.
This time table would make sense normally, as Apple has plenty of opportunities to release products in the near future. MWNY (or is it Boston.. or does anyone care) is this month. Paris is coming up soon... and Apple does want to de-couple hardware announcments from major trade shows.. so it would make sense to plan on a release between NY and Paris.

 

[celaurie]

Just a thought

From a Red's Roadhaus chat...

ebola: iMac G5s would be cool
celaurie: G5 iBooks would be kewler.
celaurie: F the powerbook kiddies and ramp the iBook.
celaurie: Imagine that.
celaurie: That would grab headlines! And further immortalise the cause.

(Yes, I am still alive)

~ cel

 

[iMeowbot]

I think there are better design and pricing options if they stick with a G4. If Apple is just planning to make a really pretty new box with a G5 in it, I wouldn't bother. Its not worth the effort and cost. Even to justify the current pricing structure (1299-2199), the design would have to be amazing and functional beyond what we have seen before. Something like the 'detachable tablet' idea that has been bandied about. A display that can be detached and communicates with the base via wifi maybe?

A removable display is definitely a possibility, they do have a design patent application on file for a (rather extensive) expansion of the swing arm idea. Wireless? I really doubt it. The bandwidth isn't there, and the application (which was available online briefly but since has apparently been made non-public) definitely showed cabling provisions.

That particular application did not depict any CPU enclosures that I could see browsing through 150ish pages, so it could very well be part of a separate product (but the LCD panels shown looked very iMac-ish, not like the new panels introduced at WWDC). Shoulda woulda coulda saved those damned tiffs...

 

[snahabed]

No way!!!

I put several man hours of persuasion into switching a friend.... he wanted a desktop, didn't like the eMac, and no $ for a powermac... so he decided to order an iMac.... like, tomorrow.

I do believe we may have lost a switcher here! I think Apple should compensate me for all that time wasted

 

[macfan76]

has a new ipod in the works that has an aluminum one-piece enclosure similar to the mini - as well as a new control wheel like the mini too. Plus a couple other features that you might find pretty shocking. Anyway guys, have fun.
Later,
KDawg

Do you mind to share the shocking features? Please... Its just a rumor site, no one would believe you anyway. Its inevitable that they release another thing in aluminum, why not the iPod, right.

 

[xtekdiver]

Just a thought, Apple could turn this problem into a marketing oppurtunity. Every couple of weeks Apple could reveal some clue or hint to a feature in the new iMac and make a contest out of it.

I remember when Apple was coming out with the Apple IIgs there were ads in the back of magazines that said a new Apple was coming. It had a sheet over the Apple IIgs but you could see a mouse poking out from beneath the covers. This would truly get the Apple rumormill going crazy,

Just a thought

I agree. This kind of thing would help create a lot of hype an anticipation for the impending release of a new iMac. Subtle hints and images that suggest. It would be ingenious and certainly help waivering buyers into waiting.

 

[xtekdiver]

No way!!!

I put several man hours of persuasion into switching a friend.... he wanted a desktop, didn't like the eMac, and no $ for a powermac... so he decided to order an iMac.... like, tomorrow.

I do believe we may have lost a switcher here! I think Apple should compensate me for all that time wasted

Online Apple store isn't the only place to get one. There are a lot of other options for buying a new mac. Apple store in your local mall would be a good place to start.

 

[joeboy_45101]

Maybe Steve Jobs is taking a page out of Mikey Moore's playbook. "No, you can't buy this product." "We're not really sure when your going to be able to buy this product." Apparently this makes people go nuts for it.