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New iMac mini == death of resale
- Thread starter hcuar
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It seems ignorant to say that a cheap headless Mac will kill sales of the G5 iMac. The reson I say this is because the eMac is already in the market as a cheap alternative. If the eMac didn't kill iMac sales, then why would a cheap machine without a monitor kill it? People buy the G5 iMac for its power, low footprint, and sheer elegance. The people who want a cheap Mac to do the basic essentials either buy a used machine, an eMac, or an iBook. The iMac is not the cheap apple alternative that it used to be in the G3 days. It has become a symbol of sleek apple engineering, and considerable computing power. That's the very reason they introduced the eMac, to cover the low end consumer market that the iMac sould no longer cover. At this point in the game, while the eMac is a good cheap alternative, Apple would do well to draw some more of the PC world into the fold, and the best way to do this is via a cheap headless machine. I know that I have personally lost sales of iMacs and eMacs because of the statement "but I already have a monitor". Unfortunately, many people are willing to toss away a $1000 tower, but demand to keep using a $100-200 monitor.
As for the complaints about Apple gaining too much market share, it is not such a bad thing for this to occur. If Apple gets more business, it makes more money. If it makes more money, we get to see more cool products. What's the problem with that? If you want Apple to keep its low market share just because it will make you feel special, then you hardly have an argument. There's nothing wrong with a large Apple marketshare. In fact, a greater marketshare would allow for more development in the Mac field. The only potential downside would be the development of viruses and spyware. However, if this were to become a problem, I have little doubt that Apple would be able to handle it in a timely and sensible manner (unlike the garbage that is Windows XP SP2). More and more people would see how wonderful OS X is, and get to own pretty computers. There's not really a problem here.
A new headless Mac would not drop the resale price of older PowerMacs too significantly. The eMac has had little effect on the sale of older PowerMacs. Really, nor have the iMacs. This machine is not a PowerMac. It is effectively an iMac or eMac. So, why should this machine have a substantial effect on the used market when its predecessors have not? People pay a premium for expandability in the Mac field, because those are the ones who truly need it. The number of people willing to buy a used PowerMac may decrease, but not the price it would sell for.
As for the claims that "this must be some sort of specialty device", that just seems ludicrous. The rumours about set top boxes, and other specialized Apple devices have been floating around for years because they "fit into the Apple picture". They may fit into the picture, but they only satisfy niche markets. Apple doesn't want another G4 Cube on their hands. That is, they don't want to be sitting on an overpriced machine that is only appealing to a niche market, when they could have made one that appealed more broadly. Apple has been in just the situation that many suggest it is getting itself into now, and had a heap of troubles as a result. Why would they do it again? A cheap headless Mac would be a good addition to their product line, and would attract a number of switchers. I can't see any problem with this whatsoever.
As for the complaints about Apple gaining too much market share, it is not such a bad thing for this to occur. If Apple gets more business, it makes more money. If it makes more money, we get to see more cool products. What's the problem with that? If you want Apple to keep its low market share just because it will make you feel special, then you hardly have an argument. There's nothing wrong with a large Apple marketshare. In fact, a greater marketshare would allow for more development in the Mac field. The only potential downside would be the development of viruses and spyware. However, if this were to become a problem, I have little doubt that Apple would be able to handle it in a timely and sensible manner (unlike the garbage that is Windows XP SP2). More and more people would see how wonderful OS X is, and get to own pretty computers. There's not really a problem here.
A new headless Mac would not drop the resale price of older PowerMacs too significantly. The eMac has had little effect on the sale of older PowerMacs. Really, nor have the iMacs. This machine is not a PowerMac. It is effectively an iMac or eMac. So, why should this machine have a substantial effect on the used market when its predecessors have not? People pay a premium for expandability in the Mac field, because those are the ones who truly need it. The number of people willing to buy a used PowerMac may decrease, but not the price it would sell for.
As for the claims that "this must be some sort of specialty device", that just seems ludicrous. The rumours about set top boxes, and other specialized Apple devices have been floating around for years because they "fit into the Apple picture". They may fit into the picture, but they only satisfy niche markets. Apple doesn't want another G4 Cube on their hands. That is, they don't want to be sitting on an overpriced machine that is only appealing to a niche market, when they could have made one that appealed more broadly. Apple has been in just the situation that many suggest it is getting itself into now, and had a heap of troubles as a result. Why would they do it again? A cheap headless Mac would be a good addition to their product line, and would attract a number of switchers. I can't see any problem with this whatsoever.
Timelessblur
macrumors 65816
you know some of the people talking about the Apple culture makes me think about something that I hear people say time and time again why they dont want a mac.
It is the Apple culture it self. They dont like these stuck up people who think they are better than everyone else and they dont want to be part of it. Saddly I can not blame them because there are way to many apple elitest out there and they are some of the most annorying people in the world and the worst part is this elistest 9 time out of 10 dont know what they are talking about and really are true idoits when it comes to the computer world.
Maybe this new headless imac will help change that and really weaken up this pricks and make them go away. It would remove the I better than you aditude that so provenlent. Now if one this people would learn that apple does screw up and do a lot of stupid things that hurt them a lot more than help them.
It is the Apple culture it self. They dont like these stuck up people who think they are better than everyone else and they dont want to be part of it. Saddly I can not blame them because there are way to many apple elitest out there and they are some of the most annorying people in the world and the worst part is this elistest 9 time out of 10 dont know what they are talking about and really are true idoits when it comes to the computer world.
Maybe this new headless imac will help change that and really weaken up this pricks and make them go away. It would remove the I better than you aditude that so provenlent. Now if one this people would learn that apple does screw up and do a lot of stupid things that hurt them a lot more than help them.
I don't think that the cheaper Mac will kill the iMac G5 sales.... I think that it will add a new set of customers to the mix. Of course a few prior iMac G5 sales may go for the cheaper system, I think it will only increase the customer base.
OTOH, I do think the resale value of the older G4 PM will die... It's already bad enough with the G5 iMacs and G4 eMacs being priced so low... (Consider what a stand alone 20 inch LCD runs without a computer)
OTOH, I do think the resale value of the older G4 PM will die... It's already bad enough with the G5 iMacs and G4 eMacs being priced so low... (Consider what a stand alone 20 inch LCD runs without a computer)
takao
macrumors 68040
AdamZ said:
you mean like the the recent 1er or the 3er compact before that, or the 3er in the 60ties before ? or like the Mercedes did with their E,C,A,smarts in the last 50 years? or porsche did with their boxster and SUV ? or like Audi did with their A3,A2 recently ? i don't know but car companies don't have a problem with undervalueing themselves 😉
TLRedhawke: 2 thumbs up for your post perhaps the best of the day ...
mrgreen4242 said:
I've sold two used iMacs, and received a very good price for them. Most recently, I sold my G4 iMac for around $1500, and bought a new G5 iMac for around $1500! But, I sold on eBay and started the bidding at a penny each time. So, the buyers decided what each of these computers were worth, not me. So, I can't really agree that mine sold for "WAY too much. But I understand what you are saying, they do seem to sell for a lot considering what other used computers sell for.
Timelessblur said:
Agreed.
Over here in the UK you find many stuck up apple buyers. Most of them are left-wing middle-class trendies, with more money than style or sense. Theyre either 'graphic designers' or 'marketing consultants' ; talentless idiots who work in an office, and reckon theyre so much more creative than they actually ever will be. They normally dwell in Nero or Starbucks, and alot of them are 20-somethings with a powerbook placed on their table just proud enough so everyone can see it, but without looking too obvious. The tossers will normally be wearing "retro" clothing, to make them look like theyre one of 'the people' and that theyre in touch with "modern culture".
In short, theyre a bunch of stuck up, know-nothing idiot w*nkers who will lead a bleak and unfulfilled existence. Infact the only thing that they are good for is sneering at, spitting at, or pointing and laughing at.
My advice: unless you enjoy conversations about retro-anything or listening to a 10minute long noise of mobile-ringtones recorded on the tube and remixed on theyre laptop that they happen to call "alternative music", then either Avoid, Or verbally abuse them.
Anyway, i hope this mac will kill this eliteism too. I just wonder that if the emac goes G5 as it has been said, then this budget-mac might seem a little expensive. I mean, the price difference will only be about £150, and for that you get a monitor and a G5 with a ddr FSB.
I doubt this mac will dent the resale value of the imac. But definetely the powermac, and probably the emac a little.
I can only see this as a good thing.
V.A.Toss said:
This graphic designer disagrees with you... and not one of my designer friends are anything like that at all.
You sound intensely bitter.
FelixDerKater
macrumors 68040
People will continue to buy the old tower models if they need the expandability. Hopefully, though, this will lower prices to a reasonable level.
Blue Velvet said:
Im not bitter, im arrogant. Possibly full of hate.
I didnt say all graphic designers, i didnt say all graphic designers with powerbooks, i didnt say all designers. I didnt say "all" anything.
If you notice my post, it is a very specific description, it is a specific type of person who just happen to be designers. So the most of large population of designers are not included.
So that means you are not included amongst these vermin, and neither are your friends.
For what its worth, i think most people who post here are honest and unpretentious, hard working and decent people.
I would like to add that graphic, product, 3d animation, CAD, or any other designers are for the large majority quite talented people who have to work pretty long hours and spend a long time getting to the top. So are marketing consultants.
apologies if i offended
applemacdude
macrumors 68040
maya
macrumors 68040
applemacdude said:
Marketing is a double edged sword. 🙁
Toot the G5 and everyone says wow I want that since it is soooo powerful while they will never even use 40-60% of its power in daily usage.
No matter its the best that is what I want. 😛
Now as long as I can hook this sub $500 USD Mac to my TV and Projector I am in business along with WiFi networking. 🙂
jaromski
macrumors regular
V.A.Toss said:
Yeah I think I understand your frustration with arrogant, no-nothing designer types. I have had my share of bad experiences with them. I work in architecture; initially I was a CAD drafting grunt when I started 10 years ago. But now I am moving up the food chain, so to speak, into custom residential designs, etc. It has definately been a long haul. But now I do residential home design and most of my competition over-charge and think they are much hipper and more in touch than everybody else. They went to architecture school. They can charge way too much because if something is more expensive it is automatically much higher quality, right? They are completely out of touch.
You know what I have found out? People appreciate when you don't talk down to them or come across that you know more or act better than them. There is a method by which you can provide ideas and specific information you have gathered in your specialty without offending them or overcharging them for your "mad design skillz".
On a similar topic, I think there are mac elitist types of the same fashion, but there are also a lot of hard core unix techies migrating over to OS X. The classic environment didn't offer the hardcore users an adequate experience; but having BSD under the hood has really opened up new markets for Apple they weren't exposed to before. But the elitists have good reason to act as they do because the platform, for many, is superior to the Windows offerings. And Linux too. Linux is really crude in comparison. But that might change with more development time.
Anyway, just my .02
JaromSki
Dont Hurt Me
macrumors 603
Apple needs something if its going to increase marketshare, i went to Best Buy today picked up Call of Duty(PC) and didnt see one Mac product.........didnt look for pods though ill admit. Fact is their marketshare is to the point that you wont find nothing Mac unless you are in a california Apple store. Not a way to expand your base if no one sells your product/software. Apple has lot of work to do if it ever wants to see even 5% of the market. wont even go into all the cpu problems they have and remember that Cell from IBM is coming. where does it leave G5? Apple has lots of money but seems to have gotton themself boxed into a fraction of the market mostly by their own fault. Maybe another reboxed and cheap G4 may help.
In response to headless imac G4 pulling from imac G5. a headless machine gives more versatility then a all in one and since imac G5 has such a poor video in it again what can a G5 Imac do that a G4 with poor video cant???
In response to headless imac G4 pulling from imac G5. a headless machine gives more versatility then a all in one and since imac G5 has such a poor video in it again what can a G5 Imac do that a G4 with poor video cant???
Blue Velvet said:
hey, last time i heard this argument was around the year 2000 at a pets.com board meeting...
512ke
macrumors 6502a
Here is my concern about a cheapo Imac...
Remember Krispy Kreme. A darling of the stock market. KK made the best, freshest donuts. And then they started trying to sell cold ones at supermarket chains. Their brand lost its value. They tanked.
The cheapo iMac better be a great user experience. If it's a joy and a pleasure to use, it can only help the brand. If it's slow or buggy or a pain in the $@#$ to configure or use, then it could hurt the cause.
That's my two cents/donuts.
Remember Krispy Kreme. A darling of the stock market. KK made the best, freshest donuts. And then they started trying to sell cold ones at supermarket chains. Their brand lost its value. They tanked.
The cheapo iMac better be a great user experience. If it's a joy and a pleasure to use, it can only help the brand. If it's slow or buggy or a pain in the $@#$ to configure or use, then it could hurt the cause.
That's my two cents/donuts.
jadam said:
I'm not sure about everyone else... but I wasn't whining. I am glad to see the prices come down on some of the old PMs... I think they were overpriced. I also don't want to see the resale value destroyed though. I think a higher resale value means more new sales for Apple....
Flynnstone
macrumors 65816
Perhaps the headless iMac is geared for the corporate crowd. All those corporations with screens and PC and Lots O virus/worms/??? headaches.
Replace with some xServes and headless iMacs.
Just a though.
Scary though for Microsoft 😱
Replace with some xServes and headless iMacs.
Just a though.
Scary though for Microsoft 😱