PowerMac and Display Rumors

[lewdvig]

We are all just dreaming.

Apple has got nothing. Even their wall of secrecy can't keep the truth out when there is actually something big coming.

woo hoo - 50gb iPods!

my 30gb unit is not even half full yet.

 

[sethypoo]

that sucks.

No, really?!?!

 

[tsk]

I have my doubts about this.
We don't get our budgets for the next school year until early-mid June. Its a bit early for an edu buying season.

And if I had a couple of weeks drought in a product, someone in marketing would be looking for a new job.

I think it's more for the end of the buying season. I know some people who have money left to burn so they'll be making hardware purchases.

 

[jsw]

Is it just me, or is this the slowest Apple period ever? I honestly can't remember a time when there was this long between real news. I mean, it's been years at least (since the last dry spell like this). Aside from 10.3 - what? five months ago? - there's been basically nothing. Dual 1.8's. Wow! G5 Xserve! Wow - if you're a business, maybe...

Would someone please just make something up so we could have something new to talk about?

 

[johnnyjibbs]

new cheaper displays would be cool. A brushed metal widescreeen 17" would be lush next to my 12" PowerBook! (at a price I could afford?)

 

[JohnGillilan]

Does anyone anticipate any other changes to updated displays other than a new aluminum form factor?? HD-TV support?? I realize there was another post regarding this, however, I am going to have a hard time passing up a heavily discounted version of the current 20"/23" display. What else could a new LCD bring in terms of new/exclusive features??

 

[warcraftmaster]

wow good job

The day dawned bright with rosy light.
We jumped up from the sack.
With hearts afire for our desire,
The Rev B PowerMac.

Full fourscore days in deep malaise,
We'd waited for Rev B.
But now our eyes would spy the prize,
The ultimate PC.

News of the score we'd heard before,
While waiting on the bench.
Then 'gainst all hope came the straight dope,
The rumor was in French.

Surely today we'd have our way,
Surely today we'd see,
The G5 box that truly rocks,
The fabulous Rev B.

The minutes flew before we knew,
Yet no announcement came.
Despite our prayer no news was there,
Was this some kind of game?

With broken spears and downcast heads,
Came hunters home from hill.
Across the plain we'd searched in vain,
The prey evaded kill.

If you're inclined, please bear in mind,
The fickleness of chance,
The unseen Hand of Apple, and,
The perfidy of France.

Perhaps next week we'll hear a leak,
Proclaimed to all the nation,
A stunning clue that must be true,
Because it's in Croatian.

wow nice poem, can i use it for school? Plz only my teacher will see it(can you help a poor kid pass grade 10 enlgish) too bad i need two more(hint hint). i live all the way in canada on a small island too.

 

[mactarkus]

Pure Torture

For the first time in my Mac-life, I have the means to purchase a top-of-the-line dream Mac. Over the years, I've had to compromise, but not this time. I've been waiting to pull the trigger on the Rev 2 G5 since the morning of Macworld Stevenote. I check rumor sites in the morning, at lunch, and after work. Nothing for months on end!! End the agony!! Give me something to buy!!!

 

[smeddy]

agreed. educational/institutional order should be fairly predictable. even if they are greater than normal, i cant imagine that they would be so great as to eat up the entire consumer pipeline.

also, where is the logic relating "educational orders" with knocking down the price on lcd displays in order to "clear the pipeline." this seems more than a little contradictory.

on the other hand, would you really expect them to say, "supply will be tight because we're trying to clear out all the obsolete machines." i don't think that is likely.

two possibilities, so far as i can see. assembly lines are being retooled as we speak and new machines will be rolling off of them shortly, hopefully appearing in april or, even more likely, the original story is simply not correct.

if apple was so incompetent as to let what the story asserts actually happen we had better not get too attached to our macs and start reconciling ourselves to windows... you cannot simply stop production for a month...

Sorry, but this educational thing doesn't make any sense to me. Would Apple get these big educational orders at such a short notice that it would have to cut off supplies to its dealers? Otherwise it would make much more sense to simply produce a bit more in weeks/month before the delivery of the big orders, than to disrupt supplies to its non-edu customers. It costs a little bit to do so, but most Macs aren't selling at a rate, that on would assume production limitations, except maybe the iBooks.

I'll stick with Cassidy's original explanation, under the assumption that the news about the dry spell is correct.

 

[Sonofhaig]

edit: never mind. just saw the actual article. It will happen because apple will be filling large educational orders.

Yes.... this is a good thing too. I still believe this will be an awesome year of amazing products coming from Apple. Patience Grasshopper.

 

[ClimbingTheLog]

I still believe this will be an awesome year of amazing products coming from Apple. Patience Grasshopper.

Yeah, we're still waiting for the Year of the Laptop.

 

[appleface]

Would someone please just make something up so we could have something new to talk about?

set top box coming out april 1.

edit:
nevermind. that's not new.

 

[fluidinclusion]

Perfect time for Apple to be "Quiet"

Although a quiet spell isn't what we all want, this may be the perfect time for a production line retooling. Although all is quiet on the computer front, the iPod/iPod mini is taking most of the attention away from Apple's long-in-the-tooth computer lines. Updating now while Pepsi/iTunes and great iPod sales seems like a smart plan.

Perhaps presenting too many new products at once would diminish the fever for iPods, at least for Mac users who might have a fixed budget to buy Apple stuff.

 

[nightcap965]

I Feel Your Pain

Last October, I got clearance from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, aka the Bright and Shining Center of my Universe, to blow big bucks on a shiny new top o' the line G5.

I almost bought one at Night of the Panther, but figured that it would only be a couple months until a speed bump at MWSF.

The Bright and Shining Center of my Universe has taken to rolling her eyes back in her head whenever I mention the latest rumor. She reminds me that normal people just buy the damned computer; they don't watch the company like the US used to watch Red Square on May Day. ("Who's that standing next to Andropov? Is he an up-and-coming Party functionary or just 'Next-to-drop-off'?")

But with each passing day it becomes harder and harder to just buy the damned computer. The Rapture is coming! Rev. B. will be here soon, and those who bought the old model will be cast into the outer darkness, with wailing and gnashing of teeth!

I've got to stop reading rumor sites...

First the first time in my Mac-life, I have the means to purchase a top-of-the-line dream Mac. Over the years, I've had to compromise, but not this time. I've been waiting to pull the trigger on the Rev 2 G5 since the morning of Macworld Stevenote. I check rumor sites in the morning, at lunch, and after work. Nothing for months on end!! End the agony!! Give me something to buy!!!

 

[AidenShaw]

Apple's displays have fairly poor specs for today

I don't know much about lcds, so can somebody tell me aside from the form factor, and maybe a 30" model, is much likely to change on the monitors? i.e. isn't a 23" lcd a 23" lcd regardless?

Not at all - aside from the usual features, look at the brightness and contrast ratios quoted....

Apple 23" - brightness 200 cd/m2, contrast 350:1 (1920x1200) $1999
Samsung 24" - brightness 300 cd/m2, contrast 500:1 (1920x1200) $2440
Samsung 21.3" - brightness 250 cd/m2, contrast 500:1 (1600x1200) $1194

Apple 17" - 200 cd/m2, 350:1 (1280x1024) $699
Samsung 17" - 270 cd/m2, 450:1 (1280x1024) $504 (173T)


Apple's displays had OK specs when they were released, but that was a long time ago. Other makers have much brighter, sharper monitors now.

Plus, the Samsungs have standard DVI and VGA inputs (dual input, analog and digital) as well as narrow-bezel height and angle adjustable stands, and can pivot from landscape to portrait mode.

Apple - well you know how lame those tacky wide-bezel plastic easel stands are.

 

[ClimbingTheLog]

Apple 23" - brightness 200 cd/m2, contrast 350:1 (1920x1200) $1999
Samsung 24" - brightness 300 cd/m2, contrast 500:1 (1920x1200) $2440
Samsung 21.3" - brightness 250 cd/m2, contrast 500:1 (1600x1200) $1194

Apple 17" - 200 cd/m2, 350:1 (1280x1024) $699
Samsung 17" - 270 cd/m2, 450:1 (1280x1024) $504 (173T)

Last I heard, Apple's LCD's are Samsungs. Apple bankrolled their LCD fab. Apple's on a slower release schedule, but they always have the best Samsung can make whenever they release a new display.

You're right, their product line is out of date. Wait a couple weeks.

 

[jade]

twas the night before tuesday
all the owners of beige g3s
aiming to use imovie with speed
hoping since october for the rev b's

all hope was lost in the rumor mill
Apple PR, with the preparedness of a camel
warned resellers they are clearing the channel
to make way for ipod minis and left the rest to unravel

the beginning of this "great mac year"
has passed without incident, quietly
the naysayers prove right and proclaim with glee
new hardware, I'll see you at WWDC



I think this next quarter will be the worst in Apple history, since we all know that there will be the inevitable delays when new products are finally released.

*with all this extra time on my hand waiting for updates, I thought i'd give it a try too.

 

[Krrill]

For the first time in my Mac-life, I have the means to purchase a top-of-the-line dream Mac. Over the years, I've had to compromise, but not this time. I've been waiting to pull the trigger on the Rev 2 G5 since the morning of Macworld Stevenote. I check rumor sites in the morning, at lunch, and after work. Nothing for months on end!! End the agony!! Give me something to buy!!!

LOL, you do this too?

 

[AidenShaw]

"bankrolled" a bit misleading

... Apple bankrolled their [Samsung's] LCD fab. ...

You're right, their product line is out of date. Wait a couple weeks.

Apple made an investment, but not a major one....

http://www.crn.com/sections/BreakingNews/dailyarchives.asp?ArticleID=7924

8:12 PM EST Wed., July 28, 1999

In another sign of consolidation in the LCD industry, Apple Computer Inc. today said it will invest $100 million in Samsung Semiconductor Inc. to help expand Samsung's TFT LCD capacity.

Apple's investment comes only two days after Philips Flat Display Systems, San Jose, Calif., and LG Electronics, Seoul, South Korea, finalized their previously announced agreement. Under that deal, Philips will invest about $1.6 billion in LG's wholly owned LCD business, LG LCD.


BTW, Dell seems to have been reaping the benefits of Samsung's technologies - many of the Dell branded LCD displays are little more than re-badged Samsungs.


It's too bad that Apple's selling older stuff, while the new LCDs with the good brightness/contrast specs are going to Samsung and Dell.

 

[hughdogg]

Last October, I got clearance from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, aka the Bright and Shining Center of my Universe, to blow big bucks on a shiny new top o' the line G5.

I almost bought one at Night of the Panther, but figured that it would only be a couple months until a speed bump at MWSF.

The Bright and Shining Center of my Universe has taken to rolling her eyes back in her head whenever I mention the latest rumor. She reminds me that normal people just buy the damned computer; they don't watch the company like the US used to watch Red Square on May Day. ("Who's that standing next to Andropov? Is he an up-and-coming Party functionary or just 'Next-to-drop-off'?")

But with each passing day it becomes harder and harder to just buy the damned computer. The Rapture is coming! Rev. B. will be here soon, and those who bought the old model will be cast into the outer darkness, with wailing and gnashing of teeth!

I've got to stop reading rumor sites...

This was the best post I've read in weeks!
Good stuff...same here, the Minister of Finance in our household has OK'd a PB purchase, but I am sooo afraid to be 'that guy' who bought the last G4 PB ever produced..DOH!

Cheers,
hughdogg

 

[morkintosh]

Would someone please just make something up so we could have something new to talk about?

ok, here goes:

Apple Computer inc. (Cupertino, CA) announced today that it is pulling out of the computer technology sector to pursue development of a consumer electronics line. CEO, Steve Jobs broke the news this morning on an analyst call; "these iPod things are too damn sweet, I just love them and can't see myself doing any other kind of business when there is so much cool music technology to throw billions at!" When asked to comment on pending Beatles lawsuits Jobs responded "F%(S em!", raising serious doubts among stock holders as to his current state of mind. "Sure Steve did a lot of acid when he was younger, but no one saw this coming", an unnamed source told us late this afternoon ...

 

[elgruga]

What a strange day on the Apple rumor mill.

I just bought a 17 LCD LG1710B( DVI and SVGA) for $600 CAD (brand new), Its pretty nice, but I wish I had heard about price drps on Apple LCD's.
Still, the Apple 17 i amost twice the price and this thing works off my DVI Powerbook very nicely.

If the arent making any iPod minis, and they arent making any boxes, what are they doing in cupertino?
(Yes, I know they dont actually manufacture there)

Strange days.

Oh love that quote: Since any reasonable person would choose a Mac over a PC, Apple's market share does provide us with an accurate reading of the percentage of reasonable people in our society.
-Roger Ebert

 

[ultrafiel]

Originally Posted by mactarkus

For the first time in my Mac-life, I have the means to purchase a top-of-the-line dream Mac. Over the years, I've had to compromise, but not this time. I've been waiting to pull the trigger on the Rev 2 G5 since the morning of Macworld Stevenote. I check rumor sites in the morning, at lunch, and after work. Nothing for months on end!! End the agony!! Give me something to buy!!!

LOL, you do this too?

It must be contagious, because I do this also. I swear if new Powermacs don't come out in April I'm going to go insane. If I would have known nothing was coming out I might have bought something in Jan. Now, however, I can't buy until the update comes, however far off that is. I'm not going to pay for something 6 months old.

All the rumor sites are pretty slow right now. Thinksecret hardly mentions anything anymore. Appleinsider isn't reliable, Macrumors is the only creditible place that is updating. MacOSRumors is nonsense but is updating, so I visit it and get frustrated with myself for doing so because all it is is reader mail, vague guesses that cover all their bases, catchlines to get you to come back, and them begging for sponsers to get them new toys in exchange for advertising.

I'd be willing to pay more money to Apple if had a clear roadmap so I didn't go through all this anixiety. And I don't buy the rumors about Apple waiting until July-Sept and just come out with a 3 Ghz machine with nothing until then. Money is what motivates companies to do things, and there won't be good sales if they did that. They get a boost in sales each update for the people waiting like me, so they'd missed a whole update money boost. Doesn't seem smart to me.

 

[Parikh1234]

nothing against the current pm line, its awesome. Anyone who has the money to buy one should have bought one and stopped bitching about apple not releasing new stuff every tuesday. On the other side, at this point, i personally feel (and i am going to do this), i would wait till wwdc to order a powermac and hopefully itll ship before december. Even if they announce something this tuesday, it wont ship until may. And unless apple pulls something crazy out of their sleeve, its gonna be a 2.4 dual or something. Why not just wait the couple of extra months and get a 3.0 (promised). I dont know if this all makes sense or not. But its what im gonna do.

 

[segundo]

Last October, I got clearance from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, aka the Bright and Shining Center of my Universe, to blow big bucks on a shiny new top o' the line G5.

My "Bright and Shining Center" has been 86'd so I am hearby clearing myself to blow big bucks on a shiny new G5. But I'm not sure if I should go big or small . . . here's some history:

Monday January 28, 2002 09:57 AM EST
$1599 - 800Mhz G4, 40GB, CD-RW, Radeon 7500, 256MB
$2299 - 933Mhz G4, 60GB, SuperDrive, GeForce4 MX, 256MB
$2999 - Dual 1Ghz, 80GB, SuperDrive, GeForce 4 MX, 512MB
$3649 - Dual 1Ghz, 80GBx2, SuperDrive, GeForce 4 MX, 1.5GB


Tuesday January 28, 2003 08:42 AM EST
$1499, 1GHz G4, FW800, 256MB, Geforce4MX
$1999, Dual 1.25GHz G4, FW800, 256MB, Radeon 9000 Pro
$2699, Dual 1.42GHz G4, FW800, 512MB, Radeon 9000 Pro, SuperDrive


Monday June 23, 2003 05:17 PM EST
$1,999: Single 1.6GHz G5, 800MHz Bus, SuperDrive, 80GB S-ATA HD
$2,399: Single 1.8GHz G5, 900MHz Bus, SuperDrive, 160GB S-ATA HD
$2,999: Dual 2.0GHz G5, 1GHz Bus, SuperDrive, 160GB S-ATA HD


Tuesday November 18, 2003 08:37 AM EST
Single 1.6GHz PowerMac - $1799 (from $1999)
Dual 1.8GHz PowerMac - $2499 (new)
Dual 2.0GHz PowerMac - $2999 (Unchanged)


What looks like the best deal over time? The low, mid, or high end? Maybe that should be broken into to two questions . . . what is (or has been) the best value for general use computing and what is (or has been) the best value for power computing such as video processing? Which new LCD would you pair with that?

My wager: A new single 2.0 G5 and a new 20" LCD will provide the best overall value in the coming line up . . . at least that's what I'm preparing for . . .