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PowerMac G5 Updates - March 23rd?
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MacRand
[/QUOTE]
As pointed out by MattMac, NO Steve did NOT!
And Apple's margins are high? Above what cost figure?
Ask any Apple Dealer and they'll tell you there is not much incentive to discount Apple's set retail price on computers (even if they could - fair traded) because the MARGIN is LOW.
You are correct. Apple resellers do not make much margin because Steve won't let them. Again Steve wants to make a high margin. Resellers need to make a certain dollar amount per Sq Ft just to pay the expenses. Take a company like Home Depot, at one time they were grossing about 400 dollars per Sq Ft per year on 102 thousand Sq Ft stores. I don't know what the sales figures are for companies like Comp USA or Fry's Electronics, but they have set aside a lot of Sq Ft for Apple products. If they don't make enough gross profit per Sq Ft they will have to stop selling Apple products and replace them with something more profitable. His thirst for more profit could cost him all of the retail outlets he has except for the Apple retail stores and the the Apple web sight. The Apple stores are very expensive to open and operate as Gateway has found out. Will they remain open 3 years from now?
Most Mac owners seem to have a PC in the house as well. When will they decide Macs are simply to expensive for what you get and quit buying them? I like Macs. I think they are the most user friendly machines made, and I wan't to buy a new G5 but I won't pay a lot of money for it just because Steve wants high margins.
When the new G5's come out, I would like to see a dual 1.8 for abought 1700 dollars, with the same specs it has now. But i'm betting we won't. The components used in this machine have already come down in cost, but this is never passed on to us the consumer. It just makes higher margins for Steve.
[/QUOTE]
As pointed out by MattMac, NO Steve did NOT!
And Apple's margins are high? Above what cost figure?
Ask any Apple Dealer and they'll tell you there is not much incentive to discount Apple's set retail price on computers (even if they could - fair traded) because the MARGIN is LOW.
You are correct. Apple resellers do not make much margin because Steve won't let them. Again Steve wants to make a high margin. Resellers need to make a certain dollar amount per Sq Ft just to pay the expenses. Take a company like Home Depot, at one time they were grossing about 400 dollars per Sq Ft per year on 102 thousand Sq Ft stores. I don't know what the sales figures are for companies like Comp USA or Fry's Electronics, but they have set aside a lot of Sq Ft for Apple products. If they don't make enough gross profit per Sq Ft they will have to stop selling Apple products and replace them with something more profitable. His thirst for more profit could cost him all of the retail outlets he has except for the Apple retail stores and the the Apple web sight. The Apple stores are very expensive to open and operate as Gateway has found out. Will they remain open 3 years from now?
Most Mac owners seem to have a PC in the house as well. When will they decide Macs are simply to expensive for what you get and quit buying them? I like Macs. I think they are the most user friendly machines made, and I wan't to buy a new G5 but I won't pay a lot of money for it just because Steve wants high margins.
When the new G5's come out, I would like to see a dual 1.8 for abought 1700 dollars, with the same specs it has now. But i'm betting we won't. The components used in this machine have already come down in cost, but this is never passed on to us the consumer. It just makes higher margins for Steve.
While I think your prediction of a Dual G5 1.8GHz at about $1700 is not unrealistic,Macster389 said:
I do believe your characterization that Apple has "never passed on to ...consumers" savings it makes in progressively lower component parts.
Indeed when a new and better video board becomes available at nearly the same price as an older inferior board, or when a faster SuperDrive becomes available at the same price as the older slower SuperDrive, Apple has upgraded the component, or a price reduction reflects a lower cost of production. To assume otherwise is simply pessimistice and negative attitude without specific instances of reliable proof.
Do you have such damning proof?
The one thing I think we agree on is the substantial profit taking by Apple in "optional" upgrades in build-to-order Macs in their online store. The prices they charge for the upgrade item is often more than the street price of the item, and no credit is given for the part (memory chip, hard drive, etc.) removed. Apple's pricing policy in this area is obscene, about like the add-ons new car dealers make on their vehicles. And sometimes, you can't even get a decent video board, 7200 rpm mobile hard drive, or other items all available at reasonable after market. There are abuses.
aswitcher said:
I think we should pack up and move to the NAB thread. I can't believe you all are giving up on that for powermac updates.
jane doe said:
Der.
But I am going to buy the new powermacs whent hey come out no matter what the speeds are. (Unless the updates are only to 2.2
)Mac Rand
You seem to try and make excuses for the pricing on Apple products which is fine. If you wan't to pay the price you can. If you want proof of high pricing policy just look at the Apple store websight. Apple is selling brand new G4 1.25 gig Power Macs for almost 2000 dollars! These unit have old boards, slower memory, slower processors etc. And the technology in them is well over two years old. PC's had these components in them over 3 1/2 years ago. By Apple's own claims they are over 3 times slower than the G5 machines. How much have these components come down in cost? I would bet over 75%. I'm sure you will try to justify this as well!
You seem to try and make excuses for the pricing on Apple products which is fine. If you wan't to pay the price you can. If you want proof of high pricing policy just look at the Apple store websight. Apple is selling brand new G4 1.25 gig Power Macs for almost 2000 dollars! These unit have old boards, slower memory, slower processors etc. And the technology in them is well over two years old. PC's had these components in them over 3 1/2 years ago. By Apple's own claims they are over 3 times slower than the G5 machines. How much have these components come down in cost? I would bet over 75%. I'm sure you will try to justify this as well!
Macster389 said:
Which might not be something terrible, since the vast, vast majority of all salespeople at stores that aren't either Apple-owned or mac-oriented seem to know very little about the platform. Inept representation isn't exactly what we need, either, and that's all I've ever encountered from that particular branch of the retail channel. On the other side of things, we have Apple's screened, hand-picked Geniuses and salespeople at their retail outlets, where they get to pick the layout and presentation of the products and be certain that at least a reasonable amount of technical knowledge is on tap.
Sounds like a better plan, to me.
Then don't... Christ, people, I have to say this over and over again, but the important factor here isn't what you believe about Apple's prices, but what you do about it. Saying that you won't buy one on a webboard isn't going to change anything, but following my handy-dandy little plan I laid out before probably would (assuming all of you waverers actually went ahead and did it and enough others followed suit).
My family is mac-only, and has been for as long as the platform has existed. There just isn't as good a solution on the other side of the fence.
Why wouldn't you see something higher than a dual 1.8? If nothing else, you can probably catch them on closeout sales when the new machines hit, because I doubt that 1.8 will be the lowend if we're getting 3.0s (which I still grant Steve leeway to accomplish). The prices do come down over time, generally when the line moves on, and that's just the economic reality of Apple's product line.
If you don't like paying for it, then go buy from a company that has margins you like better. Apple needs their margins in the situation that they're currently in, and taking them down means probably killing the company from a lack of funds.
Macster389 said:
Will they remain open 3 years from now?
Most Mac owners seem to have a PC in the house as well. When will they decide Macs are simply to expensive for what you get and quit buying them? I like Macs. I think they are the most user friendly machines made, and I wan't to buy a new G5 but I won't pay a lot of money for it just because Steve wants high margins. [/QUOTE]
I think that the Apple stores will be open for many decades to come. It would be very disappointing to loose them.
Currently only have Macs in my house. It was over ten years ago that my wife had a PC because of school and work.
Urdam Agrees
Gosh, you agree to everything, every post I look at has "I agree" on it... All by you...
Urdam said:
Gosh, you agree to everything, every post I look at has "I agree" on it... All by you...
MacRAND said:For what Virginia Tech did for the G5 Mac and Apple by building the world's 3rd fastest SuperComputer out of 1100 dual G5s, I think they should have a little priority.
invaLPsion, what information do you have (authority) that anyone other than Virginia Tech has gotten a "first bite out of the Apple"?
Can you name these "other big buyers like the government"?
What government? The FBI? Military? FedEx?
If anything, Apple has pumped millions of extra dollars into practical and speedy development and delivery to rush a thin Xserve dual 2GHz to Virginia Tech and to us.
As a natural result, the rest of us cannot help but benefit from this - especially to the extent that the Xserve design helps Apple better understand and lick a serious cooling design problem towards eventual incorporation of the G5 into a PowerBook.
That's what we all want, isn't it?
Besides, First Adopters are always the Guinea Pigs, whether it's computers, cars, or washing machines. I'm more concerned about the heat, noise, and motherboard replacement situation with existing G5s than to worry about Rev. B. As i've said, when Uncle Steve feels the new stuff is ready for release, it will be released...and not before.
Last summer when the hot weather came my Dell sounded like a jet was flying in the house!
Loosers!
"I think that the Apple stores will be open for many decades to come. It would be very disappointing to loose them. "
What is it with this "loose/lose" thing?
Ever since that guy pointed out his growing irritation with the refusal of people to get such a simple thing right (about a hundred posts ago) I have been infected with the same intolerance. It must be pre-update tension.
Excuse me while I stare at the Apple site and wait...
Oh by the way, would anyone mind telling me a bit more about this NAB thing?
What does the acronym stand for? Also, I'd like to hear from anyone owning a 1.6 G5 regarding it's performance and whether they are generally satisfied with it.
"I think that the Apple stores will be open for many decades to come. It would be very disappointing to loose them. "
What is it with this "loose/lose" thing?
Ever since that guy pointed out his growing irritation with the refusal of people to get such a simple thing right (about a hundred posts ago) I have been infected with the same intolerance. It must be pre-update tension.
Excuse me while I stare at the Apple site and wait...
Oh by the way, would anyone mind telling me a bit more about this NAB thing?
What does the acronym stand for? Also, I'd like to hear from anyone owning a 1.6 G5 regarding it's performance and whether they are generally satisfied with it.
PRØBE said:
It's either No Apple Breakthroughs or National Association of Broadcasters. Some big meeting on 4/18, Apple attending and promise of something new.
If you ask me, just another opportunity for Apple to disappoint their faithful. I won't loose hope though.
rdowns said:It's either No Apple Breakthroughs or National Association of Broadcasters. Some big meeting on 4/18, Apple attending and promise of something new.
If you ask me, just another opportunity for Apple to disappoint their faithful. I won't loose hope though.
If they release any hardware then I think it fair to say it will only be speed bumped stuff. I don't think it will be the G5 because of the specials currently on. Ditto with new screens unless of course they are happy to keep the 23" special on because they need to move 23"s and/or the new screens come out cheaper... Maybe a speed bumped G4 PowerBook, iMac or even eMac (in time for pre summer sales for next school year US???).
PRØBE said:
The National Association of Broadcaster's annual convetion in Las Vegas. Manufacturers release new broadcast equiment (HD cameras, lighting, sound equipment, etc - anything video related). The hope is that Apple will release new professional models for video editing/animation or new production software. I know the date of the 18th is being thrown around, but apple isn't presenting, they just have a "large booth". So any new releases could technnically come any day during the convention...
www.nabshow.org - "The World's Largest Electronic Media Show" April 17-22
W
Downdivx said:
More stuff for Final Cut...?
New iSight / new iSight software?
Digitial TV tuner card/box thingy
A little NAB will do you.
NAB is mostly video/audio (rather than film) type people who are big on NLE (non-linear editing; like RAM) and are prime users of FinalCut Pro, Soundtrack, maybe GarageBand (serious and for fun), including Photoshop CS, and 3D stuff.
This is a major chunk of the crowd for which the giant 17" PowerBook with SuperDrive was built, and who worship all the speed and power a cluster of dual G5 Macs can give them. Think Pixar, multiple Mac G5 systems and "render farm". It not dedicated AVID fans, they own Macs to use FinalCut Pro; Premiere really doesn't count for much anymore boo hoo, (tear).
Lots of broadcast through prosumer digital video cameras, lenses, editing equipment (memory, converters, etc.) lighting, etc.
The big thing right now is HD (High Definition) TV and acquiring, storing, and editing footage for commercials, specials, "films", movies, whatever a "producer" thinks he/she can sell to a network.
SONY will be heavy, AVID, Apple, the networks will be represented, cable, etc. I'd look for a Pioneer booth, Blu-ray, and whoever wants to tout their latest DVD thing or replacement therefore.
So, it's a good forum for Apple to excite video editor type people with audio products, faster CPU for editing, and software for editing. It would only be an "excuse" for announcing a faster eMac or iMac since the press will be there en masse. Who knows? If anyone sees Stevie wonder waltzing around the venue wearing a black turtle neck sweater, then "be still my heart!"
rdowns - hopeful, but incorrigibly pessimistic as everrdowns said:... National Association of Broadcasters.
Some big meeting on 4/18, Apple attending and promise of something new.
If you ask me, just another opportunity for Apple to disappoint their faithful.
I won't loose hope though.
NAB is mostly video/audio (rather than film) type people who are big on NLE (non-linear editing; like RAM) and are prime users of FinalCut Pro, Soundtrack, maybe GarageBand (serious and for fun), including Photoshop CS, and 3D stuff.
This is a major chunk of the crowd for which the giant 17" PowerBook with SuperDrive was built, and who worship all the speed and power a cluster of dual G5 Macs can give them. Think Pixar, multiple Mac G5 systems and "render farm". It not dedicated AVID fans, they own Macs to use FinalCut Pro; Premiere really doesn't count for much anymore
boo hoo, (tear).Lots of broadcast through prosumer digital video cameras, lenses, editing equipment (memory, converters, etc.) lighting, etc.
The big thing right now is HD (High Definition) TV and acquiring, storing, and editing footage for commercials, specials, "films", movies, whatever a "producer" thinks he/she can sell to a network.
SONY will be heavy, AVID, Apple, the networks will be represented, cable, etc.
I'd look for a Pioneer booth, Blu-ray, and whoever wants to tout their latest DVD thing or replacement therefore.So, it's a good forum for Apple to excite video editor type people with audio products, faster CPU for editing, and software for editing. It would only be an "excuse" for announcing a faster eMac or iMac since the press will be there en masse. Who knows? If anyone sees Stevie wonder waltzing around the venue wearing a black turtle neck sweater, then "be still my heart!"
ADDENDUM: I wonder if Apple will display a multiple Mac dual G5 Xserve render farm with Xserve RAID for massive storage? Sort of a video editor's SuperComputer Dream Machine.Downdivx said:
Apple is just dying to sell Xserves to business, and the
video/broadcast industry is BIG business.
The last NAB hold-out, MOSR, is now saying WWDC...
There is no hope for NAB...
Looks like we're waiting until WWDC...
Oh god, I'm depressed.
There is no hope for NAB...
Looks like we're waiting until WWDC...
Oh god, I'm depressed.
History shows NAB is boring unless your one of those guys so i would say WWDC unless Apple changes its way which i doubt. Dont expect Hardware news it will be all software. my 2 cents
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