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PowerMac G5s in Stores?
- Thread starter Freg3000
- Start date
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my G5 search
I too just returned from the Apple Store in Huntington, NY. I spoke with three different salesmen and got three different answers. What I did learn is as follows: 1) They definitely do not have any G5s in the store. The doorbell rang for the backdoor (receiving door) and two went running only to come back saying "nope, not yet." 2) they did not know the shipping date was today since one of them went on the website this morning to see if there were any updates, and was plesently surprised. 3) one of the salesman said that he believes that the 1.6 will be shipping this week and the 1.8s next week, but never said why he believes that. 4) One of the tech guys said that he thinks they'll be getting demos in first, then units for sale later in a week or so, and when I reminded him that they told me to get on their list because I'd get my unit the same time as website pre-orders, he said, yes, you'll get yours right away. Items 3 and 4 seem like speculation on the part of the employees, so a time of delivery is unknown, unfortunately.
I tend to think I'll have my 1.8 next week, but who knows? I do know that at this store I am the first on their list for a 1.8, and they confirmed that the procedure is a phone call, then I must go in with a credit card to pay in full, finalize my customizations, and leave the unit with them to do the work. With buying apple care, they'll install memory, upgrades, and all software I buy at the time, and I would come back two hours later to pick it up. I'm guessing that's SOP, but since someone asked above, I thought I'd add that.
I too just returned from the Apple Store in Huntington, NY. I spoke with three different salesmen and got three different answers. What I did learn is as follows: 1) They definitely do not have any G5s in the store. The doorbell rang for the backdoor (receiving door) and two went running only to come back saying "nope, not yet." 2) they did not know the shipping date was today since one of them went on the website this morning to see if there were any updates, and was plesently surprised. 3) one of the salesman said that he believes that the 1.6 will be shipping this week and the 1.8s next week, but never said why he believes that. 4) One of the tech guys said that he thinks they'll be getting demos in first, then units for sale later in a week or so, and when I reminded him that they told me to get on their list because I'd get my unit the same time as website pre-orders, he said, yes, you'll get yours right away. Items 3 and 4 seem like speculation on the part of the employees, so a time of delivery is unknown, unfortunately.
I tend to think I'll have my 1.8 next week, but who knows? I do know that at this store I am the first on their list for a 1.8, and they confirmed that the procedure is a phone call, then I must go in with a credit card to pay in full, finalize my customizations, and leave the unit with them to do the work. With buying apple care, they'll install memory, upgrades, and all software I buy at the time, and I would come back two hours later to pick it up. I'm guessing that's SOP, but since someone asked above, I thought I'd add that.
I've read, that it can be as extreme as 75% of the total cost is profit for them. $500 to make the machine, $1500 for profit. However, take that with a huge grain of salt...that seems a little too over blown. Since I don't know what the true expenses and profits are, that is just what I read once. I'm repeating what I saw, not claiming as fact.
I just saw Apple's web site and noticed that the new PMs are now shipping. Kind of makes me wish I had ordered a new Mac, but I'm trying to keep it smart and not make totally unnecessary expenditures until I have everything and everyone paid off, THEN I can get a new Mac. Plus, I'm waiting for Panther to come out, so if I can get a PM w/ Panther, then I'll save myself a bit of money. Sorry, Apple, but I don't like this scheme of paying $130 for each .1 upgrade. Now, if there was a better upgrading scheme, then perhaps. I've purchased Mac OS X beta, 10.0, 10.1, and 10.2, it would be nice if I could get 10.3 at a reduced price.
thanks for posting the pic.. i went to apples site
called the canadian distributer for the Apple developer connection for hardware
they said they should have some in by end of month. but didnt know how many..
called the canadian distributer for the Apple developer connection for hardware
they said they should have some in by end of month. but didnt know how many..
Re: my G5 search
). Maybe they are only allowed to say certain things, it sounds like it sometimes. Perhaps the guys in the genuis bars are the Mac gurus, I need to ask questions ?
I wonder how smart or how much of a Machead you have to be to work in their stores, I have told them stuff, that they didn't know and I'm not really a nerd or anything ( but a Mac fan
). Maybe they are only allowed to say certain things, it sounds like it sometimes. Perhaps the guys in the genuis bars are the Mac gurus, I need to ask questions ?my upgrades
When I originally went to get on the list, they had me go through the ordering process on the apple store site, then print the specs that they then stapled to the list. I asked today if I could make changes, and they assured me that when I went in to pay, they would go over all of the upgrades again.
My plan is to upgrade the RAM to a gig, to add the airport card, the bluetooth card, and to upgrade the graphics card to the 9600 (I like to play games, but have no time, so I don't want to go overboard with a graphics card). Again, this is all for a 1.8.
When I originally went to get on the list, they had me go through the ordering process on the apple store site, then print the specs that they then stapled to the list. I asked today if I could make changes, and they assured me that when I went in to pay, they would go over all of the upgrades again.
My plan is to upgrade the RAM to a gig, to add the airport card, the bluetooth card, and to upgrade the graphics card to the 9600 (I like to play games, but have no time, so I don't want to go overboard with a graphics card). Again, this is all for a 1.8.
The average price between the three machines is 2499 (and this is ``base'' models only).
Multiply that by 100,000 and you've got 249 million. Now multiply that by 0.25 (assuming they're taking a 25% profit margin on the G5) and you've got yourself $62,475,000. That figure alone is more than Apple's earnings the past few quarters...
Multiply that by 100,000 and you've got 249 million. Now multiply that by 0.25 (assuming they're taking a 25% profit margin on the G5) and you've got yourself $62,475,000. That figure alone is more than Apple's earnings the past few quarters...
Re: my upgrades
You'll have to make a small change to your idea. Bluetooth on the G5s takes the form of a chip directly attached to the motherboard. In order to add bluetooth after the computer is configured, you'll need to get an external bluetooth dongle.
Of course, you could get your hands on a bluetooth chip and put it in yourself, but you would probably void the warranty. At least it's easy enough to upgrade the AirPort card (be sure to get the external antenna attachment) and the RAM (don't forget to upgrade in pairs!). Have fun!
You'll have to make a small change to your idea. Bluetooth on the G5s takes the form of a chip directly attached to the motherboard. In order to add bluetooth after the computer is configured, you'll need to get an external bluetooth dongle.
Of course, you could get your hands on a bluetooth chip and put it in yourself, but you would probably void the warranty. At least it's easy enough to upgrade the AirPort card (be sure to get the external antenna attachment) and the RAM (don't forget to upgrade in pairs!). Have fun!
Does the little white text on the box say:
Power Mac G5: Kevlar bishop airplane
or is it just me?
Power Mac G5: Kevlar bishop airplane
or is it just me?
Re: my upgrades
Thank you for your advice and corrections. What I meant was apple will be installing all of those items for me at the time of purchase, so I need not worry about the details so much. I thought the bluetooth was a card, but nonetheless, all I will say to them is "apple guy, please give this machine bluetooth."
As for the airport antennae, I have not seen that mentioned, though it makes sense given the antannae port in the back. Is that for sale by Apple? I will definitely want that.
Thank you for your advice and corrections. What I meant was apple will be installing all of those items for me at the time of purchase, so I need not worry about the details so much. I thought the bluetooth was a card, but nonetheless, all I will say to them is "apple guy, please give this machine bluetooth."
As for the airport antennae, I have not seen that mentioned, though it makes sense given the antannae port in the back. Is that for sale by Apple? I will definitely want that.
I bet it's all those little pictoral handling instructions. Ya kow, the this-end-up icon, fragile, do not stack more than X high, keep out of moisture, ect. That's where they are on many cartons.
Edit: Whoops, I thought you meant the BIG G5.
Re: Re: Re: my upgrades
Here the reference: "THE POWER MAC G5: AN INSIDE LOOK". Macworld. September 2003. Page 63. It is not currently available on the web.
As for the restriction, it doesn't suprise me. If I remember correctly, every time Apple has offered Bluetooth as an internal option, it was never available as an add-later option, like AirPort.
Of course, I don't have proof of this, but I do have this: Apple provides AirPort as a build-to-order option on systems that can support it. In addition, Apple provides AirPort cards for those systems as an individual item that you can purchase and install yourself. In addition, you do not see third-party 802.11b/a/g cards offered for sale on Apples site.
Now look at Bluetooth. Apple provides Bluetooth as a build-to-order option on systems that can support it. However, Apple does not provide this as an individual item that you can purchase yourself. Instead, Apple offers a third-party USB Bluetooth device for sale on their site.
With this information, I would guess that, for whatever reason, Apple's Bluetooth build-to-order option installs equipment that can not be installed by a user (and by that I mean a home user).
Here the reference: "THE POWER MAC G5: AN INSIDE LOOK". Macworld. September 2003. Page 63. It is not currently available on the web.
As for the restriction, it doesn't suprise me. If I remember correctly, every time Apple has offered Bluetooth as an internal option, it was never available as an add-later option, like AirPort.
Of course, I don't have proof of this, but I do have this: Apple provides AirPort as a build-to-order option on systems that can support it. In addition, Apple provides AirPort cards for those systems as an individual item that you can purchase and install yourself. In addition, you do not see third-party 802.11b/a/g cards offered for sale on Apples site.
Now look at Bluetooth. Apple provides Bluetooth as a build-to-order option on systems that can support it. However, Apple does not provide this as an individual item that you can purchase yourself. Instead, Apple offers a third-party USB Bluetooth device for sale on their site.
With this information, I would guess that, for whatever reason, Apple's Bluetooth build-to-order option installs equipment that can not be installed by a user (and by that I mean a home user).
When I heard this news here, the first thing I did was call the Southpoint, NC, store. I was ready to make the 2.5 hour drive to go check these babies out.
Alas, Southpoint said it didn't have 'em yet...Later this week, as Macrumors said (contrary to NY Times reports, but why should we be surprised?). I'm going to go Friday instead. Hopefully, the G5s will be there.
Alas, Southpoint said it didn't have 'em yet...Later this week, as Macrumors said (contrary to NY Times reports, but why should we be surprised?). I'm going to go Friday instead. Hopefully, the G5s will be there.
You're right when you guess that this is overblown. Apple's profit margins have come down significantly in the past several years, but even at their most bloated stage, I am positive that they were never at 75%.
It's something "...desktop computer" - perhaps "Apple", "Pro" or "Power"? It *looks* like "Jar-Jar", but I hope that's not right....
Matt
i will confirm this for the people all wondering. on any mac where bluetooth is an option, you ahve to get it done at the time of ordering, you cna never add it in the future unless you want something goign on the outside. it is a usb bluetooth adapter that is soldered to the motherboard. ill even post the tech note about it but it isnt necessary or debatable, unless apple installed it, your gonna have to get an external.
iJon
iJon