Redesigned iMac?

[eclipse525]

I'll bet everything that, it's NOT going to be that radically different. My guess is that it will feel similar to the current ones. It won't be white but rather a design with the aluminum look. This is because it will most likely have a G5 in it and perhaps, slightly larger base for the heat factor. Ofcourse the spec's over all will be improved BUT will cost around what they are priced at now.

OH, Tablets won't be happening. It just doesn't make sense. It would sabotage their Laptop line.


~e

 

[Moonlight]

Re: Re: Re: ok

actually to get a comparable Dell it is about $1479, not $999 and it is butt ugly!

Originally posted by BOOMBA
On Dell just now I was able to configure a dimension with DVD+R/RW for $900, with a free 17 inch flat panel. (offer expires today)

a similar iMac costs $1799.

I like the design of the iMac, but I am not so sure that having a built-in display is that big a benefit to most people,
especially since flat panels are a bit easier to break. I like having a monitor I can replace separately from the CPU.

So aside from the MAC operating system and iApps, which are admittedly better than Windows offerings in my opinion, there isn't much going for the iMac except looks.

So that means to buy an iMac you would be willing to spend TWICE what a PC costs.

Does it look THAT good?
No. It looks BETTER, but not enough to double it's value.

I think ALL Apple users should realize that we are paying almost 0.5 to 2 times what it costs for a PC across the board to buy a similar MAC. And aside from the G5 towers, we are still getting spanked in performance.

We are paying for 2 things

1) design/looks
2) the OS and "free" apps

Now, I say "free" because we have to pay EVERY YEAR $129 for the new OS and FREE apps, so ....

What do we get?

We get looks, and as shallow as I am, I am not paying twice as much for an iMac as a similar PC.

I got the G5 because for price and performance it is about as good as you can get on either side.

iMac is not a good deal.

Sorry.

Needs to cost half what it does.

 

[BOOMBA]

Originally posted by kangaroo
Sony (W & V series vaios) & Gateway (Profile/Media Center) all-in-ones, for example, sport the computer mounted directly behind the LCD. Seems like a logical design move to get the box (dome) off the desk and hide it behind a floating display. In fact, all they need to due is take a powerbook, sans display/keyboard and slap it on the back of a 20" display and they're practically there. Hmm, how much should I charge Apple for that one?

If you put all that weight up on the "floating" display, how will you support it?

A 30 lb display isn't going to FLOAT on anything. and no arm could support it and be as mobile as the current arm.

You would still need either a big heavy DOME for weight, or a large footprint stand so that thing don't "tip me over and pour me out".

 

[whooleytoo]

Originally posted by MacBoyX
Hmmm...A G5 iMac? I for one hope not. The problem with Macs these days are that we all want machines priced differently with the same specs.

Well, Apple - as the only Mac maker - is always going to have difficulties trying to please everyone.

The problem is, there are no fast, budget Mac's (ideally suited for gamers) like on the PC side. I can get a 2.4GHz Dell P4 for 850 euros here (includes monitor, DVD+RW, and GeForce4MX), and then add a faster graphics card and surround sound easily. Or, I could spend 1,450 on the cheapest iMac, and have a slower games machine, with no option to add faster graphics cards, or surround sound.

I know you can dismiss that as "that's just gamers", but I don't think Apple can afford to have 1.2 or 1.4 GHz G4s competing for attention with 2.4GHz PC's that are a lot cheaper.

 

[jocknerd]

This is the most reasonable response yet

Originally posted by acj
The new imac will turn into the only single G5. Duals only for powermac.

The G4 is dead. It just can't compete with the Intel/AMD crowd. The consumer market is different than the professional market. Most of the G5 owners are saying that the G4 is perfect for the iMac. Thats BS! Just because its smokes the G4 doesn't mean it should be exclusive to the Power Macs.

Consumers are comparing the iMac to Intel/AMD systems. There is no way 90% of them will buy an iMac with a slow G4 over a 2 Ghz PC that cost half as much.

If Apple IS redesigning the iMac, there is a reason for it. Its going to get the G5. Let me reiterate, the G4 will be history. My guess is that by this time next year, the G4 will be extinct on all new Apple systems.

 

[rt_brained]

Oh please, oh please, oh please...

 

[srobert]

Originally posted by rt_brained
Oh please, oh please, oh please...

Thanks a lot rt_brained for showing me this ugly as hell... thing. Now I gotta go wash my eyes. ^_^

 

[BOOMBA]

Originally posted by srobert
Thanks a lot rt_brained for showing me this ugly as hell... thing. Now I gotta go wash my eyes. ^_^

WASH THEM!
oh, that was a better idea.

I actually TORE MY EYES out.
Well, hindsight's 20/20.

And that's the only sight I'll have from now on I guess.

 

[reyesmac]

Apple has two choices...

Design it so it is cheaper to produce and more people will buy it and like it like the original iMac.

Or make it the most powerful Mac system under $1,800 but sell less because that is still too expensive for a computer that would be less powerful than a G5 powermac.

I think they are redesigning it to make it cheaper to produce. But I don't think the consumer will benefit from that until its 2nd revision.

 

[pigami]

It seems to me with the current LCD iMac Apple lost their focus on the primary objective of the original iMac:
Gaining market share, which they've obviously failed to do with the LCD imac being way too expensive.

The current iMac is several years too early considering manufacturing costs.

It has an expensive display, an expensive stainless steel arm
and an expensive motherboard being so miniaturized.

They should have learned with the Cube that when it comes to actually SELLING CPU's, price IS the main factor,not sophistication or advanced industrial design.

Not to mention their scarse esoteric ads that are at the opposite of what Dell and Gateway customers expect in a computer ad : VALUE .

I think they should have marketed the current eMac as the "new" iMac with an aggressive ad campain focusing on its incredible value at $800 .

To get the PC masses to switch they also need an inexpensive displayless box ( be it a cube or a pyramid...) so they can use their old CRT or LCD monitors and buy it for $500 using current Emac parts...

With an aggressive down-to-earth ad campaing focusing on the superiority of OS X , iLife apps, G4 speed etc and the incredible value , they could improve their market share substantially.

They could keep the LCD iMac as a second way to draw people in the Apple stores. Just like going to the Chevy dealer to see the new Corvette but ending buying a Cavalier, by the millions...

just my 2 cents

Pierre

 

[airbag]

WOW!

- Wireless, tablet Display
- Color-changing casing
- G5 prosessor

And all this for less than $1000 ??

Forget it! Not going to happen.

I think, and hope, the basic shape of the iMac won't change much ... it's just too brilliant as it is.

 

[FlamDrag]

Headless Macs

Everyone that wants a basic no-frills headless mac that costs less than $1000...

just get an iBook. Plug in your monitor and go.

G4's will not be gone by this time next year. Sorry.

G5 iBooks next year? SURE. I'm not saying that it couldn't happen, but I seriously doubt it.

THey would have to have 2-3 GHz PM's (alleged to be the plan)
1ish Ghz PB's and iMacs

800mhz G5 iBooks... I find this highly improbable.

 

[iHack]

Re: It's got to have a G5 and be under $1500

Originally posted by jocknerd
Even under a $1000 without a built-in display. Then Apple will have something for the masses.

Apple is not going to make a product for the masses. It may want to double it's market share, but that can be still quite elitist (what, 5-8 %?). The masses are not cool. The Dells of this world are for the masses.

Apples selling point is that it is not for the masses. Think different.

M.

 

[iHack]

It's going to be a headless iMac: the iBall!!

M.

 

[plinkoman]

it has got to have a G5 in it, why the hell would they go through all the work of redesigning it, just to have to redesign it again 6 months to a year later to accomodate the G5. it'd certainly be alot earlier for the imac then i expected, but if it is true that they are redesigning it, then it is a G5

 

[tex210]

nintendo did it.

So if Nintendo can sell a $99 headless ppc console, why can't we have a $299 unit that runs g3's ? Make it ugly and make it quickly. 600 mhz min for isight. itunes, imovie, and panther. I know Apple makes money off the hardware, but come on, this tech is old.... it should be cheap. I want a G5, but I know i will pay out my nose when I get one, something should be available for joe blo who is not a gamer, and doesn't need to do the work Pixar is doing. O.k. $499? I bought my first crt for about $1400 w/ extras, later bought a second for the office new for around $600 bucks, keep that price moving down! Want market share? Look at nintendo.
A device like this would still make a web appliance look like a toy. You could still photoshop, you would just need to spend quality time with the kids while it works! Come on, we did it in the 90's! Pizza box anyone?

edit: Our ad campaign could be the queen of hearts running around shouting... "Off with her head!"

 

[FlamDrag]

Re: Re: It's got to have a G5 and be under $1500

Originally posted by iHack
Apple is not going to make a product for the masses. It may want to double it's market share, but that can be still quite elitist (what, 5-8 %?). The masses are not cool. The Dells of this world are for the masses.

Apples selling point is that it is not for the masses. Think different.

M.

Hey, finally, someone who understands Apple.

Before people start spewing "THE iPOD IS FOR THE MASSES" no, it's much more elitist and expensive than the other options.

 

[confusion]

ok, here's another newbie-post

i guess the whole thing isn't about a redesigned imac. why? because next year will be a very special anniversary: 1984 - 2004 anyone?

it's going to be the 20th birthday of the mac and i guess apple will have something very nice up it's sleeve to celebrate. i wouldn't be surprised if this is the first sign of it

cheers
confusion

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

apple screwed up taking the imac upscale,costing more and still unupgradeable and crap butt video card. maybe they will get it one day. the emac should have been the imac, their whole philosophy has been screwed when it comes to marketing imacs,emacs,powermacs hence the 5% market share. maybe this will be a first step to turning it around but again is this article anything more then someones dream?just another rumor

 

[JediL]

20th anniversary....

Hi, first post here, will do my best.

I remember an old rumor probably on page 2 about something "big" in early 2004.
It went on to talk about Jan/2004 being the 20th anniversary of the Macintosh and to "think revolutionary".

Perhaps revolutionary new iMac introduced in a Superbowl commericial?

 

[cubist]

Re: Its just a cube with a built in monitor

Originally posted by reyesmac
All they have to do is make the base about the size of the cube and put a well engineered rotating LCD mounting bracket type thing on the top. The CD drive would be at the base of the unit like it is now. It would be like a bucket with an LCD display that can rotate 180° around the top.... At least, thats how I think it will look like.

You got it, reyesmac! The big change will be that the display will be optional - the base will be a flat aluminum slab with a place that the display can be attached.

We heard a rumor like this back in the pre-G5 days, and nobody wanted to believe it.

(edit) Argh, I should have read all the other posts, this's already been discussed (altho without the old rumor angle). I'd also like to point out that wireless displays don't have sufficient bandwidth for games or movies.

 

[kf4wvk]

Only Two Improvements

The only physical improvements I'd make are:

1. Slot-loading CD
2. Small (Film?) Speakers on the sides of the monitor (but keep the external speaker jack).

The reason for #1 is obvious. No tray to break off accidentally or open into your mostly but not all-gone drink.

The logic for suggesting #2 goes towards cable reduction. With BlueTooth, I can have wireless keyboard and mouse. With AirPort I can have wireless networking. If I can lose the speakers, the only cable left is the power cable. This would make it incredibily sexy and give it limited mobility around the house / office.

 

[greenstork]

Re: Re: Re: ok

Originally posted by BOOMBA


I think ALL Apple users should realize that we are paying almost 0.5 to 2 times what it costs for a PC across the board to buy a similar MAC. And aside from the G5 towers, we are still getting spanked in performance.

Whoh now smart guy. I couldn't agree with you more about the iMac. The equivalent Wintel system is much much cheaper. When you start to get into high performace desktops and notebooks, that Macs are the same price or cheaper than the equivalent PC counterpart. You're just flat wrong here. Do your homework first.

 

[Steven1621]

hopefully this rumor will manifest itself soon. apple needs to continue to raise the bar with its hardware. this reason alone has been a huge factor in its success.

 

[Lancetx]

Re: Re: Re: Re: ok

Originally posted by greenstork
Whoh now smart guy. I couldn't agree with you more about the iMac. The equivalent Wintel system is much much cheaper. When you start to get into high performace desktops and notebooks, that Macs are the same price or cheaper than the equivalent PC counterpart. You're just flat wrong here. Do your homework first.

You are correct. PowerMacs and PowerBooks today are pretty much on par price and performance wise with PCs out there that have similar specs. The iMacs do lag a little behind currently, but if you price a comparable Dell with a Celeron processor and their best 17" flat panel display, it comes out to over $1,400. So the iMac at $1,799 is still not that much more expensive for what you actually get.