Sub $1000 Apple Device?

[SiliconAddict]

Originally posted by ITR 81
You can compare it to the lowend eMac.

Think again:

$799.00
1GHz PowerPC G4
128MB SDRAM
40GB Ultra ATA drive
Combo drive


$719.99
www.e4me.com
-2Ghz AMD Athlon XP 2800 (Mhz myth aside this is a speedy CPU.)
-512 MB DDR
-160 GB HDD
-DVD +/- RW Drive (Write Max: 4x DVD+/-R, 2.4x DVD+RW, 2x DVD-RW, 16x CD-R and 10x CD-RW disks

Now you add a decent flat panel display or even a CRT for $150-$200 and you have a system that basically blows away the eMac. The iMac is at least somewhat comparable to this. Apple needs a cheaper computer because I will not point anyone to a Mac when there is a PC solution that may be of similar price but you get more bang for your buck.

I’m not going to lie to make a switcher out of someone. When I recommend a Mac I do it on the basis of what the user’s experience with windows is, what his/her ease of use with Windows is, what they want to do with that computer, and how much they are willing to spend. I have made several converts of a few people in the office I work in (IT.) which I think is ironic since I have yet to get a Mac myself. *sighs and points to his sig.* Bottom line: IMHO, Apple needs a more robust system at that cheaper price point.

 

[toughboy]

CUBE?!?!?

Originally posted by Thanatoast
At that price it'll be a G4. And I certainly don't object to that.

For those who are looking to switch (upgrade ) to a mac, a $749 G4 cube would certainly fit the bill.

Shoot, for that price I could probably even talk my parents into one. A nice, solid machine at a great price.

sweet.

CUBEY!!! oh please!!!
it would sell like hotcakes!! and be sure that I'll be buying one too!!!

 

[ITR 81]

I was only comparing it to the lowend eMac due to price.

Now why not make headless eMac with superdrive with a 1.25GHz G4 for $749 bucks consumer level and $699 with EDU discount and the superdrive would be a 8 speed drive and not 4 speed like on that econo PC.

As for a 1GHz vz a 2GHz intel or amd brand..well when my friend compared his Dell 2GHz to my 1GHz he lost out on all fronts except for the gaming area. He actually was going to buy a Apple until he saw the Dell for cheaper price and thought it would perform better since it had double the clock-cycle..but he even said apparently that wasn't true.

 

[dieselg4]

headless iMac type thing.

I think it'll be the other direction of the iMac. A headless hemisphere (or maybe a Sphere! Trec Cool . . .) that you can attach your own monitor to wihtout investin substantial amounts of money into a computer that will someday be obsolete. (read 20" iMac)

I had an eMac before, and what I really deplored was its buily-in CRT. It sertainly is not the best CRT avaiable, and buying another looks silly. I don't game, but i do use photoshop and run multiple apps. It would still be serving me well if I was able to buy a 19" eMac, or just the bottom portion. I don't need alot of SPEED for what i do, but i do like alot of SCREEN for what i do.

A white ball with acryliic feet would be sweet. or even a cylinder. Make it processor upgradable with 2 spare ram slots, 3 USb, FW 400 & FW 800, blah blah. G4 1.33 or 1.42.

 

[vannote]

How about...

A bare bones, no keyboard, no mouse, headless, not even a video card, single processor Xgrid node with an InfiniHost card.

Ok, never mind, too far out there...

 

[cofdogbud]

iPodXX

$749...I wonder... if

iPod is to iPodXX
as
iChat is to iChatAV

 

[DrGruv1]

second the call for an Ebook

g4
10" screen
no optical drive
airport

If this could hit the magical $600 price point, they would sell very well. Would you rather have a treo 600 or a portable mac?

 

[ITR 81]

What about a barebones eMac?
One thats headless, no keyboard, no mouse and you can choose your processor either the 1.25, 1.33, or 1.42 and comes with lowend ATi card unless you upgrade to something more. Priced as low as $500 bucks and with EDU discount $459 bucks.

 

[ITR 81]

Originally posted by DrGruv1
second the call for an Ebook

g4
10" screen
no optical drive
airport

If this could hit the magical $600 price point, they would sell very well. Would you rather have a treo 600 or a portable mac?

With the EDU discount you would almost be there because it would then be in the $699 range or less.

 

[soosy]

Regarding Apple's infrequent Display updates --- Boo!

Price... technology.. even style... All of these need updates more often.

Comparing the stats on Apple's displays to competitors like Formac and you see how far behind they are.

Come on, Apple, keep us updated!

And though it was noble to go all LCD... it would also have been cool to keep a cheapy CRT around. oh well.

 

[DrGruv1]

$699 would trigger the credit card

With the EDU discount you would almost be there because it would then be in the $699 range or less.

 

[VeeDubMac]

I am cube owner itching for an upgrade. If something like this comes out it could hold me over until a G5 powerbook!

 

[tny]

Originally posted by DrGruv1
second the call for an Ebook

g4
10" screen
no optical drive
airport

If this could hit the magical $600 price point, they would sell very well. Would you rather have a treo 600 or a portable mac?

A 10" iBook would be MORE expensive than the 12", not less. Would involve too much miniaturization.

At $749, we'll see either

a. a G3 eBook, similar to the original iceBook, or

b. a new eMac, or

c. a headless iMac (headless means "no integrated monitor", to explain to the one poster who asked), or

d. a 17" cinema display (i.e., widescreen).

 

[clonenode]

Someone suggested a sphere on legs for the possible headless iMac. What if it is shaped like a cylinder...

...I give you the G4 Tube!

 

[sneakerpimp]

I say the debut of the DJ-iPod!!

Yea that's right, the DJ-iPod!

1. It's a music special event
2. They've been working with DJs on this awhile now (previous news articles)
3. Might as well create a boffo - kitchensink iPod (the g5 of ipods) - mo $$
4. iPods are selling like hotcakes at iHop
5. I really want it to happen

Specs:
60 G drive
new updated touch controls
higher res screen
aluminum finish

unit slides into external control surface with large wheel for fine control with 2 stereo outs and headphone monitor.

or maybe it'll just be the triumphant return of the eMate (2003)

-sneakerpimp
* beware of electronic voting machines=death of democracy

 

[greenstork]

Originally posted by gwuMACaddict
sounds a little pricey for a newton to me... maybe a headless g4. this is a pretty wierd price point for apple. nothing really in this range to compare it with

I'm sure you didn't intend your post to be funny, but t made me chuckle. The fact that there's nothing in that price range is a problem for Apple

 

[pkkrusty]

bring it back!

Bring back the pizza box! I want an LCIII box over a 1 Ghz G4 with 1 Gig RAM. That would be sweet as hell.

It's like souping up 60s cars, except now we're tinkering under the hood of old computer enclosures. Wow, I'm a nerd.

 

[dongmin]

handicapping

ipod -- $750 is too out there; can't think of any features that would make it worthwhile unless it came with a biggish color screen and mpeg decoder/encoder card

display -- $750 is a weird price point: Apple already has a $700 17-inch display. Even if it's wide screen, why would they increase the price when other LCDs are getting way cheaper? Maybe it's a new 19-incher. Could the 20-incher come down in price that much, from $1300? Seems too much, but with the introduction of the 20-inch iMac, it's possible.

cube 2 -- I say no because Apple would make a big deal of a brand new product launch like this. Also doubt it based on the fact that this little computer would KILL Apple's margins. Sure they'd sell more computers overall but I don't think it'd be enough to offset the smaller number of eMacs, iMacs, and G5s they'd move.

And for all those expecting the world in a $750 package, don't get your hopes up. At best, I think it'll be equivalent to the eMac in features/expandability, something like a 1 ghz G4 with a combo drive. And there is no point in comparing Apple to cheapie PCs b/c Apple is NOT in the same market. If it indeed turns out to be a cube, I think the industrial design and Panther alone makes it a better choice than the eMachine.

what else? -- personally I like the idea of some sort of home entertainment console (dvd + iphoto + itunes) but this idea has been floating around for a while now without much traction, so I toss it aside as a fantasy.

Another possibility given the music-oriented marketing after Thanksgiving is an ipod accessories package: 40gb ipod, inMotion, iTrip + car charger, iTMS gift certificate, the Belkin media reader, and voice recorder -- worth $900 separately, together for $750.

 

[jayscheuerle]

Re: handicapping

Originally posted by dongmin
At best, I think it'll be equivalent to the eMac in features/expandability, something like a 1 ghz G4 with a combo drive.

Works for me!

 

[SiliconAddict]

Originally posted by ITR 81

As for a 1GHz vz a 2GHz intel or amd brand..well when my friend compared his Dell 2GHz to my 1GHz he lost out on all fronts except for the gaming area. He actually was going to buy a Apple until he saw the Dell for cheaper price and thought it would perform better since it had double the clock-cycle..but he even said apparently that wasn't true.

Ahh there's the problem. Dell is 100% an Intel whore. The Athlon can run rings around Intel's P4.

 

[ddbean]

Tivo?

How about a tivo like device with A/P card to bridge computer/network to TV/sound systems?

 

[Jookbox]

calm down everyone. it's just a 60 gig ipod.

 

[shake]

if they made a new g4 cube that had the possibility of running dual cpu's, then they have my $749.
maybe a pci slot? might be too much to ask.

 

[mrsebastian]

it wouldn't surprise me to see display updates for the entire line. it's about time they matched the g5 and i'd say the lineup will be 17" ($500), 20" ($750), 23" ($1100), and a monster 30" screen for $2000.

 

[Dippo]

Let me tell you what this thing is NOT

This will not be any type of Media Center PC. If you really think about what Jobs said about the Media PC's, it make sense and Apple isn't going to make them!

This will not be any type of PDA. It's becoming very clear that Cell phones are taking the place of PDA's and Jobs know this so this won't happen.

This will not be any type of Video Player iPod. Many reasons this won't happen any time soon.

This leaves only an updated iPod, new G4 mac, a new device we know nothing about, or some other updated product (like an LCD).