Upgradable iMac

[Gosh]

Hi All, Hi Al,

Do you think there is a demand, a market if you will, for an iMac (though I guess it wouldn't be an iMac) that you could upgrade yourself.

So a mid-range Mac Pro I guess.

Is it possible to upgrade the iMac - I have an intel iMac 20".

 

[emptyCup]

Is there a demand for an upgradable Mac that is not the Mac Pro?
Yes.

Is there a market for for one?
Apple thinks the market would come from people who buy other models.

Can you upgrade an iMac?
You can add more memory and change the disk drive. The processor is currently socketed and can be replaced with a faster chip. This is about as internally expandable as the iMac is likely to get without affecting case design, the iMac's target market and Apple's basic philosophy.

 

[Benjamindaines]

For you you can change out quite a bit (as posted above) but I have a G5 iMac (the last rev so it has the same case as you) which leaves me in a bit of a stuck spot. The previous ones you could open no problem, and you were supposed to be able to! With our iMacs you can't open them without a good bit of patients and the will to void Apple's warrantee. Oh yeah and my processor isn't upgradeable.

But that being said I really wish you could add PCI cards, I have no idea how Apple would work that in a keep a nice form but hey it would be nice.

 

[Gosh]

It is a common criticism from PC owners that Apple lacks a mid-range desktop which is expandable and upgradable to some extent.

Maybe as Apple is going all-guns for market share and bending over backwards (such as Intel processors and Boot Camp) to attract Windows converts, they're considering it.

The iMac of course is conceptually a whole, an entity in itself - and very good because of it. And physically smaller, or thinner, because it's lack of free space and easy accessibility.

So wonder if Apple could retain it's integrity, constrain its dimensions and yet attract PC owners who have often upgraded or expanded their computers once or more?

 

[miloblithe]

You always have to consider marketing and profit when figuring these things out. Apple would much rather sell you two $1500 computers over 6-8 years than sell you one $1500 computer and then have you upgrade it over 6-8 years with 3rd party components.

 

[erickkoch]

I upgraded my original Bondi Blue Rev A iMac.

CPU upgraded from 233 to 500 mhz and added Firewire port.
I installed a Voodoo 2 graphics card.
Upgraded the hard drive to 30 gigs.

I could have upgraded the CD rom drive to a CD burner but decided it wasn't worth it and used an external one.

Ugrading is only practicle to a point but then you're better off just getting a new computer. I upgraded so save money (cheaper than buying a new computer) but also because I had a fondness for my bondi and wanted to make it last. I finally decided it was time to move on to a new one.

 

[Mr. Mister]

Everything in the iMac except for the videocard and motherboard are upgradeable, though I suppose those two are quite significant.

But the RAM, CPU, hard drive, and optical drive are all upgradeable.

 

[Gosh]

Everything in the iMac except for the videocard and motherboard are upgradeable, though I suppose those two are quite significant.

But the RAM, CPU, hard drive, and optical drive are all upgradeable.

I'm going slightly off question about what comes next but I would expect a lot of people esp with G5's would be interested in how or who upgrades and options.

 

[Gosh]

You always have to consider marketing and profit when figuring these things out. Apple would much rather sell you two $1500 computers over 6-8 years than sell you one $1500 computer and then have you upgrade it over 6-8 years with 3rd party components.

Absolutely true the upgraded is the enemy of the new! However do you think there is a calculation around market share and taking away what some might consider another obstacle to switching? I think Apple are open to anything at the moment in this pursuit.

 

[Benjamindaines]

You always have to consider marketing and profit when figuring these things out. Apple would much rather sell you two $1500 computers over 6-8 years than sell you one $1500 computer and then have you upgrade it over 6-8 years with 3rd party components.

That's true, but that is a bit of the John Sculley way of thinking, also if Apple sold upgrades then they could still the paid off it (especially if they aren't outlandishly priced then we wouldn't need to go to 3rd party solutions)