Timelessblur said:
Good point.
imac G5: the power of a laptop with the portability of a desktop!
-vga4life
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what the new imac is missing
- Thread starter jkaz
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Good point.
imac G5: the power of a laptop with the portability of a desktop!
-vga4life
Chip NoVaMac
macrumors G3
QCassidy352
macrumors G5
QCassidy352 said:
I didn't say it had the price of a laptop.
And I'd take a Radeon 9700 Mobility over a GeForce 5200FX any day.
-vga4life
andiwm2003
macrumors 601
i'd like to see more digital hub stuff:
i'm happy to put in airport and bluetooth by bto.
a built in camera would be nice, but an isight is probably more practical.
graphics is good enough for me.
i'd like to have a tv card (HDTV, digital?) and be able to use it as digital videorecorder (of course as bto, of course it won't be cheap).
i'd like to use it as phone/answering machine/fax.
i'd like to be able to use a second monitor (not a mirror)
i'd like to use the internal monitor for as second monitor for my notebook or PC.
aside of the videostuff everything seems to be possible already now.
so apple go ahead and bring a 23" rev. b next year and i'll shell out the money.
andi
i'm happy to put in airport and bluetooth by bto.
a built in camera would be nice, but an isight is probably more practical.
graphics is good enough for me.
i'd like to have a tv card (HDTV, digital?) and be able to use it as digital videorecorder (of course as bto, of course it won't be cheap).
i'd like to use it as phone/answering machine/fax.
i'd like to be able to use a second monitor (not a mirror)
i'd like to use the internal monitor for as second monitor for my notebook or PC.
aside of the videostuff everything seems to be possible already now.
so apple go ahead and bring a 23" rev. b next year and i'll shell out the money.
andi
jxyama
macrumors 68040
andiwm2003 said:
mac can already receive faxes... as well as send any files as a fax image, i believe. the only thing it lacks is the ability to scan a document and fax it. i don't think that's very practical to be incorporated into an iMac since it would add a lot of bulk.
using voice IM or voip, i'd think any computer with a microphone can function as a phone, with an added software, if needed...
display mirror/span is done as a part of product differentiation. so i don't that will change. the best you can hope for is a hack.
andiwm2003
macrumors 601
jxyama said:
yes, the mac can send recieve faxes, do voicemail. but what i would like to see is it being more integrated. i imagine an airport express hooked up to the phone line in the basemant and that is it. a call wakes the mac from sleep and i can videochat.
the same with videorecording. an airport express to the tv cable and go.
a remote control (of course bto) for itunes and using the mac as tv would be great.
so i'm looking for a vision for an ultimate home entertainment center/computer. apple is moving towards the digital hub and that's what i want. having everything wireless would make it easy. so i think apple is on the right way. they just have to go it all the way.
and they should give up crippling computers for product differentiation.
my 2 cents, andi
Chip NoVaMac
macrumors G3
Trying to be pragmatic, the items that I feel that are truly missing from the iMac G5:
- Built-in BT and AE
- Bundled BT keyboard and mouse
- Built-in 512mb RAM at the cost they have the current offerings
- A BTO option for 128mb video card
On the first three points, the cost would out weigh the extra sales they would receive. With the thrid point being what everyone else is offering.
- Built-in BT and AE
- Bundled BT keyboard and mouse
- Built-in 512mb RAM at the cost they have the current offerings
- A BTO option for 128mb video card
On the first three points, the cost would out weigh the extra sales they would receive. With the thrid point being what everyone else is offering.
kgarner
macrumors 68000
While I think it would be awesome to see all of these suggestions added as BTO options. I think the only thing they really screwed up on is the memory. The 1.8 GHz models should come with 512MB standard. Everything else (BT, AE, 128MB VRAM, etc.) should be options, not standard.
My 2¢.
My 2¢.
Chip NoVaMac
macrumors G3
rdowns said:
I see your point. Yet for the $99 that Apple charges it would have given them them the possibility of a cleaner system, and with the the AE "router" a possibility of just a power cord to the iMac G5.
so for the ultimate machine, we have:
23"
built-in:
ae
bt
standard 512 ram
upgrade to 128 vram
bluetooth remote control
fax/telephone capabilities
the capability to use as digital tv recorder
and maybe a 'built-in' isight
at the prices these new imacs are at, i'm very very surprised that they
don't offer an "ultimate" imac
for this config:
512MB DDR400 SDRAM - 1 DIMM
250GB Serial ATA drive
AirPort Extreme Card
Bluetooth Module
iSight
Bluetooth Module + Apple Wireless Keyboard & Mouse + Mac OS X - U.S. English
20-inch widescreen LCD
1.8GHz PowerPC G5
SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra w/64MB video memory
Subtotal $2,451.00
isn't this still well below the top of the line g4 imac?
***edit***
update with info from apple-history
"The 17" model, with an 80 GB hard drive, 256 MB of RAM, 64 MB of VRAM, and a CD-RW/DVD-R "SuperDrive" was $1799.
In November 2003, Apple introduced a 20" flat-panel iMac, with specs otherwise identical to the 17" model, for $2,199. All models were discontinued in July 2004."
take off the isight and keyboard/mouse and you have
g5 1.8
extreme
bluetooth
250 gig hd
512 ram
for the same price as
g4 1.25
80 gig hd
256 ram
no extreme, no blue tooth.
quite a difference it seems
23"
built-in:
ae
bt
standard 512 ram
upgrade to 128 vram
bluetooth remote control
fax/telephone capabilities
the capability to use as digital tv recorder
and maybe a 'built-in' isight
at the prices these new imacs are at, i'm very very surprised that they
don't offer an "ultimate" imac
for this config:
512MB DDR400 SDRAM - 1 DIMM
250GB Serial ATA drive
AirPort Extreme Card
Bluetooth Module
iSight
Bluetooth Module + Apple Wireless Keyboard & Mouse + Mac OS X - U.S. English
20-inch widescreen LCD
1.8GHz PowerPC G5
SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra w/64MB video memory
Subtotal $2,451.00
isn't this still well below the top of the line g4 imac?
***edit***
update with info from apple-history
"The 17" model, with an 80 GB hard drive, 256 MB of RAM, 64 MB of VRAM, and a CD-RW/DVD-R "SuperDrive" was $1799.
In November 2003, Apple introduced a 20" flat-panel iMac, with specs otherwise identical to the 17" model, for $2,199. All models were discontinued in July 2004."
take off the isight and keyboard/mouse and you have
g5 1.8
extreme
bluetooth
250 gig hd
512 ram
for the same price as
g4 1.25
80 gig hd
256 ram
no extreme, no blue tooth.
quite a difference it seems
joshua_msu
macrumors regular
Never really been a fan of the iMac's. Here you are paying for this pretty good display that will certainly outlast the usefulness of speed and components, and in the end, you are just tossing the display away. When anyone ever asks me what to get between a iMac and Powermac, I almost always recommend a Powermac, especailly if they already have a display.
jkaz said:
After a search for geforce 5200 on nVidia's site I found this article...
http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/geforce_fx_5200_ultra/page2.asp said:
So I think Apple has no excuse for not including 128mb at least as a buy to order!
johnnyjibbs
macrumors 68030
As I've said plenty of times before, Apple should provide OPTIONS OPTIONS OPTIONS!
It wouldn't harm to have a built-to-order iMac with 128 MB VRAM or a RADEON 9800 - many people who needed it would pay the extra cash to upgrade. And buying a G5 Tower is not always the solution - they are still more expensive and do not include a screen and are much more powerful.
It wouldn't harm to have a built-to-order iMac with 128 MB VRAM or a RADEON 9800 - many people who needed it would pay the extra cash to upgrade. And buying a G5 Tower is not always the solution - they are still more expensive and do not include a screen and are much more powerful.
JFreak said:
Tesla did some interetsing work on this a few years ago http://www.neuronet.pitt.edu/~bogdan/tesla/ ... I'm thinking Apple licensed some of it and we'll see this at next years WWDC 😱
Peyote
macrumors 6502a
I'm torn between the iMac and Powermac myself. I love the price and design of the iMac, and am pleased with the speed, however I really want a 23" screen. If Apple made the iMac in a 23" version, I'd be all over that, but they won't because I'm sure it'd eat into PM sales.
I don't think BT should be standard, but I think Aiprort should be...and never should the iSight be standard.
Regardless, 256MB of RAM is a joke, and the video card is almost as laughable.
I don't think BT should be standard, but I think Aiprort should be...and never should the iSight be standard.
Regardless, 256MB of RAM is a joke, and the video card is almost as laughable.
joshua_msu said:
Well, I would be selling the machine and recovering a lot of the money, not tossing it away, but in any case:
I think there's something missing to this argument. I only have to tell you what the the back of my desk looks like for you to see what I mean. I have cables going everywhere. Cables to carry power from the wall to power bricks, cables to carry power from power bricks to components, cables to carry keyboard and mouse signals around, cables to carry network signals around, cables to carry cable TV signals around, cables to carry audio around. Cables, cables, everywhere. Then there's the dust that settles in between cables, on the cables, around the connectors on the components, in the components, in the air filters that are supposed to protect the components but instead cause overheating, and so on. And all the computers are sitting on the ground (there's no way I'm putting them next to my ear, on the desk) sucking in all the floor-area dust. It's really disgusting to look at it.
Now, suppose I am ready to be rid of all of that. I would be happy to move my PVR machine (call it a home-brew Tivo) into the closet and watch the recorded shows streamed over the network. I would be happy to toss the Windows PC into a less work-oriented area. No more cables, no more dust inhaler, but no more computer, either.
Then I buy an iMac and put it on my desk. One power cord, no brick, goes into the wall. AE for network. BT keyboard and mouse. It's quiet so I don't mind it being up on my desk, off of the floor and away from the dust.
I think that sounds pretty darn nice.
MarkCollette
macrumors 68000
timsq
macrumors regular
Whoa!
The iMac is perfect in every way. At least for its intended purpose. The option that pushed me to the tower/powerbook is the left off DVI out. But with a 20" version, who can ask for a better iAppliance? My current iMac has kept up well for 3 yrs. Anyone picking up one of these beauties will be well served for at least that long. Now come Dual 3's!!!
The iMac is perfect in every way. At least for its intended purpose. The option that pushed me to the tower/powerbook is the left off DVI out. But with a 20" version, who can ask for a better iAppliance? My current iMac has kept up well for 3 yrs. Anyone picking up one of these beauties will be well served for at least that long. Now come Dual 3's!!!
Chip NoVaMac
macrumors G3
joshua_msu said:
Yeah, but we a disposable society. So if the system last 3 to 5 years for a persons needs, and the smaller foot print is what they are looking for, the iMac is the answer. There are those that also get caught up into the speed thing. Regardless if that speed will make a difference for their tasks.
Chip NoVaMac
macrumors G3
johnnyjibbs said:
Given the Apple BTO program, I can only think that there are tech hurdles to offering 128mb VRAM. Heck, look at the extra amount they charge for 128mb VRAM in the PB 15" vs. the 17". It is a profit center. IMO it is not an issue of not wanting to compete with the PM G5 series, now that they are dual processors.
after having read the messages here, i'm starting to think that in my perfect world, airport extreme, bluetooth and even built-in isight
would be a standard feature on all macs just as firewire and usb are.
the potential for all of these products is great but are currently under utilized.
instead of the aforementioned items being the bto options, i see the potential, desire and the rumors taking the apple in the direction
of media center.
remote controls, digital tv recording, internet streaming all from your 30 inch imac.
this is the direction i see coming very soon.
i'm impressed by the design and the processor, but simply having the same old bluetooth and airport and even isight as your only spruce it up options has run its course for me.
would be a standard feature on all macs just as firewire and usb are.
the potential for all of these products is great but are currently under utilized.
instead of the aforementioned items being the bto options, i see the potential, desire and the rumors taking the apple in the direction
of media center.
remote controls, digital tv recording, internet streaming all from your 30 inch imac.
this is the direction i see coming very soon.
i'm impressed by the design and the processor, but simply having the same old bluetooth and airport and even isight as your only spruce it up options has run its course for me.