Xtremehkr
macrumors 68000
Just a graphics card.
The new iMac is great, it's more than I expected it to be. I wasn not expecting an update anytime soon, not a complete update anyway. Not only did we get an update but the iMac now gets a G5 processor and has shrunk into basically just a screen.
I am going to order Bluetooth for mine but I can see why it is not an industry standard yet. The only thing I will use BT with is my PDA because nothing else I have is wired for it right now. So that's $45 to get rid of one USB line. Eventually I will have everything connected wirelessly but BT printers are still a new item. It will be a while before everything has bluetooth and everyone has new equipment. I'm glad Apple is pioneering the technology, but it isn't the same as USB. USB was such a clear improvement while not costing that much more.
As far as a camera being standard, I think that would be premature also. Not enough people have the internet connections necessary to really use a camera online. Just not enough people are interested in it yet. Apple obviously has more plans for camera use for communication onlineand tout the ability to have multiple people involved in a video conference. It would add cost to the iMac and would be a feature that most people would not know what to do with for a while.
What Apple does need to do is fix the graphics card problem. I'm not really a gamer. I like CIV 3 and games like that but recognize how important game playing ability is right now with young computer buyers. If someone asks you what kind of computer you have and you say Dell, then there is the possibility that it is a good gaming machine. If you say you have an Apple then it is automatically perceived that you have a poor gaming machine. I know that it has little to do with how good the computer and software is but a lot of decisions are made based on social reasons.
Apple is winning with the iPod, but it is giving the consumer exactly what it wants. I know that the vision for Apple computers is different from that of being a gaming machine. With iLife your Apple is the processing center for all of your creativity. Where you can combine, create and produce almost anything you like. Which is enough for me, personally I find that more rewarding than playing games. But games are fun and more popular than ever right now.
And since iMac is the model more likely to be purchased by young people and students it should have better gaming abilities. It's going to be side by side with PCs in dorms, if Apple starting beating PCs there it is going to make a lasting impression. If not standard that at least as an option.
I know that it probably takes away from the "vision" behind the iMac, but when you are selling more and the extra production has lowered overall costs you can think about incorporating more features. I would meet the needs of the market place first. With a killer graphics cards I can't see how you could say that there is a better PC out there right now.
The new iMac is great, it's more than I expected it to be. I wasn not expecting an update anytime soon, not a complete update anyway. Not only did we get an update but the iMac now gets a G5 processor and has shrunk into basically just a screen.
I am going to order Bluetooth for mine but I can see why it is not an industry standard yet. The only thing I will use BT with is my PDA because nothing else I have is wired for it right now. So that's $45 to get rid of one USB line. Eventually I will have everything connected wirelessly but BT printers are still a new item. It will be a while before everything has bluetooth and everyone has new equipment. I'm glad Apple is pioneering the technology, but it isn't the same as USB. USB was such a clear improvement while not costing that much more.
As far as a camera being standard, I think that would be premature also. Not enough people have the internet connections necessary to really use a camera online. Just not enough people are interested in it yet. Apple obviously has more plans for camera use for communication onlineand tout the ability to have multiple people involved in a video conference. It would add cost to the iMac and would be a feature that most people would not know what to do with for a while.
What Apple does need to do is fix the graphics card problem. I'm not really a gamer. I like CIV 3 and games like that but recognize how important game playing ability is right now with young computer buyers. If someone asks you what kind of computer you have and you say Dell, then there is the possibility that it is a good gaming machine. If you say you have an Apple then it is automatically perceived that you have a poor gaming machine. I know that it has little to do with how good the computer and software is but a lot of decisions are made based on social reasons.
Apple is winning with the iPod, but it is giving the consumer exactly what it wants. I know that the vision for Apple computers is different from that of being a gaming machine. With iLife your Apple is the processing center for all of your creativity. Where you can combine, create and produce almost anything you like. Which is enough for me, personally I find that more rewarding than playing games. But games are fun and more popular than ever right now.
And since iMac is the model more likely to be purchased by young people and students it should have better gaming abilities. It's going to be side by side with PCs in dorms, if Apple starting beating PCs there it is going to make a lasting impression. If not standard that at least as an option.
I know that it probably takes away from the "vision" behind the iMac, but when you are selling more and the extra production has lowered overall costs you can think about incorporating more features. I would meet the needs of the market place first. With a killer graphics cards I can't see how you could say that there is a better PC out there right now.
