Apple had Q1 2009 desktop sales of 728,000 units vs. 1,796,000 portables with revenue on desktops falling from $1.5bn to $1.05bn. So a 25% drop in units and 33% in revenue when compared to Q1 2008. They said that Pro sales were down due to the economy. Desktop sales compared to notebooks are dwindling indsutry wide. But I think we most people would feel it is more than just those two factors that have seen Apple's desktop numbers shrink.
Apple have holes in their product lines and dated hardware that are not as attractive as similar computing solutions from other sources. It doesn't take an expert to see that. The Mac Mini isn't a solution to the low end entry desktop, the iMac and Mac Pro aren't pure replacements for the family PC, enthusiast "rig", or (single socket) professional workstation. Apple have their niches and they are obviously making them money, but so far it has seemed that adding products to cater to those other markets and requirements doesn't appear to be "worth it" to Apple. Whether that is because overall the numbers don't add up, they fear product line dilution or Steve Jobs just hates gamers I couldn't tell you (a combination of all three perhaps), but they have shown no signs they will bring the mythical xMac to the table.
But that hasn't stopped the speculation and cries for Apple to release such things. I usually find what people want is very different to what others would like to see, or place emphasis on so I'm interested in hearing what you all would like to see in this arena.
For me I think anything less than the following would be a pathetic solution:
Processor: Intel Core i7 920, 940 and 965 processors. (2.66, 2.93 and 3.2GHz Nehalem)
Memory: 3x1GB memory standard with support for 6x2GB.
Storage: 500GB hard disk drive; Larger capacity options with space for two drives and software RAID support.
Graphics: Nvidia 9600GT 512MB with the option of a GTX 260 (Core 216) 896MB of memory or another 9600GT but with enough headroom for two GTX 260s.
Other: Superdrive, 600W Power Supply Unit.
Expansion: Firewire 800, USB 2.0, Two PCI-E 2.0 x16 and one x4 slots.
Even with higher end components (including peripherals and an OS) such a system is unlikely to run you more than $1,200. At such a price I doubt Apple's margin would be what they are used to though. Would people pay $1,500 for such a system with, say, $500 for a 2.93GHz processor and $1000 for the 3.2GHz (other manufacturers charge such prices)? I guess that puts it better inline with the Mac Pro (assuming $3,000 for a dual socket 2.66GHz Nehalem system).
How such a system would compare to the iMacs (even with quad core) makes me think we won't see such a thing this year though
. Unless Apple have a change in ideology and decide customer choice is more important than they seem to have valued it at in recent times.
Apple have holes in their product lines and dated hardware that are not as attractive as similar computing solutions from other sources. It doesn't take an expert to see that. The Mac Mini isn't a solution to the low end entry desktop, the iMac and Mac Pro aren't pure replacements for the family PC, enthusiast "rig", or (single socket) professional workstation. Apple have their niches and they are obviously making them money, but so far it has seemed that adding products to cater to those other markets and requirements doesn't appear to be "worth it" to Apple. Whether that is because overall the numbers don't add up, they fear product line dilution or Steve Jobs just hates gamers I couldn't tell you (a combination of all three perhaps), but they have shown no signs they will bring the mythical xMac to the table.
But that hasn't stopped the speculation and cries for Apple to release such things. I usually find what people want is very different to what others would like to see, or place emphasis on so I'm interested in hearing what you all would like to see in this arena.
For me I think anything less than the following would be a pathetic solution:
Processor: Intel Core i7 920, 940 and 965 processors. (2.66, 2.93 and 3.2GHz Nehalem)
Memory: 3x1GB memory standard with support for 6x2GB.
Storage: 500GB hard disk drive; Larger capacity options with space for two drives and software RAID support.
Graphics: Nvidia 9600GT 512MB with the option of a GTX 260 (Core 216) 896MB of memory or another 9600GT but with enough headroom for two GTX 260s.
Other: Superdrive, 600W Power Supply Unit.
Expansion: Firewire 800, USB 2.0, Two PCI-E 2.0 x16 and one x4 slots.
Even with higher end components (including peripherals and an OS) such a system is unlikely to run you more than $1,200. At such a price I doubt Apple's margin would be what they are used to though. Would people pay $1,500 for such a system with, say, $500 for a 2.93GHz processor and $1000 for the 3.2GHz (other manufacturers charge such prices)? I guess that puts it better inline with the Mac Pro (assuming $3,000 for a dual socket 2.66GHz Nehalem system).
How such a system would compare to the iMacs (even with quad core) makes me think we won't see such a thing this year though
. Unless Apple have a change in ideology and decide customer choice is more important than they seem to have valued it at in recent times.
