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why does apple push the imac over the pro?
- Thread starter welling1
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I highly, HIGHLY doubt that you'd ever come close to using even half of 32 GBs of ram. I personally can't even see anyone ever needing more than the maximum 4 GB on the iMac. Can't compare the two though.. 2 cores vs. 8?
Nope. You can still upgrade it, just not as much as a tower of course. But the Dell XPS One is worse and more expensive, so now the iMac is not that bad of a deal.
Since Apple doesn't have a mini tower, those users that have gotten a life and picked up the Mac Pro as a gaming tower/expandable Mac computer and the Pros that use it to make money, and the studios that buy them by the tens, are making sure Apple is selling a lot of Mac Pros. Not as much as the iMacs of course, but plenty.
I can only guess an Apple Store's sales rep.'s perspective, and imagine it varies one to the next. If it were me seeing a typical-looking casually-attired consumer walk in the store, I'd consider the following fairly likely:
1.) Might be new to Macs.
2.) IF so, is used to seeing tower PC's with separate monitors, & may naturally be attracted to a similar-looking Mac.
3.) May be drawn by the world 'Pro' in the name, thinking it's the enthusiast version/high-end and will do a lot of things for the 'power user' (enthusiast, not necessarily a work station-needing professional content developer).
4.) Is apt to compare the MacPro price to much cheaper but superficially similar-looking Gateway & Dell systems, assume the premium to enjoy OS X is $1,000 or so, and go back to PC's.
5.) Is likely someone whose needs would be met fine by the iMac.
6.) Is likely someone who's never actually used an iMac much before, finds it unfamiliar, and may not have seriously considered it, or may have underestimated its power & capability since it's not the 'pro' product.
Of course, many people who walk into Apple Stores won't meet any of those 6 parameters I laid out, but they would apply to some, particularly people who aren't regulars (as far as the rep. knows, if he hasn't seen them before).
I'm not saying people should be talked out of MacPros. Just that running the iMac by them may actually be helpful for many (but not all) customers.
Richard.
1.) Might be new to Macs.
2.) IF so, is used to seeing tower PC's with separate monitors, & may naturally be attracted to a similar-looking Mac.
3.) May be drawn by the world 'Pro' in the name, thinking it's the enthusiast version/high-end and will do a lot of things for the 'power user' (enthusiast, not necessarily a work station-needing professional content developer).
4.) Is apt to compare the MacPro price to much cheaper but superficially similar-looking Gateway & Dell systems, assume the premium to enjoy OS X is $1,000 or so, and go back to PC's.
5.) Is likely someone whose needs would be met fine by the iMac.
6.) Is likely someone who's never actually used an iMac much before, finds it unfamiliar, and may not have seriously considered it, or may have underestimated its power & capability since it's not the 'pro' product.
Of course, many people who walk into Apple Stores won't meet any of those 6 parameters I laid out, but they would apply to some, particularly people who aren't regulars (as far as the rep. knows, if he hasn't seen them before).
I'm not saying people should be talked out of MacPros. Just that running the iMac by them may actually be helpful for many (but not all) customers.
Richard.
because pro users know what they need.
average couch potato consumers need to be told what they need.
"eat snacky smores"
Hmmm...iMac...
Add internal HDD...no
Add internal ODD...no
Add interface card....no
Upgrade processor...unlikely
Upgrade graphics...possible, but unlikely
Upgrade memory...VERY limited
USB 2.0 and FW800 are nowhere near a substitute for a REAL interface bus
Perhaps not a vault, but very closed.
Newtech has it good
But really, the middle of the road, mainstream is what consumers buy.
Things that sell fastest are always necessary to be affordable.
Just like more honda accords are sold than Ferraris, more iMACS are sold over Mac Pros.
Mac pros are the least affordable and designed for the hardcore and professional crowd.
But really, the middle of the road, mainstream is what consumers buy.
Things that sell fastest are always necessary to be affordable.
Just like more honda accords are sold than Ferraris, more iMACS are sold over Mac Pros.
Mac pros are the least affordable and designed for the hardcore and professional crowd.
completely agree. i like to think of apple store employees as "order takers" instead of "sales people." they don't know anything i don't know already.
Difficult to achieve: software will inevitably be updated from time to time, as it is often released with flaws, minor or major. Especially so with 3rd party software, which is impossible to control, and even Apple updates its own SW and OS. As software improves, its demands increase, and the machine needs to grow to handle it. Most machines are not upgradeable, so a new one has to be bought.
That said, if the users needs never change, and the software is perfect for the users needs, and the machine still works fine, then it is possible: I know a writer who still works on a Mac Classic, which is probably the closest Jobs got to a closed system. He's not connected to the internet (not on that machine, anyway), he has one app, a word-processing programme, and that's it. As his needs haven't changed, he hasn't had to upgrade anything. As long as the machine continues to work, he'll be fine.
It won't last as long as a typewriter though
I've got a 24" 2.8 GHz iMac I use for work. I've got CS3 on it, and it suits my needs. The glossy screen, which so many have complained about, is a non-issue. Your lighting conditions may differ, but, basically, if you don't have a light source behind you, you're fine.
I agree that a number of professionals would be better off with a MP. But... if you don't need the MP, the iMac offers a lot of bonuses. Among others, I've got mine (and a 20" Dell attached to it) wall-mounted with a wireless KB (and, after MWSF) mouse. Pull it out, and I can work. Push it back, and I get my desk back. No giant case on the floor. As a previous owner of a PowerMac G5, I know that the MP case is difficult to move. Well built? Yes, like a tank. But inconvenient.
So my advice would be to see if the iMac suits your needs, and, if so, get one and buy 3rd party RAM. If not, or if you fear it won't, buy the MP. But don't buy the MP simply because it's possible to upgrade it if you'd never actually upgrade it.
I agree that a number of professionals would be better off with a MP. But... if you don't need the MP, the iMac offers a lot of bonuses. Among others, I've got mine (and a 20" Dell attached to it) wall-mounted with a wireless KB (and, after MWSF) mouse. Pull it out, and I can work. Push it back, and I get my desk back. No giant case on the floor. As a previous owner of a PowerMac G5, I know that the MP case is difficult to move. Well built? Yes, like a tank. But inconvenient.
So my advice would be to see if the iMac suits your needs, and, if so, get one and buy 3rd party RAM. If not, or if you fear it won't, buy the MP. But don't buy the MP simply because it's possible to upgrade it if you'd never actually upgrade it.
You know what? I'm not really sold on the idea of the ability to change for change's sake. What more could most users want/need beyond the iMac? After all it is just personal computing at stake, as opposed to something more important like <insert your civil rights cause here>. I think that if Apple did not regulate its hardware, the OS would be bloated with goofy drivers no one uses (printers on OS X suffer from this problem, it seems). While I agree with having a limited ecosystem that's pretty much limited to the near-best hardware anyway, I think that they could use a bit more effort in supporting more hw for the Mac Pro, at least (graphics cards and drivers, please).
It's been said before, but we also wouldn't have the perception that OS X is as stable as it is if a ton of drivers for various things were constantly missing. The typical user experience for Windows has up until recently been somewhat of a small nightmare trying to make sure stuff works and works together. For most OS X users, this has been either no problem (me for one, over 8 years) or a small problem. It's in part because of this marriage between hardware and software.
It's been said before, but we also wouldn't have the perception that OS X is as stable as it is if a ton of drivers for various things were constantly missing. The typical user experience for Windows has up until recently been somewhat of a small nightmare trying to make sure stuff works and works together. For most OS X users, this has been either no problem (me for one, over 8 years) or a small problem. It's in part because of this marriage between hardware and software.
Yeah, I'd go for the logic that usually the people who want/need a Mac Pro don't require any persuasion.
There's also the issue of the cost to gear-up a factory to manufacture the Aluminum iMac.
I'm sure Apple is motivated to use this FAB to make as many iMacs as possible before they make a change to the overall design.
The compact and lightweight form-factor makes the iMac an appealing product in terms of manufacturing, shipping, storage and handling costs, as well as it's considerable appeal to mainstream consumers.
High volume sales equals lower cost per unit, amortized over the service life of the FAB.
"Recommending iMacs" is the most sensible thing Apple can do, and this is good for the consumer as well, since the Aluminum iMac is arguably one of the highest quality and most sensibly balanced personal computer designs ever conceived.
The Mac Pro spec sheet may be a techie's wet dream, but the iMac ain't exactly chopped liver.
I'm sure Apple is motivated to use this FAB to make as many iMacs as possible before they make a change to the overall design.
The compact and lightweight form-factor makes the iMac an appealing product in terms of manufacturing, shipping, storage and handling costs, as well as it's considerable appeal to mainstream consumers.
High volume sales equals lower cost per unit, amortized over the service life of the FAB.
"Recommending iMacs" is the most sensible thing Apple can do, and this is good for the consumer as well, since the Aluminum iMac is arguably one of the highest quality and most sensibly balanced personal computer designs ever conceived.
The Mac Pro spec sheet may be a techie's wet dream, but the iMac ain't exactly chopped liver.
This is the main point - MOST users absolutely don't need anything beyond an iMac, and that's great...leaves more Mac Pros for those of us who don't want to be like MOST people
Seriously though, Mac Pros aren't only for pros, they're also for power users who may not necessarily need all the power, but who want the flexibility and expandability that comes with owning one
-Bryan
Put it like this.. The Imac is the "mac pro" for consumers.. businesses dont pay attention to that stuff they just know what kind of computers they are buying for there business so they dont pay attention to all the media attention over the mac pro.. The mac pro is set for professionals.. somewhat geared toward consumers but they dont push it to consumers.. when you walk into an apple store you only usually see one mac pro set up and like 6 imacs set up.. and the stores are geared toward consumers
A few years back, I bought a PowerMac...thinking that I had to have one and that an iMac wouldn't be enough for me. Well looking back at it, I should have just gotten an iMac. I am typing this on a 20 inch aluminum iMac and I'm quite happy with it.
So don't underestimate the power of an iMac, they are no slouch when it comes to getting things done. And I am so glad I don't have the big tower in my living room any more.
So don't underestimate the power of an iMac, they are no slouch when it comes to getting things done. And I am so glad I don't have the big tower in my living room any more.