Why not make a super cheap apple desktop

[sigamy]

Why not just take the eMac remove the monitor, OS and bundled software?

It appears that the vast majority of the population is just concerned with a low price for the *computer*. How else did Dell become Dell (besides corporate sales, of course). Dell and Gateway and all those guys used to charge you for the OS. Not sure if they still do this.

People want to say that they paid $499 for their *computer*. They don't realize that after they add software and other accessories they are quickly up to the $800 price of a eMac.

eMac now $799
monitor - 75
Panther -129
iLife - 49
AppleWorks, Quicken, Tony Hawk, etc - 100 (at least)

new eMac: $446

Maybe this would lead to more piracy? Buy Panther with your new eMac for $50 to bring price to $500.

 

[jefhatfield]

This is the sort of situation that drives people away from Apple. There really is no Apple product or advertising to adequately address these common first impressions. There are always compromises to be made but I think it is a mistake to neglect to respond to the desires of the value minded consumer that typically knows little about computers.

a couple of interesting factors out there

after world war II, tons and tons of kids were born to put it simply...it's called the pig in the python phenomenon since that big lump (population demographic born 1946-1964) are the baby boomers and by far the biggest grouping in the united states...and they love computers even though they did not grow up with them

one third of these people will retire with no money, and many will retire with very little...and among the ones in the middle who have "assets", cash won't be among them (in other words, lots of property rich, cash poor folk out there)

i could assume that "price" will be a major factor in any good or service, especially on items costing hundreds

if apple is to "change" people's minds about spending 20-30% percent more, now won't be the easiest time for them to do it in a big way, demograpically speaking

my guess is as long as the pc competition is much cheaper, and that there are a lot of cash strapped baby boomers out there, apple inc will continue to yield a small percentage of all computers sold on any given year...the boomers are a touch and feel type of shopper and want to see the software in boxes on the shelves in a store nearby them if they are to spend additional money...the pc market is designed for this...with mac software, most of us have to order it from a catalog or online

i remember when virtually every computer i saw in homes and offices were an apple IIe or II+...but a couple of guys named steve were said to have dropped the ball somewhere along the line

in football speak, it's 4th down with one yard to go, and to win the game which is tied 0-0, your running back (steve jobs) takes the handoff from the quarterback (steve wozniak) and drops the ball right before he crosses the goal line...some skinny 99 pound pass defender named bill gates picks it up and runs the ball 99 yards up the field to score the winning touchdown