It is precisely for this reason why we won't see a mid-range tower. Why have it eat into Mac Pro sales?
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An idea for a mid-range tower.
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It is precisely for this reason why we won't see a mid-range tower. Why have it eat into Mac Pro sales?
Indeed but PowerMac/MacPro sales have been declining for some time. Would such a mac kill MacPro sales? Most people using those machines are doing heavy video/graphics work. I doubt they would drop to a Core 2 Duo as it would not help them productivity wise. Sure it will effect their overheads but only for a short time (as in saving money on getting a cheaper mac). I wanted to get a MacPro but after looking at it closely I realised it was massive over kill for me. So I went for the iMac. I love it but I'm not happy that the only thing with easy access is the memory.
what? i mean apple shud configure a tower with a desktop processor, like the Core 2 Extreme, rather than a laptop processor like the Core2Duo.
I'm sure a lot are. I'm also sure a lot of people like me are buying Mac Pros (G5 in my case) because there is no other choice. When I bought mine, it was to replace my Mac mini, which could barely drive a 23" display at the time. I wanted the ability to get a big hard drive (or two), use any display I like (currently in the market for a 30" model) and up the RAM beyond the paltry limit on the mini.
I really hate its giant size and its price. Otherwise, I'm much happier with the G5 than I was with the mini. But it'll be years before I think about replacing it because it is so expensive. (Normally I would get a new Mac about every two years.)
The fact remains, the mini is an entry level computer. Anyone who wants a better Mac and hates all-in-ones like me, buys a Mac Pro (or buys nothing). I expect there are a lot of Mac Pros out there that are not being worked very hard. (A Core 2 Duo based mini tower would be just fine.)
A Core 2 duo is a desktop chip, it's also the name of the laptop chip. The desktop is called Conroe, and the mobile is called Merom.
no FW 400?
also lets make it fanless and call it the Mac Pro cube
Right... also leave out the whole spontaneous combustion part too.
The cube was severely overpriced for what it was. I think Apple was hoping people would pay a lot for the "cuteness" of the cube. If it had been priced according to what it was worth as a computer or even slightly more, I believe it would have sold well.
I can do it, why can't Apple?
I've got (or am getting, still waiting on parts) exactly what you just described. Commell mini-itx motherboard plus Cubit 3 case. I payed AUD5400, but that's with a 23", 2.66 1066mhz fsb 4mb L2 cache, 2 gig ram, 500 gig hdd, 7950gt 512mb (special one from EVGA <3), dvd-ram etc burner, wireless bluetooth+mouse etc. All the trimmings. I'm sure apple could do better in volume even IF they bought everything elsewhere (which isn't the apple way).
Come on Apple!
I've got (or am getting, still waiting on parts) exactly what you just described. Commell mini-itx motherboard plus Cubit 3 case. I payed AUD5400, but that's with a 23", 2.66 1066mhz fsb 4mb L2 cache, 2 gig ram, 500 gig hdd, 7950gt 512mb (special one from EVGA <3), dvd-ram etc burner, wireless bluetooth+mouse etc. All the trimmings. I'm sure apple could do better in volume even IF they bought everything elsewhere (which isn't the apple way).
Come on Apple!
Like I just said in another thread you can add an external monitor to the iMacs.
I think Apple should put out some sort of product that would satisfy everyone that wants a mid tower because sheesh Im tired of hearing about it.
You could spec a PC tower using similar chipsets to the Mac and then install OSX onto that. There are a few websites with details how:
http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
As for a midrange tower from Apple...Apple makes its profit from selling 1500$ computers for 2000$, and the only way it can put this of is if it sells to a narrow market - all in ones, people who are sick of Windows and pro users. Midrange towers just don't fit the Apple model
http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
As for a midrange tower from Apple...Apple makes its profit from selling 1500$ computers for 2000$, and the only way it can put this of is if it sells to a narrow market - all in ones, people who are sick of Windows and pro users. Midrange towers just don't fit the Apple model
Like I just said in another thread you can add an external monitor to the iMacs.
I think Apple should put out some sort of product that would satisfy everyone that wants a mid tower because sheesh Im tired of hearing about it.
They could at least make the 2,33 ghz c2d an option for the 17" modell too, and the better video card of the 24" iMac for the 17" and 20" as an option. People without a large monitor would still buy the 24" iMac.
I have a 21" Eizo lcd that's way better than every iMacs screen in terms of colour calibration and accuracy. And I refuse to pay for a 24" palette monitor. I'd pay for a 17" palette monitor though.
I want a mini tower so I can have two hard drives in RAID 1. I certainly can't afford or justify a MacPro
Core2Extremes would drive the price up to nearly the price of a Mac Pro, when everything is said and done.
4JNA said:
Would this fun keyboard tickle you while you work?
This is a good point; a key to a potential successful mini-tower would be to keep both specs and price sufficiently distinct...
...which, as iDave points out, is the primary reason the Cube failed: right amount of computer, fun and attractive form factor, but so close to the Pro machines in price that it was for the most part a non-Pro-fanboys-only machine. I was so happy and so sad all at once the day I saw my first Cube. I was ready to buy it without even looking at the pricetag and then had a hissy fit when I finally noticed what they wanted for it.
I love it when people know the future with such certainty...after the Cube II comes out we can file your post with those of other posters who made some of us feel so stupid for suggesting that Leopard might not be a 100% bet-the-ranch sure thing for WWDC
.Besides, who says you can't have a pony? Lisa Simpson even had one for a little while. I think his name was Clip-Clop, but I'm not sure.
If you are talking palette monitors then you are a pro user and therefore deserve a Macpro. Apple doesn't design the iMac for you. Then you can get all of the stuff you want.
I am guessing that price is actually your problem with Apple's computer line.
This is a good point; a key to a potential successful mini-tower would be to keep both specs and price sufficiently distinct...
...which, as iDave points out, is the primary reason the Cube failed: right amount of computer, fun and attractive form factor, but so close to the Pro machines in price that it was for the most part a non-Pro-fanboys-only machine. I was so happy and so sad all at once the day I saw my first Cube. I was ready to buy it without even looking at the pricetag and then had a hissy fit when I finally noticed what they wanted for it.
I love it when people know the future with such certainty...after the Cube II comes out we can file your post with those of other posters who made some of us feel so stupid for suggesting that Leopard might not be a 100% bet-the-ranch sure thing for WWDC
Besides, who says you can't have a pony? Lisa Simpson even had one for a little while. I think his name was Clip-Clop, but I'm not sure.
I have a cube and I love it to bits. I still use it as my primary mac desktop admittedly because it's so damn pretty sitting on my desk but it still does the job.
The thing is that apple will never compete in a market where it'll get it's arse spanked and the pro/consumer tower is one where it just will, 99% of pc's are of this forum factor and most of them are unebievably cheaply made and shoddy. Apple just can't compete with this and I don't honestly think they should no matter how much I or any of you would like a "cube II".
Me no need a MacPro to do vector graphics & illustrations in Adobe Illustrator, which is about 60% of my work. Apart from that I run photoshop, indesign, and more and more cinema 4D (hence the "need" for a decent video card.).
I've thought about getting one, and maybe could afford one although it would be stretching the budget. But since I often freelance for agencies and work outdoors, I'll need a new mbp within the next 1-2 years (I want to keep my 2 year old powerbook for as long as possible, it still performs rather ok for most of my needs and I don't want to sell it, because I like keeping a later generation ppc machine for classic apps & non universal software & games I have).
And I don't have the money to buy a MacPro now and a mbp next year. So I thought about getting an iMac to have a desktop. Some sort of a minitower would be more than welcome. Let's see what wwdc brings.
Please, not because someone earns his money with his mac in some creative field and therefore is a "pro" means he needs 4 cores of pure processing power. This only applies to audio & video "pros". Take a type designer for example, all he needs to run is Fontographer and maybe some version of Illustrator or Freehand. The conclusion "hey you are a pro you need a macpro" is often false. That's why I never liked the term "pro" tied to a product.^^
I don't know what you "need" but Apple designs the iMac for consumer users and you are complaining that it is not designed perfectly for you because of your work. You are producing with your mac and for that Apple has designed the Macpro (unless you are planning on using iLife).
I know illustrators and they use Macpros and Powermacs. I have an iMac and I have used it professionally but I also know that its generally the wrong tool for the situation.
I'm just "complaining" that in order to have a somewhat decent gfx card I have to either buy one 2,66 ghz dual core chip or a 24" monitor I do not need.
What's the point in buying a MacPro if one of the 2 dual core processors is just sitting around doing nothing all the time? What's the point in buying a 24" monitor just to fill up desk space in the office?
Don't get me wrong, I like apples computers and os very much, would never buy a windows machine and would love to have an intel mac now that Adobe CS3 is out. But imo apple does not offer a machine that suits my needs perfectly. So I'll try to wait as long as possible to see what happens, since I refuse to pay 1000 bucks for stuff I do not need. Maybe in the US "pros" have money to throw out of the window, here in Austria they don't.
What's the point in buying a MacPro if one of the 2 dual core processors is just sitting around doing nothing all the time? What's the point in buying a 24" monitor just to fill up desk space in the office?
Don't get me wrong, I like apples computers and os very much, would never buy a windows machine and would love to have an intel mac now that Adobe CS3 is out. But imo apple does not offer a machine that suits my needs perfectly. So I'll try to wait as long as possible to see what happens, since I refuse to pay 1000 bucks for stuff I do not need. Maybe in the US "pros" have money to throw out of the window, here in Austria they don't.
I think CS3 takes advantage of multiple cores and processors, and OS X certainly will so I don't think the dual duals will be as worthless as you are imagining, not to mention doing a little future proofing. Also, the point of buying the highest end iMac is that you are trying to squeeze, what is IMO, professional results out of a consumer level product so it requires the maxed-out model.
As I thought your real problem is with the price. I could probably buy a new Dell every other year but instead I buy a good iMac every 4 years. Most of us will agree that there is a monetary price we pay to gain the advantages that Apple offers us over other companies. Professionals generally consider it a small price to pay as an investment in their business.
Anyway we have been going back and forth quite a bit but if I were you I would get the 24" iMac because I think the screen is beautiful. If you continue to feel disappointed with the disadvantages the iMac has as compared to the Macpro then you should just accept the fact that Apple has decided that it would satisfy your needs with the Macpro.
Of course you are right, and as I said I gladly pay the price for my macs from the day I bought my first one, my still operational G4 cube.
I'll just wait for the next imacs and decide then, atm I guess an imac this summer & a low end mbp next year would be a wiser investment than a mp.
Sorry for somewhat hijacking this thread.^^
I'll just wait for the next imacs and decide then, atm I guess an imac this summer & a low end mbp next year would be a wiser investment than a mp.
Sorry for somewhat hijacking this thread.^^
Glue factory
I'd like a pony as well. One like John Wayne used to ride, brown and white. I am sure they have a name.
I'd like a pony as well. One like John Wayne used to ride, brown and white. I am sure they have a name.