Concept: Apple five.

[sundayx]

I actually quite like the atmosphere here, that people like to critique things and ideas. I've presented some concepts and images before. But this is perhaps something completely different.

I here present this concept, the Apple five. http://www.flickr.com/photos/14010619@N02/2393548023/

There is also a link that describes the theory behind the concept. I'd just want to get some feedback from hardcore Mac fans (as I am one myself) about this idea and what your take of it is. Thanks.

 

[Blubbert]

The odds are it wont happen. For desktop usage, there is the iMac, for anything requiring more power, there is the MacPro. The type of computer youre describing just cannot fit into that linuep mentioned above, especially considering that iMacs and Mac Pros are pretty lasting computers, hardware and software wise. Hell, Leopard can still be run on G4 machines, which are quite old by this time...

The concept of a mid level tower might be appealing to a small fraction of users, but i am positive, as a relative power user myself, and from the knowledge gleaned off my friends, who are quite proficient with computers, the only changes they ever do are adding a new HD, changing the graphics card and adding RAM. Now, considering that you can expand HD capacity and RAM pretty easy on an iMac, and that you can do all three on a Mac Pro, there simply isnt a reason for a machine whose only selling point is the ability to change the graphics card and pack less punch than a Mac Pro.

The need to exchange graphics cards stems from one thing, and one thing only, games. Considering the state of the Mac as a gaming platform, the need for an exchangeable graphics card becomes even less important.

Simply put, a mid range tower you are suggesting is right in between two current lines offered by Apple and only offers a marginal, if any, improvement to an iMac while being unable to compete with the Mac Pro.

 

[Killyp]

I like the concept.

I disagree with Blubbert. If Apple released a mid-priced tower, like a (very) scaled down MacPro, I would buy it in an instant. A Core2Quad CPU, dual hard drive bays, single optical drive bay and dual PCI slots (maybe a x16 and a x4).

That would be plenty for me. Enough to do all the kinda things I'm going to need it to do, music product, work with photography, maybe a bit of video editing here and there and enough to play some games once in a full moon (which after having played on Crysis yesterday, I want to do desperately).

I do love the iMacs, but they just aren't for me. We got a 20" one on saturday for family use and it's brilliant, but I'd really need to use an Apple Cinema Display...

 

[gloss]

I like the concept.

I disagree with Blubbert. If Apple released a mid-priced tower, like a (very) scaled down MacPro, I would buy it in an instant. A Core2Quad CPU, dual hard drive bays, single optical drive bay and dual PCI slots (maybe a x16 and a x4).

I concur here. I personally desire something more powerful than an iMac, with an upgradable graphics card, that WON'T run me $2000. I've been looking at building another PC desktop simply because I could put together a fairly high-end dual-GPU gaming rig for the price of an iMac. If Apple would just give me a darn mid-range Mac, I wouldn't be tempted into such stupidity.

Cool concept, by the way. Dig the design and the name. It's probably a bit small for the sorts of expandability that many of us desiring a mid-range computer would like, but other than that it's quite a sexy bit of kit.

 

[Schtumple]

That's amazing, apple could make this, but they never will, still, awesome design, and for once it is psyically possible (ish)

 

[sundayx]

@Blubbert

If the Mac Pro was actually mass affordable, then I can see your ideology. But the Mac Pro is out of the mainstream price range (it's also huge), the iMac is hardware limited, and so is the Mac mini. It does so in this vertical casing that is extremely small on the desk. This fills in an important gap that a lot of Mac users, potential Mac users, and "corporations" are looking upon. You can tout how much better Leopard is, but you can never get over the fact that the desktop product line is restricted. If Apple is to provide an initiative for homne users and gamers (one of the restrictions why people are not adapting), then this is the product. With the backbone of Leopard, you could see how corporations can also swap out a large number of machines (without replacing their peripherals). You could see in this regard Apple gaining a lot of the market.

 

[flopticalcube]

Very nice. I doubt they would put a 2.5" drive in it as it would be too slow for its intended market. Problem with upgradability of Macs is that while its possible in hardware, software is the real problem. Look at the Mac Pro and the ongoing saga of the 8800GT.

 

[Blubbert]

@Blubbert

If the Mac Pro was actually mass affordable, then I can see your ideology. But the Mac Pro is out of the mainstream price range (it's also huge), the iMac is hardware limited, and so is the Mac mini. It does so in this vertical casing that is extremely small on the desk. This fills in an important gap that a lot of Mac users, potential Mac users, and "corporations" are looking upon. You can tout how much better Leopard is, but you can never get over the fact that the desktop product line is restricted. If Apple is to provide an initiative for homne users and gamers (one of the restrictions why people are not adapting), then this is the product. With the backbone of Leopard, you could see how corporations can also swap out a large number of machines (without replacing their peripherals). You could see in this regard Apple gaining a lot of the market.

All these arguments are valid, however, there are flaws in your reasoning. Your hope for an upgradeable mid level tower are simply not something Apple will do in the near future, or possibly ever. While RAM and HD upgradeability is a feature of damn near every product line Apple offers, the video card upgradeability is restricted to a select few products. And considering the delay in the delivery of the Nvidia 8800 to the Mac Pro's it simply is not all that important to Apple.

Your dreams of having a Mac gaming machine will not happen untill there is a stable games market for the Mac. Considering that the PC and the console games market completely dwarf the Mac game market, it seems unlikely that there will be a major shift to Mac development any time soon. There simply arent that many profits to be had here.
Additionally, your argument that a mid range tower will be better for corporate users holds no water. For a lot of corporate users a Mac Mini or an iMac are a perfect computer. The average user uses it mostly to do email, and various projects. For whatever company employer that needs the extra oomph, the Mac Pro is a far better option than the minimally upgradeable mid level tower.

Your desire for a mid level tower also disregards the fact that Apple, as a company interested in making a profit off their hardware sales, would introduce a machine that clashes with their consumer and pro lines, which is somethign a mid level tower you are dreaming of do.

For any profesional user, a Mac Pro is neither too big or too bulky, because it packs everything they need and for every home user, the iMac is perfect because it packs everything they need and more in a convenient package. The mid level tower you desire does neither. It doesnt have the expandability of the Mac Pro, nor the small size or convenience of an iMac...

 

[notjustjay]

Interesting, but it looks an awful lot like your run-of-the-mill PC small case.

Why "five"?

 

[tMac85]

yeah i dont get the 'five' either. I would like to see the design a bit less book like/ external hardrive and more like a well designed stand alone piece.

 

[flopticalcube]

Apple III -> Mac -> Apple 5

 

[Unspeaked]

Why "five"?

That's how many people would buy it...

 

[northy124]

That looks great someone should send this to Apple and see what they say. i'd defo buy it

 

[ntrigue]

I am in need of a Desktop as powerful as my MBPro without the price tag of the Mac Pro. I would purchase instantly permitting it was 20% cheaper than the same spec laptop.

2.5GHZ C2D
4GB RAM
8600GT+

$1499 is my ceiling...

 

[sundayx]

All these arguments are valid, however, there are flaws in your reasoning. Your hope for an upgradeable mid level tower are simply not something Apple will do in the near future, or possibly ever. While RAM and HD upgradeability is a feature of damn near every product line Apple offers, the video card upgradeability is restricted to a select few products. And considering the delay in the delivery of the Nvidia 8800 to the Mac Pro's it simply is not all that important to Apple.

Your dreams of having a Mac gaming machine will not happen untill there is a stable games market for the Mac. Considering that the PC and the console games market completely dwarf the Mac game market, it seems unlikely that there will be a major shift to Mac development any time soon. There simply arent that many profits to be had here.
Additionally, your argument that a mid range tower will be better for corporate users holds no water. For a lot of corporate users a Mac Mini or an iMac are a perfect computer. The average user uses it mostly to do email, and various projects. For whatever company employer that needs the extra oomph, the Mac Pro is a far better option than the minimally upgradeable mid level tower.

Your desire for a mid level tower also disregards the fact that Apple, as a company interested in making a profit off their hardware sales, would introduce a machine that clashes with their consumer and pro lines, which is somethign a mid level tower you are dreaming of do.

For any profesional user, a Mac Pro is neither too big or too bulky, because it packs everything they need and for every home user, the iMac is perfect because it packs everything they need and more in a convenient package. The mid level tower you desire does neither. It doesnt have the expandability of the Mac Pro, nor the small size or convenience of an iMac...

I love this discussion, because that was my intention. So thanks Blubbert.

Anyways your argument holds valid as well, and I respect that fact that this product do overlap the tiers of the Apple product line, given the market Apple is at right now. But for a rebuttals I'd like to suggest that this product is thinking beyond the intentions of Apple, it's opening up the market as should Apple hope to acquire. This concept is not just a mid-level tower, but it spans the entire range up to the professional. While I have argued for expandability, and I see your point that it's not a great deal of concern for Apple nor it's product line, I just thought that, consumers (prosumers) would want some flexibility in their product as well, without the cost and setback of the Pro.

Gaming is an area that may seem insignificant to Apple right now, but the implications would be enormous. Apple do have the intentions to apply to this market, because it means approaching a sector that embeds itself with the people that are willing to spend, and be persuaded to spend this money. Not to argue about expanding the graphics card (Apple does provide options for better cards anyways), but those slots also mean a lot of other hardware that could cater for other uses, on a consumer product.

I do see how the Apple product line is so selected for particular sectors and people with definite needs, and perhaps that is a restriction that people are sometimes facing as well. This product is not only about branching those Apple stereotypes, but actually offering a product that provides everything those product offers in one system. If Apple is to expand its market, then this is a potential they're willing to take. This means profit.

 

[GimmeSlack12]

I think this is a good effort for a concept. I will say that the goal of the 'Apple Five' is not clearly stated. What is Apple Five? "Its a Computer" that does not come across very clear. I mean, I wasn't sure if it was a whole new market or what. And yes, what does the 'Five' stand for? If that has any point you should revolve your entire ad based on that.

Well presented, but the message is a bit unclear.

 

[speakerwizard]

although a few people on here will welcome this idea it will never happen, VERY few people upgrade there computers and VERY few of them only the ram, now ram is upgradable on most macs. With laptops as well as the imac and now to some extent the iphone apple (and the industry as a whole) are moving computers to steve jobs s ultimate goal, a normal consumer electronics devise, just like your toaster. Even most PC tower users would sooner buy an external hard drive than open up the side of a computer, geeks wont like this change but consumers will love it.

 

[BlakTornado]

Looks nice

If I didn't have a fantastic iMac already, I would buy one (if it were real)

 

[toughboy]

As an admirer of Sundayx's work, I must admit that I didn't really understand Apple Five concept at the first sight. But after seeing the price and the deeper down on Apple Five in his/her site, I must say that a product like this would change lots of things in Apple right away.

What actually amazes me is that people underestimate the power of changeable graphics card.. Do you know why hardcore PC gamers do not buy Macs?? Do you know why people pay thousands of dollars on the Alienware crap?.. You may not care about them, but they are the majority of the market.. And unfortunately you and me are just a-few-good-men...

So lets say that I want to use my own screen. Lets say I already have a great 24-inc screen and I want to buy a Mac.. What are my options? 599 dolar Mac mini and 2799 dolar Mac Pro..

Cant you see the gap?

Cmon!!

Peace out.

I actually quite like the atmosphere here, that people like to critique things and ideas. I've presented some concepts and images before. But this is perhaps something completely different.

I here present this concept, the Apple five. http://www.flickr.com/photos/14010619@N02/2393548023/

There is also a link that describes the theory behind the concept. I'd just want to get some feedback from hardcore Mac fans (as I am one myself) about this idea and what your take of it is. Thanks.

 

[sundayx]

Thanks toughboy, took the words right out of my mouth. If you've got the peripherals, you either dish out very little money to get a very restricted Mac mini, or dish out a fortune to get a Mac Pro. Not a lot of people are willing to pay the premium for the Pro, hence they're stuck with the mini (or even iMac if you have to argue). There is a huge gap in the middle that Apple needs to realize and value. Why are Shuttles and slim PC not being as widely adapted as towers even in the consumer market? This can draw parallel to how Mac mini seems to be left out in their decisions as well. On the other hand, it can also mean a huge potential for Apple to sell more displays.

As for the name, is there any need to address a history lesson of Apple? I know it's not the perfect name, it doesn't mean anything, but it's a part of Apple's heritage, and I hope this concept becomes a part of that too.

 

[GimmeSlack12]

As for the name, is there any need to address a history lesson of Apple? I know it's not the perfect name, it doesn't mean anything, but it's a part of Apple's heritage, and I hope this concept becomes a part of that too.

??? I'm confused more ???
Generally Apple products names allude to the use of the device and/or shape (i.e. the cube, iPhone, iPod, Macbook, MacBook Air, etc.). Though some ambiguous names like PowerMac and iMac don't say anything (which leaves you expecting anything). I find the name 'Five' to be a let down cause you read into and expect something to do with 'Five'. If you're looking for a new name may I suggest: The Mac Generation, or The Mac Evolution. Something to suggest a non-drastic 'Change'.

 

[madmaxmedia]

I don't think it's worth getting bogged down here in the viability of a mid-level Mac tower- that dog has been beaten to death in numerous other threads, and the argument isn't going to be settled here.

As far as this particular design goes- I really like it! It's not just some transmogrified Mini or shrunken-down Mac Pro or something like that, it is definitely its own concept. I like the sleekness and the vertical orientation, which has been done in PC's but this one still has a unique look.

It resembles some sort of high-powered server, which is definitely cool.

I would love a 3.5" HD in there, but obviously that is a space consideration.

 

[GimmeSlack12]

I don't think it's worth getting bogged down here in the viability of a mid-level Mac tower- that dog has been beaten to death in numerous other threads, and the argument isn't going to be settled here.

Thats not really the point of this I don't think. I agree that the mid-tower won't be happening until the iMac ends its reign as the consumer workhorse, but I think the effort put forth here is done very nicely.

 

[madmaxmedia]

Thats not really the point of this I don't think. I agree that the mid-tower won't be happening until the iMac ends its reign as the consumer workhorse, but I think the effort put forth here is done very nicely.

Yeah. I think this particular design is very nice. Discussion of guts aside, I think this is a machine I would love to buy and use. I'd probably want to keep this thing on my desktop alongside my monitor, rather than underneath (I love the Mac Pro case but it's a bit big to sit on your desk.)

 

[sushi]

Most interesting idea. However, I don't like the "Five" part of the name.

Apple's line up was this before the Mini and MBA.

Pro models:
- MP (before PM)
- MBP (before PB)

Consumer models:
- iMac
- MB (before iBook)

Simple and easy to understand. Apple basically had desktop and laptop model for both their pro lineup and their consumer lineup.

Then came the mini. A headless Mac if you will.

And now the MBA, a light laptop.

The current Apple lineup is not as clear as it used to be. So maybe Apple will change and add a mini tower. I know this concept would be enticing to gamers and those who like to upgrade their computers.