How would you like a headless system from Apple?

[Chone]

1. Full size ATX tower (like Mac Pro), high end consumer parts (Conroe, high end videocard, etc) and 1500$-2500$ price depending on configuration.

2. Medium sized tower (mATX?), sacrifice on some parts (low profile videocard? merom?) and 1200$-1700$ price but still be better than iMac, something like iMac Pro without a display

3. Ultra small iMac without display, around 1000$ to 1500$ oferring more than iMac (minus display) for the money at each pricepoint.

I choose 1. By the way the reason to do the poll like that is because of character limits

 

[zap2]

2. Medium sized tower (mATX?), sacrifice on some parts (low profile videocard? merom?) and 1200$-1700$ price but still be better than iMac, something like iMac Pro without a display

That but with a Conroe chip in it, and since its cheaper then the Conroe, no reason NOT to

 

[briantology]

Option 1 is too close to a Mac Pro. Option 2 seems more suitable/likely.

 

[Mackeyser]

I think if you think about the headless iMac, you have a cube.

Or Mac mini Pro...LOL

Anyway, I think Steve-o would want to go that route versus a mini-tower. They aren't "aesthetic"...

Actually, I love Apple design, just poking fun...

 

[Heb1228]

I would really like a none-of-the-above option. 1 and 3 (or something close enough) are already available. And #2 doesn't make much sense to me. And it goes against Apple's simple product line philosophy. More choices are not always better.

 

[Jay42]

I really don't see the room in the line for a whole new model. At most possibly a core 2 mac mini for around $1000 or so. Possibly a Mac Pro with a core 2.

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

I dont see any need to step on the workstations toes, I voted #3 because thats whats missing. Imac has some fine componets but like I have said before there are billions of monitors outthere and monitors last longer then computers. In essence Apple is saying F off to the middle class just like Congress.

 

[srf4real]

I'm waiting until the new models come with a "beam me up Scotty" button.

 

[mkrishnan]

Where's the "I'd pay Apple to never produce one just to spite y'alls" option?

But I'm sure Apple will at least give you (1) at some point, considering they have in the past.

 

[Macky-Mac]

It's my general impression that most of the people who want a 'headless imac" really want the performance of the pro line at the price of the imac and that doesn't seem likely to happen. It's possible they might offer a souped up mini at some point, but I doubt they'll offer a "better than imac" at the same price range.

 

[solvs]

It's my general impression that most of the people who want a 'headless imac" really want the performance of the pro line at the price of the imac and that doesn't seem likely to happen. It's possible they might offer a souped up mini at some point, but I doubt they'll offer a "better than imac" at the same price range.

Not at all. People want less than the Mac Pro, but more than the mini. Single Conroe, replaceable graphics card (NOT integrated), 2-4 DDR RAM slots, full size optical drive, maybe room for a second full size hard drive at a price more like the iMac, but without a screen. You know, pretty much the same thing other PC manufacturers make. No one is expecting Mac Pro specs for lowend iMac prices.

People basically want the iMac specs at iMac prices with a video card you can change out, but without a monitor.

 

[Macky-Mac]

.....People basically want the iMac specs at iMac prices with a video card you can change out, but without a monitor.

i guess I was responding to the poll choices which all seem to emphasize "better than imac"

 

[slughead]

It's my general impression that most of the people who want a 'headless imac" really want the performance of the pro line at the price of the imac and that doesn't seem likely to happen. It's possible they might offer a souped up mini at some point, but I doubt they'll offer a "better than imac" at the same price range.

No. Some people don't need 4 cores but want upgradabilty.

I may have bought a headless iMac if it allowed me to swap the video card and add 4 hard drives... but I would've paid what it would be worth--aesthetics counting for nothing.

Admittedly, I would've gotten that instead of a Mac Pro.. but I don't need a whole mac pro, I just needed an upgraded from my dual 2.5ghz G5 and I needed an intel machine.

I'm thinking a $1500 box, 3 PCIe slots (1 x 16 at least), woodcrest (single socket), 4GB Max RAM, 3 HD bays, 7300 GT standard (same video upgrade options as Mac Pro), and 2 optical bays (6 SATA plugs though).

Put it in whatever color box you want, that's a reasonable (BUT HIGH) price for a machine with a future. I think it would be extremely popular with gamers with a day job.

 

[milozauckerman]

woodcrest (single socket)

In which case you've just eliminated the primary justifications for an xMac (cost, performance in the prosumer sector).

A single-socket Woodcrest offers nothing but disadvantages compared to a Conroe. Increased RAM costs and decreased RAM performance, for what?

Not to mention that Apple would have to hire someone to create a single-socket board for Woodcrest, as that's not an off the shelf item for anyone.

 

[wonga1127]

Option 2.

Personally I think the whole mini line should be revamped ranging from base line consumer computing to headless iMac specs. Then, provide people with smallish monitors as well as the Cinema Displays. I'd love a 17" Apple monitor.

Free macs would be even better

 

[Zwhaler]

Number two. Id rather have a mac mini than number 3, and Id rather have a mac pro than number 1.

 

[aquajet]

Cube Core 2 Duo, with two basic configs matching the specs of the iMac (17" ATI and 24" NVIDIA) with one PCI Express slot, sold at $599 and $799 price points.

 

[suneohair]

Cube Core 2 Duo, with two basic configs matching the specs of the iMac (17" ATI and 24" NVIDIA) with one PCI Express slot, sold at $599 and $799 price points.

Yeah. Ok.

 

[fivetoadsloth]

Im guessing theyll just have a mini with moe upgade options. Faster processor, and better graphics, but i think theyll make the mini alot more customizable rather than reease a new system

 

[aquajet]

Yeah. Ok.

Don't tell me that's not good enough.

 

[logoguy905]

Weak Apple band-aid to the problem

Apple has tried to answer the cries of the Mac faithful... the cries of those that want a mid-range machine with a DECIENT video solution, without having to pay for a screen they don't need.

So what is Apple's answer? …a very dumbed down iMac in the 1000-dollar pricing sweet spot. So, what's wrong with that, you say? Well, it's actually the OPPOSITE of what a mid-range user needs or expects. It still gives you the crappy unneeded screen, and removes the HQ video card! Dumb. Just dumb. Once again, the potential buyer is faced with shelling out hundreds more just to get the iMac version with the real graphics solution. This is nothing more than a band-aid offering.

Instead of dumbing down the iMac, Apple should consider souping up the Mac Mini. Create a double height case (yes, the iCube). Use the same hardware as currently, but strip the Intel graphics off the board. Then, squeeze in an ATI board somewhere and put a full height hard drive above that. R&D should be relatively small to make the needed modifications. Believe it or not, there were many fans of the old cube, just not its price point. The iCube, with its attractive form factor and price, would sell like hotcakes. And don't worry Apple, there will still be plenty of numpties out there who will shell out for your intergraded stuff. And, pretty soon, I guess I might have to join that bandwagon if the winds don’t change.

One last thought has to do with Apple loosing ground to hacked PC boxes. Consider an off-the-shelf half-height PC box from HP or Dell in the 1000-dollar range. It would give an Apple user all of what they need. Come on Apple, will you start actually competing with that? Just ignoring the facts won't make those sweet spot PC's disappear. And the savvier amongst us will gladly find a way to run your OS on them. Like Stephen Colbert might say "I'm putting you on notice, Apple".

- Paul - Toronto, Canada

 

[MacsAttack]

Headless system from Apple? I've got two right now.

Mac Mini - great little machine. Got a lot of use out of it over the last 18 months.

Mac Pro - A lot more memory and three extra cores.

If I didn't need the extra memory the 24 inch iMac would probably have been just fine - especially as I'll probably have to buy a new monitor soon (old 20 inch CRT is on its way out after six years of faithful sevice).

With conputer sales (Windows and OS X) now verging on more than half being laptops now there really is little point in Apple producing yet another desktop product when what they currently offer covers all mainstream and pro markets very well.

If you want a games machine there are a number of most excelent consoles from various manufacturers that will foot the bill for far less than a mythical "headless iMac" would sell for.

 

[disconap]

Actually, I love Apple design, just poking fun...

I'm half and half; I like the imac G3 and G4, not so much the G5 design. I like the b/w and G4 towers, but the G5/MacPro towers I find ugly. The ipods are all pretty damned cool looking, and the mini is just plain neat, and I like the clamshell and the ibook, but I was hoping for more from the new Macbooks, I figured there would be a neat new design.

Overall I was a bit confused by the new Intel line, there was little to no design change, which is weird for Apple, who tend to redesign within a generation or, at least, with each new one...

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

Just take the inards from iMac and throw em into a box with no display. Many would like that machine and ill take mine with the 7600GT. What so hard about that? #2 &#3 both look good to me. Fact is Mini is to little, MacPro is to much and millions and millions of people have displays allready.

 

[Spock]

I would like a new taller Mac Mini, and I think it would be cool to have 2 PCIe slots 1 extra HD bay like the Mac Pro but a slot on the outside of the case with intergrated graphics that shut off with PCIe Video card installed. For those that do need need a high end video card and a Core 2 Duo.