iMac G5 = No Modem?

[Josh]

I just noticed the iMac G5 no longer comes with a modem - if you use dialup, you now have to buy a $50 USB modem.

Is this new with the new iSightiMac's, or was it introduced with the rev. b's?

I had a rev. a and it had a modem port in the back by default.

That's kind of a bummer...an extra port used up, and an extra $50 to spend

 

[emaja]

This is new with the iSight iMacs as all retail G5 iMacs up until now still had dialup modems as standard. I think that some education models did without the modem and the optical drive.

 

[Whyren]

This seems an interesting choice by Apple seeing as how, especially with the loss of the eMac, the iMac is targeted more to the type of consumers who wouldn't be using (or couldn't afford) high-speed internet.

 

[jj1985]

It seems strange to me that you would be able to afford an apple computer (especially an imac) but not be able to afford broadband.....which is as cheap as £9.99 a month!

Its 2005 for christs sake. Why would one bother with dial-up?
I think apple are only saving space on the computer in something that isnt really needed any more.

 

[eva01]

This seems an interesting choice by Apple seeing as how, especially with the loss of the eMac, the iMac is targeted more to the type of consumers who wouldn't be using (or couldn't afford) high-speed internet.

WHA!? i don't know a person with an iMac that doesn't have cable, hell a coworker i know bought cable internet just because he has an iMac G5

 

[CyberDoberman]

WHA!? i don't know a person with an iMac that doesn't have cable, hell a coworker i know bought cable internet just because he has an iMac G5

Yeah... if you don't have cable... something is seriously wrong...

 

[paulypants]

Yeah, we're heading into 2006, time to get cable. I don't know how anyone can tolerate the snail speed of dial-up.

 

[Whyren]

WHA!? i don't know a person with an iMac that doesn't have cable, hell a coworker i know bought cable internet just because he has an iMac G5

I'm suggesting from more of a switcher's POV. If you're a user who doesn't often make upgrades (still has dialup, old junker PC, old junker monitor) and need a new monitor with your new computer, buying a mini+monitor makes it almost worthwhile to get the faster iMac...I know, fairly weak...but I tend to find those little niggling possibilities.

I know some people that honestly would think twice about buying a computer because they'd have to buy that "extra" option to get dialup internet. Just suggesting...

As I'd mentioned elsewhere, though, I think it's like the floppy drive with the original iMac...it's time to move on, but at least this time Apple's providing the option.

 

[Josh]

It seems strange to me that you would be able to afford an apple computer (especially an imac) but not be able to afford broadband.....which is as cheap as £9.99 a month!

Its 2005 for christs sake. Why would one bother with dial-up?
I think apple are only saving space on the computer in something that isnt really needed any more.

For many, myself included, the lack of broadband has absolutely nothing to do with price, but is entirely due to location.

Many rural areas have no broadband access; I don't see this changing very soon either.

And not as many people are on broadband as you might think. The majority of people browsing the web from home (not a coffee shop, library, work, etc) are still using dial-up, so I don't think it so strange for a computer to still come with a modem - especially once all the above is considered.

 

[briangig]

I would disagree that the majority of people at home are on dial-up...I dont know anyone who is on dial-up...at all. My grandparents have dsl for christs sake.

and if you are in the minority who cant get broadband or for whatever reason dont have cable or dsl, suck it up and add 50 bucks onto your 1500 dollar computer. I dont think it matters that much.

You gonna cry cause theres no serial port on it too?


also, anyone watch the media event? when they put up the specs for the new imacs, they listed the HDs as 160 and 250 MB.

 

[Macky-Mac]

those that need a modem should expect to pay for one and those that don't shouldn't be expected for fork over money for something they don't use.......I would have happily paid $50 less for a modem-less iMac if I'd had the option

 

[Josh]

I would disagree that the majority of people at home are on dial-up...I dont know anyone who is on dial-up...at all. My grandparents have dsl for christs sake.

and if you are in the minority who cant get broadband or for whatever reason dont have cable or dsl, suck it up and add 50 bucks onto your 1500 dollar computer. I dont think it matters that much.

You gonna cry cause theres no serial port on it too?

I take it you missed the part about hi-speed not being offered in rural areas?

It has NOTHING to do with price. If something is not available in your area, you cannot have it no matter what the price is

In my town, and many just like it all over the world, dialup is the only option. You show me a town of 2000 or less people, and all show you one with no other option but dialup (and bad dialup at that).

And yes - the majority are still on dialup, using win98/ME, w/ 800x600 resolutions. At michigan.gov we just got our monthly web stats in for last month - I can easily verify this.

 

[mkrishnan]

I would disagree that the majority of people at home are on dial-up...I dont know anyone who is on dial-up...at all. My grandparents have dsl for christs sake.

I thought, last I checked, market penetration of high speed services was on the order of 40-50% of users with internet connections... there are still a lot of AOL subscribers, etc....

But I tend to agree that, with the Mac Mini, there's relatively little in the way of issues with the iMac not having a modem, although I guess it's a nice backup. Even though I never use it, I'd consider it a problem if my iBook didn't have a modem, but it's a portable. And then again I can use bluetooth / cell modem... Hmmm...

But anyway, it seems strange to buy a $1300 computer with a very nice webcam and use it on dial-up...I have a hard time seeing that customer profile buying an iMac to begin with.

 

[jj1985]

Maybe rural areas in the US don't but in the UK about 98% (or something) of the population has access to broadband internet