New Consumer Mac Desktop... The "Mac"?

[bbrosemer]

With the diversity of the intel chip line with the Woodcrest probably going into the Xserver's and the MacPro's does anyone think that along with the Imac and the MacBook Pro's recieving processor upgrades that a new Consumer desktop appropriatley named "Mac" will come out. I think this could be a great idea for apple and could encourage more people to go at what they think of as the traditional computer that can also boot XP. I mean there are pleanty of ignorant people out there that would never buy a mac beacuse they dont know where the disc goes into the cd drive or what their password is when installing an app after being subjectied to windows. Just wondering please post your thoughts.

 

[Nermal]

If they don't know how to insert a CD then they certainly wouldn't be able to handle Boot Camp and a Windows installation.

 

[bbrosemer]

Hey no one said they couldnt purchase preinstalled Boot-Camp XP machines... I'M just saying there are lots of ignornant computer users out there

 

[BlizzardBomb]

I doubt the "Mac" name would work.

"Hey, I bought a Mac today!"
"Cool, which one?"
"A Mac."
"Yeah, which one?"
"The Mac Mac"
"Huh?"

It's too generic. The concept of a computer that sits between the Mini and the Power Mac is good though.

 

[Josias]

Why is this. Isn't Mini consumer enough for you? What could a consumer family being introduced to Mac need, that a Mini can not offer them? And it's just so cute... C'mon, $599... BYOKMD

 

[EricNau]

I doubt the "Mac" name would work.

"Hey, I bought a Mac today!"
"Cool, which one?"
"A Mac."
"Yeah, which one?"
"The Mac Mac"
"Huh?"

It's too generic. The concept of a computer that sits between the Mini and the Power Mac is good though.

I was thinking the same thing. Mac is a brand name. You don't see Dell naming one of their models "Dell" do you?

 

[treblah]

Not going to happen. This "Mac" would have to be priced between the mini ($700) and the PowerMac/Mac Pro ($1999) right?

It would be directly competing with the iMac ($1,300-1,700)and what would Apple rather sell a consumer, a tower that the consumer would easily upgrade with hardware not bought from Apple or the iMac which would need replacing every 2-3 years?

 

[Josias]

I was thinking the same thing. Mac is a brand name. You don't see Dell naming one of their models "Dell" do you?

Neither do you see them branding computers iDell, Dell Mini, PowerDell, DellBook and DellBook Pro...

You can't comapre these two companies. Apple puts so much more weith in subjects as branding. What is easier to remember: MacBook or E1505?

 

[EricNau]

Neither do you see them branding computers iDell, Dell Mini, PowerDell, DellBook and DellBook Pro...

You can't comapre these two companies. Apple puts so much more weith in subjects as branding. What is easier to remember: MacBook or E1505?

Dell uses a different branding technique because they have many, many more models that Apple. That aside, I can't think of a single company (big or small) that gives one of their products the same name as the brand. It is just too confusing.

 

[Caitlyn]

I doubt the "Mac" name would work.

"Hey, I bought a Mac today!"
"Cool, which one?"
"A Mac."
"Yeah, which one?"
"The Mac Mac"
"Huh?"

It's too generic. The concept of a computer that sits between the Mini and the Power Mac is good though.

Haha, agreed 100%.

 

[bbrosemer]

To all the skeptics the mini is nice but not upgradable, and the Imac is nice but not upgradble, the MacPro I think will be ugradable at least the processor will be we know that. The RAM will also be upgradable, and the GPU maybe. If they could do all of this is a consumer desktop...Y not...? Most people won't know ow to upgrade the parts and would never upgrade the parts to begin with this is more for people who dont understand what a computer really is and see the typicall PC box as the computer they could never understand the mini nor the Imac the MacPro yes but too expensive.

 

[Timepass]

To all the skeptics the mini is nice but not upgradable, and the Imac is nice but not upgradble, the MacPro I think will be ugradable at least the processor will be we know that. The RAM will also be upgradable, and the GPU maybe. If they could do all of this is a consumer desktop...Y not...? Most people won't know ow to upgrade the parts and would never upgrade the parts to begin with this is more for people who dont understand what a computer really is and see the typicall PC box as the computer they could never understand the mini nor the Imac the MacPro yes but too expensive.

true. I never really see the CPU as considered really upgradeable in any computer because at the rate Socket type change (I want to say 6 months or less on average for both AMD and intel) Not a big deal because by the time CPU is in need of changing it better just to start over any how from the ground up. and really that should determin a computer useable life span. Things that should not cut into its life span are a gimp GPU, Ram, or lack of certian types of ports, or opical drives. Those things should be able to be upgraded to keep up with the life of a computer.

The non pro macs quite off require a upgrade not because of the CPU but because they get hit by one either GPU or lack of certain ports.

I know the g4 mac mini ram can only run in single channal mode due to only have 1 slot.
To run ram in dual channel it does requires an even number of ram sticks to be in there. Just keep that in mind when getting any computer. You want the ram sticks to be in an even number in the computer of the same size. 2x512 is faster than 1x1g because the 512 can run in dual channel mode while the single 1gig stick can not. Something not many people know. So I would say keep that in mind when you get your next computer is always have the number of ram sticks as an even number if at all possible.

 

[bbrosemer]

Well none of the PPC chips ever needed upgrades becasue they came out once every 5 years. Where as intel is going to put chip out every 6 months and instead of buying a new computer in 2 years it would be much nicer to just upgrade the processor...

 

[Timepass]

Well none of the PPC chips ever needed upgrades becasue they came out once every 5 years. Where as intel is going to put chip out every 6 months and instead of buying a new computer in 2 years it would be much nicer to just upgrade the processor...

minus one fact that the socket changes like every year or so making it impossible to upgrade the CPU.

Also the CPU is not everything. Other limiting factors always come into play.

 

[bbrosemer]

Yes the socket does change however, intel has said that the Core series will be upgrdable and hopefully they keep to that and only change the socket when necessary, its not like they are making more money either way I still need the CPU the computer on the other hand I can always choose something else.

 

[dornoforpyros]

I doubt it, apple's already got 2 consumer desktops (mini & iMac) so they*really don't need a third. It'll just bring out more questions from consumers "which do I need?"

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

Apple is capable of anything when it comes to design and names. The history shows it. I wouldnt be surprised by a all new class or machine but Apple should be coming out with its Emac & PowerMac replacements. Its a shame they dont do another Cube run, all the componets could go into a cube with real video card, Intels new stuff is little and powerful and uses low power. Im sure millions would grab one.

 

[celebrian23]

I like the idea, but it won't work. First, apple would never call it a "mac". It's really confusing and a bad business strategy. If the mac flops, that could be horrible for apple. Secondly, there isn't room for a mid-range desktop right now. the imacc, the mac mini and the powermac take care of the vast majority of the people's needs. Very few people would need this middle ground, and apple is too small to be that diversified.

 

[bbrosemer]

Very few mac users would need the middle ground bt most PC users would like it and give them something that they are more familiar with and would be essential in getting people to switch. Unless Apple wants to stay at 5% and sell millions of Ipods...

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

Very few mac users would need the middle ground bt most PC users would like it and give them something that they are more familiar with and would be essential in getting people to switch. Unless Apple wants to stay at 5% and sell millions of Ipods...

True most Pc users have a LCD so they are replacing the computer. Its either Powermac gigantic tower or Mini with weak componets around its cpu. A lot of people like a full featured smaller computer. The PC world has them, Apple doesnt. iMac holds that middle ground for Apple and Millions of folks have good LCDs.