Product transition, fazing out of the iMac?

[MVApple]

So today I went to Best Buy to take a closer look at the iMacs and Best Buy had both there 20" and a 24" display units as open box sales because of "overstock". In past experiences, Best Buy has discounted Sony's ultraportable laptop a few weeks before Sony announces a refresh.

Now why would Best Buy want to get rid of their display units though? It doesn't make sense to get rid of display units because of "overstock" because won't they need to still have some display units around? It wouldn't make sense to me to sell a display unit and then just prop a new one right after that. If they needed to move some iMacs couldn't they offer some sort of rebate instead?

I'm wondering if Best Buy is either getting rid of their Apple display or the iMac is being refreshed, possibly as a desktop and not a all-in-one computer, thus making it a production transition. I know that Apple's laptops are being refreshed but I don't really see this as a "production transition".

Anybody else see anything at their local best buys?

 

[iSpoody 1243]

lol
i doubt apple will release a new imac for a while cause the aluminum imac isn't even a year old yet, plus its running all the newest processors

 

[Shivetya]

I will check my Best Buy today. Usually when they have the "display" models on discount they have lots of them in boxes as well for the same price.

They recently sold off a bunch of 3+ ghz Velocity Micro systems new in the box as "display models" 1399 marked down to 799. To top it off they were willing to give me 10% off that price with my BB membership card.

if I can snag an 8800gs powered iMac for $500 or so cheaper I would

 

[Muncher]

The iMac has been, and most likely will continue to be, the iconic mac desktop. It looks beautiful, and sells well too. I don't see why apple would want to take a chance on changing it at all; why should they, how many more sales would that bring in for them?

 

[Tallest Skil]

Remember 1999? When Apple's stock was $6 a share? Yeah, the iMac stopped that from being any lower.

Steve's alive; we have the iMac.

 

[bigjnyc]

were these the newest systems? because I went to a best buy about 2 weeks ago and the iMac's they had on display were still the ones before the latest revision.

 

[operator207]

were these the newest systems? because I went to a best buy about 2 weeks ago and the iMac's they had on display were still the ones before the latest revision.

This is the most likely conclusion I can think of. Fry's Electronics, the last time I was there, were selling the previous models of MB and MBPs, I would imagine they have already or will be soon selling them too for a reduced price.

 

[204467]

I agree with many of the previous posters; the iMac is far to popular and iconic for Apple to stop making it. Plus, it would make many people mad who plan on purchasing one in the future and suddenly wouldn't be able to.

 

[gauchogolfer]

The only thing dumber for Apple to do would be to stop selling iPods.

 

[204467]

The only thing dumber for Apple to do would be to stop selling iPods.

No, the dumbest thing for them to do would be to make the iPod like the Zune; ugly, and with a terrible interface for getting music onto it.

 

[The Hammer]

I agree with many of the previous posters; the iMac is far to popular and iconic for Apple to stop making it. Plus, it would make many people mad who plan on purchasing one in the future and suddenly wouldn't be able to.

I don't know about that. Some people may buy the imac because Apple doesn't make a headless Mac that they can afford as the Mac Pro is too expensive. If Apple replaced the iMac with a less expensive Mac Pro type machine people might not miss the iMac.

 

[204467]

I don't know about that. Some people may buy the imac because Apple doesn't make a headless Mac that they can afford as the Mac Pro is too expensive. If Apple replaced the iMac with a less expensive Mac Pro type machine people might not miss the iMac.

Yeah, but I think another thing that attracts people to the iMac is the simplicity of it; it's an all-in-one. There's no displays to connect, it comes with a keyboard and mouse (which the Mini doesn't and a cheaper Mac Pro maybe wouldn't, in an effort to lower its price), and it also has the built in webcam (meaning that no webcam setup is needed). If you factor in the price of a headless Mac and a nice display, people might not want to spend that much, or even be bothered to look around for a display. Like I said, I think the iMac's main selling point is it's overall simplicity.

 

[Hrududu]

If Apple were to discontinue any Mac I would have to say it would be the Mac Mini. I can't imagine those things sell that well at all anymore. Its $100 more than it was when it came out, and you still don't get anything with it. If anything, I could see Apple getting rid of the Mini and bringing back something more like the eMac to replace it. The iMac is 10 years old, and isn't going anywhere.

 

[Muncher]

If Apple were to discontinue any Mac I would have to say it would be the Mac Mini. I can't imagine those things sell that well at all anymore. Its $100 more than it was when it came out, and you still don't get anything with it. If anything, I could see Apple getting rid of the Mini and bringing back something more like the eMac to replace it. The iMac is 10 years old, and isn't going anywhere.

More likely, they'd merge it into the Apple TV.

 

[The Hammer]

Yeah, but I think another thing that attracts people to the iMac is the simplicity of it; it's an all-in-one. There's no displays to connect, it comes with a keyboard and mouse (which the Mini doesn't and a cheaper Mac Pro maybe wouldn't, in an effort to lower its price), and it also has the built in webcam (meaning that no webcam setup is needed). If you factor in the price of a headless Mac and a nice display, people might not want to spend that much, or even be bothered to look around for a display. Like I said, I think the iMac's main selling point is it's overall simplicity.

Good points, but arn't you throwing out a perfectly good monitor when you get a new machine?

 

[204467]

Good points, but arn't you throwing out a perfectly good monitor when you get a new machine?

True, but if you're replacing it with another iMac, aren't you getting a perfectly good monitor?
I know that's really bad logic. However, many people, after having an iMac for a while, want more power. So they get a more powerful computer and a nicer display, then they can sell the iMac to a person who might need an all-in-one. Or something like that. Or maybe the end user just doesn't care about the waste of a good display (or even know that it's a waste).

 

[czachorski]

Good points, but arn't you throwing out a perfectly good monitor when you get a new machine?

Throw out? Are you serious? Have you checked resale values for old iMacs? Even 4-5 year old ones are still going for $400 or more. It's more like, get a new iMac and sell your old one for more than a really nice monitor would run you.

 

[gehrbox]

I know that Apple's laptops are being refreshed but I don't really see this as a "production transition".

Transition to a new design in the MBP is without a doubt LONG overdue. That case design is looking pretty tired next to the MBA.

Add the case, a new type of touchpad, new processor and transition starts sounding like the right term.