Who'd love a midrange tower?

[kylepro88]

Is it just me of is Apple missing out on some sales by only having the monitor/computer combos, and macmini? I wish Apple would create a tower based machine that would have the same specs as the iMac or something close. Not only could that be a great opportunity for folks who already like their monitor or might be a PC user wanting to convert but it would take away even further the issue that people have about upgrading. iMac can be upgraded sure but to put it into a tower, make it upgradable like a MacPro, keep the price around the same as iMac, and I think Apple would have a winner on their hands. Does anyone else share this idea with me or think it would actually be good for other users willing to convert?

- Kyle

 

[72930]

Please check the forum for other threads on similar subjects
ADDITION:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/232600/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/268735/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/245247/

EDIT: Refined language for bigandy and politeness's sake

 

[bigandy]

Instead of a potentially offensive post, perhaps a reminder to search the forums before posting a topic would be an idea.

While posting a few links to similar threads is a good idea, I don't really think your tone in the post is.

kylepro88, remember to search before you post! Unless a topic has been dormant for a while, It'll still be possible to add your comments. Of course there's no problem starting a new topic if you feel, after reading previous comments, that there's something new and novel to bring to the community, where you can have a discussion that wouldn't tread on the toes of the previous threads. Hope you enjoy your stay here

 

[Sun Baked]

Apple did that with a single CPU PowerMac G5, took an iMac G5 and stuffed it in a tower case -- lasted 8 months before Apple killed it.

They cannot do the same thing with the current Intel iMacs -- because it is running on a mobile chipset.

The current Mac Pro is also too expensive to stuff in a consumer machine.

Which leaves introducing a desktop chipset to the iMac, and building a consumer tower off that.

Something that'll happen sometime, much easier these days since Apple isn't paying for entire chipsets from design to manufacture -- just the R&D to put a Intel-sourced chipset in a Mac.

But this requires enough volume for the iMac and Consumer Tower to use a desktop chipset.

Who knows what that volume is -- 250k, 500k, or million units per quarter.

 

[classof2011]

Before this thread is closed I'm going to say that my idea of a midrange would be...

Dubbed Mac Mini Pro or Mac Pro Mini
C2D processors
2 HDD slots
Up to 4GB RAM
Internal speakers - iMac quality
Requires external LCD
Includes keyboard + mouse
Leopard
$850


Now if I only had Photoshop to create it.

 

[Jman888]

I would kill for that.. Im in the market soon for a Tower with a core2 and a good videocard. I would get a mini but CoreDuo + Gma = No iMac (AIO + LaptopParts - Upgrade = No) Mac Pro would work but $$$ is a prob.
So a Mac with the specs
2.13 GHZ core2 (Up To 2.66 Core2
1Gig Ram (Up To 4)
x1600 Base (Up To 7900 - x1950XT )
160Gig HD (2 Drives Up 2 500 Gigs)
For a base price of about $799-$899 (What Pc's With same specs are going for about now. See also HP and Dell XPS 410)
Then i would have my Problem solved.
Problem :Want a mac need expandability and upgrades and a decent price.
Im torn between waiting for a Core2 Mini or Just getting a Dell With a 2.4 Core2 and stock card and upgrade to a x1950XT or something.

 

[gauchogolfer]

Before this thread is closed I'm going to say that my idea of a midrange would be...

Dubbed Mac Mini Pro or Mac Pro Mini
C2D processors
2 HDD slots
Up to 4GB RAM
Internal speakers - iMac quality
Requires external LCD
Includes keyboard + mouse
Leopard
$850


Now if I only had Photoshop to create it.

How many of the hugely-successful iMacs do you think they would still sell if something like this was available? Maybe not enough to offset the risk?

 

[Jman888]

How many of the hugely-successful iMacs do you think they would still sell if something like this was available? Maybe not enough to offset the risk?

Why? Specs of imac But upgradeable. Normal x1600 is way cheaper then mobile x1600 Conroe is cheper then Mermon GHZ per GHZ and without a screen... Theyed probally make more then they would on the iMac and people into imacs would still get the iMac ..

 

[gauchogolfer]

Why? Specs of imac But upgradeable. Normal x1600 is way cheaper then mobile x1600 Conroe is cheper then Mermon GHZ per GHZ and without a screen... Theyed probally make more then they would on the iMac and people into imacs would still get the iMac ..

My opinion is that Apple, Inc. is a hugely profitable company with an enormous customer research/marketing department, and if they REALLY thought that something like this would be profitable for the company as a whole, then they would do it. It's not like Apple isn't making the midrange tower to spite its potential customers. These are business decisions.

 

[Xyl]

Just to be a thorn in the side...

I was wishing for the same, but after I thought about it, I found out I actually didn't need something like that.
- If I buy a top model iMac right now, it will last me until I replace my computer.
- I've upgraded parts in my PC, but it really wasn't a necessity. Upgrading the RAM is the most likely, but you can do that in an iMac already.
- I don't care about the monitor being stuck to the computer, because when I thought about it, every single time I've replaced my computer, I've gotten a new monitor with it. Displays are getting cheaper and better every month - and it doesn't feel that great pairing up a brand new computer with some crappy monitor that looks like it was from the ancient times .

And all this is coming from a not-your-average-joe user. I'm in the IT industry and stare at a computer for 8 hours a day (at least), I play games, and I can't stand unworkable and slow computers.

And for those complaining about the video card - hence the need of a tower - I agree that the video card isn't all that great, but that's because Apple doesn't update their products as regularly as others, so it makes the video card look quite bad. When this generation of iMacs first came out, we didn't hear any complaints about the video card back then . Just wait for the next update which should be coming fairly soon.

Of course, everyone has their own preferences, but the average consumer isn't going to upgrade many parts in their computer other than the RAM....this makes something like the Cube a niche market that doesn't make Apple a lot of money (unlike the Mac Pros), and this money is even less after design costs, etc.

 

[Jman888]

My opinion is that Apple, Inc. is a hugely profitable company with an enormous customer research/marketing department, and if they REALLY thought that something like this would be profitable for the company as a whole, then they would do it. It's not like Apple isn't making the midrange tower to spite its potential customers. These are business decisions.

Well most people say its because of the whole upgrade thing (Next week x1600 wont be good enough. then what?) but i dunno. But look at pc's 95+ % ARE towers (Well then again 80% of Pc's are under $700 )

 

[Jman888]

Just to be a thorn in the side...

I was wishing for the same, but after I thought about it, I found out I actually didn't need something like that.
- If I buy a top model iMac right now, it will last me until I replace my computer.
- I've upgraded parts in my PC, but it really wasn't a necessity. Upgrading the RAM is the most likely, but you can do that in an iMac already.
- I don't care about the monitor being stuck to the computer, because when I thought about it, every single time I've replaced my computer, I've gotten a new monitor with it. Displays are getting cheaper and better every month - and it doesn't feel that great pairing up a brand new computer with some crappy monitor that looks like it was from the ancient times .

And all this is coming from a not-your-average-joe user. I'm in the IT industry and stare at a computer for 8 hours a day (at least), I play games, and I can't stand unworkable and slow computers.

And for those complaining about the video card - hence the need of a tower - I agree that the video card isn't all that great, but that's because Apple doesn't update their products as regularly as others, so it makes the video card look quite bad. When this generation of iMacs first came out, we didn't hear any complaints about the video card back then . Just wait for the next update which should be coming fairly soon.

Of course, everyone has their own preferences, but the average consumer isn't going to upgrade many parts in their computer other than the RAM....this makes something like the Cube a niche market that doesn't make Apple a lot of money (unlike the Mac Pros), and this money is even less after design costs, etc.

Wait..
Cube 450Mhz - 1800 64mb Ram
Powermac 1.9Ghz - 1400 256 Ram
OMG PEOPLE DONT LIKE TOWERS!!1

I think something else may have shifted people choice -->$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$<--

 

[sushi]

I don't see the need for a midrange tower if Apple updated the iMac line so that the following could be upgraded easily:

- RAM (current system is fine)

- HD (Have an easy to open HD slot so that an individual could swap out the HDs.)

- Video card (Or have the option to add a dedicated video card.)

- CPU

To me, the first two are mandatory. The video card would be a great option for gamers. The CPU would be a nice touch.

Not sure how they would do this. Maybe make the iMac easy to open like a clam shell with the RAM, HD and video card easily accessible for changing.

 

[flopticalcube]

Mini with C2D and a decent (preferably upgradeable) video card. Not much else is needed. Maybe 4gigs instead of 2.

 

[Jman888]

I don't see the need for a midrange tower if Apple updated the iMac line so that the following could be upgraded easily:

- RAM (current system is fine)

- HD (Have an easy to open HD slot so that an individual could swap out the HDs.)

- Video card (Or have the option to add a dedicated video card.)

- CPU

To me, the first two are mandatory. The video card would be a great option for gamers. The CPU would be a nice touch.

Not sure how they would do this. Maybe make the iMac easy to open like a clam shell with the RAM, HD and video card easily accessible for changing.

imac G4 escue design? Think about it all the parts are easily acsessed in there and fully upgradeable. No more heat probs and you got a full GPU (Cuz iMacs are still using laptop cards)

 

[Eidorian]

Apple did that with a single CPU PowerMac G5, took an iMac G5 and stuffed it in a tower case -- lasted 8 months before Apple killed it.

They cannot do the same thing with the current Intel iMacs -- because it is running on a mobile chipset.

The current Mac Pro is also too expensive to stuff in a consumer machine.

As if Alendale/Conroe is expensive and 945 desktop boards don't exist to use Yonah or Merom.

 

[ChrisA]

This has got to be the #1 request. Apple must know there are many people waiting for them to make something like this. I'd like to see something 1/2 the specs of the Mac Pro. Just one of those dual core Xeons, 8GB RAM and room for two drives. I'd buy it right now. It could sell at 1/2 the Mac Pro price and double the Mini price. maybe $1,300

 

[Xyl]

Wait..
Cube 450Mhz - 1800 64mb Ram
Powermac 1.9Ghz - 1400 256 Ram
OMG PEOPLE DONT LIKE TOWERS!!1

I think something else may have shifted people choice -->$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$<--

I don't quite get your reply. But yes, the Cube was tremendously expensive. I don't know the reasons, but if it is because of design costs and staying within their profit margins, I'm not sure Apple could reduce the costs if they did something similar, and more importantly, I don't think think they will want to reduce their margins.

What I'm saying is, for the average consumer, the only thing they will upgrade is the RAM, and you don't need a standalone tower for that. And for that - the iMac will suffice. If I needed additional space, I'd just buy an external drive (average consumers would most likely do the same too, because they don't need to worry about accidentally breaking something - yes they shouldn't worry but they still do).

 

[Sun Baked]

As if Alendale/Conroe is expensive and 945 desktop boards don't exist to use Yonah or Merom.

You mean you'd really want your gaming PC based on the mobile chipset, instead of the desktop chipset.

 

[Eidorian]

You mean you'd really want your gaming PC based on the mobile chipset, instead of the desktop chipset.

Let's stick to midrange tower and not a gaming machine please...​

 

[Sun Baked]

Let's stick to midrange tower and not a gaming machine please...​

The midrange would end up being the gaming tower.

If the past is any example Apple would be hitting a range of $1299-$1999 for the box.

Edit: The last consumer tower (10/2004 to 06/2005) was $1499, but a new midrange tower would likely end up a whole new product line.

 

[Koodauw]

I would love one, but again I think it is a business decision and nothing more. I'd even settle for a mini with a dedicated GPU, but I know that wouldn't silence the 'upgradable' cries of everyone else.

 

[sushi]

imac G4 escue design? Think about it all the parts are easily acsessed in there and fully upgradeable. No more heat probs and you got a full GPU (Cuz iMacs are still using laptop cards)

I am thinking in terms of the current iMac line which is my favorite so far.

You can take the current iMac apart but not easily. I would love to see it transformed into what they did with the PowerMacs years ago when they came out with the Quicksilver type models. That would be very cool!

 

[bankshot]

I would love to see it transformed into what they did with the PowerMacs years ago when they came out with the Quicksilver type models. That would be very cool!

Yep. I'm typing this on a 2002 QuickSilver that cost me $1200 brand new (bottom of the line, edu discount). It's been (and still is) a fantastic machine. In terms of component pricing, there's no reason why Apple couldn't build a Conroe tower at roughly the same price point. Maybe even a bit cheaper at around $1000 ($999 for the salespeople).

But as others have already said, it's a business/marketing decision. With the obscene profits Apple is posting lately, it's hard to argue that they need to change anything about their strategy. I'd love to see this hypothetical product, but I doubt it'll happen. Too bad.

 

[sushi]

^^ I think that you might have misunderstood me.

My suggestion is to change the current iMac so that it opens easily for upgrades such as RAM, HD, GPU and maybe the CPU.

Note, I do agree with you on the Quicksilver models. Very nice indeed!