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Will Apple release a regular Desktop PC??
- Thread starter toomuchstereo
- Start date
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Apple just needs to release another Cube only this time lets not price it so it competes with MacPro
The Consumer is waiting or will go elsewhere.
The Consumer is waiting or will go elsewhere.
I don't remember my G5 tower pricing, but I do know that last year some time they were offering a single 1.8 G5. It was less than 2K. That may be a little while ago, but it was their model for quite some time to offer a low end tower that was more affordable.
I don't understand what is wrong with the mac mini, iMac, and Mac Pro??? This seems like a wonderful lineup. In fact I don't think anyone else's lineup comes even close.
It all depends on your definition of "before WWDC".nitynate said:
The sub $2K single processor Power Mac was still available through June last year after WWDC 2005.
macdaddy121 said:
Yes, but there are plenty of folks who want to use a larger monitor than the iMacs provide, don't want to be shackled by integrated graphics or 2.5" HDDs and don't want to spend $2000+ on a Mac Pro.
B
Spanky Deluxe said:
Hmmm... besides requiring a little more techny know how than most quasi-techies know how... what about that slight inconvenience called "voiding your warranty"?
On the flipside of those who want a regular desktop PC, I never want to see a regular desktop from Apple. I never want to see the inside of a computer again. Give me an easy, simple to use all-in-one any day.
For the record, I am a very technical person who used to like building systems (I even did it for a living for a little while). I'm not suggesting that I speak for everybody, I'm just pointing out that there are quite a few of us out there who like a system that you can't tinker with (or am I alone ). Apple seems to think so. Besides, the last thing Apple wants is a bunch of consumers opening up their towers, installing who knows what and then calling Apple to complain about a failing this, or a faulty that.
Just my 2 cents.
Or maybe I'm wrong and Paris' Apple Expo will be one of the more memorable in history.
Edited to add the Apple Expo contigency because it always rains the day after I wash my car.
For the record, I am a very technical person who used to like building systems (I even did it for a living for a little while). I'm not suggesting that I speak for everybody, I'm just pointing out that there are quite a few of us out there who like a system that you can't tinker with (or am I alone
). Apple seems to think so. Besides, the last thing Apple wants is a bunch of consumers opening up their towers, installing who knows what and then calling Apple to complain about a failing this, or a faulty that.Just my 2 cents.
Or maybe I'm wrong and Paris' Apple Expo will be one of the more memorable in history.
Edited to add the Apple Expo contigency because it always rains the day after I wash my car.
I'm with you. I don't want another tower.bucho said:
All I really want is an iMac, sans LCD, turned on its side.
B
The lowest reasonably future-proofed prosumer Mac Pro I can price out is just a shade over $3k with sales tax with the educational discount.
2GB of RAM (since OWC is the only third-party available currently, and they're actually higher), x1900XT, 160GB HD, Bluetooth/Wireless, 2.66 (looking at benchmarks for the 2.0 vs. 2.66, the difference is noticeable and should only get larger over time), one drive, etc.. Once you actually take advantage of the Mac Pro's space (two hard drives, another superdrive or Blu-Ray drive whenever, extra RAM), you're talking about a $4000+ computer.
At that kind of price target, Apple has to sell something more reasonable - a $1500-1800 mid-range desktop (Conroe based) with more expandability or at least a Conroe iMac with two HDs.
2GB of RAM (since OWC is the only third-party available currently, and they're actually higher), x1900XT, 160GB HD, Bluetooth/Wireless, 2.66 (looking at benchmarks for the 2.0 vs. 2.66, the difference is noticeable and should only get larger over time), one drive, etc.. Once you actually take advantage of the Mac Pro's space (two hard drives, another superdrive or Blu-Ray drive whenever, extra RAM), you're talking about a $4000+ computer.
At that kind of price target, Apple has to sell something more reasonable - a $1500-1800 mid-range desktop (Conroe based) with more expandability or at least a Conroe iMac with two HDs.
I'd still rather have a high end mini thats slightly bigger (3.5" HD) and has the specs of the iMac. Price it at $999 and I'll buy it. But, the pizza box idea seems to cater to a larger audience (couch junkies), so most likely Apple wont do the midi-tower thing.
milozauckerman said:
I'm sorry but that just seems like daft reasoning. A 'future-proofed' Mac Pro does not clock in at $4000 or $3000. A future proofed Mac Pro is at the most a stock Mac Pro with bluetooth and wireless so about $2600 without the smaller hard drive. The stock graphics card isn't bad and besides which, its replaceable, in fact everything is replaceable therefore its future proof. A Dell without an AGP graphics slot is not future proof. Also, you don't *have* to take advantage of the Mac Pro's space, you're not in any way *forced* to buy extra hard drives or Blu-Ray. You can even save yourself $300 by going the 2Ghz route which is still must faster than most things around right now and its upgradeable in the future anyway.
You say that "At that kind of {$4000} price target, Apple has to sell something more reasonable". Well sure, if the Mac Pro actually cost as much as that then yeah they should have something more 'reasonable'. The fact of it is that the Mac Pro is very well priced and does not cost $4000.
I'm not saying there shouldn't be a mid ranged headless mac. I'd love it if Apple brought out a Conroe based mini with dedicated upgradeable graphics (some laptops have upgradeable graphics) and an option for 7200rpm drives.
A smaller sized desktop would be nice too although I don't think enough people would be interested. The majority of switchers will gladly switch their Dell desktops and Dell LCD screens for an all in one iMac. The number of people that would (actually buy) a headless iMac with a few more customisation options are a small minority. Apple doesn't need to bother about numbers that small.
A far simpler option would be a more suped up mini. Keep the current price points but add in a more expensive one with the points I made above. For the time being, however, space constraints are a bit of an issue in the mini.
Apple might release a Mac Pro with only one dual core although I think Apple would rather have quad cores across the board.
I agree with Spanky Deluxe. I bought a stock MP configuration only upgraded to 2GB RAM. Educational pricing, cost me $2569. Nothing is truly future proof, but I think this will last me for a while. Nevertheless, I'd like to see Apple offer an easily upgradeable headless Mac for under $1500. Even if it had the same specs as the iMac less the display but with more expandability, I'd pick one up for home. Then again, those iMacs are pretty sweet =].
I'm going to keep saying this as long as these threads get started:
It's not going to happen for 2 reasons.
First, the target market is too small. The proposed computer would be less appealing than existing offerings to everyone except what I call "knowledgable consumers." These folk are common on macrumors, but rare in the real world. I'm talking about people who know their stuff but are not professional users.
Second, the profit is too small per customer. If you buy a mac pro, you can upgrade the hell out of it for years keeping it highly servicable for a long time. But apple gets a big chunk of money off you up front. If you buy a mini or imac, the profit margin is lower, but you're going to be coming back much sooner for another one. With this tower, apple gets a small profit up front, and you then give your money to 3rd party vendors for upgrades for the next four or so years.
Apple is a business. I don't see there being either the market or the per-customer profit to justify this as a business decision, no matter how many people on macrumors would love it.
It's not going to happen for 2 reasons.
First, the target market is too small. The proposed computer would be less appealing than existing offerings to everyone except what I call "knowledgable consumers." These folk are common on macrumors, but rare in the real world. I'm talking about people who know their stuff but are not professional users.
Second, the profit is too small per customer. If you buy a mac pro, you can upgrade the hell out of it for years keeping it highly servicable for a long time. But apple gets a big chunk of money off you up front. If you buy a mini or imac, the profit margin is lower, but you're going to be coming back much sooner for another one. With this tower, apple gets a small profit up front, and you then give your money to 3rd party vendors for upgrades for the next four or so years.
Apple is a business. I don't see there being either the market or the per-customer profit to justify this as a business decision, no matter how many people on macrumors would love it.
I want them to bring back the Cube. Maybe sorta like the MacPro case design, but you know, cube shaped.
For all of those saying there's no market for it, I'd have to disagree.
A nice mini tower that offers more than the Mini but less expensive than the Pro would sell pretty well if priced right and not crippled. An iMac minus the monitor for ~$1000 would be great. Give it onboard graphics, but the ability to add a card via PCI-Express to help with the price. The new Cornroe chip might help with that too. Just keep the full size hard drive like the regular iMac. Or have a true mini tower where you can add a 2nd hard drive or 2nd optical drive, a single dual core chip, 4 RAM slots, and a bunch of USB/fw ports for somewhere between $1200-$1600 and tell me it won't sell. Look at how well that cheap edu Mac sold before Apple pulled it for everyone but institutions.
Cube failed because it was too limited, yet still too expensive. Single 1.8 G5 had a similar problem. Mini is ok, but the Intel graphics and laptop drives kill it for some people. But Apple doesn't want to cannibalize it's higher end sales, so it's willing to risk the lost sales if people decide to go lower or buy a PC.
A nice mini tower that offers more than the Mini but less expensive than the Pro would sell pretty well if priced right and not crippled. An iMac minus the monitor for ~$1000 would be great. Give it onboard graphics, but the ability to add a card via PCI-Express to help with the price. The new Cornroe chip might help with that too. Just keep the full size hard drive like the regular iMac. Or have a true mini tower where you can add a 2nd hard drive or 2nd optical drive, a single dual core chip, 4 RAM slots, and a bunch of USB/fw ports for somewhere between $1200-$1600 and tell me it won't sell. Look at how well that cheap edu Mac sold before Apple pulled it for everyone but institutions.
Cube failed because it was too limited, yet still too expensive. Single 1.8 G5 had a similar problem. Mini is ok, but the Intel graphics and laptop drives kill it for some people. But Apple doesn't want to cannibalize it's higher end sales, so it's willing to risk the lost sales if people decide to go lower or buy a PC.