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news of 2003-11-20
But thinking of a compact desktop...
 While the G5 processor currently simply isn't made for compact desktop machines (too hot, simply), there are two viable alternatives for a really cheap and compact, headless desktop machine. The G3 processor from IBM (750FX, GX) and the newer G4 processors from Motorola (7457, 7447). If Apple wanted to have a cheap desktop machine without a monitor, Apple could make one. No problem.
(On the left, you see my rendering of a 'cMac' - whether that stands for 'cheap Mac' or 'compact Mac'...)
Take a look at the current iBook G4. You can have one for 1099 USD - and that includes a TFT display, which we wouldn't want in our headless, compact desktop system. Without looking at current 12" XGA display prices, we can quite safely assume that the price of a display-less iBook G4 would drop below 1000 USD. But Apple can save even more money by making its harddrive a 3.5" one instead of a 2.5" notebook size one, because the housing of our compact, headless desktop can be a bit larger. Apple can also use a cheaper optical drive, say, a standard CD-ROM drive. Apple could actually make quite a sexy low-profile desktop machine and sell it for, say 599 USD including a standard keyboard and mouse.
Even cheaper, you say? Okay, why not choose the G3 processor over the G4 processor. After all, those machines will be used for basic stuff like webbrowsing, E-Mail and Office tasks, after all. Not for media production. (And a G3 is still well capable of ripping a few CDs to AAC - albeit a little slower.) Let's say: 499 USD for such a machine. 256 MB RAM on-board. Not upgradeable. It's okay for basic work, certainly not the fastest machine around, but still a machine capable of doing its tasks. People can add a cheap VGA-connected display (that they might already have lying around) and start digging into the Macintosh world.
Q: But if this is such a good idea, why doesn't Apple do it?
This question is easily answered, although not to your liking, perhaps: There's no margin in such a device, and it wouldn't exactly add to Apple's image, as you certainly won't want to play the latest games on such a machine. Apple would have to sell tons of those to larger businesses (a market where Apple isn't very strong at the moment) in order to make a profit. Or market it as 'your secondary computer', which doesn't, well, sound so good.
Yet, maybe there is a market for such a device. Maybe this would bring much more people to the Mac platform (and their computer after this one would be a 'real' Mac?). Well... I leave it to Apple, but I just don't see Apple going there. I've promoted the idea of a 'cheap Mac' for quite a while, but it would simply bite into Apple's more profitable machines' sales. Need a second Mac? Now you'd buy an iBook, an iMac or an eMac, where Apple still makes some money. If the 'cheap Mac' were available, you'd quite certainly buy one or two of those - and Apple would make less money. And making less money just isn't Apple's thing, I guess.
[ written by fryke™ on 2003-11-20 at 16:30 CET ]
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Greg Torok is wrong...
In his text about a G5 Cube he mentions that Apple should make a G5 Cube and 'succeed where the G4 Cube has failed'.
The problem with that is that it was mainly the form factor and the price that made the Cube a failure. People don't want computers that can't be expanded - or they want an AIO like the iMac. Greg Torok thinks that a G5 Cube would have to sell at 999$ or below, and that it would hit on iMac rather than PowerMac sales. Well, Greg: Apple wants to sell iMacs to cost conscious users and PowerMacs to users who expect more power.
One can translate Greg's text into one phrase: "I want a G5 but I can't afford it - and yeah, the Cube was kind of cool, eh?" - But business doesn't work like that.
[ written by fryke™ on 2003-11-20 at 14:38 CET ]
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iPod Apple Care coming...
MacRumors is reporting that Apple will announce an AppleCare protection plan for the iPod as soon as next Monday. Pricing information has not yet been revealed.
[ written by fryke™ on 2003-11-20 at 12:01 CET ]
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Poisoned exposed.
Since July, Mac users had a way to join the Kazaa network. There was one RIAA vs. user case, where the user was freed from guilt, because Macs didn't even have access to the network, the files in question were downloaded from. No more, c|net has exposed Poisoned to the public. ;-)
Gotta wonder, though, why c|net makes it a story some five or six months late... Do they want to promote the use of the Fasttrack network to illegally download music, movies and warez among Mac users?
[ written by fryke™ on 2003-11-20 at 03:21 CET ]
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Control brain waves with your PDA?
This is not really Macintosh news or rumours, but too good not to read... Korean startup DreamFree has an accessory for PocketPC PDAs that stimulate your brain. Quote: “It changes your brain waves and makes you feel better.” Just read on... ;-)
[ written by fryke™ on 2003-11-20 at 01:55 CET ]
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MacDevCenter about Keynote and XML
In the latest MacDevCenter column, David Miller talks about using XML (and Apple's APXML description) to use external data to create and update Keynote presentations. If you're a Keynote user with external data, this is for you.
[ written by fryke™ on 2003-11-20 at 01:51 CET ]
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90nm G5 confusion?
AppleInsider, which previously confirmed our rumours about new PowerMacs using 90nm PowerPC 970+ processors, now puts them into a March timeframe. This 'updated rumour' sounds like it's changed because of the recent introduction of dual 1.8 GHz PowerMac G5s.
We have however confirmed with our previous sources that Apple would announce the machines at MWSF 2004. They'll try and find out whether the machines would be available immediately or later. We'll keep you informed.
Our take: IBM will officially announce the processors in February, so maybe Steve Jobs will announce the machines, but they'll only be available a month later? It's happened before with the initial G5 release...
[ written by fryke™ on 2003-11-20 at 00:54 CET ]
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