apple to come out with a $500 dollar mac - GoFuckYourself.com

tony286 · 01-04-2005, 11:45 PM

December 28, 2004 - With iPod-savvy Windows users clearly in its sights, Apple is expected to announce a bare bones, G4-based iMac without a display at Macworld Expo on January 11 that will retail for $499, highly reliable sources have confirmed to Think Secret.

The new Mac, code-named Q88, will be part of the iMac family and is expected to sport a PowerPC G4 processor at a speed around 1.25GHz. The new Mac is said to be incredibly small and will be housed in a flat enclosure with a height similar to the 1.73 inches of Apple's Xserve. Its size benefits will include the ability to stand the Mac on its side or put it below a display or monitor.

Along with lowering costs by forgoing a display (Apple's entry-level eMac sells for $799 with a built-in 17-inch CRT display), the so-called "headless" iMac will allow Apple's target audience -- Windows users looking for a cheap, second PC -- to keep their current peripherals or decide on their own what to pair with the system, be it a high-priced LCD display or an inexpensive display. Sources expect the device to feature both DVI and VGA connectivity, although whether this will be provided through dual ports or through a single DVI port with a VGA adapter remains to be seen.

The new Mac is expected to have a Combo drive only, but will possibly have an upgrade path to a SuperDrive at a higher price. It is unclear how big the hard drive capacity will be, although sources indicate it will be between 40GB and 80GB.

Other expected features of the iMac include:

* 256MB of RAM
* USB 2.0
* FireWire 400
* 10/100 BASE-T Ethernet
* 56K V.92 modem
* AirPort Extreme support

In terms of software, Apple will include a special iLife suite (minus iDVD) as well as AppleWorks, sources believe.

The new Mac is expected to be introduced by Apple CEO Steve Jobs at his keynote address on Tuesday, January 11, but is not expected to be available until later in the first quarter. Sources indicate "issues" have arisen in production of the new Mac, but that Apple never planned on shipping the new device immediately upon introduction. The plan is to air freight the new model from its manufacturing plants in Asia for at least the first three months of shipments, sources report.

The announcement of the new, inexpensive Mac will be a dream come true for Mac aficionados who have begged and pleaded for years to see just such a PC. Until now, the company has downplayed speculation that it would get into the low-end PC market. "In terms of our pricing, I feel very good about where each of our product lines are priced," Peter Oppenheimer, Apple's CFO, said in October. "To date, we have chosen not to compete in the sub-$800 desktop market and have put that R&D investment in expanding our products in the music area, in software, and in hardware."

So what has changed to motivate Apple in producing a low-cost Mac? In a word, iPod.

"Think of your traditional iPod owner," said a source. "This new product will be for a Windows user who has experienced the iPod, the ease of use of the iTunes software, and has played around with a Mac at an Apple retail store just long enough to know he'd buy one if it were a little cheaper."

Apple executives announced on October 13 that 45% to 50% of its retail store customers bought a Mac as their first PC or were new to the platform in the fiscal fourth-quarter. The company has refused to divulge more exacting figures on iPod buyers who also buy a Mac, for competitive reasons.

According to sources, internal Apple surveys of its retail store customers and those buying iPods showed a large number of PC users would be willing to buy a Mac if it were cheap enough, less of a virus carrier than PCs (which all Macs already are), and offered easier to use software solutions not available on Windows-based PCs. Now, Apple feels it has the answer.

Apple has been working on the low-end Mac for almost a year, sources report. Indications are Apple has been working mostly on finding the right mix of price, performance and features that would motivate Windows users to consider a Mac, and less on the actual engineering of the product. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to design a bare-bones PC," said one source familiar with the project. "What it takes is a team of marketing and software experts to find the right mix to convince Windows users to buy a Mac at a price that is not much more than the cost of an iPod."

Sources familiar with the product cautioned that the low-end Mac will be marketed towards a totally different audience than those who traditionally buy even a $799 eMac. "This product is not going to be about performance," said a source close to Apple. "This is going to be the basics, but with just as much of a focus on software as any Mac could ever be."

Chris · 01-04-2005, 11:46 PM

damn good deal at 500 bux

fünkmaster · 01-04-2005, 11:47 PM

... lucky I invested $350.000 US into them when they were trading @ $19

nofx · 01-04-2005, 11:47 PM

hell yea

i WILL get one of these

Digipimp · 01-04-2005, 11:49 PM

yeah that's the word for possible annoucement at macworld

Illicit · 01-04-2005, 11:51 PM

when companies drop the price that far, quality is going to suffer. You get what you pay for.

Digipimp · 01-04-2005, 11:58 PM

quality won't suffer on this machine, it's easy and reasonable for them to take this step now

NaughtyRob · 01-05-2005, 12:14 AM

That sounds very nice for the price.

The Bootyologist · 01-05-2005, 12:15 AM

hrm that's cool
i might actually buy one then

jt420 · 01-05-2005, 12:19 AM

this will for sure make pc users crossover, the price is fantastic.

foxxx · 01-05-2005, 12:21 AM

the price might be interesting, but bang for buck i still don't think it will convert many people...

Manowar · 01-05-2005, 12:27 AM

apple rock, they always have

Digipimp · 01-05-2005, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxxx

the price might be interesting, but bang for buck i still don't think it will convert many people...

you've got to be kidding me it would the best $500 system on the entire market and come with really good free software and look good as well. with the best os under all of that.

Mogulman · 01-05-2005, 12:40 AM

Here's some hot shit: http://abum.com/?show_media=3526&file_type=Movies

I'd like to play with one of these.

01-04-2005, 11:45 PM	#1
tony286 lurker Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: atlanta Posts: 57,021	apple to come out with a $500 dollar mac December 28, 2004 - With iPod-savvy Windows users clearly in its sights, Apple is expected to announce a bare bones, G4-based iMac without a display at Macworld Expo on January 11 that will retail for $499, highly reliable sources have confirmed to Think Secret. The new Mac, code-named Q88, will be part of the iMac family and is expected to sport a PowerPC G4 processor at a speed around 1.25GHz. The new Mac is said to be incredibly small and will be housed in a flat enclosure with a height similar to the 1.73 inches of Apple's Xserve. Its size benefits will include the ability to stand the Mac on its side or put it below a display or monitor. Along with lowering costs by forgoing a display (Apple's entry-level eMac sells for $799 with a built-in 17-inch CRT display), the so-called "headless" iMac will allow Apple's target audience -- Windows users looking for a cheap, second PC -- to keep their current peripherals or decide on their own what to pair with the system, be it a high-priced LCD display or an inexpensive display. Sources expect the device to feature both DVI and VGA connectivity, although whether this will be provided through dual ports or through a single DVI port with a VGA adapter remains to be seen. The new Mac is expected to have a Combo drive only, but will possibly have an upgrade path to a SuperDrive at a higher price. It is unclear how big the hard drive capacity will be, although sources indicate it will be between 40GB and 80GB. Other expected features of the iMac include: * 256MB of RAM * USB 2.0 * FireWire 400 * 10/100 BASE-T Ethernet * 56K V.92 modem * AirPort Extreme support In terms of software, Apple will include a special iLife suite (minus iDVD) as well as AppleWorks, sources believe. The new Mac is expected to be introduced by Apple CEO Steve Jobs at his keynote address on Tuesday, January 11, but is not expected to be available until later in the first quarter. Sources indicate "issues" have arisen in production of the new Mac, but that Apple never planned on shipping the new device immediately upon introduction. The plan is to air freight the new model from its manufacturing plants in Asia for at least the first three months of shipments, sources report. The announcement of the new, inexpensive Mac will be a dream come true for Mac aficionados who have begged and pleaded for years to see just such a PC. Until now, the company has downplayed speculation that it would get into the low-end PC market. "In terms of our pricing, I feel very good about where each of our product lines are priced," Peter Oppenheimer, Apple's CFO, said in October. "To date, we have chosen not to compete in the sub-$800 desktop market and have put that R&D investment in expanding our products in the music area, in software, and in hardware." So what has changed to motivate Apple in producing a low-cost Mac? In a word, iPod. "Think of your traditional iPod owner," said a source. "This new product will be for a Windows user who has experienced the iPod, the ease of use of the iTunes software, and has played around with a Mac at an Apple retail store just long enough to know he'd buy one if it were a little cheaper." Apple executives announced on October 13 that 45% to 50% of its retail store customers bought a Mac as their first PC or were new to the platform in the fiscal fourth-quarter. The company has refused to divulge more exacting figures on iPod buyers who also buy a Mac, for competitive reasons. According to sources, internal Apple surveys of its retail store customers and those buying iPods showed a large number of PC users would be willing to buy a Mac if it were cheap enough, less of a virus carrier than PCs (which all Macs already are), and offered easier to use software solutions not available on Windows-based PCs. Now, Apple feels it has the answer. Apple has been working on the low-end Mac for almost a year, sources report. Indications are Apple has been working mostly on finding the right mix of price, performance and features that would motivate Windows users to consider a Mac, and less on the actual engineering of the product. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to design a bare-bones PC," said one source familiar with the project. "What it takes is a team of marketing and software experts to find the right mix to convince Windows users to buy a Mac at a price that is not much more than the cost of an iPod." Sources familiar with the product cautioned that the low-end Mac will be marketed towards a totally different audience than those who traditionally buy even a $799 eMac. "This product is not going to be about performance," said a source close to Apple. "This is going to be the basics, but with just as much of a focus on software as any Mac could ever be."

01-04-2005, 11:46 PM	#2
Chris Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: May 2003 Location: icq: 71462500 Skype: Jupzchris Posts: 27,880	damn good deal at 500 bux __________________ [email protected]

01-04-2005, 11:47 PM	#4
nofx Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Virgin Mary's womb Posts: 16,826	hell yea i WILL get one of these __________________ Often times I wonder why There's love and hate, theres live or die. When sickness comes I must decide: When feelings go, theres suicide.

01-04-2005, 11:49 PM	#5
Digipimp BP4L OT DL Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: BP4L Swap Meet Posts: 13,481	yeah that's the word for possible annoucement at macworld __________________ Still Hosting at Webair and You Should Be Too

01-04-2005, 11:51 PM	#6
Illicit wtf ? Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: GFY Posts: 11,895	when companies drop the price that far, quality is going to suffer. You get what you pay for. __________________ Insert Sig Here

01-04-2005, 11:47 PM	#3
fünkmaster So Fucking Banned Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 791	... lucky I invested $350.000 US into them when they were trading @ $19

01-04-2005, 11:58 PM	#7
Digipimp BP4L OT DL Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: BP4L Swap Meet Posts: 13,481	quality won't suffer on this machine, it's easy and reasonable for them to take this step now __________________ Still Hosting at Webair and You Should Be Too

01-05-2005, 12:14 AM	#8
NaughtyRob Two fresh affiliate progs Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Inside teen pussy Posts: 29,602	That sounds very nice for the price. __________________ [email protected] Skype: 17026955414 Vacares Web Hosting - Protect Your Ass with Included Daily Backups

01-05-2005, 12:15 AM	#9
The Bootyologist So Fucking Banned Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: m00dville Posts: 2,912	hrm that's cool i might actually buy one then

01-05-2005, 12:19 AM	#10
jt420 Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: in the foothills of the mind. ICQ: 279561428 Posts: 2,479	this will for sure make pc users crossover, the price is fantastic. __________________ I made my fortune selling pubic wigs! New program Merkin Money coming soon!

01-05-2005, 12:21 AM	#11
foxxx Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Gold Coast, Australia Posts: 573	the price might be interesting, but bang for buck i still don't think it will convert many people...

01-05-2005, 12:27 AM	#12
Manowar jellyfish Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 71,528	apple rock, they always have

01-05-2005, 12:40 AM	#14
Mogulman Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 568	Here's some hot shit: http://abum.com/?show_media=3526&file_type=Movies I'd like to play with one of these.