It's been a while, and there are reports of declining iMac sales… what will Uncle Steve do?

p.s. not the 17" thing

[This message has been edited by lycaon (edited 06-03-2000).]

I was thinking about this very thing today, apple used to release a new imadc every 4 or so monthes, and its been quite longer then that. Either apple is plaining something big (more r&d = more time) or apple is having some problem getting the new imac to market.
Id have to say the second guess is probally closer, since apple released imac 2.0 in fall of last year, and they typical only do that once a year.

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-See Yea!

About the 17" thing, its not gonna happen - Apple isn't going to stick a consumer machine inside a 17" monitor anytime soon.
What they *may* do, is re-release their desktop line - that is the closest thing to these 17" reports - a monitorless consumer machine, cheaper than the iMac, that you can get an external monitor for. However, I agree with other claims that this desktop machine would be available in several setups - consumer setup, and pro setup. Each of these would have sub-setups.
More confusing that what Apple normally does.
If something like that is going to happen, it'll be that.
I however doubt any of it.

Cipher13

I think what Apple needs to is make their specs look good on paper. Yes I know that Macs are faster, and the Mac OS is better, and it has pretty much everything the layperson needs, but when most consumers look at a brochure they see: "Hey, a PC with an Athlon 700 and a CD-RW with 128Mb of RAM that's cheaper than this iMac, that only has a 400Mhz processor, guess I'll go with the PC." People tend to be shallow like that.

garrettnelson, I agree that Apple should try to make their specs look better on paper for the very same reason, but I do have to say that I think Apple has done a really good job at getting your attention away from those specs also. An extremely good job at that. All of their promo's, ads, etc never mention measured MHZ, yet they tend to try to hook consumers to the Appearance and actual forms of usage of an Apple computer. ie iMovie. This method of marketing has worked so well, new buyers are putting more of thier buying decision factors on what they've seen rather than detailed specs. Of course Apple has posted the bitmark integer tests for those potential consumers who just want to dig deeper into the details. Just don't dig too deep........(you know)......you might.........actually...........find............. ...Steve Jobs.
I'm not a marketing major but I had an intro to marketing class last semester and I feel a like marketing warrior now...... grrrrrrrr!!!!

Apple will release a 17" monitorless iMac the day they add a USB coffee mug warmer to their product lines.

yes I know 17" monitorless iMac was intended to be written that way

I would buy a monitorless iMac I think. My next machine will probably be a G4 just because cyber-porn looks better on a 21" screen

Hey garrettnelson, now that's a good idea. Apple should have a CD-RW option for the iMacs. That, alone, would enhance its appeal. I was thinking that an internal Zip option would be nice and practical, but the CD-RW would look pretty good on paper. And hopefully those rumours about the new mouse and keyboard are true…

I think the 17" monitor idea is a bit out of reach. After all, the main idea behind the iMac is its compactness, isn't it? It'd be great if they could make the 15" with a flatter screen, though. Is that possible?

Another area for improvement could be the software bundle that comes with the iMac. Add Photoshop LE to the package?

Guess they could always add more colours to the line…

yeah! banana!

BANANA?!

Then there'd be a smilie colour for each iMac!

[This message has been edited by lycaon (edited 06-03-2000).]

Yeah, banana! If you've ever looked at Apple's old logo, you'll see that every current iMac color is on there (except graphite). But there is another stripe—banana!

I think this discussion is better suited towards the forums at MacNN, oh we're already there!

[This message has been edited by wlonh (edited 06-04-2000).]

ok, Codename, what gives? This is not AppleInsider, this is MacNN and a lounge room at that. "Speak whatever's on your mind" is that not what it says?

I don't mean to sound like I'm attacking your posts but you don't have that many, of the ones you do have only 2 don't provide a link to AI and suggest the conversation be moved there. Some MacNN members try to have a conversation int G3/G4 forum about possible changes in the G4, you follow up with an AI link. All your posts with the exception of 2 are similar.
If your mind is really that set on doing this sort of thing, then I suggest you go through the archives of MacNN and post the same for all threads that you feel would better be suited towards AI. You might get tired after posting for a couple of weeks. Just because AI is Thee rumor site doesn't mean people that use Macs in a MacNN forum shouldn't talk about what's on their minds and ask question they want ask or have conversations that they want to have.
Do you see the big AI link at the top left of the MacNN home page? it's doing it's job just fine. I sincerely apologize for sounding rude.

[This message has been edited by disectamac (edited 06-04-2000).]

personally, i think codename was rude and disectamac was not rude

I actually don't think the CD RW/DVD drive is too far fetched. It's become as common and convenient as paper plates at a picnic.

Question would be who's software. Apple's? or pre installed Toast er somthing.

If they come out with a monitorless iMac, they should try to make it so that it fits neatly under the crt Apple Studio Displays. Of course, it should look good on its own also.

Good idea about going under the ASD - it would have to be pretty damn small though... but I gues with the new SOI G3's the heat and all wouldn't be a problem, even in the less expensive models. The main prob with compactness is that as the compactness goes up, so does the price.
About the software with the burner, probably something from Astarte - didn't Apple just buy DVD authoring stuff from them? So they could adapt that or just buy something else off Astarte. I doubt Adaptec would sell Toast.

Cipher13

I wonder what speed it would burn at? You think 8x? Seriously, Steve announcing a revised iMac with a CDRW/DVD drive would make a lot of people happy, and make QUE and others very upset.