[slugslugslug]

The link
The main points: 1) all-in-one, but LCD instead of CRT (that seemed a sure thing). 2) Cheaper than an iMac. 3) AI doesn't mention a name. 4) It may be education-only, like the eMac was at points in its lifetime.

That's the gist of it. Discuss.

[hickey]

a mcahine like that would be perfect for my parents, who do nothing more intense than email and word processing.

I like the idea.

[Eug Wanker]

I'd consider something like this for my office, to replace my Cube. Even if it's just educational I can buy it through our dept., but hopefully the rest of you will have access to it too.

This would suffice:

eMac 17" 1280x1024 LCD
Core Solo 1.66 GHz (or even Celeron M 1.60/1.73 GHz)
Intel G965 chipset, with 64 MB shared RAM
2x256 DDR2-533 DIMMs
60 GB 7200 rpm 3.5" hard drive
DVD/CD-RW combo drive (or CD-ROM for stripped down model, or optional SuperDrive)
Firewire, USB 2.0
10/100/1000 Ethernet
Optional 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth 2.0
Optional mini-VGA out
No modem
$799

Dunno about iSight. My guess is no.

Originally Posted by slugslugslug

4) It may be education-only, like the eMac was at points in its lifetime.

Like now. Not sure if you're aware or not, but the eMac is still available right now.

[slugslugslug]

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

Like now. Not sure if you're aware or not, but the eMac is still available right now.

Oh yeah, huh? I didn't bother double-checking, but the wording of the AI story made it seem to me as though it'd finally been axed. The funny thing is that I added the "at points in its lifetime" because I figured if I'd just said "like the eMac", some pedant would point out that it was available to the rest of the public for a good while there.

[Simon]

I'm wondering if Apple really needs such a Mac. Couldn't they just spec down an iMac (CD-ROM, smaller disk, low RAM, etc.) and then sell it to schools at large volume discount? Of course you can spec out a Mac that's cheaper to produce, but having an additional product line means lots of additional costs regardless of how many you can sell.

[Gamoe]

What I think Apple should bring out for an educational machine:

1. 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo (or faster)
2. Integrated Intel Graphics
3. No iSight
4. Optional-only wireless
5. No optical drive
6. Special tough enclosure for the LCD
7. "Anchored" design form that makes it very difficult to tip over

1. Only the mini has a solo, and I think Apple wants to move away from it. Besides, you get so much better performance from a Duo and word is that there isn't much of a cost difference between the two, and I think Apple would prefer to give users, many of which will be experiencing the Mac for the first time, or exclusively in that (educational) setting, a better experience.

2. Seems apparent, the way most schools use a Mac.

3. Apart from a cost-cutting measure, this might be a "security" concern for some schools, so Apple is best served by excluding it.

4. Many schools already have existing wired ethernet networks.

5. Flash drives are more common for storing student data, and having no optical drive eases concerns about piracy and eliminated another sensitive mechanism that could be damaged. Software can be installed via the network (as the first iMac could do). USB and Firewire optical drives are always an option.

6. This has always been a realistic concern and if Apple's going to make an education-specific Mac, it should certainly address this issue.

7. Another realistic concern. It could be a big "foot" or some other spectacular Apple design that makes the Mac tip-resistant.

Oh, and I think Apple should keep the eMac name. It fits.

[Eriamjh]

It'll probably be a 4x3 LCD, too. 17" I bet.

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by slugslugslug

Oh yeah, huh? I didn't bother double-checking, but the wording of the AI story made it seem to me as though it'd finally been axed.

Here is the eMac page:

$649.00
17-inch flat CRT display
1.25GHz PowerPC G4
256MB DDR333 SDRAM
40GB Ultra ATA drive
CD-ROM drive
ATI Radeon 9200
32MB video memory

$749.00
17-inch flat CRT display
1.42GHz PowerPC G4
256MB DDR333 SDRAM
80GB Ultra ATA drive
Combo drive
ATI Radeon 9600
64MB video memory
56k internal modem

$899.00
17-inch flat CRT display
1.42GHz PowerPC G4
512MB DDR333 SDRAM
160GB Ultra ATA drive
8x SuperDrive (double-layer)
ATI Radeon 9600
64MB video memory
56k internal modem

Originally Posted by Eriamjh

It'll probably be a 4x3 LCD, too. 17" I bet.

I mentioned 5:4 1280x1024, cuz that's the standard, and probably the cheapest for 17" LCDs.

Originally Posted by Gabriel Morales

1. Only the mini has a solo, and I think Apple wants to move away from it. Besides, you get so much better performance from a Duo and word is that there isn't much of a cost difference between the two, and I think Apple would prefer to give users, many of which will be experiencing the Mac for the first time, or exclusively in that (educational) setting, a better experience.

For educational, often times the cheaper the better, regardless of specs.

I had said this... for myself:

eMac 17" 1280x1024 LCD
Core Solo 1.66 GHz (or even Celeron M 1.60/1.73 GHz)
Intel G965 chipset, with 64 MB shared RAM
2x256 DDR2-533 DIMMs
60 GB 7200 rpm 3.5" hard drive
DVD/CD-RW combo drive (or CD-ROM for stripped down model, or optional SuperDrive)
Firewire, USB 2.0
10/100/1000 Ethernet
Optional 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth 2.0
Optional mini-VGA out
No modem
$799

However, for a base model, it could be:

eMac 17" 1280x1024 LCD
Celeron M 1.60 GHz
Intel G965 chipset, with 64 MB shared RAM
2x256 DDR2-533 DIMMs
40 GB 7200 rpm 3.5" hard drive
CD-ROM
Firewire, USB 2.0
10/100/1000 Ethernet
Optional 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth 2.0
Optional mini-VGA out
No modem
$699

I'm not sure these price points make sense, but hey...