Apple building a sub-$600 iMac.

[dslcc]

Last I checked $499 was less than $600. So, the topic could effectively be sub-$1,000,000 and still be correct

Kindof like saying 'Sub-120F temp - bring a jacket.'  :-D

[HopperJF]

Yes but sub $499 sounds much more attractive than sub $600.

[dslcc]

Yes but sub $499 sounds much more attractive than sub $600.

Very much so. I hope that it ends up being less than $499.

[adolescent]

Well, then we can assume the following...

Price:  Sub $500
CPU: Sub G5
Expandability: Sub Zero
Quality: Sub-standard

I'm just kidding, but it might be a neat box as a second computer if it does have good hardware.  It sounds like the old G4 iMac without the fancy case and flat screen.

[System]

If it's like most new pizza-box computers (examples, the tiny Gateway and Dell boxes), it'll probably be expandable solely by firewire or USB, which doesn't mean it's non-expandable.

Personally speaking, that sounds pretty small-box-Amiga-like to me.  Small central box, wires or wireless leading to smaller add-on boxes.

[minator]

Personally speaking, that sounds pretty small-box-Amiga-like to me. Small central box, wires or wireless leading to smaller add-on boxes.

I wrote a review of an iBook nearly a year ago and suggested they could build a iBook without a screen for a decent price (the screen is a major chunk of a laptop's price).  It sounds remarkably like that.

It'll not be a spectacular machine but fine for 99% of users.

[Hammer]

2) A $500 Mac would be an incredibly competitive machine for anyone wanting a new machine but but doesn't have $1000+ to put into it. (Most "Gateway/Dell/commercial" machines run $1000+ by the time you add in any extras).

$500 USD is a reachable price target for the PC world e.g. HP's SR1000Z* and SR1010Z** series barebones configured (1).

** K8 Sempr0n 3100+ based.
* K7 Sempr0n 2800+ based

Notes.
1. Spec similar to

"256MB of RAM, one FireWire 400 port, two USB 2.0 ports, 10/100Base-T Ethernet, DVI and VGA with dongle, a 56K modem, and a low end graphics card"

[Hammer]

The Macintosh is the only system which could even pose any sort of challenge to Microsoft's dominance on the desktop.

In actual reality, Apple's Macintosh system is not a real "threat" i.e. inferior distribution infrastructure model.

[Hammer]

4) As someone said (perhaps elsewhere) a $500 Mac "would be the perfect commercial platform for companies, government offices, etcetera" because they wouldn't have to have a full staff of high-paid Windows supporting geeks

This is an obsolete IT support model e.g. major Australian companies *out-sourced* their IT support activities to third parties.

Secondly, Linux desktops (mostly X86 PC based) is another factor to consider in the corporate PC world.

There’s more to it than the PC HW + OS solution in the corporate and government world i.e. legacy MIS (managed information systems) and knowledge based systems applications.    

to rebuild machines when the end-user did something stupid (like removing himself, admin, and everyone else from the system permissions). Macs, and in particular, OS X has been proven to be far easier to support.

Refer to http://www.macfixit.com as examples to MacOSX's related issues.

[transami]

For our favorite obsession, unless Hyperion and the MorphOS guys can get their OS on the "mini-mac", I'm afraid that it sounds like this new baby is ringing the death bell for the new Amiga.

Bingo!

Face it, nobody could but Humpty Dumpty back together again. The best technology to ever fall into the lap of the consumer and all anyone could do was drop the ball. Every time Amiga changed hands I emailed the company and told them what's up. They never listened. (Though I have to admit Fleecy was quite nice about it).

But alas it now looks like his ship's about sunk for good, no pumping the billows any longer. And the new iMac will be but the first blow. In a few more years the advent of a whole new style of PC will be on the verge, and then, then Amiga will be completely irrelevent --nothing more than a nostalgic memory.

Of course, there is still a chance, but the likelihood that the right people would start listening... well, those aren't betting odds.

[1337DOG]

I would love to welcome all you Amiga heads in becoming Mac-heads too. Many of us Mac users have used and admired Amiga at one time or another. And it's flattering to see the likewise is true also.

I would ask you to take this rumored "headless" iMac for what it is. A plausible rumor but still a rumor.

However there are good deals on "pre-loved" Mac hardware on ebay and elsewhere such as which also contains a very helpful and very trollable Mac-buying forum type place.

Lets all cross our fingers now that we may get a nice "surprise" by  the time Ukrainian Christmas comes along. And in the holiday new years season let us few Mac and Amiga users prey for the many users less fortunate than us. :-)

[dslcc]

However there are good deals on "pre-loved" Mac hardware on ebay

I got my G4 Sawtooth for $280 on eBay. Best computer I've ever owned (except for my A3000 of course, but that machine croaked a long time ago).