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[SteveMeister]

Today Apple lowered prices across the board on iMacs, while increasing features & speed.

The top of the line 20" iMac now has a 2GHz G5 (up from 1.8GHz), 667MHz FSB (up from 600MHz), 512MB RAM standard (up from 256MB), 250GB HD (up from 160GB), 8x double layer SuperDrive (up from 4x single layer), a Radeon 9600 w/128MB (up from a GeForce 5200 Ultra w/64MB), and built-in Airport Express (802.11g) and Bluetooth, which used to be a $100 built-to-order option. And it's $1799, down from $1899. AND it now has gigabit Ethernet built-in!

There's also a 17" 2GHz model for $1499, and a 17" 1.8GHz model for $1299.

eMacs also got a speed bump.

More info at http://store.apple.com

iMac tech specs: http://www.apple.com/imac/specs.html

I have to say, I have a 1.8GHz 20" iMac and it's absolutely wonderful. Nearly silent, the screen is gorgeous, it takes up very little desk space and is plenty fast enough for everything I do. It's also amazingly easy to upgrade & maintain. An excellent, excellent machine, and I highly recommend it. The new top-end model is an outstanding update.

 

[Prospero]

Nice.

The PowerMacs are starting to look mighty weak compared to the iMacs now, though.

 

[tetsuoxb]

except for the fact that the powermac has DUAL PROCESSORS..

 

[Prospero]

except for the fact that the powermac has DUAL PROCESSORS..

True, if you have $2,000+ to spare, plus the cost of a display (say, $800 if you wanted to stick with Apple and get the 20-inch Cinema display). But look at the specs for the low-end Powermac ($1,499):

1.8GHz PowerPC G5
600MHz frontside bus
512K L2 cache
256MB DDR400 SDRAM
Expandable to 4GB SDRAM
80GB Serial ATA
8x SuperDrive
Three PCI Slots
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra
64MB DDR video memory
56K internal modem

Now, the specs for the $1,499 iMac:

17-inch widescreen LCD
2GHz PowerPC G5
667MHz frontside bus
512K L2 cache
512MB DDR400 SDRAM
160GB Serial ATA hard drive
Slot-load 8x SuperDrive (double-layer)
ATI Radeon 9600
128MB DDR video memory
56K internal modem

Even without the display, the iMac kicks the PowerMac's ass.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Oh Apple! The super-small market share guy. You can always tell if you're working on a Mac or a PC. Just take your applications and stick them in there and see if they run.

 

[Akia]

^^ worst diss ever. Bill just needs to stop while he's ahead.

 

[FortNinety]

Fuck... might just have to sell my eMac for that top of the line iMac....

 

[Pedigree Chum]

To Apple: iBook update, PLEASE!

 

[SuperPac]

I just ordered the shit out of one of those iMacs. Got the 20" 2.0 GHz, with a bump up to the 400 GB HD. I'll buy another stick of RAM somewhere else for cheaper than Apple's prices. I've been waiting since February for this update, and I'm glad it's a fairly major bump in features for a lower price point.

 

[Pedigree Chum]

I just ordered the shit out of one of those iMacs. Got the 20" 2.0 GHz, with a bump up to the 400 GB HD. I'll buy another stick of RAM somewhere else for cheaper than Apple's prices. I've been waiting since February for this update, and I'm glad it's a fairly major bump in features for a lower price point.

That's one sick upgrade, I pray that the iBook recieves a similar treatment.

 

[number386]

True, if you have $2,000+ to spare, plus the cost of a display (say, $800 if you wanted to stick with Apple and get the 20-inch Cinema display). But look at the specs for the low-end Powermac ($1,499):

1.8GHz PowerPC G5
600MHz frontside bus
512K L2 cache
256MB DDR400 SDRAM
Expandable to 4GB SDRAM
80GB Serial ATA
8x SuperDrive
Three PCI Slots
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra
64MB DDR video memory
56K internal modem

Now, the specs for the $1,499 iMac:

17-inch widescreen LCD
2GHz PowerPC G5
667MHz frontside bus
512K L2 cache
512MB DDR400 SDRAM
160GB Serial ATA hard drive
Slot-load 8x SuperDrive (double-layer)
ATI Radeon 9600
128MB DDR video memory
56K internal modem

Even without the display, the iMac kicks the PowerMac's ass.

That powermac is technically last years models, which in realistically is older than that since the single 1.8 Power Mac was released in june 2003.

The 600-667MHz frontside bus is a major bottleneck for the imac G5 opposed to the 1GHz front side bus for the dual 2 Ghz powermac. Powermac are a good deal more capable. Not to mention most pro apps are dual processor aware.

 

[Mad Hatter]

To Apple: iBook update, PLEASE!

I know, right!?

 

[DMczaf]

To Apple: iBook update, PLEASE!

That's what I've been waiting for.

 

[SteveMeister]

That powermac is technically last years models, which in realistically is older than that since the single 1.8 Power Mac was released in june 2003.

The 600-667MHz frontside bus is a major bottleneck for the imac G5 opposed to the 1GHz front side bus for the dual 2 Ghz powermac. Powermac are a good deal more capable. Not to mention most pro apps are dual processor aware.

But he's not comparing it to a dual 2GHz PowerMac -- he's comparing it to the 1.8Hz single processor PowerMac.

 

[SteveMeister]

To Apple: iBook update, PLEASE!

The only problem is that they can't go to a G5 yet, and so they can't upgrade the iBook such that it outshines the PowerBook. Until Apple either switches to a different processor or gets the G5's heating issues resolved, I doubt you're going to see much improvement in the iBooks.

 

[Mad Hatter]

A small GPU boost would be nice...

 

[shantyman]

Oh Apple! The super-small market share guy. You can always tell if you're working on a Mac or a PC. Just take your applications and stick them in there and see if they run.

I sense a new catch phrase.

 

[Smiles and Cries]

Damn those iMac specs put my Powerbook to shame... I want one ;_;

 

[SickBoy]

The only "problem" with these updates is I'm not sure the eMac is really carving out a great place for itself in Apple's catalogue, sandwiched between the relatively comparable but cheaper Mac Mini (even after a monitor and a RAM upgrade), and the more expensive but blows-it-out-of-the-water iMac.

 

[Smiles and Cries]

eMac should just retire I never liked that bitch

 

[SteveMeister]

The only "problem" with these updates is I'm not sure the eMac is really carving out a great place for itself in Apple's catalogue, sandwiched between the relatively comparable but cheaper Mac Mini (even after a monitor and a RAM upgrade), and the more expensive but blows-it-out-of-the-water iMac.

They'll keep selling 'em as long as people keep buying 'em. Nice thing about the eMac is that while it's not as cheap as a Mac mini, even if you buy an external monitor, it's still a lot cheaper than an iMac while giving you that all-in-one design, which is important to many.

 

[FortNinety]

eMac should just retire I never liked that bitch

Hey, I have one.

CRT forever.

 

[Pedigree Chum]

The only problem is that they can't go to a G5 yet, and so they can't upgrade the iBook such that it outshines the PowerBook. Until Apple either switches to a different processor or gets the G5's heating issues resolved, I doubt you're going to see much improvement in the iBooks.

That's fine with me, even something like included Bluetooth and 512ram would suffice. It'd save me a few $$$.

 

[ManaByte]

The power Macs aren't as sexy as the iMac G5s.