I'm really puzzled about where they go with it. You could argue that the eMac has taken over the original iMac's role - a one-box, one-plug, reasonably-priced consumer-market Mac. Indeed, the eMac is the obvious development of the original iMac. Unfortunately, although it's a lot of Mac for a good price, IMHO it looks like a bit of a lump (apologies to all the satisfied eMac owners on the list). On the other hand the LCD iMac was trying to be too clever for its own good (again, IMHO).
So here's my speculation:
I think there is a spot for a two-box consumer machine (ie, CPU & monitor separate), but perhaps sold as a pair. How about this:-
Base Unit: new small-form factor base unit, possibly cuboid, based on a single low(ish) speed G5, with provision for Airport Extreme, Firewire, USB2, and VGA & DVI video outs; maybe a built-in iPod dock?;
Monitor: a new range of consumer LCDs, drawing some design cues from the new aluminium LCD monitors, but in smaller sizes - perhaps 15" and 17". Maybe the 17" would be widescreen (like the Powerbook screen) rather than 4:3.
If you wanted to get really clever, how about the new iMac being a series of mix'n'match compatible modules (screen, processor, optical drive) that could all fit together?
Price: say �600 for the base unit, �400 for the cheaper LCD monitor; perhaps �899/�949 if bought together.
Waddya think?
Tom Burke
On 2 Jul 2004, at 10:22, Roger Houghton wrote:
From the Apple Store:
"Apple has stopped taking orders for the current iMac as we begin the transition from the current iMac line to an all-new iMac line which will be announced and available in September.
"We planned to have our next generation iMac ready by the time the inventory of current iMacs runs out in the next few weeks, but our planning was obviously less than perfect."
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/ukstore
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