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http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=1458
Rumors: Color iPod, $999 iMac Head the List
By Remy Davison, Insanely Great Mac
January 1st 2003
Power Mac minor speed bump expected, iPod MPEG-4, AAC support anticipated.
A $999 iMac at MWSF? That's the price of entry, according to MacRumors.
MacRumors also cites speculation by a new site, MacNews.com.tc, which claimed on
November 12 that Apple was prepping a high-end iPod with a color screen.
Specifications are said to include MPEG-4 Video, AAC audio, and MPEG-1
The iMac line up is destined for a major shake-up, MacRumors' article says. Prices
reported by MacRumors are as follows:
15", 800MHz, $999
17", 867MHz, $1199
17", 867 MHz, $1499
17", 1GHz, $1699
If the 867MHz CPU prediction is correct, this would indicate the iMac (at least the
upper-tier models) would move to a 133MHz bus. The question is whether the iMac would
use a 'pro' or 'consumer' CPU; the latter is more likely.
As IGM has suggested previously on several occasions, Apple is likely to drop all 15"
iMac models except for the base model. All others will reportedlu gain the 17".
Credible sources also suggest that a 19" iMac is highly unlikely, due to the size and
weight of such a package.
As a result of falling LCD prices, however, Apple may choose to bundle a 19" display
with a Power Mac at dicounted prices as a means of providing an incentive for pro
buyers to go with a new G4 tower.
What of the G4s? Faster chips will be available, says MacRumors, citing a 'source'
from Geek.com. The Motorola PowerPC 7457 should be available at 1.33 or 1.4GHz by
February, according to the report.
Analysis: The color iPod rumor might be taken with a large grain of salt, as the
spec/feature sounds more in keeping with a cell phone than an MP3 player. The MPEG/AAC
supports sounds far more reasonable. But what would be the real benefits of a color
screen, unless the iPod is destined to do other (greater) things?
The iMac pricing structure sounds convincing; 15" LCD prices have dropped
considerably, allowing Apple to offer an inexpensive point of entry. 17" flat screen
prices have also fallen and this would be a sensible and highly-competitive move by
Cupertino.
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