What Apple’s Mac updates say about the future of the desktop
Tuesday’s iMac, Mac mini and Mac Pro refreshes elicited a collective “meh” from the technorati and Mac blogsphere. Given the underwhelming proportions of this makeover and the lack of meaningful price cuts, one wonders why the company waited so long to deliver and what the future holds for Apple’s desktops.
Thereupon, Tom Kravitz at News.com sums up what he believes is the takeaway message from yesterday’s desktop hardware update:
Apple’s long-awaited Mac desktop refresh Tuesday is evidence of the company’s determination to preserve its margins in a category that’s fast going out of style.
The architecture of the iMac and Mac mini are essentially the same, yet there hasn’t been any real price reduction. The Mac Pro, though changed somewhat internally, is still the same big Aluminum box that housed Apple’s PPC G5 pro desktop and, again, not much in the way of a price reduction.
To this pundit, it seems rather apparent that Apple’s desktop strategy is avoid “unnecessary” expenses—no real design changes let alone improvements in years—while milking this declining revenue stream for maximum profit.
Could Apple have bolstered desktop sales by offering a $999 iMac or $499 mini? The answer is almost a certainly “yes.” Apparently, however, management and bean counters alike agreed that it wasn’t worth effort let alone lost revenue. Although the iMac, Mac mini and Mac Pro probably won’t disappear within the next year or so, the future of the Macintosh desktop doesn’t seem particularly bright…
What’s your take?
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March 4th, 2009
Interesting, good post
March 4th, 2009
“If I were running Apple, I would milk the Macintosh for all it’s worth — and get busy on the next great thing. The PC wars are over. Done. Microsoft won a long time ago.”
– Steve Jobs, Fortune, Feb. 19, 1996
March 4th, 2009
What a dumb post. the collective “meh” is from so-called “pundits” who pack-blog before they actually analyze.
first, the hardware upgrades to all the Mac desktops are not mere spec bumps. they amount to a new generation of significantly more powerful Snow Leopard-ready desktops. the Mini in particular was dramatically upgraded (and it needed it).
second, even with that all prices stayed the same or were reduced some compared to previous models. and no price increase in three years for the Mini = a 10% price cut in constant dollars (a dollar ain’t worth what it used to be). in fact Mac prices continue to gradually come down as we saw last year too. that’s the trend to note.
so third, when you directly compare the new Mac desktop prices to comparable Dell or HP products, the hardware costs are in fact now very close. for a really well-done analysis, go to Low End Mac today:
http://lowendmac.com/musings/09mm/2009-mac-mini-value.html
LEM left out the extra cost of Windows software to match iLife. and Windows Home Premium does not equal Leopard. for consumers, this makes the Macs at least an equal value (and a superior product).
fourth, “styles” come and go, but there will always be a substantial desktop market no matter laptops and netbooks. proclaiming the passing of desktops is a ridiculous over-statement (but fashionable “punditry”).
this year no doubt will see a nosedive in PC desktop sales (it will be a lot more than the 14% recently estimated by MS) due to the economy as businesses especially and consumers postpone replacing older PC’s (and yes, parents will buy a cheap netbook for their kids instead of a desktop as they would have done in the past). Windows 7, even if it is popular, will not make much of a difference.
Consumer reaction to new generation Mac desktops, plus soon Snow Leopard, remains to be seen (after a one-month spike due to pent-up demand). let’s get some sales figures through June 30 and then talk about it … intelligently.
March 4th, 2009
It is easy to criticize, it the same when the Air came out, everyone was saying why it wouldn’t work but now we know the difference.
It is very safe to write about a product but I wonder how would these people will feel if they are running a corporation and marketing a product in these difficult times. Will they cut their margins to move their product or give them the best performance possible hardware at the same price they charged last year.
BTW Apple softwares are optimize to run on their hardware, you will feel the difference when you use them.
March 4th, 2009
My take? My take is that we’re being groomed for something else.
http://betterisnotperfect.wordpress.com/2009/03/03/omg-apple-killed-the-numeric-keypad/
March 4th, 2009
First of all, the Mac Mini is a much more powerful computer now. Yes, it still looks the same (which is pretty nice) but I was surprised it was not redesigned. For the money, you are getting so much more. You try explaining Nvidia integrated chipset, DDR3 RAM and Firewire 800 to ******* pundits. I agree that bumping RAM and HD would qualify as a “meh” upgrade, the rest is not.
As for iMacs, you are getting 4 more inches of screen space for the same price, not to mention the NVIDIA chipset, DDR3 RAM, more USB ports and better optional video cards on the higher end, not to mention of course, double the RAM and HD. And as for redesigning the iMac, are they crazy? It just came out a year ago! Apple usually redesigns the iMacs every 3 or 4 years! It’s a gorgeous design that was slightly modified (thinner and more flexible base).
Sure, the Mac Pro is essentially the same design as the last generation of PowerMac G5 (which only lasted a short while anyway) but it’s a gorgeous, modern, functional design and that is more of a niche segment. As for the architecture, we all know that the Mac Pro’s are internally faster and more efficient. There really isn’t much else Apple could add to them either than a self-cleaning coffee machine attachment.
Pundits can take a flying you know what at a rolling donut. If you’re going to open your mouth, DO YOUR RESEARCH and get in deep.
March 5th, 2009
OK, don’t take my word for it:
Benchmarks of 2009 iMacs, Mac minis show negligible speed-ups
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/03/04/benchmarks_of_2009_imacs_mac_minis_show_negligible_speed_ups.html
April 6th, 2009
um mac has been leader of computers since the begining so i dont know what made you think that PC is anywhere close to mac
September 18th, 2009
go fuck yourselves you fuking wierd ass nerds
October 28th, 2009
My custom i7 920 clocked at 4GHz, with 12GB DDR3, GB x58 mobo, 5TB HDD and a Nvidia 295 wipes the floor with any Apple Mac.
Apple sells mediocore hardware in an elegant chasis with a decent OS but seriously overprices the package. People who think Apples hardware is somehow “special” and made by Apple need to get a clue.
However, I built my PC from the ground up using quality top-end components, from the motherboard (x58 UD5) through to a Lian Li casing, all for under £1,500. Seriously, for the price I have paid and the awesome horsepower I have available, why on earth would I go out and by a Mac for less power but have to pay MORE cash?
Ontop of all that, Windows 7 is an awesome OS. 80% of Mac users will have it installed as their primary OS. lol – the irony of it all.