Apple discontinues low-end mini, prepares for iMac refresh
Mac Blorge has been telling you for some time that the Cupertino, California-based Mac, iPod and iPhone maker is preparing to update its prosumer desktop and consumer portable product lines, with the former getting a major overhaul and the latter likely receiving refresh (i.e. faster processor, bigger hard disk, etc). Now, those whispers are turning into a chorus as head into October, the month when our favorite fruit company updates it computer product lines.
AppleInsider reports that the mothership sent an advisory on Monday to brick-and-mortar Apple Stores noting that further orders for many of its existing desktop SKUs would not be filled and that stores should not expect those models to be restocked. Specifically, the company said supplies of all four iMac models and the $599 entry-level Mac mini would be drawn down, with the latter being formally discontinued by Apple.
Further, Amazon.com has run out of all four iMac configurations and both Mac mini models, continuing to fill orders via partners, such J&R Music, Computer Word and PowerMax, according to AppleInsider.
That said, as Cinema Display perhaps coming to market with a redesigned mouse and remote control.
To date, pundits near and far have predicted the MacBook would be updated simply with a faster processor, bigger hard drive, etc., but not receive a major overhaul.
This is different…
Today is the first mention that any Mac mini product line adjustments were in the wind. Thereupon, I believe Cupertino will cut the price of the high-end model — perhaps $649 — to make room for a second, lower-priced MacBook — perhaps today’s configuration priced at $849 — while adding a model with the aforementioned faster, more capacious internals.
These price points would still leave room in Apple’s overall lineup for a $749 or $799 tablet device…
What’s your take?
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September 30th, 2009
My take is I’ll take ONE! Have the February 2009 Mac Mini and LOVE IT (starting with a 1.25MHz, then a Solo that I upped to a 1.8MHz Duo 2 and loved that) and REALLY LOVE the newer mini, but if they can make it better, I’ll take ONE! My only complaint is the FW800 (one port only), the cases are triple of the FW400. Otherwise, the Mini is the Mac Daddy of Apples. If Apple offers the mini for less than early-year, with more, than even better!
Also, if there’s an iMac for $899, might consider that. OK, I’ll take two!
sleepless
September 30th, 2009
Rut-Ro! “and the $599 entry-level Mac mini would be drawn down, with the latter being formally discontinued by Apple.” Am I reading this correctly? The Mini discontinued? Tell me this isn’t true, although the all-in-one’s are nice, cool, simple, the Mini allows many choices of monitors (two if you wish) and is less expensive. Please, please don’t phase out the Mini (;-(
September 30th, 2009
just one model is being discontinued, not the line.
October 20th, 2009
My take is that Apple’s marketing is brilliantly understated & overstated at the same time. Last January (2009) I was almost talked into buying 2.53 Ghz 15″ MBP. I said, “No thank you, I’ll wait.” I was hoping that Apple would soon release the Core i7 version of a 17″ MBP. In a couple of weeks it’ll be 11 months of waiting, reading and re-reading about anything Apple Core i7. At this point, my guess is that I won’t be getting a MBP anytime soon because by the time Apple gets around to Core i7 iterations, the first Gen MBPs will be much slower than the one’s they’ll be marketing by mid or late 2010. In the mean time, a much cheaper Core 2 Duo sounds reasonable enough.