New iMac, New Mac Mini, New Mac Pro - Apple Store updates

screature · Mar 3rd, 2009, 05:08 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by hayesk
	Apple is a for-profit corporation that sells products. The cost of everything comes from the consumer. Where do you think this cost "to eat" is going to come from?

I DON"T expect them to eat the cost never said I did. I said if they did then I would applaud that. Hey it is great that they are cleaning up their act and being responsible. But just like you don't cheer that a Hybrid car costs an arm and a leg I'm not going to cheer that it costs more to go green with computers.

Additionally it is a game of margins, if it costs more to build green obviously a balance must be struck between unit costs and how much you can maintain your margin (purchase price) before people stop buying because they can't afford your product. Being green is meaningless if people aren't willing to pay the price of being green. It is a balancing act and the coming quarters will tell if Apple is maintaining the right balance.

Vexel · Mar 3rd, 2009, 05:13 PM

Just ordered a new Mini!

screature · Mar 3rd, 2009, 05:16 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by gordguide
	Apple has an excellent environmental record overall... However, if you don't like the prices, I see DELL is still making computers.

Excellent environmental record overall... hmm, questionable: Is Apple improving its environmental record, or is it just spin?

Dell????

No I will just stick with the Macs I have thank you very much.

MACinist · Mar 3rd, 2009, 05:25 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by Vexel
	Just ordered a new Mini!

People still buy Leafs tickets too..

screature · Mar 3rd, 2009, 05:27 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by gordguide
	I'm very impressed by the MacPro Desktop revision. Reminds me of the last G5 and the QuickSilver 2001 revisions, where everything got twice as fast overnight...

In some sythetic tests 2.4x as fast. But most of the real world tests are in the 50% faster range. In some cases 20% and in some 10% and that is by buying the top of the line 2.93GHz 8 core which has a base price of $6900 before taxes and any upgrades.

You may be impressed, but I think there will be a LOT of sticker shock and most performance hungry people out there will be looking for discounts on the previous gen MacPros before forking over that kind of change.

Lars · Mar 3rd, 2009, 05:29 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by Vexel
	Just ordered a new Mini!

Which model? Any BTO upgrades? I'm on the verge of ordering one myself.

MacDoc · Mar 3rd, 2009, 05:42 PM

I;m trying to figure out the deal with the shared graphics of the 9400m versus the 2600xt in the 2.8 iMac

gordguide · Mar 3rd, 2009, 05:42 PM

Taking a closer look at the Mini, it looks like a decent refresh on a machine built to minimize cost.

Comparing the low-end new Mini ~463LL/A (MSRP $C 729) to the former high-end MB139LL/A (MSRP $C 849 on 24FE09))

There is a new, faster variant of the Core2Duo CPU installed.
There is another MB of on-chip cache (total 3MB); any improvement to CPU cache significantly improves real-world performance;
The system bus speed moves from 667 Mhz to 1066 Mhz, a signifcant real-world speed improvement;
Memory moves from 667 Mhz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300) to 1066 Mhz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-8500) a significant real-world speed improvement;
Supports 4GB RAM over the older units 2GB maximum;
Memory architecture has 64-bit address space, allowing for more than 3GB RAM to be addressed;
(Note: There is a significant security feature to prevent malware attacks that will be implemented in OSX 10.6 that cannot be implemented in a 32-bit memory address space);
Graphics get a major chipset upgrade and support for 128 MB RAM versus 64MB; note too that the shared video memory is now 1066 Mhz DDR3 instead of 667 Mhz DDR2;
Firewire 800 vs 400; 5 external USB buses versus 4;
Wireless N instead of Wireless G.

Compared to the previous low-end model ($C 649 on 28FE09), for the $C 70 extra it's a no-brainer. *

Bargain hunters can (for a short while) pick up the refurb version of the previous hi-end model for $C 550 or go low budget and get a very decent Mac in a refurb ~138LL/A 1.83 GHz for $499, each with a new computer warranty.

In either case, along with some careful non-Apple or used-Apple bargain shopping you could have a complete working system with a 19" Flat Panel for about $600.

Lars · Mar 3rd, 2009, 05:58 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by gordguide
	Graphics get a major chipset upgrade and support for 128 MB RAM versus 64MB;

Which is actually 256 MB if the system has 2GB of real RAM or more installed. (128 MB if only 1GB of real RAM is available.)

Vexel · Mar 3rd, 2009, 06:10 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by Lars
	Which model? Any BTO upgrades? I'm on the verge of ordering one myself.

Just the base model, I'm going to add a new HD and some RAM to it when I can.

Mar 3rd, 2009, 05:13 PM	#62
Vexel Digital DJ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sydney, Nova Scotia Posts: 5,282	Just ordered a new Mini! __________________ 2.0Ghz '09 Mac Mini www.radioaddix.net

Mar 3rd, 2009, 05:42 PM	#67
MacDoc Honourable Citizen Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Planet Earth.....on slow boil Posts: 27,970	I;m trying to figure out the deal with the shared graphics of the 9400m versus the 2600xt in the 2.8 iMac __________________ Are you backed up??? if not why not? - Superduper is FREE!! Find out more here Support Green- buy Bullfrog Power http://www.bullfrogpower.com/

Mar 3rd, 2009, 05:42 PM	#68
gordguide Honourable Citizen Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Saskatoon Posts: 5,202	Taking a closer look at the Mini, it looks like a decent refresh on a machine built to minimize cost. Comparing the low-end new Mini ~463LL/A (MSRP $C 729) to the former high-end MB139LL/A (MSRP $C 849 on 24FE09)) There is a new, faster variant of the Core2Duo CPU installed. There is another MB of on-chip cache (total 3MB); any improvement to CPU cache significantly improves real-world performance; The system bus speed moves from 667 Mhz to 1066 Mhz, a signifcant real-world speed improvement; Memory moves from 667 Mhz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300) to 1066 Mhz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-8500) a significant real-world speed improvement; Supports 4GB RAM over the older units 2GB maximum; Memory architecture has 64-bit address space, allowing for more than 3GB RAM to be addressed; (Note: There is a significant security feature to prevent malware attacks that will be implemented in OSX 10.6 that cannot be implemented in a 32-bit memory address space); Graphics get a major chipset upgrade and support for 128 MB RAM versus 64MB; note too that the shared video memory is now 1066 Mhz DDR3 instead of 667 Mhz DDR2; Firewire 800 vs 400; 5 external USB buses versus 4; Wireless N instead of Wireless G. Compared to the previous low-end model ($C 649 on 28FE09), for the $C 70 extra it's a no-brainer. * Bargain hunters can (for a short while) pick up the refurb version of the previous hi-end model for $C 550 or go low budget and get a very decent Mac in a refurb ~138LL/A 1.83 GHz for $499, each with a new computer warranty. In either case, along with some careful non-Apple or used-Apple bargain shopping you could have a complete working system with a 19" Flat Panel for about $600. __________________ "Being an artist doesn't take much, just everything you got. Which means, of course, that as the process is giving you life, it is also bringing you closer to death. But it's no big deal. They are one and the same and cannot be avoided or denied. So when I totally embrace this process, this life/death, and abandon myself to it, I transcend all this gibberish and hang out with the gods. It seems to me that that is worth the price of admission." —Hubert Selby, Jr. Last edited by gordguide; Mar 3rd, 2009 at 05:54 PM.

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