Rumor: New Apple eMac in the works
New versions of Apple's educational eMac are reportedly in the pipeline, though their arrival remains a mystery.
Rumors that the company may soon refresh the education-based product line are backed by several factors, including a rare leveling of supply and demand, dwindling channel inventory, and a sharp decline in orders for the computers to Apple's overseas manufacturing facilities.
Reliable reports have also indicated that the company plans to introduce a reworked version of an existing desktop computer later this year, coinciding with due revisions to eMacs life cycle. This product, according to sources, has been under development at Apple for nearly 10 months and features slight external and major internal modifications to one of the company's current offerings.
Over the last few weeks, Apple distributors such as Ingram Micro have seen unsolicited inventory dumps of current eMac configurations— a typical occurrence just prior to imminent product announcements from Apple. Additionally, sources claim that arrival estimates for further eMac shipments have jumped into late-October even though no orders appear to be pending.
Exactly when Apple plans to introduce the new models remains an uncertainty, as the company's inventory management practices have sometimes proved to be deceiving.
According to sources, Apple has been developing a redesigned eMac based around a G5 processor and more robust graphics processor, but may still choose to introduce one more incarnation of the eMac G4 due to current cost efficiency and supply concerns associated with the G5.
Apple introduced its present generation of eMacs in May of 2003, but updated the performance of the computers only once in the 18 months that have followed. Last November the company slashed prices across the product line, allowing it to offer a low-end eMac configuration to educational buyers at just shy of (US)$600.
174 Comments
Would be great if they could manage to produce an updated eMac at edu institutional pricing of $599 and $649 for individual edu purchases. $699 for all others, but would be hard to do this with a G5 chip. A G4 model at a lower price point would be attractive to some switchers, but only if it was done with a reasonable profit margin.
Reliable reports have also indicated that the company plans to introduce a reworked version of an existing desktop computer later this year, coinciding with due revisions to eMacs life cycle. This product, according to sources, has been under development at Apple for nearly 10 months and features slight external and major internal modifications to one of the company's current offerings.
What the hell could this be? Could it be a G5 light - err a G5 in a Quicksilver case? or A single G5 in a current Power Mac case? Could it be a iMac G5 in all aluminum trimmings ... read Special edition...read no white plastic??? Intrigue. Mystery. Oh, what could this be?
The eMac is a great product, and CRTs are cheaper than LCDs. I expect the eMac has a long life ahead of it.
What about other products? Lots of people (me included) think Apple needs a headless machine. Some say it should be a cheaper pro machine for people who want to add cards. Some say it should be for gamers. But the BIGGEST market for a new headless is simply to offer the lowest possible entry-price for a Mac. (Don't expect that machine to be a high-end gamer's choice.)
To achieve that lowest price, I think Apple needs to keep a G4 desktop--maybe an eMac, maybe a headless.
After all, if the bottom-end iBook is acceptable to some (my sister loves hers) then the same exact performance in a desktop should cost even less. Especially if you don't add a CRT.
Apple could always sell their own eMac-style CRT for it.
What about the current iMac form factor but with a G4?
Apple has a lot of options right now. If the G5 is available in large quantities then it might work for the eMac. If not then there is the Freescale option, IF it is cheaper than a G5.
Personally I do not believe that Apple will deliver a single G5 mini tower this year as the focus will be on existing platforms. There is an opportunity in January for releasing a headless entry level computer, but I believe it would be a lower priority than the eMac and iBook.