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It's pretty much a no brainer looking at the new iMac value equation
in light of yesterday's product introductions.
Either the 700 MHz Combo drive G4 iMac got boosted to 800 MHz or the
800 MHz SuperDrive G4 iMac traded its SuperDrive for a Combo drive, but
either way you look at it, the end result is a US$1,299 800 MHz G4 iMac with a Combo drive. That's
$200 less than the old Combo drive version and $400 less than the old
800 MHz one.
On the 17" side of things, we got a 25% improvement in clock speed,
a 33% faster system bus, twice as much video memory, five times faster
wireless networking, and a SuperDrive that burns DVDs twice as fast -
all at US$200 less than the price of the previous 800 MHz 17" G4
iMac.
Like I said, it's a no brainer that these are a better value than
the models they replace. But with close out prices on the "old" G4
iMacs, which models offer the most bang for the buck?
The 15" iMac
You can buy the old 15" 800 MHz SuperDrive iMac for $1,499, which is
$200 more than the Combo drive version. That's the typical Apple markup
for swapping out a Combo drive for a SuperDrive, so if you'd like to
burn DVDs and don't need a 17" display (or can't afford yet another
$200), snatch up one of these while they last.
Do keep in mind that the 15" iMac still supports the old AirPort
standard, not the new AirPort Extreme.
The 17" iMac
As $1,699, the old 17" 800 MHz iMac isn't a real deal compared with
the new 1 GHz model at just $100
more. With a faster SuperDrive, AirPort Extreme, and twice the video
memory, the new 1 GHz model is worth the extra $100.
I hope dealers won't get stuck with too many of the old 17" models;
they'll be awfully hard to sell with such a small price difference
compared with the new version.
The eMac
Apple already dropped the price of the entry-level 700 MHz eMac,
which has a Combo drive, to $999, and reduced the price of the 800 MHz
SuperDrive model to $1,299. The base model is compelling if you're on a
budget, but picking between a 15" Combo drive iMac or a 17" SuperDrive
eMac at $1,299 - well, I'd hate to have to make that choice.
I don't burn DVDs yet. Shoot, I don't even use a camcorder. But my
wife does, and she'd like to be able to tape seminars, edit them down,
and make them available to her clients. I'm beginning to see where a
SuperDrive could be a real asset.
Of course, if you can come up with $1,499, you can get off the horns
of the SuperDrive eMac vs. Combo drive iMac dilemma and just buy a
SuperDrive iMac while inventory remains available.
Conclusion
Instead of just offering more MHz at the same price, Apple has shown
that it is really concerned about value with recent releases. The Power
Mac G4s have faster CPUs and lower prices than the models they replace.
The introduction of the 17" PowerBook G4 let Apple slash $200 from the
price of the 1 GHz 15" PowerBook G4. And now they offer the
existing eMac at a lower price and improved iMacs at lower prices than
the models they replace.
Although the Apple product matrix has
grown much more complex since the four quadrant era, the values are
steadily improving.
I wonder what they'll be offering next.
Dan Knight has been using Macs since 1986,
sold Macs for several years, supported them for many more years, and
has been publishing Low End Mac since April 1997. If you find Dan's articles helpful, please consider making a donation to his tip jar.
MacDrought: 4 Months with No New Macs, 08.27.
The most recent Mac update was over four months ago, and the Mac mini has been unchanged for over a year.
The iMac Legacy: After the G3, 08.15.
The G3 iMac influenced the whole industry, but Apple continued to move forward with innovative designs using G4, G5, and Intel processors.
The iMac Legacy: The G3 Era, 08.15.
10 years ago today, the original iMac went on sale. One of the most popular lines of computers ever, the G3 iMac would be Apple staples for nearly five years.
Mac of the Day: PowerBook 170, Oct. 1991 - At 25 MHz, the PB 170 was at the top of the original PowerBook line.
List of the Day: The iPhone List Low End Mac's forum for discussing and supporting Apple's iPhone.
August 30 in LEM history: 99: The truth about USB speed - 00: Could Eazel kill the Mac? - Mac OS 8.1 on a IIci and LC III - 01: Beyond MHz and GHz - Getting a handle on email - Thanks for the IBM PC, Dad - Apple's anniversaries - 02: Mac OS X v10.2 - iBook video out - 04: Things that freak out my students - 06: Nvu and SeaMonkey can't replace Home Page - 07: DVD-RAM support
Best Power Mac G4 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.29.
Used 450 MHz AGP, $75; 500, $99; 800 QS, $199; 1.25 GHz MDD, $375; 450 MHz dual, $179; 867 dual, $300; 1 GHz dual, $395; 1.42 dual, $575.
Best iBook G3 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.29.
Used 300 MHz clamshell, $150; 500 CD, $150; 800, $200; 600 CD-RW, $240; 900 Combo, $300; 14" 600, $360; 900, $400.
Best iPod nano Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.29.
Used 2 GB iPod nano, $89; refurb 3G 4 GB, $99; new, $140; refurb 8 GB, $149; new, $179.
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A look at Internet Explorer, Radon, Opera, Safari, Shiira, iCab, Firefox, Netscape Navigator, Flock, and Camino running in Leopard.
Clone and Boot: Another Advantage of the Mac OS, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 08.28.
Unlike Windows, Apple makes it possible to clone a bootable drive (Classic Mac OS or OS X) and use it with another supported Mac.
Best MacBook Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.28.
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Best iMac G5 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.28.
Used 17" 1.6 GHz Combo, $499; 1.8 SuperDrive, $530; 2.0, $600; 1.9 iSight, $625; 20" 1.8 GHz, $580; 2.0, $650; 2.1 iSight, $700.
Best classic Mac OS Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.28.
System 6, $10; 7.1, $12; 7.5.1, $4; Mac OS 7.6, $13; 8.0, $13; 8.1, $48; 8.5, $25; 8.6, $20; 9.0, $20; 9.2.2, $20; more.
CrossOver Strikes Out, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 08.27.
Running Windows apps on a Mac without paying for Windows is great in theory, but actually getting Windows software working is another story.
Best Intel iMac Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27.
Used 17" 1.83 GHz, $625; 20", $599; 2.16, $749; 24", $950; refurb 20" 2.4, $999; 2.66, $1,299; 24" 2.4, $1,299; 2.8, $1,549; new 3.06, $2,094 after rebate; more.
Best 15" PowerBook G4 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27.
Used 1.25 GHz Combo, $600; SuperDrive, $650; 1.33 Combo, $640; 1.5, $680; SD, $725; 1.67, $730; hi-res, $800.
Best Time Capsule and AirPort Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27.
500 GB Time Capsule, $294; 1 TB, $468; AirPort Extreme Card, $39; 802.11n Base Station, $166; 802.11g AirPort Express, $60; 802.11n, $98.
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