The news that Apple is going to switch to Intel processors shook up the computing world. Many users and developers were eager to publish their opinions on the switch. However, one group of people were totally neglected during all this: resellers. Today, we feature an interview with Wim Schermer, first Dutchman to own a Mac (in 1984), and co-founder of one of the biggest Apple retail stores in The Netherlands, MacSupport. We discuss the switch to Intel, and much more.
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Member since:2005-06-29
the mac mini changed the resale value for a lot of macs i believe is the point.. granted it does have lower specs then some, it still has higher specs (in areas) then others.. pre mac mini i would bet you could get 6 or 700 for a dual 500 g4.. after the mac mini that dropped.. i know the value of mine dropped like 150
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Member since:2005-07-06
Its a slowish speed, but that was what helped define product categories. Bump up the speed too much and Apple runs the risk of canibalizing lower-end tower sales.
If a single processor G4 with a decent hard drive will cannibalize a dual G5 tower with slots and many other upgrades, Apple is in serious trouble.
Fortunately outside of Apple and its patented "Greatly Insane Management" protocols, such a risk does not exist.
As has been shown on many sites, the Mac mini with a 7200rpm 2.5" drive is a much nicer computer to use. And it has been thoroughly shown that this mod does not enable the machine to compete with a G5 tower.
At the end of the day, Apple does not offer a 7200rpm Mac mini because Apple has a horrible problem delivering value to customers.
Member since:A good interview, very detailed, one question though... why drop prices of all G4's because a Mac Mini was was the same CPU speed? Mac Mini has flaws such as its HD which is a 5400RPM Drive and in some cases it is a 4800RPM drive, also it has a very slow FSB by modern standards, it is the slowest FSB of all the G4's (haven't checked the iBook's FSB mind).
Its all about perception and marketing, you, I and a majority of OS news readers know how much things like harddrive,ram and video gpu speed effect the overall speed of a computer. However the umm unwashed masses don't, most do know that cpu speed does efect it so when they see 2 computers on the shelf both are 1.5 ghz but one is 600-700$ more it becomes difficult for salesmen to explain why, so in the sales pitch after the techno jargon they mention they can get it it for 200$ less now
Member since:
2005-06-29
A good interview, very detailed, one question though... why drop prices of all G4's because a Mac Mini was was the same CPU speed? Mac Mini has flaws such as its HD which is a 5400RPM Drive and in some cases it is a 4800RPM drive, also it has a very slow FSB by modern standards, it is the slowest FSB of all the G4's (haven't checked the iBook's FSB mind).