Dell adopts Mac mini “marketing ploy”
Posted by Igor
In a swift and decisive move, Dell Computers announced today that it will begin shipping all systems with intentionally mis-labeled specifications on the boxes. In what is being seen as an obvious attempt to play catch up with Apple computer’s brilliant move to sell its Mac mini systems with specs that may “meet or exceed” those listed on their packing, Dell took the move one step further.
“We feel the average consumer is becoming bored with the computer buying experience. ” says Dell’s Chief Marketing Officer Mike George. “They no longer wish to choose an item, pay for it, and have that item arrive at their front door. It’s predictable. It’s what their parents would want. Today’s consumer needs the element of surprise to add a bit of excitement to the table.”
To that end, Dell plans to ship all of its consumer desktop models and its Inspiron 6000 and 1200 model laptop computers with wildly off-base specifications. “We’ve actually created a random number generator which is responsible for listing the model number and processor speeds. Even WE don’t know exactly what is in those boxes. It really is exciting.” says George.
New Power Macs at MacWorld SF, new PowerBooks November 1st
Posted by Igor
Our sources hint at 2 upcoming revisions to Apple’s most important professional products, the Power Mac G5 and the PowerBook G4. The PowerBook update is said to be relatively minor, while the real news is the desktop update.
Due the week of the MacWorld SF convention, the Power Mac is expected to (finally) see an upgrade to the 970MP Dual Core PowerPC processor. Speeds should top out around 3 GHz. The 3GHz mark has been the holy grail Mac users have been searching for for almost 2 years. We have heard now from 2 semi-reliable sources that the advantages of the dual core systems are said to provide benchmarks around 60% (or higher) above the current models. Pricing for the high and mid-level models is expected to increase slightly, but not too bad, with the top model coming in at $3199, while the low-end configuration is expected to see a $100 drop. There will be 3 models. A single 970MP Dual Core PowerPC processor model at 2.5 GHz ($1,899), a dual 970MP Dual Core PowerPC processor at 2.7 GHz ($2,599), and the high end model 970MP Dual Core PowerPC processor at 3 GHz. The high end model is expected to ship with the ATI Radeon X850 XT standard, and 1GB of RAM. Most other specs should remain the same as current models.
The PowerBook will see a somewhat disappointing update in early November, but we’ll take what we can get. Look for processors speeds slightly increasing to 1.8 Ghz for the 17-inch model, and 1.67 GHz for the 12 and 15-inch models. The 17-inch will see an increase in RAM to 1GB, and one source claims an across the board hard drive upgrade to 100GB (we are not certain of this). Prices should remain the same as current models.
(Editorial opinion)
While the Power Mac update is rather exciting, we are a bit wary of the reported boost in performance. The problem as we see it is; these will be the models that the Intel versions will be compared to, so if these new Power Macs really DO provide a 60% increase in performance, Apple may end up shooting itself in the foot. While we would never suggest Apple may be intentionally holding back performance in the PowerPC version Power Mac in order to not steal the thunder from the MacTel PMs, the Intel PMs better be able to provide something more impressive than lower power consumption over these when they launch end of ‘06.
Credibility: Power Mac update 7.5/10
Credibility: PowerBook update 6/10
UPDATE October 1st, 2005. Both MacOSXrumors and MacBoudille seem to think new updates to these lines are coming sometime between now and December. (Why not say now and next December, just to be sure?).
They site current low inventories across the board as proof. Well, as the new “rumor” kid on the block, we won’t second guess anyone with a somewhat proven track record. However, our source was right about the Mac minis… Anyway, since the Power Mac is not expected to go Intel until late 2006 at the EARLIEST, we still believe even if apple has the machines ready now, it is going to wait until the last possible minute to minimize time between the arrival of the intel, and this last PowerPC update. Plus we hear Apple needs something to talk about at the Expo this year.
Apple blames iPod nano screen defects on obese Americans/tight pants
Apple today officially acknowledged that a small number of iPod nano owners have reported problems with the hot-selling music player. Customers are reporting instances where after removing the iPod nano from their front pockets (much as Steve Jobs did during the iPod nano’s famous unveiling) finding that the nano’s LCD screen is cracked, and in some instances, no longer works at all.
Apple’s SVP of Marketing Phil Schiller said today in a press release “…this issue has affected less than 1/10 of 1 percent of the total iPod nano units that we’ve shipped. It is not a design issue. It has more to do with obese Americans in tight pants putting the nano in their front jeans pocket, and then sitting for extended periods of time.”
Blaming the nano’s screen issues on fat people is not the first time Apple has come under fire for attacking its super-sized customers. In 1998 the American Obesity Association filed a complaint against Apple charging the company’s hot-selling iMac computer shipped with a miniature keyboard and mouse that could not accommodate the enlarged fingers of obese Americans. In the complaint, the AOA alleges the keyboard made correct spelling all but impossible for large fingers that would sometimes accidentally press up to 3 keys at a time. The “hockey puck” mouse that shipped with the unit was also criticized for not being able to support the increased weight of a 7 pound hand. During extended use the track ball would often become oval-shaped, causing the mouse to stop functioning corectly.
The AOA’s Gabrielle Vargas says Apple computers have always been a favorite of husky Americans, due in large part to Apple’s insistance on using the 1-button mouse. The 1 button mouse is perfectly designed for fat fingers which often find multi-button mice unwieldy. Apple has also designed its operating systems to be navigated with a single-click mouse, eliminating the need for right-clicking. “It is this loyalty from our members” says Vargas, “that has helped Apple capture over 3% of the personal computer market. For Apple to now blame manufacturing defects in its newest iPod on ‘fat people wearing tight pants’ is just plain wrong.”
According to the AOA, Approximately 127 million adults in the U.S. are overweight, 60 million obese, and 9 million severely obese. If Apple worked harder to actively cater (no pun intended) to the obese, it could mean a huge (no pun intended) increase in market share.
Apple, for its part, seems to realize this. It has offered to replace the “defective” nanos. However, they are insisting that all customers weighing over 230 Pounds also agree to sign a form stating they will carry their nano in an altoids case for protection.
LG to be the first to commercially produce fuel cel batteries for portables
Posted by Dr. Macenstein
LG Chem, a subsidiary of Korean-basedLG Electronics, announced today it plans to be the first company to commercially produce fuel cel batteries for notebook computers and other portables. The batteries, powered by removable methanol canisters, are currently able to produce 25W of power for 10 hours (per canister). The cell itself is expected to last for over 4000 hours. Right now the solution seems less than ideal for portables, as the battery is roughly the size of an external hard drive, and carrying around extra methanol canisters while traveling could prove inconvenient to say the least. Still the project looks promising. Smaller version are planed for devices such as MP3 players, with power outputs ranging from 5W and 50W.
Rumors circulated last year that Apple was looking into fuel cel batteries for use in its PowerBook line.
Apple acknowledges nano screen problems
Posted by Dr. Macenstein
Apple acknowledged reported problems affecting their iPod nano’s screen yesterday. Reports of cracked and easily scratched screens apeared last week on Flawedmusicplayer.com. Apple says it has received reports of a small number of cracked screens, and those customers who are affected by this “minor issue” can exchange theis nanos for replacements. Apple blames the problem on “vendor quality problem in a small number of units”, and claims this problem affects only “less than 1/10 of 1 per cent of the total iPod nano units that we’ve shipped”. As for reports of scratches, Apple claims the nano uses the same material in its screens that is used in iPod Photos, and have not received any complaints.
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