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iMacs cost $898 to make?
MacSlash has come across a report from analyst firm iSuppli that claims the materials used to build the latest Intel iMac cost Apple roughly $898. This includes an estimated price of $265/Intel Dual Core chip, which is based on prices from Intel's site that are $294/chip in orders of 1000. The estimate, however, does not include other elements such as the mouse, keyboard or advertising. I won't regurgitate the rest of the price breakdown though, so check it out for yourself.While I'm no professional analyst, most of the pricing in that report sounds just a little bit high to me. I'm sure Apple is *probably* buying Dual Core chips in batches that are slightly larger than 1000, and $265/chip sounds nuts. Heck, a computer that costs $898 in mere parts (nevermind designing, building, advertising, shipping, etc) that sells for only $1299 sounds pretty nuts to me too, even for a company like Apple who could probably benefit from news like this hitting the streets.Just in case this report is right, though: that is one expensive computer, and one heck of an expensive chip. Here's hoping this big transition is ultimately worth it.
Extended desktop for iMac G5's
This is a long shot, I know, but I just have to write about it. As we all know the new Intel based iMacs support monitor spanning (so you can extend your desktop across two monitors) as opposed to video mirroring only as the line of iMac G5's did. The latest iMac G5 and the new Intel iMacs have almost identical hardware (other than, you know, the processors), so my question is: do you think Apple will release a firmware update that will allow older iMacs to monitor span?I know there are hacks that allow this, but I would feel a little more comfortable using official Apple software, no matter how unlikely it is.What do you say, Steve? Could you do us iMac G5 owners a solid? Thanks.Update: This is why I love our reader! This post has been up for less than 10 minutes and people have already pointed out that I forgot that the Intel iMacs sport a new video card, which I did forgot to factor in. However, it is clear that the video cards in the iMac G5's support extended desktop, the firmware 'cripples' that feature. Heal my iMac, Apple!
PC Mag likes new Intel iMacs
C.K. seems to like his new Intel based iMac (there really should be a better way of describing the Intel based Macs without having to use 'Mactel'), but what about the editors of PC Magazine? They have made it an 'Editors' Choice' and given it four and a half circle thingies. Why does this 20 inch iMac (that's the model they got their hands on) deserve such praise?It is fast, at least with Universal applications, and the iMac form factor is very good (Jobs even called it 'perfect,' though I don't think I would go that far). The reviewer at PC Mag only had two complaints about the iMac, and they really aren't iMac specific: Classic is no longer supported on the Intel Macs Running applications in Rosetta is slow He recommends this system to 'casual Mac users,' but since the Pro apps aren't universal yet he warns off video and Photoshop jockies.
Intel iMac is Time's Gadget of the Week
Back in November, Time Magazine chose the G5 iMac as their Gadget of the Week. Today, the Intel-powered iMac has received the same recognition. From the article:"The first thing you notice about Apple's new iMac — running the Intel Core Duo chipset rather than an older PowerPC chip — is that it's almost identical to the iMac that the company introduced in October. The second thing you notice, though, is that it is noticeably faster. It only takes around 30 seconds to restart the entire system."Makes you want to run out and buy one, doesn't it? Time seems to have a sort of love affair with Apple, having put Steve Jobs on the cover a few times. It's a short article, but worth reading.[Via MacNN]
TUAW Video Podcast: iMac Core Duo, Part 2
Here's part two of my video podcast on the new iMac, and this one is super-sized. It is both the longest and largest video podcast we've ever done, weighing in at close to 20 minutes and 109.7MBs in size. Here's a direct link to the file [ctrl click and save to disk] or you can grab it in the iTMS here. In the first two minutes, I boot the iMac, then I race it against my wife's PowerBook. Next up, I launch a variety of programs to show you the speed of the iMac when launching Intel-ready programs. I next launch a few Rosetta programs to give you a feel of the difference. I log into World of Warcraft and have a quick look around to show you what it's like. I then take you through a mini-tour of Front Row, and end by launching a whole slew of programs simultaneously to see how the iMac holds up.I did discover a few bugs along the way, though. When I launch iMovie HD and first try to preview yesterday's video podcast fullscreen, it plays with no picture and only audio. I stop and then replay it and it works. Also, while navigating to an episode of Lost in Front Row, Front Row totally froze on me. I had to option Apple esc to force it to quit. Additionally, while editing the video podcast in iMovie, I noticed that certain transitions caused audio to jump over from the beginning of the project, so I ultimately went sans transitions. Needless to say, there are some slight quirks. Check it out.
TUAW Video Podcast: iMac Core Duo, Part 1
That's right! It's here: the first part of my video podcast report on the new iMac Core Duo. What's amazing about this video podcast is that you don't actually see the iMac at all (except for the remote). Instead, I recorded the entire thing with me yammering on about the iMac with the iMac itself. I used the built-in iSight and iMovie HD to record my ramblings and it worked quite nicely. My only complaint has to do with the lighting in my apartment, and the way the iSight, unlike the normal 10lbs added by TV cameras, actually adds on about 35lbs... All right. Who am I kidding? I'm fat. And also something weird was going on with my hair.Here's a direct link to the file [16.2MBs; Control Click and Save the 3:37 video], which you should also find enclosed in our feed and available via the iTMS. If the file comes down as a text file, just remove the .txt extension from the end and it will work like a charm. MIME types confuse the Internets at times.Check back tomorrow for an actual video of the iMac, complete with it booting by itself, booting next to my wife's 12-inch Powerbook, and launching different programs. Does the excitement ever stop? Does it?!
Why isn't Photo Booth free?
I inevitably ended up playing around with Photo Booth for a while. As much as I wanted to hate it as a frivolous bit of code on my new iMac, I have to agree with Scott. It's a cool little app.I also have to ask... why doesn't Apple release this for everyone? I mean, it's not a part of iLife (nor is Front Row). Why is Apple only offering these programs with new hardware? I'd think giving them away for free would be good karma for Apple.
New Core Duo iMac: First Impressions
So, yesterday, I decided to be conservative, save some money, and purchase the 17-inch Dual Core iMac, which was in stock at the Palisades Apple Store, rather than wait for the more expensive 20-inch to arrive. After all, I've already ordered a fully-loaded, top of the line MacBook Pro, so I may as well be conservative with the iMac. Also, someone at the Apple Store screwed up, because when I got the iMac home and unpacked it, I had a free upgrade to a wireless keyboard and mouse. Nice! I need to order more RAM and the monitor adapter (wish they'd included it...), so I can plug in another monitor and try the monitor spanning trick.As soon as I opened the box, I lost the iMac remote. It turned back up about 25 minutes later, and now I am keeping it stuck to the side of the iMac.So far, I have to say, this machine is very fast. Even with only the default 512MBs of RAM, this baby launches programs fast. Safari and iTunes are instantaneous in nearly everything (with only a slight load screen when visiting the iTMS). Universal binary programs are all super fast, and most of the programs running in Rosetta still function very well, as long as they aren't graphics intensive. Unfortunately, World of Warcraft is quite laggy with frame-rates fluctuating from 7-20 per second. I hope the universal binary version comes out soon. iPhoto is fast and cool, but would seem to need some more RAM to really zip through my 12K photos. I'll report more details later today, and hopefully have a nice video podcast of the new machine for you sometime today or tomorrow, so stay tuned.I was disappointed to find that GraphicConverter is no longer bundled with the new Macs, but there is a universal binary version of the application already available. For a full list of apps included with the new iMac, check after the break.
Rig of the Day: The collector
Now, I collect Macs and other Apple goodies, but Flickr user mactarkus has got me beat. Check out the iMacs (is that a flower power in the foreground?), All in One, compact Macs, Mac TV...even a Twentieth Anniversary Mac, which, for me, is the Holy Grail. Two great posters wrap up the collection."Macintosh Fever" posted by "mactarkus"If you'd like to see your own rig featured here, simply upload photos into our group Flickr pool. We'll select an image every day to highlight.
Intel 17" Core Duo iMac reviewed at Ars Technica
Until C.K. receives his 20" Core Duo iMac, we can peruse the in-depth review of the 17-inch model over at Ars Technica. They put the new iMac through its paces including both informal and formal benchmarking with Rosetta and without.The author of the article, Eric Bangeman, notes that when you run heavy processor intensive applications such as Photoshop or Unreal Tournament on Rosetta, don't expect them to be zippy. In fact, you may be better off holding off on purchasing a new iMac if you are a professional graphic designer, audio engineer, or film maker. Pro applications, even those authored by Apple, are just not finished for the Intel processor platforms. Running those same applications with Rosetta may feel a bit laggy if you are used to using a G5 machine. According to Bangeman, Photoshop tests with Rosetta on the Core Duo iMac put it about level with a 1GHz G4 machine. Once Photoshop and other pro applications are released as native for the Intel procs, the Core Duo will definitely be a solid purchase.Bangeman also confirms that the only part of the Core Duo iMac you will probably upgrade at home will be the RAM. Similar to the last model of iMac G5, only the bottom plate of the housing is removable.[via Ars Technica]
Video race between iMac G5 and Core Duo iMac booting
I found this cool video on YouTube via Digg this morning. They simultaneously boot an iMac G5 and a new Core Duo iMac to see which is faster at booting. The Core Duo, of course, leaves the G5 flailing in the dust, but I, along with many of the commenters on Digg, am suspicious of the state of that iMac G5. It really shouldn't hang on boot for as long as it does. During the video, one of the guys says that the iMac G5 had been through its initial boot and then was immediately shut down, so I wonder if they forced it to shut down and some of the disk check processes are running and slowing things up. In any case, despite all these academic arguments, if you watch the video and you've ever seen an iMac G5 boot before, you're still going to realize that the Core Duo is absolutely smokingly fast.
WoW will work on Intel Macs
When His Steveness debuted the brand new, lust inducing Intel-based Macs at Macworld last week, Mac gamers knew it signalled a significant shift towards a more viable gaming platform. What remains to be seen is if more developers choose to port their games over because of the common x86 architecture the Mac and PC platforms share.Blizzard had a small booth at Macworld showing off their Intel-compatible Mac port of World of Warcraft, and it was fast! Ars Technica writes, "One wonders why Steve Jobs didn't blow the crowd away with the saturated colors and excessive frame rates of WoW on an iMac. It loaded fast, and when the first character popped up in town, the frame rate never dropped below 60, and this was pretty much going full tilt in the settings."So if you're lucky enough to be getting a new Intel dual core 2GHz iMac, but worry about the lack of native speed for World of Warcraft, Blizzard will be issuing the Universal binary in about three weeks... for free.[Via /.]
iMac disassembled for your viewing pleasure
Continuing the tradition of taking things apart as soon as they're released, a site by the name of KODAWARISAN has already dissected an Intel Dual Core iMac. The images aren't incredibly hi-res, but they should be good enough to keep you from doing the same to your zippy new iMac.[via MacDailyNews]
What you can't run on a Mactel
Ivan at creativebits has composed a list of application types that just won't work with Rosetta. From his list: The Classic environment (and hence, all pre-OS X apps) Screensavers written for PPC Code that insert preferences into the Preferences Pane Kernel extensions Apps that depend on one (or more) PPC-only kernel extension There are a few more, check them out. I said "See ya" to Classic a long time ago, so I'm not really concerned about the Mactel being the official nail in that coffin. As Ivan suggest, just look for the universal logo above when making purchases for your Mactel, just to play it safe.
New iMac in Apple Stores on the 17th?
According to the automated answering system in the Westchester Apple Store in White Plains, New York, the new Intel Dual-Core iMacs will be arriving on January 17th. That's Tuesday. I also spoke with one of the employees when I was in the store on Wednesday, and he said they will most likely be arriving late in the afternoon on the 16th. I'm not sure if this is happening with all the Apple Stores or just this particular one (since it is one of the "flagship" New York stores).Anyway, I'm buying one as soon as I can get in there and grab it. If you live in my area, please leave one for me. I seriously debated not posting about this, just because I wanted to ensure it would be there.Update: After reading comments from readers that iMacs are beginning to show up in some Apple Stores, I called the Westchester again and discovered that they too have the new iMacs in, but only in the 17" size. I'm gunning for a bigger iMac so I'll hold off. They only had 4 when I called, so you may want to run and get it if you're in the area and looking for a 17".
Comic Life now bundled with intel iMacs
If you need another reason to lay down the dough for a new Intel iMac then I have got one for ya. Cris Pearson, the CEO of plasq, just let me know that Comic Life is bundled with the new iMacs.Comic Life is a favorite app around here, and this can only mean good things for iMac buyers and plasq.
Kottke writes a letter to Apple support
Jason Kottke has summed up many people's thoughts with this very funny letter to Apple support.I about fell out of my chair yesterday when Steve announced the new iMacs, since I just bought one of the last PowerPC models. 'But the iMac was recently refreshed,' I moaned, 'you were supposed to introduce a new Mac mini!'Ahh well, the iMac G5 is still a great machine, but my Powerbook is getting a little long in the tooth. Where did I put that credit card?
New Intel Macs are first with a new chip but not a new design
In the "random observation" category, I noticed something about the new Dual Core Macs that is a break from Apple's traditional practices: they're the first Macs, at least in the last five years or more, to receive a completely new chip (from a completely different company, no doubt) and yet not receive a redesign. The PowerBooks had one with the G4, the PowerMacs with the G5 and the iMac when it too went G5.But not this time around. From all the photographs, it seems as though both machines have retained their previous form - and no, an iSight at the top of the MacBook Pro (does anyone like that name yet?) doesn't count. I'm not saying I was hoping for a redesign - I think the present forms of these machines are at the top of their game. But with a move as huge as Intel, I was half expecting at least something.
Apple offers free iMac upgrade to Developer Transition Kit owners
Remember all those Developer Transition Kits (DTKs) that Apple was offering to developers to help them get their apps ready for an OS X-on-Intel world? Well it looks like Apple has opened the doors for developers to return those kits with a juicy offer: return the DTK and receive a Dual Core iMac in exchange at no extra charge. Regardless of the (possible) shipping charges involved, this sounds like a pretty sweet deal, as the DTKs had pentium 4s inside - not to mention no display, no iSight, no FrontRow and no Intel Dual Core chip with which to set your desk on fire.I would imagine most developers will bite on this deal, unless there's a bunch of developer-ish stuff that I don't know about behind the scenes here. The one question on my mind: what is Apple going to do with all those Intel-based DTKs? If they're sold as refurbs for cheap enough, I bet consumers would eat them up in a heart beat.
Omnigroup releases free Intel updates
Hot on the heels of yesterday's announcements, The Omnigroup has released free universal binary updates for registered users of the majority of their applications, including OmniGraffle, OmniOutliner, OmniDiskSweeper, OmniObjectMeter and OmniDictionary. These will all run natively on the new Intel-based iMac and the MacBook Pro. Grab your copies now for that sweet new MacBook Pro you just ordered.
