Apple's delay in shipping the 27-inch iMac may have more to do with the sheer volume of sales than any problems with the graphics chips, according to numbers from market research firm NPD.
(Credit:
Apple)
Stephen Baker, NPD's vice president of industry analysis, told CNET on Monday that for October and November, Mac desktop sales were up 74 percent over the same period last year. While NPD did not break the numbers down by desktop model, it's clear the iMac is a top seller.
In fact, the 27-inch iMac appears to be selling so well, it could account for the shipping delay that Apple apologized for on Sunday.
"It's not surprising Apple would be having problems supplying them [iMacs]," said Baker. "I can't imagine in their wildest dreams they would have thought they would sell like this."
Reports over the weekend suggested Apple was delaying shipments of the 27-inch iMac due to reported problems with the graphics card. While those issues remain, it may not be the root cause of the delay.
The surge in Mac sales was not limited to the 27-inch model. Baker said that the 21.5-inch iMac and the Mac mini are also doing very well.
Piper Jaffray financial analyst Gene Munster estimated in a research note to clients on Monday that Apple could sell 2.9 million to 3 million Macs for the current quarter, according to a report on AppleInsider. Munster cautioned that approximately 50 percent of all Mac sales for the quarter happen in December, so that number could change.
Mac notebooks saw a 5 percent increase for October and November, while iPod sales were down 11 percent year-over-year for the same time period.
Update (2:30pm PT): We've obtained review samples of the new iMac, MacBook, and Magic Mouse released today. Follow-up coverage--including hands-on impressions and videos--is included below.
First impressions of Apple's new 27-inch iMac [includes video]
Hands-on with the new Apple MacBook [includes video]
Hands-off analysis of Apple's new Mac Minis
First Look: Apple conjures up Magic Mouse with a dose of multi-touch
Apple Time Capsule, Airport Extreme receive small (possibly significant) upgrades
Original story follows.
Apple revamped its desktop and laptop lines Tuesday, dramatically redesigning the iMac all-in-one and MacBook laptop, and also adding a few updates to its Mac Mini line of small-scale desktops. It also introduced a handful of updated peripherals, with a multitouch mouse bringing the most thorough changes.
Apple's redesigned iMac echoes the MacBook Pro.
(Credit: Apple)New iMacs
The biggest news Tuesday will be the new iMacs, which move from aluminum and polycarbon design to aluminum and edge-to-edge glass, mirroring the look of Apple's line of MacBook Pro laptops. The new iMac will come in 21.5 (1,920x1,080) and 27-inch (2,560x1,440) models, each with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Starting price for the 21.5-inch model is $1,199, with the 27-incher beginning at $1,699. Apple will also offer step-up models for each screen size, coming in at $1,499 for the beefier 21.5-inch model, and $1,999 for the higher-end 27-inch iMac.
As for specs, Apple has mostly opted for raw speed over adding more processing cores. All but the $1,999 iMac come with Intel Core 2 Duo chips, but the CPU speed in the lowest model now starts at 3.06GHz. That used to be the fastest chip available in Apple's previous highest-end iMac. The one exception is the $1,999 iMac, which starts with Intel's most recent quad-core chip, the core i5 at 2.66GHz, and upgrade options for that model go all the way to the even faster Core i7 at 2.8GHz.
Other new iMac features are relatively straightforward for the systems themselves. There's no Blu-ray option, as was rumored, but you do get an SD Card slot on all new iMacs. The 27-inch version also lets you use its mini-Display Port input as a video input (via a dongle from Belkin), which means you can use the larger iMac as a second monitor. The GeForce 9400M remains the standard graphics chip, with upgrades available to Radeon HD 4670 and Radeon HD 4870 chips. Storage options go as high as 2TB on the 27-inchers.
13-inch Unibody Polycarbonate MacBook
Apple has also revamped its best-selling laptop, the 13-inch MacBook. The new version retains the white polycarbonate look, as well as the $999 price.
On Sale Now: $1,969.95 - $1,994.00
View the latest prices for Apple iMac (27-inch, 2.66Hz Intel Core i5, ATI Radeon HD 4850, Fall 2009)
On Sale Now: $1,449.00 - $1,494.00
View the latest prices for Apple iMac (21.5-inch, 3.06Hz Intel Core 2 Duo, ATI Radeon HD 4670, Fall 2009)
On Sale Now: $1,149.00 - $1,194.00
View the latest prices for Apple iMac (21.5-inch, 3.06Hz Intel Core 2 Duo, Nvidia GeForce 9400M, Fall 2009)
Apple seems to be looking forward to the launch of Windows 7 almost as much as Microsoft, but for very different reasons.
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Apple)
While Microsoft may see Windows 7 as a way out of the failure of Vista, Apple plans to take advantage of the launch by catering to the customers who are fed up with the Windows user experience and want to make a change.
"Users are really growing tired of Windows and the headaches it brings," said Brian Croll, Apple's vice president of Mac OS X worldwide product marketing. "We've seen this with Vista, XP, and the other Windows operating systems going all the way back."
While Apple clearly believes Mac OS X Snow Leopard is a superior operating system, the company doesn't believe it comes down to a comparison of the latest releases that will make the difference. Apple believes that for a lot of users it is an accumulation of issues.
The latest issue will be the amount of work that Windows XP users have to go through to upgrade to Windows 7. The need to erase the hard drive, install Windows 7, re-install applications, and update everything may be too much for some users to handle.
"We think a lot of folks will look at that as the straw that broke the camels back," Croll said. "People are tired of the headaches with Windows and this is another great excuse for people to check out the Mac."
Apple is also betting that many XP users who will have to upgrade their computers in order to run Windows 7 will instead choose to check out a Mac. But the cost of the new computer isn't the only thing users have to look forward to; there's also the software price tag.
For many consumers, Apple feels it has that covered too, especially with iLife, its suite of applications that includes iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb, and iDVD. iLife is included for free with every Mac.
"That's huge. It's a key part," Croll said. "You have the entire software environment, and you have iLife built-in. Everything you need is right there. With Windows 7 there is a lot of assembly required and even after that, it doesn't compare with what you get in iLife."
Apple declined to say if it was planning any price cuts, TV commercials, or special events at the its retail stores to welcome potential Windows 7 users.
"There's not going to be a lot of change in the Windows world," Croll said. "At the end of the day it's still Windows."
New evidence from Apple resellers suggest that updated Macs are on the horizon, according to a report from AppleInsider.
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Apple)
Apple resellers are reporting shortages of both Mac mini models coming from Apple. The company also reportedly issued an advisory earlier this week to its own retail stores that the Mac mini models and all four iMac models would not be restocked.
Reports surfaced in late September suggesting a new iMac with a thinner enclosure and possibly a Blu-ray optical drive is ready to be rolled out by Apple before the end of the year.
The wait time for Apple authorized resellers to get a Mac mini is currently two to three weeks, while the Apple online store lists the wait time as one to three business days. Having to wait one to three days for a computer may not seem that long, but all other systems on the online store ship within 24 hours.
Apple's MacBook could also be in line for an update before the end of the year. While the new models are thought to be similar to the existing MacBook, the update would most likely include processor and hard drive capacity updates.
The timing of the new Mac models makes a lot of sense. With the busiest shopping period of the year fast approaching, Apple is already set for iPods. The release of new Macs now would round out the offerings for the holidays.
The premium pricing of Apple's Mac Mini desktop is due to its laptop lineage, according to a teardown analysis by iSuppli.
Apple Mac Mini
(Credit: Apple)Though probably not a surprise to Mac Mini connoisseurs, the diminutive desktop bears higher component costs due to its use of parts designed for mobile PCs, iSuppli said in a report released Friday. In short, inside the Mini is a virtual laptop.
The entry-level version of the new-generation Mac Mini carries a bill of materials (BOM) of $376.20, which increases to $387.14 when manufacturing costs are added, iSuppli said. The low-end model in the Mac Mini lineup is priced at $599, "reflecting the relatively thin BOM/manufacturing margins" of Apple's PCs in relation to its lower-cost consumer items, specifically the iPod line, according to iSuppli.
"Unlike most desktop computers from other brands, the Mac Mini and, indeed, Apple's entire Mac line make extensive use of components designed for notebook computers," said Andrew Rassweiler, director and principal analyst for iSuppli. "Apple knows how to make computers better, smaller, and more attractive," he said. "Such an achievement, however, comes at a premium."
This sentiment is echoed in a CNET Reviews write-up of the Mac Mini. "While we're still impressed with the Mac Mini's ability to pack so much into a tight package, Apple can't get away from its PC competitors that offer more features for less money," CNET Reviews said.
That said, mobile components abound. ... Read more
Related coverage:
• Apple overhauls iMacs, 24-inch models more affordable
• Apple finally refreshes Mac Mini with updated specs
Updated 8:25 a.m. PST with analyst note.
As expected, Apple announced desktop updates on Tuesday with a focus on energy efficiency.
There are new Mac Pro high-end desktops powered by Intel's Nehalem-based Xeon processors, new and more graphics-intensive Mac Mini machines, and updated iMacs that offer the lowest price yet on these consumer desktops.
Here are the new ports on the updated Mac Mini.
(Credit: Apple)All the new machines meet the requirements for Energy Star 5.0 certification, which kicks in this summer.
The new Mac Pro is priced at $2,499 for the quad-core version and at $3,299 for the eight-core version, with the Nehalem-based Xeon processors running at up to 2.93 GHz. The interior of the machine has been cleaned up to make physical expansions easier.
The new iMac all-in-one desktop offers a 24-inch screen and is priced at $1,499, the cost of Apple's previous 20-inch iMac. The 20-inch model now costs $1,199.
The 20-inch version comes with a 2.66 GHz processor, a 320GB hard drive, and 2GB of RAM expandable to 8GB. The 24-inch model offers processor speed options of 2.66 GHz, 2.93 GHz (for $1,799), or 3.02 GHz (for $2,199). The 24-incher comes with a 640GB hard drive and 4GB of RAM expandable to 8GB.
As for the new Mac Mini, the big upgrade: the Nvidia GeForce 9400M integrated graphics chip, which Apple says will improve graphics performance as much as fivefold. The machine (sans a monitor) costs $599 for a lower-end edition (1GB RAM, 120GB hard drive) or $799 for the higher-end (2GB RAM, 320GB hard drive).
The Mac Mini is the "world's most energy efficient desktop computer," Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook claimed in a statement. Cook is currently at the helm of the company while CEO Steve Jobs is out for six months for health reasons.
Analyst Maynard Um at UBS offered this assessment of Tuesday's news:
Not surprisingly, Apple unveiled a much anticipated refresh to its desktop line, though the timing was earlier than we expected. Updated iMac & Mac mini are available immediately with the new Mac Pro available next week. Though the new Macs may provide some boost to end of qtr Mac units (enthusiasts and reseller channel), investors may have been hoping for greater price cuts at the low end.
Rumors of new Apple desktop computers were first reported at AppleInsider.
Looks like the rumors were true. This morning Apple updated both the iMac and the Mac Mini. The Mac Mini in particular was long overdue for a refresh, having relied on the same specs since August 2007.
The new Mac Mini has the same chassis design, despite rumors of an overhaul.
(Credit: Apple)The updated Mac Mini has new default configurations, although the prices remain the same, at $599 for the low-end model and $799 for the step-up version. The $599 system gets a new 2GHz Core 2 Duo processor, the same 1GB of RAM, and a larger 120GB hard drive. The $799 model also retains its 2GB of RAM and the same 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo chip, but with a larger 320GB hard drive.
An Nvidia MCP79 chipset drives both new Mac Minis, in line with the MacBook Pro which came out with Nvidia circuitry just a few weeks ago, but minus the second 9600M GPU. That means each Mac Mini has an Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics chip driving its display, which improves the Mac Mini's outlook for video and photo editing and to a certain extent gaming. We found the MacBook Pro with the 9400M chip was at capable of at least playable frame rates in Quake IV.
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Apple)
With the specs also come new ports on the rear of the Mac Mini, and you get the same inputs and outputs at either price level. That means five USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and upgrades to FireWire 800 as well as Mini DVI and Mini DisplayPort for monitor connections. Mini DisplayPort is for now only a feature of Apple systems and monitors, but that could grow as Apple has also offered the spec to VESA for incorporation into its official DisplayPort standard.
We don't have a Mac Mini on hand to test (yet), but we have a few questions regarding its bang for the buck. Comparing raw hardware with the $480 Vista-based Acer Aspire X1700, the Mac comes up short on core processor clock speed (2.4GHz vs. 2.0GHz), RAM allotment (4GB vs. 1GB), and especially hard-drive size (640GB vs. 120GB). The Acer lacks the Mac Mini's wireless networking, and Bluetooth, but instead of DisplayPort and FireWire 800 it gets you HDMI and eSATA jacks--essentially a wash, if not an outright Acer win for eSATA's faster data throughput.
We'd agree that the Mac Mini has a more pleasing design than any of its Windows competitors, and you may prefer Apple's OS X to Vista, in which case your decision is already made. We're less sure about the new Mac Mini's value proposition, which was a challenge for earlier models. Hopefully we can run one through the lab soon.
It's as clear as it gets in the Apple rumor business that if you're in the market for one of the company's iMacs, it's probably worth waiting a few weeks.
March came in like a lion, and could go out with an iMac.
(Credit: CNET)Several rumors flew across the Internet over the weekend and Monday, hurled by World of Apple and others, that Apple is finally gearing up for the long-awaited refresh of its all-in-one iMac desktop sometime later this month. Such an overhaul is long overdue in the minds of many Apple watchers, who have been hearing about a potential iMac refresh since last November.
Surprisingly, few details are available about what changes Apple is planning to make to the iMac, which could suggest that the changes will be under the hood rather than design-related. The Nvidia integrated graphics chipsets used in last October's MacBook refresh are a decent bet, perhaps combined with the 9600M discrete graphics card as Apple did with the MacBook Pro.
Maynard Um of UBS put out a research note Monday saying that one sure bet for the new systems are Intel's Nehalem processors. The server version of those chips is scheduled to be out relatively soon, which means Apple will probably also have a new high-end Mac Pro soon, as OSX86 contributor Netkas (via Ars Technica) has uncovered.
... Read moreEither Apple's about to launch a Mac Mini, or somebody is really determined to get into the Apple Rumor/Hoax Hall of Fame.
A day after a photo surfaced supposedly showing Apple's design for a next-generation Mac Mini--which was then debunked through some crazy spectral analysis or something--a video has surfaced in the forums of MacRumors claiming to depict a new Mac Mini. The computer shown in the video has the same five USB ports and MiniDisplay port that graced the Mac Mini shown in the photo.
An immediate discussion regarding the video's authenticity flared in the forums of MacRumors, as some fondly remembered the iHome video hoax of 2005. As you might have noticed, there is a rather large industry surrounding the dissemination and analysis of rumors pertaining to Apple. Some people crave the notoriety of releasing such rumors for the world to see, either as part of a contest among buddies on Apple's hardware development team to see who can get the most outlandish rumor printed or to actually shed light on the next moves of one of the tech industry's most secretive companies.
Is this a real Mac Mini? Maybe. It's no secret that Apple's desktop lineup is getting a little long in the tooth and that the Mac Mini has languished for quite some time. But is the answer really an extra USB port and some upgraded hardware?
Decide for yourselves. The person behind the video, monthy, hasn't posted about anything else at MacRumors other than this particular Mac Mini and claimed "I think I didnt do anything illegal, I didnt sign any NDA or anything like that, lets say I met a guy in a subway who offered me something and I bought it...." I'm sure that happens all the time.
Update 8:58 p.m.: I removed the embedded video after a reader pointed out that the ads at the end of the video are perhaps a little more prurient that regular readers are accustomed to on this site.
This may be the back of the new Mac mini.
(Credit: Apple Insider)In the department of who-knows-if-this-is-real-or-not, we bring you some alleged "spy" shots of the back of the next-generation Mac Mini that are making their way around the blog circuit.
Everybody seems impressed that the thing has a whopping five USB ports. There are also connections for Ethernet, FireWire 800, and what appears to be two display ports--one Mini DisplayPort and one older mini DVI Mac display port. Why there's no HDMI connection is beyond us, but then again, this may--or may not--be the real deal, so we won't get too worked up.
Of course, there's no word when the next-gen Mac Mini will appear and how much it will cost. Rumor has it that it will include the new Nvidia 9400 graphics chipset found in the newer MacBook and MacBook Pros. We'll wait and see.
Anybody excited by these shots? Feel free to comment.
Via Gizmodo via Apple Insider.
Update on 2/20/09: There's brewing evidence that the photo is a doctored image. The folks over at 9to5mac.com have a story up that explains in detail why we're probably not looking at a real next-gen Mac Mini here.
