Do Not Rule Out Lower-Priced Apple iMac --Analyst

[Mac Reporter]

REUTERS reports:

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Computer Inc. (Nasdaq:AAPL - news) could decide to sell a lower-priced of its Macintosh (news - web sites) computer to attract consumers already enamored of its iPod music player and annoyed by security problems with Windows PCs, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said on Thursday.

"We believe that it is not out of the question that Apple would try to capitalize on this opportunity with a more widely accessible product," Munster said, noting Apple has made no comments related to market speculation the company may harbor plans to sell a $500 iMac.

Munster, who rates Apple as an "outperform," cited market speculation that Apple may announce the introduction of a basic, inexpensive iMac at the company's Macworld conference in San Francisco in early January.
Read more.

[iPao]

I certainly hope that Apple pushes through with this venture. I used to have an iMac 233 and sadly, made the mistake of switching to Windows because of all the games available for the OS. Yeah I'm happy with the games, but I've had my fair share of BSODs, physical memory dumps and viruses to know that it ain't worth it in the long run. It'd be a shame for me to waste a perfectly good monitor from my current pc. And I can't quite afford a G5 Powermac either. If Mac brings this in locally, operation "switch back" shall commence...

[Polar Mac]

Rule Out?! its already on my wish list for this year hehehehe

[PatrickGaerlan]

Originally posted by iPao
Yeah I'm happy with the games, but I've had my fair share of BSODs, physical memory dumps and viruses to know that it ain't worth it in the long run.

That's why I got an Xbox instead of a new PC when I started craving for PC-like games after switching. All I can say is that I'm REALLY happy with the Xbox and it has never hanged on me yet

[CooLes]

Originally posted by PatrickGaerlan
[That's why I got an Xbox instead of a new PC when I started craving for PC-like games after switching. All I can say is that I'm REALLY happy with the Xbox and it has never hanged on me yet

Same here :love:

Still I find the price surprisingly low if this is true Last time Jobs unveiled a headless and slotless G4 Mac, it got phased-out in less than a year because of its high-price. But since Apple stopped production on G4 desktops already, its time for a slotless headless G5 Now I must be dreaming :roll:

[iPao]

How closed minded of me... never considered that option of grabbing an Xbox for that gaming fix. My antique NES and PSOne have been gathering dust since I started playing games on the PC. The thought never entered my mind till now. Muchas gracias for the idea guys. Now I'm getting really impatient for that new Mac to come out. Can't wait for Steve Jobs' latest unveilings at MacWorld.

[PatrickGaerlan]

The reason I opted for the Xbox over a PS2 or Gamecube is that the games that come out for the Xbox are the most PC-like among the three... exactly the games I like to play (also had the old consoles, never played any of them as much as the Xbox)

You might find the thread Xbox, PS2 or Gamecube? interesting.

[Edited on 1-6-2005 by PatrickGaerlan]

[iPao]

Came across this supplementary article to the one posted: http://www.extremeipod.com/article2/0,1759,1747300,00.asp
btw thanks for the thread PatrickGaerlan. Quite informative. The game i'm hooked on right now is NFSUnderground 2. I hope the xbox version is just as good as the pc ver. Now I gotta save up for both a new Mac and a new console. No complaints on my part though. So eager to switch back.

[bittersweet]

If Apple does release a $500 iMac, I'd most likely replace my PC desktop.