Re: Live Apple ... the Power Box

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Liam Busey writes ...
> 
> Rubywand wrote:
> 
> >      As just another maker of expensive PC's, Apple is losing and will
> > continue to lose in a competition where shoppers see both suspect
> > compatibility and a big price tag. Power Box gives Apple a fresh start
> > with a platform it can control-- one it can market as a genuine
> > alternative to PC's.
> >
> > Rubywand
> 
> Jeez, cut Apple some slack! If their new iMac isn't an alternative to
> PC's I don't know what is! With a 233mhz G3 processor, 32MB ram, 4GB
> harddrive, infrared port, 24x cdrom, 10/100base-T ethernet, and a built
> in 15 inch monitor for $1300, I'd think this machine would be pretty
> competitive. It appears to be Job's next "Big Thing". Now if only it had
> a floppy drive ...
>

     If you are talking about their "All on One" models (233MHz and
266MHz), they do include a floppy (1.44MB 3.5").

     Below is a snip from the on-line specs ...

>>

Media capabilities 

     Display 
          Multiple-scan, tilt-and-swivel color display: 15-in.
          (13.8-in. diagonal viewable image size) 
          2MB of SGRAM video memory; supports up to
          6MB 
          Supports thousands of colors at up to 1,024- by
          768-pixel resolution (24-bit); supports millions of
          colors at up to 832- by 624-pixel resolution (32-bit) 
          Refresh rate of up to 85 Hz 
     Sound 
          Mini jacks for 16-bit CD-quality stereo input/output;
          up to 44.1-kHz sampling rate 
          Two front headphone jacks 
     Video 
          Built-in 64-bit graphics and multimedia accelerator
          chip 
          24-bit video input; real-time video playthrough of up
          to 640 by 480 pixels with NTSC; 768 by 576 pixels
          with PAL and SECAM; up to 320- by 240-pixel
          capture at 30 frames per second with NTSC;
          maximum capture size of 640 by 480 pixels with
          NTSC; digital audio/video (DAV) connector* 
          24-bit video output; supports RGB and optional
          NTSC*

<<


     2MB of video SGRAM? "Thousands of colors" at 1024 x 768? Specs like
these boil down to the kind of performance one expects from a cheapo S3
Virge board driving a small monitor. The sound "specs" tell us nothing,
which probably means performance on a par with the video.


     This in not a competitive home computer. It is a decent base PC
with minimal multi-media capabilities suited to limited business
applications. You could put together a somewhat better clone PC system
for the same price.

    'Togetherness'-- everything in a single package-- is not highly
valued in PC-ville. The only way you can make the idea work is to offer
an obviously high-performance package for significantly less than
comparable component systems. Even then, you have a hard sell because
users are accustomed to equating high quality video and sound to brand
names and models of plug-in cards.

     No single corporation controls PC. The platform is too generic and
definitions of key subsystems (like video display) are up for grabs on a
daily basis. It is nearly impossible to offer unique, attractive
features because unique equals 'not compatible'. And, since you must
offer standard features, unique equals 'more costly', as well.

     When it comes to making computers, PC-ville whacks away traditional
advantages enjoyed by major manufacturers-- e.g. Scale of Production--
and leaves them with bloated personnel rosters and high fixed capital
costs. This is why Apple, Compaq, etc. end up tyring to sell 'support'
and must resort to gimmicks like sub-par "All in One" models.

     Even the advantage of being able to bombard TV watchers with ads is
minimized. For most viewers, an ad for an Apple or IBM PC translates
into 'a computer ad'. Everyone knows that a PC is a PC. 

     Obviously, the only way for Apple to compete with PC makers is as
the maker of its own _non_PC. Then, it could dictate every product
feature, even the operating system. Then, when Apple blew its next $20
million on Super Bowl spots, viewers would have reason to take notice:
"Hey, there's that new Apple II Power Box! ...". 

     Sure, we could forget about analyses and criticisms and
suggestions. We could pretend that Apple's last quarterly report signals
a turn around promising a rosy future and praise every dud product as it
pops up on Apple's web site. We could cut Apple all the slack needed ...
to finish the job of hanging itself. 



Rubywand