Are 'Headless Macs' coming?

[cavalierlwt Profile]

Today Steve Jobs gives the keynote speech, and rumor has it he will announce that Apple is releasing a sub-$500 'headless' imac (no monitor means 'headless' I guess), low end , G4, 1.25 GHz, 40 or 80 GB HD, newest version of OS X.

If this turns out to be true, I am going to dip my toe into the Apple water and get one. At $500, I can use my existing monitor, it's cheap enough for me.
This could be no big deal, then again this could be something huge.

[SavageParrot Profile]

I loves my mac

[LordShard]

And to think, I could build you a PC with better specs for the same price.

[Lord ZOG Profile]

Originally posted by LordShard
And to think, I could build you a PC with better specs for the same price.

...with the cheapest K-Mart parts, illegal software and nowhere near the fit and finish of any Mac.

[LordShard]

Nope. My PC I have at home was orriginally $300 and has better specs than that mac does. With no illegal software or overly cheap parts. In fact it has always been very stable.

[Lord ZOG Profile]

I think someone pointed out earlier that PCs are far faster than Macintosh PCs, but with the current speed of computers today I think a lot of people are more interested in security, stability and an OS developed with logic in mind.

What are the specs for this system (brand names, please), and what prices did you pay for each component?

[LordShard]

But with a faster computer you can dedicate more cycles per second to security! Shoot, linux has built autocryptoharphy! Not sure if windows does, but I know you can require IPsec and other types of security.

And with SP2 I think their security has become much better. And when the MS anti spyware is released in full, I bet they will give it out as a part of longhorn when it comes out, with an autoupdate and scan in the background like an A/V app to stop crapware from doing anythign bad before it has a chance.

[Lord ZOG Profile]

Just an after-thought;

Do you build PCs for free, or can you throw this machine together in 1/2 an hour at $1.00 per hour?

Last I checked, an OEM version of Windows XP Home is around $100 (purchased with a 5400rpm no-name hard drive for another $30.00). That's 1/3 the cost of your clone PC.

I know you can probably get a motherboard with built-in video, sound and LAN for about $80.00 but it's probably a brand name I've never heard of.

Throw in a cheap plastic case with a 90 Watt power supply for another $60.00.

Floppy drive and CD-RW for $35.00.

Paper-thin mouse (non-optical) and keyboard for $15.00.

128MB DDR RAM for $30.00.

No speakers, no monitor.

Celeron 2.0GHz processor maybe $60.00.

Spend an hour piecing it together at $1.00 per hour and you've got your Apple-beating powerhouse ready to go!!

My math might be off but that comes out to more than $300.

And would you "support" this beast for another 90 days?

And can you have 1500 of them ready in 30 days?

[Spirit of Me Profile]

Originally posted by cavalierlwt
Today Steve Jobs gives the keynote speech, and rumor has it he will announce .... I can use my existing monitor, it's cheap enough for me.
This could be no big deal, then again this could be something huge.

Just a note:

Check your monitor specs not all PC monitors work with Apple. They do make adapters however for those that don't.

I use both MAC and PC both are good, both do their jobs well.

It's like Apples and Oranges (lol) each have a different taste.

This battle has brewed since before many of you were born.

[LordShard]

OEM XP pro=$90 (Got it on sale babeh!)(optional also, if your going to get an AS like mac, why not get a free linux distribution?)
Motherboard $44
Processor $47

Harddrive $53

Case+Power Supply $30.95

Video Card $45

Memory $37.95

Total comes to (I looked it up newegg, they arn't having any sales, but you can get XPhome for $90) $347.90. Fifty dollars over so bite me! Still $150 cheaper.

Without windows if you're going to get linux it is only 257.90 You can also buy an Xbox for $300 and not have to worry with it if you're so inclined.

[LordShard]

And yes I would support it. As long as the warranties on the hardware hold out I would replace everything for free. =)

If it is their fault their PC broke, such as overlocking by 100% or taking the heatsink off, I would of course make them pay to have it fixed. All warranties have that loophole for fixing the hardware components. If it's software I could connect over .net messenger and fix it without ever having to go to their house. If they can't get that far I could simply pick it up and fix it or fix it right there.

[Lord ZOG Profile]

I didn't see brand-names.

And you would be building this for free?

Excellant, I'll send you a purchase order for 1500 of these for delivery next month.

[DocTrebor Profile]

Originally posted by Lord ZOG
I didn't see brand-names.

And you would be building this for free?

Excellant, I'll send you a purchase order for 1500 of these for delivery next month.

Zog you make me laugh so hard I cry

[ShipWreck Profile Website]

my friend built a pc for $800.00 all brand names and specials, so i hate to see what u used. macs are good pc's and thats a good deal, everybody craps on what they dont know. i use and power book and loved it

[LordShard]

Originally posted by Lord ZOG
I didn't see brand-names.

And you would be building this for free?

Excellant, I'll send you a purchase order for 1500 of these for delivery next month.

So ATi, kingston, AMD, Seagate and Soyo arn't brand names?!:roll:

Oh and I said I COULD build it for that price. I never said I would. And I do build computers for no profit for friends and family.They pay me for the parts, then I order them and put them together.

I would however would be glad to take your money for a mere $400 each. >: )

Then I could get the parts cheaper for buying in bulk. Shoot, I could even cut the price for winXP cds down by buying liscences instead of actual CDs. >: )