The $899 Educational iMac 483
Valthan writes "Macsimum news has just released news about a new version of the iMac that is being touted as an educational machine. It seems to be a nice setup, and has the cheapness that us university students strive on, I think they just may have a winner here to get people on the Mac. Now if only JCreator worked on it ..."
From the article "Featuring a 17-inch widescreen LCD display, the iMac for education includes a Combo drive for burning CDs and reading DVDs, 512MB of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory expandable up to 2GB and hard drive storage capacity up to 160GB. Every iMac also includes a built-in iSight video camera, built-in 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet for high-speed networking, built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11g WiFi for up to 54Mbps wireless networking, a total of five USB ports (three USB 2.0) and two FireWire 400 ports."
No cheap 20" model (Score:3, Insightful)
899 is cheap? (Score:4, Insightful)
Comment removed (Score:3, Insightful)
Things a student strives on? (Score:2, Insightful)
Get a prev-gen iMac for less than half the price and spend the rest on beer and hookers or callboys.
Re:Unfortunately (Score:2, Insightful)
What school are you going to?
My Uni is one of the biggest MS sellouts there is and they still expect CS students to program on, and submit assignments on UNIX. Mac is much more compatible with UNIX than Windows is, so this would make sense for us.
A bit spoiled? (Score:5, Insightful)
$900 for a computer, for students, er yeah I guess some of them have that kind of cash. But I don't think they fit the stretched to the max, loans up the wazoo students that you'll encounter in today's universities. Those students still get by on the computer resources made available by the school.
In fact for $400 you could get a laptop from a couple of PC makers.
Saying that any price point is cheap and affordable only makes you look like an ass and makes other people feel bad.
Re:Cheap, but not cheap enough. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Cash (Score:3, Insightful)
Although that post was supposed to be humorous it is a problem.
My compaq v4000 notebook I got for $740 was financed with a high interest 14.4% APR loan. With these its about $35 but I had $300 cash from working and saving so it turned out to be affordable for college students. The best Apple could do was a 90 day loan. Uh sorry.
Apple loyalists claim their systems are like BMw's for the wealthy to make themselves feel supperior. Well it wont help spread the platform in the university market with options like that.
Re:Unfortunately (Score:5, Insightful)
I graduated with an engineering degree in 2002, but took a few CS courses. All of the work was done on the CS lab UNIX boxes (Suns at the time, upgraded to commodity BSD machines right about the time I finished). Remember that CS is about teaching *concepts* rather than putting out functional code-monkeys - that's what "IT" programs are for.
-b.
Re:899 is cheap? (Score:3, Insightful)
If my elected officials start saying X is cheap compared to the space shuttle, war in Iraq, etc. I'll shoot them.
I am a Mac user. They are not cheap. This one is not cheap. (Incidentally, mine was cheaper.)
Still wasn't cheap.
Dell is cheap.
Re:Unfortunately (Score:5, Insightful)
If that were true, then Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and DragonFlyBSD would have to, when running on a regular PC, crash as much as Windows, too. If they don't, then perhaps PowerPC isn't as magical as you appear to think it is.
Re:Yes $899 is cheap. (Score:2, Insightful)
You mean like OpenOffice for 0$? What features are needed in n school (or even university) paper that aren't more than admirably handled by OpenOffice?
and even massively expensive software like Autocad since the teachers didn't just place importance on content and academic achievement but also the way the reports and assignments were finished and laid-out and they lowered the grade automatically for what they judged to be clumsy and unprofiessionally laid-out reports or assignments.
You needed autocad to lay out reports? Riiiiiiight....
The school claimed that they had enough computers in their labs to cover all the student's needs but that was of course complete crap. At the end of the term the labs were packed and having your own computer could make the difference between finishing your big end-of-term assignments/reports or flunking out.
EVERY university I attended or even evaluated had ample computer labs to provide access to the more exotic software that was required.
Yeah at finals the labs were packed, but anyone with more than a half brain knows this happens, and ensures projects that need access to specialized resources are completed early, and if they don't have access to even a word processor they ensure they plan to be on campus for a several evenings a week or two before the paper is due.
What sort of machine you have to buy depends very much on what you are studying. I suppose you could get away with buying some older-than-your-granny Pentium II laptop at scrap value if you are a philosophy major and only need to run Office 95 or Windows ME but If you are an engineering student something of the caliber of this machine is pretty much an entry level requirement these days.
Not even close.
At the universities I attended the expensive engineering apps like Autocad, the software for designing/simulating ICs and stuff like that was on dedicated units in dedicated labs that only relevant classes had access to and the units therein that didn't have general internet access, or word processing software specifically to ensure that students didn't tie up the scarce software resources surfing the web, writing email, or writing their english paper.
Nobody was expected to purchase or run any of that high end engineering stuff on their own equipment.
For what its worth, yeah, at this stage I'd highly recommend someone purchase an entry level laptop, e.g. an ibook (used is fine) or a used PC but that is ALL they need to succeed at university in any field. You could even make do without, if you had to, but the convenience of not having to plan and schedule around lab access or be on campus to get all your work & research done is well worth the money.
But anyone who tells you that you need a dual core PC and Autocad to get a decent mark is just outright lieing. It would only be true if they were so disorganized and idiotic that they left an entire semesters worth of lab work to the last 5 days and then expect to have a unit waiting for them without any competition for it. And yeah, plenty of those people exist, but the proper solution is better time management not a fancy PC and $10,000 worth of stolen software.
Re:Cheap, but not cheap enough. (Score:1, Insightful)
Suck it mac troll.
Re:Cheap, but not cheap enough. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:No cheap 20" model (Score:5, Insightful)
Heck, I'd get one, and I've already got a monster display available for a Mini. In fact, I'd almost have to get a mini for that reason (no room for another display).
Re:Yes $899 is cheap. (Score:4, Insightful)
where's the $250 educational mac (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Corner Them - Then Exploit. (Score:3, Insightful)
Given the fact that the vast majority of computers in schools are Macs, and Windows is the dominant home desktop environment, I don't see how your "capture them early" theory holds water.
Re:899 is cheap? (Score:5, Insightful)
At my school, we weren't a rich campus by any means, but an 8MHz Mac Classic and a raster laser printer for $1200.00 was a fucking STEAL when I started college in 1991. Even the Dells with Windows 3.1 were $1000.00 - and you didn't get a printer.
Times change...but the dollar barrier for entry into the "computer in my dorm room" club has remained nearly constant for fifteen years. If you want a computer that will last you through college, mow a lot of lawns between your high school graduation and your freshman orientation. For $1200.00, you can get any number of very nice Macs or PCs. For $1000.00, your choices get fewer, but there are still many nice machines. This new Mac is a lot of machine for $900.00.
Re:Huh? (Score:3, Insightful)
much more powerful commodity Intel box (which is all Macs are now) and load up FreeBSD for around $300.
Bored again, so feeding the trolls...
You can't get a "much more powerful" commodity Intel (or other x86) box. The only "much more powerful" Intel boxes use very expensive high-end CPUs. No one here seems to realize that the cute cuddly little iMac has a 1.83GHz dual-core CPU; you're all comparing it with 2004 products.
For $300 your box will be significantly less powerful than the iMac *and* have no monitor. If you think otherwise, list the specific parts you're going to use, and the specific sources where you found your prices.
Not to say you couldn't get significanty more power (esp. graphics) than the iMac for *$900*, albeit in much uglier form, but come on.
Re:Yes $899 is cheap. (Score:3, Insightful)
Maybe it's all you need, but your peers in the "Advanced Nonlinear Editing" class are going to be enjoying lots of practice time at home while you spend hundreds of hours in the lab, at school, late at night - because your iBook won't run any of the current NLE tools. Or maybe you're an aspiring photojournalist and need to quickly manipulate 30-50MB image files. A 2001 iBook isn't going to cut it.
Considering that many schools are $5-$10k per year, isn't even $2500.00 a worthwhile investment in a tool that with care will last through most, if not all of your higher education? Why are people here grousing about a $900.00 price point when it's clear that not only is this a great deal on a Mac, it's a very capable PC as well!
Re:Cheap, but not cheap enough. (Score:3, Insightful)
It does look like these students are busier than a CEO of a Fortune 100 company; no surprise they just throw money at every problem!
On my planet, however, majority of students have plenty of time, and very little money; most of the software they need is either free (MSN/Yahoo/Meebo/* Messenger, Picasa, Google Talk, etc.) or inexpensive. Windows XP comes with MovieMaker, FWIW, and a GarageBand app is really an {over|under}kill for practically anyone: "You've just finished editing your latest iMovie masterpiece. Now it's time to think about the musical score."
Re:5 USB ports? - not really... (Score:1, Insightful)
There are a total of 5 USB ports so that is what they advertise. EVERYONE does this. My aunt and uncle's pc (Dell?) has 6 USB ports and was advertised as such even though the keyboard and wireless mouse/remote receiver were USB (so by what you are bitching about they should advertise 4). Misleading "advertising," though? No. They are telling you EXACTLY what you are getting. It's not like they are advertising, "5 free USB ports after everything is set up." Personally, I would find it even more misleading if they advertised 3 or 4 USB ports when it ships with 5 regardless of whether the default accessories use them.
Re:No cheap 20" model (Score:4, Insightful)
And yes, there are a lot of good games for the Mac, all of your first-tier FPS games get ported, WoW, etc.... but you can't play them (not even Second Life) on the low-end Macs they sell.
Cheap bastards are shooting themselves in the feet.
Comment removed (Score:3, Insightful)
Cut the propaganda! (Score:3, Insightful)
Come on.. this is puRe advertisement about Mac, could you stop it!
No news here, just advertisement, and I don't want advertisement covered as a story (yeah, yeah, somebody is going to say, then don't read
If these are news, I would like to read the news about the special discount from Dell for grannies. I'm sure it rocks!
Please, don't get me wrong, I own several PowerBooks/iBooks (in fact I'm writing this posts in one!), so I don't have anything against macs, I'm against lame stories on the FrontPage of
Re:No cheap 20" model (Score:1, Insightful)
The $800 Mac mini's slot-loading SuperDrive is a big differentiator and since you cannot upgrade the $900 iMac's optical drive, you'd have to buy the $1200 iMac for education to match the mini's SuperDrive. A $580 Core Solo Mac mini (educational) can be configured to match (in capacity, not form factor) the $900 iMac's 80GB hard drive (add $45) and keyboard/mouse ($70!) for just under $700.
But my comparison above is also useless because the mini and iMac are in different categories. People buy the mini for its extremely small form factor and the ability to choose any monitor you want instead of an "ugly" built-in LCD. People buy the iMac for its all-in-one form factor and its "beautiful" built-in LCD. Or maybe buyers "settle" for a Mac mini or iMac because Apple doesn't offer what they want in this price range (like a microtower without a built-in LCD or laptop parts).
still relatively expensive ... (Score:3, Insightful)
Still not cheap (Score:2, Insightful)
There's nothing exceptional at all about this deal. Basically it looks like the main selling point over a PC would be the form factor, as PC makers are't big on the all-in-ones. MacOS would also be a potential selling point, if that's your thing. However it's no price demon in any capacity. It does not offer more bang for the buck than competition and you can get one for damn near 1/3rd of the price if money is a real concern.
You can bill it as a good computer of rhte money, but don't try to bill it as cheap, that's false. "Cheap as compared to when I was in university" has no bearing on anything.
Re:5 USB ports? (Score:3, Insightful)
No computer maker reports their product's number of ports based on what they thing you might or might not have plugged in to it. I just don't understand how saying your computer has 5 ports when it... has 5 ports is misleading.
"My car has 5 seats."
"NO IT DOESN'T! YOU BIG PHONEY! PHONEY MC-FAKERSON! FAKER!
They do come cheaper than that: (Score:3, Insightful)
You spend 150 to 200 bucks on the machine and 50 on the crt or 150 on the lcd. If you use Ubuntu you can even save the 50 bucks for XP.
You get a total of 200 to 350 bucks minus the printer. I would use something that you can refill. Old sturdy inkjets or laser printers that now have cheap cartridges come to mind. You should really be able to stay below 400 in total and installing ubuntu is easier than to install windows nowdays. Especially because a computer illiterate would have problems installing all the anti spyware tools.
Does Slashdot get money for advertisements for Apple machines? Seeing how much they charge for a machine I suppose they have the spare money.
Re:Cheap, but not cheap enough. (Score:2, Insightful)
does he want a web-cam? does he video-edit?
If he's a student, yes. Video conferencing and video editing and standard functions in today's e-learning envirnoments -- they're becoming just as essential as word processors were in the 80's.
Try to add the video and graphic capabilities of a $899 Mac to a $450 Dell and you would start to be close in price. The main difference would become the Mac's ease of use and reliability for video and graphic functions.