ISSUE 524: The high-tech office- Nov 9
1999
ALAN ZISMAN
Interim chair Steve Jobs has revitalized Apple
Computers with colourful new products
When Steve Jobs came back from the
wilderness to Apple Computers two years ago, the adjective most
used in the press
to describe the company was "beleaguered."
One of the (many) causes of the mess was an
out-of-control product line. At that time, the company was offering
more different models of Macintosh computers than Baskin-Robbins
offers flavours, confusing potential customers and making it difficult
for the company to fore-
cast demand.
Among the first steps taken by so-called interim-chair
Jobs was to axe the bloated product lineup. Henceforth, Apple would
offer four lines of computers -- consumer and pro-user versions of
desktops and notebooks.
This doesn't mean that the company isn't continually
tinkering with the models that fill each niche, however. In addition to
the new iBook, which is finally filling the consumer notebook niche,
Apple has recently announced up-
graded models for two of the other three product
categories.
* iMacs are the company's consumer desktop computer
and have proven popular since their release a year and a bit ago. With
more than 2 million sold, the original product has been steadily
updated and now includes three models, in a range of colours.
All models now include at least 64 megs of RAM along
with better sound and video, quieter fanless operation and faster
processors than the previous version, along with support for Apple's
AirPort wireless networking.
The base model comes with a 350 MHz G3 processor and a
newly lowered price of $1,499. Other models, priced at $1,999 and
$2,299, add faster processors, larger hard drives, more RAM and replace
the CD-ROM with DVD
drives.
While Apple continues to market these for home users,
business Mac users primarily running office suite software and Internet
connections will find them fast and affordable and, who knows, the
range of fruit colours might prove popular among many office workers.
And really, who needs floppy drives these days, anyway?
* iBooks are also not being aimed at the business
market. And their release in orange and blue (excuse me, Tangerine
and Blueberry) led to an Internet controversy over whether a "real man"
would be seen carrying one. The results of one online poll showed a
slim majority of voters agreeing with computer columnist John Dvorak
that the iBook was a "girly" computer.
Nevertheless, the $2,500
iBook seems to be ruggedly and even cleverly designed, if a bit on the
large and heavy side for a portable computer. It offers screen and hard
drive size that are in keeping with PC notebooks in its price range --
and its 300 MHz G3 processor is arguably more powerful than comparably
priced PCs.
Like the new iMacs, it includes built in support for
wireless networking (though a $149 card and $449 base station are
needed to make use of this feature). Wireless networking could prove a
killer feature for homes and small offices needing to connect groups of
computers without stringing cable.
The iBooks lack a video-out port, so don't even think
of one if you need a notebook for making presentations. And, like older
iMacs, they come with an unacceptable (though upgradeable) 32 megs of
RAM. Also like the iMac, however, they could offer real value for
business users -- if you like the colour schemes.
* Powerbooks are Apple's answer to notebook customers
who want
a notebook in a business-like colour choice or who need options like a
video-out port or need to use PC cards or connect to older Mac SCSI
devices -- or in general need more notebook than the iBook
provides.
Now the oldest of Apple's product line, these
six-month-old models are available in a range of prices from about
$3,500 and $5,500. Like the Model T Ford, they're available in any
colour you want, as long as it's black. The newest models can be
recognized by the translucent bronze keyboards.
* Apple is advertising its new G4 desktops as
"super-computers," which is a bit of an exaggeration. But they are
plenty powerful and their new two-toned grey appearance strikes me as
classier than the blue and white look of the G3s they replace. Apple,
however, has had problems meeting demand and re-
cently announced that it was re-
leasing a revised, less-powerful product lineup that replaces promised
400, 450 and 500 MHz models with 350, 400, and 450 MHz ones, without
dropping prices, which range from $2,399 to $5,299. Still, users who
can get hold of one will find it plenty of computer. *
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