Great Mobile Combo: 27" iMac with iPhone 4 (or 3G iPad)

The newly refreshed iMac today is unlike anything on the market. We've seen tons of iMac killers come and go over the years and the iMac still reign supreme as an all-on-one computer. And why? It offers no compromises.

So this is why I think the best combo for a mobile warrior who needs power is an iMac with an iPhone or a 3G iPad for mobile needs. Let's face it. If you can afford a Macbook along with an iMac, great, but most folks I know can't.

Let's not get into the Magic Trackpad yet. That's story for another post on how I think it can be improved. But the iPad and iPhone can double as a great trackpad with a number of 3rd party apps in the iTunes store.

The one main compromise is that while on the road, mobile computing is entirely restricted to the iPhone or iPad. For 95% of what you'll need to do, Apple's iOS devices including the iPod Touch is provides everything you need.

The only issue is whether you'll need cellular Internet or not. I mentioned a 3G iPad but if you're not going to need it, the WiFi-only iPad would serve your purpose as it does mine. Just about everywhere I go these days, there are free WiFi services. Plus, as an ATT DSL subscriber, I am entitled to use ATT's growing WiFi coverage wherever I go.

And if you don't need 3G services, then perhaps even an iPod Touch would serve your mobile needs.

Next post, I'll discuss an even greater mobile combo.

Suppose Apple Kills the iMac

Maybe not today.  Maybe not in the next couple of years.   But don't be surprised if Apple offers only Macbooks and Mac Pros as the two main Mac choices somewhere down the line.

If that was to happen, I'm sure there will be an hybrid of Mac and Apple TV (my Mac Hybrid) perhaps even integrated with a widescreen LCD (or LED) HDTV.  But that's analysis for another blog.  

First let's examine why Apple would do this rid themselves of consumer desktops:

• Macbooks have higher margins.  Mac portables account for an increasing percentage of sales.
• Steve Jobs read our lame blogs at On Apple and over at Onxo.  Okay.  Just being funny.  Okay, not funny.
• The move is towards mobile computing - laptops, smartphones, mobile platform with devices like iPhones and iPods.
• Affordability.  Laptops, including Macbooks, have gone down in average selling price.  Furthermore, refurbished Macbooks are very popular with consumers.
• As far as going green, Macbooks uses less power than iMacs.
  

Now, why Apple won't do this get rid of the iMac and the Mac Mini:

• There is still a large segment of the market that aren't ready to move towards mobility.
• Businesses generally would prefer iMacs with its larger screens for productivity.  
• Creative users like the flexibility and expandability of iMacs.  That isn't to say that Macbooks are less flexible.
• Cost.  Some folks see value in desktop.  Well, I sort of agree, provided being mobile isn't an issue.
• Apple may merge additional home entertainment features into the iMac and possibly Mac Mini and having a consumer desktop allows them these options should they chose to.
  

Now, I'm talking about consumer Macs here.  Not Mac Pro.  How will the Mac lines play out without an iMac?  What are the likely scenarios for such a possible (but improbable) move by Apple?

• We might see a 18-20" Macbook.  It may be the Macbook for the creative crowd.
• Additional Macbook units.  There may be two lines:  traditional Macbooks and Macbook Pros and additional units along the line of the the Macbook Air.  Perhaps a 15" model in addtion to the 13" Macbook Air on the market now.
• A Mac tower that merged the Mac Mini with the Apple TV for use with home entertainment systems and HDTVs.  
• MacHD - just came up with this name.  It's an HDTV with a Mac mini and Apple TV inside.
  

 Now, I'm talking about iMacs.  Consumer Macs.  There will always be a Mac Pro.  No Macbook Pro will ever come close to the power and expandability of the Mac Pro. 

Note:  Personally, I hope they won't kill the iMac.  I plan on picking up a powerful quad-core iMac in the future for development myself.  However, the multi-year delay in Mac mini update and the 10 months since the iMac was updated does provide an opportunity to speculate.

Another note:  This is not a rumor post.  I don't traffic in rumors.  It's just fun speculation.

Best Scenario For Macworld

This is just something I made up while chatting with Dave the Mobile Warrior on Skype last night about Apple's unexpected exit (unexpected from the standpoint of folks who were not graced to insider information). 

But when Apple VP Phil Schiller takes the stage as the keynote speaker traditionally reserved for Steve Jobs, just what kind of position is he being put it?  So, we dreamt up a cool scenario for the last Macworld Apple will participate in.

Schiller goes on stage and goes through his routine.  Great Christmas.  Great quarter they just had.  Billions made.  Then he tells folks the iMac, Mac Mini, and Mac Pros will all be updated.  Though it all, Phil gets forced ethusiastic applauses because of the impossible situation he's put under.  He knows it.

But then he says, "we've got a special guest I like to bring out to talk about the next revolutionary product from Apple.  You all know him.  Steve Jobs!".

Crowd goes wild.  A couple of live blogs go offline because their bloggers fainted.  Steve comes on and thank the Apple family for years of great memory and products.  Then says, "one more thing..." and blows away the crowd with Apple's answer to the netbook.  Apple's own TV.  The Mac Hybrid I've been advocating.  Something else awesome because Steve says it is.

That would be the perfect end to the Macworld as we know it. 

There are a number of theories about why Jobs won't be at Macworld in 2009 and Apple leaving Macworld permanently. 

• Some believe this is related to Jobs' health.
• Some believe there is a changing of the guards at Cupertino. 
• Some believe this is Jobs being pissed off at something.
• Some believe Apple at its words that trade shows like Macworld are a thing of the past and Apple stores, the Internet, and smaller events are just as good at creating hype and better to reach out to customers and converting new folks to Mac and the iPlatform.
• Some believe its about expectation.  Macworld is the only event where there's expectation that an announcement is coming year after year.  Again, it's about expectation.
• Some believe this was made for financial reasons.  Stop the bad stock movements. 

What do I believe?  I'm inclined to believe it's not health related.  As for mobile warriors, we going to be fine regardless of whether there is a Macworld or not.  It's the passing of time.  While I for one will miss one, I wouldn't mind having those smaller special events.  In fact, I believe this will likely be the scenario for future announcements.

I'm going to make one prediction here.  Future product introductions will be made live through Apple Stores.  It can be at a venue in SF, in an auditorium on Apple campus, or just about any Apple store if they chose.  But wherever the product launch is being held, it'll go live to all Apple store worldwide.  You'll get live blogs as usual for these events but for those who can make it to the stores for these live broadcasts, they'll feel closer to the action.  For Apple, it'll bring in tons of foot traffic. 

That is how future Apple announcements will be made.

DRAM Prices Fall: Maybe MacBooks Will Offer 4GB Out The Door

While this is wishful thinking on my part but I've seen 3GB offerings on some Windows laptops in the last few weeks since we started tracking laptop values on Onxo.  So hopefully, an 18% drop in DRAM futures in two weeks will result in Apple offering at least 2GB on the low end Macbook model and 3-4GB on the higher end ones, particular the black Macbook.

I mean, c'mon, 2GB, Jobs?  Seriously.  As someone who is seriously considering the next refresh of the Macbook Air, I really would have to see 4GB on that baby.  Knowing Apple though, we'll probably on see 3GB.

Still given the dearth of details on the next Macbook updates, we'll just have to wait and see.  According to Macworld, the lower DRAM prices offered PC makers to differentiate themselves with from others by offering memory upgrades for a nominal fee or simply as a free option.

Love to see those iMac and Macbooks buffed up memory-wise.

Note:  Tomorrow would be a great time for Apple to take some shine off the Google phone with new Macbooks.  Just saying is all.

Source:  Macworld