As I was reading through the latest PC Magazine (Gasp! – oh, don’t worry. I was waiting in a reception area – it wasn’t mine!)
Anyway – I happened across the IBM advert for their line of computers. Strange. Their prices were in line with Apple’s prices, but there was an additional item in their lineup that caught my eye. It was a $600 low end desktop computer.
Now I know IBM computers are nowhere near the computing power master that Apple computers are. Neither is IBM notable for the cutting edge design or innovation that Apple has in spades.
More than this, IBM is horribly hobbled with Windows XP.
(How DO they stay in business?)
It’s that extra item in their lineup that allows them to stay in business, IMO. It’s those low-end, low rent computers with their logo proudly displayed on their cases and monitors.
Besides, everyone knows IBM means ‘Business.’
Apple, although the darling of the graphics, publishing, television and movie business, does not mean ‘Business’ in anyone else’s book, right?
Thus, here is yet another down-on-my-knees article begging, pleading and weeping for Apple Computer to build, advertise and sell a headless Mac. One that will cost John Q. Public 600 Smackeroos.
Yeah, I know Apple already builds, advertises and sells the eMac. It’s a great, reasonably powerful G4 Macintosh, and it will run every app that Apple and Windows has.
But it’s not a BUSINESS MACHINE.
Here’s my idea for a headless Mac that is a business machine.
One of the main problems people envision with a headless Mac is that it will be a dumb box on the desk. Who wants that?
Here is a much better idea:
Apple, just like you stuck the guts of a G5 computer into the back of a monitor, now give us the guts of a G4 Mac inside the base of a full sized keyboard.
(One like Elite Computer’s iBuddy – the one with a couple of inches of case housing added to the back of their standard keyboard)
Then, Apple, build, advertise and sell it as the first Apple Basic Business Computer.
Think of it!
IBM, Dell, Gateway, Toshiba – all these guys will be breaking their hearts trying to come up with such an elegant solution as a keyboard with the computer inside, attached to whatever monitor you want to set in front of it.
Nothing on your desk but your keyboard, mouse and monitor.
Of course, the new headless Mac-in-a-keyboard will look best setting in front of a new Apple flat screen 17″ monitor! Maybe Apple could bundle them together in a package.
Right now, everyone and his three uncles are yelling at their computer monitors, that this idea STINKS!
They say it will steal sales of the big G5 computers and the iMac!
What?! A little G4 Mac steal sales from the G5 Power Computer? That paragon of design and innovation that every graphics designer lusts after? I think NOT!
(If this were true, Apple would find itself selling nothing but eMacs.)
Nor would such a low-end, low rent Mac-in-a-keyboard steal sales from the new G5 iMac, or the iBook, or the PowerBook.
I will admit, however, it might steal a few sales from Apple’s low-end eMac.
But I have a perfect solution for all of this potential problem.
Ahem.
Apple should only sell the G4 headless Mac-in-a-keyboard to Businesses. (Purchase orders, with your Federal ID, only).
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
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