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journal: mac
Apple Releases Educational iMac [UPDATED]
It’s safe to say that the eMac has a slim chance of not being dead, especially after the release of the iMac for education. The iMac includes a 1.83 GHz Core Duo processor, 512 MB RAM in a two 256 DIMM configuration, an 80 GB Hard drive a DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, and, -deep breath here- the Intel GMA 950 graphics chip, all for $900. The Apple remote is not included, but can be purchased for an additional $26.
Deep Thought’s Take: This is definately not a computer for schools with tight budgets, and I just can’t see it taking off, especially when there are much cheaper competitors (like Dell’s OptiPlex PCs). Those schools that use Macs will probably take the Mac Mini route, either using keyboards, mice, and/or monitors left from the old computers, or buying some cheap sets and saving some money.
UPDATE: Apple has removed the Education iMac configuration from the individual Apple Store for Education; it is now only available for academic institutions (bummer; it’s a great price point for students like myself).
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| Liam | comments | views |
thinkback
University of Rochester does the mac mini + Dell LCD + Dell computer + KVM.
| Jul. 06, 2006 | |
| moreApple | 2:41 pm |
Then why do we have two cores? So we can hook up an external moniter and play two DivX movies at once?
| Jul. 06, 2006 | |
| 9:45 pm |
Then why do we have two cores?
Because everyone is making movies and DVDs like that smug a-hole in the Apple ads, of course. 
I’d much rather have dual cores and integrated graphics than a single core and a GPU on a consumer machine.
Multitasking is much better with dual cores and iTunes encoding, iMovie, iDVD, and a lot of other applications I use on a consumer system benefit from dual cores in OS X.
| Jul. 07, 2006 | ||
| 11:30 pm |
But I’m not defending integrated graphics. Maybe their prices are in line with the competition, maybe not...I want a GPU and dual core, damn it.
| Jul. 07, 2006 | ||
| 11:32 pm |
I’m guessing Apple gets discounts for using integrated graphics over a GPU. Plus, the Core Solos aren’t that much cheaper than Core Duos, plus I think the Core Solos currently only go up to 1.66GHz
| Jul. 08, 2006 | |
| 6:11 pm |
An entry level computer of reasonable quality should be able to play most games smoothly at least two years after it’s mad even if it’s at a low visual quality setting, integrated video means that this probably won’t happen, and thus it’s probably not of good quality. I fail to see the point of putting a premium grade CPU in poor quality computer.
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| Jul. 10, 2006 | |
| 10:20 pm |
But it isn’t built as a gaming machine, it’s built as an educational machine. For all intents and purposes the entry level iMac is the 17” 1.83GHz with the X1600. Most schools and universities don’t need the power of a graphics card. For most jobs you only really need them if you are playing high end games or doing 3D graphics work. As next to no school or university courses require playing games and those that require 3D graphics work are more likely to go for high end machines it isn’t really a problem. If Apple had gone for a graphics card to put in and keep the price the same then I’m guessing it would have been an extremely poor one. Remember, these integrated graphics chipsets are actually pretty powerful, with their only flaw being that they take system ram
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| Jul. 11, 2006 | |
| 2:50 am |
I never said the graphics card had to be glorious, just dedicated. When I bought my second laptop I didn’t really plan to play a lot of games with it, but I still made sure it had a dedicated video chipset made by nVidia or ATI. Computers with dedicated video chipsets actually run more smoothly than ones that use integrated video, and I bet the effect is even more drastic on a Mac because of it’s heavy use of OpenGL in the interface.
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| Jul. 12, 2006 | |
| 5:43 pm |
and I bet the effect is even more drastic on a Mac because of it’s heavy use of OpenGL in the interface.
Yeah, because scaling planes and rotating cubes taxes the integrated graphics soooo much.
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Pfft! Integrated video yet again. Apple is really disgracing itself. Even the original Mac mini was touted for it’s possesion of a real video chipset. I was pretty dissappointed with the new Mac mini, I was hoping it would follow the same pricing and quality component style like the Intel iMac. If Apple really wants to attract students they shouldn’t sell hardware with specs that say, “You will want to replace this next year,” I would like to get the most for my money and that means a computer that will perform well even in its obselesence.
The normal iMacs are still good though, I’m thinking about getting the entry-level one. The best thing about that deal is that, as an engineering student at UW, I get part of a site license for XP Pro so I can run my numerous Windows apps the very day it gets in my hands. I was thinking about going all out and getting a Macbook Pro but I tend to be a little bit conservative with my money, plus I already have a good laptop.