Apple to Kill 17-Inch iMac in Next Update?

Rumors about the next generation of iMacs have resurfaced, and after several months still sing the same song. It looks like the smallest member of the iMac family will be left behind for good.

Rumors that the next generation of iMacs will have a new redesigned look, but will drop the 17-inch model started surfacing in March. After almost three years since the current design debuted, a change of looks would not go amiss. However, the decision to exclude
the smallest iMac from the update, and even potentially kill it off altogether came as a surprise. While it is quite possible for Apple to refresh the iMac line and come out with a 20i-inch model around the same price as the previous 17-inch model, many prefer the smaller sized desktop.

Dropping the 17-inch iMac altogether would leave rather a large hole in Apple’s lineup. For one thing, there is the educational market, where the mini is often not enough, but a 20-inch iMac would be too much. Apple needs a cheaper, entry-level model, and the mini – while great at what it does – is considered by many as a bad choice due to the fact that it is both dated and lacking a display and peripherals.

Dropping the 17-inch iMac and offering the 20-inch model for around the same price could be done, but that would mean having to upgrade the mini because the gap between the two would simply be far too large. Conversely, Apple could do something totally unexpected and drop a bomb by introducing a new model that would be somewhere between the mini and the Mac Pros, without a display, and priced around what the former 17-inch iMac used to cost. This fabled ‘Mac’ has long been awaited by loyal Apple customers and potential switchers alike, and would go a long way to improving Apple’s computer line-up.

Apple iPod - The Past, Present and Future King of MP3 Players

Apple iPod still amazes MP3 players’ market, as In-Stat consumer survey

data shows that 49% of MP3 player owners possess an iPod, the company predicting that Apple will prolong its leading position.

However, the worldwide flash-based and hard disk drive (HDD)-based players market will significantly increase sales from 140 million units in 2005 to 286 million by 2010, according to the high-tech market research firm.

"Apple continues to dominate the market for MP3 players, particularly in the US," declared Stephanie Guza, In-Stat analyst.
"Apple competitors continue to face significant challenges, such as a constrained Flash memory supply, device and software integration, and the ‘cool factor’ associated with Apple’s iPod line of products."

But there is a particular market able to surprise the MP3 players’ manufacturers, as the devices are priced as low as $25 – the Asian market.

As a result, Apple may lose part of its market share, but not considerably, as less significant MP3 players’ manufacturers can not afford to launch high capacity flash memory components.