A few years ago, $899 would have been an amazing deal for a
computer. But in a time of $400 PCs, $899 doesn't sound so great.
Granted, for $400 you get no monitor, no technical
support, and probably no software other than Windows installed
on the hard drive. Add about a hundred bucks for a decent monitor, and
you are set.
Enter the iLC
Apple needs a lower cost solution if they want to win any more
market share. The solution? A new "pizza box" style computer that
we'll call the iLC. The iLC would be about the size of
the case used in the LC through the
Quadra 605, but perhaps slightly
taller to allow for a CD-ROM drive and room to have a PCI slot or two
on a riser card.
Processor
A G3 processor of at least 333 MHz on a 66 MHz bus. This will give
it enough power to do most things that a low-end user will need while
keeping prices down. A lower speed would also keep the iLC from cutting
into iMac sales.
Memory and Storage
64 MB of RAM soldered on the motherboard with one empty DIMM slot.
64 MB is likely enough for a lot of users, but the capability for up to
320 MB (or even 576 MB) is there. A 6 GB hard drive should be enough
for all but the most hard-core MP3 junkies.
Ports
Two USB ports, one 10/100 ethernet connection, a 56k modem port, a
microphone jack, and a headphone jack. Also a standard VGA connection,
so a cheap VGA monitor can be purchased and can be upgraded to a larger
screen. FireWire? Probably not. If you can afford a FireWire camera,
camcorder, scanner, etc., then you can likely afford an iMac.
Price
Given the specs above, I would expect a base price of $400-450. This
would make the iLC very competitive with entry-level PCs.
Look out, Education market, here comes Apple!
Not only would the iLC be a great first computer, it would do great
in the formerly Apple-dominated education market. Does a classroom
really need accelerated 3D graphics, six PCI slots, a 30 GB hard drive,
a 19" display, and Windows 2000? No. The iLC would have all that a
classroom would need - and nothing that it wouldn't. With such a low
price, it would also be ideal for cash-strapped college students.
With an attractive case, a low price, and an aggressive ad campaign
designed to show people that web browsing, email, and word processing
do not need a gigahertz chip or Microsoft Windows, and some luck, Apple
may be able to take a larger slice of the beginner and education
pie.
And if the iLC doesn't work out, there is always the rumored
SAM/iClassic/Color Classic III.
Share your perspective on the Mac by emailing with "My Turn" as your subject.
