Apple: "Our Holiday Line-up is Set"

[Vincent Ferrari]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.macworld.com/article/136528/2008/11/appleproducts.html?lsrc=rss_main' target='_blank'>http://www.macworld.com/article/136...l?lsrc=rss_main</a><br /><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><em>"Despite Internet rumors of forthcoming product releases, an Apple representative confirmed that the company has no plans to release any new products before the holidays.&nbsp; &ldquo;Our holiday line-up is set,&rdquo; Apple spokesman Bill Evans told <em>Macworld</em>."</em></p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1225824887.usr18053.jpg" border="1" /><br /><em>Sad Christmas Tree (Of course it's sad; there were no new Apple products under it!) photo via <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/hajime7/86429777/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Hajime7 on Flickr</a>.</em></p><p style="text-align: left;">Well, thus ends that batch of rumors.&nbsp; Turns out Apple won't be releasing any new iMacs, Mac Minis, or Mac Pros before the holiday season.&nbsp; There's still a persistent rumor that the 17" MacBook Pro will be getting an update a-la the 15" models soon, but I think this pretty much puts the kibosh on the whole thing.&nbsp; It has been a busy year, nonetheless, for Apple.&nbsp; They've updated the MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, spec bumped the iMac, spec bumped the Mac Pro, updated the iPhone, the iPod Classic, the Touch, and the Nano, and released a new firmware version for the AppleTV, so it's not like Apple was asleep at the switch this year.&nbsp; What do you think?&nbsp; Are you happy with the holiday line up, or did Apple miss a chance to make further inroads with customers?</p>

[petvas]

If they released everything now, what would they present during Macworld to the public?
I believe that the next iMac will just be a refresh of the current line, nothing more. As far as the Mac Mini concerns, well...Apple has forgotten about it. I wonder how it is doing on the sales side!

[Vincent Ferrari]

I agree. It's a shame, too, because the Mini is an awesome "gateway drug" to the world of Apple, but it does appear that it's not really in their future plans; at least for now.

Maybe I'm wrong, and I hope I am, but I think we've seen the last of it. :(

[Janak Parekh]

I agree. It's a shame, too, because the Mini is an awesome "gateway drug" to the world of Apple, but it does appear that it's not really in their future plans; at least for now. Rumor has it Jobs hates the mini. Take it for what you will, a rumor, and I hope I'm wrong too.

--janak

[Vincent Ferrari]

Rumor has it Jobs hates the mini. Take it for what you will, a rumor, and I hope I'm wrong too.

--janak

I wouldn't doubt it. It's not a "premium" device like the iMac, and it's hard to jack the price up on it. As much as I love Apple, they do see themselves as somewhat of a boutique brand.

[Janak Parekh]

I wouldn't doubt it. It's not a "premium" device like the iMac, and it's hard to jack the price up on it. As much as I love Apple, they do see themselves as somewhat of a boutique brand. Oh, absolutely, and their profit margins are designed to match (and the pain my credit card feels every time I open it for Jobs' benefit). I would also add that this rumor dates back to when the aluminum iMac was introduced, and Jobs was emphasizing the comparison between a typical beige-box PC and the iMac, namely, the lack of cables.

Throughout Mac's history, Apple's always had its heart set on the unibody machines. And they are great, although they're nowhere near right for everyone. But, again, Apple doesn't necessarily care about being right for everyone.

--janak

[Nick012]

I would imagine that we'll be hearing about the mac mini at Macworld in January. With the laptop line being refreshed as well as the iPods and the iMac destined for a small bump rather than a total redesign it seems logical that there might be a whole new mac mini unveiled...

[Vincent Ferrari]

I've been banging my head against the wall trying to figure out what Apple could possibly have left for Macworld, and frankly, I keep coming up empty.

That is... Unless their netbook style device is real, or the tablet is indeed coming...:D

[petvas]

I've been banging my head against the wall trying to figure out what Apple could possibly have left for Macworld, and frankly, I keep coming up empty.

That is... Unless their netbook style device is real, or the tablet is indeed coming...:D

I believe that we will see the following on Macworld:

Small refresh of the iPhone models. More RAM
Update of the iMac line. More RAM, better CPU
Apple Cinema Display for the Mac Pro
and..there is one more thing....The 3rd Generation iPhone! (not 3G but the 3rd generation of iPhones). The new iPhone won't be available immediately but it will come at the third quarter of 2009.
More details to Snow Leopard

[Janak Parekh]

Man, you guys are already speculating about MWSF? Please, oh please, let it wait a few weeks... ;)

--janak

[doogald]

I like the Mini, too; we use ours, as media PC (with an external tv tuner.)

I hope that they will keep the Mini around, probably with a bump up in specs to match the Macbook (i.e., discrete graphics adapter, new Mini Display Port).

[Jason Dunn]

I agree. It's a shame, too, because the Mini is an awesome "gateway drug" to the world of Apple...

Indeed - I've pondered buying a Mac Mini more than a few times. Given the fact that my office already has three 24" Dell monitors, and a 26" Dell LCD TV, I simply don't have space for an iMac. A Mac Mini with decent specs is the only Mac I'd even consider getting...but Apple is determined to keep it kind of, well, sucking in the specs department. :( A small mini-tower Mac would be great - Apple could make some huge in-roads if they went that route, but it doesn't seem like they will...

[Joe Johaneman]

That is... Unless their netbook style device is real, or the tablet is indeed coming...:D

I think Calicanis is right: Apple is working on a Internet connected TV, probably designed to replace the AppleTV, which is just a toy project anyhow.

[Dyvim]

I'm disappointed that the Mac Mini and Apple TV haven't received updates. I'm semi-tempted by each of them and basically for the same purpose: to act as a media server (I'm not sure which I would go with- they both have their pros and cons). I don't know if I'd buy either one even if they were refreshed, but I'm definitely not going to buy either until they are refreshed (or discontinued). I'd like a spec bump and Wireless N for the mini and a capacity bump for ATV (160 GB- gimme a break, last year's iPod classic managed that. ATV sizes should match their Time Capsule capacities; i.e. 500 GB & 1 TB- now THAT would be a media server).

I thought the iPod and iPhone refreshes were decent. The new nano is a sweet looking player- I just wish I had an excuse to get one, but alas I don't.

[doogald]

I'm disappointed that the Mac Mini and Apple TV haven't received updates.

Well, hang in there. See http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/11/05/apple_tells_mac_mini_fan_to_hang_in_there.html


I'm semi-tempted by each of them and basically for the same purpose: to act as a media server (I'm not sure which I would go with- they both have their pros and cons).

Well, I went with the Mini mostly because there was no Apple TV then ;) , but also because if our family desktop spits the bit and goes in for repair we have a capable backup ready to move in until the new one is back.

[Da_Brain]

I agree. It's a shame, too, because the Mini is an awesome "gateway drug" to the world of Apple, but it does appear that it's not really in their future plans; at least for now.

Maybe I'm wrong, and I hope I am, but I think we've seen the last of it. :(

I agree! I really don't understand Apple lately. All many want is some minor updates like 802.11n, better graphics and a minor cpu bump!

I was all set to get parent a mini for Xmas. Looks like that's not going to happen.

I think if apple would have just made these minor updates before Xmas they would have sold a ton of them.

It's going on 2 years now and Apple actions appear to totally neglect what a recent rumor claimed by an Apple rep that they (Apple) admits this is a popular Apple product! God I'd hate to see what they would do if they thought it wasn't!--)))

Very disappointed in Apple neglecting this platform.