In slowdown year, Apple keeps prices pegged, but throws in more memory and speed with its new desktops. The enhanced line comes to India in two weeks
In slowdown year, Apple keeps prices pegged, but throws in more memory and speed with its new desktops. The enhanced line comes to India in two weeks
Two weeks after MiD DAY alerted computer buyers to imminent iMac upgrades, Apple has announced a new line of desktops and reduced prices.
This means you get more value for your money now than you would have if you had bought your Mac desktop last fortnight, but many in the US were expecting more dramatic price cuts in response to the recession.
In Bangalore, Mac users MiD DAY spoke to were pleased with the upgrades. The California-based company said the new range would take six weeks to arrive in India.
The cheapest iMac, a 20-inch, sells at Rs 70,200, while the fully loaded version is a 24-inch that comes for about Rs 1.26 lakh.
The specs
The desktop line features Intel Core 2 Duo processors with speeds of up to 3.06 GHz, high-end NVidia graphics technology, double the memory from the last release, and up to one terabyte (1,000 GB) of storage.
"The price drop is good, and encourages us to bring new hardware into our facility. We are looking for a larger display, more juice and most certainly lower spends than the last time we upgraded," said Rajesh, managing director of Cleanslate Communications.
He agrees the perception of more value for money is true. "But if you were to look back and see over the last few upgrades, we have been handed out bigger candies for the same price, quite consistently," he told MiD DAY.
Rajesh described himself as a "power user" who wouldn't be unable to comment on the Mac Mini, the tiffin box-like computer Apple sells at the lower end. "All I can say is that it would make a great home computer," he told MiD DAY. The Mac Mini comes without a keyboard and desktop, and starts at Rs 36,000.
Sumesh Nair V, assistant manager, Jagaran Solutions, is a self-confessed Mac fan. "No other operating system can be compared to the Mac. The basic 20-inch model has enough space, but the iMac 24 inch with 30 per cent larger display, twice the memory and twice the storage, is truly amazing," he gushed.
Sumesh believes the iMac, considered a home desktop, would be attractive even to professionals, such as creative heads, sound engineers, and editors. "The cost difference between the 20 inch and the 24 inch is Rs 17,000, and that's money well spent," he said.
Clearly, Sumesh isn't the sort who would weigh a Windows machine against Mac. "Don't look in to the cost, because it gives you more than you expect," he advised.
Rakesh Pandey, a tech enthusiast, said, "I would like to say that iMac is mostly used by professionals and this will be the best iMac system produced till date."
He recommended the 24-inch model to art professionals because of its superior graphics technology. "Computer buyers should be happy they can now get a higher-end model for a lower-end price," he said.
But not many agree Apple's prices are "lower end". Computer buyers say they can get a similar configuration much cheaper on a Dell, Sony or an HP, but concede the Mac experience commands a premium.
Balaji, a software engineer and Windows user, said, "Not everyone can afford an Apple."
(Additional reporting by Madhusudan Maney)
Apple's desktop range
20 inch
2.66 GHz, 320 GB
2 GB RAM
Rs 70,200
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24 inch
3.6 GHz, 1,000 GB
4 GB RAM
Rs 1.26 lakh
(Available in lower configurations for Rs 87,000 and Rs 1.05 lakh)
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