After some thought about this new iMac, I'm a bit disappointed in some aspects of this "consumer" product.
- No floppy or Zip drive? How is Joe Sixpack supposed to transfer files to another machine or to someone else? Yes, the usefulness of the floppy has declined in recent years, but a lot of software still comes on them. Are consumers expected to transfer files only via email or their own home Ethernet network? That's a bit much to ask...
- Speaking of Ethernet, why does the average consumer have any need for it? The cost to include 10/100BaseT Ethernet could have been foregone for a floppy drive, Zip drive, or both! Best thing Apple could do is offer Ethernet in a BTO config, not as standard equipment.
- Only a 33.6k modem? I hope this one changes by August at product rollout. Yes, a 56k modem really isn't that much faster, but we're talking about perception here. Perception by Joe Sixpack is that 56k is the way to go.
All that said, I applaud apple for this push into the consumer market, and it still bodes well for Apple's future. It's damn sexy looking, too! I just wish I didn't have the feeling that engineering didn't think this one through completely, feature-wise. |
