Apple announces iMac retirement by September 30 2009?

Ian Lamont — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:16 -0500

Apple's iMac has been the one bright spot in its desktop lineup for the past several years, according to its 2008 10K filing.

However, the 10-year-old iMac is increasingly running counter to several trends in the PC industry:

* A shift to laptops
* Cheaper, low-margin PC desktops

Until now, Apple could justify its pricier iMacs as a high-quality brand with superior software (namely, OS X and iLife) but there's another factor to consider: The recession.

The down economy has changed consumers' attitudes about electronics purchases. Why buy a $1,200 iMac when a far more powerful Dell or Lenovo can be had for $800, or a Macbook for $1,000? Cutting iMac prices would boost sales, but that would kill its margins, potentially cannibalize Macbook sales, and ultimately put Apple in the position of joining the cost-cutting race that PC makers have been participating in for years (see article, The beginning of the end for the Apple iMac?)

Prediction: Will Apple publicly acknowledge by September 30, 2009, that the iMac is being discontinued? Note that the last iMacs may be sold after that date, but the public statement (either a statement on Apple's website, or in a news report) must be made by the last day of September.

Image: jhderojas, Flickr/Creative Commons

Apple announces iMac retirement by September 30 2009?

Ian Lamont — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:16 -0500

Apple's iMac has been the one bright spot in its desktop lineup for the past several years, according to its 2008 10K filing.

However, the 10-year-old iMac is increasingly running counter to several trends in the PC industry:

* A shift to laptops
* Cheaper, low-margin PC desktops

Until now, Apple could justify its pricier iMacs as a high-quality brand with superior software (namely, OS X and iLife) but there's another factor to consider: The recession.

Image: jhderojas, Flickr/Creative Commons

Apple announces iMac retirement by September 30 2009?

Ian Lamont — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:16 -0500

Apple's iMac has been the one bright spot in its desktop lineup for the past several years, according to its 2008 10K filing.

However, the 10-year-old iMac is increasingly running counter to several trends in the PC industry:

* A shift to laptops
* Cheaper, low-margin PC desktops

Until now, Apple could justify its pricier iMacs as a high-quality brand with superior software (namely, OS X and iLife) but there's another factor to consider: The recession.

Image: jhderojas, Flickr/Creative Commons

Apple announces iMac retirement by September 30 2009?

Ian Lamont — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:16 -0500

Apple's iMac has been the one bright spot in its desktop lineup for the past several years, according to its 2008 10K filing.

However, the 10-year-old iMac is increasingly running counter to several trends in the PC industry:

* A shift to laptops
* Cheaper, low-margin PC desktops

Until now, Apple could justify its pricier iMacs as a high-quality brand with superior software (namely, OS X and iLife) but there's another factor to consider: The recession.

Image: jhderojas, Flickr/Creative Commons

Apple announces iMac retirement by September 30 2009?

Ian Lamont — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:16 -0500

Apple's iMac has been the one bright spot in its desktop lineup for the past several years, according to its 2008 10K filing.

However, the 10-year-old iMac is increasingly running counter to several trends in the PC industry:

* A shift to laptops
* Cheaper, low-margin PC desktops

Until now, Apple could justify its pricier iMacs as a high-quality brand with superior software (namely, OS X and iLife) but there's another factor to consider: The recession.

Image: jhderojas, Flickr/Creative Commons

Apple announces iMac retirement by September 30 2009?

Ian Lamont — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:16 -0500

Apple's iMac has been the one bright spot in its desktop lineup for the past several years, according to its 2008 10K filing.

However, the 10-year-old iMac is increasingly running counter to several trends in the PC industry:

* A shift to laptops
* Cheaper, low-margin PC desktops

Until now, Apple could justify its pricier iMacs as a high-quality brand with superior software (namely, OS X and iLife) but there's another factor to consider: The recession.

Image: jhderojas, Flickr/Creative Commons

Apple announces iMac retirement by September 30 2009?

Ian Lamont — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:16 -0500

Apple's iMac has been the one bright spot in its desktop lineup for the past several years, according to its 2008 10K filing.

However, the 10-year-old iMac is increasingly running counter to several trends in the PC industry:

* A shift to laptops
* Cheaper, low-margin PC desktops

Until now, Apple could justify its pricier iMacs as a high-quality brand with superior software (namely, OS X and iLife) but there's another factor to consider: The recession.

Image: jhderojas, Flickr/Creative Commons

Apple announces iMac retirement by September 30 2009?

Ian Lamont — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:16 -0500

Apple's iMac has been the one bright spot in its desktop lineup for the past several years, according to its 2008 10K filing.

However, the 10-year-old iMac is increasingly running counter to several trends in the PC industry:

* A shift to laptops
* Cheaper, low-margin PC desktops

Until now, Apple could justify its pricier iMacs as a high-quality brand with superior software (namely, OS X and iLife) but there's another factor to consider: The recession.

Image: jhderojas, Flickr/Creative Commons

Apple announces iMac retirement by September 30 2009?

Ian Lamont — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:16 -0500

Apple's iMac has been the one bright spot in its desktop lineup for the past several years, according to its 2008 10K filing.

However, the 10-year-old iMac is increasingly running counter to several trends in the PC industry:

* A shift to laptops
* Cheaper, low-margin PC desktops

Until now, Apple could justify its pricier iMacs as a high-quality brand with superior software (namely, OS X and iLife) but there's another factor to consider: The recession.

Image: jhderojas, Flickr/Creative Commons

Apple announces iMac retirement by September 30 2009?

Ian Lamont — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:16 -0500

Apple's iMac has been the one bright spot in its desktop lineup for the past several years, according to its 2008 10K filing.

However, the 10-year-old iMac is increasingly running counter to several trends in the PC industry:

* A shift to laptops
* Cheaper, low-margin PC desktops

Until now, Apple could justify its pricier iMacs as a high-quality brand with superior software (namely, OS X and iLife) but there's another factor to consider: The recession.

Image: jhderojas, Flickr/Creative Commons

Apple announces iMac retirement by September 30 2009?

Ian Lamont — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:16 -0500

Apple's iMac has been the one bright spot in its desktop lineup for the past several years, according to its 2008 10K filing.

However, the 10-year-old iMac is increasingly running counter to several trends in the PC industry:

* A shift to laptops
* Cheaper, low-margin PC desktops

Until now, Apple could justify its pricier iMacs as a high-quality brand with superior software (namely, OS X and iLife) but there's another factor to consider: The recession.

Image: jhderojas, Flickr/Creative Commons

Apple announces iMac retirement by September 30 2009?

Ian Lamont — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:16 -0500

Apple's iMac has been the one bright spot in its desktop lineup for the past several years, according to its 2008 10K filing.

However, the 10-year-old iMac is increasingly running counter to several trends in the PC industry:

* A shift to laptops
* Cheaper, low-margin PC desktops

Until now, Apple could justify its pricier iMacs as a high-quality brand with superior software (namely, OS X and iLife) but there's another factor to consider: The recession.

Image: jhderojas, Flickr/Creative Commons

Apple announces iMac retirement by September 30 2009?

Ian Lamont — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:16 -0500

Apple's iMac has been the one bright spot in its desktop lineup for the past several years, according to its 2008 10K filing.

However, the 10-year-old iMac is increasingly running counter to several trends in the PC industry:

* A shift to laptops
* Cheaper, low-margin PC desktops

Until now, Apple could justify its pricier iMacs as a high-quality brand with superior software (namely, OS X and iLife) but there's another factor to consider: The recession.

Image: jhderojas, Flickr/Creative Commons

Apple announces iMac retirement by September 30 2009?

Ian Lamont — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:16 -0500

Apple's iMac has been the one bright spot in its desktop lineup for the past several years, according to its 2008 10K filing.

However, the 10-year-old iMac is increasingly running counter to several trends in the PC industry:

* A shift to laptops
* Cheaper, low-margin PC desktops

Until now, Apple could justify its pricier iMacs as a high-quality brand with superior software (namely, OS X and iLife) but there's another factor to consider: The recession.

Image: jhderojas, Flickr/Creative Commons

Apple announces iMac retirement by September 30 2009?

Ian Lamont — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:16 -0500

Apple's iMac has been the one bright spot in its desktop lineup for the past several years, according to its 2008 10K filing.

However, the 10-year-old iMac is increasingly running counter to several trends in the PC industry:

* A shift to laptops
* Cheaper, low-margin PC desktops

Until now, Apple could justify its pricier iMacs as a high-quality brand with superior software (namely, OS X and iLife) but there's another factor to consider: The recession.

Image: jhderojas, Flickr/Creative Commons

Apple announces iMac retirement by September 30 2009?

Ian Lamont — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:16 -0500

Apple's iMac has been the one bright spot in its desktop lineup for the past several years, according to its 2008 10K filing.

However, the 10-year-old iMac is increasingly running counter to several trends in the PC industry:

* A shift to laptops
* Cheaper, low-margin PC desktops

Until now, Apple could justify its pricier iMacs as a high-quality brand with superior software (namely, OS X and iLife) but there's another factor to consider: The recession.

Image: jhderojas, Flickr/Creative Commons

Apple announces iMac retirement by September 30 2009?

Ian Lamont — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:16 -0500

Apple's iMac has been the one bright spot in its desktop lineup for the past several years, according to its 2008 10K filing.

However, the 10-year-old iMac is increasingly running counter to several trends in the PC industry:

* A shift to laptops
* Cheaper, low-margin PC desktops

Until now, Apple could justify its pricier iMacs as a high-quality brand with superior software (namely, OS X and iLife) but there's another factor to consider: The recession.

Image: jhderojas, Flickr/Creative Commons

Apple announces iMac retirement by September 30 2009?

Ian Lamont — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:16 -0500

Apple's iMac has been the one bright spot in its desktop lineup for the past several years, according to its 2008 10K filing.

However, the 10-year-old iMac is increasingly running counter to several trends in the PC industry:

* A shift to laptops
* Cheaper, low-margin PC desktops

Until now, Apple could justify its pricier iMacs as a high-quality brand with superior software (namely, OS X and iLife) but there's another factor to consider: The recession.

Image: jhderojas, Flickr/Creative Commons

Apple announces iMac retirement by September 30 2009?

Ian Lamont — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:16 -0500

Apple's iMac has been the one bright spot in its desktop lineup for the past several years, according to its 2008 10K filing.

However, the 10-year-old iMac is increasingly running counter to several trends in the PC industry:

* A shift to laptops
* Cheaper, low-margin PC desktops

Until now, Apple could justify its pricier iMacs as a high-quality brand with superior software (namely, OS X and iLife) but there's another factor to consider: The recession.

Image: jhderojas, Flickr/Creative Commons

Apple announces iMac retirement by September 30 2009?

Ian Lamont — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:16 -0500

Apple's iMac has been the one bright spot in its desktop lineup for the past several years, according to its 2008 10K filing.

However, the 10-year-old iMac is increasingly running counter to several trends in the PC industry:

* A shift to laptops
* Cheaper, low-margin PC desktops

Until now, Apple could justify its pricier iMacs as a high-quality brand with superior software (namely, OS X and iLife) but there's another factor to consider: The recession.

Image: jhderojas, Flickr/Creative Commons