Mac for the Masses

We believe that Apple has misread or disregarded the reason why their superior hardware and software have lost mindshare to commodity "Wintel" systems from the likes of Dell and HP/Compaq. We recognize that "it's the price, stupid!" We appreciate that Apple systems have lower TCO and much, much higher build quality, but we also recognize that TCO is meaningless if you are too poor to scrape up te cost of a new Mac in the first place. We would like to emphasize that TCO is a concept alien to virtually ALL end-users (and many-- or most-- short-sighted businesses), and that it simply does not apply to anyone with a lesser income.

We recognize the great masses of poorer computer enthusiasts who would dearly love a Mac, but who lack the funds to buy even the "low-end" models (e.g. the eMac, the iBook). We put the term "low-end" in quotes because a "low-end" Apple machine costs as much as a midrange PC machine-- and we find that to be a great tragedy, as we much prefer Apples.

In recognition of the above, and with the wish that Apple may prosper and flourish, and that their hardware be available to AS WIDE AN AUDIENCE AS THAT OF THE PC/WINTEL WORLD, we propose the following:


That Apple work to develop a new machine at the sub-$500 price point... and the lower, the better (e.g. "Introducing the new iPizzaBox, the Mac for the Masses. Starting at $349.95.")
That this machine be equipped with a lower-end, but relatively current, hardware complement (comparable to an eMac.)
That this machine NOT have an integrated monitor, and that it be compatible with standard VGA monitors and-- ideally-- PS/2 mice and keyboards (via a bundled external adaptor) "out of the box."
That the latest release of Mac OS X be bundled with the unit, with a limited support contract.
That this machine additionally be bundled with the latest version of WinTel, giving users the ability to run commodity Windows software during the migration from x86 to Apple.

We feel that if such a machine were introduced, Apple would profit greatly, the resale value of Macintosh computers would go down (this is a GOOD thing, as it would allow many of the poorer enthusiasts to obtain a quality Mac via eBay and similar venues), and the computer industry as a whole would slowly begin to move away from the repressive Microsoft-centric paradigm it currently embodies.