Do Not Rule Out Lower-Priced Apple iMac--Analyst
208912
Apple Computer Inc. AAPL.O  could decide to sell a lower-priced of its Macintosh computer  to attract consumers already enamored of its iPod music player  and annoyed by security problems with Windows PCs, Piper  Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said on Thursday.
593703
Apple announced its rumored iMac upgrade nearly a full week earlier than thought Wednesday. While the upgrade to Core 2 Duo processors and the addition of a larger widescreen model was expected, the price drop on the entry-level iMac was not.
392705
Apple introduces a new flat-screen iMac in Paris that looks more like an iPod than a Luxo-lamp. Starting at $1,300, the new model has Parisian Mac nuts saying 'oui.'
538064
The Apple Macintosh makes its debut. But, despite outward appearances, all is not rosy along the Infinite Loop.
709976
When Steve Jobs unleashes Mac OS X Leopard on Friday, Mac fans and others considering an Apple computer for the first time will have questions. Is the new Leopard operating system worth the $129 upgrade price? Is it the reason to splurge for a new Mac? Long before Leopard pounced onto the scene, I rated OS X superior to Windows for most consumers. With Leopard, Apple's operating system widens its lead aesthetically and technologically. Whether the sixth major release of OS X in as many years puts a dent in Microsoft's dominant market share is another matter entirely.
749180
The Story: It?s not often that an analyst covering computer security issues tells you that he doesn?t do much to protect his systems. But one reputable analyst I know said just that as we talked about the rising threat of malware aimed at Apple?s hardware. I won?t mention his name, but the gentleman is dead wrong. The days when you can assume that Apple?s products are exempt from harm are over.[ Slideshow: 2007's top underreported tech stories ]                                                    Is it time to panic? No, actual attacks against Macs and the rest of the Apple family, such as the iPhone, are still rare. But as the platform becomes more and more popular, hackers are gearing up to do damage. You?d better protect yourself.?Most Mac users take security too lightly. In fact, most are quite proud of the fact that they don?t run any security at all,? says IDC analyst Chris Christiansen. ?That?s an open door; at some point it will be exploited,? he says.First some numbers: In 2006, the National Institute of Standards and Testing (NIST) tabulated 106 ?vulnerabilities? in Apple?s Mac OS X. (It defines vulnerabilities as a weakness in the code that could be exploited to perform unauthorized, and generally harmful, functions by the application.) In the first six months of 2007 there were 78 vulnerabilities found in Mac OS X. Windows XP (all flavors), meanwhile, had 55 vulnerabilities in 2006 and 19 in the first six months of 2007. Vista, which wasn?t available in 2006, chalked up 19 vulnerabilities in 2007.In a sense, Apple is a victim of its own success. Savvy hackers read the same stories and watch the same television programs as the rest of us, and so they are very aware of the burgeoning popularity of Apple?s products. Hacking Windows still provides a lot more bang per bug than attacks on Apple, but the smaller rival is a more satisfying target than ever before. And the company?s deserved reputation for building good products has probably made users overconfident.?Apple has better commercials, but the Mac is no harder to break into than a Windows PC,? says Gartner security analyst John Pescatore. What?s more, most IT shops can automatically patch large numbers of PCs at the same time, while Macs generally have to be patched one at a time, he said.The Bottom Line: Actual attacks on the Mac platform are still unusual. But as it becomes a juicier target, that will change. Why take a chance? Give a lot more thought to securing your Macs this year.Complete list of 2007 underreported stories: 1.? Java is becoming the new Cobol 2.? Sun Microsystems is back in the game 3.? Hackers take aim at Mac OS X 4.? There are some threats you can worry less about 5.? Companies may have found a way around H-1B visa limits 6.? Open source?s new commercial strategy 7.? End-to-end Ethernet finally arrives 8.? Blade servers arrive for the masses 9.? BI is dead; long live BI 10. Balance of power shifts to software buyers
67787
For one, âMac hardware is beautifully designed,â explains Ed Baig (USA Today). And âthe underlying software is polished, robust and secure.â For example, new Macs âcome with iLife â08, a slick multimedia software suite for handling pictures (iPhoto), video editing (iMovie), making music (GarageBand) and websites (iWeb).â And Mac OS X Leopard  âhas standout features of its own, including Time Machine (dirt-simple backup) and iChat (way cool video chat).â Whatâs more, Macs âhave been immune from the scourge of viruses and malware that have long plagued Windows.â  Mac customers âheap lavish praise on Macs for good reason,â Baig concludes.
435083
The tech world is abuzz with reports that Apple is preparing to introduce an inexpensive personal computer, with a price tag below $600, at its trade show later this month.
1502
With the release of the new iMacs, writes Peter Lewis for CNNMoney.com, &#147;Apple is making applesauce out of the old canard that Macs are a lot more expensive than Windows computers.&#148;
273737
By Paul Jackson, senior analyst. With its new iMac G5, Apple Computer has once again come up with a unique package of design, power and ease of use.
148205
When the original Macintosh computer was little more than a sketch, its creators envisioned the machine retailing for about &#36;500. But when the first Mac finally rolled out in 1984, it carried a hefty price tag of &#36;2,495.
637134
âAppleâs most elegantly designed all-in-one yet, this iMac,â reports Wendy Sheehan , âhas a solid configuration, excellent features, and good performance, making it a viable choice for anyone looking for a space-saving, eye-pleasing, highly capable desktop.â The aluminum-clad iMac is not only â considerably thinner and slickerâ than itâs predecessor; itâs âalso more energy-efficient, meeting Energy Star 4.0 requirements, and Apple claims the iMacâs new materials are more recyclable, making it a greener PC.â
552328
&#147;The new G5 iMac is the finest personal computer I&#146;ve ever used, hands down,&#148; writes Mike Wendland for the Detroit Free Press. &#147;Nothing comes close. If you have ever thought of switching from a Windows-based PC to a Mac, this is the deal-clincher. It is simply a stunning machine both to look at and to use.&#148; [Oct 05]
146719
With Apple Computer&#39;s next iMac expected to be unveiled this week, Mac fan Web sites are buzzing with speculation over the design.
713901
Compatible with both Macs and PCs, they cost from $149 will be available beginning in June.
273761
Describing the new iMac G5, Chris Taylor writes in TIME, &#147;What you get for that money is quite possibly the coolest personal computer yet created. The cool is more than merely aesthetic. Unlike a lot of previous Mac machines, on which you could almost fry an egg, the iMac G5&#146;s beautiful white surface does not get noticeably hot. Nor, at a whisper-quiet 25 decibels, does it make enough noise for most people to hear&#133;&#148;  [Sep 07]
723386
It's possible that in the coming months that security-minded computer professionals will finally have a conclusive answer as to whether low malware attack rates for the Mac are due to the platform's low rate of adoption. Some experts believe that as adoption rates rise, so will attacks.