One of the burning questions is WHAT software will be bundled with the iMac. Something that will probably be addressed and announced at iMacWorld Expo NY. Mac OS (a hacked 8.1, ginned 8.5 or full 8.5) and AppleWorks (neČ ClarisWorks) are in. Navigator and IE are "No Brainers" as Internet Connectivity is paramount. Quicken is in. QT 3.0 (Basic) is open to question as the latest seed of 8.5 doesn't "have" QT 3 as part of the package. FileMaker (NO) and Virtual PC are out. Office98 is probably a "fantasy" for a consumer box. If Office98 doesn't ship with the high-end G3 boxes, if it's bundled with the iMac a LOT of people will be hacked to a faretheewell. Some games, with potential Disney offerings, are in. ClarisWorks / AppleWorks for Kids is open to debate. The rest is a "Big Question (?) Mark" as any bundling agreements aren't locked until they're announced and made part of the features of the iMac.
As with "The Dearly Departed Performas," the software bundles were the "plus" that convinced a lot of buyers to settle for "good enough boxes" that had limited expandability and little or no upgrade paths. "Yeah, it's not a great box but look at all the software I don't have to buy...."
And while some might cringe and wince in pain at the comparison of the iMac to the Performa line, the Performas were "Consumer Boxes" and so is the iMac and its other siblings. Even though there were no "Performa Portables" (although some state that the PB190 was a "Performa in Lemon Dress"), etc.
Yes folks, the bundled software will be an important feature for potential customers / buyers, even amongst the installed base buyers who already have Mac software. Yes, this is an issue of intense interest amongst those who are all attempting to gauge demand (installed base and otherwise) for the iMac. For some of them, it's almost as important (if not more important) as USB peripherals and drivers. Some equate, or give it an edge, because they are of the opinion that as long as the buyers have a : modem, printer and optional Imation LS-120 SuperDrive, what else do they need? They will wait for other peripherals. They use the mantra: "It's the Software Stupid!"
They also state that if the iMac is networked in with other Macs ( a weakness in their argument for consumer, recent defectors, etc.) that the "product" of those "legacy" peripherals will be available to the iMac users. We have to disagree. While they might be rightfully given "parity," for first time buyers they want to know that they can expand the box with via peripherals. Not: "Do you want 16, 32 or 64 Mb with that iMac?....."
RFI is concerned about both but, as we said, the peripherals win out because those "options," even if the buyer doesn't purchase them along with the box, are a necessary factor in deciding whether to buy or not. It is more important than software as far as purchasing decisions are concerned.
And as long as the bundled software "handles the basics:" Mac OS, AppleWorks, Quicken, Internet and "Games" (don't get us started on games! Please!); software isn't as important as peripherals. There are people who didn't use a lot of the Performa bundled software, but felt "it was nice to have..."
As with the peripherals, we'll wait and see.
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