Pundits come out to play on $499 iMac rumour

As Northern State would say, "You knew it was on the way." Those renowned for keeping the 'anal' in analyst have started weighing in on why the $499 iMac will be the best thing since sliced bread, the worst market failure since the Edsel, or will be simply impossible to manufacture.

"I'm not convinced that they could do an entry-level product, at that kind of entry-level price, very well," said NPD
Group 'anal'ysis director Stephen Baker. "They'd have to take too much out of it, and make it not very worthwhile. I'm not sure how they'd market it. It's not the kind of thing this company does. Does anyone tell BMW they need to have a
$14,000 car?" Are you mad, man? Nobody gives a flying fig what you think about how they'd market it. You don't lay the golden eggs, remember – you just criticize the geese. Apple's marketing savvy is pretty much the least of my worries.
Apple could eke a razor thin profit margin out of the thing and still score huge if it attracts fed-up Wintel users in droves. Hell, they could take a hit on it and make it back in spades when those new Mac users start drooling over all of the goodies they can add to their new toy.

Weigh in, peeps. $499 iMac – possible, probable, or vaporware?