The $500 price point definately helps... but the lack of Monitor Keyboard and Mouse, make that price point a bit decieving.
Yes, recycling some existing PC stuff will work, and CRT monitors sell new for under $100.. so realistically you could have an up and running mac with all new hardware for about $650ish, a far far far better price point than ever before for the Mac.
I think they have some potential for market penetration, as the CPU really is less and less relevant in modern computing... Doens't matter who makes the CPU, provided it can surf the web, email, word process, and play games (the vast majority of users, this is it).. the weakness is probably the games arena for MAC, as all other areas are now commodities and file format issues are no longer really there... but GAMES still are tied heavily to the OS/Hardware.
We shall see how it goes.
Reports are that the Apple stores can't keep them in stock, same with the iPod Shuffle.
but GAMES still are tied heavily to the OS/Hardware.
There are a lot of top-title games available for the Mac, like C&C, DoomIII, Alien vs. Predator, Civilization, etc., although the one any specific buyer wants may not be available.