Apple enthusiasts say that in January Apple will unveil a sub-$500 Mac designed to entice Windows users who own iPods to make the computer switch.

Apple enthusiast and rumor site Think Secret reported this week that in January Apple will unveil a sub-$500 Mac designed to entice Windows users who own iPods to make the computer switch.

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A fresh rumor. I’m seeing more and more reports of such, so there may be some substance. Frankly, I’d be very surprised to see an Apple machine come out that matched this rumor as to looks. After all, one of the main things that Apple has traded on for many years is the fact that most of its stuff looks like art-deco fishtanks.

Now, perhaps, Apple has woken up to the fact that maybe, just maybe, PC users might not want to switch from their $1000 PC to a $2500 Mac.

What makes me wonder about the rumor being true at all is that it mentions the thing coming out in what amounts to a rack-mount server or ‘blade’ case. Would Apple give up the smooth curves and flashy colors? We’ll see.