If Apple expected the Tuesday-announced refresh of its Macintosh products - the iMac, the Mac mini, and the Mac Pro - to bring about a noteworthy swing in the sale figures, it could be in for a disappointment. Even though the announcement did bring a shimmer of newness to Apple's aging Mac mini line and a power boost to the Mac Pro, the price factor still remained a constraint.

The suggested retail cost figures of the refreshed desktop line yet again brought to light the glaring price difference between the Apple products and correspondingly-configured third party products.

Even though Apple has a commendable reputation for bringing quality components - in terms of solutions, rather than configurability - and steering clear of systems that might conciliate its standards, the prices largely do not go down well with most consumers.

In the opinion of most resellers, while the Apple announcement implied a refreshed desktop line - with bigger displays, faster processors, and expanded memory - the prices were basically not bothered about. Hence, resellers considered the move to be a rote one from Apple quarters, for updating some hardware that was flanking on the 'being overlooked' periphery.

Michael Oh, CEO of Boston-based Apple reseller Tech Superpowers said: "The refresh, simply put, just reinforces Apple's dedication to all three platforms. There is not anything overly revolutionary about the changes!"