Apple to "Completely Overhaul" the iPad, iMac, iPhone and MacBook Air in 2012?

[hexx]

The front side of the next iPhone will be a screen only, the home button is either moved ....it's too long, sorry... Bluetooth Smart devices will be fun and, more importantly, useful, too.

whatever you've been smoking pass it over :D

[Crissov]

Fingers crossed that the Infa-Red receiver will come back to the MacBook Air sooner than later. It makes me laugh how Apple now justify their 'Apple Remote' as being a Pro product and not worthy of the consumer MBA.

The new Apple Remote will be a Bluetooth Smart product. The 2011 MB Air is already a Bluetooth Smart Ready device (and not running Front Row anymore).

The iRemote is primarily intended for the iVision and has a microphone built-in for Siri and Face Time, as well as either an integrated gyroscope or a touch-sensitive surface for gestures that the camera doesn’t catch well enough.

[hleewell]

Nikon is going to release a 36 Mpx camera when their most popular pro camera is the 12 Mpx D3s. Mercedes still making SLS Gulf Wing when the C-Class is their bestselling model. Blackberry partners with Porsche Design for a $2,000 BB Messenger while the $600 version could do 100% what that super-expensive model could. Every company needs to have a flagship model that represents its highest level of achievement. It's more about a PR routine than a true profit-making activity. Apple will keep their Mac Pro for this reason alone. However, I still think they should reduce the size of the casing. The whole "Size Does Matter" school of thought is very 80s.

[groupersandwich]

Why do so many people want to drop the optical drive from the MBP and iMac? Went I bought my MBP I specifically chose it over an Air BECAUSE OF THE OPTICAL DRIVE. I had a netbook (I know, I know, horrible) and the biggest pain in the rear issue was the lack of an optical drive and needing to always have a portable one with me. I gave the netbook to my daughter who is always having to plug in her portable optical drive to watch movies or add software. Again, her biggest complaint is the lack of an on-board optical drive. I think trying to make the MBP or iMac into the MBA is a mistake. They are different machines that serve different purposes and appeal to different customer bases. If the MBP lost the optical drive, I would certainly choose a Windows based laptop instead of an Air the next time a purchase situation arose. I'd bet I'm not alone in that feeling. At least that is the way I see it.

[patohi]

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Things will look much more different... Intel will have ivy bridge out with 22nm process!!! Amd will have 28nm graphics chips out!! The tdp will drop alot! Allowing who knows what???? Small thin machines yet very powerful!!!!

[Drunken Master]

oh and the silver bezel of the air looks like crap btw, i prefer the black of the pro

Agreed, the black bezel makes the screen look bigger too.

I've had a 13" MB and MBP and the MBP looks "bigger", all because the bezel doesn't crowd your eyes.

[weaponEX]

When you think iPod, which model comes to mind?

For me, it's the iPod Classic, pale-coloured with the click-wheel and 320x240 resolution. But I wonder how popular that version of the iPod is nowadays?

We haven't had an update to the iPod Classic since at least 2008 (that's when I bought one!). I was in a Mac store recently and I noticed that the iPod Classic has remained virtually unchanged to this day. They're either desperate for a refresh or desperate to be axed.
Once you've gotten used to the luxury touch-screen/interface of the iPod Touch, the benefit of the iPod classic become questionable.
With iTunes In The Cloud and iTunes Match, you'll supposedly be able to access your entire purchase history + uploaded CD collection over WiFi, so do we really need huge 160GB internal harddrives any more?

Even if the iPod Classic had Wifi, there would still be those who claim they couldn't make it from one WiFi connection to the next without 160GBs (2,000 hours) of music to listen to - but I would argue that the iPod Classic is due to be discontinued and the iPod Touch and Nano will somehow expand to fill its place.

Just as there will always be a separate bigger, more powerful, more expensive version and smaller, lighter, cheaper, more surface-level version of every product, I think it seems appropriate that the Macbook Pro and Macbook Air will remain separate entities for as long as Apple cultivates its two separate customer bases:
iToy users (I use my old white Macbook to listen to the radio while I'm the kitchen and to watch DVDs on/write emails while I'm in bed)
and
Design professionals (I use my iMac for animation and music content-creation). I'll be buying a Macbook Air and Macbook Pro to replace both (to fill very different functions!). Obviously, most users want a single computer that fulfills everything.

[cms2]

I switched recently to Apple for simplicity, integration and reliability, not the greedy forced obsolescence, constant upgrading and connector incompatibility of the Windows world. I like my iPad 2, iPhone 4s, iMac and iCloud. I have this uneasy feeling that Apple could drift into that kind of whacky Windows consumer experience. Hope I'm wrong.

Welcome to Apple! The thing is, Apple is going to release new (and usually enticing) products on a fairly predictable schedule. This doesn't really translate into "forced obsolescence" though. Just because something newer is out, it doesn't mean your current product will suddenly stop working.

Case in point: I bought a MBP back in 07, and sure I had a little unibody envy when the newer ones came out, but this computer was perfect for my needs when I bought it, and it still meets those needs and runs well doing it. When I choose to upgrade it will be because I choose to, not because Apple put something new out and forced me to upgrade. Or because the old beast gives out (no sign of this impending but who knows). But any computer can fail, especially one going on five (work-intensive and somewhat abusive) years. :)

[hleewell]

I'd love to see MBP and MBA to be merged into one, called MacBook, keep Air's design, drop optical drive, bring on 30 days stand-by. dropping optical drive will give you more space for battery or better cooling.

I doubt Apple would drop the Air moniker. It's too successful in their marketing campaign. Remember the manila envelope Ad? However it's possible that they will name their tiniest & lightest model 11.6" as MacBook Air, while the rest as just MacBook. Steve would have approved. Just keep the Pro in Mac Pro. A lot of Hollywood folks still use them as do scientists & medical people.


My dream would be quadcore MacBook with design like 13" MacBook Air.

Your dream might just come true. Ivy Bridge size reduction would allow MacBook 13" form factor to accommodate in Quad Core configuration. There.

[bobm3]

Maybe this is the year they release an anti glare monitor option????

[anotonin]

PREDICTION:

I think the overhaul would mean, Apple will use another supplier of components that Samsung or Motorola has provided for them before the whole lawsuit thing. lol

And, gasp, its Microsoft suppliers that supplies Apple the components. lol

[cms2]

Maybe this is the year they release an anti glare monitor option????

I don't mean to incite any anger, and I know that there is a segment of the population that really wants to see this option, but I personally suspect Apple has crossed this bridge and isn't looking back.

That said, I would opt for the glossy given the choice (in fact, now that I think about it I did have the choice and opted for glossy), but am always for others being able to choose what works best for them. Who knows, maybe Apple will allow the choice, but I doubt it.

[Confuzzzed]

Most people focus on form factor but the real challenge facing Apple IMHO is to find a way to sandbag third party applications that currently are developed for corporate use which is dominated by PCs. If they can make most of these often bespoke applications / software work on a OS-X and keep them stable by 'sandbagging' or whatever the term is for this kind of manipulation, then the corporate world will have no alternative but to change over to Apple products. Already we have seen much more stable co-existence of many Apple products on Windows platforms so the lure into the Apple ecosystem has began but can non-Apple software be manipulated enough to keep the Mac user experience in tact and overcome the disadvantage of these applications give to Apple?

[hexx]

Your dream might just come true. Ivy Bridge size reduction would allow MacBook 13" form factor to accommodate in Quad Core configuration. There.

Yep, that's what I'm hoping for. I'm happy with my MBP (late 09) especially after swapping HDD with SSD but it's when I start to test stuff, I need to run win in the VM so having additional 2 cores would be a huge plus for me and also for occasional video transcoding I do.

[riveting]

I don't see much in need to redesign MBA, they just need to improve the battery life.

[Confuzzzed]

Is there any technical reason (like processor cooling or motherboard space) why a mac mini can not integrate a quad core processor?

Would also like better battery life on the 11' MBA and I'd go back to it in a beat

[Ruahrc]

Is there any technical reason (like processor cooling or motherboard space) why a mac mini can not integrate a quad core processor?

Would also like better battery life on the 11' MBA and I'd go back to it in a beat

No, because the mac mini currently does integrate a quad core processor.

Combining it with discrete GPU shouldn't be a big issue either, IMHO. The 15" and 17" MBPs have discrete GPUs in them along with quad core processors, and they have arguably more severe power/cooling constraints.

I think at least part of it is that they want to keep the mini low end, although they do so at their own detriment in my opinion.

[Irock619]

Don't be discouraged about these new redesigned products coming out and not being able to afford them. The current models we have are still great machines and always will be.

[xgman]

Why do so many people want to drop the optical drive from the MBP and iMac? Went I bought my MBP I specifically chose it over an Air BECAUSE OF THE OPTICAL DRIVE. .

I find that I am forced for whatever reason to occasionally hook up an optical drive to flash a ssd or whatever, but they are slow, bulky and way pst their prime. We need to move to flash drives where downloading isn't an option and loose all the optical drives entirely as soon as possible. Remember floppies? I bet people thought they couldn't live without them when they got yanked.

[Sacird]

I find that I am forced for whatever reason to occasionally hook up an optical drive to flash a ssd or whatever, but they are slow, bulky and way pst their prime. We need to move to flash drives where downloading isn't an option and loose all the optical drives entirely as soon as possible. Remember floppies? I bet people thought they couldn't live without them when they got yanked.

Thing with floppies which no one brings up, is that CD's were right there ready to take their place. Windows box makers killed floppy when it stopped shipping in ALL those machines not apple.

I thought SD cards would be awesome for media if the prices could be cheaper. Small footprint, nothing spinning. Instead we are going to have this PITA download only solution, where optical will be the other option. Believe me, download only is going to have massive growing pains.

[musika]

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Whatever.

[damir00]

For me, it's the iPod Classic, pale-coloured with the click-wheel and 320x240 resolution. But I wonder how popular that version of the iPod is nowadays?

Dunno how popular it is, but I do know I just bought one. It's the only device large enough to carry (more or less) my entire music library.

Curiously, every single one of my friends who I would classify as a real music lover also has a Classic - for the same reason - even the ridiculously overpriced 64GB Touch can't hold anything close to our complete libraries.

[vitzr]

Nikon is going to release a 36 Mpx camera when their most popular pro camera is the 12 Mpx D3s. Mercedes still making SLS Gulf Wing when the C-Class is their bestselling model. Blackberry partners with Porsche Design for a $2,000 BB Messenger while the $600 version could do 100% what that super-expensive model could. Every company needs to have a flagship model that represents its highest level of achievement. It's more about a PR routine than a true profit-making activity. Apple will keep their Mac Pro for this reason alone. However, I still think they should reduce the size of the casing. The whole "Size Does Matter" school of thought is very 80s.

True examples.

Can you say "Vertu Ayxta"?

A modest $7,200.00 USD

http://www.vertu.com/en/collections/ayxta.aspx

[Slartibartfass]

Wireless battery charging PLEASE! I am getting tired of all the batteries laying around and constantly having to switch for keyboard, mouse, trackpad and so on.

[gloeben2]

I think the following are factors:

1. the A6 chip will be 28/32nm. If apple uses TSMC to manufacture this, it won't be ready until Q2 at the earliest. That means an iPad release in Q1 would still use the A5. (not sure about samsung's 32nm timeline, though)
2. The ramp-up of retina display production is likely going to slow things down.

my guess is that the iPad '2s' predicted for early next year (maybe thinner, longer battery life) may be a defensive tactic by Apple if android tablets start taking off. Otherwise I suspect they'll wait until Q3 or so to get the A6 chip and retina display in there.

[Mattsasa]

iPhone - We all knew this was coming a redesigned iPhone it certain to show up at some point in 2012.

iMac - highly possible they will drop the optical drive, then make the whole thing thinner! Maybe they will have an ultra-thin version with only the Intel HD 4000 graphics, and hopefully keep a thicker version with discrete graphics.

MacBook Air - I assume this is referring to a 15" and 17" MacBook Air, and the discontinuation of the MacBook Pro. Don't worry apple will keep at least one notebook with a dedicated graphics card, however their focus will be on ultra-thin notebooks with Intel HD 4000. Unless if somehow Apple finds away to innovate and put a high-end discrete graphics card in the MacBook Air form factor.

iPad - its hard to believe the iPad will get a redesign again. but what do I know? And obviously we all are expecting a 2048 x 1536 display upgrade for the iPad coming out in Feb. 2011, Fall 2011, Oct 2011, Christmas 2011, Q1 2012, June 2012, H2 2012????


Apple Television Set coming - 2011, 2012, 2013???

Apple TV - when is this getting apps? and a bluetooth game-pad??

iWork 11/12 - dead?

:apple:

[vitzr]

Dunno how popular it is, but I do know I just bought one. It's the only device large enough to carry (more or less) my entire music library.

Curiously, every single one of my friends who I would classify as a real music lover also has a Classic - for the same reason - even the ridiculously overpriced 64GB Touch can't hold anything close to our complete libraries.
I am also a huge fan of the Classic.

Having learned of their impending doom, I've just bought a new one to keep in it's sealed box, until the one I'm using now dies.

The click wheel was brilliant at the time, and continues to be.

A tactile delight.

[saturn88]

I think they can.

Apple loves pushing the limits and proving others wrong. People doubt it now, but a year from now, people will be amazed!

Yea, pushing limits for 16 month, proving others wrong: no iPhone 5 this time :D

[marmotmammal]

MacBook Pro sans optical drive as thin and light as Air? YES! i7 quad, SSD, 2gb VRAM, 16gb RAM? YES! 'need a fast machine to grow with FCPX developments.

Consider this. I never use Superdrive for one reason. They have broken in two of my previous Mac laptops, and I know people whose Superdrives have also gone belly up. I have two external USB optical drives if I need them, and one's a LightScribe. Do away with the internal optical drive. It is junk anyway.

[acslater017]

What a weird prediction.

iPad and iPhone revisions happen every year.

The MacBook Air just hit its stride. I'd be surprised if they redesigned the thing.

The only one that's really long in the tooth is the iMac. Although, ever since I saw those patents for touchscreen iMacs, I always assumed that they'd just keep the existing models until they switched to touch panels. :cool: That, and I wouldn't be surprised if the MacBook Pros got a redesign (same Unibody design since 2008).

[VitaminD]

iPad... stereo speakers (real stereo)... Yay! :D

[weaponEX]

I am also a huge fan of the Classic.

Having learned of their impending doom, I've just bought a new one to keep in it's sealed box, until the one I'm using now dies.


That's what I call dedication! I personally don't know anyone with a Classic any more - but it sounds like they're still very much alive and kicking for those who want access to all their music all the time.
However, I didn't realize they were officially doomed? That is a pity

[silver8ack]

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There better be 365 days in between iPhone releases or Tim Cook is in trouble with me.

[saturn88]

Hopefully with the option of matte screens, or at least using this new "invisible" glass:

Japanese Firm Develops ‘Invisible Glass’
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20111028/199970

Amazing Invisible Glass Kills Glare Dead
http://gizmodo.com/5854321/amazing-invisible-glass-kills-glare-dead

‘Invisible glass’ could reduce display glare, fails as food-in-teeth mirror
http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/31/invisible-glass-could-reduce-display-glare-fails-as-food-in-t

Apple, please, it is a health and productivity issue. Thank you.

Invisible Glass is old news. I've been waring glare-free glasses for over 10 years. I guess this glass is too expensive. Forget about invisible glass and Blu Ray drives on iMacs. Forget about Gorilla glass and AMOLED screens on iPhones: Apple would not use such premium components due to potential profit margin reduction.

[AndyR]

Getting worried and thinking my next Mac may not be a Mac at all. Love my Macs, had them for 10 years but once my current 2008 unibody mbp bites the dust, i just can't afford to replace it with a NZ$3000 one again, especially when the specs are not that great anymore. I'd love a new MBP, but apart from Windows my wife new $1500 Sony trounces it. Sigh.

[Kentochan]

Dang it, I bought the 2011 MacBook Pro in March, and the iPhone 4S a few weeks ago. Technology advances so rapidly nowadays!

[thekev]

iMac - highly possible they will drop the optical drive, then make the whole thing thinner! Maybe they will have an ultra-thin version with only the Intel HD 4000 graphics, and hopefully keep a thicker version with discrete graphics.

MacBook Air - I assume this is referring to a 15" and 17" MacBook Air, and the discontinuation of the MacBook Pro. Don't worry apple will keep at least one notebook with a dedicated graphics card, however their focus will be on ultra-thin notebooks with Intel HD 4000. Unless if somehow Apple finds away to innovate and put a high-end discrete graphics card in the MacBook Air form factor.


For the imac I don't care if they drop the optical drive, but I hope they don't go thinner. It makes zero difference on available desk space shaving off a couple millimeters on such a machine, and those things have too many heat issues as it is. If by some chance they do drop the mac pros, I hope the imacs become a bit more serviceable. As it is they have too many parts where servicing requires taking the computer in to Apple. It's a lot of potential downtime, which can be an issue. Display, hard drive on 2011 machine due to the temperature sensor thing, graphics card isn't just a pullout type like on a mac pro, etc. Even on the mini most parts are more accessible.

For the macbook pros (if you think we'll see a 17" air you're insane, they'd just drop the relatively unpopular form factor) smaller is going to mean tighter component integration. Apple doesn't actually use high end graphics in any of their laptops for battery life reasons, and innovating does not mean attempting to stuff bulky high wattage parts into a tiny enclosure. The best direction for this line would be focusing on some real improvements for the integrated graphics associated with the Airs and writing the best drivers possible.

MacBook Pro sans optical drive as thin and light as Air? YES! i7 quad, SSD, 2gb VRAM, 16gb RAM? YES! 'need a fast machine to grow with FCPX developments.


I'm not sure if you're serious at all here, but none of this is really possible in that form factor yet or with Ivy Bridge. The earliest you might even start to see powerful processors in something that looks like a macbook air is 2013. If you're doing heavy video work why would you even need such a compact machine? Power should be the primary concern. Just using a laptop at all there is a pretty hefty compromise. If you require a lot of supporting hardware, you're going to be pretty stationary anyway.

----------

Getting worried and thinking my next Mac may not be a Mac at all. Love my Macs, had them for 10 years but once my current 2008 unibody mbp bites the dust, i just can't afford to replace it with a NZ$3000 one again, especially when the specs are not that great anymore. I'd love a new MBP, but apart from Windows my wife new $1500 Sony trounces it. Sigh.

I'm still not sure why Apple is so expensive in NZ and AU. It's absolutely stupid what they cost in those countries. I know in AU electronics in general are pretty overpriced though relative to what many other countries pay.

Dang it, I bought the 2011 MacBook Pro in March, and the iPhone 4S a few weeks ago. Technology advances so rapidly nowadays!

What is surprising here? It sounds like it advances quickly, but it's not very linear. Some years you see very little gain. Intel doesn't have anything really interesting until 2012 anyway, and if Apple really makes any major changes to their enclosure, do you really want to beta test the design for them? Regardless of hype, the next ideal time to buy would be 2013 or later, as that marks the next big jump for intel. If they try to cram the macbook pro as it is into a smaller enclosure, you don't want to know how hot that will run.

[iEdd]

I'm still not sure why Apple is so expensive in NZ and AU. It's absolutely stupid what they cost in those countries. I know in AU electronics in general are pretty overpriced though relative to what many other countries pay.

This is true, but I find Apple are one of the more reasonable ones.

MacBook Air = $999US = $960AU
+ 10% GST (required sales tax in AU)
= $1056

What do they charge in AU?
$1099.

Seems very reasonable, considering we are a smaller market. Many other companies just round those sort of numbers up to an "even" $1999AU.

[Prodo123]

Finally a sensible post!
Like I said many, many times before, Apple will not make major changes to the prosumer/professional Mac lineup (which excludes MacBook Air). Especially changes that would bring it closer to the consumer market that the iDevices and the MacBook Air is targeted towards.

[Deedlez]

Better not tell my bank manager about this. 2012 is looking expensive!:

New iMac (could do with a new one soon - still using a 24" model)
iPhone 5 (I'm skipping the 4S)
iPad 3 (retina please!)
An Apple TV..? (as in an actual screen, not a little black box)

I need to start spoiling the wife in advance...

[tbear1]

Not surprising they are updating products. We will see how many are actually redesigns vs. updates. It could be an exciting year.

Glenn

[Kaenon]

iPhone 4GS, 5 or 6, or iPhone Air...whatever they call it in 2012
iPad 2S and iPad 3 in 2012
Macbook Air and Macbook Air Pro in 2012
iMac 2012 in 2012

[stevensr123]

This is true, but I find Apple are one of the more reasonable ones.

MacBook Air = $999US = $960AU
+ 10% GST (required sales tax in AU)
= $1056

What do they charge in AU?
$1099.

Seems very reasonable, considering we are a smaller market. Many other companies just round those sort of numbers up to an "even" $1999AU.

Same here, and they "need" that ever 50 or so just incase the currency rates change. basically a fall back option, no?


However the uk prices......that's another story.


If i got my macbook air 11" in the uk i would have had to pay au$1293, in australia: 1099.

[twoodcc]

i doubt this it true, though i hope it is. let's hope the mac pro is still around to see another refresh though

[iSayuSay]

Dang it, I bought the 2011 MacBook Pro in March, and the iPhone 4S a few weeks ago. Technology advances so rapidly nowadays!

And so it has been for decades, just let them pass and upgrades every 3 years or so. :D .. You don't get certificate/awards for always having the latest and greatest, do you?

[eye]

The world is clamoring for the next new product from
Apple, not the latest redesign. I think they lose mindshare if an all new product doesn't show up soon. I haven't even been excited about them lately, and I'm a nerd. One can only be so hyped up about a faster processor and some tweaks. We need our minds blown again.

[wordsmith27]

awesome i can probably pick up a solid refurb macbook pro next year then also... i love the form factor but can't justify the price and the air is just too light...good move apple.

[AppleDroid]

What is this obsession with Matte screen? Its contrast is lacking.Glossy FTW !!

Because I like to see the designs I'm working on not the room behind me nor my beautiful face. ;)

[Omek]

I know Apple has been having trouble figuring out how to implement multi-touch into Macs, but I'm hoping they've finally solved that issue. Steve always had an issue with the "monkey-arm" idea of having multitouch on an iMac. I've been waiting about eight years for multi-touch Macs. When the iPhone was released, I thought they would only be a few years off, but again...more waiting.

I'm guessing the iMac will be a lot thinner and it will serve as a transitional machine between mouse and keyboard and multitouch. It will be able to tilt backwards like a stylus, so it can be utilized more easily with multi-touch. Apple has always catered very well to the graphic arts community, and maybe they'll even add pen stylus pressure sensitivity similar to a Wacom tablet. It makes sense to do this, since Lion is somewhat of a transitional operating system that bridges iOS with Mac OS X.

It just seems about that time. We've been with the same type of iMac now for a few generations, and it's time to completely rethink its design and introduce something new that advances the user experience to the next level.

[Rorry]

No one could have guess that Apple will release new models of its products next year, except for DigiTimes exclusive ‘source’...:rolleyes:

[Nostromo]

What the iMac needs:

1. Solve the heat problems

2. Matte screen (maybe an all-black iMac, a stealth design?)


The heat problem will be a tough one: you don't want a ventilation system humming right in front of your eyes, don't you?

A solution could be to go away from the all-in-one design.

Remember the lamp iMac?

A future iMac could have a long arm like a wall-mount with the screen on it, and, through one single cable, it is connected to a box sitting somewhere under the desk.

As an option one could attach the screen right onto the box.


I'd relish the elegant form factor of that long arm with a very flat screen.

The box could even sit in an adjoining room. There could be different size options and power options.

And there could be screen options.

Instead of the all-in-one design it would be a modular design.

Theoretically, you could have a workstation quality box with Xeon processors as the pro option.

This way, the Mac Pro could go away, and at the same time, stay.

[Confuzzzed]

No, because the mac mini currently does integrate a quad core processor.

Apologies if I am missing something here regarding Ruahcr's answer? Because checking the specs of the current mac mini range I see:

Entry level "2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 with 3MB on-chip shared L3 cache"
Enhanced level "2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 with 3MB on-chip shared L3 cache".
The Enhanced level unit, ultimate spec adds the option of "2.7GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7" for $100. If the mac mini had quad core, I would be buying one tomorrow.

[Confuzzzed]

Is there any technical reason (like processor cooling or motherboard space) why a mac mini can not integrate a quad core processor?

...

[superlatic]

No one could have guess that Apple will release new models of its products next year, except for DigiTimes exclusive ‘source’...:rolleyes:

Come on be fair, there's a difference between updating the products, and overhauling them.

[ABernardoJr]

What the iMac needs:

1. Solve the heat problems

2. Matte screen (maybe an all-black iMac, a stealth design?)


The heat problem will be a tough one: you don't want a ventilation system humming right in front of your eyes, don't you?

A solution could be to go away from the all-in-one design.

Remember the lamp iMac?

A future iMac could have a long arm like a wall-mount with the screen on it, and, through one single cable, it is connected to a box sitting somewhere under the desk.

As an option one could attach the screen right onto the box.


I'd relish the elegant form factor of that long arm with a very flat screen.

The box could even sit in an adjoining room. There could be different size options and power options.

And there could be screen options.

Instead of the all-in-one design it would be a modular design.

Theoretically, you could have a workstation quality box with Xeon processors as the pro option.

This way, the Mac Pro could go away, and at the same time, stay.

:confused::confused::confused: You realize that Apple would not do anything remotely close to that right? To go from the all in one look to go leaps backward against their design philosophy and start taking up multiple rooms? That sounds like it would have worked maybe 20 years ago though.

[Aimson]

I reckon the new iMac will have a very nice look about it maybe the same as the Apple Thunderbolt display, about the same thickness too, what's everyone else think?

[justperry]

Apologies if I am missing something here regarding Ruahcr's answer? Because checking the specs of the current mac mini range I see:

Entry level "2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 with 3MB on-chip shared L3 cache"
Enhanced level "2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 with 3MB on-chip shared L3 cache".
The Enhanced level unit, ultimate spec adds the option of "2.7GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7" for $100. If the mac mini had quad core, I would be buying one tomorrow.

There you go

[b_scott]

makes sense. It's time. This form factor has been around for 3 years.

[Wicked1]

Bring on the 2012 Mini with Superdrive,i5 and i7 Quad Core CPU's and Dedicated 1GB GPU and 1TB internal drive standard :D

Now that I woke up from that dream, I just need a unit with better GPU, and dual 1TB drives, also a nice boost in CPU and RAM would be nice :)

[smulji]

Bring on the 2012 Mini with Superdrive,i5 and i7 Quad Core CPU's and Dedicated 1GB GPU and 1TB internal drive standard :D

Now that I woke up from that dream, I just need a unit with better GPU, and dual 1TB drives, also a nice boost in CPU and RAM would be nice :)

I wouldn't give up on your dream just yet. The current mini has space for 2 HD's and an dedicated GPU. Plus the server version sports a quad-core CPU. With Ivy Bridge being 22nm and consuming less power plus the fact that the next gen GPU's coming out next year will be 28nm or 20nm, it's very possible next year's mini could have a quad-core CPU and dedicated GPU.

I just wish Apple would add support for at least 16GB of RAM, if not more.

I'm crossing my fingers they have something very close to these specs. My credit card is waiting. I'm not a big fan of AIO machines due to potential overheating issues and due to the fact if something goes wrong you have to take the whole machine in.

[mfarris2]

Any word on when those are due out?



What overlap? There's no overlap, you have an 11" MacBook Air that has a weak processor, an okay amount of RAM for today, and an SSD, a 13" Air that's slightly faster, a 13" Pro that's way faster that has the option of either a hard drive or an SSD, a 15" Pro that beats the crap out of any of those three, and a 17" Pro that has the higher-end 15" Pro's options but adds extra ports, two more inches of diagonal screen real-estate and an ExpressCard slot.



It's one thing to talk like you know what you're talking about but not, and it's another to talk like you know what you're talking about and actually know what you're talking about. This site has a plethora of the former and way too little of the latter. My contempt is with the former group for incorrectly assuming that they are in the latter camp. Case in point: "Just improve the cooling system of the current design."

And how exactly would you propose doing that (hint: if you don't want to sound any further like you don't know what you're talking about, I'd use the words "thicker design", but at that point we're talking about something that harkens to an older and less problematic [at least as far as heat was ever concerned] design and your argument is rendered invalid)?

By the way, I will never look down on anyone for actually admitting that they don't know what they're talking about, especially when it comes to engineering quandaries like Apple computers and their anorexia.

So many big words. An engineering dilemma. How to fit a square peg into a round hole. How to remove conduction and convection heat when you are limited by cfm's across the heat sources. Hmmm, can we say liquid cooling? Is it probable? No! Is it possible, absolutely!

[Manther86]

I made the switch to Mac about four years ago and I was planning on buying the 27" iMac when the new OSX "Mountain Lion" comes out. I was just wondering whether I should expect a complete redesign before then? And if not, should I wait anyway for the next iMac model to come out, or purchase whatever model is available at that time?

[weaponEX]

should I wait anyway for the next iMac model to come out, or purchase whatever model is available at that time?

There wont be an iMac redesign before Mountain Lion.
I don't know if the new Ivy Bridge processors will become standard in iMacs (like they're due to in Macbooks) but they'll definitely be worth the wait just incase!

[Omek]

I made the switch to Mac about four years ago and I was planning on buying the 27" iMac when the new OSX "Mountain Lion" comes out. I was just wondering whether I should expect a complete redesign before then? And if not, should I wait anyway for the next iMac model to come out, or purchase whatever model is available at that time?

Not to mention, all the iMacs from the late-2009 to the current models are plagued with screen issues. The yellow screen tinge never went away, despite what you heard from Apple. And now there is a new problem cropping up in which grey smudges or stains permeate the screens. It seems to be a hardware design issue. Other Apple products don't seem to have this problem, but I would stay far away from iMacs until they completely redesign them.

Here's an Apple support thread where the issue has been heating up lately:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2300580?start=690&tstart=0