iMac Update Slated For Late June

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

Think Secret believes (http://www.thinksecret.com/news/0705imac.html) that the iMac may be updated by late June, and echoes a previous report (http://www.macrumors.com/2007/03/20/next-apple-imacs-with-striking-new-industrial-design/) by Appleinsider that the revision would not include the 17" model.

While no technical details have been discovered regarding the next iMac revision, Appleinsider said in its previous report that the revision would showcase "striking new industrial designs aimed at leaving both competitors and onlookers smitten."

On a related note, Think Secret believes that Apple will soon update its display line to swap out the 23" display for the same 24" LCD used in the iMac.

[ethen]

awesome as i was holding off for a 24" imac

[RollTide]

Thank you thinsksecret for stating the obvious.

[quigleybc]

where have updates for iMacs and Mini's been anyway.

It's about time.

I want to be Smitten'd

Smitten me

SSSSSMMMMITTTT

us

[Bonte]

I bet lots of new hardware when Leopard is out or presented as a full featured beta.

Still think leopard will run on generic PC hardware (Apple can't prevent it) so i'm wondering what hardware Apple is going to present to compete with Dell and others. :)

[kuebby]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

"striking new industrial designs aimed at leaving both competitors and onlookers smitten."


I hate how every mac rumors always has that cryptic section that doesn't really make sense and is always left out of future posts.

Plus everything they said is kind of obvious.

[dartzorichalcos]

I hope it will have the touchscreen feature.

[yzp]

yyyyyaaaaahhhhhhh!!!

twas about time!!

[Zwhaler]

Cool, I hope this means new ACD's too.

[DakotaGuy]

where have updates for iMacs and Mini's been anyway.

It's about time.

I want to be Smitten'd

Smitten me

SSSSSMMMMITTTT

us

They are waiting on new faster processors...wait a second...oh yeah that was the excuse in the PowerPC days.

Now since we are with a chipmaker that is coming out with upgraded and much faster processors every couple of months or so, there is no excuse anymore.

[scrambledwonder]

Neato! I can't wait to see what the industrial design geniuses over at Apple have come up with! "Striking industrial design?" Sounds wonderful.

[ero87]

no "?" at the end of the title? Shouldn't it say "iMac updates in June?"

I've noticed this as a recent trend at MR... i thought if it's a rumor, it gets a question mark. n'est-ce pas?

[MrSmith]

... a striking new industrial designs aimed at leaving both competitors and onlookers smitten.
It's gotta be good to beat the current design. Perhaps the new design will have breasts.

[eenu]

I do hope this turns out to be correct as the GF is buying an iMac at the end of June so i can play with it :)

[NewSc2]

LED-backlit?

[eenu]

LED-backlit?

given steve said they can't get them big enough i doubt it

[jawzzy]

It's gotta be good to beat the current design. Perhaps the new design will have breasts.

I do hope this turns out to be correct as the GF is buying an iMac at the end of June so i can play with it :)

Play with what? The breasts or the computer? :D

[eenu]

Play with what? The breasts or the computer? :D

both of them are great......one hand for each :D

[twoodcc]

sounds good.....but what about the mini?

[ezekielrage_99]

sounds good.....but what about the mini?

Yeah the Mac Mini needs a bump desperately.

But I am interested in the "striking" new design for the iMac

[scrambledwonder]

no "?" at the end of the title? Shouldn't it say "iMac updates in June?"

I've noticed this as a recent trend at MR... i thought if it's a rumor, it gets a question mark. n'est-ce pas?

Yep. Should be a question mark in the headline. But there is that giant question mark graphic in the main text cell. . . ;)

[elppa]

A new design would be nice, not that there's anything wrong with iMac at the moment, but the Pro Laptop, Pro Desktop and Home Desktop machines have all looked the same pretty much for a number of years now.

And you can bet it will be thinner!

Steve loves thin.

[Konradx]

Has the mini been left in the dust? I'm happy for the iMac, but the mini hasnt been really touched. I hope the iMac has a 8800GTX so all the mac fans can play Starcraft 2 :D

[polishmacuser]

i wonder how the design will look like?:confused:

[flopticalcube]

Probably iPhone on a big scale.

Up to now this has been a poor year for Mac hardware. Airport Extreme and AppleTV are the only 2 new products this year and they aren't even Macs!

[nagromme]

The iPhone, while still minimalist and sleek, is a departure from all previous Apple designs. A hint of future directions?

A gloss-black iMac with chrome edge and aluminum back would look pretty nice!

[irishgrizzly]

How about a similar design to the current iMac, except the screen is touch-screen and is detachable from the base and acts like a tablet while sending the processing instructions wireless back to the base unit. Would be cool, no?

[joshwest]

i wonder if her goes with a more of rouded edges like on the tops and bottoms of the acd's but do them on the left and right

[longofest]

LED-backlit?

laptops first...

[flopticalcube]

I just hope they get rid of the chin. I have come to hate the look of it.

laptops first...

I agree. I don't think they could even find a 20" LED-backlit panel, never mind a 24" one.

[Hugh]

I bet lots of new hardware when Leopard is out or presented as a full featured beta.

Still think leopard will run on generic PC hardware (Apple can't prevent it) so i'm wondering what hardware Apple is going to present to compete with Dell and others. :)

Oh I don't know about that. I my self have tried the tricks that are out there on how to install Mac OS X on non-Apple hardware.

Before you say it. (Yes but some people have done it). That is true but that is such a small number who have really figured this out. Or I my self is too dumb to figure it out? :confused:

Hugh

[zeppelin68]

apple throw an 8800gtx in there and i will buy.

[Porchland]

It's gotta be good to beat the current design. Perhaps the new design will have breasts.

Speaking of body parts, I'm thinking maybe the new iMac will have a similar form factor to the current iMac but will ditch the chin.

http://www.prismastore.com.cy/images/imac24.jpg

Without the chin, the iMac starts to look an awful lot like a plasma TV with a computer on board.

[Dagless]

I hope it will have the touchscreen feature.

*cof* Fingerprints!

One can wonder where they will take the iMac design. There haven't been design changes or new designs introduced (Apple TV taking after Mac Mini), so many the new iMac will be a flagship for a new design?

[..........?]

I bet lots of new hardware when Leopard is out or presented as a full featured beta.

Still think leopard will run on generic PC hardware (Apple can't prevent it) so i'm wondering what hardware Apple is going to present to compete with Dell and others. :)

Nope, leopard will define run only on an apple machine. Just like iTunes is there to encourage ipod sales. Mac OS X is there to encourage sales of apple machine. The osx is a feature of apple machine.

Apple machine + Mac OS X = apple seamless experience.

The only scenario that a Mac os x will be on a non apple branded computer if apple decide that it need another computer brand to create an another image for more diverse customer base. Such as Apple brand as a high end brand and a new brand for consumer. Apple can create a new brand from scratch or merge with an existing company such as Dell.

[flopticalcube]

I doubt they will add another brand. Too much risk of cross contamination and tainting.

[thejadedmonkey]

Hallelujah, it's a rumor of a new apple product on macrumors.com!

In other news, hell just froze over.

[iBunny]

Hey, Apple insider was exact on the MacBook update. They called when it was, and even that it was just going to be a speedbump with no santa rosa.

[elppa]

Probably iPhone on a big scale.

Up to now this has been a poor year for Mac hardware. Airport Extreme and AppleTV are the only 2 new products this year and they aren't even Macs!

AppleTV runs OS X.

So in theory every sale is expanding the Mac platform.

Although in practice the vast majority of sales are going to people who already own a Mac.

[ravenvii]

It's gotta be good to beat the current design. Perhaps the new design will have breasts.

I do hope this turns out to be correct as the GF is buying an iMac at the end of June so i can play with it :)

Play with what? The breasts or the computer? :D

both of them are great......one hand for each :D

sounds good.....but what about the mini?

HAHAHA oh my lungs! I need to breathe... *wheezing*

I just hope they get rid of the chin. I have come to hate the look of it.

Agreed 100%. I hated the chin since the first day I saw it.

[FF_productions]

It is totally going to be worth the wait I'm thinking.

We have gone nearly 6 months without anything exciting.

By the end of June we will see a full-featured Leopard, iPhone more in depth (not sure), a crazy re-design of the iMac (something with touch screen), a long awaited update to the Mac Mini and updated MacBook Pros.

The second half of 2007 is going to be very exciting.
Quote me on that.

[QCassidy352]

late june... meaning 9+ months between updates... ridiculous.

[Lepton]

I'm predicting Multi-Touch! Well, touch support in Leopard, actually, and in new displays - it's why I think there haven't been any new displays in ever so long. They have to wait for the iPhone announce and Leopard support. That touch stuff in the phone will work great in easel-like displays and tablet Macs! More details on all this here (http://www.myallo.com/article?artid=2208652). :)

[zioxide]

late june... meaning 9+ months between updates... ridiculous.

The new Intel platform just came out two weeks ago. Apple has had nothing to update the iMacs with since the Core 2 Duos.. so don't blame them.

[flopticalcube]

Why does everyone want to touch their displays? Think of the fingerprint mess!

[mcarnes]

Pfft. I just placed an order for a brand new 20" iMac for the office. Oh well, who cares.

[zioxide]

New iMac design without the chin:

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/2765/newimacrm5.jpg

[flopticalcube]

The new Intel platform just came out two weeks ago. Apple has had nothing to update the iMacs with since the Core 2 Duos.. so don't blame them.

Actually, you can blame Apple. They could have done a speed bump/price drop a month or two ago but they chose higher margins instead.

[urbanskywalker]

I'm predicting Multi-Touch! Well, touch support in Leopard, actually, and in new displays - it's why I think there haven't been any new displays in ever so long. They have to wait for the iPhone announce and Leopard support. That touch stuff in the phone will work great in easel-like displays and tablet Macs! More details on all this here (http://www.myallo.com/article?artid=2208652). :)

Touch support would be clumsy on an imac, and hard on the arms. I just don't see it happening.

[FF_productions]

Touch support would be clumsy on an imac, and hard on the arms. I just don't see it happening.

Hence a Re-design.

If we don't see touch screen on the iMac we will see some sort of touch-screen support in Leopard.

Apple is going all out this year, I can feel it.

Apple wants to be revolutionary, they brought the keyboard and one button mouse with the original Macintosh, now they are/might trying to introduce computers with touch screens.

[elppa]

Touch support would be clumsy on an imac, and hard on the arms. I just don't see it happening.

No, it would depend on how it was designed.

Aperture and multi touch were born for each other, it would be a great combo.

[mcarnes]

Actually, you can blame Apple. They could have done a speed bump/price drop a month or two ago but they chose higher margins instead.

Mmmmmmmmm... higher margins.

[iMacZealot]

I see touch-screen capabilities being a little overambitious at this point. I certainly think that computers will someday become touchscreen like what Jeff Han (is that his name?) has been demonstrating. However, now is not the time for that.......yet.

There is no point in reintroducing the Mac Clone program. The geniuses running Apple in the mid-90's started it to expand the Mac market share, but it just ended up cannibalising Apple. It was doomed from the start, and Steve Jobs even said that. This will never happen again, people.

[LoganT]

Why the hell do some people want multi-touch iMacs so bad? Shouldn't we be discussing putting multi-touch on a Macbook? It's more viable. And My God please do not post that video of Jeff Han and his "TED Talk". It looks cool when you are looking at it, but would be totally pointless in an iMac.

[gaelan]

now they are/might trying to introduce computers with touch screens.

don't they already have those? i would prefer that the touching stay on my ds. i've been threatening the kids daily for 5 years not to touch daddy's lcd screens, now there is talk of touch screen displays. i just hope the screens are peanut butter friendly.

[FF_productions]

don't they already have those? i would prefer that the touching stay on my ds. i've been threatening the kids daily for 5 years not to touch daddy's lcd screens, now there is talk of touch screen displays. i just hope the screens are peanut butter friendly.

Oh, I know they exist, but I mean a "Multi-Touch" Mac, basically a bigger version of the iPhone.

[HawaiiMacAddict]

Aloha everyone,

I think one cool thing would be the "LCARS" type of keyboard. Seeing as how touch, or to be more precise multi-touch, will be hitting your neighborhood iPhone next month, what about a multi-touch enabled keyboard, like on Star Trek? Imagine NOT having physical keys, like not having the tiny keys on modern "smart" phones, but rather letting software design your own palette, whether the need be keys or other tools. Imagine the entirety of the space normally reserved for the keyboard, but used for ..... I may be waaaaaaaay off base here, but at least it's worth a thought.

And for those that worry about fingerprints, Steve and company have thought of that already. After all, what will they do on the iPhone? I can only imagine the same type of material/coating will be used in future multi-touch devices.

:apple:HawaiiMacAddict

[urbanskywalker]

No, it would depend on how it was designed.

Aperture and multi touch were born for each other, it would be a great combo.

How do you see this design working? To me touch screen makes sense on smaller portable screens, but not a larger screen that I need smudge free for image based work.

[SkyBell]

New iMac design without the chin:

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/2765/newimacrm5.jpg

Eww. Keep the chin!

[dongmin]

How about a similar design to the current iMac, except the screen is touch-screen and is detachable from the base and acts like a tablet while sending the processing instructions wireless back to the base unit. Would be cool, no?

With a 20" or 24" LCD screen???

Hence a Re-design.

If we don't see touch screen on the iMac we will see some sort of touch-screen support in Leopard.

Apple is going all out this year, I can feel it.

Apple wants to be revolutionary, they brought the keyboard and one button mouse with the original Macintosh, now they are/might trying to introduce computers with touch screens.

What you guys are asking for a totally different, new device. The iMac is intended to be a simple, minimalist, all-in-one desktop machine. For something that sits on the desk, you want a large screen--larger the better. This rules out a portable, tablet form factor.

And for multi-touch to work well, you want something that sits close to your hands, as in lying at an angle on the desk, directly above the keyboard. (See the Wacom Citinq (http://www.wacom.com/cintiq/index.cfm).) Finally, a 20" touch screen is simply TOO EXPENSIVE. The 21" Citinq goes for $2500, to give you a ball park.

Again, portability + multi-touch = new device != imac.

[mikeinternet]

Eww. Keep the chin!

what???
this looks sooo much nicer!

i respect your opinion but am baffled anyone would prefer more bulk over less

[ravenvii]

New iMac design without the chin:

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/2765/newimacrm5.jpg

Yeah, that's what the iMac should've looked like... now.

I hope they're not going to be lazy and just do that for the redesign.

[Rocketman]

The iPhone, while still minimalist and sleek, is a departure from all previous Apple designs. A hint of future directions?

A gloss-black iMac with chrome edge and aluminum back would look pretty nice!

No it's not. It's a "round rect". Steve's "pet shape".

Where are the fake mock-ups of speculated iMac shapes?

Rocketman

[mcarnes]

Eww. Keep the chin!

Agreed. It looks naked and cold without the girth down below. Like it needs a blanket. Or a hug.

[speedier]

Aloha everyone,

I think one cool thing would be the "LCARS" type of keyboard. Seeing as how touch, or to be more precise multi-touch, will be hitting your neighborhood iPhone next month, what about a multi-touch enabled keyboard, like on Star Trek? Imagine NOT having physical keys, like not having the tiny keys on modern "smart" phones, but rather letting software design your own palette, whether the need be keys or other tools. Imagine the entirety of the space normally reserved for the keyboard, but used for ..... I may be waaaaaaaay off base here, but at least it's worth a thought.

And for those that worry about fingerprints, Steve and company have thought of that already. After all, what will they do on the iPhone? I can only imagine the same type of material/coating will be used in future multi-touch devices.

:apple:HawaiiMacAddict

I agree very much with this idea.. if multitouch was gonna come with iMac, it wouldn't be on an upright monitor that we use with PC or iMac. It just doesn't make much sense on the user-experience aspect. Before reading the quoted post, I was thinking more along the lines of reinventing the screen so it doesn't best sit as upright but rather on an angle tilted from being flat on the desk. that way the arms can sit on the desk as you touch-screen ur new iMac. HawaiiMacAddict's idea is awesome too.. actually it's similar to the DoCoMo vision video that company made a decade ago.

Anyway, if multitouch touchscreen comes, it won't be on an iMac design that comes with an upright screen in my opinion. I just can't imagine them telling people to reach across the desk with arms hanging in the air for hours working on the computer.

[alana22]

I so want an iMac, but only if:

1) NO BLACK. I've never liked black hardware
2) NO CHIN! Unless they find a way to add a 2nd screen about 2 inches high that runs the whole width of the monitor just underneath the main screen so that the dock/dashboard could sit snuggled in and not get in the way of the main work area (ie: the main screen). I know I'm dreaming, but whatever.

I like the white, but I think the metal look of the MBP would look even better on an iMac. An aluminum casing with a nicely sculpted aluminum stand would look a lot better than the IKEA looking plasic stand they use now.

I know I'll buy one no matter how it looks though. ;)

[ribbonthecat]

New iMac design without the chin:

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/2765/newimacrm5.jpg

What I really hate is the forehead.

[Rocketman]

I agree very much with this idea.. if multitouch was gonna come with iMac, it wouldn't be on an upright monitor that we use with PC or iMac. It just doesn't make much sense on the user-experience aspect. Before reading the quoted post, I was thinking more along the lines of reinventing the screen so it doesn't best sit as upright but rather on an angle tilted from being flat on the desk. that way the arms can sit on the desk as you touch-screen ur new iMac.

Agreed. It probably should have two lamp iMac bases ( :) ) with a screen between them both at an adjustable angle from 15 degrees off flat to vertical. A bluetooth keyboard and mouse and/or perhaps a "remote" which is both a iPhone like keyboard and a scrolling device.

Any other base shape would be a compromise.

Rocketman

[peestandingup]

If you remember from the MW '07 keynote, Steve said that Multi-Touch was the 3rd & next step in the progression of the user interface. The mouse>the scroll-wheel>multi-touch. And he made it a point to tell us they patented the hell out of it.

With iPhone running Leopard, you can bet your a$$ they will be bringing multi-touch to their Macs as well. Dont know how they're gonna do a "touch" iMac, but if anyone can do it, its Steve & Apple.

[billystlyes]

The iMac is so 90's. How about a headless "Mac"! :cool:

[pengu]

On a related note, Think Secret believes that Apple will soon update its display line to swap out the 23" display for the same 24" LCD used in the iMac.

Great. another "Dell" idea. you can keep your extra inch(es) if it's the same res. the imac 24", and both the Dell 24" and Dell 27" all use the same res as the ACD 23".

[Magicceilingfan]

See, the chin is there for a reason. They need to house the iMac's innards somewhere. The only other option with the current design would have been to fatten up the unit.

I've always been a little partial to the iMac G4 design, personally.

[miketcool]

"striking new industrial designs aimed at leaving both competitors and onlookers smitten."

I hope the word smitten is the archaic noun meaning "a heavy blow or stroke with a weapon". I'd pay to see an :apple: hunt down and destroy lesser machines.

[APPLENEWBIE]

I predict: Smooth Black glass front (with no apparent bezel) when turned off. Will still be in the form factor having a chin, but the area of the chin will carry a second small screen (about 3" X width of imac) that will house the dock, and a bunch of widgets. the small screen might be touch sensative. It will also have a heavy chrome stand, with adjustable height. and maybe a totally new "touchable" pointing device, shaped like a iphone (i'm betting there are already a lot of them made), which sits flat on the desk top (the wooden one, not the computer desktop)

[lazyrighteye]

I do hope this turns out to be correct as the GF is buying an iMac at the end of June so i can play with it :)

"it"

iMac?
GF?
Both?

LOL.

Things are annoyingly slow out of camp Apple...
Seems we in for an active summer/fall.

[KingKai]

I think instead of touch screens, Apple should go with a new keyboard design. One that resembles the one used on the gibson computer in that movie "Hackers." They'd take the market by storm. :D

[SkyBell]

what???
this looks sooo much nicer!

i respect your opinion but am baffled anyone would prefer more bulk over less

Agreed. It looks naked and cold without the girth down below. Like it needs a blanket. Or a hug.

What he said.

The chin gives the iMac it's personality! I don't want my computer to look like a display! (Sure, the "Woah, where's the computer?" Comments would be cool. But the current design already does that, as well as the mini)

[Peel]

I like the white, but I think the metal look of the MBP would look even better on an iMac. An aluminum casing with a nicely sculpted aluminum stand would look a lot better than the IKEA looking plasic stand they use now.

Umm... The current iMac already has an aluminum stand - same as the ACD. Nothing plastic except the case.

[alana22]

I hope this doesn't sound snarky (because I truly want to know), but in what scenario would a touchscreen on an iMac make sense? It makes a lot of sense on the iPhone since there is no keyboard, but why would someone want that on an iMac? There is the fingerprint issue (it's a lot easier to wipe the smudges on a cellphone screen away with your sleeve than it would be to clean a 20" monitor) and it seems like it'd be very uncomfortable to lean over the desk to touch the screen. Plus, isn't a mouse more thorough and convenient than using your fingers? I know I don't speak for everyone, but I've never come across an instance where I was using my desktop and thought "you know, it'd be so much nicer if instead of sitting here clicking my mouse I could lean forward and rub icons across the screen"... hence my confusion.

Umm... The current iMac already has an aluminum stand - same as the ACD. Nothing plastic except the case.

Whaat? Is it painted white then? That, or I'm seriously confused.. :confused:

[iMacZealot]

Whaat? Is it painted white then? That, or I'm seriously confused.. :confused:

The iMac's body is made of white-painted polycarbonate plastic-- just like the MacBooks and the tops of the Mac Minis and :apple: TV's. It does have some sort of plastic coating around it, too. The foot, on the other hand, is made of aluminum, which is used in the MBP, Mac Pro, and the sides of the Mac Mini and :apple: TV.

I seriously think touchscreen desktop computers are at least five years off. We're not ready for that now.

[Peel]

Whaat? Is it painted white then? That, or I'm seriously confused.. :confused:

I think it's just the way it's photographed on the Apple site. When it's sitting right in front of you it's definitely aluminum.

Though, that said, I have an iMac G5. They didn't change the base for the intel version did they?

[iMacZealot]

I think it's just the way it's photographed on the Apple site. When it's sitting right in front of you it's definitely aluminum.

Though, that said, I have an iMac G5. They didn't change the base for the intel version did they?

I don't think so. All they changed physically was the beveled back (vs. the flat back, which I prefer), made it slightly thinner, and added an iSight. There are also some holes/fans right behind the top of the foot, which I think looks really tacky.

[SkyBell]

I don't think so. All they changed physically was the beveled back (vs. the flat back, which I prefer), made it slightly thinner, and added an iSight. There are also some holes/fans right behind the top of the foot, which I think looks really tacky.

Didn't the last revision G5's also have iSight?:confused:



Also, I'm pretty sure the sides of my mini aren't aluminum.

[Peel]

I don't think so. All they changed physically was the beveled back (vs. the flat back, which I prefer), made it slightly thinner, and added an iSight. There are also some holes/fans right behind the top of the foot, which I think looks really tacky.

Actually the beveled back and isight were both from the last revision of the G5 line. I didn't think they changed anything externaly on the intels.

[fuzzwud]

I'd be "smitten" by the industrial design if the new iMacs included a 3-D stereoscopic LCD screen. Imagine bringing Expose and Multiple User functionality 3D features.

[alana22]

I think it's just the way it's photographed on the Apple site. When it's sitting right in front of you it's definitely aluminum.

Though, that said, I have an iMac G5. They didn't change the base for the intel version did they?

Ah ok. I've glanced at the current iMac a few times at the Apple Store but never paid much attention to it. The awkwardly elongated bottom (chin) always put me off from even considering it. I'd rather have a little more bulk in the back than a drooping chin. At least when you stare at your screen you wouldn't be able to directly see the added bulk - and I can't imagine it adding anymore than 1 or 1.5 inches, which is no big deal to me. It's not like it's a portable we're talking about here.

[JGowan]

I hope it will have the touchscreen feature.In the immortal words of Steven Tyler of Aerosmith: Dream on. :D

[LoganT]

Yeah let's add multi-touch to the iMacs. Let's make them even more expensive!

[Glenns]

Well, i been wanting the 24" but i have no money.
but since they are coming out with a new design
then i am going to wait because i am just waiting until leopard comes out then
buy the iMac.
That is a Smart way.

[KingKai]

Well, for what my opinions worth, I think itd be cool to see the iMac take a page from the iPod. What I mean by that is, color on the front with a poly cover(except for the screen), then a chrome back.


And if they wanted they could introduce different colors like the nanos and the G3 iMacs of the past.

[geerlingguy]

Today I finally stashed aside enough money to get a new iMac, with most specs maxed out (largest hard drive, 3 GB RAM, wireless/bluetooth, but not the fastest processor), and I'm itching to get it... but I have to wait until June! And Leopard is being delayed too - what a shame!

I was hoping Apple would have the iMacs and minis updated before the end of May... they could still surprise me :D.

[iMacZealot]

Actually the beveled back and isight were both from the last revision of the G5 line. I didn't think they changed anything externaly on the intels, except that the back just says iMac now (no mention of the processor, ala iMac G5)



Didn't the last revision G5's also have iSight?:confused:



Also, I'm pretty sure the sides of my mini aren't aluminum.


I'm comparing the original third generation iMac design with the revised third generation design. I assume that's what you meant, Peel.

And the iMac G5's never had "G5" imprinted on the back, either.

[redkamel]

I apologize for the pic, but I always thought this would be an awesome design (even though I doubt others would). Kind of inspired by an oldschool typewriter. I think it would be more ergonomical too since your neck is in a more neutral position....and it would be easy to add touch capability later. If anyone has photoshop skills, feel free to make a better mock up.

[bearfoot]

Neato! I can't wait to see what the industrial design geniuses over at Apple have come up with! "Striking industrial design?" Sounds wonderful.

I am in the the iMac 'will look like a giant iPhone' camp. If it has a multi-touch display, then I suspect Leopard will have some UI tweaks to make the mac more finger friendly. Heh, imagine the computer interface from Star Trek TNG on your desktop. :)

Apple's organic themed industrial design, rounded edges everywhere and animated transitions ala core animation, will continue to seep its way into everything.

I hope Apple includes a microfiber cloth (same as come with eyeglasses) with their multi-touch gear to deal with the fingerprints. I can imagine everyone polishing their apple gear with apple logo'ed microfiber :P

[nagromme]

What he said.

The chin gives the iMac it's personality! I don't want my computer to look like a display! (Sure, the "Woah, where's the computer?" Comments would be cool. But the current design already does that, as well as the mini)

Also, I like the chin because it provides speakers and a power supply, which I enjoy :)

Actually, you can blame Apple. They could have done a speed bump/price drop a month or two ago but they chose higher margins instead.

Dropping the price only to raise it again isn't a great solution. And releasing models at higher Ghz only to get rid of them soon after is not without costs either.

[bearfoot]

Also, I like the chin because it provides speakers and a power supply, which I enjoy :)


Would you mind if they traded the iMac chin in for ears? Would be slightly better for stereo effects.

[miketcool]

Also, I like the chin because it provides speakers and a power supply, which I enjoy :)

Also, I am sure Apple didnt want you to push on the screen in the front when you plugged in the cables to the back. You push the chin to react to the push in the back.

[mcobian]

I work at an apple store and i doubt they will discontinue the 17" model, being its the best selling mac apple macs.

[iMacZealot]

I work at an apple store and i doubt they will discontinue the 17" model, being its the best selling mac apple macs.

You do realise that you could be fired for posting here, right?

[miketcool]

I apologize for the pic, but I always thought this would be an awesome design (even though I doubt others would). Kind of inspired by an oldschool typewriter. I think it would be more ergonomical too since your neck is in a more neutral position....and it would be easy to add touch capability later. If anyone has photoshop skills, feel free to make a better mock up.

http://www.mobilemag.com/content/images/7895_large.jpg

*phew*
No need to thank me, I read minds.

[LoganT]

Would you mind if they traded the iMac chin in for ears? Would be slightly better for stereo effects.

No I think they should just get rid of the speakers. I'm getting external ones anyway.

[bearfoot]

I work at an apple store and i doubt they will discontinue the 17" model, being its the best selling mac apple macs.

There is probably < $50 difference between the display parts. And that will get smaller with time. Apple can afford to sell the 20" at the 17" price.

[redkamel]

http://www.mobilemag.com/content/images/7895_large.jpg

*phew*
No need to thank me, I read minds.

LOL... What are those things?

I know it kinda looks like that esp from the front, but not the side. Actually my PB/a short lived sony design gave me the idea. i still think it would work; it would have more room, could run cooler, be cheaper(?), easier to type on, and lower for touchscreen...but heck it was just an idea that flitted through my brain...

[LoganT]

I apologize for the pic, but I always thought this would be an awesome design (even though I doubt others would). Kind of inspired by an oldschool typewriter. I think it would be more ergonomical too since your neck is in a more neutral position....and it would be easy to add touch capability later. If anyone has photoshop skills, feel free to make a better mock up.

How am I supposed to watch movies and TV shows in my bed with that?

[miketcool]

LOL... What are those things?

I know it kinda looks like that esp from the front, but not the side. Actually my PB/a short lived sony design gave me the idea. i still think it would work; it would have more room, could run cooler, be cheaper(?), easier to type on, and lower for touchscreen...but heck it was just an idea that flitted through my brain...

An upgraded keyboard is needed, I'll agree. I love tapping away on my laptop, but this is where the Ives department shines through.
Better ergomics.
I feel like Apple is in stride with the high modern movement in design. Clean, minimalist, pure design. Machined. I think it is time that that design further develops the functional style.
I feel like there are some simple design changes Apple can bring along that will make things easier for me ergonomically. Like slight tilting or angling of input surfaces. They have reached really great form, but it needs a healthier approach. I am sure they have a thought out solution and the time is now to implement it.
Time for my 15 min break and carpal massage.

[ShaneM]

On a related note, Think Secret believes that Apple will soon update its display line to swap out the 23" display for the same 24" LCD used in the iMac.

Apples Cinema Display "Technology" Page Tab Claims:


Best Resolution for Images and Words
The quality of the pixels you see impacts how you use your computer. After years of experience, Apple engineers have discovered the ideal resolution to display both sharp text and high-resolution graphics. Other vendors may offer a larger monitor, but with less resolution, so you end up with fewer pixels. Or a smaller monitor with very high resolution may cause eyestrain and headaches. Apple Cinema Displays are optimized for images, yet they allow you to work easily with text in email, web browsers and word processors, as well as sophisticated type treatments in layouts.


Why would apple go against their "optimum" dpi just to get a larger display and hope that the pros that the displays are designed for won't notice? Plus the different pixel pitch would discourage users considering a second display because images would look different on each display. It's all about uniformity in the design world (or at least that's what I believe). :confused:

[freddiecable]

at long last...but kind'a obvious :)

1. Apple will introduce LED in laptops before stationary ones.

2. No launch at WWDC - expect no new "industrial design then" only a bump.

3. What new hardware will we get at WWDC? Only MBPs?

[madmaxmedia]

I think the time is right for them to introduce something really new with the iMac, to continue the momentum (along with built in iSight and the remote).

But I'm not sure what true advantages a touch screen would bring. Is there really anything that gets a lot better for the average user, vs. using a keyboard and mouse?

Would they then try to re-design parts of the UI to make it more touch-friendly? (scroll bars, etc.) There would have to be significant advantages to adding a touch screen- your hand(s) would constantly move from screen to keyboard, whereas with a mouse it's at least right next to the keyboard.

[aafuss1]

A simple speed up like the May Macbooks, or a Santa Rosa based iMac (perhaps waiting until the MBP gets it).

[BrokenChairs]

If you want touch screen, buy an interactive whiteboard! I don't think I could enjoy having kids touching the screen all the time, especially with their grubby little hands (I work at a school). Sure it sounds like a great idea, but to me it almost feels like something that was done in the 90's that never took off, like virtual reality game helmets. I do hope they hurry up, because my poor little eMac can't handle the pressure anymore. I want Intel and I want it this year!

[ma2ha3]

New iMac design without the chin:



nice looking. but not smitten.

must be something unexpecting.

a headless imac. so small, yet so much more powerful.

[ma2ha3]

In the immortal words of Steven Tyler of Aerosmith: Dream on. :D

other than headless imac, there is one thing that will smitten me.
a made in china apple cheaper version of optimus maximus led keyboard.

even the new apple optimus mouse have OLED on it.

On the imac, there are many OLED buttons, where you can press.
that i will be smitten.

LED keyboard is the future. somewhere someone will bring the price down through mass production and i will get my sticky palm on it.

[Evangelion]

Also, I like the chin because it provides speakers and a power supply, which I enjoy :)

What if you got the speakers and powersupply without the chin?

[SkyBell]

What if you got the speakers and powersupply without the chin?

I'd still prefer the chin, even if it was just empty space (Or better, a 2nd hard drive bay!)

There'd better be a mini update, or I know a lot of MR members who will be ticked.

[kitki83]

cough imac =>mac pro look cough you didnt hear it from me

[JFreak]

I'd hate to see 17" iMac go. In fact, I'd want to see *smaller* Apple Displays because for many people 20" display is too big. Why not make 17" and 15" Cinema Displays too? If both ACD and iMac start at 20", then laptops are the only way to get a smaller screen. That's not good.

[vendettabass]

All I really want to see is a desktop CPU and desktop memory, and hopefully this might bring the prices down a tad!

[JFreak]

All I really want to see is a desktop CPU and desktop memory, and hopefully this might bring the prices down a tad!

Headless "Mac", yes, that's always a probability. Apple has however a very strong brand in "iMac" so they might still want to benefit from it for some time. Computers called "iMac" have been sold for 10 years now, which might be some kind of a record in the industry :)

If they do put out the "Mac", they'd better put out smaller screens as well. I don't see my in-laws buying a 20" Cinema Display to go with one, so if the iMac loses its screen and Apple only offers +20" screens, then they will lose a lot of screen sales to other brands.

I might begin to sound like an idiot with this point, but "I want smaller ACD's" :)

[Abstract]

A new iMac design? It isn't that old, really. I like it the way it is.


And besides, when AI (or TS) make such grand claims, people are always complaining when it doesn't happen, which is often when it comes to big claims. I'm starting to get tired of it. If they never made such claims, nobody would have said "Ah damn, I was hoping for a completely new iMac design!" Now, when it doesn't happen in June, people will claim that they were dying for an updated look when they were never even after such a thing before AI opened its mouth.

[vendettabass]

Headless "Mac", yes, that's always a probability. Apple has however a very strong brand in "iMac" so they might still want to benefit from it for some time. Computers called "iMac" have been sold for 10 years now, which might be some kind of a record in the industry

I actually meant desktop parts in the iMac :p.

But really, if they can get a G5 in that enclosure, surely they can get a conroe in there!

[JFreak]

Isn't it nice to read about rumors :D Some clever might-have-beens and should-be-alreadys make for a nice conversation...

[firsttube]

It's almost like this is MacRumors again! Yay!:D :D

[mentalcats]

I too would like to see Desktop CPUs/RAM in the next iMac upgrade, plus additional options on the Graphics Card maybe.

[Belly-laughs]

A new iMac design? It isn't that old, really. I like it the way it is.


And besides, when AI (or TS) make such grand claims, people are always complaining when it doesn't happen, which is often when it comes to big claims. I'm starting to get tired of it. If they never made such claims, nobody would have said "Ah damn, I was hoping for a completely new iMac design!" Now, when it doesn't happen in June, people will claim that they were dying for an updated look when they were never even after such a thing before AI opened its mouth.

The world doesn´t stand still, you know. Neither do consumer tastes or trends. Apple products (esp. the iMac/MB) are being regarded as trendy, and with that follows the great burden of staying on top of the game of great aesthetics (oh, and function).

I don´t think the claims are unjustified. The iMac has always had new industrial design with processor upgrade, except the Intel. Now they are comfortable with the x86 tech, they can focus more on new case designs for the entire range. Historically, with a few exceptions (subjective), new industrial design from Apple is breaking new ground, so it´s a safe assumption that a redesigned iMac (or any other Mac) will do that too.

Bring ´em on!

[PCMacUser]

Why does everyone want to touch their displays? Think of the fingerprint mess!

Yeah, that's what I keep thinking.

But speaking of fingerprints, how about a fingerprint reader? Most business laptops have those now. Perhaps an implementation in a new Macbook or something would be a good idea?

[PCMacUser]

The world doesn´t stand still, you know. Neither do consumer tastes or trends. Apple products (esp. the iMac/MB) are being regarded as trendy, and with that follows the great burden of staying on top of the game of great aesthetics (oh, and function).

I don´t think the claims are unjustified. The iMac has always had new industrial design with processor upgrade, except the Intel. Now they are comfortable with the x86 tech, they can focus more on new case designs for the entire range. Historically, with a few exceptions (subjective), new industrial design from Apple is breaking new ground, so it´s a safe assumption that a redesigned iMac (or any other Mac) will do that too.

Bring ´em on!
I'd like to see Apple use desktop CPUs in the iMacs. I don't like the idea of buying a desktop PC that only performs as well as a laptop.

[LoganT]

A new iMac design? It isn't that old, really.

It's almost 3 year's old. Last year is when they should of updated it.

[Bonte]

Oh I don't know about that. I my self have tried the tricks that are out there on how to install Mac OS X on non-Apple hardware.

Before you say it. (Yes but some people have done it). That is true but that is such a small number who have really figured this out. Or I my self is too dumb to figure it out? :confused:

Hugh

Installing osX on a PC is hard to do for now because we have to work with recovery disks from existing MAC configurations, the current retail osX is PPC only so there is no Install disk. There are some DELL laptops that work with the CD's from the Mini because they are so similar in hardware, the laptop needs a ROM update but no other hacks or cracks.

There is currently no hard- or software protection to prevent osX on PC so why would Apple change that for Leopard?

[Chris Bangle]

It's almost 3 year's old. Last year is when they should of updated it.

damn right man

[freddiecable]

is this true? thought it was more hacking to it than use an apple cd install on dell-laptop... Well, I for one believe apple is strong enough to licence it to certain pc-retailers - like dell, hp etc.

regarding imac - I definitely think we can expect a slimmer iMac...if we're lucky "an amazingly new design" :) I've got the cash for a 24" :D

There is currently no hard- or software protection to prevent osX on PC so why would Apple change that for Leopard?

[mark88]

It's gotta be good to beat the current design. Perhaps the new design will have breasts.

agreed. It's pretty hard to beat a computer that looks basically like a display. The only thing I can think of is they will make it thinner, sleeker and more compact.

[ltcol266845]

Seems like Mr. Jobs is going to have a TON of things to talk about at WWDC...

iPhone
Leopard

New design for the iMac
MacBook Pro upgrades (?)

Gonna be a long one! :)

[elppa]

I predict: Smooth Black glass front (with no apparent bezel) when turned off. Will still be in the form factor having a chin, but the area of the chin will carry a second small screen (about 3" X width of imac) that will house the dock, and a bunch of widgets. the small screen might be touch sensative. It will also have a heavy chrome stand, with adjustable height. and maybe a totally new "touchable" pointing device, shaped like a iphone (i'm betting there are already a lot of them made), which sits flat on the desk top (the wooden one, not the computer desktop)



Two screens just gets messy, over complicated and over-engineered.

Too inflexible, too ugly. Nothing minimalist or elegant about it.

Not going to happen.



Steve made his displeasure know for pointing devices at MacWorld in January. I can't see him back tracking.

But smooth, black and glossy is a possibility.

[jhsfosho]

Seems like Mr. Jobs is going to have a TON of things to talk about at WWDC...

iPhone
Leopard

New design for the iMac
MacBook Pro upgrades (?)

Gonna be a long one! :)

Agreed. heres looking forward to WWDC...

[elppa]

How do you see this design working? To me touch screen makes sense on smaller portable screens, but not a larger screen that I need smudge free for image based work.

I'm not sure. I'm only speculating about multi-touch based on a bit of intuition and logic, but it might not be ready yet, as others have pointed out, the expense is one thing.

Being able to reach out and touch and manipulate your photos is far more natural than using a mouse.

But there will be a solution to the finger prints — some kind of double coating / special chemical formula. Someone, somewhere would come up with some way making it happen.

Well, I for one believe apple is strong enough to licence it to certain pc-retailers - like dell, hp etc.

I don't think you really understand how Apple works. It has nothing to do with strength.

Providing the whole solution means they don't have a melee of complicated hardware configurations to support. This is how iPod + iTunes works. MS have basically admitted defeat by choosing to base the XBOX / XBOX 360 and Zune (and ZunePhone when it arrives) on Apple's model (Hardware + Software as an integrated solution).

The only reason Windows worked was because MS had exclusive deals with major hardware makers, so they couldn't bundle anything else bar Windows with their machines. It was a one off, not some magical catch-all marketing strategy that can be repeated and will work every time (see failures of Plays for Sure™ and Windows Mobile for reference. You can also be certain that if MS had created a XBOX software platform and got Dell, HP etc. to make the hardware it would have failed too).

Agreed. heres looking forward to WWDC...

People said that there would be loads of stuff at MWSF 07, but really there were two products: Apple TV and iPhone (Airport extreme but wasn't covered in the keynote).

He may just stick to Mac OS X Leopard.

[JFreak]

He may just stick to Mac OS X Leopard.

Most probably. There should be plenty of "secret" stuff yet uncovered, so if they're huge features they deserve a lot of stage time. Thus no time for announcing computer hardware.

[wngraham]

Am I the only one with absolutely no desire to have a touch screen iMac?

[johnmcboston]

Am I the only one with absolutely no desire to have a touch screen iMac?

No, you're not. :-)

[johnmcboston]

OK, why would Apple release a new mac 2-3 months before a new OS??? Buy a computer now and have to reinstall everything before you even break it in?

[wordmunger]

OK, why would Apple release a new mac 2-3 months before a new OS??? Buy a computer now and have to reinstall everything before you even break it in?

A lot of people don't install the new os right away--to maintain legacy apps, and so on.

[JFreak]

A lot of people don't install the new os right away--to maintain legacy apps, and so on.

Most people actually. And most businesses tend to lag on the OS updates as well. Some are even buying new hardware just before the new OS release date.

[Cybergypsy]

The current imac is just plain ugly the G4 had style and was a piece of art.....hope its better then the current one but have my doubts!

[iMacZealot]

is this true? thought it was more hacking to it than use an apple cd install on dell-laptop... Well, I for one believe apple is strong enough to licence it to certain pc-retailers - like dell, hp etc.

regarding imac - I definitely think we can expect a slimmer iMac...if we're lucky "an amazingly new design" :) I've got the cash for a 24" :D

How would this benefit Apple? There's nothing in it for them. The theory behind this is to expand Apple's marketshare, but like the Clone program, all it'd be doing is cannibalising Apple's sales.

[JFreak]

The current imac is just plain ugly the G4 had style and was a piece of art.....hope its better then the current one but have my doubts!

I don't think current iMac is ugly, but you're right in that the G4 iMac was truly a piece of art. I loved that design! Then again, I also loved the G3 iMac design once it was discontinued, so perhaps some day I'll be loving this G5 iMac as well :)

[Gators Fan]

I want more cupholders!

[RRK]

OK, why would Apple release a new mac 2-3 months before a new OS??? Buy a computer now and have to reinstall everything before you even break it in?

Do you have some knowledge that 10.5 will force a clean install?

[JFreak]

Do you have some knowledge that 10.5 will force a clean install?

I doubt it. HOWEVER, it's still strongly recommended!

[johnmcboston]

Do you have some knowledge that 10.5 will force a clean install?

It will be more than zero work.

[APPLENEWBIE]

As I sit here in front of a 20" iMac, it reminds me that the chin does serve another purpose. It hides a lot of junk. If the chin was not there, I would be seeing the 6 cables coming out of the back, the wall mounted dsl router, a powerstrip, wires for speaker, the wire coming out of the usb hub on the desk, and the transition (gap) between the desk and the wall behind it. It really does help with the illusion of "where is the computer?" and cleans up the whole computer desk area.

Also, my previous suggestion that the iMac might have a smaller screen imbedded in the chin was criticized by elppa. You have a point that it might be over engineered. I did not consider that. It might require some sort of special graphics card so as to preserve the ability to run an external monitor, which might be expensive. But I still think that having the second screen would provide more space for utilitarian stuff, like the dock and widgets, but free up space for the main applications... for what it's worth. Thanks for the critique elppa.

[JFreak]

As I sit here in front of a 20" iMac, it reminds me that the chin does serve another purpose. It hides a lot of junk. If the chin was not there, I would be seeing the 6 cables coming out of the back, the wall mounted dsl router, a powerstrip, wires for speaker, the wire coming out of the usb hub on the desk, and the transition (gap) between the desk and the wall behind it. It really does help with the illusion of "where is the computer?" and cleans up the whole computer desk area.

Good point :) I didn't think of that myself, because lot of iMac users also happen to have wireless keyboard & mouse. IF the power cord was the only cord, it is almost invisible.

[RRK]

It will be more than zero work.

...yikes?

[johnmcboston]

It will be more than zero work.

Actually, it will be more than work, it will be shelling out another $129, no? (unless they grandfather folks in...)

[APPLENEWBIE]

Actually, it will be more than work, it will be shelling out another $129, no? (unless they grandfather folks in...)

What if.... a new iMac was introduced in June, pre-loaded with both Tiger and a well hidden version of Leopard. On the Leopard release date, Apple sends a signal to all similarly equipped new iMacs, and they are automatically switched to Leopard (if the owner elects) and the computer automatically snags all the updates to the latest version of Leopard. That way, Apple could sell new iMacs all summer, and people purchasing them would not have to wonder what will happen, or if they will have to purchase a Leopard disc. On the other hand, I wonder how long it would take enterprising folks to hack the Leopard hiding in the hard drive? Probably not in excess of, what, 45 seconds?

[RRK]

What if.... a new iMac was introduced in June, pre-loaded with both Tiger and a well hidden version of Leopard. On the Leopard release date, Apple sends a signal to all similarly equipped new iMacs, and they are automatically switched to Leopard (if the owner elects) and the computer automatically snags all the updates to the latest version of Leopard. That way, Apple could sell new iMacs all summer, and people purchasing them would not have to wonder what will happen, or if they will have to purchase a Leopard disc. On the other hand, I wonder how long it would take enterprising folks to hack the Leopard hiding in the hard drive? Probably not in excess of, what, 45 seconds?

*Throws water on APPLENEWBIE*

Or they could give out free updates to anyone purchasing a new Mac between the original ship date and the delayed October one.

[Peel]

Or they could give out free updates to anyone purchasing a new Mac between the original ship date and the delayed October one.

There never was an original Leopard ship date. But I suppose since Apple had originaly said "Spring" you could argue that any purchase after June 21 would fall into this group.

[BenRoethig]

A new design would be nice, not that there's anything wrong with iMac at the moment,

Except that the CPU, chipset, and GPU are now all obsolete. Especially the slow as molasses 1600 mobility.

[BenRoethig]

apple throw an 8800gtx in there and i will buy.

It would have to be either five or six inches thick or you'd have to live in a freezer. A medium end GPU is pushing in in an all in one. A high end GPU is impossible without a revolutionary breakthrough in cooling technology.

[Bonte]

How would this benefit Apple? There's nothing in it for them. The theory behind this is to expand Apple's marketshare, but like the Clone program, all it'd be doing is cannibalising Apple's sales.
The iPod, iPhone and other commodity hardware is taking over the main business in Apple, products with a close connection between the hard- and software.

Steve has stated before that Apple is moving more into software development and licensing osx to OEM's is a logical step, there is much more money to be made in licensing osX than selling cheap PC hardware. More and more PC's cost less than the iPhone so Mac hardware is losing its importance as a money maker.

[MacSA]

Well considering how lackluster the recent Mac Pro and MacBook updates were i'm not really expecting much for the iMac or Mini - especially the Mini.

[PNW]

is this true? thought it was more hacking to it than use an apple cd install on dell-laptop... Well, I for one believe apple is strong enough to licence it to certain pc-retailers - like dell, hp etc.

How would this benefit Apple? There's nothing in it for them. The theory behind this is to expand Apple's marketshare, but like the Clone program, all it'd be doing is cannibalising Apple's sales.

That depends; every OS sold for a competitor’s hardware does not necessarily translate into a lost Mac sale. Given the lack of a mid-range Mac tower I suspect there are plenty of consumers who would prefer to run OSX but don’t want to settle for hardware that doesn’t meet their needs and/or pay extra for hardware they don’t need.

On a side note from an environmental standpoint, I’d really like to see Apple come up with a way for iMac users to upgrade without having to ditch their monitor.

[Clive At Five]

What if.... a new iMac was introduced in June, pre-loaded with both Tiger and a well hidden version of Leopard. On the Leopard release date, Apple sends a signal to all similarly equipped new iMacs, and they are automatically switched to Leopard (if the owner elects) and the computer automatically snags all the updates to the latest version of Leopard. That way, Apple could sell new iMacs all summer, and people purchasing them would not have to wonder what will happen, or if they will have to purchase a Leopard disc. On the other hand, I wonder how long it would take enterprising folks to hack the Leopard hiding in the hard drive? Probably not in excess of, what, 45 seconds?

Remember when Apple charged people to unlock the 802.11n cards in their macs? They had to charge because it was a feature that they did not advertise at the time of sale. People "discovering" Leopard on their computer would be pleasantly surprised... until they had to pay to activate it... then it would just be an annoyance. If Apple is going to do some sort of a program to support sales of Macs pre-Leopard, it'll be vouchers as always.

-Clive

[AidenShaw]

Will still be in the form factor having a chin, but the area of the chin will carry a second small screen (about 3" X width of imac) that will house the dock, and a bunch of widgets.

"Windows SideShow is a new technology in Windows Vista that supports a secondary screen on your mobile [or other] PC. With this additional display you can view important information whether your laptop is on, off, or in sleep mode. Windows SideShow is available in Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, and Windows Vista Ultimate.

Windows SideShow uses gadgets, convenient mini programs, to extend information from your computer to other devices. Gadgets can run on a Windows SideShow–compatible device and update that device with information from your computer. Using a gadget, you can view information from your computer regardless of whether your mobile PC is on, off, or in the sleep power state—which can save you both time and battery life."

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/features/details/sideshow.mspx
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2713

[GanleyBurger]

Don't be haters....;)

This is Mac RUMORS!!!:eek:

Doesn't that kind of let the Site guys off the hook???:)

It's not MacFACTS.com.:rolleyes:

A place where we get to vent... and throw our knowledge and opinions around like pigeons playing street hockey with oversized wedge-cut french fries?:eek:

And what ever happened to the rumor about the 30" imac???:D

[Clive At Five]

Except that the CPU, chipset, and GPU are now all obsolete. Especially the slow as molasses 1600 mobility.

Agreed. The GPU in the iMac is one of the two reasons it isn't good enough. Not only do I want to be able to play StarCraft2 when it comes out, but I also will want to play new games for the next 3 years without having to scale down the graphics settings to 6 polygons per object... like my current iMac.

Playing even old games (like the original UT) are an embarassment on that computer... granted I'm trying to play it through a third-party OSX port.

Okay, I'll give it SOME credit... it can run WarCraft III "alright" although it takes a long time to do anything. I fed it more RAM and everything. The point is, it struggles on games its own age.

It would have to be either five or six inches thick or you'd have to live in a freezer. A medium end GPU is pushing in in an all in one. A high end GPU is impossible without a revolutionary breakthrough in cooling technology.

Yes, a breakthrough in cooling technology... OR EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BIT MORE THAN COMPLETE APATHY ON THE PART OF GPU-MAKERS!!!!!!!!! Come on, people! If CPU-makers can put so much emphasis on performance per watt and achieve great things, why can't GPU makers? The newest GPUs are like Hummers. Beastly machines with 2MPG city-milage. There is no good reason why there aren't decent middle-of-the-road energy-saver GPUs.

Good grief. It's all algorythms anyway. Can't someone design a chip that optimizes processing of code for 3D engines? Either that, or programmers should learn how to freaking write using Quaternion mathematics and correlated parametric functions. That'll save code space and processing power. Otherwise, it's up to the chip-makers.

If Santa Rosa's 975 chipset is at least of decent quality, props to Intel for leading the way with a energy-conscious design.

-Clive

[APPLENEWBIE]

*Throws water on APPLENEWBIE*

Anyone got a towel I could borrow?

[ricosuave]

If the new iMacs introduce Multi-touch, one way is to introduce a touch sensitive mouse pad and replace the mouse. Other companies have introduced keyboards with a built-in 2X2 inch trackpad to replace the mouse. Apple could go one step forward and replace the mouse all together with a new iTouch.

[BenRoethig]

Yes, a breakthrough in cooling technology... OR EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BIT MORE THAN COMPLETE APATHY ON THE PART OF GPU-MAKERS!!!!!!!!! Come on, people! If CPU-makers can put so much emphasis on performance per watt and achieve great things, why can't GPU makers? The newest GPUs are like Hummers. Beastly machines with 2MPG city-milage. There is no good reason why there aren't decent middle-of-the-road energy-saver GPUs.
-Clive

They could use the mobile version of the 8800 should one ever be announced, but $6-700 upgrade price would not be unreasonable if not more. Personally I'm hoping all the new (dedicated graphics) iMacs have a MXM card so we can at least have choices.

[RRK]

Anyone got a towel I could borrow?

Digital water is vaporware, duh. ;)

[APPLENEWBIE]

Digital water is vaporware, duh. ;)

I meant a DIGITAL towel. Sorry for any confusion...

[RichardI]

I find the comment about the 24" LCD screen interesting, given all the issues and complaints I have seen surrounding the 24" iMac screens. Are the 24" going to be assembled in China? If they are, I'd wait a while before buying....
As a matter of fact, I believe the class action lawsuit mentioned earlier on this website is mainly from the 24" iMac, in particular their screens.....

Rich :cool:

[juice78]

where have updates for iMacs and Minis been anyway.


The same place the MB and MBPro updates have been. Since MacMinis and iMacs pretty much use laptop motherboards, etc., it's natural to expect updates to the iMac when its portable counterpart (the MBPro) arrive.

**Yes I do think that the iMac is the desktop equivelant of the MBPro. Why? Regardless of packaging, they come with the same CPU options (2.33 is an upgrade to 20"/23" iMacs), motherboards, GPUs, and memory. And also, that the MacMini is the desktop equivelant to the MacBook. The MPro sits above all others for various reasons, as many of you geekier types know: different motherboards (with expansion slots), different CPUs (Xeon quad- and octo-core), and memory, etc.

I do think it would be cool if they offered a Mac Pro "lite" to bridge that gap between iMac and Mac Pro. I'd like to be able to upgrade Vid Cards, etc without having to replace an entire machine. A little more processor power, faster, more advanced bus, and the ability to self-upgrade would be fan-****ing-tastic (it sucks how anti-first Amendment this forum is)

[AidenShaw]

Steve made his displeasure know for pointing devices at MacWorld in January. I can't see him back tracking.

"Nobody wants to watch video on a iPod..."
"You can't mount the CD drive vertically in the iMac screen..."
"OSX will be optimized for the Bondi iMac..."


Let's start the list ;)

[urbanskywalker]

I doubt it will be late June. That's the timeframe for the iphone. Either we are looking at WWDC or just before.

[fluidinclusion]

Oh I don't know about that. I my self have tried the tricks that are out there on how to install Mac OS X on non-Apple hardware.

Before you say it. (Yes but some people have done it). That is true but that is such a small number who have really figured this out. Or I my self is too dumb to figure it out? :confused:

Hugh

<Star Trek humor> Perhaps since you left the collective, there may be an element of truth to that? </end Star Trek humor>

Just kidding. I agree, most people won't bother. However the hardcore switchers will be lost. I am all for a Windows-like registration to reduce piracy of the Mac OS, as long as Apple is reasonable about it. I'd guess that in 10.5 or fairly soon, they'll have to have it in there if they don't want to lose big $.

[morespce54]

What he said.

The chin gives the iMac it's personality! I don't want my computer to look like a display! (Sure, the "Woah, where's the computer?" Comments would be cool. But the current design already does that, as well as the mini)

that's a point... I do like it better when it looks at least a little bit like a computer...

[ricosuave]

"Nobody wants to watch video on a iPod..."
"You can't mount the CD drive vertically in the iMac screen..."
"OSX will be optimized for the Bondi iMac..."


Let's start the list ;)

"These look so good you just wanna lick em" Steve Jobs (in Revenge of the Nerds, descriving the new iMacs).

Does this one count?

[elppa]

Steve has stated before that Apple is moving more into software development and licensing osx to OEM's is a logical step, there is much more money to be made in licensing osX than selling cheap PC hardware.

Software development (iLife, iWork, Final Cut Studio, Aperture) helps sell Macs and expand the Mac platform, there is little money made on the actual products.

That depends; every OS sold for a competitor’s hardware does not necessarily translate into a lost Mac sale. Given the lack of a mid-range Mac tower I suspect there are plenty of consumers who would prefer to run OSX but don’t want to settle for hardware that doesn’t meet their needs and/or pay extra for hardware they don’t need.

Licensing OS X would be a disaster, Apple would have to support a myriad of hardware combination and if they wanted to innovate or get rid of legacy elements it would be a pain. Controlling the whole solution does not harm the company, it's profits are very healthy. Don't get trapped into the mindset that marketshare is the be all and end all. It is one, rather simplistic, easy-to-distrot** measure of success.

"Nobody wants to watch video on a iPod..."
"You can't mount the CD drive vertically in the iMac screen..."
"OSX will be optimized for the Bondi iMac..."


Let's start the list ;)

First one I'll give you.

The second one was certainly true at the time. The technology did not exist at the time to mount a super drive vertically without serious loss in performance.

The third one is fine. OS X was optimised for that machine. It ran (or rather still does run on rev A-D iMacs) with far greater reliability, security and stability than the Classic Mac OS.

I'll give you another to add to the list:

"2007 will be a great year for the Mac" — MWSF 2007. Steve Jobs slipped this out with a wry smile on his face. I think we have a greater second half of the year to look forward to.

** Macintosh hardware generally has a longer average lifespan than a PC. It therefore follows that more PCs will be sold than Macs over a certain period, even if the installed base is the same. I know the installed base is not the same, but the point still holds.

[Chosenbydestiny]

I'm not sure if they're going to have as much hardware announcements in WWDC... as software announcements. Maybe in the following weeks?

[Maccus Aurelius]

I personally would like to see the iMac look more like the HD Cinema displays (obviously thicker to house the necessary components, and better cooling so that it can support higher powered equipment, such as a better GPU. This could be achieved with a more open air back panel (vent grilles on either side of the stand with fans situated beneath them). The chin is fairly unnecessary, as all the iMac actually needs in the front is the little (silver please) logo and the I/R port for the remote. It could have the Cinema's touch sensitive brightness controls on the side, as well as the power switch. I'd also like to have easier access to parts such as the HDD and RAM.

I know Apple is all about elegance and simplicity of design and blah blah blah, and maybe I'm alone on this, but I always thought that there should at least be a couple of USB and FW ports on the side, rather than just on the back.

[edenwaith]

This is the type of news I've been waiting for. The current iMac is just about perfect for my needs right now (just upgrade the video card to 256 MB). It will be interesting to see what the next upgrade will offer. The 20" model has steadily gone down, so it might not be completely unrealistic to see it skip down to $1399 next. But since Leopard is delayed until October, I probably won't get the new iMac until then, and just get Leopard, the iMac, and hopefully and update to iLife by then.

[k2k koos]

I bet lots of new hardware when Leopard is out or presented as a full featured beta.

Still think leopard will run on generic PC hardware (Apple can't prevent it) so i'm wondering what hardware Apple is going to present to compete with Dell and others. :)

They can and they will. Apple will not release OSX for generic PC hardware, they are growing fast enough, faster than they can keep up with, (stealing resources for a phone development anyone?). Apple will not need to open up OS X for the time being. They are growing fast enough. They may need to licence others to build Mac's, to keep up with demand at some point in the future, but opening up OS X completely never ever going to happen as long as Jobs is in charge...If he is replaced by another Scully at some point in the future, then maybe....:apple:

[johnmcboston]

I doubt it will be late June. That's the timeframe for the iphone. Either we are looking at WWDC or just before.

That brings up a fascinating issue. Now that Apple Corp. is branching out, are they going to have to distribute their product lines throughout the year to stop anything from conflicting with anything else? Even for this thread - would they really hold up an new imac for a month or two just to buffer the iphone?

[Bonte]

Software development (iLife, iWork, Final Cut Studio, Aperture) helps sell Macs and expand the Mac platform, there is little money made on the actual products.

Microsoft proves otherwise. iWork outsold Office the first weeks it was on sale, not bad for a product that only works on Mac. Broadening osX would push all Apple software, photo-books and 3P software development itself pushing the Mac again. Hardware is getting to cheap, the real money is made on software.

Licensing OS X would be a disaster, Apple would have to support a myriad of hardware combination and if they wanted to innovate or get rid of legacy elements it would be a pain. Controlling the whole solution does not harm the company, it's profits are very healthy. Don't get trapped into the mindset that marketshare is the be all and end all. It is one, rather simplistic, easy-to-distrot** measure of success.

The current IntelMacs are build around and with general PC hardware, OEM's will just have to use supported hardware. Mac stores will only have to tech-support Mac hardware, Dell will tech-support there own sales as they already do with Windows and Linux.

[elppa]

Microsoft proves otherwise. iWork outsold Office the first weeks it was on sale, not bad for a product that only works on Mac. Broadening osX would push all Apple software, photo-books and 3P software development itself pushing the Mac again. Hardware is getting to cheap, the real money is made on software.

And the price of Office vs iWork is? A little bit simplistic I feel.

The real money is to be made selling a whole solution, not just software.

Microsoft will find this out eventually, they probably already are judging from disappointing sales of Vista. Very few people update their OS or want to buy software (unless they are professionals or are buying a game).

The current IntelMacs are build around and with general PC hardware, OEM's will just have to use supported hardware. Mac stores will only have to tech-support Mac hardware, Dell will tech-support there own sales as they already do with Windows and Linux.

Yes thanks for the lesson. And what a rubbish model that is for the consumer, being passed from company to company to sort out an issue. At least with Apple the buck stops with them.

[PNW]

Yes thanks for the lesson. And what a rubbish model that is for the consumer, being passed from company to company to sort out an issue. At least with Apple the buck stops with them.

You are right on that count and the ability to walk into an Apple store with your Mac as opposed to hanging out on hold with Dell for hours on end has got to be a huge selling point for Apple

But why not a middle of the road approach? Instead of fully supporting running OSX on PC hardware or seeking out partners, just don’t make attempts to block it or better yet publish / leak information (say lists of natively supported hardware) to assist hobbyists who want to go that route. Include the usual we don’t support this, it violates the warranty, but if you want to try wink, wink, nudge, nudge disclaimer, and wash their hands of it. This it would cost them nothing and net them a few software sales.

[mjstaceyuofm]

"2007 will be a great year for the Mac" — MWSF 2007. Steve Jobs slipped this out with a wry smile on his face. I think we have a greater second half of the year to look forward to.So you think they come out with an *updated* iMac at or near WWDC and then later on in the year a wholly revamped and revised iMac to go along with Leopard?

I can't believe that would be the case. Seems to me with such a lag in any update to the iMac that the next release of it should be a big one. I imagine there's some pent-up demand for the iMac and there will be quite a few people buying when the next one comes out. If Apple turned around and a few months later put out a totally new/better model, I think that would make a whole lot of recent purchasers of iMacs ticked off.... I'm more likely to believe the reverse scenario - new/re-worked iMac at WWDC and then minor mods/update at Leopard time...

Thoughts?

[bolson]

My crystal ball says that with the next iMac it goes to a brushed metal case like the Mac Pro and cinema displays (product differentiation would be a good reason against this though) and that and other changes allow the edge and bottom margins to be reduced, making the iMac a bit more compact. Also the stand will change to allow height adjustment, which was lost when leaving the lampshade iMac.

[heffeque]

I want the old iMac back!
http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/5428/imac2002db0.th.jpg (http://img369.imageshack.us/my.php?image=imac2002db0.jpg)

And the little cube too!
http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/381/phil7born20060804043441ze1.th.jpg (http://img369.imageshack.us/my.php?image=phil7born20060804043441ze1.jpg)

[KurtangleTN]

I wonder how much Apple will really do. I mean we expect alot, and really should. The iMac, Mini, and MBP are seriously lagging right now.

I mean, it's hard to justify a low end iMac purchase when the Macbook offers everything but the HD on it's low end model (and even more RAM, better processor) just the screen is smaller (of course).

If the iMacs stay with notebook parts, is Santa Rosa a must? I really hope they consider really re-designing it.. maybe a big bigger of a G4 like model so they can fit standard desktop parts.. because from what I've seen on this forum.. with notebook chipsets you get last years desktop..

The Mini should have C2D by now, but I think Apples logic is it would compete too much with the iMac.

[Hugh]

Nope, leopard will define run only on an apple machine. Just like iTunes is there to encourage ipod sales. Mac OS X is there to encourage sales of apple machine. The osx is a feature of apple machine.

Apple machine + Mac OS X = apple seamless experience.

The only scenario that a Mac os x will be on a non apple branded computer if apple decide that it need another computer brand to create an another image for more diverse customer base. Such as Apple brand as a high end brand and a new brand for consumer. Apple can create a new brand from scratch or merge with an existing company such as Dell.

I don't see any thing like that happing outside of the Mini. Some of you may remember the Performa series.

Hugh

[SamIchi]

Damn, I really want to see what this new design it. O__O

[Toddgabweg]

Looks like I will be buying a 24 in imac in June... I have been waiting since December for a new update... I want to be able to connect my xbox 360 to the imac for some 1080 P gaming....

[ClimbingTheLog]

I've noticed this as a recent trend at MR... i thought if it's a rumor, it gets a question mark. n'est-ce pas?

I'd be happier if MacRumors just stuck to Rumors... but I understand the business case for not doing so.

I just hope they get rid of the chin. I have come to hate the look of it.

How's this?

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/4691/whatsinsidedisplay30070sg7.jpg

Why does everyone want to touch their displays? Think of the fingerprint mess!

Part of the "radical new design" of the new iMac is an integrated miniature Roomba Scooba that sits on the top corner. When the computer enters sleep mode, the miniscooba comes down and cleans your screen for you.



Eww. Keep the chin!

Yeah, this is artwork-framing 101 - the bottom frame has to be larger than the top frame for it to look right. See here:

http://www.metmuseum.org/store/images/Z.po.B2884.L.jpg

In the immortal words of Steven Tyler of Aerosmith: Dream on. :D

"Dream until your dreams come true!"

I work at an apple store and i doubt they will discontinue the 17" model, being its the best selling mac apple macs.

Do you get anybody saying the 20" is just too big ... or is it because it's the cheapest? (I'm guessing the latter). The 20" will be the same price as the old 17". A nice 17" display is only worth about $115 today (parts).


Why would apple go against their "optimum" dpi just to get a larger display and hope that the pros that the displays are designed for won't notice? Plus the different pixel pitch would discourage users considering a second display because images would look different on each display.

Even if iMacs were aimed at design pros (they're not), Leopard has a DPI-independent GUI. It would look the same on the second display.

Agreed. The GPU in the iMac is one of the two reasons it isn't good enough. ...There is no good reason why there aren't decent middle-of-the-road energy-saver GPUs.

Even if gamers were interested in an iMac (they're not - they want that race-car GPU you were talking about) the low-energy high-performance GPU is here - it's just that the current iMac GPU beats the pants off of the 250W GPU of 5 years ago. Apple might do well to make a minitower for ricers, though.

Still think leopard will run on generic PC hardware (Apple can't prevent it)

Sure they can - all they need to do is to only sell Leopard Upgrade editions.

[RRK]

How's this?

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/4691/whatsinsidedisplay30070sg7.jpg


Large sized with a coke please.

[flopticalcube]

How's this?

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/4691/whatsinsidedisplay30070sg7.jpg



That's the good stuff!

[Mantronix]

Large sized with a coke please.
That is sexy. :cool:

[Peace]

I find the comment about the 24" LCD screen interesting, given all the issues and complaints I have seen surrounding the 24" iMac screens. Are the 24" going to be assembled in China? If they are, I'd wait a while before buying....
As a matter of fact, I believe the class action lawsuit mentioned earlier on this website is mainly from the 24" iMac, in particular their screens.....

Rich :cool:

The potential class action lawsuit involves the Macbook not the iMac.

[Chris Bangle]

That's the good stuff!

Its superb but the stand looks out of place. the rest is awesome, i would love to see what a computer will look like/uisng it will be like with a shny black surround like that. But the stand soesnt look right. I think height adjustment is crucial, imac g4 was probably to costly to produce, the negineering in that arm as awesome.hopefully though it will look like the iphone,eg big chrome bezel.


when its off, with a black body the screen and the body willl blend in and it will look phonomenal, the whole thing will look like one giant screen with a floating apple.

[Bonte]

Yes thanks for the lesson. And what a rubbish model that is for the consumer, being passed from company to company to sort out an issue. At least with Apple the buck stops with them.
Not a bad model at all when Dell sells a lot more computers than Apple but MS taking all the profit on these machines, not Dell. Apple offered to license osX for free to the $100 laptop project, this proves they are more than thinking about OEM licensing osX.

Hell froze over many times already and pigs are flying at least a few years. It's not a big deal anymore and just the next logical step for Apple and the OS to take.

NEXT moved from hardware to a full software company in the '90's, i don't see why this trend would stop when the same people now work at Apple.

[notsofatjames]

How's this?
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/4691/whatsinsidedisplay30070sg7.jpg


Could you do this image with a white background? It would be so much clearer. I prefer white macs anyways, and i like the current look. But choice is always a good thing.

[b33k34]

I think that black mock up is probably really close. It looks great.

At the end of the day there's only so much you can do with the design of an 'all in one' computer based on a flat panel. Slimming it down further and matching the design to the iPhone feels highly likely.

[elppa]

Not a bad model at all when Dell sells a lot more computers than Apple but MS taking all the profit on these machines, not Dell. Apple offered to license osX for free to the $100 laptop project, this proves they are more than thinking about OEM licensing osX.

Hell froze over many times already and pigs are flying at least a few years. It's not a big deal anymore and just the next logical step for Apple and the OS to take.

NEXT moved from hardware to a full software company in the '90's, i don't see why this trend would stop when the same people now work at Apple.

I love the way you twist all the facts to try and make a coherent argument.

It is not a logical step. I said it's a poor model for the consumer, it's good economic model for MS for now, but I don't think it can be easily repeated like everyone seems to make out.

NeXT moved to a full software company because they couldn't make money out of their hardware. They didn't have much more success out making money from their software either.

[Bonte]

I do mix everything up but you have to agree that content and software has become very important and that Apple now has the opportunity and strength to grow much bigger. I see lots of tidbits everywhere that point into licensing or opening up there software to other hardware but we'll have to wait and see if i'm wrong or not.

[thedudeAbides]

Apple will NEVER release it's OS to run on other hardware, ever. it would destroy what makes apple apple. here's why:

1. Stability. Apple claims it just works, why? because with a very limited set of hardware components, they can make it work without (many) hicups. windows has hicups because it works with ANY hardware, graphics cards, chipsets, ram with different speed, or any "specialized" hardware needed (like operating a specific scientific instrument or machine) with each of these potentially made by multiple different manufacturers. OSX would loose it's "it just works" edge.

2. Hardware Design. Like it or not, apple sells computers in a large part due to aesthetics. they will not drop this advantage so third party OEMs will put OSX on some ugly beige tower. they put alot, i mean alot, of effort into design, and it has definitely paid off.

3. Money. If apple thought they would make more money this way, then they would. Apple is making alot of money now, and it is through both hardware and software (being able to charge a higher price for hardware because it comes with good software).

but what do i know. i think apple is happy being below 10% market share. it allows their customers to feel special (elite). it allows other company's to front the bill for pushing new technology and working out the kinks. and when you are on top (like windows) you have everyone looking, mocking, and pointing out your mistakes.

just my $0.02, and with the price of copper rising, we might soon lose the ability to give out $0.02.

[ClimbingTheLog]

Could you do this image with a white background? It would be so much clearer. I prefer white macs anyways, and i like the current look. But choice is always a good thing.

I think on a white background you wouldn't see the outline too well. But here's a white one for you.

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/5434/whatsinsidedisplay30070rl4.jpg

Note: I didn't mean to claim any credit for the original concept - that file just showed up on imageshack one day... :cool:

[mjstaceyuofm]

I think on a white background you wouldn't see the outline too well. But here's a white one for you.I think the idea was to have a black mac on a white background and not a white mac on a black background like you're showing above or a black mac on a black background from the previous picture....

[BenRoethig]

Apple will NEVER release it's OS to run on other hardware, ever. it would destroy what makes apple apple. here's why:

1. Stability. Apple claims it just works, why? because with a very limited set of hardware components, they can make it work without (many) hicups. windows has hicups because it works with ANY hardware, graphics cards, chipsets, ram with different speed, or any "specialized" hardware needed (like operating a specific scientific instrument or machine) with each of these potentially made by multiple different manufacturers. OSX would loose it's "it just works" edge.

Not so much anymore. Apple has to be able to support 80% of what the windows world does in terms of currently sold hardware. It's a much newer operating system and handles those drivers in a better fashion

2. Hardware Design. Like it or not, apple sells computers in a large part due to aesthetics. they will not drop this advantage so third party OEMs will put OSX on some ugly beige tower. they put alot, i mean alot, of effort into design, and it has definitely paid off.

Actually, the iPod and the notebooks have paid off. With the desktops, they have placed themselves in a position where the world's best operating system is only available to a very small portion of the market that strongly favors a good looking design over practicality.

3. Money. If apple thought they would make more money this way, then they would. Apple is making alot of money now, and it is through both hardware and software (being able to charge a higher price for hardware because it comes with good software).

Apple is in no danger of losing customers, except for some switchers. Most Modern Mac users come to Apple because they want something different. The number of us old school Mac users is dwindling anyway.

but what do i know. i think apple is happy being below 10% market share. it allows their customers to feel special (elite). it allows other company's to front the bill for pushing new technology and working out the kinks. and when you are on top (like windows) you have everyone looking, mocking, and pointing out your mistakes.

just my $0.02, and with the price of copper rising, we might soon lose the ability to give out $0.02.

Is Microsoft really the one with the spotlight on it anymore? With Microsoft You know what you have. With Apple you have an empire built on a music player. If the iPod starts to loose favor, Apple's profits and stock price would fall as rapidly as they rose. They need something solid and that is a large and vibrant Mac community. Apple is too eccentric to achieve that.

[freddiecable]

I think I like the white better - but it would not be bad if they gave us a choice.

[flopticalcube]

I think I like the white better - but it would not be bad if they gave us a choice.

They probably will but will charge you extra for the black.:rolleyes:

[Bonte]

Agreed, Apple always wanted to be the biggest computer maker. I see no reason why they would prefer 10% over 90% of the market. :rolleyes:

[Jarcrew]

Here's the OS X on generic hardware debacle once again.

Until a rather unfortunate Mason in Cupertino is asked to engrave "Steven P. Jobs" into a rather elaborate slab of white granite, you won't see OS X on Generic PC Box #243. The premium you pay on Apple stuff is for two things - superior design and OS X. You put OS X on generic PC boxes and soon enough both those advantages fall away.

Just think - can you ever, ever see yourself logging onto apple.com and seeing "Make the switch for less. OS X. Now available for Mac + PC." on the front page? Can you really envisage that ever happening? That, to me, will come along with "Designed by Apple in Redmond - Two great companies, one new conglomerate" and "Introducing the all-new PowerMac G6, cooled by harnessing the power of the moon. Only $4999 for 2.9GHz."

[gkarris]

I'd be happier if MacRumors just stuck to Rumors... but I understand the business case for not doing so.



How's this?

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/4691/whatsinsidedisplay30070sg7.jpg



Looks too much like this...

[hanoimac]

may it be a frameless iMac 20" - 24", hidden iSight..

may it be touch-screen keyboard, that contains the CHIP, RAM, optical drive... and a little flash-based instant HD, then the processed info will be updated and stored in the HDD, which locates inside the monitor outfit.

may it be fully synchronised with iPhone (so the iPhone could operate iMac remotely..

may it be

[Jarcrew]

An interesting idea - I think iPhone/Mac integration will be lethal in Leopard with any Mac, but also I'd say that keyboards really do need some sort of tactile feedback.

[RRK]

may it be a frameless iMac 20" - 24", hidden iSight..

may it be touch-screen keyboard, that contains the CHIP, RAM, optical drive... and a little flash-based instant HD, then the processed info will be updated and stored in the HDD, which locates inside the monitor outfit.

may it be fully synchronised with iPhone (so the iPhone could operate iMac remotely..

may it be

Even if Multi-touch was a total gimmick, this thing would be huge. Also, wasn't there a patent about some sort of tactile feedback being possible like a bumpy screen that can "click".

[bobber205]

It's gotta be good to beat the current design. Perhaps the new design will have breasts.

:D

Think how much they could charge! :p

[Bonte]

Here's the OS X on generic hardware debacle once again.

Until a rather unfortunate Mason in Cupertino is asked to engrave "Steven P. Jobs" into a rather elaborate slab of white granite, you won't see OS X on Generic PC Box #243. The premium you pay on Apple stuff is for two things - superior design and OS X. You put OS X on generic PC boxes and soon enough both those advantages fall away.

The old misperception again, Steve Jobs has no hard sentiment to keep the OS on in-house developed hardware or design.
Some facts:
- Steve wanted to license System 6 to other manufacturers but Apple didn't do it because they believed the Mac was so good it didn't need to.
- Pippin game/media console was only available in licensing, no Apple hardware.
- NEXT was made available for licensing on many architectures
- After the move from NEXT to Apple Steven kept working on his Sony Vaio, not a Mac for some time.
- The Mac uses more and more generally available PC components, de big difference is using laptop parts for the iMac/Mini and outstanding case design. Some Dell laptops have exactly the same internals as the Mac Mini.
- free osX license offer for the $100 laptop project (if accepted it would make for a zillion extra users but it was rejected)
- Current Macs have no hardware protection to prevent osX to run on non-Mac hardware, that won't change when Leopard hits the market.

Apple really can't say no to this massive growth opportunity, its just how and when. We'll know at WWDC with the feature complete Beta of Leopard! :)

*

[cowman007]

No this is terrible news. THERE NOT UPDATING THE 17 inch model!!!!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoo im in the market for the 17inch model THIs sucks aLOT!

[flopticalcube]

No this is terrible news. THERE NOT UPDATING THE 17 inch model!!!!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoo im in the market for the 17inch model THIs sucks aLOT!

I suspect it is because the new 20" will cost just about the same as the current 17"!

[hanoimac]

the monitor_is_a_keyboard is not something new, as LG has it as dual OLED monitor laptop concept couple months ago already..

[gkarris]

Well, with the Mac, Apple did away with the 5.25" floppy.

Then, with the iMac, they got rid of the floppy altogether.

Then, they got rid of the CRT.

What's next, the mouse?:eek:

[readyforiMac]

Hi Folks,

This is my very first post here! In the midst of making a transition from Windows to Mac, returned a Dell XPS system 3 weeks ago after fighting and getting frustrated with Vista,..... @#$&#37;^&*.... you get the idea, I hope. I have wanted macs for ... as long as I could remember.:apple: So, now as soon as I got my refund from Dell last Saturday, I went on last Sunday and ordered my iMac 20" (2GB RAM; 256 MB ATI; WL KB and M; Apple Care; 1 to 1; .Mac;, and iWorks) and slept well that night. :-))):) :D :apple:

Then on Monday night, saw the post here about this thread and like at 11:30 p.m., someone snatched the part of the earth underneath my feet. :-(( :confused: :mad: Thinking now I am stuck with this iMac after spending close to $2500.00, by the time I get used to and setup my machine the new iMac's will be relased, could not sleep at all! :-((( Finally managed to get the returns taken care of yesterday evening and now I AM WAITING for this announcement, ESPECIALLY SINCE I THE $ PUT ASIDE, at least mentally. :-))) :)

Any insight into how accurate and / or credible these rumors / buzz / inside scoop is OR has been in the past especially from Apple's standpoint. Is it worth waiting the extra time, since I have now gone through the hassles of retuning again and again when I had made up my mind and am READY (for the last month or so now). Is June 15th like the ultimate end for any announcements of this magnitude or can one expect something major like this to come up even after the end of WWDC and October with the Leopard launch?:confused: :apple:

Any thoughts, insight, help, guidance would be greatly appreciated, since I am Brand New to the Apple World, have been more looking out via the Windows world till now and my eyes and brian are itching with all the #$%^&*.... Based on the trigger for this thread, how long should one wait before going out and buying their iMac's (20" for me). I currently have set a deadline of June 20th and then I'm going shopping again to the Apple Store / online, doesn't matter what rumors are out then??

Thanks a bunch! :apple:

[ClimbingTheLog]

I think the idea was to have a black mac on a white background and not a white mac on a black background like you're showing above or a black mac on a black background from the previous picture....

Yes, but as I mentioned a white iMac on a white background with a white border ... wouldn't show up too well.

An interesting idea - I think iPhone/Mac integration will be lethal in Leopard with any Mac

I wonder if AT&T will be pissed if you can make free VOIP calls from any Leopard machine you walk by.

What's next, the mouse?:eek:

Apple giveth, and Apple taketh away. ;)

[bobber205]

Hi Folks,

This is my very first post here! In the midst of making a transition from Windows to Mac, returned a Dell XPS system 3 weeks ago after fighting and getting frustrated with Vista,..... @#$%^&*.... you get the idea, I hope. I have wanted macs for ... as long as I could remember.:apple: So, now as soon as I got my refund from Dell last Saturday, I went on last Sunday and ordered my iMac 20" (2GB RAM; 256 MB ATI; WL KB and M; Apple Care; 1 to 1; .Mac;, and iWorks) and slept well that night. :-))):) :D :apple:

Then on Monday night, saw the post here about this thread and like at 11:30 p.m., someone snatched the part of the earth underneath my feet. :-(( :confused: :mad: Thinking now I am stuck with this iMac after spending close to $2500.00, by the time I get used to and setup my machine the new iMac's will be relased, could not sleep at all! :-((( Finally managed to get the returns taken care of yesterday evening and now I AM WAITING for this announcement, ESPECIALLY SINCE I THE $ PUT ASIDE, at least mentally. :-))) :)

Any insight into how accurate and / or credible these rumors / buzz / inside scoop is OR has been in the past especially from Apple's standpoint. Is it worth waiting the extra time, since I have now gone through the hassles of retuning again and again when I had made up my mind and am READY (for the last month or so now). Is June 15th like the ultimate end for any announcements of this magnitude or can one expect something major like this to come up even after the end of WWDC and October with the Leopard launch?:confused: :apple:

Any thoughts, insight, help, guidance would be greatly appreciated, since I am Brand New to the Apple World, have been more looking out via the Windows world till now and my eyes and brian are itching with all the #$%^&*.... Based on the trigger for this thread, how long should one wait before going out and buying their iMac's (20" for me). I currently have set a deadline of June 20th and then I'm going shopping again to the Apple Store / online, doesn't matter what rumors are out then??

Thanks a bunch! :apple:

Don't fret it. I don't think it'll be life changing anyway.

You still have a kickass computer.

[AidenShaw]

Hi Any thoughts, insight, help, guidance would be greatly appreciated

If it's a minor update, you'll be fine.

If the Lord God Jobs and Archangel Ives come out with a completely redesigned system though, yours will be instantly out-of-style. Everyone will point at you and laugh behind your back at having an outdated system. Your mother will no longer mention your name during bridge games.

Your boyfriend will leave you, your dog will lift his leg and pee on you while you're surfing, and your cat will run away.
___________

On the other hand, if your computer is just a tool, it'll work just as well as it did the day before Apple made it obsolete.

[MusicallySilent]

Yea I really hope they either put in independent tv inputs that can be used both without the mac on and with the mac on to watch tv while using mac osx and to record

I also hope they put in a better graphics card maybe a x1800 or 7800 series or a 8600+ series card

[severe]

Any thoughts, insight, help, guidance would be greatly appreciated, since I am Brand New to the Apple World...

Hello,

This is my first post. I couldn't help but notice that a couple of the members were under the impression that you were still in possesion of the iMac.

I, myself, am waiting on word of the mini and the iMac as well. I wish I could give you an answer with some type of certainty. However, you can rest assured that in 6 months or so, whatever you do decide to purchase will have had some type of hardware upgrade anyway. Unfortunately or fortunately, that's the name of this game, depending how you look at it.

I do think it was a good idea for you to hold off for now, however. We are way too close to something new.

MacRumors Buyer's Guide (http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/).

[Mac Fly (film)]

may it be a frameless iMac 20" - 24", hidden iSight..

may it be touch-screen keyboard, that contains the CHIP, RAM, optical drive... and a little flash-based instant HD, then the processed info will be updated and stored in the HDD, which locates inside the monitor outfit.

may it be fully synchronised with iPhone (so the iPhone could operate iMac remotely..

may it be http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=74960&d=1179942317
You're a friggin genius!! :D

[LoganT]

may it be a frameless iMac 20" - 24", hidden iSight..

may it be touch-screen keyboard, that contains the CHIP, RAM, optical drive... and a little flash-based instant HD, then the processed info will be updated and stored in the HDD, which locates inside the monitor outfit.

may it be fully synchronised with iPhone (so the iPhone could operate iMac remotely..

may it be

That looks retarded. And basically we are forced to use the Apple keyboard.

[RRK]

That looks retarded.

If I were also in third grade I would have a "come-back" for that.

[MikeT125]

I hope it will have the touchscreen feature.Why do want a touch screen? I fight to keep the fingerprints off mine all day! Touch is good on handheld stuff but not on your desktop.

[LoganT]

If I were also in third grade I would have a "come-back" for that.

Okay. That doesn't change the fact that it looks retarded.

[RRK]

Okay. That doesn't change the fact that it looks retarded.

Well comparing a computer design to a mentally challenged person is both a completely useless criticism that neither describes the problems you see in it or suggests any remedies, and also perpetuates an offensive slur aimed at degrading one of the most innocent minority groups I can imagine. But I am biased because my mother was a High School special education teacher for 25 years and a state level teacher of the year winner.

[LoganT]

Any screen without some kind of border would look stupid. If Apple did something like that, then people would just say they took off the border.

[driver.joe]

I've been waiting to buy my first ever apple PC for months. I hope June will be it even if I have to upgrade in Oct. to Leopard OS. If they do anything new to iMac I'm buying. Enough with the damn iPhone! One would think that with so many people unhappy with Vista that Apple would've jumped in hard with new PC's and Push the new OS also!

[JFreak]

Yea I really hope they either put in independent tv inputs that can be used both without the mac on and with the mac on to watch tv while using mac osx and to record

Not gonna happen, but you can always buy external box for it...

[Neilime]

I read someone was looking to sell his old iMac, maybe you should check mac2sell.net (http://www.mac2sell.net) to estimate it's price :p (free of course)

[elppa]

Any screen without some kind of border would look stupid. If Apple did something like that, then people would just say they took off the border.

I'm sure Apple could make a screen without a border look loveeely…

[mr.bee]

"striking new industrial designs aimed at leaving both competitors and onlookers smitten."


oh, i know that one!

....black imacs...:s

[Stevenup7002]

Hopefully, there will be a 30" imac. I also think that they are gonna get rid of the mac mini, and introduce the mac nano!! And there is one more thing, the mac shuffle, It clips onto your monitor! :D

[unclefudgly]

is there any reason why the new iMac couldn't be based around a 2.5" form factor HD instead of the much bulkier 3.5" HD's?

Basically I want a 24" ACD that is an iMac...
:)

[LoganT]

is there any reason why the new iMac couldn't be based around a 2.5" form factor HD instead of the much bulkier 3.5" HD's?

Basically I want a 24" ACD that is an iMac...
:)

I don't want a slower iMac.

[BenRoethig]

I don't want a slower iMac.

With half the hard drive space. They wouldn't sell too many with a laptop hard drive.

[LoganT]

With half the hard drive space. They wouldn't sell too many with a laptop hard drive.

That too.

[localoid]

The "performance issue" that would result from putting a smaller drive into an iMac will be solved once solid-state drives, e.g., flash drives, become readily available at prices competitive with today's mechanical 3.5" and 2.5" drives. Unfortunately, that's not likely to happen within the next few months. But this technology is "just around the corner"... :)

[BenRoethig]

The "performance issue" that would result from putting a smaller drive into an iMac will be solved once solid-state drives, e.g., flash drives, become readily available at prices competitive with today's mechanical 3.5" and 2.5" drives. Unfortunately, that's not likely to happen within the next few months. But this technology is "just around the corner"... :)

You'll be very luck if you see the kind of storage needed at an affordable price by the end of this decade. They can't get a flash hard drive larger than 32gb in a notebook and they cost a fortune. 500GB is going to take a break through.

[ajkst1]

They are waiting on new faster processors...wait a second...oh yeah that was the excuse in the PowerPC days.

Now since we are with a chipmaker that is coming out with upgraded and much faster processors every couple of months or so, there is no excuse anymore.

If they came out with new machines every few months or so, everyone would say "As soon as I buy one, a new one comes out! I can't keep up!" It's the same argument that consumers had with the iPod not long ago (see SNL sketch). The product needs to be out on the market for a period of time so customers do feel like they are buying something that won't be updated for a period of time. The design of the current iMacs was a great step forward for Apple, allowing for more user installed upgrades. I hope they continue that trend with the new design. My GF is looking for a new one as well. She's still using the "iLamp" iMac. It's DEFINITELY long in the tooth and is in need of either some serious upgrades or an entirely new machine.

[bobber205]

I think the upgrade will be like the macbook. :o

[MacinDoc]

I think the upgrade will be like the macbook. :o
I certainly hope not. I thought the new iMacs were supposed to sport "striking new industrial designs".

[unclefudgly]

The "performance issue" that would result from putting a smaller drive into an iMac will be solved once solid-state drives, e.g., flash drives, become readily available at prices competitive with today's mechanical 3.5" and 2.5" drives. Unfortunately, that's not likely to happen within the next few months. But this technology is "just around the corner"... :)

That's more what I was thinking, with Robson Flash boot drives performance can only be better than current MacBook Pro's so what's the problem??

And three slot in bays would give you a max 750gb of space with 2.5" drives. Personally that would suit me fine as I would rather have a 24" size zero iMac than a size 16 version, built around current technology.