Next-Generation iMacs Already in Production?

[MacDSmith2]

What everyone may be overlooking here is that I don't think anyone anticipated how fast LCD TV's would both progress and be purchased. Apple designed their computers to be used with Monitors, rightly so and hence DP and DVI ports. But consumers have flocked to flat screen TV's, and HTPC in big numbers since last Christmas, and as was said, HDMI was designed for a TV connection. No one anticipated many people would be using TV's as monitors! So now Apple has to re-evalulate how to deal with this development. Looks like Light Peak is their solution, which I think will revolutionize the computer world. Fiber is an incredable medium for communications.

[charlituna]

Do you still get a free ipod when the new generation launches (as a student)!

no. that is a limited time offer that was over before the new ipods came out.

also, just because your sister works for the Board of Education doesn't mean she gets the educational pricing. you'll want to verify before you count on those savings.

[Joe The Dragon]

What everyone may be overlooking here is that I don't think anyone anticipated how fast LCD TV's would both progress and be purchased. Apple designed their computers to be used with Monitors, rightly so and hence DP and DVI ports. But consumers have flocked to flat screen TV's, and HTPC in big numbers since last Christmas, and as was said, HDMI was designed for a TV connection. No one anticipated many people would be using TV's as monitors! So now Apple has to re-evalulate how to deal with this development. Looks like Light Peak is their solution, which I think will revolutionize the computer world. Fiber is an incredable medium for communications.
But you still need a video card on board video is no where near what a card can do. also dose HDCP work over this?

[charlituna]

For this case it would be a media event because of the time of year it is now. But if it were early 2010, it would just be a press release.


got to disagree. the date is NOT the factor.

the answer to the question is what is being announced. if it is a just a spec bump and/or price drop, that's a press release.

if it is a brand new redesigned model with cool new bells and whistles, it's an announcement with a Keynote.

[wesleyh]

A new gateway one AIO was just released, review: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2353892,00.asp

Some of the features I would like to see in the imac that it has are:

quad core cpu
SSD boot drive (64GB) + 1TB HD
8GB RAM

[Joe The Dragon]

A new gateway one AIO was just released, review: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2353892,00.asp

Some of the features I would like to see in the imac that it has are:

quad core cpu
SSD boot drive (64GB) + 1TB HD
8GB RAM

and for the same price apple puts in 9400m that uses system ram and this has 1gb of video ram + 8gb system.

[xhambonex]

Oh and HDMi was only meant for TVs. Hence the Max 1080p resolution and the integrated sound channels.

I agree it was meant for TVs but it supports up to 2560x1600 in HDMI 1.3 and 4096x2160 for HDMI 1.4.

I mean I don't want to argue, but the MDP is really inconvenient at the moment. Hardly any displays accept MDP without adapters. And while you'd be crazy to buy these adapters from Apple, its annoying to have to even use them. I've personally gone through 3 DVI to VGA adapters (though mine was free with computer and free under warranty).

For now its annoying, maybe down the road it will become a standard, but that's a ways off. What would have been nice is if Apple spaced out the ports a little better with all that saved room so that I could plug 2 USB devices in at one time.

[hiimamac]

I agree it was meant for TVs but it supports up to 2560x1600 in HDMI 1.3 and 4096x2160 for HDMI 1.4.

I mean I don't want to argue, but the MDP is really inconvenient at the moment. Hardly any displays accept MDP without adapters. And while you'd be crazy to buy these adapters from Apple, its annoying to have to even use them. I've personally gone through 3 DVI to VGA adapters (though mine was free with computer and free under warranty).

For now its annoying, maybe down the road it will become a standard, but that's a ways off. What would have been nice is if Apple spaced out the ports a little better with all that saved room so that I could plug 2 USB devices in at one time.

Everything Apple makes gets in the way of the other, so, example, no TV machine as that interferes with iTunes, no streaming DVR, again, afftects iTunes even though shows are free, no mind range as for some strange reason, Apple thinks everyone needs a $3000.00 mac pro when the Pro Sumer market is 1,000 to 1 in terms of sales, thus why Avid/Digi bought Maudio, more people by Pro Sumer machine parts then Pro parts, and they make more money, so not sure we will ever see a mid range. I think the way to go is a hack n tosh, i7 machine, there are boot loaders now that allow you to download updates with no problems and no bricking your machine.

Then again, maybe Apple will surprise, doubt it, but it could happen, they did say something about machines having more PRO features, hope its better GPU and CPU and express/eSata and not Blue Ray.

Peace,

[jackies35]

I have been diagnosed with the swine flu for the 3rd time this year, so lets make this a quick one!


Hey, are you ok?

If you are diagnosed with the swine flu 3 times, you should check your surroundings!!

Are you ok? Serious Note!:(

[klrobinson999]

is it not impossible to diagnosed three times with the swine flu? Once you have it, you are then immune to it (unless it is a different strain, which has NOT been discussed in the health world at all).

[jackies35]

I first purchased Apple products with an iPod Nano > then an Apple TV > then an iPhone 3G. I want to buy a Mac but price compared to PC's hasn't been worth it yet. Just purchased a new Windows laptop last month for $300 (and it works just fine, btw). I don't expect to ever see a Mac in that range, but a price reduction of any amount will help the next time I'm looking to buy again. It's good to see Microsoft lighting the fire under Apple's rear and forcing competitive price reductions.

blackpond, I agree with you and your purchase. My friend just purchased a mini laptop pc (netbook i think??)... Anyway, she loves my macbook but would not spend the money for it.

She wanted the little laptop pc because she loves to surf the net, upload a few pics, and write several blog and that's it...

I think it's ok to purchase a machine that will do what you want it to do.

A lot of people will purchase a iMac or Macbook pro because there needs are a little different.

I love how I can just take the macbook out and have two videos posted to Youtube within seconds (ok minutes after editing) or chat with family and friends using iChat. I love how simple the macbook is and less challenging it is to do things!

I work in the IT department at my job. There isn't anything here but PC(S). They work fine and it meet the needs to run this business. But the machines and server here are expensive as well...

I guess it really depends on what you going to use the mahcine for!! I don't like spending any money on anything but nothing is free. So, I would spend the money on Mac because I love using these machines.

[Shivetya]

and for the same price apple puts in 9400m that uses system ram and this has 1gb of video ram + 8gb system.

The dual core, with 4gb memory and intel integrated graphics is 879.

Still, that quad core monster is just that, a monster. Obvious price savings from using what appears to be a TN panel. Still its touch screen!

Trying to figure out what new technologies that iMac will have, I am leaning towards touch screen as one of them. With Apple products all emphasizing touch I cannot see it just being a mouse or track pad when it comes to iMac, not with the competition all going that way.

[jb1280]

The dual core, with 4gb memory and intel integrated graphics is 879.

Still, that quad core monster is just that, a monster. Obvious price savings from using what appears to be a TN panel. Still its touch screen!

Trying to figure out what new technologies that iMac will have, I am leaning towards touch screen as one of them. With Apple products all emphasizing touch I cannot see it just being a mouse or track pad when it comes to iMac, not with the competition all going that way.

I just spent 30 seconds directing my hand towards my 24" display and I can't imagine this sort of "touch" being anything else than a gimmick for a desktop.

[Shivetya]

I just spent 30 seconds directing my hand towards my 24" display and I can't imagine this sort of "touch" being anything else than a gimmick for a desktop.

Editing pictures.

touch screen technology doesn't have to be the center of the universe, but there are many things its better at than a mouse/kb combo.

[jmpage2]

Editing pictures.

touch screen technology doesn't have to be the center of the universe, but there are many things its better at than a mouse/kb combo.

The MS tech demos of using a multi-touch aware mouse to do things like this are actually quite impressive.

People sit at their desks with their displays a comfortable distance away in most cases, it's simply not conducive to multi-touch on the display.

A multi-touch tablet that could also become a multi-touch input device for a host computer, as well as the previously mentioned multi-touch mice, make far more sense for desktop size displays.

[alent1234]

blackpond, I agree with you and your purchase. My friend just purchased a mini laptop pc (netbook i think??)... Anyway, she loves my macbook but would not spend the money for it.

She wanted the little laptop pc because she loves to surf the net, upload a few pics, and write several blog and that's it...

I think it's ok to purchase a machine that will do what you want it to do.

A lot of people will purchase a iMac or Macbook pro because there needs are a little different.

I love how I can just take the macbook out and have two videos posted to Youtube within seconds (ok minutes after editing) or chat with family and friends using iChat. I love how simple the macbook is and less challenging it is to do things!

I work in the IT department at my job. There isn't anything here but PC(S). They work fine and it meet the needs to run this business. But the machines and server here are expensive as well...

I guess it really depends on what you going to use the mahcine for!! I don't like spending any money on anything but nothing is free. So, I would spend the money on Mac because I love using these machines.

i can do all these things with my PC just as fast. i do video calls with my mom who's in another state and use Skype and a $50 webcam. on her end is the same webcam and a 5 year old dell laptop running Vista

[jmpage2]

i can do all these things with my PC just as fast. i do video calls with my mom who's in another state and use Skype and a $50 webcam. on her end is the same webcam and a 5 year old dell laptop running Vista

Like many PC users, you miss the point. That's coming from someone who has been using PCs since 1989.

[charlituna]

is it not impossible to diagnosed three times with the swine flu? Once you have it, you are then immune to it (unless it is a different strain, which has NOT been discussed in the health world at all).



or the two of the times it wasn't really the 'swine' flu.

[MrBean]

Editing pictures.

touch screen technology doesn't have to be the center of the universe, but there are many things its better at than a mouse/kb combo.

If you are trying to say that a touch screen is gonna be better for editing photos, you haven't done much PS work.

[Shivetya]

If you are trying to say that a touch screen is gonna be better for editing photos, you haven't done much PS work.

I am saying it will be better for mom and dad types.

I can do wonders with a pad or even a mouse. However the majority of people who need to do photo editing need nothing advanced, they need simple and even something fun.

Think outside your little part of the world. I do software development and design for a living. The hardest part of the job is recognizing that just because I found something easy, intuitive, or whatnot, doesn't mean the user does. Watching recorded user sessions can show you just how crappy an idea you thought wonderful was. Let alone my favorite part of development, seeing how users have adopted to "features" and how they work around them and when you fix said feature you just annoy them!

[jmpage2]

I am saying it will be better for mom and dad types.

I can do wonders with a pad or even a mouse. However the majority of people who need to do photo editing need nothing advanced, they need simple and even something fun.

Think outside your little part of the world. I do software development and design for a living. The hardest part of the job is recognizing that just because I found something easy, intuitive, or whatnot, doesn't mean the user does. Watching recorded user sessions can show you just how crappy an idea you thought wonderful was. Let alone my favorite part of development, seeing how users have adopted to "features" and how they work around them and when you fix said feature you just annoy them!

If multi touch on the screen of a desktop size machine was going to take off, it already would have, as there are several machines with this technology already available.

The problem is that it has not taken off, and probably never will. Sitting inches from the screen, moving your hands over the screen for minutes/hours at a time, and having a smudged up screen all equate to not such a great computing experience as you apparently think.

[wesleyh]

If multi touch on the screen of a desktop size machine was going to take off, it already would have, as there are several machines with this technology already available.

The problem is that it has not taken off, and probably never will. Sitting inches from the screen, moving your hands over the screen for minutes/hours at a time, and having a smudged up screen all equate to not such a great computing experience as you apparently think.

I'd love to see something like this though: http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/10/13/10gui-one-very-slick-desktop-multi-touch-concept-video/

[jmpage2]

I'd love to see something like this though: http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/10/13/10gui-one-very-slick-desktop-multi-touch-concept-video/

Brilliant demo and shows precisely why touch for the desktop will not happen on the screen. It will happen through input devices married to an OS that can recognize and take advantage of multi-touch input from a surface that sits in front of the user.

It would be a total coup for Apple to introduce this technology one or more years ahead of MS.

[alangsam]

OK - i am anxiously awaiting the new iMacs - any ideas of when they will be launched? it was about two weeks ago they told the channel that the supplies would be constrained - seems about perfect time to announce?

[AidenShaw]

Brilliant demo and shows precisely why touch for the desktop will not happen on the screen. It will happen through input devices married to an OS that can recognize and take advantage of multi-touch input from a surface that sits in front of the user.

It would be a total coup for Apple to introduce this technology one or more years ahead of MS.

Microsoft was showing exactly that at CES - essentially it was a dual monitor Surface computer. One multi-touch monitor flat on the desk, the second monitor standing up.

[jmpage2]

Microsoft was showing exactly that at CES - essentially it was a dual monitor Surface computer. One multi-touch monitor flat on the desk, the second monitor standing up.

Using a screen for the input is a huge expense, and will not be a main stream thing in my opinion.

Apple is approaching this correctly if they move to direct input devices instead of a screen for the multi touch input.

In fact, if Apple is ready to ship this with some application support in Snow Leopard it's going to be a big, big deal. It would not take (too) long for MS to catch up, but it would be a riot if Apple had multi-touch iMacs with next generation input devices in stores at the same time Windows 7 PCs started shipping.

I can just see the ads in which PC is playing with a mouse and pointer while Mac is doing next generation computing on an iMac.

[charlituna]

Editing pictures.

touch screen technology doesn't have to be the center of the universe, but there are many things its better at than a mouse/kb combo.

you are correct to a degree that a touch screen might be better at something like editing photos.

HOWEVER, these computers are talking about an actual touch screen. as in the display screen standing upright on your desk.

for the kind of thing you are talking about you would need something like a Wacom tablet which sits on the desk. not something that you have to extend almost a full arm etc.

[Shivetya]

you are correct to a degree that a touch screen might be better at something like editing photos.

HOWEVER, these computers are talking about an actual touch screen. as in the display screen standing upright on your desk.

for the kind of thing you are talking about you would need something like a Wacom tablet which sits on the desk. not something that you have to extend almost a full arm etc.


I fully agree, better is a tablet or such. Since I work in such a large office I get to see all sorts of habits. One of the ones that surprised me most is how many people sit so damn close to their monitor. It was far easier to do in the CRT days, but one thing I notice is the sheer amount of finger prints on monitors. People point, touch, and gesture, to as if the audience cannot find it themselves.

So yeah, I think touch is more than useful even on desktops. I think an extension of what Microsoft is doing with Natal is more of the future than that though, in fact with the inclusion of the camera on iMacs and MB it wouldn't be too hard to make it happen at Apple

[DDave]

OK - i am anxiously awaiting the new iMacs - any ideas of when they will be launched? it was about two weeks ago they told the channel that the supplies would be constrained - seems about perfect time to announce?

There is another thread where they have been discussing this. It seems that most think the release will be next Tuesday the 20th. We'll just have to see

[charlituna]

There is another thread where they have been discussing this. It seems that most think the release will be next Tuesday the 20th. We'll just have to see

the full rumor is that Microsoft is planning to open their Mission Viejo store on the 22nd to go with the release of Win 7. And Apple knows this from the mall staff and will be reopening their Mission Viejo store (which will be double the old size) the same day.

so if they send out a press release on the 20th that new units with X specs are 'shipping out today', give it 1-2 days of time for that and they would hit the stores on the 22nd and 23rd. which would make for quite the potential interest for folks to want to check out the Mission Viejo store which would of course reopen with those new machines all out on the tables (they would make it a priority to have them there the evening before to be all loaded with the various sample files etc by opening time)

it's so snark and devious that I can believe they would do it.

[ssh]

There is another thread where they have been discussing this. It seems that most think the release will be next Tuesday the 20th. We'll just have to seeGiven that an email exchange with Apple inside sales today amounted to no quote on an iMac until tomorrow... I expect that this date is correct.