Date for New iMacs??

[alexeli]

Could someone tell me when the current iMacs were released AND if there are new versions coming out shortly. I want a new one BUT I don't really want to buy one if an arrival of an updated one is imminent. And I do realize that this is not public - but a guestimate would do. Thanks

[dropadrop]

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#iMac

[Hellhammer]

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=924140
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=922061
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=890189

[Sun Baked]

At worst either 1-2 weeks before WWDC or 1-2 weeks after.

Since Apple has been trying to get away from keying any product refresh to any major event.

Looking like quad core i5/i7s across the board, with the ATI card in the top end.

Likely the education iMac (that very bottom end iMac) will stay with the C2D and use the Nvidia 320 like the MacBook, or simply not get updated.

[drchiu]

This is probably one of the most difficult times to make a clean decision on buying a mac.

Could wait until end of June, but then you're 1 month into the next possible refresh cycle.

[Sun Baked]

Apple is still working on the iPad supply, these things tend to make other products in need of a refresh get pushed back, so the end of July really isn't too far outside the box either.

But going from dual cores to quad core for the same price should be worth the wait.

[drchiu]

Apple is still working on the iPad supply, these things tend to make other products in need of a refresh get pushed back, so the end of July really isn't too far outside the box either.

But going from dual cores to quad core for the same price should be worth the wait.

I don't think the ipad will push back other products. Eg. The product refresh for the macbook pros in April, and the macbook in May.

Threads like these make for excellent time wasters though ;)

[rabsparks]

I've been biding my time, not wanting to get a dual core when Apple is planning a quad core. But i think that the real issue is has Apple fixed the multitude of problems with the current 21 iMacs?

[Hellhammer]

At worst either 1-2 weeks before WWDC or 1-2 weeks after.

Since Apple has been trying to get away from keying any product refresh to any major event.

Looking like quad core i5/i7s across the board, with the ATI card in the top end.

Likely the education iMac (that very bottom end iMac) will stay with the C2D and use the Nvidia 320 like the MacBook, or simply not get updated.

Quad core i5/i7 can't be used in all iMacs due price and heat.... Likely Clarkdale (dual core i5/i7) in low and mid iMacs and quad (Lynnfield) in high-end

[MacDannny]

Quad core i5/i7 can't be used in all iMacs due price and heat.... Likely Clarkdale (dual core i5/i7) in low and mid iMacs and quad (Lynnfield) in high-end

You know the good thing about your knowledge? I would trust your predicitions over Steve jobs! :)

[RAM3Zero]

You know the good thing about your knowledge? I would trust your predicitions over Steve jobs! :)

Agreed. I'm a regular follower of Hellhammer's speculation/technical savvy. Been lurking/researching the iMacs here since February and his posts have helped me stave off impulse buying.

[MacDannny]

Agreed. I'm a regular follower of Hellhammer's speculation/technical savvy. Been lurking/researching the iMacs here since February and his posts have helped me stave off impulse buying.

Maybe the mods can persuade him to have some "Hammer-Time".
Say, 1 hour a day where people ask him tech advice LOL. :)

[DrHPMW]

My question is, will the new iMac's (if they're coming at all) be the same price as the current 21.5" and 27" models?

Why? Well I'm not certain of any changes last year in America, but in Australia last year there were some significant price drops in the new iMac line compared to it's predecessor. And my only conclusion for this was the sudden fall in all facets of technology due to the 'Global Recession'! This coming from the company that vehemently refuses to lower its prices.
So on that premise, is it worth getting an iMac now while they're still cheap, or should we wait to be blown away by a new unexpected iMac with a new and unexpected price hike attached?

The current Australian price-tag is: AU$1599 (about US$1348)
I don't want to pay an extra AU$500 if Apple does decide to refresh their iMac line, stamp it with their original price, and only include an upgraded processor.
It's money and time wasted on a refresh...

What are your thoughts?

[MacDannny]

My question is, will the new iMac's (if they're coming at all) be the same price as the current 21.5" and 27" models?

Why? Well I'm not certain of any changes last year in America, but in Australia last year there were some significant price drops in the new iMac line compared to it's predecessor. And my only conclusion for this was the sudden fall in all facets of technology due to the 'Global Recession'! This coming from the company that vehemently refuses to lower its prices.
So on that premise, is it worth getting an iMac now while they're still cheap, or should we wait to be blown away by a new unexpected iMac with a new and unexpected price hike attached?

The current Australian price-tag is: AU$1599 (about US$1348)
I don't want to pay an extra AU$500 if Apple does decide to refresh their iMac line, stamp it with their original price, and only include an upgraded processor.
It's money and time wasted on a refresh...

What are your thoughts?

i think a price hike is highly possible! apple hardware sales are increasing and they know they could still shift high amounts, even with about a £100 increase. The new updated white macbook went up £50 for students, but not at all for normal prices. So theyre definitely putting prices up!

Its a risk, definitely.

[Hellhammer]

You know the good thing about your knowledge? I would trust your predicitions over Steve jobs! :)

Agreed. I'm a regular follower of Hellhammer's speculation/technical savvy. Been lurking/researching the iMacs here since February and his posts have helped me stave off impulse buying.

lol, thanks for supporting me ;) Anyway, keep in mind that my speculation is just speculation and based on what is currently available and possible

[zappster]

lol, thanks for supporting me ;) Anyway, keep in mind that my speculation is just speculation and based on what is currently available and possible

We'll call you the voice of reason. ;) Keep it up.

[mrwonkers]

My question is, will the new iMac's (if they're coming at all) be the same price as the current 21.5" and 27" models?

Why? Well I'm not certain of any changes last year in America, but in Australia last year there were some significant price drops in the new iMac line compared to it's predecessor. And my only conclusion for this was the sudden fall in all facets of technology due to the 'Global Recession'! This coming from the company that vehemently refuses to lower its prices.
So on that premise, is it worth getting an iMac now while they're still cheap, or should we wait to be blown away by a new unexpected iMac with a new and unexpected price hike attached?

The current Australian price-tag is: AU$1599 (about US$1348)
I don't want to pay an extra AU$500 if Apple does decide to refresh their iMac line, stamp it with their original price, and only include an upgraded processor.
It's money and time wasted on a refresh...

What are your thoughts?


I am in Oz 2 and am glad I purchased my refurb i5 iMac (perfect in every way - just like new) several weeks ago. The Australian dollar has lost a bit of ground and if keeps going down there will most certainly be a price increase next time round. If our dollar really tanks it the price could really jump up:eek:
A good example of this would be when my Missus bought her MacBook a couple of years ago (1st All Aluminum Unibody Model - same place in the product line as the current 13" MacBook Pro) it cost her $2100 (Australian Dollar was very weak then) the current equivalent 13" MacBook Pro in Australia costs $1499 (due to our strong dollar at the time of its release) My advice to you would be to grab an iMac now while the current price is neither extortive or prohibitive.

I managed to get my iMac in the end for 25% off the new price, grab yourself a deal on a refurb you'll be glad you did...
http://store.apple.com/au/browse/home/specialdeals/mac?mco=OTY2ODY3Nw

[DrHPMW]

I am in Oz 2 and am glad I purchased my refurb i5 iMac (perfect in every way - just like new) several weeks ago. The Australian dollar has lost a bit of ground and if keeps going down there will most certainly be a price increase next time round. If our dollar really tanks it the price could really jump up:eek:
A good example of this would be when my Missus bought her MacBook a couple of years ago (1st All Aluminum Unibody Model - same place in the product line as the current 13" MacBook Pro) it cost her $2100 (Australian Dollar was very weak then) the current equivalent 13" MacBook Pro in Australia costs $1499 (due to our strong dollar at the time of its release) My advice to you would be to grab an iMac now while the current price is neither extortive or prohibitive.

I managed to get my iMac in the end for 25% off the new price, grab yourself a deal on a refurb you'll be glad you did...
http://store.apple.com/au/browse/home/specialdeals/mac?mco=OTY2ODY3Nw

Ha ha, I had the same experience with the Alu MacBook 13". Bought it at that exorbitant $2100 back in late May '09 then they released the Pro refresh (essentially the same, only it was slightly faster and it said "Pro") and that was such a major price fall. So I rang up Apple and drew blood when the new one was released, mind you I had been in the Apple store the day before the launch, enquired whether there were to be any updates for the MacBook line soon (back when I was an Apple novice), and I was told, "definitely NO!". I really hated Apple and their conceitedness afterwards, but learned to shrug that. Knowing I had a pretty fancy computer, that didn't even begin to have any comparable competition till the later half of the year made me happy.

[Willdta]

not to sound selfish but personally i hope they wait till the next cycle to put out new imacs,i just bought a bottom-line 27inch and i would be disappointed if a new line with upgraded specs came out ,but hey its a risk we take i guess

[drchiu]

not to sound selfish but personally i hope they wait till the next cycle to put out new imacs,i just bought a bottom-line 27inch and i would be disappointed if a new line with upgraded specs came out ,but hey its a risk we take i guess

Well I might as well chime in... Not to sound selfish of me, but I hope they do update this cycle as I've been waiting to get one. :D

The good thing is nobody will know when the update. Enjoy your 27" iMac though...

[Sun Baked]

I don't think the ipad will push back other products. Eg. The product refresh for the macbook pros in April, and the macbook in May.

Threads like these make for excellent time wasters though ;)

However Hon Hai Manufactures the iPad, iPhone, iMac, iPod Touch while Quanta is doing the MacBooks.

Slamming Hon Hai with new iPads, iPhones, and iMac all at the same time would likely mean the old huge waits we used to have.

Good chance the iMac might slide quite a ways if the new iPhone hits really soon, especially with Hon Hai under scrutiny for suicides.

[pruhawk]

IMHO not until after the summer back-to-school promotion ends.

[Omnigray]

IMHO not until after the summer back-to-school promotion ends.

I'm worried that you may be right

[huie]

Maybe it was just a coincidence but last fall Apple refreshed the iMacs a few days after Sony released their new AIO desktops. I'll be curious to see if that happens again.

Sony seems to be selling off their stock, some models are no longer available.

[nj-mac-user]

Maybe it was just a coincidence but last fall Apple refreshed the iMacs a few days after Sony released their new AIO desktops. I'll be curious to see if that happens again.

Sony seems to be selling off their stock, some models are no longer available.

I believe Apple could care less about what Sony does.

[gto55]

with all the usb3 peripherals coming, the price of ssds dropping (and still no trim function on mac :(), isn't it better to wait for a real upgrade ?

thanks :p

[frosse]

If not announced @ WWDC by Jobs it'll be a silent update the same day. The 7th that is.

[Paarse]

I'm really hoping for an upgrade next week. Just days ago i convinced my parents to buy an iMac instead of some ***** pc, and they are really excited about getting a computer that actually works.

So when I come and visit them I might not have to bring my MBP, but I might not have to come visit them that often because of no more computer problems!:D

[Ravich]

If the iMacs get updated before mac pros, then I'll probably end up getting one.

[whokilledkaji]

I actually just sold my 1st generation Mac Pro in an auction today... After tomorrow I'll have no computer at all until the next iMac comes out. I'll be relying on my iPad until then!!! It'll be interesting...

I'm not expecting much of an iMac update, but I think I'll really try to wait it out...

Any chance of USB 3.0 in the coming iMacs?

[Hellhammer]

Any chance of USB 3.0 in the coming iMacs?

Currently USB 3.0 needs a dedicated controller (PCI mainly I think), so it's very unlikely that Apple would use any extra parts. Intel isn't adopting USB 3.0 to their chipsets before next year so we won't see it in other than Mac Pro before that

[Dont Hurt Me]

Any Chance Apple will unveil a all new machine? Perhaps a full powered consumer desktop thats not the dreaded all in one?

[Marty Macfly]

Any Chance Apple will unveil a all new machine? Perhaps a full powered consumer desktop thats not the dreaded all in one?

The xMac is a dream deferred. Steve Jobs won't let anything but an all-in-one leave his doors as a consumer machine. Heck, the Mac Pro is only upgradable because they'd lose an unacceptable number of professionals if it wasn't.

The original iMac was an all-in-one because Steve "didn't want people messing with his machine". That might not be an exact quote, but I can probably find where I read it (from one of the original Mac dev team).

[Hellhammer]

Any Chance Apple will unveil a all new machine? Perhaps a full powered consumer desktop thats not the dreaded all in one?

Of course it's possible but "xMac" has been discussed to death. Apple could do it if they wanted to. Currently, as long as Steve is around, it will likely not happen.

Now that iMacs use desktop CPUs, there is not that big need for it anymore. iMac is extremely enormous machine and the design and easiness are probably the #1 sellers of it. In the end, the people who would like to have xMac are the minority who can't afford Mac Pro and doesn't like iMac being so limited in terms of upgradeability.

xMac would kill all other desktop Macs

[TMRaven]

Probably never. The biggest selling point Apple has with its computers is quality control, and a big reason for this is limiting the amount of hardware possibilities and drivers that go into their machines.

Selling a lower priced tower computer is just asking people to fully customize them as if they were window machines.

[whokilledkaji]

Currently USB 3.0 needs a dedicated controller (PCI mainly I think), so it's very unlikely that Apple would use any extra parts. Intel isn't adopting USB 3.0 to their chipsets before next year so we won't see it in other than Mac Pro before that

Thanks Hellhammer... Your reputation precedes you.

It's too bad about USB 3.0... I actually have a 2TB external HDD that is 3.0. It works with USB 2.0 and was only a little more expensive than a normal external USB 2.0 drive. Figured that it may be worth a few extra yen...

I'm sure Apple's reason for not including USB 3.0 rests with the hardware and Intel issues, but I wonder... Has USB 3.0 not really caught on overseas? I live in Japan and 3.0 is pretty big here.

[Hellhammer]

I'm sure Apple's reason for not including USB 3.0 rests with the hardware and Intel issues, but I wonder... Has USB 3.0 not really caught on overseas? I live in Japan and 3.0 is pretty big here.

Japan is usually the forerunner in tech related things. I can't talk about USA but at least here, USB 3.0 is still in the shadows. Only very few devices have it and they cost a nice extra. Only handful of laptops have it due the need of dedicated controller. More and more motherboards (desktop) have it but they are not in consumer range (+100€) yet. I work in a computer shop and only few people have asked about it and they were more or less professional users.

When Intel adopts it, it will become a standard and get the attention it needs. Now that it's available in only certain products and you have to pay more to get it, it's not a surprise that it's not popular here yet.

[TMRaven]

I've seen quite a few higher end P55 mobos that support usb3.0

[Hellhammer]

I've seen quite a few higher end P55 mobos that support usb3.0

If they aren't for mainstream (i.e. consumers), it doesn't matter. There are plenty of mobos with it and PCI USB 3.0 card doesn't cost more than 20$. It just has to hit the mainstream products i.e. laptops to become popular.

There is always more developed technology available but it comes with a price. It won't become the standard in one night

[TMRaven]

I'd consider 150usd for a mobo pretty mainstream.

[Hellhammer]

I'd consider 150usd for a mobo pretty mainstream.

I wouldn't. Most popular mobos are under 100$. If you're getting a desktop for normal tasks (no gaming or other intensive), you won't spend that extra 50$ for features you have never heard off. I work in a computer shop and most of our customers select the cheapest route, especially in things like mobos which are like Latin to them.

Desktops ain't the mainstream anymore. Most of sold computers are laptops.

Other issue is that devices like ext HDs with USB 3.0 cost more and majority don't even have USB 3.0 yet, e.g. cameras, phones, iPods etc. Getting USB 3.0 to desktop doesn't cost more than 20$ as I said but you can't get it for laptop (unless it has e.g. ExpressSlot).

[gto55]

ASUS N61JV-JX011V is a laptop with usb3 :p

[Hellhammer]

ASUS N61JV-JX011V is a laptop with usb3 :p

I know there are lappys with USB 3.0 as well but as long as it's a feature only available in few models, it doesn't matter. It needs to be in most laptops to be popular so the market is greater. That's one of the reasons why FireWire is more or less Apple only. Intel is being bitchy and slowly adopting USB 3.0, that's why we haven't seen it much yet. The tech has existed for a good time now.

[hexagonheat]

I wouldn't. Most popular mobos are under 100$. If you're getting a desktop for normal tasks (no gaming or other intensive), you won't spend that extra 50$ for features you have never heard off. I work in a computer shop and most of our customers select the cheapest route, especially in things like mobos which are like Latin to them.

Desktops ain't the mainstream anymore. Most of sold computers are laptops.

Other issue is that devices like ext HDs with USB 3.0 cost more and majority don't even have USB 3.0 yet, e.g. cameras, phones, iPods etc. Getting USB 3.0 to desktop doesn't cost more than 20$ as I said but you can't get it for laptop (unless it has e.g. ExpressSlot).


There are lots of mobos with usb 3.0 that are under $100. Here is a list of what I could find:

ASUS P5P43TD/USB3 ATX LGA775 DDR3 P43 PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 3PCI Sound 6SATA USB3.0 GBLAN Motherboard $98.33

Gigabyte GA-770T-USB3 ATX AM3 AMD 770/SB710 DDR3 PCI-E16 4XPCI-E 2XPCI SATA2 RAID USB3.0 Motherboard $93.89

Gigabyte GA-770TA-UD3 AMD770 ATX AM3 DDR3 1PCI-E 4PCI RAID HD Sound GBLAN SATA3 USB3.0 Motherboard $92.95

Gigabyte GA-EP43T-USB3 ATX LGA775 P43 DDR3 1PCI-E 4PCI SATA USB3.0 Sound GBLAN Motherboard $96.70

There are even more by MSI that are just slightly over $100 by a couple of dollars.

Source: http://www.ncixus.com/products/107/1061/Motherboards/USB%203.0/

Looks pretty mainstream to me.

[Hellhammer]

There are lots of mobos with usb 3.0 that are under $100. Here is a list of what I could find:

ASUS P5P43TD/USB3 ATX LGA775 DDR3 P43 PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 3PCI Sound 6SATA USB3.0 GBLAN Motherboard $98.33

Gigabyte GA-770T-USB3 ATX AM3 AMD 770/SB710 DDR3 PCI-E16 4XPCI-E 2XPCI SATA2 RAID USB3.0 Motherboard $93.89

Gigabyte GA-770TA-UD3 AMD770 ATX AM3 DDR3 1PCI-E 4PCI RAID HD Sound GBLAN SATA3 USB3.0 Motherboard $92.95

Gigabyte GA-EP43T-USB3 ATX LGA775 P43 DDR3 1PCI-E 4PCI SATA USB3.0 Sound GBLAN Motherboard $96.70

There are even more by MSI that are just slightly over $100 by a couple of dollars.

Source: http://www.ncixus.com/products/107/1061/Motherboards/USB%203.0/

Looks pretty mainstream to me.

I know, I never said there isn't. I built my parents a PC which has USB 3.0, the mobo cost 110€ (microATX).

It's just because most of them still don't which is going to change after Intel adopts it. Getting USB 3.0 doesn't cost you more than 20$ (PCI card) but the fact that laptops don't have it yet (some do but most don't) is killing the idea of it being the standard yet. The lack of devices having USB 3.0 is too keeping it in the shadows. All this is going to change pretty soon though (hopefully :D)

[mattnotis]

I'm crossing my eyes, fingers and legs in hopes that they'll refresh their iMacs sometime this week! Don't let me down, Steve!