Things I'd like to see in the 2011 iMac

[Thermonuclear]

Here's a list of some of the moderate changes I'd like to see in the 2011 iMac:

1) A USB port on the side, perhaps below the SD card slot.

2) A USB port on the other side as well.

3) A wireless keyboard with a number pad, just like the Apple wired keyboard.

4) A power/sleep LED. Maybe make the Apple logo translucent and stick the LED behind it.

5) If not Blu-Ray playback, at least an option for a drive that can read BR data disks.

6) A matte finish option.

7) An included IR remote and a place on the side to store it, just like the old G5 iMacs.

8) HDMI output for those using as HDTV for a second monitor.

9) Have the iTunes music library be pre-loaded with every song Apple has already offered via their Free Song of the Week program.

10) A hardware diagnostics disk.

11) An option to substitute the trackpad for the mouse.

I'm sure you can add a few ideas of your own.

[TMRaven]

1) ugly
2) ugly
3) that'd be nice
4) that'd be nice as well
5) eh
6) only if apple found a way to make it look as elegant as the glass finish
7) not bad
8) I rather go hdmi in. It'd save people 200 bucks if they wanted to buy something similar to hd pvr. hdmi out is only limited to 1920x1080, and doesn't match a 27 inch iMac's native resolution.
9) k
10) it already has one?
11) what?!

[dexthageek]

1) Nah
2) Nah
3) Would be very nice
4) That would be cool
5) Maybe BTO or else it would increase prices to much
6) I think I am a minority but I like the Glossy screen - Offers sharper picture and colors are more vivid.
7) Personally don't have a need for one
8) With TMRaven HDMI IN would be better.
9) Even though Apple is giving away the free songs, someone has to pay for them. And not everyone will listen to every free song.
10) My iMac shipped with one (AppleCare)
11) Why? I see the trackpad as a secondary input device. I still needed a mouse for somethings.

My Additions:
12) User replaceable HDD(s)! :)

[Iam-AT-Work]

ESATA port / Lightpeak(sp?) or an express port.

[LAPTOPODO]

1.- Matte Option

2.- A model between the 21.5 and the 27 , maybe 24,3 or sort of ... (keeping 16:9 ratio)

3.- HD easy replacement.

4.- QuadCore i5-i7 too in the 21.5 inch models :D

5.- USB 3.0

[Hellhammer]

- Sandy Bridge CPUs: +3GHz quad in 27", quad and dual in 21.5"

- ATI Southern Islands desktop GPUs: "Cayman" based GPU in high-end, "Barts" based on medium and "Turks" based on low-end. However, I believe Apple will use mobility so "Blackcomb" for high-end, "Whistler" based on medium and "Seymour" based on low-end

- Easier HD/SSD replacement*

- USB 3.0 and/or LightPeak*

*Doubt it

[bolen]

- Sandy Bridge CPUs: +3GHz quad in 27", quad and dual in 21.5"

- ATI Southern Islands desktop GPUs: "Cayman" based GPU in high-end, "Barts" based on medium and "Turks" based on low-end. However, I believe Apple will use mobility so "Blackcomb" for high-end, "Whistler" based on medium and "Seymour" based on low-end

- Easier HD/SSD replacement*

- USB 3.0 and/or LightPeak*

*Doubt it

I can image that the iMac will get USB3.0 once it gets Intel chipset natively supports USB3.0.

Love to see a easier way to exchange the disks, at least the second 2,5" bay. That would be fairly simple I would think, remember the old Macbooks..

[kazmac]

Like what some have already said but all I want is the hardware issues from the last two waves of iMacs to be fixed.

I've decided to get my early2009 iMac fixed and get an iPad by next June.
Then I'll be okay until I need to get a new machine. These new 21.5 iMacs are awful resolution - speedwise, and I'm tired of returns etc.

Maybe by the time I need a new Mac the mini towers will be a reality and/or the iMacs will be issue-free.

[dexthageek]

....and/or the iMacs will be issue-free.

I hate to break it to you but no hardware will ever be issue-free :(
Now it would be nice for Apple to step up on their QC and properly test all machines before are shipped.

[Macfr3d]

I only need two more things:

1. User replaceable HDD
2. USB 3.0 (or FW3200)

[Kronie]

An non LED IPS screen. LED is great if only they could get the whites white and not blue or yellow.

[Hellhammer]

An LCD IPS screen. LED is great if only they could get the whites white and not blue or yellow.

The panel is LCD IPS, the backlight is LED. LED backlight has its pros and cons, it's still fairly new so give it some time

[Kronie]

..... it's still fairly new so give it some time


I am. I decided to hold off buying the iMac until the they figure it out....if they ever do. If I have "upgrade fever" anytime soon I will just get a Mac Pro and keep my old fashioned IPS monitor with its ancient CCFL lighting.....

[kazmac]

I hate to break it to you but no hardware will ever be issue-free :(
Now it would be nice for Apple to step up on their QC and properly test all machines before are shipped.

After my gen1 iMac was replaced I had 11 years of no issues. As of this March though I would have to agree with your statement.

QC step up, yeah that would well appreciated. I hope that happens and that Apple will use some of all that money they're earning into QC and redesign.

I would like to see the problems fixed in 2011 and USB 3.0 along with more SSD options.

[joejoejoe]

Here's a list of some of the moderate changes I'd like to see in the 2011 iMac:

1) A USB port on the side, perhaps below the SD card slot.

2) A USB port on the other side as well.

3) A wireless keyboard with a number pad, just like the Apple wired keyboard.

4) A power/sleep LED. Maybe make the Apple logo translucent and stick the LED behind it.

5) If not Blu-Ray playback, at least an option for a drive that can read BR data disks.

6) A matte finish option.

7) An included IR remote and a place on the side to store it, just like the old G5 iMacs.

8) HDMI output for those using as HDTV for a second monitor.

9) Have the iTunes music library be pre-loaded with every song Apple has already offered via their Free Song of the Week program.

10) A hardware diagnostics disk.

11) An option to substitute the trackpad for the mouse.

I'm sure you can add a few ideas of your own.

dream on. dream on.

11 is the only somewhat possible outcome.

[TheBritishBloke]

1) Eww
2) Eww
3) Could be nice.
4) Maybe.. But on the front could be irritating for some, especially if it's the size of the apple logo.
5)Doubt it
6)Would probably look ugly on the iMac
7)Yes, but I doubt you could make a storage place without ruining the finish of the design.
8)Doubt it.. Just buy a MDP to HDMI adapter.
9)Lol? Weird to ask for :S
10)It already has one..
11) Might happen, but i wouldn't keep your hopes up.

[TheBritishBloke]

The panel is LCD IPS, the backlight is LED. LED backlight has its pros and cons, it's still fairly new so give it some time

Looks nicer than CCFL which yellows over time.

[GyroFX]

i would like to see retina scan security and a holder to keep food hot on the back of the computer :)

[GyroFX]

Looks nicer than CCFL which yellows over time.

yes, i've noticed my Dell 24 Ultrasharp is yellow compared to my new iMac

[barefeats]

User accessible HDD and SDD install/upgrade. After all, we can do it on the MBP.

External eSATA with "hot-swap" support. OWC is offering an external eSATA retrofit but it requires Restart to mount eSATA enclosure (Apple/Intel's fault).

[GyroFX]

only if OWC offered e-sata without drilling holes in the case

[Will : Hi !]

4) A power/sleep LED. Maybe make the Apple logo translucent and stick the LED behind it.

This was in older macs and is now gone. It's not typical for Apple to take away a feature only to add it back later. Also, IIRC, the rumor was that Steve himself requested that Apple get rid of the LEDs ;-)

I wouldn't mind if as long as it can be disabled (not possible on older Macs). When your Mac is in your bedroom, these things are a nightmare.

6) A matte finish option.

The iMac has been selling well with a glossy display for 3 years now. Apple removed FireWire from the Unibody MacBook in October 2009 and re-introduced it in the Unibody MBP in June 2009 (8 months). They switched the MBP to glossy-only in October 2008 and added a matte option in August 2009 (10 months).

If Apple were to add a matte option, they would probably have done it by now (i.e. don't hold your breath).

10) A hardware diagnostics disk.

You mean something more "advanced" than the Apple Hardware Test?

[Cavepainter]

From what Ive heard, better quality control would be nice.:rolleyes:

[hleewell]

1) I agreed with OP. A USB port on the side is actually something I'd want Apple to consider adding without breaking the clean lines of iMac design. Maybe a sliding cover? A push-out mini panel?

2) Also, sorely missed is a headphone port in a spot where you don't have to go around the back to blindly search for the little round thing to plug your headphones in. Current Bluetooth headphones sound tinny, has unstable connection, and drain batteries fast.

3) To have the option to remove the Optical Drive (since Apple is into digital downloading anyway) on 21.5" model so that the SSD-HDD hybrid system is possible here, AND on 27" model so that you can put a 3rd HDD/SSD for capacity expansion (for a mximum of 4TB in a single machine: you could put all your games, all your HD movies, all your RAW files) & redundancy, or a 2nd graphic card to boost up gaming performance etc.

4) I demoed that Magic Trackpad: it is one of the most beautifully minimalist devices Apple ever made. It'd be great if you can have this integrated to a wireless keyboard. I'm sure this will happen in 1 or 2 years. I never miss the mouse anymore. But truth is: this will come as default option with iMac 2011.

5) To completely remove the power cord, and go into wireless charging (with a pre-installed battery as a form of power reserve). I predict this will be in next iMac iteration in 2011. Now iMac will be a truly minimalist design.

6) Finger print secure logging.

7) Higher resolution iSight. Video conferencing (with desktop) is catching on.

8) Direct HDMI 1080p input. If Apple is firm with their "No BluRay" policy then give the consumer the ability to directly hook up
their PS3 so that BluRay playback is possible without resorting to such inelegant solution as Kanex etc. This should be offered in 21.5" model which has the perfect BluRay resolution of 1920X1080p. Only if Apple has a serious "No Sony Stuff" policy, then I would quit fighting like Neo in Matrix Revolutions.

9) Give the 27" model at least the BR reader option so that designers & photographers can back up their massive file collections. The new BDXL can burn up to 100GB of data.

10) Lightpeak & USB 3.0 are "penis-envy stuff" solely for the pride of having the newest & latest. Nice to have. They should instead focus on faster file transfer protocol over WiFi. I hate cables.

[Eduardo1971]

- Sandy Bridge CPUs: +3GHz quad in 27", quad and dual in 21.5"...

As always, Hellhammer is spot on with with Mac observations.:apple:

[Cougarcat]

1. Upgradable graphics card
2. eSATA
3. No monitor

Guess that would no longer be an iMac.

[Thermonuclear]

OP here.

I didn't get AppleCare with my iMac, so I didn't get a diagnostic disk. In the old days, a bootable hardware diagnostics disk was standard on machines like the PowerMac G4.

I had forgotten about having an eSATA port. An eSATA port or maybe even two of them is the way to go for external storage at present. I doubt if FireWire will ever be well represented in the peripherals world at speeds higher than 800 Mbps and USB 3.0 could also be a tough sell being several years behind SATA.

A USB port on the side of the machine would be practically unnoticeable when not in use. And it would be much more convenient to use when compared to blindly reaching around the back of the machine as is the current situation. The same comment also applies for a headphone jack.

At least some Vizio brand HDTVs have a power/sleep LED behind the corporate logo in front. The effect is quite nice and not obtrusive. It is a helpful night light that can help you navigate a room in the dark.

Lightpeak is a real possibility. I recall back around 1990 that most dismissed the need for Ethernet in a consumer machine, but Apple saw differently (and correctly) and made it standard in early Power Macintoshes like the 7500. Yes, at the time it was only 10 Mbps, but it was a start. By 2000, no one would build an new office or dorm without wiring it for Cat 5 Ethernet and today no one would do similar construction without some provision for fiber optic networking. And a Lightpeak transceiver isn't much more complicated than Apple's existing optical audio I/O hardware.

Another cool idea would be to mount an active sonar rangefinder next to the camera. It could be used to automatically sleep and later wake the machine if it detected that the operator had left for lunch or to take a nap. In home security mode, it could activate the camera to record a burglar; the video would need to be uploaded live to a safe server in case the burglar stole the iMac.

[WiiMarioHacker]

You know what I would love to see? EVERYTHING replaceable, including the Graphics card. This is one of my main issues with the Mac; you can't upgrade the graphics card; unless I was told wrong.

[nobias]

1. Upgradable graphics card
2. eSATA
3. No monitor

Guess that would no longer be an iMac.

I'll pretend like you mean well.

You will never see a user replaceable gfx card in an apple all in one product. If not for any other reason than the sheer component density and the risk of having the end user break it.

Esata won't happy either as USB3 or the latest FireWire will be much more common ad backwards compatible with the thousands of devices that are in the market.

No monitor??? What?

[nobias]

You know what I would love to see? EVERYTHING replaceable, including the Graphics card. This is one of my main issues with the Mac; you can't upgrade the graphics card; unless I was told wrong.

What you need is a Mac pro or build your own computer/hackintosh

[bigmacman]

USB 3.0 or Lightpeak
More & cheaper SSD options
USB port on the side below SD card slot

[frega]

- Matte screen
- cheaper SSD (doubt it)
- Current GPUs (not year old ones)

[xraydoc]

Jumbo frames on the ethernet controller.

Access speed to my NAS is a bit slower than it was with my Mac Pro due to the lack of jumbo frames on the iMac (at least on the quad-core models).

[xraydoc]

I'll pretend like you mean well.

You will never see a user replaceable gfx card in an apple all in one product. If not for any other reason than the sheer component density and the risk of having the end user break it.

Esata won't happy either as USB3 or the latest FireWire will be much more common ad backwards compatible with the thousands of devices that are in the market.

No monitor??? What?

He wants the mythical xMac. So do I. A mid-tower Mac using desktop Intel non-Xeon processors. Maybe two HD bays, 3 PCIe slots and a half-decent video card.

Since it's clear it'll never happen, Hackintosh is the way to go. I keep telling myself I should do it, too, but I don't want the hassle of hacking in each & every OS point update.

[iMikeT]

- Sandy Bridge CPUs: +3GHz quad in 27", quad and dual in 21.5"

- ATI Southern Islands desktop GPUs: "Cayman" based GPU in high-end, "Barts" based on medium and "Turks" based on low-end. However, I believe Apple will use mobility so "Blackcomb" for high-end, "Whistler" based on medium and "Seymour" based on low-end

- Easier HD/SSD replacement*

- USB 3.0 and/or LightPeak*

*Doubt it


I'll have to agree with you as well. Real desktop class chips would be great, GPU and RAM. Up until Apple upgraded the iMac to have i5/i7 chips the last time we saw desktop parts in there was prior to the Intel transition when it still had the G5 chip. Enough of the Core 2 days when the iMac was a MacBook Pro on a stick and enough of the hybrid desktop/notebook chipsets.

Now for my additional two cents:

-Better/more BTO options

-This one is wishful thinking but an iMac without the display. Many of us have been wanting a mid-range tower but the Mac mini is too low powered for a lot of us and the Mac Pro is too much. How about a tower (or a cube) with the guts of an iMac and the ability to upgrade the hardware for the end user?

-Retina display. The iMac has a beautiful display already but imagine it having a much higher or even a bump (1.5x) in pixel density.

[BreadMaster]

1. HDMI IN HDMIN IN HDMI IN HDMIIN HMDIN HDMIN HDMIN HMDNHDMINASDKASJDHDMIADAISDHASD

2. USB 3.0

3. Nvidia cards

4. Matte Screen (Not that I'd get one)

5. Substitute trackpad for mouse

[Thermonuclear]

HDMI is a standard for watching videos and not for general purpose computer monitor usage; Display Port is newer and more flexible. Also, HDMI was designed by the entertainment industry for THEIR purposes and not yours. With a Display Port input capability (now limited to the 27 inch iMacs), there's no need for HDMI input as inexpensive converters are available.

To allow a general HDMI input capability would mean also allowing the HDCP copy protection machinery into the system and this would disable a lot of current functionality. Personally, I refuse to purchase any copy protected media or stream and I don't want copy protection deliberately crippling any part of my computer. Jobs called Blu-ray a big bag of hurt because of copy protection mandates and on this point he is absolutely correct.

The main argument for USB 3.0 is for attaching an external drive, but high speed FireWire, eSATA, or Light Peak would do a better job.

[senc01a]

Ideally for me would be:

1) Most important: HDMI input and output, possibly two of them which could work both ways.

2) Also cool but not as important: Replaceable video card. Why the hell can't I
have an ass kicking GPU on my i7?3

Don't care about usb 3.0 (at least not until mid 2011) or bluray which I could use on my ps3 anyway if I had a decent HDMI input.

[beau21]

Has there been any rumblings about a/the 2011 iMac? (specifically an estimated date if it were to happen)

Reason I ask.. I'm planning on buying an iMac after the holiday season (once I have the money saved up) but if a new iMac were to be coming out relatively soon after, I may wait for it instead.

[Hellhammer]

Has there been any rumblings about a/the 2011 iMac? (specifically an estimated date if it were to happen)

Reason I ask.. I'm planning on buying an iMac after the holiday season (once I have the money saved up) but if a new iMac were to be coming out relatively soon after, I may wait for it instead.

Hard to say, iMacs were just updated. Come back when you're buying it, we know more at that time

[Thermonuclear]

Has there been any rumblings about a/the 2011 iMac? (specifically an estimated date if it were to happen)

Reason I ask.. I'm planning on buying an iMac after the holiday season (once I have the money saved up) but if a new iMac were to be coming out relatively soon after, I may wait for it instead.

Mid March 2011 is my bet. And all that will be seen are minor improvements in processor speed and disk capacities. Certainly there will be no USB 3, but by that time we might see the first use of Light Peak -- in the Mac Pro models.

Perhaps the most revolutionary change Apple could make to the iMac is to do what already it did years ago; offer a decent model for US$1,000.

Alas, Apple seems to be going in the wrong direction. Today we see a new iPod Shuffle that's lost its ear bud cord control switch. We see a new iPod Nano that's lost both its camera and its ability to play videos. And we see a new AppleTV that's lost so much capability that I don't know where to start. It still can be used to pay for rental of the typical copy protected Hollywood crap, but not much else. At least the new iPod Touch has some decent and improved value.

[cobrasneverdie]

I like the led apple logo
I wouldn't change much in aesthetics
graphic card replacement

[Drag'nGT]

What is needed and keeping me and possibly others from buying one.

> 4-5 USB 3.0 and an eSATA (the upcoming version hopefully)
> Price on the quads. I expect the i5 quad to drop to the $1699 price and the i7 to $1999, esp 6-8 months from now.
> Continue to Put GOOD GPUs in there. Offer an even better GPU over stock as an option.
> Blu-Ray read and write drive option. I wouldn't use it but it would make so many people happy to have as an option.

Features that would be nice but aren't necessary...

> Even faster RAM
> HD iSight camera
> Status light like on my Mini and MacBook. It's hidden and tells me what state it's in.
> Trade the Magic Mouse for the Track Pad


Wishful thinking and I mean wishful... hardware RAID. :D

I'm guessing we have new Mac users in here asking about user replaceable GPUs. The current line is pretty good but could be better. However expecting upgradeable GPUs in an all in one is like asking for them in your laptop. Not gonna happen. Neither will an HDMI in. I just can't see that being an option considering how small a market that would use that. HDMI out is another thing entirely though.

[oddis74]

I think apple need to stay ahead of the competition, so the specs on 2011 version should look like this:

1. 6 Core i7 CPU that operates at 3,8ghz (more with turbo boost)
2. Possibility for 512GB SSD Disk as a second disk
3. 32GB DDR3 option
4. Next generation ATI graphics (6850 maybe) with the option for 2GB memory
5. Better internal speakers (meaner and louder)
6. An option to select a 30" imac would be great
7. USB 3.0 and eSATA would be great as well
8. Isight camera with HD

I will upgrade ASAP if this happens soon.....

[WardC]

Blu-Ray drive player/writer, 512GB internal SSD, and 30" matte display, but this is never going to happen!

Oh, and 6-core 3.46GHz unlocked Core i7 990x Extreme processor!!

[theNEOone]

5) To completely remove the power cord, and go into wireless charging (with a pre-installed battery as a form of power reserve). I predict this will be in next iMac iteration in 2011. Now iMac will be a truly minimalist design.

Lol - are you mad or just completely ignorant of power requirements? Wireless charging isn't even mainstream for low power devices like cell phones, and you think it'll be in the 2011 iMac?!?? HAH! More like 2021...


10)I hate cables.

I find it hard to understand why someone would hate an inanimate object. I think this must be some sort of psychological issue....


=|

[JTR7]

A touch screen, A5 processor, and iOS4.2...

But seriously, I think a good enough performance upgrade to make it competitive at it's lower end. You could argue that Apple strives for quality over pure numbers, but in recent iMacs it's unclear where the extra cost is coming from.

And while wireless charging would be awesome, I don't see it happening.

[the.sheepdog]

TV card (hee hee)
beer cooler (ok maybe not but would be nice!)
more usb and other ports

Cheaper!!!!

[Icaras]

What a fun thread.

1) No

2) No

3) Yes

4) Neutral

5) What's the point of adding a drive on a computer if it only does one half of it's capability?

6) No problem with me, but I'm pretty sure this will never happen. Ever.

7) Aka: a magnet. Sure.

8) No. Get an adapter.

9) Kindly leave @#*$ off my computer!

10) Buy AppleCare

11) Agreed

[David085]

Blu-ray drive and blu-ray support
HDMI
USB 3.0

[AnimaLeo]

Hellhammer, you think there will be a quad core processor in the 2011 iMac 21.5inch?

Ace!

[Hellhammer]

Hellhammer, you think there will be a quad core processor in the 2011 iMac 21.5inch?

Ace!

There will be several 65W quads so yes, I can see Apple offering quad as a BTO at least. Current i5-680 costs 294$ so even the price shouldn't be an issue.