17inch and 19inch iMacs

[MacRumors]

MacNN notes that China Times is reporting on 19-inch LCD iMacs:

Q-Run is currently on a test run for iMac, but delivery is due to begin from October... Monthly shipment is expected to exceed 10,000 iMac desktops in the initial stage [and] the PCs will be equipped with LCD panels provided by Samsung.

No link to the original article is provided.

[Shrek]

Well, what did I tell you all? I knew Apple wouldn't let us down!

[arn]

I'm still surprised... I guess LCD prices are dropping...

Still, a 19" iMac seems a bit much.

arn

[Hemingray]

While I still refuse to acknowledge the possible existence of an awkward-looking 19" iMac, I will say that this is probably very good news to those of us PowerMac users who are waiting for a 19" LCD. If this 19" iMac really does show up, then almost certainly there will a standalone LCD of the same size for the PowerMac.

[JINX]

Its unlikely that 19" iMacs would mean that 19" LCD stand alone screens are coming. They may well be on the way, but the 17" imacs are not made using the screens from 17" stand alones so there's no reason to the 19" would be any different.

By the way, bizarre looking or not, I'd be excited by a 19" iMac. That would be a serious machine and it would probably mean that the 17" would come down the 15" prices with the 15" potentially disappearing altogether.

JINX

[scem0]

Originally posted by arn
I'm still surprised... I guess LCD prices are dropping...

Still, a 19" iMac seems a bit much.

arn

i totslly agree. The 17 inch right now already looks a little funny. I can only imagine how wierd a 19 inch iMac would look. I don't think it will sell very well - think of it this way:

What parent wants a little kid with a big head?

[vniow]

Originally posted by JINX
Its unlikely that 19" iMacs would mean that 19" LCD stand alone screens are coming. They may well be on the way, but the 17" imacs are not made using the screens from 17" stand alones so there's no reason to the 19" would be any different.


JINX

I wouldn't be so sure, just because it comes out on the iMac first doesn't mean that a stand-alone display couldn't be made a bit later.

[Rocketman]

Originally posted by JINX
Its unlikely that 19" iMacs would mean that 19" LCD stand alone screens are coming. They may well be on the way, but the 17" imacs are not made using the screens from 17" stand alones so there's no reason to the 19" would be any different.

By the way, bizarre looking or not, I'd be excited by a 19" iMac. That would be a serious machine and it would probably mean that the 17" would come down the 15" prices with the 15" potentially disappearing altogether.

JINX

Firstly the main reason I read rumour sites is this type of subject. Glad to hear about product MANUFACTURING news.

I would like to see an iMac variant that has a super processor (ie quad G4/G5 with internal raid and mediaserver. DUAL external screen.

Rocketman

[Hemingray]

Originally posted by JINX
Its unlikely that 19" iMacs would mean that 19" LCD stand alone screens are coming. They may well be on the way, but the 17" imacs are not made using the screens from 17" stand alones so there's no reason to the 19" would be any different.

So you think the consumer Mac will be the first to have a 19" LCD screen? I doubt it. I remain a little more hopeful that Apple will give the professional PowerMac users a 19" LCD FIRST and then follow up with the consumer version (iMac).

[medea]

personally I wouldn't pick the 19" over the 17" anyways, the 15" was perfectly proportionate to the imac base and the 17" was pushing it already, 19" would be over the line.

[Shrek]

19" would rock! Then I can watch DVD-movies and play games on the "BIG SCREEN!"

[rjrufo]

Have you guys thought about the possibility that Apple might be increasing the size of the dome to hold the 19 inch screen? If they're upgrading the screen size, wouldn't it be a good idea to add some more power under the hood?

[vniow]

I'd like to see them actiavte extended desktop on the iMac so you could work on another (bigger) screen (TV perhaps?)
That would sorta negate a bigger screen though, since you could easily buy a cheapo 21" nowadayz.

[Shrek]

I personally would like to see at least two expansion slots in the system: one AGP slot and one PCI slot. And have a GeForce4 Ti 4600 or GeForce5 graphics chip already integrated into the motherboard. This way you can add another graphics chip in the AGP slot to use instead of your integrated graphics card or to use for a second external monitor. They should also have integrated sound, but you can upgrade that with the additional PCI slot if you like. This would open the door for so many possibilities on the iMac!

[vniow]

Originally posted by Shrek
I personally would like to see at least two expansion slots in the system: one AGP slot and one PCI slot. And have a GeForce4 Ti 4600 or GeForce5 graphics chip already integrated into the motherboard. This way you can add another graphics chip in the AGP slot to use instead of your integrated graphics card or to use for a second external monitor. They should also have integrated sound, but you can upgrade that with the additional PCI slot if you like. This would open the door for so many possibilities on the iMac!

How 'bout they take some of the techlonogy in the iMac and make a new Cube?
If they did all that to the little dome, it would be huge!
I still think that they should make one anywayz (and price it right this tme! )
cuz a lot of people want a new Mac, but don't want to give up their old monitor. If you bought an iMac or an eMac you'd have to and a Powermac is too expensive for some.
Don't see it happening anytime soon though. The product line is alrready crowded.

[reyesmac]

How come now one here asks if they will actually update the speed of the machine when they update it this time? That is what matters most. Why should I buy an iMac, if it is already over 6 months old speedwise? Spending $2,000.00 on an iMac that will need upgrading in 3 years (if you like to be one the bleeding edge with programs/OS) is a little easier if you know you have the fastest machine when you buy it. The iMac is much less powerfull than the powermacs and it has been the same speed for too long.
That being said, if Apple does bump the speed up to either 900 or 1gig, this will be the computer I buy this Christmas. I would like more USB spots and an easily upgradable internal hard drive slot, but I can accept not having those if I can get a machine that is as fast as the last generation powermacs.

Also, if they sell this for less than $2,000, that means that the other iMacs would be overpriced. I think they could sell more iMacs if they just had better prices instead of bigger screens. Enough with adding on more things instead of lowering prices, if it costs less, more will buy it reguardless, just look at the original iMac. Great machine (at the time) for a great price. Flat panels are not mainstream enough for people to know what kind of a value they are truly getting with these big screens.

I hope this means that studio display prices are going to drop now that the rebate thing will expire. If they do and a Powermac that is as good a deal as an iMac is comes out, I will once again have to rethink what to buy.

[scem0]

I would much prefer a price drop to a larger monitor size.

[D*I*S_Frontman]

I saw the 17" iMac at a local CompUSA. The screen was big and gorgeous, bright and sharp. It was big but not too big for the current dome--still rock steady when tilting the screen around. 19" would be just too big, though.

What Apple should REALLY do is offer a 19" TRUE 16:9 monitor for video post guys and for home consumers to have correct aspect DVD display. It would only be about as tall as their current 15" LCD is, only a third wider or so. The market NEEDS one and Apple should deliver it. Keep the 23" HD 16:10 if you must, but all others should be 16:9. Make the entire line widescreen. Capitalize on the Hollywood vibe.

Hey FORMAC--are you listening? You guys should beat Apple to the punch on this one. The specs on Formac LCDs are stunning and if left with a choice I myself would have no problem buying one over an Apple offering, especially if they get some 16:9 options out there first...

[bombensington]

Originally posted by reyesmac
Why should I buy an iMac, if it is already over 6 months old speedwise? Spending $2,000.00 on an iMac that will need upgrading in 3 years (if you like to be one the bleeding edge with programs/OS) is a little easier if you know you have the fastest machine when you buy it.

Maybe you don't have to factor in price when you buy a computer, but some of us do. When I got my iMac, price was a huge factor...and I love how it looks. I know, I know, "speed is the key" - but face it, I'm not a professional user. I honestly don't need that much. Sure, it would be nice to open iChat 2 bounces quicker, but not for a few thousand dollars more.

The iMac is probably the best computer I could have chosen - it has all the bells and whistles to keep me satisfied, and was at a price I could afford. Who cares that in 3 years it'll be "too slow?" My PC was too slow a year later, and I hated it. 3 years to me seems like an eternity compared to that.

In conclusion, iMac = happy face worn by me.

[reyesmac]

Originally posted by bombensington

The iMac is probably the best computer I could have chosen - it has all the bells and whistles to keep me satisfied, and was at a price I could afford. Who cares that in 3 years it'll be "too slow?" My PC was too slow a year later, and I hated it. 3 years to me seems like an eternity compared to that.

In conclusion, iMac = happy face worn by me.

Thank you for your honest answer and I do appreciate it. What I want to know is, is there anyone reading this that has upgraded their computer from at least a Powermac B/W or G4 tower to any kind of flat panel iMac and been completely satisfied with it for semi pro work? Do you see it lasting longer than your powermac?

I bought my blue and white because at the time the iMacs stunk, it was money well spent because this machine is usefull in OS 9 and it still has some things I can upgrade. But I wont bother if an iMac/eMac would be a better investment.

[Telomar]

Originally posted by arn
I'm still surprised... I guess LCD prices are dropping...

Still, a 19" iMac seems a bit much.

arn

It's worth mentioning a run of 10 000 doesn't mean too much. That could just be them testing a new manufaturing process as proof to Apple.

That said Price drops on LCDs are pretty well expected to appear early next year. The LCD market currently aims to run on two to three year runs. Every two to three years they are bringing on a new generation of production methods and moving to larger substrates. Each time they do yields of larger panels substantially increase resulting in lower prices.

Cost of LCDs shouldn't be the issue if they are aiming a 19" iMac towards 1st half next year. I also wouldn't be too surprised to see all but the lowest iMac go 17" and a new display line-up to accompany it. It could easily be done on the costs.

As for when 5G plants will be up that depends. Some companies already have them running but most are for TVs. I would assume 1H 2003 as a most likely delivery date.

I would like to see an iMac variant that has a super processor (ie quad G4/G5 with internal raid and mediaserver. DUAL external screen.

Too much heat, too much size and too many accessability issues to do it in an iMac format. You could do it I suppose but you would have a huge dome, which isn't terribly space effective. Server design really wouldn't integrate well with the iMac design.

[Postal]

I can't help but think that the rumour's partially wrong, and that the real move is towards 17" and 19" widescreen substitutes for the existing Studio Display lineup. After all, if you're going for the "creative professional," they'll be more apt to appreciate it.

On the iMac, I'm not worried about the ratio (although at this pace, the display is going to overwhelm the base!), it's the cost. It'd make more sense to focus on performance components, I think... maybe a 933 or 1 GHz G4 on the high-end, GF4 MX video on all models, and so on.

[Telomar]

People are awfully caught up on price but a LCD built from a 5G substrate costs around 60% of the current equivalent to manufacture. Considering Samsung just brought their 5G plant online too I wouldn't expect cost to be the major issue that would prevent this.

[theaz]

According to Chipzilla.com (see http://www.chipzilla.com/?article=5267):

------

FIFTEEN INCH iMacs are apparently being phased out this month.

And 17-inch iMacs are being phased in, as we reported a while back.

But now it seems Apple will launch a 19-inch iMac in the fourth quarter, according to the Taiwanese press.

The machines will be built by Hon Hai, which is a major manufacturer also known as Foxconn and a favourite, it just so happens of the Intel Corporation.

Hon Hai will also make i-Books for Apple, according to the story in the Taiwan Economic News.

It staved off tough competition by Quanta Computer and Solectron to get the go-ahead to make the Big iMac. µ

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This report was published back on the 5 Sept 2002...

Update: This report can also be found at http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=5267

[synergy]

Maybe this isn't a new iMac. Or maybe it is. My thinking is its a new Apple display using the same arm the iMac uses. It needs a heavier base for the weight. But leave the computer components out and slim down the dome adding only weight and you have a fancy adjustable display for desktop computers.

I would love to have one of those.