iMac/eMac Rumor Wrapup: Winners and Losers

MacRumors · 10:31 PM

Apple released new iMacs and price dropped eMacs on Tuesday, Feb 4th, 2003. After each product release, MacRumors provides a wrapup of rumors to reveal the sources of the most accurate information.

Despite rumors of 19" iMacs last year -- Apple doesn't seem to agree. Beyond that, Spymac, MacOSRumors, and MacBidouille posted rumors that iMac would arrive at MacWorld San Francisco. ThinkSecret put a stop to those rumors in the days before MWSF, and this information turned out to be accurate -- MWSF came and went without iMac upgrades.

Attention was drawn towards the PowerMac/Display upgrades in the subsequent weeks, with Thinksecret first suggesting Feb 3rd as a tentative week for iMac updates. Meanwhile MacRumors sources provided a solid date of Feb 4th, as well as definitive details of the high-end iMac upgrade. Thinksecret then posted last minute price point of $1299 for the iMac, filling out the bottom end of the line, as well as details of eMac price drops.

MacNews.net.tc initially posted $999-$1699 specs which were echoed by Appleinsider immediately before the release. These specs were wrong, with no apparent basis, casting further doubts on these sources for future specs.

Summary

As mentioned before, accurate rumors are available... but with the influx of rumor sites, it's often difficult to discern accurate information from pure speculation.

It seems speculation and "predictions" are often passed off as rumors -- these practices should be discouraged and any purely speculative information is frowned upon (unless specifically stated as such), as it simply muddies the water and further incites unreasonable expectations amongst readers.

Some of this may be unavoidable, as frequently, sources of rumors may simply be based on unconfirmed reader contribution which has been known to miss their mark.

MrMacMan · Feb 4, 2003, 09:14 PM

Yeah too many new rumor sites coming out of no where...
I mean there are just getting to be too many 'our vulcan mind tricks' tell us there will be a new iMac released, uh, tommorow. Sure it is based on other rumors, but no ones to back it up.
Arn your doing a great job filtering BS from reality.

Edit: FIRST POST. w00t.

Freg3000 · Feb 4, 2003, 09:16 PM

There were correct rumors out there. The only thing that I think everyone got wrong was the clock speed of the base model. Correct me if I'm wrong, (and I am sure someone will if I am

) but didn't ever rumor have a 867 MHz iMac?

Anyway, good job MacRumors. Keep it up.

arn · Feb 4, 2003, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Freg3000
There were correct rumors out there. The only thing that I think everyone got wrong was the clock speed of the base model. Correct me if I'm wrong, (and I am sure someone will if I am ) but didn't ever rumor have a 867 MHz iMac?

Well, MacNews.net.tc posted a low end iMac at 800mhz... but they also reported 17" LCD's in 3 other models.

Hitting one or two numbers in Mhz doesn't count... especially when everything else is wrong. Unique hits... for example if they claimed it would be 823.2 Mhz and it turned out to be true... well, then I'd pay attention.

arn

Freg3000 · Feb 4, 2003, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by arn
Unique hits... for example if they claimed it would be 823.2 Mhz and it turned out to be true... well, then I'd pay attention.

arn

Unique hits...like nailing 12" and 17" Powerbooks @ MWSF

? I am still getting over that one!

MrMacMan · Feb 4, 2003, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by arn

Well, MacNews.net.tc posted a low end iMac at 800mhz... but they also reported 17" LCD's in 3 other models.

Hitting one or two numbers in Mhz doesn't count... especially when everything else is wrong. Unique hits... for example if they claimed it would be 823.2 Mhz and it turned out to be true... well, then I'd pay attention.

arn

Is 823.2 even possible?

(just pulling your hypotheical leg)
Yeah the 12 & 17 " Powerbooks were out of no where.
I suppose super hush hush.

unfaded · Feb 4, 2003, 09:34 PM

MacOSRumours just the other day said "6-8 weeks" for iMac/eMac rumours. Needless to say, they have been deleted from my bookmarks, they're just ridiculous now.

Rocket Rion · Feb 4, 2003, 10:16 PM

People, like me, wanting a new iPod are also losers today.

Freg3000 · Feb 4, 2003, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MrMacman

Is 823.2 even possible?
(just pulling your hypotheical leg)

Well, it would be one strange multiplier....

reiggin · Feb 4, 2003, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by unfaded
MacOSRumours just the other day said "6-8 weeks" for iMac/eMac rumours. Needless to say, they have been deleted from my bookmarks, they're just ridiculous now.

they're the most pathetic site out there. just to think... 5 years ago, they were mecca... Ryan Meader, what the heck happened?!?!?!

shadowfax · Feb 5, 2003, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by reiggin

they're the most pathetic site out there. just to think... 5 years ago, they were mecca... Ryan Meader, what the heck happened?!?!?!

his contacts died? got laid off?

they are a little weird; anyone who regularly speculates about quad processors lol.

Wardofsky · Feb 5, 2003, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rocket Rion
People, like me, wanting a new iPod are also losers today.

Same, sadly.

On the subjects of the New iMacs, if I have an iMac with an AP Extreme card in it, would that still communicate with 802.11b BS (Vice-Verca also)?

And are the new 802.11g any better at distance with out drop outs, snow BS have a range of 50m.

shadowfax · Feb 5, 2003, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wardofsky

Same, sadly.

On the subjects of the New iMacs, if I have an iMac with an AP Extreme card in it, would that still communicate with 802.11b BS (Vice-Verca also)?

And are the new 802.11g any better at distance with out drop outs, snow BS have a range of 50m.

yeah, the technologies talk to each other. as in, your AP extreme will detect the slower BS and downgrade the frequency to that and talk at 802.11b speeds... i can't help you on range, i thought 802.11g wasd shorter range (being 2x the frequency), but i can't speak intelligently on that one.

bentmywookie · Feb 5, 2003, 02:53 AM

Although I am not so happy with the iMac upgrades, I will say that the one definitively good thing to come out of it is that MacRumors and ThinkSecret have proven themselves to be really reliable sources of info regarding Apple.

Great job to both of them, keep up the great work and thanks!

Sun Baked · Feb 5, 2003, 03:23 AM

What happened to the speculation for killing off the 15" iMac low end and adding a 19" iMac on the high end?

All in all, some of the decisions are a little strange for Apple lately...

daddy-mojo · Feb 5, 2003, 03:59 AM

So, does anyone know if the s-video/composite out option on the new 17" imac will allow for a tv monitor to be used in final cut pro? This could be my deciding factor as to whether I have to spend twice that to go to a tower (with a fair amount of extras added in). I know that the normal vga out just mirrors the desktop. I'm hoping that s-video out will work the same way as in powerbooks or after market video cards. Thanks in advance.

Foocha · Feb 5, 2003, 04:16 AM

I lost interest in MacOSRumors when they came out with the "Dodecahedron" PowerMac rumor, shortly after the cube was scrapped.

MacsRgr8 · Feb 5, 2003, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by daddy-mojo
So, does anyone know if the s-video/composite out option on the new 17" imac will allow for a tv monitor to be used in final cut pro? This could be my deciding factor as to whether I have to spend twice that to go to a tower (with a fair amount of extras added in). I know that the normal vga out just mirrors the desktop. I'm hoping that s-video out will work the same way as in powerbooks or after market video cards. Thanks in advance.

"VGA display adapter Video out support
Need to connect to an external VGA display, projector or TV? That’s easy. Both iMac models feature mini-VGA output ports that work with an optional Apple VGA display adapter, and both support video mirroring. You can mirror your projects to an external display or projector — perfect for presentations and for sharing your ideas. Additionally, the 17-inch iMac comes with support for S-Video and composite video signals, so you can display your multimedia projects on a big-screen TV: simply connect your TV to the video output port via the optional Apple Video Adapter, and you’re on television."

Hmmm: "both support video mirroring"... it seems that there is no option to use the TV as a second monitor...

michaelyoung · Feb 5, 2003, 06:00 AM

I love the fact that ARN puts the results of the rumors.
Personally, I would love even more context...like:

"The last accurate rumor from MacOSRumors was: Sept 92' - A Color Mac Classic"

Just like a master clock to further indicate reliability. Someone would need a lot of free time to put this together.

That being said, I pretty much only read this site now for rumors. Thanks for the great work!

aethier · Feb 5, 2003, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shadowfax

yeah, the technologies talk to each other. as in, your AP extreme will detect the slower BS and downgrade the frequency to that and talk at 802.11b speeds... i can't help you on range, i thought 802.11g wasd shorter range (being 2x the frequency), but i can't speak intelligently on that one.

Im pretty sure that the website says that if you have a airport extreme bs with the airport xcard, it will have a 50 foot range.

But if you have a old airport card with the airport base station you get the normal 150 feet range.

also look into those Dr. BOT antanas that makes the range of your extreme BS 500feet..

for more info justy check the apple website...

Bear · Feb 5, 2003, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by aethier

Im pretty sure that the website says that if you have a airport extreme bs with the airport xcard, it will have a 50 foot range.

But if you have a old airport card with the airport base station you get the normal 150 feet range.

also look into those Dr. BOT antanas that makes the range of your extreme BS 500feet..

for more info justy check the apple website...

It's shorter ranges for the gigher speed. Get further away and the speed drops off.

daddy-mojo · Feb 5, 2003, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MacsRgr8

"VGA display adapter Video out support
Need to connect to an external VGA display, projector or TV? That?s easy. Both iMac models feature mini-VGA output ports that work with an optional Apple VGA display adapter, and both support video mirroring. You can mirror your projects to an external display or projector ? perfect for presentations and for sharing your ideas. Additionally, the 17-inch iMac comes with support for S-Video and composite video signals, so you can display your multimedia projects on a big-screen TV: simply connect your TV to the video output port via the optional Apple Video Adapter, and you?re on television."

Hmmm: "both support video mirroring"... it seems that there is no option to use the TV as a second monitor...

not so much a second monitor but for editing purposes. the imac lcd size is fine for the edit windows, but in final cut pro you can view your canvas window on a television at the same time so you know how the color looks and if your in title safe margins etc. its not really monitor spanning, but not quite mirroring either. i tried calling the apple store, but they really didn't tell me much more then what it says on the site. I guess i need to goto the apple store and see if someone at the genius bar knows. thanks again.

rugby · Feb 5, 2003, 08:56 AM

Apple's official position is that the vga port will do mirror only. However, a quick search of xlr8yourmac's website reveals hacks to enable dual desktops for iMacs.

Quote:

Originally posted by daddy-mojo

not so much a second monitor but for editing purposes. the imac lcd size is fine for the edit windows, but in final cut pro you can view your canvas window on a television at the same time so you know how the color looks and if your in title safe margins etc. its not really monitor spanning, but not quite mirroring either. i tried calling the apple store, but they really didn't tell me much more then what it says on the site. I guess i need to goto the apple store and see if someone at the genius bar knows. thanks again.

daddy-mojo · Feb 5, 2003, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rugby
Apple's official position is that the vga port will do mirror only. However, a quick search of xlr8yourmac's website reveals hacks to enable dual desktops for iMacs.

hmmm...is it a hardware or software hack? I visit xlr8 semi frequently. Couldn't find the link for what you referenced.

NicoMan · Feb 5, 2003, 09:56 AM

A lot of people were, like, POSITIVE, that the new iMacs were going to come out with slot-loading drives. What happened to those guys??

NicoMan

Feb 4, 2003, 09:10 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	iMac/eMac Rumor Wrapup: Winners and Losers Apple released new iMacs and price dropped eMacs on Tuesday, Feb 4th, 2003. After each product release, MacRumors provides a wrapup of rumors to reveal the sources of the most accurate information. Despite rumors of 19" iMacs last year -- Apple doesn't seem to agree. Beyond that, Spymac, MacOSRumors, and MacBidouille posted rumors that iMac would arrive at MacWorld San Francisco. ThinkSecret put a stop to those rumors in the days before MWSF, and this information turned out to be accurate -- MWSF came and went without iMac upgrades. Attention was drawn towards the PowerMac/Display upgrades in the subsequent weeks, with Thinksecret first suggesting Feb 3rd as a tentative week for iMac updates. Meanwhile MacRumors sources provided a solid date of Feb 4th, as well as definitive details of the high-end iMac upgrade. Thinksecret then posted last minute price point of $1299 for the iMac, filling out the bottom end of the line, as well as details of eMac price drops. MacNews.net.tc initially posted $999-$1699 specs which were echoed by Appleinsider immediately before the release. These specs were wrong, with no apparent basis, casting further doubts on these sources for future specs. Summary As mentioned before, accurate rumors are available... but with the influx of rumor sites, it's often difficult to discern accurate information from pure speculation. It seems speculation and "predictions" are often passed off as rumors -- these practices should be discouraged and any purely speculative information is frowned upon (unless specifically stated as such), as it simply muddies the water and further incites unreasonable expectations amongst readers. Some of this may be unavoidable, as frequently, sources of rumors may simply be based on unconfirmed reader contribution which has been known to miss their mark. Last edited by arn : Feb 4, 2003 at 10:31 PM.

Feb 4, 2003, 09:14 PM	#2
MrMacMan macrumors 601 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: 1 Block away from NYC.	Yeah too many new rumor sites coming out of no where... I mean there are just getting to be too many 'our vulcan mind tricks' tell us there will be a new iMac released, uh, tommorow. Sure it is based on other rumors, but no ones to back it up. Arn your doing a great job filtering BS from reality. Edit: FIRST POST. w00t. __________________ There is a little Steve in all of us! -->Folding is Fighting Against Disease and help MacRumors. Join Today!<-- Props to --> Shadowfax For Making My Avatar! IM Me On AIM Already!

Feb 4, 2003, 09:16 PM	#3
Freg3000 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: New York	There were correct rumors out there. The only thing that I think everyone got wrong was the clock speed of the base model. Correct me if I'm wrong, (and I am sure someone will if I am ) but didn't ever rumor have a 867 MHz iMac? Anyway, good job MacRumors. Keep it up. __________________ FregTK This Is Momentum.

Feb 4, 2003, 09:34 PM	#7
unfaded macrumors 6502 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Seattle, WA	MacOSRumours just the other day said "6-8 weeks" for iMac/eMac rumours. Needless to say, they have been deleted from my bookmarks, they're just ridiculous now. __________________ Carpe Diem, Jer Mendonsa

Feb 5, 2003, 02:53 AM	#14
bentmywookie macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Palo Alto	MacRumors and ThinkSecret! Although I am not so happy with the iMac upgrades, I will say that the one definitively good thing to come out of it is that MacRumors and ThinkSecret have proven themselves to be really reliable sources of info regarding Apple. Great job to both of them, keep up the great work and thanks!

Feb 4, 2003, 10:16 PM	#8
Rocket Rion macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Austin	People, like me, wanting a new iPod are also losers today.

Feb 5, 2003, 03:23 AM	#15
Sun Baked macrumors 603 Join Date: May 2002	What happened to the speculation for killing off the 15" iMac low end and adding a 19" iMac on the high end? All in all, some of the decisions are a little strange for Apple lately... __________________ May you be plagued by images of Richard Simmons flouncing through you brain, and squat thrusting his way though all waking thoughts.

Feb 5, 2003, 03:59 AM	#16
daddy-mojo macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: L.A.	video out question So, does anyone know if the s-video/composite out option on the new 17" imac will allow for a tv monitor to be used in final cut pro? This could be my deciding factor as to whether I have to spend twice that to go to a tower (with a fair amount of extras added in). I know that the normal vga out just mirrors the desktop. I'm hoping that s-video out will work the same way as in powerbooks or after market video cards. Thanks in advance.

Feb 5, 2003, 04:16 AM	#17
Foocha macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: London	I lost interest in MacOSRumors when they came out with the "Dodecahedron" PowerMac rumor, shortly after the cube was scrapped.

Feb 5, 2003, 06:00 AM	#19
michaelyoung macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2002	We need a clock. I love the fact that ARN puts the results of the rumors. Personally, I would love even more context...like: "The last accurate rumor from MacOSRumors was: Sept 92' - A Color Mac Classic" Just like a master clock to further indicate reliability. Someone would need a lot of free time to put this together. That being said, I pretty much only read this site now for rumors. Thanks for the great work!

Feb 5, 2003, 09:56 AM	#25
NicoMan macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Malmö, Sweden	Slot Loading drives? A lot of people were, like, POSITIVE, that the new iMacs were going to come out with slot-loading drives. What happened to those guys?? NicoMan

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