Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Buyers Guide Update: iMacs, Mac Minis, and Mac Pros

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
69,262
40,280


Even though Apple refreshed MacBook Pros and MacBooks just a couple of weeks ago, many are still holding out for additional updates from Apple.

Our Buyers Guide show both the Mac mini and Mac Pro well overdue for updates and persistent rumors point at iMac updates before the holidays.

iMac

The iMac was last updated in April of this year. Intel provided Apple with advanced versions (Montevina-like) of their processors that supported faster bus speeds (1066 MHz) well before they were in wide circulation. As a result, an update to the iMac is least pressing and rumors suggest that Apple will simply upgrade the internals of the iMac to NVIDIA-based chipsets to bring them in line with Apple's newest notebooks.

While it is rather late in the year for any new releases, it's not unheard of for Apple to issue a November upgrade. In 2003, Apple released an iMac update as late as November 18th. If Apple does update the iMac in November, it will likely be a simple press release rather than an organized media event.

Mac Mini

Unfortunately, there is little new to say about the Mac mini. The most recent rumors have declared the Mac mini to still be alive, but it seems just barely. Apple has neglected the Mac mini for over a year now. In fact, for the last update, Apple didn't even issue a press release and revealed the upgrade during a Question and Answer session.

Mac Pro

The Mac Pro was last updated in January of this year at Macworld San Francisco. The fate of the Mac Pro largely depends on Intel's delivery of suitable new processors.

Intel has confirmed that they will be delivering the first of the Nehalem (Core i7) processors to customers in November with expectations pointing to the 17th. The Core i7 represents a significant architectural improvement over the Core 2 Duos used in existing Macs. The exact rollout of these chips remains a bit unclear. The first processors to be released in November are said to be high end Desktop versions of the processor. Apple, however, has traditionally used Intel's server-class processors for the Mac Pro rather than the desktop versions. That being said, Apple has gotten special treatment from Intel in the past and may be able get access to chips earlier than their competitors.

The next major event for such a high profile release is Macworld San Francisco in January 2009. With recent updates to the rest of their product line, it seems there will be little else to talk about at Macworld except the Mac Pro. Unless, of course, Apple decides to introduce a new product or discuss the upcoming Mac OS X Snow Leopard at the event.


Article Link: Buyers Guide Update: iMacs, Mac Minis, and Mac Pros
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/28/buyers-guide-update-imacs-mac-minis-and-mac-pros/
Keen for a new Mac Pro

Really hope Apple update the Mac Pro sooner rather than later. Im in one of those awkward stages at the moment where Im not sure wether to buy now or wait for the update.
 
Speculation Makes Sense

The speculation makes sense Arn. For sure. I will say that we shouldn't expect a Snow Leopard release by any means in January. Like you mention, if anything, it will be a discussion. I'd say that iMac speedbumps are more than likely coming. Apple knows that buying an iMac doesn't take much configuration by its customers, and in preparing for the holiday season, expect this product to be even shinier and slightly refreshed.

I doubt anybody's Mac Mini/Apple TV dreams are going to come true. But we'll see.
 
By the way...

iGary said:
17" MBP's (new form factor) at MWSF.
Click to expand...

If this happens... It will be a "By the way, we've finally started shipping the new unibody 17" Macbook Pro." -- and that's probably it. No way is Apple spending another chunk of time at a media event to discuss notebooks.
 
I really like the idea of the Mac Mini.. I've just been waiting for it to be upgraded to be a little faster. I've been waiting for a long time....
 
ThinkBrilliant said:
If this happens... It will be a "By the way, we've finally started shipping the new unibody 17" Macbook Pro." -- and that's probably it. No way is Apple spending another chunk of time at a media event to discuss notebooks.
Click to expand...

Oh, of course not, but I'm sure that's when we'll see it (if not sooner).

The Mac Pro/Power Mac case is what, 5 years old now? I'd hope for a new case myself.
 
MacRumors said:
Mac Mini

Unfortunately, there is little new to say about the Mac mini. The most recent rumors have declared the Mac mini to still be alive, but it seems just barely. Apple has neglected the Mac mini for over a year now. In fact, for the last update, Apple didn't even issue a press release and revealed the upgrade during a Question and Answer session.
Click to expand...

Kinda sad. I like the Mac Mini. It's a good little computer for people who don't need to do much (maybe e-mail, MS Word, surf the web). Kinda Sad.

The next major event for such a high profile release is Macworld San Francisco in January 2009. With recent updates to the rest of their product line, it seems there will be little else to talk about at Macworld except the Mac Pro. Unless, of course, Apple decides to introduce a new product or discuss the upcoming Mac OS X Snow Leopard at the event.
Click to expand...

My prediction for MWSF 2009: 115 minutes on iPhone, 5 minutes on computers/OS X. And in those 5 minutes, probably saying that they're closing down their computer division & focusing solely on the iPhone.
 
This is all fine and dandy, but when will the MacBook Pro's be updated. [sic] :rolleyes:

No, I'm looking forward to seeing what is done with the pro and mini. I the the mini is the only one whose design will be updated. Plus, the MacPro has an awesome internal design. Seriously, there are times I Google just to look at!!!
 
I really hope they update the desktop line, especially the Mac Pro because I would like to get one in the next year or two, andif they can get a price drop and spec bump, it would be very tempting.
 
I think that there will be updates to Mac Mini's for sure, Mac Pro's, iMac's and I think there will be updates to the iPhone. In the UK the contract rights may push out to another provider... I know I know... you all talk about it saying that O2 are in a tight contract blah blah blah, if Apple want out of something they get out of it and not even O2 are going to stop that from happening, the simple fact is the speed of selling the iPhone has been out of this world but with two providers it will be mind blowing, I know a lot of large blue chip companies and a muck load of consumers out there that will not switch to O2 just for the iPhone.... for instance the Orange market place especially in business hold a mass monopoly when it comes to large blue chip organisations, now with the recent update allowing Exchange in on the party the iPhone is looking more and more like something these companies would be more then interested in. We will wait and see as always but do not be suprised to see an updated iPhone in relation to capacity and another provider.:apple:
 
MacRumors said:
Apple, however, has traditionally used Intel's server-class processors for the Mac Pro rather than the desktop versions. That being said, Apple has gotten special treatment from Intel in the past and may be able get access to chips earlier than their competitors.
Click to expand...
In the past, I would have agreed with you. But now that they've defected to nVidia for their notebook chipsets, I don't think Intel is terribly happy with them at the moment...
 
bobbleheadbob said:
How about some updates to the pro level software -- Final Cut Studio 3 anyone? :confused:
Click to expand...

April 09, NAB if anything.

Macworld looks like the announcement of 17 inch MacBook Pro, I can't think of much else. Of course expect some iPhone talk, maybe too much iPhone talk.

Mac Pro will never get talked about at these events, nobody cares apparently, the last time it was talked about was when they first announced it, and that was a brief 10-15 minute introduction and thats the last they discussed it.
 
ATimson said:
In the past, I would have agreed with you. But now that they've defected to nVidia for their notebook chipsets, I don't think Intel is terribly happy with them at the moment...
Click to expand...

Intel should complete with nVidia by making more powerful chipsets then...:confused:
 
MacRumors said:
That being said, Apple has gotten special treatment from Intel in the past and may be able get access to chips earlier than their competitors.
Click to expand...

I have serious doubts we will see Apple get this kind of preferential treatment in the future from Intel now that Apple has switched to the NVIDIA chip sets. Apple was a great high-profile company that was able to showcase Intel's chips in a 100% Intel presentation. Now, not so much.
 
mattc1970 said:
Really hope Apple update the Mac Pro sooner rather than later. Im in one of those awkward stages at the moment where Im not sure wether to buy now or wait for the update.
Click to expand...

I'm with you. I'll be waiting though, hopefully redesign for the MacPro at MWSF and I'll get one then. Been saving for over a year, couple more months wont hurt.
 
kmcrawford said:
I really like the idea of the Mac Mini.. I've just been waiting for it to be upgraded to be a little faster. I've been waiting for a long time....

http://kendevelopment.blogspot.com
Click to expand...

I'm never in the market for a Mini, but I'm always interested with its concept - too bad Apple's letting it ebb away like the G4 Cube.

The Mini should get Unibody MacBook-like specs like the 9400M and 2GB DDR3 RAM, at least.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back