If Apple did bring out a touch screen equivalent of the iMac, then I don't think they'd market it as an 'iMac' at all if you see what I mean. It would probably have a different form factor to make it useful (ie horizontal) and as such wouldn't be an iMac as we presently know it. I'm not saying that such a thing won't happen at some point in the future, I just think it that if it does it will represent a new category of Mac althogether.
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2011 iMac Predictions?
- Thread starter Mitchelino
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future iMac
I would absolutely expect to see a 21" and a 24" "iPad like" iMac.... in other words, the all in one will be almost as thin as a ipad... add a optical dvd drive and a couple USB/Thunde ports and youre on your way.. it would only use flash memory... you would basicially dock it in a holder and add a wireless keyboard if you wanted to type, but everything would be touch screen.. or better yet, voice activated... "iMac, open safari"... "iMac, open Appps. open angry birds"...
I would absolutely expect to see a 21" and a 24" "iPad like" iMac.... in other words, the all in one will be almost as thin as a ipad... add a optical dvd drive and a couple USB/Thunde ports and youre on your way.. it would only use flash memory... you would basicially dock it in a holder and add a wireless keyboard if you wanted to type, but everything would be touch screen.. or better yet, voice activated... "iMac, open safari"... "iMac, open Appps. open angry birds"...
iPad works because it is small but it becomes a bit different to hold a +20" and 10lb device in your hands. It's by no means a usable setup.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct1_r_61sk8
What a horrendous idea. iOS is for mobile devices. A 24" tablet is in no way mobile. Nor usable, for that matter. Look, touchscreens work on small, portable devices. This is a new paradigm for computing on the go. Hence, we have an innovative new OS for said devices. That in no way means we should start forcing them into traditional desktop PC computers, where it is completely unsuitable. The desktop computing paradigm has been with us for decades... we have a pretty good, refined system already figured out, called "keyboard and mouse". At least Apple gets this. There won't be iOS on iMacs.
ok from everything that i have read here is what i think the new imac will have.
1. Sandy Processor (of course)
2. New Graphics Card (a must)
3. Option for a 512gb SSD + 2tb SATA (already selling the 512 in Macbook)
4. Max of 16gb Ram
5. Thunderbolt + possibly a few USB 2.0 ports (Since Thunderbolt can be daisy chained i doubt there will be other ports on the back and we will have to buy adapters to plug in what we want)
6. 1080p video input/output via Thunderbolt
And that is all. Mostly just a few new hardware peices and thats about it. Now Apple could also add something that would make the average person who doesn't know much about macs or computers think its so cool so they could sell more of them but the hard core mac guys know its just a gimic to get more sales to people who don't typically buy macs and i see that being touch screen. People will see the commercials and say "OMG a computer with touch screen i have to have it!" even though there have been computers with touch screen out for years and people never pay attention.
I would really like even a larger display and Blu-ray option, other then that plus the list above i dont see much area to improve.
1. Sandy Processor (of course)
2. New Graphics Card (a must)
3. Option for a 512gb SSD + 2tb SATA (already selling the 512 in Macbook)
4. Max of 16gb Ram
5. Thunderbolt + possibly a few USB 2.0 ports (Since Thunderbolt can be daisy chained i doubt there will be other ports on the back and we will have to buy adapters to plug in what we want)
6. 1080p video input/output via Thunderbolt
And that is all. Mostly just a few new hardware peices and thats about it. Now Apple could also add something that would make the average person who doesn't know much about macs or computers think its so cool so they could sell more of them but the hard core mac guys know its just a gimic to get more sales to people who don't typically buy macs and i see that being touch screen. People will see the commercials and say "OMG a computer with touch screen i have to have it!" even though there have been computers with touch screen out for years and people never pay attention.
I would really like even a larger display and Blu-ray option, other then that plus the list above i dont see much area to improve.
Because then I really could let it take over my entire media center. Right now 27inch is to small of a "tv" for me and would like something in the "30" inch range
I want the display to litterally replace my tv. Hook up my cable, xbox, ps3, everything to it. Set it up for large groups to wach hd movies. I really don't want to have to have a computer with a large display and a tv, I want it one in the same!
I understand the impulse, but the logistics are baffling. Would you have a couch set up facing your computer desk? How small is your living space?
Having all that desk space in front of your "TV" while watching seems less than ideal, not to mention all of the other things I would typically keep on a desk that would be very distracting around a TV.
I just can't see how you would arrange things to have it be usable as a computer, but also make sense as a TV, unless your living space is very small.
This is basically correct, except you forgot the FW800 port - omitting it in the absence of Thunderbolt peripherals would be very limiting. They left FW800 on the new MacBook Pros (where it would make more sense to delete it, from a packaging standpoint) for just this reason.
Also, the 2010 27" models can go to 32GB, and the 2009s probably can, as well. The only hitch is the price of the 8GB SO-DIMMs (about $800US each currently), so Apple may not raise the limit on the spec sheet. However, someone in the UK did get ahold of an internal Apple parts list that had the 8GB SO-DIMMs listed, so they may be preparing to stock them.
I would rather see a smaller SSD like 64GB or 128GB combined with an HDD.
But Apple probably won't do this...
I doubt they'll change the physical arrangement of ports on the new iMacs at all. Physically, the side of the new MacBook Pros looks exactly like the previous two unibody generations'; it's just that Thunderbolt has been combined with the mini-DP jack. By doing this Apple didn't have to change the manufacturing process for the unibody chassis at all. I expect this will be the same for the new iMacs -- we'll have the exact same number of ports that we have now, but the mini-DP jack will also include Thunderbolt.
well i mean, i dont have A LOT of space so lets see if i can help you understand this better.... in a single room i would have a tv, a entertainment center, a computer, a desk, a couch....i dont have enough space for all of that, if i could remove the tv and replace it with an imac (if it had a large enough display) and set it on the entertainment center, i could eliminate the need for a desk. A large enough display would also mean i wouldn't need to be RIGHT up on the computer so i could easily run it from the couch via wireless mouse & keyboard. Even better yet i could wall mount it and set up a small area for all the extra componants (wii, xbox, ps3...)
does that make a little bit more since?
And when i say larger i mean like 32inch maybe which really wouldn't be to much bigger then the 30 they just got ride of. i know they wont give a new display but its just a dream.
i know it can physically hold more Ram, but im saying i doubt they will offer it from apple with more then 16gb
Only two wishes from me to Santa Jobs: 24" screen with Radeon 6990..
One can dream..
6990...impossible
Only a Mac Pro can house a Radeon 6990, and then buy an 24" Apple Cinema Display.
The iMac uses Mobility Radeons, so it'll be a 6970m. I truly hope the new iMac contains a 6970m!
I still can't see how this is usable as anything other than a media center. I have a 32" TV (small living room), and normal viewing distance is about 8-10'. How are you going to do anything other than watch video and play video games at that distance? You're not going to use Mail or Word or Photoshop or iMovie or iPhoto from the couch.
PS3 + Thunderbolt + 21.5 inch iMac = PS3 Gaming on iMac?
Piratewilly:
I'm assuming
would put Thunderbolt in all models, so I could then connect a PS3 to a 21.5 inch iMac??????
Would that be the case if did put Thunderbolt ports in all models?
Piratewilly:
I'm assuming
would put Thunderbolt in all models, so I could then connect a PS3 to a 21.5 inch iMac??????Would that be the case if
did put Thunderbolt ports in all models?so then ur agreeing with me, that the only way to make it work is if the display is large enough, which was my statement in the first place.
-Obviously new Sandy Bridge Processors
-If they were gonna make it really evolutionary they'd have a dual flash/hdd option. Probably not. They'll probably just increase the base hdd level.
Same Screen size/resolution
-Thunderport
-Same Design
-Updated Graphics Card
What I do Feel they should do is bring back the Apple Studio Displays in various sizes. The current option is simply not affordable and reachable by the majority of people. Sure, keep the current 27" setup but common Apple bring 'em back. They'll probably update the iMac's along with the Mac Mini in my opinion. Should be good. Might get one for my mother
-If they were gonna make it really evolutionary they'd have a dual flash/hdd option. Probably not. They'll probably just increase the base hdd level.
Same Screen size/resolution
-Thunderport
-Same Design
-Updated Graphics Card
What I do Feel they should do is bring back the Apple Studio Displays in various sizes. The current option is simply not affordable and reachable by the majority of people. Sure, keep the current 27" setup but common Apple bring 'em back. They'll probably update the iMac's along with the Mac Mini in my opinion. Should be good. Might get one for my mother
Regarding the touchscreen iMac...things will always evolve and who knows what the set up will be 5 years from now. In 2005 did we really forsee what iOS would be now? Saying this, everything needs to be gradual, a gradual process where some things fail, some things work, only then will the best setup that maybe we have never even imagined naturally come up. I don't see how they could do it thought.
What I can see though is the iPad slowly and slowly transitioning into the macbook lineup and eventually the iMac line up in first a dock situation, to a full blown set up. However, i think the keyboard and mouse will always remain, i saw somewhere someone talking about the touch screen keyboard...i can kind of see that but as i said everything needs to transition gradually and apple shouldn't instantly force things on people.
What I can see though is the iPad slowly and slowly transitioning into the macbook lineup and eventually the iMac line up in first a dock situation, to a full blown set up. However, i think the keyboard and mouse will always remain, i saw somewhere someone talking about the touch screen keyboard...i can kind of see that but as i said everything needs to transition gradually and apple shouldn't instantly force things on people.
Piratewilly:
I'm assuming
Would that be the case if
Current 21.5" has Mini DisplayPort, just like its big brother but only output. Thunderbolt does not guarantee video input in 21.5". It's possible but has been with DisplayPort too. Up to Apple.
Of course none of us knows what will happen. You have very valid points. On the other hand, is it necessary for the screen to be touch? How about a multitouch keyboard? Trackpad we already have but how about a one with LCD and more cool functions? One thing that I have been thinking is that why hasn't Apple revolutionized the keyboard yet? They have done it with mice and trackpads.