2011 iMac speculation

[sth]

As much as I like AMD, they really haven't been able to match Intel, from what I've seen so far, maybe in a lower end iMac. What I would really like to see is a FireGL option for CAD, since they make a mobile chip as well.

FireGL and Radeon cards use the same chips, the only difference is in the software (FireGL drivers are optimized for CAD applications rather than games).

I don't know if this is still true today, but a few years back it was possible to modify FireGL drivers so they worked with normal Radeon cards (same for GeForce and Quadro on the nVidia side).

 

[JeepGuy]

FireGL and Radeon cards use the same chips, the only difference is in the software (FireGL drivers are optimized for CAD applications rather than games).

I don't know if this is still true today, but a few years back it was possible to modify FireGL drivers so they worked with normal Radeon cards (same for GeForce and Quadro on the nVidia side).

I've seen this done on a PC (softmod), but not on the equivalent Mac card running OSX.

 

[DavinBlack]

If Apple produces a high-end iMac that can incorporate this for my art and architecture work, this functionality for tasks that don't necessarily need a keyboard, and this keyboard, then I'd be set.

 

[RollTide]

If Apple produces a high-end iMac that can incorporate this for my art and architecture work, this functionality for tasks that don't necessarily need a keyboard, and this keyboard, then I'd be set.

Touchscreen iMac ain't happening.

 

[RedReplicant]

Touchscreen would drive me insane over the fingerprints and smudges.

 

[zombierunner]

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They made a track pad for the iMac ... Because a touch screen iMac doesn't work . You will end up with aching arms and shoulders.... Really hoping iMacs come with hdmi in or atleast support 1080p target display mode via thunderbolt

 

[iSayuSay]

Yes Yes I agree with others, I don't want iMac with touch screen, you can do touchy with magic trackpad, or for design people, just get a large Wacom Intuous and get along with that

The only thing that frustates me is iPhone white, I don't want one, yet they will be released on coming weeks or so

And that means new iMac will be delayed or what, hardly I see Apple release two new products at the same/very near time. i want new iMac, why always treat iOS device better, yes i love iOS, but please .. i want iMac refresh, current iMac almost beaten by new MBP in terms of processing power

 

[Digital Skunk]

The next iMac should be an all-in-one base model Mac Pro and nothing less.

At the very least it needs to have Thunderbolt and updated processors and GFX. The only thing extra that it needs would be an extra Thunderbolt port.

The SSDs can come as BTO.

The removal of the optical won't happen with the iMac anytime soon.

The chin will still be there. Get used to it, it's actually kind of nice . . . and MUCH smaller than it used to be in 2005.

 

[Bmaintz]

My wish list....
(2) Thunderbolt Ports
Upgrade on CPU Graphics
A small SSD soldered on the mother board to hold the Lion & basic software
Better price to upgrade RAM to 8gb
A larger User's manual (spirial)
Bob

 

[sth]

The next iMac should be an all-in-one base model Mac Pro and nothing less.

The current 27" quad-core already is, in terms of performance at least.
So I think it's safe to assume that this will be true for the refresh as well.

Better price to upgrade RAM to 8gb

General rule about Apple's BTO options: Never buy those which you could easily upgrade yourself.

There's simply no need to buy horrendously expensive RAM upgrades directly from Apple.

 

[DavinBlack]

Touchscreen iMac ain't happening.

At this point, and given Apple's not-so-subtle shift towards touch-based UX (and their success with it), it makes no business sense to keep from making a touchscreen iMac an option.

Touchscreen would drive me insane over the fingerprints and smudges.

You know what drives me insane? A countertop with crumbs and various ingredients left over from after I've cooked a meal - which is why I clean it.

The hang-ups that people have about smudging their computer monitors (or touchscreen phones) is, frankly, baffling. Scratches I sorta get, as that's a bit more time-consuming to deal with...

...but fingerprints? Really? Just clean the smudges off.

They made a track pad for the iMac ... Because a touch screen iMac doesn't work . You will end up with aching arms and shoulders....

Based on what? Have you used the Wacom 21UX that I linked to in my initial post - or any other touchscreen computer that allows you to angle the monitor as the Wacom does? (If that latter, who makes it? I'd be genuinely curious about checking it out)

I did (plus a few touchscreen laptops), and didn't run into any aching arm/shoulder issues. And even if I had, it would've been worth it for the finer control over media that the 21UX provided.

Yes Yes I agree with others, I don't want iMac with touch screen, you can do touchy with magic trackpad, or for design people, just get a large Wacom Intuous and get along with that

Then get an iMac without a touchscreen. Simple as. I said:

If Apple produces a high-end iMac

- meaning that a touchscreen iMac (with the Wacom pressure-sensitive screen) should be an option, not run the whole iMac range. I guess that was a bit vague on that point, though; I hardly expect a machine spec'd out as I proposed to sell at a fraction of the volume that Apple would consider business appropriate.

General rule about Apple's BTO options: Never buy those which you could easily upgrade yourself.

There's simply no need to buy horrendously expensive RAM upgrades directly from Apple.

Agreed.

 

[RedReplicant]

You know what drives me insane? A countertop with crumbs and various ingredients left over from after I've cooked a meal - which is why I clean it.

The hang-ups that people have about smudging their computer monitors (or touchscreen phones) is, frankly, baffling. Scratches I sorta get, as that's a bit more time-consuming to deal with...

...but fingerprints? Really? Just clean the smudges off.

Oh hey, that's great. I can clean it and then the second I use it again it's got finger prints on it again. Way to come off as a douchenozzle though. Thumbs up. Some of us are cleaner than others.

 

[DavinBlack]

Oh hey, that's great. I can clean it and then the second I use it again it's got finger prints on it again.

I used the Cintiq 21 for graphic work before. That's a bad example, as I never touched it all that much. I HAVE used the sketching apps like Brushes on the iPad, in addition to using OmniGraffle to do actual wireframing for my web development projects. Fingerprints were not enough of an issue to get in the way of my workflow (read: they weren't an issue), so I don't know what kind of fingerprints you're producing that would (in your own words) "drive you insane" enough to prevent you from owning a similarly capable iMac.

Unless said fingerprints would drive you insane even when you weren't actually using the computer, in which case I'd again say: just clean it. I do not get annoyed by the fact that I have to clean my countertops after cooking upon them, so I do not see what the fuss would be over cleaning a smudgy touchscreen monitor.

Way to come off as a douchenozzle though. Thumbs up. Some of us are cleaner than others.

Regarding your snark, I was pointing out that your very minor inconvenience, whether valid or not, in no way detracts from the overall benefits of a pressure-sensitive touchscreen iMac. And if a potentially smudgy iMac is enough of a deterrent from buying a touchscreen iMac, then don't buy one:

...a touchscreen iMac (with the Wacom pressure-sensitive screen) should be an option, not run the whole iMac range. I guess that was a bit vague on that point, though; I hardly expect a machine spec'd out as I proposed to sell at a fraction of the volume that Apple would consider business appropriate.

 

[RedReplicant]

I don't clean my counters after I cook on them, I clean as I go. Like I said, some of us have a different idea of 'clean'.

 

[DavinBlack]

I don't clean my counters after I cook on them, I clean as I go.

So do I, for the most part. Doesn't mean I couldn't adjust my cleaning habits to accommodate something like a giant touchscreen computer.

In fact I have adjusted my habits, essentially; I do not clean off my iPhone or iPad screen every couple of seconds, the way I'd clear mess and materials while cooking. I do what I need to do, then clean it off with a spray + microfiber cloth every now and then (or immediately, in the case of a particularly noticeable smudge). Somehow, I've managed to maintain my sanity and keep from returning my iPhone or iPad, despite the appearance of fingerprints during those short times between screen cleanings.

Like I said, some of us have a different idea of 'clean'.

Indeed. Difference is, it seems that Apple shares mine. Or at the least, feel that the inconvenience brought about by the appearance of fingerprints on a screen would not factor in the slightest in any realistic decision on whether or not to bring a touchscreen product to the market.

Moving on...I wonder if they'd offer a larger screen size for the next iMac. I thought the 27" was a bit of overkill for an all-in-one machine, but I could see a reasonable demographic wanting a 32" option.

 

[Digital Skunk]

The current 27" quad-core already is, in terms of performance at least.

Exactly, but add some more expansion options at the very least. If not, then just keep with the status quo.

No need for the juvenile touch screens and what not.

 

[DavinBlack]

Exactly, but add some more expansion options at the very least. If not, then just keep with the status quo.

They might not, as they might be led to believe that an "iMac Pro" (essentially) would hurt their Mac Pro sales. I personally don't think it would, but you never know.

No need for the juvenile touch screens and what not.

Lolwut? How would a touchscreen on an iMac be juvenile ?

 

[AppleNewton]

Yeah I'd like to see an improved cpu/gpu at the least. Touch screen IMO seems too gimmicky for a huge desktop like that. if they want to do a bto of that then I guess, but not something that would enhance my overall experience, especially when moving and altering many files around.

I just hope they dont try to 'out thin' themselves by cramming less adequate parts to reduce the size as its already pretty remarkably thin/light.

 

[Digital Skunk]

They might not, as they might be led to believe that an "iMac Pro" (essentially) would hurt their Mac Pro sales. I personally don't think it would, but you never know.

I don't think it would, and I don't think Apple does or ever would either given that the current model is a really nice option for those that don't need the 100% expansion capabilities.

Lolwut? How would a touchscreen on an iMac be juvenile ?

Given that none of the apps Apple makes are optimized for it. . . a touchscreen iMac would really just be a gimmick, a: "Hey look at me I'z haz touch like the HP at 3x the price!" kind of machine.

There'd be no benefit over what we have now unless Mac OSX was written more like iOS which would be terrible.

Unless there's a machine built from the ground up, with the software to match, that can take advantage of a touchscreen display then there's really no use for it.

 

[dr Dunkel]

Why on earth would I want to have touch functionality on a really good screen like the one on the iMac? I mean, sure, for a lousy navigator or ATM... fine, but not here.

Give us power instead. That's fine with me.

 

[DavinBlack]

I don't think it would, and I don't think Apple does or ever would either given that the current model is a really nice option for those that don't need the 100% expansion capabilities.

Yeah. Even at that, they could possibly make the iMac expansion capable, given how thin these monitors are getting.

That'd be a trip: removable drive bays on an iMac lol.

Given that none of the apps Apple makes are optimized for it. . . a touchscreen iMac would really just be a gimmick, a: "Hey look at me I'z haz touch like the HP at 3x the price!" kind of machine.

There'd be no benefit over what we have now unless Mac OSX was written more like iOS which would be terrible.

Unless there's a machine built from the ground up, with the software to match, that can take advantage of a touchscreen display then there's really no use for it.

Why on earth would I want to have touch functionality on a really good screen like the one on the iMac? I mean, sure, for a lousy navigator or ATM... fine, but not here.

Again, I think I'm being unclear. When I say "touchscreen," I suppose what I should be saying is touchscreen with a Wacom (or Wacom-like) pressure-sensitive digitizer. In other words, instead of resorting to this -

- I'd like to combine the two into one machine, as outlined in a fairly recent patent:​

I don't consider such an option a gimmick; indeed, it'd solve a lot of problems I have with my current set-up.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Again, I think I'm being unclear. When I say "touchscreen," I suppose what I should be saying is touchscreen with a Wacom (or Wacom-like) pressure-sensitive digitizer. In other words, instead of resorting to this -

- I'd like to combine the two into one machine, as outlined in a fairly recent patent:​

I don't consider such an option a gimmick; indeed, it'd solve a lot of problems I have with my current set-up.

I'd like it the first way personally.

Now that you show me this, I'd ask what the market genre would be. Is Apple going after only graphic arts, or both them and the average user?

A separate model would be ideal in that situation, but we all know how Apple feels about making niche products.

 

[DavinBlack]

Now that you show me this, I'd ask what the market genre would be. Is Apple going after only graphic arts, or both them and the average user?

A separate model would be ideal in that situation, but we all know how Apple feels about making niche products.

I'd argue that the Mac Pro is pretty much a toy for the graphic and a/v production set - and they could get scads of use out of a touchscreen iMac.

That said, I don't see why they couldn't go after both graphic artists and average users - just at different levels. A regular screen for those who don't want/need it, a capacitive touchscreen for the fingerpainting set, 1024 pressure levels + stylus for "prosumers," and a range-topping 2048 pressure levels + stylus for professionals.

As for being niche, well...there's a LOT of graphically-inclined individuals out there, so it's a large enough niche to fill. The biggest risk would be a tricked-out iMac outselling the Mac Pros - someone said it earlier, a Quad Core iMac makes the argument for getting a Mac Pro almost non-existant.

The point is, I think it'd sell pretty well.

 

[spacepower7]

That said, I don't see why they couldn't go after both graphic artists and average users - just at different levels. A regular screen for those who don't want/need it, a capacitive touchscreen for the fingerpainting set, 1024 pressure levels + stylus for "prosumers," and a range-topping 2048 pressure levels + stylus for professionals.

Apple likes to keep a simple production line.

What I don't understand is how you think Apple is going to get 1024 pressure levels on that giant 27" piece of solid glass?????????

I'm pretty sure that none of the iOS devices have pressure sensitive glass.

They are not going to make two screens like they do on the laptops. Those are portable computers that have to deal with real life glare issues and can be used outside.

On another issue, the DPI on the iMacs is so high that it would make touch interactivity with menus etc... a less than optimal experience.

In addition, do software developers want to rewrite their Apps for a touch GUI in addition to their regular GUI? I think they would rather focus on new features and bug fixes rather than a whole new touch GUI.

Davin, I respect your excitement and enthusiasm for these features in an iMac, but I do not believe we will see anything like this in an iMac for at least a few more years. First, we need a resolution independent OS.

From Apples point of view, it does not currently make sense in terms usability or business strategy.

 

[Joshwawilson]

I don't want apple taking away the chin of the iMacs. The chin is what makes them look good-- the cinema displays on the other hand, do not look that good.

I disagree completely