2012 iMac - next big date?

[godcandy]

I don't see this being a big upgrade. Hardware hasn’t changed a lot in the past 24 months. They are currently selling with up to an i7 3.4ghz quad core and can be upgraded to 32gb of ram (not by apple, they will only sell 16). They will throw in a ssd and a regular drive if you want to mortgage your house to get it. I just looked at Intel's site and even the newest generation of the i7 is not much faster. I am sure it has a more detailed instruction set and I have noted that changes in processors in recent years have been less of a jump in MHZ and more of a jump in architecture for efficency. There is a potential for an upgrade in graphics as the chipsets there have changed as well as an upgrade of the screen. I could see apple building this computer with a retna display. Other than that I don’t see where they are going to make a major change to the system unless its a aesthetic design change.

On another note. I helped a friend change a hard drive on his and if they do make a design change maybe moving the hard drive to somewhere that it can be accessed without complete disassembly of the computer would be awesome.. Make it like a hot swap drive bay from a server and put another metal cover down by where the memory is in the bottom. Not that Apple would ever want to make something easy to service. They never have.

 

[JustMartin]

Anyone that says that it's just gonna be spec bump I ultimately don't believe on the rest of wht they say. IT'S NOT GONNA BE JUST A SPEC BUMP!!!! It's clearly something more every rumors says new design and "screen lamination issue" that just gave it away, if it was gonna be just spec bump they would have done it by now. When people just say its gonna be spec bump just make me feel like you don't know what you're talking about because you have obviously haven't been ready the rumors. Now sorry about the rant it's just people keep saying weird things here

a slightly different design to the screen and updated internals could still be a silent (or maybe quiet) spec bump.

 

[richest]

I don't see this being a big upgrade. Hardware hasn’t changed a lot in the past 24 months.

That sounds strange on the face of it...little change in PC tec in 2 years.

Is that correct?

 

[AlphaMF]

So there is a new one on the way??

best question ever ^^

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I don't see this being a big upgrade. Hardware hasn’t changed a lot in the past 24 months.

That sounds strange on the face of it...little change in PC tec in 2 years.

Is that correct?

weeeeeeelllll.... SOME would say that USB3 is a big upgrade to USB2, and SOME would say nVidias 680m is a big upgrade to AMD 6970, SOME would say SSD is a big upgrade to Spin Discs

and ofcourse SOME would say screen lamination issues hint at a redesign of
A) the screen
B) the chasis
C) both.

But what do they know. Me and riches would RATHER have the "old" stuff than this new technical mumbo jumbo.

 

[Confuzzzed]

“Today Intel Corporation issued a statement in response to unsubstantiated news reports about comments made by Intel CEO Paul Otellini in a meeting with employees. Intel has a long and successful heritage working with Microsoft on the release of Windows platforms, delivering devices that provide exciting experiences, stunning performance, and superior compatibility. Intel fully expects this to continue with Windows 8. Intel, Microsoft and our partners have been working closely together on testing and validation to ensure delivery of a high-quality experience across the nearly 200 Intel-based designs that will start launching in October. Intel CEO Paul Otellini is on record as saying ‘Windows 8 is one of the best things that ever happened to Intel,’ citing the importance of the touch interface coming to mainstream computing and the huge wave of exciting new Ultrabook, tablet and convertible device innovations coming to the market.”

 

[Confuzzzed]

But there are more and more times these days when I'm waiting for the Mac to do something instead of the other way around.

Really? Are you doing lots of 'Pro' stuff? Because I never had any issue like that even with 4 year old tech when it came to the MBP. Do you have enough RAM? Are you wifi (and is it consistent enough?). More memory, an ethernet cable and SSD solves most speed problems I found!

 

[philipma1957]

I don't see this being a big upgrade. Hardware hasn’t changed a lot in the past 24 months.

That sounds strange on the face of it...little change in PC tec in 2 years.

Is that correct?

WELL think about the cpu and other parts


i7 3770s vs an i7 2600s 10 - 15%

a hd7970m vs an hd6970m major improvement if you need it

ram 32gb 1600 vs 32gb 1333 10-15%

ssds a sata III vs a sata III


okay usb3 over usb2 a major improvement ,

but if you really needed this for making money t-bolt was available...


so the current high end 2011 vs the possible high end 2012 may fall far short in the gpu. other then the new gpu which must be a hd7970m or a gtx 680m the high end 2011 does the job.

The big jump was c2d to sandy. this will only be a big improvement if they use the high end mobile gpus. The improvement will only affect the heavy graphics user.

YEAH the usb3 over usb2 is more like a fight over cheap chocolate vs high end quality chocolate (thunderbolt).

Btw I am now building a 1tb raid0 lacie little big disk booter for under 800 bucks. I would like to see what the ssd option will be in the new iMac.

 

[davidgnomo]

Though Apple moving to a release schedule based on Intel's "ticks" - especially if Intel can provide them with said product at launch - might not be a bad thing.

I would expect the majority of Mac users do not upgrade annually, so by launching a new product with a new micro-architecture and all the benefits it brings would give Apple more bullet points to highlight.

I agree with you ... that's why I should buy an iMac now (if 2012 ever comes out !!!) as Ivy Bridge as now been well tested and don't wait for Haswell for 2 main reasons :

1) it seems that Haswell is going to be a good boost for laptops, not that much for desktops

2) being a whole new technology, it would be better to let other people test it and get it only when you're sure it is reliable (2014 or later ?)

 

[CWallace]

WELL think about the cpu and other parts...

ssds a sata III vs a sata III

If you meant to say SATA III vs. SATA II, iMac EFI Update 1.6 for the 2011 iMac enabled 6gb/s SATA 3.0 support (though my APPLE SSD TS256C "only" supports 3gb/s).

 

[philipma1957]

If you meant to say SATA III vs. SATA II, iMac EFI Update 1.6 for the 2011 iMac enabled 6gb/s SATA 3.0 support (though my APPLE SSD TS256C "only" supports 3gb/s).

no i meant sata III vs sata III will be in both the 2011 and the yet to come 2012.

I went in a different direction then iMacs as a large tv at a distance works better for me then a 27 inch close up. Right now pc power performance increases have become smaller for a few reasons.

One all pc builders have come to realize a monster killer god like pc for the homeowner will hurt the iCloud/ Mobile/ smart phone business. So making killer machines have not been their priority .

Two there is a limit to what you can do.

It is a combo of power, size, cores , clock and software skill.

Is an 16 core 4.0ghz cpu possible yes will it end up in your home maybe , but not for a while. There is not a lot of software for it. Would be nice in an All -in -one 60 inch machine that uses a mini ipad as the remote and Siri is really smart like the star- trek computer.

 

[AlphaMF]

Just the SSD and GFX are worth ALOT of dollars. If you dont think SSD is a big improvement for any work, you either never work on a PC, or you love lags and waits

 

[Confuzzzed]

Just the SSD and GFX are worth ALOT of dollars. If you dont think SSD is a big improvement for any work, you either never work on a PC, or you love lags and waits

I'll wholeheartedly second this notion

 

[digitalfailure]

*slow clap*

All that means is that somewhere in the country, there is at least one of each model available. It does not mean every store had full stock

I checked 9 London stores and couldn't find even a base model.

Must be a north south thing then, I signed in and used 3 different postcodes and I can collect from a store in an hour, they'll be doing well to get the machines to a random post code of my choice in an hour, so unless they are lying it would suggest that they have a few in stock....... so please, less of the slow claps and rolling eyes!

I'm as impatient as anyone on here to replace my 24" 2.8c2d with something I can actually work with now. My machine is running cs4 and lr2 and onone photosuite for my photo editing, just opening a browser often causes a panic and cs crashes taking any unsaved work with it!!! I have Cs6 and the latest version of onone reay to go.....just need a machine which will cope with it and like everyone else I'm not happy to stump up 2grand on a machine that's likely to be replaced in the near future.
I've had this machine since 2008.....I don't plan on changing it's replacement for a few years either, so getting as close to the edge of technology as possible is vital for longevity.

 

[richest]

John Lewis UK national web site are out of most imacs now, and have been for a week plus.

 

[Moonjumper]

Not that Apple would ever want to make something easy to service. They never have.

Apparently the iPhone 5 screen is a lot easier to replace than the iPhone 4, so I wouldn't say never.

It could be suggested that most serviceability issues are due to making a better functioning device, but the use of pentalobe screws means that isn't always the case.

This isn't a black & white case, and neither is my answer.

 

[ipodmac]

John Lewis UK national web site are out of most imacs now, and have been for a week plus.

I still wouldn't expect an iMac within the week, but it makes me feel like there might be a 2012 iMac

 

[richest]

We hope.

This 'double lock down' thing seems to be effective though you must say.

 

[motrek]

I wonder how iMac sales are in general these days. I'd think that the "average consumer" (who doesn't read MacRumors or other similar sites) might not even be aware that the iMac is long overdue for an update, but maybe not. If resellers think that sales are sluggish because many people are waiting for a new iMac, they'd purposely avoid keeping the current models in inventory.

Indeed... a spec bump on the iMac would entail an i5 vs. an i5 (uhh...), changing the GPU from one model number to another (I'm a hard core techie and even I gave up trying to follow GPU model numbers years ago), and Apple doesn't ever make a big deal about USB speeds so nobody who does their shopping at the Apple Store will even notice that it's USB 2 or USB 3.

In broad strokes, a 2012 spec bump iMac would be more or less as good as a 2011 iMac... again, my theory is that if Apple doesn't refresh the iMac in 2012 it's because they didn't see the point, not because they are trying to rip off their customers, or focus 100% on iPhones, or some other nonsense.

 

[BriMercer]

Is anyone at all disconcerted by the fact that Amazon is now showing all the iMacs back in stock?

 

[What mac]

More and more like its coming in October

Might mean nothing but I enquired today about iMacs (all) from a national retailer/apple reseller in Ireland today and they had just sent there last 2 imacs to another store in the chain. The manager said he couldn't tell me when more stock was coming because there is an upgrade due anytime soon, release date not yet announced, but if it isn't in the next couple of weeks they are just going to have to order more of the current models.

Only waiting from August though, I have decided to make the win to apple switch complete. Wish I hadn't heard of the pending upgrade because I would have had an iMac by now. More than powerful enough for what I need anyway, just a general user.

ipad2iPhone 4/4sapple tv

 

[ipodmac]

Is anyone at all disconcerted by the fact that Amazon is now showing all the iMacs back in stock?

Not really Amazon stock really doesn't seem to mean anything. They were completely out of stock on all models last week and there wasn't an update

 

[davidgnomo]

I'm wondering if all those supposed retailers shortages are due to the fact that they know a refresh is imminent for sure or if they're just lowing down their stocks because they expect/imagine/hope a refresh will come soon without having a clue (like all of us) and don't want to get stuck with too many old machines in their warehouses ...

 

[Johnf1285]

Apparently the iPhone 5 screen is a lot easier to replace than the iPhone 4, so I wouldn't say never.

It could be suggested that most serviceability issues are due to making a better functioning device, but the use of pentalobe screws means that isn't always the case.

This isn't a black & white case, and neither is my answer.

This could be an interesting redesign.

I feel that the glass getting laminated to the LED panel may result in the screen mounting into the chassis much like it does on the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 5 with a sort of gasket surround where the screen meets the chassis. Imagine just 4 screws along the bottom where the current ram access door is. Imagine just unscrewing those 4 screws and lifting the screen right out. No worries of dust and finger prints in between glass and the LED. That would be amazing!

Or the screen is mounted to the chassis in an even more restrictive manor, turning the computer into more of an appliance than ever. Glue and soldered ram. Oh the horror!

 

[DVD9]

Is anyone at all disconcerted by the fact that Amazon is now showing all the iMacs back in stock?

Amazon has 2011 MacBook Pro laptops in stock. All three models. I got an email yesterday pushing the 15" base for something like $1,478.00 an 18% discount.

Does this mean the 2012 models with USB 3.0 never came out?

Amazon is almost always out of stock on the base Retina MacBook Pro, does this mean a new updated Retina is about to be released?

 

[HurryKayne]

This makes sense.
I mean its normal to have stocks of last gen products still to be sold,so if ever Imacs will gain update maybe beside will have the old 2011 model reduced by price.
I wonder what will say who ,in the last part of this waiting,would buy a 2011 model.
I hope they can use a returning window.