2012 iMac - next big date?

[Mic2904]

Patience is not one of my virtues and I've been eyeing my wife's 2010 IMac with envy since she got it last year. I've been following these forums daily, several times a day in fact, and I'm at breaking point.

I've put a spec'd out 27" IMac current model in my Apple shopping cart - 3.4 GHz, 16GB RAM, upgraded HD and graphics card - the works. I KNOW this machine will more than blow me away. My MBP (mid-2009) is starting to have HD issues and I'm going to need to take it in probably within the next few weeks.

I know waiting will eventually get me the newest IMac (or Apple's newest version of a desktop) but I'm honestly sick of waiting and now that my current machine is acting up I want to get a Mac sooner rather than later.

The 2011 IMac is a wonderful machine and I would love to get it, my only fear is that right after the deadline for returning it the "new" IMac/new desktop will come out with an awesome new feature that I'll regret not having. A spec bump is not enough to make me regret pulling the trigger on a 2011 model.

My question - what are the chances that whatever comes out in the next few weeks, if there is one coming out, that it will have a "killer" feature that would almost make all older IMacs seem almost obsolete?

I know this is a rumor site and nothing is for certain but any comments are welcome.

Thanks!

No one knows if a new Imac will come out at all.

I am in a similar position... Have had an Imac in my Cart and have be close to pull the trigger in the shop, yet I have not bought anything and I am waiting til late October. In my case it helps that I travelling for work until October 19th, which makes it a bit harder to buy an Imac.

Once I am back, I will pull the trigger for sure, because I will have the 2 weeks Return Policy that would cover me to early November and even though I am not an expert and I am only going by what people say here: If there is no new Imac until End of October, it might not come out at all in 2012.

Also, you did not say what you would use your Imac for.... For my need the 2011 Modell with a few more RAM would be more than sufficent and will provide a massive difference compared to my old PC.

So, my advise for you would be: give it about 2-3 more weeks.... thats all.

 

[JayJayAbels]

I'm no "hardcore gamer" (what does that even mean anyway lol?) but I enjoy the occasional PC game every here and then. I actually have a nice collection of Steam games, and am looking to play Borderlands 2 soon. I really would love to game on a new 2012 21.5" iMac because personally, I think that screen size is the sweet spot. However, if nothing is announced by the middle of October, I'm gonna get myself a rMBP. It's more than capable of handling my computing needs as well as the occasional stint of gaming. In plus, the GT 650M trumps the HD 6770M, which is why I've held back on picking up the current iMac. You could also increase the screen real estate by simply just bumping on the resolution, so you actually get the best of both worlds. The end of October cannot come any sooner! I hope you enjoy your purchase, congrats!

EDIT: Oh, I'm also gonna spec bump the rMBP if I get one, because the baseline just won't cut it.

Borderlands 2 is the greatest, most humorous, most addicting game I've played in years. If you value your job... and life in general... stay far, far away from it bro.

 

[paolol61]

I see only one little problem on yours plan you have to find one, here (Italy) are out of stock in 90% of the store and all have a good discount on all model so by the end of this month i suppose I will have no way to find 1 and asking to the sales person you get a standard answer .. "no idea of when we will have more " so I'm positive that they have changed the part number

 

[jollino]

I see only one little problem on yours plan you have to find one, here (Italy) are out of stock in 90% of the store and all have a good discount on all model so by the end of this month i suppose I will have no way to find 1 and asking to the sales person you get a standard answer .. "no idea of when we will have more " so I'm positive that they have changed the part number

Fancy a little trip down to Abruzzo? I can point you to at least three places between Chieti and Pescara that have iMacs of all sizes in stock, ready to be sold.

 

[gielie]

Fancy a little trip down to Abruzzo? I can point you to at least three places between Chieti and Pescara that have iMacs of all sizes in stock, ready to be sold.

Here in The Netherlands all iMacs are in stock at great numbers, even the BTO have a shipping date of 1-3 days. I don't believe there is a new iMac coming this year. They "Apple" don't need the extra sales.

 

[Scrapula]

Here in The Netherlands all iMacs are in stock at great numbers, even the BTO have a shipping date of 1-3 days. I don't believe there is a new iMac coming this year. They "Apple" don't need the extra sales.

I agree. They want the lower priced gadgets for sale at Christmas time. With all the new products, I don't see them doing anything this year. I had hopes for October, but it's October now and I have not seen nor heard any legitimate reason to believe there is one on the immediate horizon.

 

[jollino]

I agree. They want the lower priced gadgets for sale at Christmas time. With all the new products, I don't see them doing anything this year. I had hopes for October, but it's October now and I have not seen nor heard any legitimate reason to believe there is one on the immediate horizon.

Well, that's not necessarily true. The stock we see may be sent back to be sold as refurb if the new ones come out, and the leaks for Macs usually happen just a couple of days before release. We only knew the part numbers of the new MBPs just shortly before WWDC.
Who knows :|

 

[davidgnomo]

Well, that's not necessarily true. The stock we see may be sent back to be sold as refurb if the new ones come out, and the leaks for Macs usually happen just a couple of days before release. We only knew the part numbers of the new MBPs just shortly before WWDC.
Who knows :|

Yeah ... now we only need the fxxxxing leaks !!!

 

[comatory]

Anyone who says that iPad mini release isn't a big deal should look at the bigger picture. Of course, here on this forum (including me), it all seems just like a smaller iPad to us but to the rest of the world it's like the second christmas. Remember, it's a product from a company that gets tech headlines for releasing battery charger, so if they released ole regular flashdrive tomorrow it'd be a blast for everyone.

I wouldn't be surprised if they demoed new smaller iPad for 60 or more minutes. But just like davidgnomo says, the leak part numbers are usually happenning few days before launch and they're usually the only thing that leaks (along with product box photos).

Seems like the smaller iPad is really happening now that WSJ posted the news, let's hope they brings something else to the table.

 

[forty2j]

My question - what are the chances that whatever comes out in the next few weeks, if there is one coming out, that it will have a "killer" feature that would almost make all older IMacs seem almost obsolete?

Ha!

Just like with the iPhone.. if people are waiting for Apple to make their coffee and do their dishes, they've got a long wait. ;-)

There's no "killer feature" coming anytime soon. The next updates are evolutionary, not revolutionary.

From the 2012 model you can expect:
- Dramatically improved graphics performance (which helps designers and gamers, and not much else)
- Marginally improved CPU performance
- USB3, good if you use a lot of external drives
- Reduced glare from that giant glossy screen
- Standard, or at least cheaper, SSD for improved boot/application load time
- A model with updated components and with longer support for future OS X versions for the same price as the model with 500-day old components today

5 out 6 of those are very important to me, so I'm waiting. You'll need to make your own decision.

 

[davidgnomo]

Ha!

Just like with the iPhone.. if people are waiting for Apple to make their coffee and do their dishes, they've got a long wait. ;-)

There's no "killer feature" coming anytime soon. The next updates are evolutionary, not revolutionary.

From the 2012 model you can expect:
- Dramatically improved graphics performance (which helps designers and gamers, and not much else)
- Marginally improved CPU performance
- USB3, good if you use a lot of external drives
- Reduced glare from that giant glossy screen
- Standard, or at least cheaper, SSD for improved boot/application load time
- A model with updated components and with longer support for future OS X versions for the same price as the model with 500-day old components today

5 out 6 of those are very important to me, so I'm waiting. You'll need to make your own decision.

I don't know why, but I love reading your posts, pal !

Now if only Apple ...

 

[jollino]

From the 2012 model you can expect:
- Dramatically improved graphics performance (which helps designers and gamers, and not much else)
- Marginally improved CPU performance
- USB3, good if you use a lot of external drives
- Reduced glare from that giant glossy screen
- Standard, or at least cheaper, SSD for improved boot/application load time
- A model with updated components and with longer support for future OS X versions for the same price as the model with 500-day old components today

5 out 6 of those are very important to me, so I'm waiting. You'll need to make your own decision.

So which one is not very important to you? The CPU performance?

 

[davidgnomo]

So which one is not very important to you? The CPU performance?

I know which one IS very important for him ... the last one ! And it is for me too !!!

 

[forty2j]

So which one is not very important to you? The CPU performance?

Bingo. Ivy Bridge is yawn-worthy. I mean, it's great for the MBAs, but...

 

[jollino]

Bingo. Ivy Bridge is yawn-worthy. I mean, it's great for the MBAs, but...

It does bring built-in USB3 though!

 

[forty2j]

I know which one IS very important for him ... the last one ! And it is for me too !!!

Actually the GPU is even more important for me. I spend a lot of time playing games on my iMac.. or I did, until the games outstripped my iMac's capabilities.

 

[davidgnomo]

Actually the GPU is even more important for me. I spend a lot of time playing games on my iMac.. or I did, until the games outstripped my iMac's capabilities.

Well then I hope I can profit of your kindness (whenever a damn new iMac is released) and ask you some advices about "game playing with an Apple computer" (where to get games, what program I should use to run Windows if necessary, and so on ...)

 

[Confuzzzed]

Patience is not one of my virtues...I've put a spec'd out 27" IMac current model in my Apple shopping cart - 3.4 GHz, 16GB RAM, upgraded HD and graphics card - the works. I KNOW this machine will more than blow me away.

Just buy it. Unless you are a gamer the seemingly never coming upgrade won't blow your mind as others have said. Besides, it has been known that Apple will simply replace a machine that is up to 28 days old (technically they are only obliged up to 14 days but internally they have 28 days as grace period) if a new model comes out so you may be on a win-win. Get the machine you want, and have it for a whole month in which time we'll know for sure if there is a 2012 iMac or note.

 

[141n5]

....you can expect:
- Dramatically improved graphics performance (which helps designers and gamers, and not much else)
- Marginally improved CPU performance
- USB3, good if you use a lot of external drives
- Reduced glare from that giant glossy screen
- Standard, or at least cheaper, SSD for improved boot/application load time
- A model with updated components and with longer support for future OS X versions for the same price as the model with 500-day old components today

5 out 6 of those are very important to me, so I'm waiting. You'll need to make your own decision.

Important to me also - But none of that needs to happen in the next month all of these improvements are current tech [if not ageing now]- is the situation going to change between now and say May next year? so whats the rush to get anything to market? clearly

Who knows about the timeline for the next chip architecture? Will it be adopted quickly/ exclusively - and if it is then the projected model lifespan of this proposed 2012 machine is uber short. Oh the irony that would be!

Maybe we won't see them now and it will push on for higher resolution screens and early adoption of Haswell or new Apple (?) Chipset.
Have a gut feel that it will be a new form factor in 2013 and that a lot of potential 2012 adopters will be disappointed after waiting (myself included event though I bailed and picked up a decent 2010 i7 as stop gap), but again could be wrong and this maybe the change coming now...?

Who knows, not me for sure.

 

[forty2j]

Who knows about the timeline for the next chip architecture? Will it be adopted quickly/ exclusively - and if it is then the projected model lifespan of this proposed 2012 machine is uber short. Oh the irony that would be!

Haswell isn't expected until the second half of next year (Intel says March/April, and basically nobody believes them). Haswell is also m-focused and still won't be a great improvement for desktops.

I don't need a redesign. I don't understand why people need a redesign. Apple redesigns when the old design is no longer the best or serving the purpose properly. They don't turn the chin into a forehead just so it will look different..

There's a reasonable chance that next year will be Retina. Personally the worst thing for me would be a Retina screen without enough graphic support to push the pixels around at 60+fps at ultra quality in games. So getting the "last" non-Retina model would suit me perfectly fine.

No, I for one will not be pining for a 2013 model... unless Apple chooses not to give me a 2012. If they release another 15" MBP before another iMac, and the MBP at least exceeds the 2011 iMac capabilities, I may have to go that way.

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Well then I hope I can profit of your kindness (whenever a damn new iMac is released) and ask you some advices about "game playing with an Apple computer" (where to get games, what program I should use to run Windows if necessary, and so on ...)

Steam. And just Bootcamp if you truly need Windows - Parallels will get by on a few, but for the most part the virtualization will kill your FPS.

I play OS X versions of games almost exclusively.

 

[Ryan.Tanner]

I don't need a redesign. I don't understand why people need a redesign. Apple redesigns when the old design is no longer the best or serving the purpose properly. They don't turn the chin into a forehead just so it will look different.

I agree about the redesign. I think the current model is perfect (form-factor). That thing looks amazing, and I don't want it to change.


Also, I can't be the only one that thinks a "Retina" iMac is a dumb decision with the current form-factor? If they did upgrade the screen to retina, the entire iMac better be redesigned to put a fullblown desktop graphics card in it, because a mobile card will not push out good FPS at 3-4k resolution.

 

[edry.hilario]

I agree about the redesign. I think the current model is perfect (form-factor). That thing looks amazing, and I don't want it to change.


Also, I can't be the only one that thinks a "Retina" iMac is a dumb decision with the current form-factor? If they did upgrade the screen to retina, the entire iMac better be redesigned to put a fullblown desktop graphics card in it, because a mobile card will not push out good FPS at 3-4k resolution.

yeah yeah, too bad its they are definately make some tweaks to the design. People always say i dont have a problem with the design until a new design comes in and everyone its like OHHHHH OOHHHH OOOOOHHH MY GOOOODDDDD ITS SO BEAUTIFUL. with that said can we chill it with the i dont want a new design thing because you know youre gonna want it once you see it.

 

[22mac]

If the screen size stayed the same would you get the 21.5 or 27 inch iMac?
I would think I like the 27inch but don't want to be too close to it.

 

[xgman]

Also, I can't be the only one that thinks a "Retina" iMac is a dumb decision with the current form-factor? If they did upgrade the screen to retina, the entire iMac better be redesigned to put a fullblown desktop graphics card in it, because a mobile card will not push out good FPS at 3-4k resolution.

As it is, the measly 512mb graphics card on the 21" line isn't cutting it at all. I hope they at least offer an upgrade without having to go for the 27" model.

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Just buy it. .

As long as you don't mind paying 2013 prices for 2010 tech.

 

[joelhinch]

To be honest, right now for me I'm not one that needs a new iMac ASAP, but I would like some new rumours for the iMac. For myself I don't mind if Apple don't release the new iMac till the end of the year or early next year.

What I'm looking/waiting for in a new iMac (27") is:

- Ivy Bridge (Will BTO the best option)
- USB 3
- Updated & Powerful graphics for Mac gaming
- Cheaper SSD prices (I mean apple is asking $500-600 now, I would do it myself, because I could buy a Samsung 256GB 830 for $200 today give or take)

Thats it, don't need a redesign. And if they do a redesign I hope we can still change the RAM ourselves, because i'd be installing 4x8GB (32GB) 1600MHz RAM myself, around $200.


I'd be using the system for pro apps like FCS, Adobe CS, Xcode... and gaming, not on Windows, but games available on the Mac such as:

- COD: Black Ops
- StarCraft 2
- Diablo 3
- World of Warcraft
- GTA
etc, etc..