5k retina iMac, now what?

[bumfluff]

soooo Cupertino has spoken, the iMac gets a 5k display, and AMD gpu. a lot of people didn't even think it was going to get a refresh.

but now what? i need a new iMac, do I jump into the untested 5k display or play it safe and cheaper and forgo the display? Can the single AMD gpu handle it?

 

[Ipadilac]

I am gonna hold off a bit and see how they react to everyday people using them. I am really hoping they are everything they claim cause I really really want one now!!

 

[Razeus]

soooo Cupertino has spoken, the iMac gets a 5k display, and AMD gpu. a lot of people didn't even think it was going to get a refresh.

but now what? i need a new iMac, do I jump into the untested 5k display or play it safe and cheaper and forgo the display? Can the single AMD gpu handle it?

It's not a refresh. It's an addition to the product line.

 

[definitive]

2.5k is a lot of money for an all in one. having had to deal with paying for out of warranty repairs on an imac, i think i'm gonna be going the hackintosh route from now on.

 

[bumfluff]

It's not a refresh. It's an addition to the product line.

yes thanks for your insight

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I am gonna hold off a bit and see how they react to everyday people using them. I am really hoping they are everything they claim cause I really really want one now!!

I'm tempted to wait as well, its great that they start shipping today we'll get some real world feedback in a short time frame.

 

[AppleGoat]

I have to see this thing in person. It is probably stunning -- especially since the 27" 1440p display is super. I just wonder if what's under the hood will be able to drive the display how everyone would like.

 

[Hankster]

This iMac is a premium computer, not for the everyday user. Unless you're doing coding, graphic design or film/photography editing this isn't targeted at you. This is why for many the $2,500 price tag is high. However, for a person who is in these types of fields working...that's not expensive.

In fact that's the cost of just my camera body. Great computer. I won't be getting it anytime soon, but perhaps the next update so this one will be at $2,000.

 

[chukronos]

I feel like this is the iMac version of the iPad 3. The Intel chips were delayed, so apple is giving the best option they can until the chips they wanted can be implemented. 45% better GPU on a 400% more pixel display doesn't seem to work out for speed. My math could be off though.

BUT, Apple knows what they are doing and are masters of efficiency. So, it may perform flawlessly in real world performance.

 

[bumfluff]

This iMac is a premium computer, not for the everyday user. Unless you're doing coding, graphic design or film/photography editing this isn't targeted at you. This is why for many the $2,500 price tag is high. However, for a person who is in these types of fields working...that's not expensive.

In fact that's the cost of just my camera body. Great computer. I won't be getting it anytime soon, but perhaps the next update so this one will be at $2,000.

def agree, I'm a photojournalist, i have lenses that cost more.

the real issue is the ram, ridic

 

[Neodym]

This iMac is [...] not for the everyday user. Unless you're doing coding, graphic design or film/photography editing this isn't targeted at you.

Even without having my usage focus in any of the fields you mention, I'm interested just for the crispness of text and UI elements. And I'd bet I'm far from being the only one with such a motivation...

 

[chukronos]

the real issue is the ram, ridic

Is the ram soldered? It isn't on the non-retina 27.

 

[bumfluff]

Is the ram soldered? It isn't on the non-retina 27.

I'm not sure, i know on the 27in L2013 they aren't.

 

[shokunin]

Is the ram soldered? It isn't on the non-retina 27.

No. User-upgradeable 4 DIMM slots, says so on the ordering page.

Correction- its listed under tech specs.

 

[bumfluff]

so i just pulled the trigger on the retina iMac, full spec

well see......

 

[jetjaguar]

think i am going to hold off .. trying to decide if i want another iMac or a mac pro

 

[Gary Irwin]

Well I just took delivery of a refurbished current generation 27" i7 w/1TB SSD to edit my still photos. I thought about waiting for the new retina iMac, but when you stop to think about it, other than the pleasure of actually working with a retina display, it will be 10 years before 4K becomes mainstream. Right now the largest photos I post for web viewing are 1920x1080 or 1200 pix on the large side, so what good is a 5K iMac going to really do for me? Maybe in 10 years or so...

 

[Johnf1285]

I feel like this is the iMac version of the iPad 3. The Intel chips were delayed, so apple is giving the best option they can until the chips they wanted can be implemented. 45% better GPU on a 400% more pixel display doesn't seem to work out for speed. My math could be off though.

BUT, Apple knows what they are doing and are masters of efficiency. So, it may perform flawlessly in real world performance.

My thoughts too. Mobile GPUs will continue to get more and more powerful at the same TDP or less to help push all those pixels on the 3D graphics side of things as opposed to 2D for images, photos, etc.

If I read the tea leaves correctly, the 2015 iMac has the potential to see some sort of redesign too (seems like redesigns happen every 3 years or so recently). Also, I am sure by next year (redesign or not) we can expect some unmentioned revisions from Apple to iron out any kinks on the new 5k iMacs.

 

[shokunin]

Many are disappointed with the choice of GPU, but the fact that the Retina imac with BTO options included the best available component by brand/subsystem available today.

The Retina iMac has highest frequency (fastest) 4-core intel i4790K desktop CPU currently available, the highest non-workstation AMD mobile GPU currently available, PCIe Flash SSDs way better than SATA 6G (which high end PC motherboards have just recently started including PCIe flash connectors), and the highest resolution LCD display.

Ok, so no 10Gb-E, or display port 1.3, or nVidia graphics, but they did put in the current best available AMD option. Next year will have faster components and guess what, so will the year after that.

 

[fastlanephil]

Well, Apple seems to have once again added a graphic tax for those of us who use a computer for audio work.

So if you want the 4GHz i7 then you have to pay for a 5K display that you'll be using in at a lower resolution so you can actually make things out from over an arms length.

Then there is the Mac Pro which Allows you to use most displays but you have to pay for expensive dual GPUs that you'll never use.

Maybe I'll wait for Windows 10.

 

[ElectronGuru]

Well I just took delivery of a refurbished current generation 27" i7 w/1TB SSD to edit my still photos. I thought about waiting for the new retina iMac, but when you stop to think about it, other than the pleasure of actually working with a retina display, it will be 10 years before 4K becomes mainstream.

To me, the 'pleasure of retina' is the point. In a sequence not unlike the new commercial, I've been wanting it since the first retina iphone. The day to day editing value is just icing on the cake - not having to zoom out between steps.

There are many phone and pad threads of people swearing off lowDPI after high became possible and they adjusted. I expect this to have the same effect on iMac threads.

 

[mojolicious]

This iMac is a premium computer, not for the everyday user. Unless you're doing coding, graphic design or film/photography editing this isn't targeted at you. This is why for many the $2,500 price tag is high. However, for a person who is in these types of fields working...that's not expensive.

Hmmm. To me it looks more like the sort of executive toy you'd see in the boss's office. I can't see it displacing Mac Pros from the desks of those who are actually producing billable work. I'd say it's aimed firmly at the 'everyday user', albeit those with healthy bank balances.

 

[lcseds]

The Retina is ~$350 more than a similarly equipped non retina (slightly slower processor). I don't see how the 5K is an expensive system vs the non retina which most consider a decent value (?). I bought my rMBP for it's delicious screen, not necessarily it's benchmarks. That being said, I will wait a week or so for some reviews. But unless something major is afoul, I'm in.

 

[Robstevo]

I would wait a few months to be honest ( it's what I'm doing) mainly because we need to see how the GPU handles the screen, and see if there are any manufacturing faults with the system. If anything I might wait till next year when new faster/ powerful internals are placed in, just to be safer in the long run.

 

[kathyricks]

Right now the largest photos I post for web viewing are 1920x1080 or 1200 pix on the large side, so what good is a 5K iMac going to really do for me? Maybe in 10 years or so...

What about video? With a 4K video camera like the $899 Panasonic LX100 and FZ1000, when you play 4K videos back on the 5K retina iMac they will have all the detail of the still photos you are used to working with. Doesn't it excite you that you can now watch video footage on the retina iMac that has all the detail of still photos?

 

[Gary Irwin]

What about video? With a 4K video camera like the $899 Panasonic LX100 and FZ1000, when you play 4K videos back on the 5K retina iMac they will have all the detail of the still photos you are used to working with. Doesn't it excite you that you can now watch video footage on the retina iMac that has all the detail of still photos?

Yes, I agree that video would benefit from a 4K display...which is why I stipulated I bought mine primarily for still photo editing, not video. I admit I'd "like" to have a retina display but sidestepping the cost issue, a retina display would actually be detrimental to my needs, which focus on formatting images for mainstream web viewing at 1:1.