About the Summer 2014 iMac

[Thermonuclear]

More research:

1. The CPU is an Intel Celeron Processor 2955U (2M Cache, 1.40 GHz) documented here:

http://ark.intel.com/products/75608/Intel-Celeron-Processor-2955U-2M-Cache-1_40-GHz

The cost in quantity is US$107 which is 30% of the price of the Chromebase. Compare this to the base Mac Pro where the CPU cost is only 8% of the computer.

2. The CPU uses an FCBGA1168 socket, so it should be physically upgradeable by the user. Whether or not different CPU models will work in the Chromebase is not documented.

3. The machine comes in with either a white or black case, at least with pre-release models.

4. The audio jack on the right side of the machine can handle both input and output, both analog. It is not clear if both features can be active at the same time and if such operation is compatible with common plug-in phone headphone/microphone sets. Some early Chromebase models appeared to have separate jacks for input and output.

5. If a 16 GB 1,600 MHz DDR3 SO-DIMM module can be found, then it should work as a replacement for the stock 2 GB SO-DIMM. The CPU is limited to 16 GB of addressable RAM. Both 4 GB and 8 GB modules have be successfully used.

6. The 16 GB SSD appears to be connected via PCIe and not SATA. It looks like a user replaceable module (unclear). If it can be replaced, it's not clear how the replacement SSD can be initialized for use (loading the proper Chrome OS files).

7. It is not known how much of the SSD capacity is reserved for OS needs. Based on my experience with number of single board computers running Linux, I'll guess that at least 2 GB is needed and more likely 4 GB (which will hold a middleweight Debian Linux distribution).

8. One of the controls on the lower right front of the Chromebase is a button marked "Chrome" It switches the screen input between the internal HDMI output (from the CPU) to the external HDMI input (from the back of the machine).

9. The machine eats about 32 watts in normal use which is about two kilowatt-hours per week if left running all of the time.

 

[Thermonuclear]

[[ If a student or casual user buys an iMac while their needs could be met by a Chromebase, what do they get for the extra US$750 (+215%) they paid? A thinner machine? Lots of shiny aluminum? ]]

Does the LG come with a working copy of the Mac OS?

If not, it's all-but worthless to me...

Are you a student or a casual user? Browsing, video chat, email, word processing, and media playback is pretty much the same on Chrome, Windows, Mac O/S, and Linux. So why should a student or casual user (the primary target of the Summer 2014 iMac) care about the underlying OS?

 

[MartinAppleGuy]

I know no student who would want a Chromebook. What have you go against the iMac, feels like you have a serious hate thing going on.

----------

More research:

1. The CPU is an Intel Celeron Processor 2955U (2M Cache, 1.40 GHz) documented here:

http://ark.intel.com/products/75608/Intel-Celeron-Processor-2955U-2M-Cache-1_40-GHz

The cost in quantity is US$107 which is 30% of the price of the Chromebase. Compare this to the base Mac Pro where the CPU cost is only 8% of the computer.

2. The CPU uses an FCBGA1168 socket, so it should be physically upgradeable by the user. Whether or not different CPU models will work in the Chromebase is not documented.

3. The machine comes in with either a white or black case, at least with pre-release models.

4. The audio jack on the right side of the machine can handle both input and output, both analog. It is not clear if both features can be active at the same time and if such operation is compatible with common plug-in phone headphone/microphone sets. Some early Chromebase models appeared to have separate jacks for input and output.

5. If a 16 GB 1,600 MHz DDR3 SO-DIMM module can be found, then it should work as a replacement for the stock 2 GB SO-DIMM. The CPU is limited to 16 GB of addressable RAM. Both 4 GB and 8 GB modules have be successfully used.

6. The 16 GB SSD appears to be connected via PCIe and not SATA. It looks like a user replaceable module (unclear). If it can be replaced, it's not clear how the replacement SSD can be initialized for use (loading the proper Chrome OS files).

7. It is not known how much of the SSD capacity is reserved for OS needs. Based on my experience with number of single board computers running Linux, I'll guess that at least 2 GB is needed and more likely 4 GB (which will hold a middleweight Debian Linux distribution).

8. One of the controls on the lower right front of the Chromebase is a button marked "Chrome" It switches the screen input between the internal HDMI output (from the CPU) to the external HDMI input (from the back of the machine).

9. The machine eats about 32 watts in normal use which is about two kilowatt-hours per week if left running all of the time.

32 watts? My iMac (2.9Ghz quad core i5, overclocks to 3.6Ghz, 8GB RAM, Nvidia GeForce GT 750m) uses 37 watts idle and when doing basic task (well doing any task you can do on a Chromebook ). The cheaper iMac with the 1.4Ghz i5 CPU uses 33 watts.

 

[Thermonuclear]

I was able to visit a Chrome hardware vendor yesterday to take a look at the LG Chromebase which was listed on their web site. Alas, it was not yet in stock. Further, it may not be stocked for some time as many school districts have just gotten their new fiscal year cash and are eager to spend it, maybe getting more for their money than would be the case with purchasing conventional all-in-one desktops. I'll check again next month.

While I was at the store, there were about a half dozen Chromebooks on display and a couple of them were using the same 1.4 GHz Intel dual core model as does the LG Chromebase. Trying a number of simple tasks, I found that these notebooks did alright with respect to speed and functionality. I didn't try any gaming as it's not a gamer's machine. There's the claim that some of these notebooks can boot in five seconds, but I didn't try that either.

The 11 inch (1366x768) Samsung looked very nice, and for casual users and students is functionally comparable to the 11 inch MBA. Looks like one, too. But it costs one fourth of the MBA price.

The above model has a dual core Exynos (ARM) CPU; a revised version priced at US$400 is available and has an eight core ARM, a synthetic leather cover, 802.11ac, 1920x1080 display (13 inch), and a few more goodies which are probably not really necessary.

I didn't see any Caps Lock key on the Chromebooks, but the feature is still accessible with a two key combination. There is a special "search" key in its place. This is also true of the LG Chromebase.

 

[Serban]

Bottom line is this: chromebook is for those who can't afford a Mac. Because otherwise i don't see any reasons for not buying a mac

 

[Thermonuclear]

A little more research shows that the Chromebase isn't going to be much in stock anywhere while the institutional purchasers soak up the supply. This looks very much like the situation with the introduction of the Raspberry Pi (US$35 single board Linux computer) where schools ate nearly all the production for the better part of a year. It also means there's little likelihood of any price cuts; the best discount I could find so far was only US$20 and that on unavailable stock.

I might pick up a Chromebook in the meantime to get an extended first person Chrome OS experience. If it doesn't work out, then I know a college student who wouldn't mind getting a used one in exchange for mowing my lawn.

Since a Chromebook not as comparable to an iMac as is a Chromebase, then if I get one then I'll start a separate comparison thread in a different forum.

 

[Last iOS 5 user]

The Chromebase is just a Google machine, while the iMac can actually be a full featured desktop computer and the OS could also be overwritten with Windows. This iMac is designed to target markets that not only include entry level users but make volume purchases cheaper for schools, libraries, internet cafes (if they still exist in 2014), and more who need basic computers that still have full features. Therefore it could also help Apple increase sales in the way that Microsoft is selling Windows 7 machines to. With Windows 7 Machines selling because of XP upgrades, think of all the schools that still use the PowerPC eMac. These are just what education needs and schools upgrading from eMacs can push these! ChromeBase needs a Google account making it a poor choice for public use.

 

[yjchua95]

A little more research shows that the Chromebase isn't going to be much in stock anywhere while the institutional purchasers soak up the supply. This looks very much like the situation with the introduction of the Raspberry Pi (US$35 single board Linux computer) where schools ate nearly all the production for the better part of a year. It also means there's little likelihood of any price cuts; the best discount I could find so far was only US$20 and that on unavailable stock.

I might pick up a Chromebook in the meantime to get an extended first person Chrome OS experience. If it doesn't work out, then I know a college student who wouldn't mind getting a used one in exchange for mowing my lawn.

Since a Chromebook not as comparable to an iMac as is a Chromebase, then if I get one then I'll start a separate comparison thread in a different forum.

You can't run anything other than word processors, spreadsheet software and powerpoint makers, along with web apps on ChromeOS.

On a Mac, even a cheap 1.4GHz iMac can run Photoshop and Lightroom without any sweat. It can even run one VM without struggling at all.

 

[Thermonuclear]

Again, given the target audience of most students and casual users, what programs are needed by these users which aren't available on a Chromebase using Google's application set? This is really a simple question and I'd like to see an answer from anyone who would tell one of these students or casual users why they should pay triple money for the cheapest iMac.

Saying that the Chromebase is only for poor people is no answer.

Saying that the Chromebase lacks OS/X is no answer either, because the targeted users don't care what the underlying OS might be.

Saying that the Chromebase lacks some particular pro application is also no answer, because neither little Billy or grandma Sally has any need for an expensive video editor or high end image manipulation program.

 

[yjchua95]

Saying that the Chromebase lacks some particular pro application is also no answer, because neither little Billy or grandma Sally has any need for an expensive video editor or high end image manipulation program.

Let's face it, the Google Docs suite is pretty handicapped if you compare it to Apple iWork or Microsoft Office. The cloud isn't a solution either (for Chromebooks, especially), because internet isn't everywhere.

And Lightroom isn't a high-end image manipulation program either.

 

[joe-h2o]

Let's face it, the Google Docs suite is pretty handicapped if you compare it to Apple iWork or Microsoft Office. The cloud isn't a solution either (for Chromebooks, especially), because internet isn't everywhere.

And Lightroom isn't a high-end image manipulation program either.

Don't bother. This kid has it in his head that the new iMac is somehow a stain on the fabric of reality and is coming up with more and more contrived reasons to say so.

 

[yjchua95]

Don't bother. This kid has it in his head that the new iMac is somehow a stain on the fabric of reality and is coming up with more and more contrived reasons to say so.

Maybe he hasn't used one and so doesn't know its full capabilities.

Performance-wise, it's identical to a baseline MacBook Air with 8GB of RAM, once it's given a Fusion Drive or a 256GB SSD.

I've used the baseline Air with 8GB of RAM before and it just screams through Lightroom and even Photoshop. The HD 5000 is more than adequate on non-retina displays, and is in fact considered a GT3-level iGPU.

 

[Thermonuclear]

Let's face it, the Google Docs suite is pretty handicapped if you compare it to Apple iWork or Microsoft Office. The cloud isn't a solution either (for Chromebooks, especially), because internet isn't everywhere.

And Lightroom isn't a high-end image manipulation program either.

The point is not how super fast the Summer 2014 iMac can do some things.

The point is not that the Summer 2014 iMac can run some applications that a Chrome machine can't.

The point is not about running a machine without connectivity, because it's kind of hard to do email, media streaming, chat, and networked gaming without connectivity.

Again, given the target audience of most students and casual users, what programs are needed by these users which aren't available on a Chromebase using Google's application set? This is really a simple question and I'd like to see an answer from anyone who would tell one of these students or casual users why they should pay triple money for the cheapest iMac.

 

[joe-h2o]

The point is not how super fast the Summer 2014 iMac can do some things.

The point is not that the Summer 2014 iMac can run some applications that a Chrome machine can't.

The point is not about running a machine without connectivity, because it's kind of hard to do email, media streaming, chat, and networked gaming without connectivity.

Again, given the target audience of most students and casual users, what programs are needed by these users which aren't available on a Chromebase using Google's application set? This is really a simple question and I'd like to see an answer from anyone who would tell one of these students or casual users why they should pay triple money for the cheapest iMac.

Because they want to?

You say it's not about what the iMac can run that the Chromebox can't... then make the argument that you want to hear an argument about why people shouldn't buy the iMac.

Grade A rhymes-with-mole material.

 

[MartinAppleGuy]

The point is not how super fast the Summer 2014 iMac can do some things.

Yes it is. When someone buys a computer, they want something fast. No matter who it is buying the computer, speed is important.

The point is not that the Summer 2014 iMac can run some applications that a Chrome machine can't.

Yes it is. ALL of the students I know just couldn't use a Chromebook because of the lack of everything but a browser and a few web apps. How do you edit video, how to you edit photo's, how do you write code (HTML, Javascript, CSS, VB, Xcode, Obj. C, C...), how do you create songs, how do you store large files (and be able to access them sometime this year...)...

Even students that do not work in the creative field have to do a little video editing for a project every now and then. All the students I know (and I mean all of them) have an online digital portfolio, that just would not be possible to create and/or maintain on a Chromebook.

The point is not about running a machine without connectivity, because it's kind of hard to do email, media streaming, chat, and networked gaming without connectivity.

Really -_- Why not just buy a Commodore VIC 20 from 1981...


Did someone dressed as an iMac rob you or something? If not stop hating.

 

[yjchua95]

The point is not how super fast the Summer 2014 iMac can do some things.

The point is not that the Summer 2014 iMac can run some applications that a Chrome machine can't.

The point is not about running a machine without connectivity, because it's kind of hard to do email, media streaming, chat, and networked gaming without connectivity.

Again, given the target audience of most students and casual users, what programs are needed by these users which aren't available on a Chromebase using Google's application set? This is really a simple question and I'd like to see an answer from anyone who would tell one of these students or casual users why they should pay triple money for the cheapest iMac.

Listen. This place is called a MacRumors forum for a reason. If you want to convince people that the iMac isn't worth its value, go do your preaching elsewhere in another forum.

 

[MartinAppleGuy]

Listen. This place is called a MacRumors forum for a reason. If you want to convince people that the iMac isn't worth its value, go do your preaching elsewhere in another forum.

Agreed. Kind of ironic though that Google use iMacs...

 

[marzer]

Again, given the target audience of most students and casual users, what programs are needed by these users which aren't available on a Chromebase using Google's application set? This is really a simple question and I'd like to see an answer from anyone who would tell one of these students or casual users why they should pay triple money for the cheapest iMac.

Saying that the Chromebase is only for poor people is no answer.

Saying that the Chromebase lacks OS/X is no answer either, because the targeted users don't care what the underlying OS might be.

Saying that the Chromebase lacks some particular pro application is also no answer, because neither little Billy or grandma Sally has any need for an expensive video editor or high end image manipulation program.

What students are you talking about? Elementary? College students often have a need for robust application support. Ever heard of Matlab? Used in many math, engineering, science and finance courses. Individual courses can even require students to load unique software or even prepackage CBT's. I guess they can go to the computer lab at night to work because their crappy ChromeOS computer sitting back in their room has failed them yet again. Most students want strong features in their document and presentation software that you can't get in Google apps. Even my high schooler won't use Google apps for doing homework.

And Billy will soon wonder why his crappy ChromeOS machine won't run any of the popular games his friends talk about on the playground. And grandma will wonder why her crappy ChromeOS machine won't run the software that came with her new quilting machine she got for Christmas. And mom and dad will wonder why they can't participate in video skype calls with the rest of the family....Oh, just tell them all to load Linux! That will solve their problems--not!

 

[cynics]

The problem with Chrome OS is Google can track your entire usage, instead of just your search results. This is the reason I'd never get Googles broadband, they would just be storing all data to sell later on. If my data is worth so much, why can't I sell it myself and make some money

You can, you just need to know how to do it. I take studies all the time and get paid 100-200 dollars each time. I've been busy at my real job but there was a time I'd do it 1-2 a week. Not bad pay for 2 hours of "work" each time.

A lot of times you get free stuff too.

 

[scaredpoet]

I assure you that I am no Google fan boy, but even I can see the value in some of these:

I can see the value in them too, but for a very different, very basic market segment of users who's needs are very limited in nature. I for one would not switch anytime soon to any Chrome OS platform as my primary computer, or even secondary.

Apparently, the central idea is that Google will maintain everything on their storage while a Chrome OS machine will cache applications and user data.

I find it exquisitely ironic that someone who was complaining bitterly that Apple was taking things away is now championing a platform that takes just about everything away. With Chrome OS you MUST use the cloud... you have no choice.

An alternative is to toss Chrome OS and install Linux to do all of your own programming in C, C++, Pascal, Lisp, Fortran, or whatever.

While you could technically install linux on this system, it's not supported by Google, and requires the use of Developer Mode, which by the way, will warn you every time you boot that you're not using a correctly signed boot loader.

And you haven't answered a VERY important question: Can you use this system with Chrome OS to install a dialup modem with which to screen calls?

Anyway, to answer your original question: No, I would not recommend an LG Chromebase to any student. Most would probably find the system too limiting, unless they are doing only very basic web browsing, and very basic paper writing (and college assignments these days are about a lot more than just typing up a simple research paper). A college student in a business-related field would likely run into real problems when they can't run actual MS Office. A student in media arts would run into problems when they can't use Adobe, or Pro Tools, or similar apps.

And, despite your carefully worded comparison, there are errors of omission in your description that make for huge differences between a Chromebase and an iMac. Namely, a 1.4GHz Celeron will not perform at anywhere close to that of a 1.4GHz Haswell i5.

Would I recommend a Summer 2014 iMac? If it fits their needs, maybe. I'd much sooner recommend a MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro, or a 2013 iMac which is still the current model and being sold. I would also recommend they look into buying refurbished.

That's IF they want a mac. If they want a Windows system, there are other options of course.

 

[TechZeke]

I don't understand the obsession nowadays of comparing a $250-$300 Chrome-whatever with a Mac. Just last week a Project Engineer told me that Macs were overpriced because he could get a $250 Chromebook with the same performance as a $1000-$1500 Mac. It's no different than the constantly proven wrong and Cliché "Macs are overpriced over PCs" argument. And we aren't even talking about the utter uselessness of doing any real work on ChromeOS.

While I would NEVER buy the new base iMac(I don't think t's a good buy), you would have to be daft to compare it to a $300 Chromebase.

EDIT: I'm not saying that the Chromebase does not have a market, I just think comparing the machines itself is ludicrous.

 

[scaredpoet]

I don't understand the obsession nowadays of comparing a $250-$300 Chrome-whatever with a Mac. Just last week a Project Engineer told me that Macs were overpriced because he could get a $250 Chromebook with the same performance as a $1000-$1500 Mac.

Every time someone tells me that, I say the same thing, and I'm going to suggest this to the OP as well: If you honestly think the Chromebook and Chromebase are that superior, then I suggest you put your money where your mouth is, and buy it, and use it.

It's surprising how many people will hold up a Chromebook as the best thing ever and yet not actually buy one. And those that do often quietly stop using it after a little while.. sometimes a few days, sometimes a week or two later. I do make it a point though, to ask what happened. Because I like to know these things.

It's very similar to the old netbook craze: people were touting those things as the next superior thing when they first came out. Where are netbooks now? I know the one that my supervisor at work was pushing so hard to get ended up in my office within a week of it being purchased. I don't mind it... it makes for a nice small little linux system I can play with. Though playing is really all I do with it.

So to Thermonuclear: if you think the Chromebase is awesome, great! Buy one, use it, enjoy it. You are free to do that, just as I'm free to continue using my Macs.