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Apple Announces Lighter, Thinner iMac Models with Fusion Drive

Pricing on Fusion Drive

While I can't see BTO options on iMac page, I looked at Mac Mini. Fusion drive is $250 over stock hard drive, and is only available with the higher end model. 256GB SSD is $300 over stock model. So, wouldn't it make sense to take 256GB SSD and couple it with USB3 external drive for music & videos, which is what I presume most people with large HDD needs have?

Just like many posters here, I have had Momentus XT drive in my MBP forever. It's great most of the time, but using large files is a pain. Running windows in parrallels/fusion is like pulling teeth.

With that said, it's not really fair to compare what apple is doing with Momentus. Momentus only has 8GB or 16GB of SSD on it, not 128GB that apple is proposing. I presume with 128GB you will be using SSD over 99% of the time.
 
tingly said:
Media is hopping on the 5mm edge thickness. I don't know what thickness has to do with making vertical desktop buying decisions when the stand is what matters and edge thickness has nothing to do with anything. They could have glued a sheet of paper round the edge and got edge thickness down to .01mm. The middle of the case is much thicker than 5mm judging from photos
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+1. I feel the same with flat panel TV thinness. Most people have a cablebox, DVD/BD player, and other boxes that are close to 12" in depth directly below the TV. Why does it matter how thin the TV is unless it is wall mounted and all your AV equipment is away in a closet.
 
QCassidy352 said:
It's a marvel you were ever waiting for this, as you're very clearly not apple's intended market (and never have been). Did you seriously think that an iMac would be your best choice if all you care about is performance and price? When has an iMac EVER been the right choice given only those two considerations? You either really don't know apple or are trolling.
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This was actually my first hack, I've had a long chain of powerbook/mbp's and minis and imacs.

But you're right having seen how easy it is, I'll never buy another apple desktop (currently picking parts for a mini-hack), and at this point I'm thinking I'll buy a Haswell MBP next year, but if they get rid of the upgradable notebooks completely, I'll just never buy another mac, though I will continue with macOS quite happily.
 
Thunderbird said:
Epic fail.

It's not a new design, it's just thinner. There's no optical drive, which kills it for me. When I use Windows on Bootcamp it means having to have an external optical drive on my desk to load certain programs or play DVD or BD movies in my collection, thus defeating the purpose of having an all-in-one machine. Another external device to add to my modem, external HDD, speakers, etc.

No optical drive

No new stand design

No retina display

No upgradability

No touch screen

No exterior design change (e.g. same chin)

No difference in available sizes

This is essentially little more than a spec bump with a thinner screen. I don't need a thinner screen. The only possible appealing feature is the 75% less reflective AG coating.

FAIL.
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The only thing fail is that you want it to be something that it isn't, if you want touch screen get something that has a touch screen. There is no way any computer company can design something EVERYONE will like.

I'm sure your pissed that there is no built in toaster and it doesn't come with an iMaid to clean up after you.
 
Seems like the 27" iMac is looking like a lot better option than the 21" now.

7200rpm hdd with a lot more BTO options

High end mobile gpu

Upgradable RAM (I can't believe they made the 21" none upgradable!)
 
With my 2008 MacPro and my 30" matte display I was always wondering what would happen if it died and what I would do. Now with this anti-reflective coating I am no longer worried. That was my only drawback.
 
rshillshooter81 said:
The only thing fail is that you want it to be something that it isn't, if you want touch screen get something that has a touch screen. There is no way any computer company can design something EVERYONE will like.

I'm sure your pissed that there is no built in toaster and it doesn't come with an iMaid to clean up after you.
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Nope, just disappointed that of all the design changes Apple could have made (in addition to the spec bump), they decided to only make it thinner. I wasn't looking for or needing everything on that list.

I'd still like to see one up close in the store before ultimately deciding, but this 2012 iMac release seems to be a real let down.

I may end up going with this instead:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRpK5IarFBw
 
krzyglue said:
Wait that's what I said?

Let me try to elucidate further: so how does the stock GPU rank?
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No idea - if someone buys the lowest model of iMac, of course it won't have the same performance as the top one. My point is about the possibility of having a GREAT GPU on the iMac with the 680M - which is the absolute best you can get on any AIO computer without plugging it to a furnace GPU.
 
Eidorian said:
You will probably need an Apple branded SSD and an iMac hardware number. If you want to try to fake it using the iMac's build of OS X.
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Well, that's what I'm saying. Someone will probably release an application that tricks the computer into thinking it has a Fusion drive installed - like TRIM support in SSDs and some of the old tricks like that.

I'm using the ATI 5xxx drivers from a particular year of iMacs to drive the GPU in my Mac Pro, for example. It's all there, just had to make the OS see it as a compatible part.
 
StephenCampbell said:
Something is very wrong here, psychologically.

"Apple Announces Lighter, Thinner..." does not make sense being followed by a product title that isn't designed to be carried around or used on your lap.

This is very weird. It's not just weird. It's a little mystifying. I'm having trouble wrapping my head around what Apple is thinking.
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Agree. They've rolled it what they learnt with the Macbook into the new iMac. It's nice but something feels very strange about the way they've marketed this piece of kit.
 
BRLawyer said:
Stop spouting nonsense - the highest GPU option for the iMac is the 12th fastest GPU in the world right now, and the first among mobile GPUs.

See here: http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu_list.php

Short of a FURNACE, this is as good as it can be with a 680M.
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You lost me at Passmark. I have no idea how they even float to the top. Compare the GTX 675/680MX to the desktop GTX 660 and that the GTX 680M is still based on GK104 but with 1344 shaders. Clock speeds crippled all around.

inscrewtable said:
How long do you think it will be before mobile GPU's get to the level of say a current 6970
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We are already there with the flagship mobile GPUs. The problem is the price and form factor.
 
So woke up early (4:30am) and just checking out the new iMac specs.

RIP DVD and FireWire, looks like I'll be getting a USB3 backup HDD to replace my current FW one.

Shame it's no out until Dec for the 27" but it will now give me time to get read, morn the passing of FireWire and move on LOL

Forgot to add (but I'll be back many times) the SD slot now in the back, total waste IMO. You'd be better off plugging in a USB hub with extra ports and card readers for easy access. Guess they didn't want to mess up the lines by having ports in the side.
 
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sigamy said:
+1. I feel the same with flat panel TV thinness. Most people have a cablebox, DVD/BD player, and other boxes that are close to 12" in depth directly below the TV. Why does it matter how thin the TV is unless it is wall mounted and all your AV equipment is away in a closet.
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Not to mention the insistence on being thin for no reason other than aesthetics has forced all display makers to move to edge lit displays, which are a massive step down from backlit devices in uniformity and dispersion.

It's like tech manufacturers have turned into Hollywood producers.
 
pMad said:
Every time I rip a DVD.
Which, with two kids, is pretty freaking often.
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And there in lies the problem.

Apple doesn't want us inserting DVD's or CD's into the the thing (to watch. rip or what every) 'cause each time you do it is one less iTunes sale.

Likewise they want you to buy apps from the app store. Not install them of pesky optical medial.

I don't really think this is like when they dropped the floppy drive.

I think this is about apple wanting to keep making that 30% from their on-line stores.
 
2bcool2 said:
its gonna be

£1099 for 21 inch entry , with 5400 hard drive, and you can pay apple lots more for the fusion drive .. im guessing about £350 more on top if i know apple prices.

the 27 inch is £1499 for the 1 gb hard drive, guessing another £350 on top for the fusion 1gb ... entry level ...

i like the new think look, but apple do need to let people put their own ram in ....

prices have def gone up here at apple uk!!!

why the mac mini not retina ? .. guess thats the bang for the mini 2 ! hahah

what do other people in uk think about the new prices here in uk ?
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I think I'll wait for next years Mac Pro. If the Mini had dedicated graphics I'd go for that. The iMac just doesn't represent value for £ to me.
 
The current gen iMac doesn't allow easy HDD replacement correct? I'd have to go two generations back?
 
BRLawyer said:
No idea - if someone buys the lowest model of iMac, of course it won't have the same performance as the top one. My point is about the possibility of having a GREAT GPU on the iMac with the 680M - which is the absolute best you can get on any AIO computer without plugging it to a furnace GPU.
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No you're right, the iMac is a great AIO. The best, period. I'm pretty sure this new iMac will be my mom's replacement desktop.

It's just that as a pretty keen gamer, I strongly disagreed with your statement that it makes for a great gaming machine in any sense of the phrase. The state of games today is simply such that it often does require a top 5 GPU for the best experience. Any Battlefield 3 player will attest to this.
 
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