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Apple Announces Lighter, Thinner iMac Models with Fusion Drive

There would be a significant benefit to Apple (and us of course) to be able to market Fusion drive as standard feature of OS X (maybe the next version.) But there might be some problems ensuring compatibility and smooth operation with different SSD's or something.

If it was built into OS X, I would probably remove the optical in my MBP and install an SSD there.

mrgreen4242 said:
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.
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Drives and data

So, the thunderbolt is new and pricey- makes me wonder if there's a new HDD system on the way, using TB as the connector + WiFi? It'd be fast and change the way systems rely on the internal guts (IE > PC's and mobo+BIOS+HDD's)
of a system.

I love the new aesthetic overall but not having optical is strange and is still used (probably forever) by most folks.

Anyone recommend a good external SuperDrive (CD/DVD/BluRay reader/burner) that would work with this?

I was also expecting i7 chips in all the new models, with the i5 in the lower end
version. IvyBridge i7 is the new standard on Z77 boards on the PC side of the equation

Todd
 
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.
Click to expand...

It needs to be thinner so the thieves can carry it away.

But seriously, how else can they try and sell the fact that the optical drive is gone.
 
Can someone explain to me why thinner is a benefit for a desktop computer?

With the removal of the optical drive can the iMac still be called an "all-in-one" computer?
 
Is there any info out there about whether the hard drive is a 2.5", or did they manage to still fit a full 3.5" drive in there? Judging by the up to 3TB capacity, I'm guessing the latter.
 
Most of what I wanted to see

Thinner in a desktop - meh
Thinner causing a loss in function (no DVD/CD burner) a negative
If the new screen works as advertised, that's a significant improvement
Wanted the increased power and efficiency of Ivy Bridge
Wanted a graphics option that runs the latest games at max resolution, and the upgrades do that
Really like the cost/benefit of the Fusion concept I bet there are some hiccups so I'll have to get applecare. In three years, they won't need fusion, but now it makes sense.

All in all, modest increase in power, better screen, way better graphics, significantly faster operation than pre SSD models at the cost of having to put up with a superdrive somewhere around the desk. Eventually I'll need the superdrive for a future portable. I'd say the new imac is a bit more than just a spec upgrade, and definitely worth waiting the six months or so I've been doing.
 
Thinner is nice but the loss of the RAM upgrade on the 21" model, slower HDD drives is a deal breaker.

I love my 2011 27" iMac, especially with the SSD drive but Apple in my mind has messed up with this release. Optical drive, meh, so it went. But slower drives? WTF? No room for a second drive? Total fail.
What happens when you want to upgrade the internal drive, maybe even the new "hybrid" they are using? Not gonna happen, Apple's drives use proprietary cables which is ridiculous.

Time to buy one of the curent models or a refurb if you ask me. Me, I'll be keeping mine for a while
 
parish said:
The RAM doesn't appear to be user-upgradable - the DIMMs are not at the bottom of the case, or so it looked in the cutaway graphic, and there is access panel in the back
Click to expand...

Everyone I know that has personally upgraded their DIMMs has had nothing but problems with their iMacs and Pros. Apple might charge more, but you get what you pay for.
 
NunoBerny said:
I don't use it much, but certainly use it more often that I think "oh, this iMac really needs to be thinner and more expensive". ;)
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More expensive? The iMacs are the same price...and I can't remember the last time I've been given any data or software on a disc.
 
Google translation

tl;dr

We wasted time and money making something no one cares about (a thinner iMac) and solving a problem in the most complicated, least efficient manner possible (gluing the screen to the glass instead of using a matte finish).
Enjoy!
 
mitso said:
Um is it just me or does anyone else think this iMac is wide in the center? It's almost the same width as the previous iMac.

On the website Apple cleverly hide this fact and emphasis only the 5mm thick edge. They did exactly the same thing in the keynote even when Phil Schiller showed it in the flesh.

I know this makes clever marketing but maybe there's a back story behind all this. Like the engineers were unable to satisfy management with the overall thickness so the compromise was to make the edge thin and the center fat. It's obvious that management didn't get 100% what they wanted.
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I was cringing watching him dance it about hoping nobody would notice it's an odd shape and quite chunky in the middle - SJ has been gone 5 mins and already stuff is coming out of the labs that isn't looking as Apple as it once used to.

M
 
vandeetz said:
just because you don't use the optical drive doesn't mean others don't. I know a number of people that use them for dvd authoring also getting digital copies of films and ripping music/movies of the disc.

I think the big deal is, why remove something in a desktop unit that doesn't need to be light and thin? consumers and professionals that have a ned for the drive are left in the cold now, especially with mac pro's being prohibitively expensive
Click to expand...
Totally agree. They ALSO took away the Firewire 800 port and the audio-in port, and moved the SD slot to a much less convenient location at the back. Sure, I don't use those things very often either, but why take them away for the people who DO use them?

It does seem like a nice thing that they shaved off some weight. I move my 27" iMac around quite a bit, and it's a little hefty at 30 pounds. 9 pounds less is definitely an improvement but since this is a DESKTOP that won't be moved around too much in the first place, I can't help but wonder if they dropped the optical drive just to make the thing thinner.

Overall, looks like a downgrade to me. Glad I have a 2011 model. ;)
 
parish said:
The RAM doesn't appear to be user-upgradable - the DIMMs are not at the bottom of the case, or so it looked in the cutaway graphic, and there is access panel in the back
Click to expand...

user upgradable for the 27" model according to the tech specs page.
 
yshepeli said:
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?
Click to expand...

You have a good point, if you need best bang for buck.

OTOH, it's nice not to have to worry about juggling SSD vs HD at all. Although in your scenario I guess you could move your Home folder to the external (never tried but assume this is possible), so it would work pretty seamlessly.
 
It sure is a very beautiful machine, but still only entry level internals. Do I try to get my hands on one of these or concentrate on turning my Windows 8 PC into a powerhouse?
 
alakazzam said:
Really not all that impressed with it. Sure it's thinner and lighter, but I really don't pick my iMac up all that often.

I was hoping for a bit more in an iMac upgrade - wonder what's on deck for the next iteration.
Click to expand...

retina
 
Lynn Belvedere said:
Are you joking? The new one is light-years better.
Click to expand...

Can you give some insight there? I don't see how the new 2.7 i5 is "light-years better" than the 2.8 i7 in the OLD model.

I see that the 640 is probably a bit better than the 6770, but HDD is 1TB on both, and the ram is entirely user replaceable on the 2011 model.
 
Well, I'm glad to have my 2011 iMac.

I'll admit, these look better. In fact they are downright beautiful, but how much power can really be crammed into that? It's got a GPU that's not vastly better (and only bound to go worse as it gets thinner), no optical slot and non-upgradeable RAM all in exchange for an irrelevant form factor since it's a desktop computer, weight doesn't matter.

So yeah, I'll keep my 2011 iMac and max out it's RAM on my own thanks.

Edit: I did just notice that the RAM is accessible but only in the 27" model. As a 21.5" user this would be worthless to me anyway. Good to know that's at least there though.
 
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