Apple Looking to Launch Lower-Cost iMac in 2014

[emjaymert]

I wanted (and got) an iMac with a disc drive.(2011 model) Why should I pay more for a computer that would (after the purchase of a disc drive) ,take up more real estate on my desk and cost more??True its got better spec, but that doesn' t make it worth the trade off for me.

 

[SlCKB0Y]

Apple will eventually have to move the low-end Macs to their own ARM chips using a version of OS X that can run on ARM architecture. It's going to be the only way for Apple to save money while maintaining high profit margins.

Except that the main cost in the iMac is not the processor and you're expecting developers to indefinitely maintain their code on two different architectures and users to have access to none of the legacy x86 apps? riiiight. OS X on ARM would be the new Windows RT...

The A7 is already as fast as 2011-era Macbook Airs (given a power/MHz bump), it should be good enough for basic Mac desktops.

You're claiming that A7 offers as much raw power as Sandy Bridge for general usage? Say hello to the pixies and unicorns for me!

 

[mozumder]

Except that the main cost in the iMac is not the processor and you're expecting developers to indefinitely maintain their code on two different architectures and users to have access to none of the legacy x86 apps? riiiight. OS X on ARM would be the new Windows RT...



You're claiming that A7 offers as much raw power as Sandy Bridge for general usage? Say hello to the pixies and unicorns for me!

You're implying that ARM architectures can't compete against x86?

 

[Jonytheblue]

I think the price will cheaper than the original iMac only 100-200$.

 

[tevion5]

I hear it will use colorful plastic instead of aluminum but only be priced $100 less while encompassing this year's technology.

That wouldn't be a first...

 

[tevion5]

You're implying that ARM architectures can't compete against x86?

On a serious desktop level? Not yet for sure.

 

[mozumder]

On a serious desktop level? Not yet for sure.

I posted this in another thread, but for you:

ARM should be able to compete easily with Intel for high-end desktop work.

They could use the core from the A7, and bump up the speed, cache, and IO bus widths. They're limited by power budgets because of mobile.

A7 is about 1/3 the speed of a top intel chip, yet it only takes 5 watts. A top intel chip is a good 50 watts.

If they raised the power budget to desktop specs, it's pretty much game over for Intel.