Apple Releases Core 2 Duo iMac, Adds 24" Model

[Evangelion]

It's simpler than that...remember when Apple had that campaign called "Power to the People"?

That's exactly what I mean...the current iMac is the MOST POWERFUL AIO desktop (to make a difference with the MOST POWERFUL HEADLESS DESKTOP, the MacPro), the computer which enables me to do EVERYTHING in the BEST AND EASIEST POSSIBLE manner, with the BEST OS (or even Winblows for the brave) and the BEST suite of personal applications.

I think we can settle this argument right now, can't we?

No, we can't. You said (and I quote):

The nicest and most powerful desktop on the planet

Not "most powerful AIO desktop", just desktop.

Then you start to talk about doing things "best and easiest possible manner" with the "best OS". Well, those are all subjective qualities.

Your original argument ("the most powerful desktop!") has now transformed in to "the most powerful AIO desktop that runs OS X!". That's not so subtle attempt at changing your argument so you could still claim that you were right. But you were wrong. Go on, admit it. Admission of your mistakes makes you a better person in the end. Admitting that iMac is NOT the most powerful desktop on the planet does NOT mean that the iMac sucks. You can still be a fanboy and admit that there are more powerful desktops out there.

Besides, even the most die-hard Mac-fanboys need a cold shower every now and then. This seems to be one of those times .

 

[eXan]

While keeping the 17 & 20 inch form factors, Apple has released a new big brother to the iMac lineup. The new machine features a 24 inch widescreen in the familiar all-in-the-screen form factor. Under the hood all of the iMacs now feature the newly released Intel Core 2 Duo with speeds from 1.83 GHz to 2.33 GHz, making it up to 50% faster than the previous 20" iMac. The new machines are available in the following standard configurations:

17 inch 1.83GHz
$999 US
1440x900 resolution
2MB L2 Cache
512MB RAM
160GB SATA HD
24x Combo Drive
Intel GMA950 64MB
Airport Extreme

17 inch 2.0GHz
$1199
1440x900 resolution
4MB L2 Cache
1GB RAM
160GB SATA HD
8x Double Layer Superdrive
ATI Radeon x1600 128MB
Airport Extreme & Bluetooth
Apple Remote

20 inch 2.16GHz
1680x1050 resolution
4MB L2 Cache
1GB RAM
250GB SATA HD
8x Double Layer Superdrive
ATI X1600 128MB
Airport Extreme & Bluetooth
Apple Remote

24 inch 2.16GHz
1920x1200 resolution
4MB L2 Cache
1GB RAM
250GB SATA HD
8x Double Layer Superdrive
NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT 128MB
Airport Extreme & Bluetooth
Apple Remote

24 inch iMac

To be honest, I'm very impressed. They only need to make 7600 standard on in. Why? Because you can only buy standed configuration here with no upgrade options, except for RAM.

 

[TangoCharlie]

Very possibly...

The iMac and the Mini have been upgraded, does that mean that the MacBook and MBP will follow suit before 12th September, ready for whatever announcement comes then?

I think the MBP will get the "Merom" treatment very soon.... but possibly not before the September 12th event. The MacBook will stay "Yonah" for some time longer, as Apple will benefit from reduced prices for the Yonah Cure Duo CPU.
The Mini going all Core Duo was predictable.... Apple is now the only major manufacturer to use only dual-core CPU's across the range.

 

[netdog]

But what about the Video Express standard coming Tuesday? Will that still be over 11g?

 

[grouse]

my two pence worth

great just when I was about to settle for Mac Pro now this comes out.

I need macs experts give me their opinion,

For up and coming college grad who works in Graphic design.

Damm everyone I know tells me to stick with Mac Pro what sucks I already got my nice 17 wide screen lcd for my mac pro

Anyway

Post pics of those new imac being opened

I think the 24 inch iMac is the perfect 2D graphics workstation. Save the money on the separate monitor and the cost of the extra machine. If you are going to be doing 3D stuff or film work then go Pro for the disk space and the dual/quad ness.

If you're going to be running Quark and CS2 (3) then you really do not need the Pro, trust me. We've always had a pro tower model in our office and when the iMac G4 angelpoise came out we got it as a third machine for the office, partly the form factor, partly the 20 inch flat screen. Once the tower's ended their lease I found myself using the iMac G4 more and more and the only major problem with it in terms of performance has been the lack of ability to add more RAM. But it whizzes through most tasks. For putting together large images for display work in Photoshop it's fine (sure you probably don't won't a load of other applications open simultaneously).

We've almost certainly going to buy the 24 inch iMac, A4 magazine spreads side by side at true size, perfect. We're never going to have the spare cash for the 30 inch screens! And we'll max out the RAM (obviously not from Apple). You've got 500 HD, 800 Firewire (for the external drives that will be useful with the Time Machine stuff), the wireless stuff built in.

I can't state this enough, it is EXTRAORDINARILY good value. These ARE the mid/high end machines that people are clamoring to fill a supposed 'gap'. Make no mistake these are not "consumer" machines, they're for Pros. What consumers really need 24 inches?

Look at your budget carefully (if necessary sell the 17 inch display on ebay) for $2634 you get the fully specced 24 inch iMac (plus RAM to buy elsewhere) as opposed to $3837 for the versatility of the Mac Pro, an extra processor and a lesser video card, as well as 1 inch less of screen!

I thought the same when the iMac G5's were coming out. And I know plenty of graphics professionals that are using them (they've held off the intel ones 'cos of CS2) very happily. With the extra processing power which will compensate you for the CS2/Rosetta issues until next spring, you'll be fine.

Part of the reason the iMac's don't appear to be professional is in the marketing. Apple doesn't really want the graphics professionals to be buying the iMac as opposed to the Pro Towers (all marketed in serious grey and black dark heavy important) rather than the fluffier marketing of the iMacs. But don't be fooled. As I said above unless you really are doing a lot of 3D work, and high-end movie compositing, the iMac 24 will do you just fine.

Oh and you can upgrade the graphics card!

We've ordered ours.

 

[daneoni]

I think the 24 inch iMac is the perfect 2D graphics workstation. Save the money on the separate monitor and the cost of the extra machine. If you are going to be doing 3D stuff or film work then go Pro for the disk space and the dual/quad ness.

If you're going to be running Quark and CS2 (3) then you really do not need the Pro, trust me. We've always had a pro tower model in our office and when the iMac G4 angelpoise came out we got it as a third machine for the office, partly the form factor, partly the 20 inch flat screen. Once the tower's ended their lease I found myself using the iMac G4 more and more and the only major problem with it in terms of performance has been the lack of ability to add more RAM. But it whizzes through most tasks. For putting together large images for display work in Photoshop it's fine (sure you probably don't won't a load of other applications open simultaneously).

We've almost certainly going to buy the 24 inch iMac, A4 magazine spreads side by side at true size, perfect. We're never going to have the spare cash for the 30 inch screens! And we'll max out the RAM (obviously not from Apple). You've got 500 HD, 800 Firewire (for the external drives that will be useful with the Time Machine stuff), the wireless stuff built in.

I can't state this enough, it is EXTRAORDINARILY good value. These ARE the mid/high end machines that people are clamoring to fill a supposed 'gap'. Make no mistake these are not "consumer" machines, they're for Pros. What consumers really need 24 inches?

Look at your budget carefully (if necessary sell the 17 inch display on ebay) for $2634 you get the fully specced 24 inch iMac (plus RAM to buy elsewhere) as opposed to $3837 for the versatility of the Mac Pro, an extra processor and a lesser video card, as well as 1 inch less of screen!

I thought the same when the iMac G5's were coming out. And I know plenty of graphics professionals that are using them (they've held off the intel ones 'cos of CS2) very happily. With the extra processing power which will compensate you for the CS2/Rosetta issues until next spring, you'll be fine.

Part of the reason the iMac's don't appear to be professional is in the marketing. Apple doesn't really want the graphics professionals to be buying the iMac as opposed to the Pro Towers (all marketed in serious grey and black dark heavy important) rather than the fluffier marketing of the iMacs. But don't be fooled. As I said above unless you really are doing a lot of 3D work, and high-end movie compositing, the iMac 24 will do you just fine.

Oh and you can upgrade the graphics card!

We've ordered ours.

You have a point, a graphics design company near my school uses a 20" iMac (pre-isight) and i see some heavy stuff on his screen when i pass the office. All others use a dell on a 17" normal screen. Granted its a small business it still seems to work out for them.

 

[baxterbrittle]

The 20" is also upgradable to 256 ATI X1600 card for only $75 - not only the 23".

No no you miss understand. The graphics card is a completely seperate module to the logic board on the 24". On the X1600 machines (17 + 20") the GPU is on the logic board and cannot be upgraded beyond ordering with 256MB on the 20". The 24" can be upgraded after you buy it. Not sure what format it uses but it could be very interesting.

 

[aafuss1]

New features on this model (20"):
Logic board: Intel Core 2 Duo processor running at 2.16 or 2.33 GHz
AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth antennas: Two AirPort antennas, one Bluetooth antenna
Inverter Board : New service part, 661-4112. It serves as the flat panel backlight controller.
Camera Board: New service module, 661-4113, is smaller than previous camera boards.
Memory: Accepts up to a 2 GB SO-DIMM in each of the two memory slots, but the iMac
will only support 3 GB total memory
Rear cover and front bezel: New part numbers (922-7769 and 922-7875) with slight
revisions to each part
DC-DC Board: There is no DC/DC board. The functionality previously accomplished on
the DC/DC board has been integrated into the logic board

 

[nomad01]

You have a point, a graphics design company near my school uses a 20" iMac (pre-isight) and i see some heavy stuff on his screen when i pass the office. All others use a dell on a 17" normal screen. Granted its a small business it still seems to work out for them.

I work for a MAJOR newspaper publisher in the UK.

The most recent Apple hardware I've seen here is a G4 mini.

Most of our creative artists are using Blue and White G3s and the odd (OLD) G4. The Mac Ops are all using pre blue and white G3 power macs.

Any of Apple's current line up would be a boon here. A 24 inch iMac would be a f*cking Godsend!

 

[odedia]

Has anyone noticed that you can now get a 20" iMac plus a mid-range Macbook for the price of one 17" Macbook Pro?

the 17" Macbook Pro looks like a very niche market product as time goes by. They need to lower its price.

 

[Manic Mouse]

No, we can't. You said (and I quote):



Not "most powerful AIO desktop", just desktop.

Then you start to talk about doing things "best and easier possible manner" with the "best OS". Well, those are all subjective qualities.

Your original argument ("the most powerful desktop!") has now transformed in to "the most powerful AIO desktop that runs OS X!". That's not so subtle attempt at changing your argument so you could still claim that you were right. But you were wrong. Go on, admit it. Admission of your mistakes makes you a better person in the end. Admitting that iMac is NOT the most powerful desktop on the planet does NOT mean that the iMac sucks. You can still be a fanboy and admit that there are more powerful desktops out there.

Besides, even the most die-hard Mac-fanboys need a cold shower every now and then. This seems to be one of those times .

It's not going to happen. He's one of those people. The type that even when proven conclusively wrong will refuse to admit so, and try anything to make himself look right (no matter how logically flawed or deceptive).

The iMac is not the most powerful desktop on the planet, I think we can all agree on that. Semanitcs and weaseling aside, it's fairly obvious that when you talk about the "power" of a computer it is in relation to computational power.

But I think we should leave it. No need to ruin the thread entirely!

Dual HDDs (User serviceable like Pro). Three would be even nicer.
PCI slot(s) for second graphics card or tuner card
IR reciever
4 DIMMs - Come with a gig (Max 8 GB config)
FW 800 / FW 400 / 4+ USB 2.0 rear
FW 400 / USB 2.0 front
Dual network option
Optical audio in/out

What it wont have but would be awesome.

HDMI out with upscaling hardware for DVD player.
Ipod like screen on front. Peple are used to displays on their VCRs/DVD players.
Comes in black metal.

Don't forget the most important thing: Conroe!

I would be all over that. Although it would probably come in plastic, since it's not a Pro machine.

I have everything crossed for Tuesday...

 

[Erasmus]

Hooray!

Does quick comparison between 24" iMac and idea of 23" iMac Ultra.

Favor of Ultra:
Conroe therefore higher CPU speeds
Better GPU.

Favor of 24":
Bigger screen, higher res monitor slightly (extra 20 pixels )
About a grand cheaper

Amendments:
After some quick searching, Geforce 7600 GT seems to hold its own against ATi's X1800 line reasonably well. Glad to see the rumors of Apple keeping X1600's were false. Pity about the 17" & 20"ers keeping it, and no words about the bottom 17" GPU...

Still big pity about no Conroe. And no X1900 XTX... But it's all good, and better than we all really (realistically) expected.

So, Reasonably happy. Should make everyone happy. Well done Apple on making a computer we can all say is really cool!

So: we get a much better CPU (2.0 CD -> 2.16/2.33 C2D), a GPU roughly twice as good as the old one, an extra 4" or a full res upgrade, more available standard and max RAM (although the choice of 3Gb is a bit strange) and better Firewire, all for pretty much the same price as the last generation.

Hooray, Hooray, the iMac's OK!

Although only "Really Good". The GPU's still not enough to play F.E.A.R. or Oblivion or Quake 4 on highest Res. But it's close : )

 

[Manic Mouse]

Hooray!

Does quick comparison between 24" iMac and idea of 23" iMac Ultra.

Favor of Ultra:
Conroe therefore higher CPU speeds
Better GPU.

Favor of 24":
Bigger screen, higher res monitor slightly (extra 20 pixels )
About a grand cheaper

Amendments:
After some quick searching, Geforce 7600 GT seems to hold its own against ATi's X1800 line reasonably well. Glad to see the rumors of Apple keeping X1600's were false. Pity about the 17" & 20"ers keeping it, and no words about the bottom 17" GPU...

Still big pity about no Conroe. And no X1900 XTX... But it's all good, and better than we all really (realistically) expected.

So, Reasonably happy. Should make everyone happy. Well done Apple on making a computer we can all say is really cool!

So: we get a much better CPU (2.0 CD -> 2.16/2.33 C2D), a GPU roughly twice as good as the old one, an extra 4" or a full res upgrade, more available standard and max RAM (although the choice of 3Gb is a bit strange) and better Firewire, all for pretty much the same price as the last generation.

Hooray, Hooray, the iMac's OK!

Although only "Really Good". The GPU's still not enough to play F.E.A.R. or Oblivion or Quake 4 on highest Res. But it's close : )

Indeed, the new iMac is a lovely machine. Doesn't it make you a little excited that by using Merom in it they have left room for the Conroe mini-tower we've all been dreaming of?

 

[aswitcher]

Don't forget the most important thing: Conroe!

I would be all over that. Although it would probably come in plastic, since it's not a Pro machine.

I have everything crossed for Tuesday...

Of course.

I'll be up at 3am AEST for it.

 

[50548]

No, we can't. You said (and I quote):



Not "most powerful AIO desktop", just desktop.

Then you start to talk about doing things "best and easiest possible manner" with the "best OS". Well, those are all subjective qualities.

Your original argument ("the most powerful desktop!") has now transformed in to "the most powerful AIO desktop that runs OS X!". That's not so subtle attempt at changing your argument so you could still claim that you were right. But you were wrong. Go on, admit it. Admission of your mistakes makes you a better person in the end. Admitting that iMac is NOT the most powerful desktop on the planet does NOT mean that the iMac sucks. You can still be a fanboy and admit that there are more powerful desktops out there.

Besides, even the most die-hard Mac-fanboys need a cold shower every now and then. This seems to be one of those times .

Oh boy, do I love this or what? In order to make the disciples of Thurrott happy, I will, for the first time in my life, admit a mistake...

Yes, I said the iMac was the nicest (which it still is) and the most powerful desktop. No, it isn't the most powerful, as this status is held by the MacPro...the iMac is the MOST POWERFUL AIO desktop...happy now, wannabe lawyers?

 

[Manic Mouse]

Of course.

I'll be up at 3am AEST for it.

I'm totally creating a "min-tower party" thread if it happens. I couldn't think of a better reason to celebrate!

 

[Manic Mouse]

Oh boy, do I love this or what? In order to make the disciples of Thurrott happy, I will, for the first time in my life, admit a mistake...

Yes, I said the iMac was the nicest (which it still is) and the most powerful desktop. No, it isn't the most powerful, as this status is held by the MacPro...the iMac is the MOST POWERFUL AIO desktop...happy now, wannabe lawyers?

That wasn't so hard was it?

And yes indeed, the iMac is the nicest and most powerful AIO desktop.

 

[aswitcher]

I'm totally creating a "min-tower party" thread if it happens. I couldn't think of a better reason to celebrate!

Yep I'll be there. I do wonder how many cancelled iMacs would occur if a Mini Pro came out...

 

[chaosbunny]

Then there is this whole "I already have a display". Are you that tied to the display? Man, you would think the thing had your babies. Sell it, put it towards the iMac. When you want to upgrade, sell the iMac buy a new one. Done deal!

Yeah, right, I'll sell my 21" Eizo screen with 5 year warranty to get an iMac screen thats not even half the quality, stupid.

 

[klaus]

Hooray!
Favor of 24":
Bigger screen, higher res monitor slightly (extra 20 pixels )
About a grand cheaper

It's 1 inch bigger, but has the EXACT same resolution, so no extra 20 pixels here

 

[Manic Mouse]

Yep I'll be there. I do wonder how many cancelled iMacs would occur if a Mini Pro came out...

Well that would only mean that the iMac didn't entirely suit those consumers needs, and that the "Mac" does. Presumably the margins on the "Mac" would be pretty good anyway, since Conroes are so cheap along with all the other standard components so it wouldn't hurt Apple's profits.

 

[artifex]

I have gotten many, many offers withing 2 hours of posting on craiglist at $800 for my 1.8 20"

This is somewhat OT, but how do you protect yourself when selling a Mac over Craigslist? I assume most deals are done face to face? I don't want to take what might be a bad check or forged money order, nor do I want someone to show up with a wad of cash, then have someone mug me as I leave. So how is the money handled?

 

[artifex]

I ordered mine in June. I wish I had waited.

*runs off to plot money-making scheme*

Don't feel bad, you bought it when you needed it and you had 3 months of use out of it.

Now see if you can sell it for an acceptable loss, and buy a new one

 

[Allotriophagy]

I work for a MAJOR newspaper publisher in the UK.

The most recent Apple hardware I've seen here is a G4 mini.

Most of our creative artists are using Blue and White G3s and the odd (OLD) G4. The Mac Ops are all using pre blue and white G3 power macs.

Any of Apple's current line up would be a boon here. A 24 inch iMac would be a f*cking Godsend!

I work there too and I have to say I find the beige G3 very quaint! Amazing how people here are grinding their teeth over how awful and substandard various changes to the iMac/Mini are and yet our business manages just fine on a slew of 233Mhz G3s...

 

[artifex]

The pro apps preclude this. You can quote me, never shall Apple use GMA graphics in the pro level Apples. So say I.

How odd that this 24" computer is nearly exactly what a group of us were brainstorming last week. Since we are all filmmakers, we wanted a second HD in the case but wooooohooooo do I want one. . . since I can't shell out for a Pro and sleep at night.

Dang, if the Core2 Duo hits the laptops next... what shall I do?!?!?!?

Would it kill ya to buy a Ministack, or other outboard drive enclosure, for that second drive? I have the v2, and while it's got the Mini form factor, it works fine with anything that has FW and USB. You could buy a FW800 enclosure, instead, if you really wanted.