Brushed Aluminum iMac at WWDC?

[LoganT]

Apple is not going to release a mid-tower. Period.

And Apple isn't going to switch to Intel chips.

Number one, it would probably cut in to Mac Pro sales (seriously).

Who cares? Honestly, who cares? This is the dumbest argument against the mid-range Mac. The iMac is cutting into sales of the Mac Pro, the Mac Mini is cutting into sales of the iMac. Every Apple product is cutting into sales of another Apple product. People who buy the Mac Pro's need the Mac Pro. Just because a mid-ranged mac comes out doesn't mean they are going to buy it over the Mac Pro.

Number two most people who buy computers don't WANT to open their computers and mess with them. Sure, a lot of people on here want a mid-tower, but that is a huge minority compared to the total market. I think people on message boards sometimes forget that they only make up a few thousand people. There are lots of reasons why a "mid-tower" does not make sense.

Right, because you know people are going to be forced to open their computers. Are we seriously not considering it because some average users might not want to open their computers, even though they don't have to if they don't want to?

The argument is always "it would be convenient so I could add stuff to it". You guys are not understanding the whole point of Macs..."built-in, not bolted on" or "it just works".

It doesn't "just work" when you have take up USB 2.0 ports to expand your computer, with clutter on your desk.

The Mac Pro is the machine they make for people who want to interchange and add stuff to. I am sorry that it is out of most people's price range, but it goes against Apple's philosophy to make a cheaper machine that is geared towards minor upgrades.

I can afford a Mac Pro at this moment. But why the hell would I buy a Mac Pro when I won't use most of its power? Just to be able to upgrade it?

It would seriously tarnish the reputation of Macs if people had a mid tower that they were putting random stuff they bought at Wal-Mart in it and wondering why it doesn't work.

No it wouldn't. Average consumers are going to buy the Mac Mini or the iMac. Professionals are going to buy the Mac Pro. So basically we don't get this Mac because some consumers are stupid?

People forking over the money for a Mac Pro are probably more educated about the product than someone buying a Mac Mini (the price point helps to assure that)

No people are forking over money for the Mac Pro becasue they need that kind of power. If the Mac Mini was all they needed, they would buy that.

I know a lot of you want it so you can upgrade graphics cards, but Apple isn't going to be writing the drivers for those anyway, so what does it matter?

It's quite simple. The same cards that work in the Mac Pro work in this "Mac".

 

[BayAreaMacFan]

There's been more than enough articles about an amazing new design to the point where if there's smoke there's a fire. I don't know/really care if it comes out at WWDC, but how far has wireless power technology come (i.e. the patent released earlier in the year about wireless charging) to the point where it could be "plugged in" in the office without a plug?

 

[MrSmith]

Oh dear, my iMac is going to be "sooo 2005"...

Personally I love it just the way it is. The clear-covered white, the chin...all of it.

 

[LoganT]

Oh dear, my iMac is going to be "sooo 2005"...

Personally I love it just the way it is. The clear-covered white, the chin...all of it.

You're probably not going to be saying that when it comes out.

 

[300ZX]

You can reuse a monitor, keyboard, and mouse right now if you want on the Mac Mini.

HYPOTHETICAL - I'm an average consumer, aka 290 million of the 300 or so million in the USA. I want to buy a new Mac, but I already have a Dell with a 20 inch monitor and a keyboard and mouse.

I can spend 1,000 on a mid-tower Mac and reuse my current Dell stuff, or I can spend $899 on an iMac with everything already built-in and included that looks MUCH nicer and takes up very little space. Or if I need more power, I can spend 1,300 and get a more powerful, larger iMac. I can even use dual displays with this iMac if I was so inclined. Wow, I can even use my old Dell mouse and keyboard with the iMac too!

Apple DOES NOT CARE if you have a 20 inch monitor already, because it is probably another manufacturer's. They gave consumers the mini so they could migrate to a Mac without having to buy all new displays, etc. and now the rumors suggest they are getting rid of it. I wonder why? I know it is underpowered, but I seriously doubt that is the sole reason for its poor sales. It makes much more sense to just get an iMac (back to school promotions for one) along with the fact that everything works right out of the box...no need to worry about VGA to DVI converters, etc.

Why should they make a mid-tower Mac when you won't be buying their monitors, keyboards, or mice for it? They already tried that with the Mini, and it sold poorly.

Basically, you are asking for Apple to make a "prosumer" machine. Prosumers are a vast minority, and it would not make sense to develop a product aimed at them.

I'm not saying you guys are wrong for wanting one, I'm just being realistic here. It isn't happening.

 

[Dimwhit]

My thoughts on this is that we won't see a mini tower. But I also don't think the Mac Mini is going to die, unless Apple already has a replacement for it. If they kill the Minis, and kill the 17" iMac, they're going to need something on the low end. If it's the 'mini tower' everyone wants, I don't think those people will like it much. Probably won't be as expandable as we'd like.

I'm thinking the Mac Mini will be redesigned to be a little bigger, bring the specs/power closer to the iMac, and come in closer to $1000. I am, of course, completely pulling that out of my ass. But it would make some sense to me.

 

[iMichael72]

I haven't read all the replies to this topic, but to me 17" is perfect.
I mean, yes, a 20" would be sweet, but I don't need it that big.

But I guess, if Apple does get rid of the 17", there must be a reason for it.

They must not be selling.

I'll have to hold off on buying whatever iMac comes out.

Especially if I succeed in being able to get an iPhone on June 29th!!

 

[LoganT]

My thoughts on this is that we won't see a mini tower. But I also don't think the Mac Mini is going to die, unless Apple already has a replacement for it. If they kill the Minis, and kill the 17" iMac, they're going to need something on the low end. If it's the 'mini tower' everyone wants, I don't think those people will like it much. Probably won't be as expandable as we'd like.

I'm thinking the Mac Mini will be redesigned to be a little bigger, bring the specs/power closer to the iMac, and come in closer to $1000. I am, of course, completely pulling that out of my ass. But it would make some sense to me.

I'd like that a lot actually. The power of the new Macbook Pro's without a screen, in a mini case.

 

[martianrobot]

ThinkSecret got it all wrong

It's just obvious really...

Brushed aluminium = Pro, and is older styling than white chinny gorgeousness. So is a no no.

iMac will have a well received incremental update like the MacBook & MBP (faster processors, larger drives, 8600GT graphics)

There'll be a new iMac design based on iPhone/iPod and a hardware boost out at the same time as Leopard, around October.

It's all here, in my first MacRumors post:

https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=3718747#post3718747

 

[300ZX]

My thoughts on this is that we won't see a mini tower. But I also don't think the Mac Mini is going to die, unless Apple already has a replacement for it. If they kill the Minis, and kill the 17" iMac, they're going to need something on the low end. If it's the 'mini tower' everyone wants, I don't think those people will like it much. Probably won't be as expandable as we'd like.

I'm thinking the Mac Mini will be redesigned to be a little bigger, bring the specs/power closer to the iMac, and come in closer to $1000. I am, of course, completely pulling that out of my ass. But it would make some sense to me.

Makes more sense than a "mid-tower", but the point of the mini is an entry-level Mac. The mid-tower people on here want is more of a pro-sumer computer.

 

[A is jump]

ATTENTION: APPLE DOES NOT USE BRUSHED METAL FOR ANYTHING. IT'S SIMPLY ALUMINUM. BRUSHED METAL IS THE GUI OF APPS LIKE SAFARI. LEOPARD RIDS THE WHOLE SYSTEM OF BRUSHED METAL.


APPLE DOESN'T MAKE A SINGLE PIECE OF HARDWARE USING BRUSHED METAL. IT'S MORE OF A "POWDER-COAT ALUMINUM" IF ANYTHING

... Chill buddy.

 

[smitty078]

What about iMac and iMac Mini (as in mini-tower). Make it have the same specs as the the iMac, sans monitor and move the video to a card.

Consider having only one slot in the machine - the one the video card is in.
This allows people to upgrade their video card at will - which lets face it, this is what the vast majority of people want to upgrade.

There would still be the many people that would complain and want room. For these people I would be that some company will come up with a break out box that houses more cards (I know they have had these for many flavors of PCI over the years).

The might also consider positioning this system as a cheap gaming machine, and possibly offering BTO options for better video cards.

The tower would only need to be large enough to house iMac guts (rearranged for the right fit of course), room for a video card, and enough open space to provide adequet cooling to support advanced video cards.

I'm starting to see a patten in the way that Apple is positioning it's products.
We are starting to see a more consistent approach to consumer and pro user products.

We Have the ipod Nano and the iPod

The MacBook and the MacBook Pro

Could we see the deth of the 17" iMac and possibly the deth of the Mac Mini, to be replace with the iMac and iMac Pro or iMac Nano/Mini and the iMac?

There have been many rumours of a black iMac, maybe if apple are planning to launch a lower consumer targeted iMac range the colour scheme could follow the MacBook, and the high end iMac following the MacBook Pro.

Ah, all maybe every thing's gonna be made from wood

 

[hyperpasta]

Again, don't get your hopes up. ThinkSecret doesn't have a great reliability record recently. Just a little while ago they predicted that HD displays would NOT be available on the new MBP's. Lo and behold, they are!

A new iMac is clearly coming. But AppleInsider has said we won't see it at WWDC, and they're much more reliable than ThinkSecret. I predict a TON of whining after WWDC when everyone is inevitably dissapointed.

 

[sananda]

" Apple may also take advantage of the timing to replace its 23-inch Cinema Display with a 24-inch model that uses the same panel as the iMac"

doesn't the 24" imac use a tn panel? is it likely that they would replace the 23" s-ips panel cinema display with a 24" tn panel?

 

[A is jump]

I wonder if they are splitting the imac into a couple different lines... one more expensive... more pro system, and then one cheaper system that will be cheaper than the current imacs, and take up the hole left by the mac mini.

that would be interesting to see... they are already kinda doing that with the black macbook.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

Metal iMacs would be sweet however like the iPhone I will say I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[queshy]

nice mockups! if apple reveals a new iMac that resembles those I wouldn't be surprised. I'll be honest - the iMac design they have now is great, but those are cooler! I'm not sure if I like the brushed one better than the all white model. The all white model lsort of looks like a monitor though

 

[jaysmith]

i haven't been reading too much of theis thread but isn't the more obvious outcome an iMac-Pro line? just like the laptops, with the crappy white/black as consumer, and aluminum for pro? the pro line would be a big performance increase, slimmer form factor, and s-ips panels (20", 23", and possibly 30?")

i don't see this happening really soon but it seems to be possible for this year.

 

[jaysmith]

I wonder if they are splitting the imac into a couple different lines... one more expensive... more pro system, and then one cheaper system that will be cheaper than the current imacs, and take up the hole left by the mac mini.

that would be interesting to see... they are already kinda doing that with the black macbook.

yeah this is what i mean

 

[hiimamac]

yeah this is what i mean

What I would like is a jump in better GPU (7300 is not that good) and a 2nd HD!

If they did this it would be more pro in my OPINION!

Think about it, everyone that uses a mac, even MBP, they really need two HD's if they are using anything from Photoshop (heavy user) to Logic, Protools, anything that uses samples, and video work.

 

[jbstingray]

" Apple may also take advantage of the timing to replace its 23-inch Cinema Display with a 24-inch model that uses the same panel as the iMac"

doesn't the 24" imac use a tn panel? is it likely that they would replace the 23" s-ips panel cinema display with a 24" tn panel?

This makes a lot of sense to me, seeing as TS things that Apple will want to just consolidate their LCD shipments down to 20", 24", and 30" models (considering that they discontinue the 17" display).

I am hoping for this because I have waited over a year for an ACD update and there has been nothing. Hopefully TS is right about the displays!

-jb

 

[vipperofvip]

The Imac Tin Chin

ALL I CAN SAY IS, GLARE GLARE GLARE. WITH THE WHITE CHIN I CAN SEE MY SELF TYPING, IT IS QUITE REFLECTIVE AND WITH AN aluminum CHIN THIS WOULD BE A PROBLEM

 

[pbnjgod]

maybe I am out of the loop, but I think Apple is right in their approach to computers, especially their consumer ones. Apple isn't out to lure the "build their own tower" people into buying a mac by adding a slew of possible upgrades. Instead they are trying to get those people that have relied on these "tower builders" knowledge (either friends or electronic salesmen) who have never been all that interested in that aspect. I understand that there is a sizable computing population that loves building there own machines and constantly upgrading different parts but apple has never, at least in this latest renaissance, been interesting in doing that. It is because of this that i really doubt any type of tower that isn't the mac pro will ever be released.

Apple makes nice computers for people that don't want to have to research motherboards, video cards, heat sinks, case mods, ect. That coupled with an intuitive and nice OS is perfect for these people. Apple is making money doing it to, so why would they want to make something that goes against all their previous decisions. Expandability is the Mac Pro's turf. (and even that is restricted)

 

[sananda]

This makes a lot of sense to me, seeing as TS things that Apple will want to just consolidate their LCD shipments down to 20", 24", and 30" models (considering that they discontinue the 17" display).

I am hoping for this because I have waited over a year for an ACD update and there has been nothing. Hopefully TS is right about the displays!

-jb

but the tn panel is lower quality than the s-ips panel.

 

[jbstingray]

but the tn panel is lower quality than the s-ips panel.

Unfortunately, LG (I believe LG is Apple's supplier) is pushing 24" panels at this point. I also think that TN panels have gotten a lot better in terms of response times and viewing angles in the last few years - it is up to Apple's standards for the iMac, I don't see why they wouldn't be OK for the Apple Cinema HD's.

-jb