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Here's How Apple's New HomePod Speaker and iMac Pro Look in Person

Mac 128 said:
It's not a bad looking design. But I'm immediately turned off by the all-fabric enclosure. Regardless of whether you get black or white, this thing is going to be very hard to clean, and will definitely show dust, even with regular maintenance. I wonder if the enclosure can be completely removed to wash -- that would improve things considerably? I'd prefer something more like the Harman Kardon Aura, which Apple used to carry in their stores. Its amazing actually how similar those products are, from a straight-up sound perspective. The HK reminds me of an early 2000s-looking Apple design.

harman_kardon_hkauraapwhtam_wireless_stereo_speaker_system_1400160932000_1048129.jpg
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I had the speaker system, and it was wire nightmare dust bucket. It was bad that dumped the entire thing' into the trashcan.
 
iMac Pro... ok, Apple put us to wait for ever so there is a huge need. Now they came with the iMac Pro that will cost a fortune! I mean... full featured it would be about $12K + at least.

What is true is that the computer will last for 10 years easy.
 
Zwhaler said:
Despite being a pro user with relatively substantial processing and graphics needs, I must admit that the new iMac Pro meets them quite nicely (and expensively). I would prefer to have those internals in a box sans display, however. I believe that is where the modular Mac Pro comes into play.
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Yup, I think what we're seeing here is that the iMac Pro is the new take of high-end AIO, essentially the new Cube or Trash Can (except with display thrown in). For those who have been happy with either of those, you can grab this. The Mac Pro itself will be modular, but I'm expecting something closer to a mini-ATX form factor myself. Not the giant ATX-esque form factor of the 2012 Mac Pro.
 
Mac 128 said:
It's not a bad looking design. But I'm immediately turned off by the all-fabric enclosure. Regardless of whether you get black or white, this thing is going to be very hard to clean, and will definitely show dust, even with regular maintenance. I wonder if the enclosure can be completely removed to wash -- that would improve things considerably? I'd prefer something more like the Harman Kardon Aura, which Apple used to carry in their stores. Its amazing actually how similar those products are, from a straight-up sound perspective. The HK reminds me of an early 2000s-looking Apple design.

harman_kardon_hkauraapwhtam_wireless_stereo_speaker_system_1400160932000_1048129.jpg
Click to expand...
It does because the HK is actually very much an Apple design. This design is based on the Harman Kardon iSub, which was developed specifically for the Mac in cooperation with Apple. HK simply stuck with the jellyfish design with the following SoundSticks sets they made (basically their subwoofer was just the iSub), and with the new wireless speaker they only slightly tweaked it.
 
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Missed the keynote, apologies if its been covered elsewhere, but is that a wireless full size keyboard, or just product photography making it look that way?

Edit, just seen the sidebar piece on it.
 
ktecac said:
iMac Pro looks excellent and is a strong return to the Pro market. I can't help but feel that forcing me to use that display is a rip off though.
Not being totally ungrateful - lots of encouraging things today - but I really don't want to spend an extra $2000+ when I already have many monitors that suit my needs.

Lets hope the fabled modular Mac Pro and a return of the Mini are on the horizon.

I'd pay $3000+ for the iMac Pro internals - I just can't bring myself to spend the rest for the 5K display - not every professional needs it.
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It's not a "deal" but it's not as drastically overpriced as the tag would make you think either. Those Xeon processors are expensive beasties as is the ECC RAM. The biggest single cost is that motherboard with 4 Thunderbolt ports. There's no retail motherboard that can do that, even ones close are very expensive. Vega is something worth a premium if it's REALLY good.

But most importantly, PROs get USB 3 ports and SD card readers... eat your heart out kiddos.
 
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The fact that the speaker has no battery and is thus not portable, changes this from a maybe purchase to a no. This could've been a nice take outside or into the bathroom speaker, but the lack of a battery makes it a basically useless item for me. Too bad really.
 
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If the sound quality for the speaker is actually really good then it might be worth the price. Obviously if you just want some cheap voice assistant amazon or google is a better option, though I feel as if those devices are pointless with our phones, watches, and tablets being able to do the same at any given moment.
 
Mac 128 said:
It's not a bad looking design. But I'm immediately turned off by the all-fabric enclosure. Regardless of whether you get black or white, this thing is going to be very hard to clean, and will definitely show dust, even with regular maintenance. I wonder if the enclosure can be completely removed to wash -- that would improve things considerably? I'd prefer something more like the Harman Kardon Aura, which Apple used to carry in their stores. Its amazing actually how similar those products are, from a straight-up sound perspective. The HK reminds me of an early 2000s-looking Apple design.

harman_kardon_hkauraapwhtam_wireless_stereo_speaker_system_1400160932000_1048129.jpg
Click to expand...
Looks like this. https://www.moma.org/collection/works/82127
 
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Carlanga said:
$350 and HomeKit at its infancy vs the other services, looks like it will be a dust magnet with that mesh and looks older vs the competitions I don't think it's going to be a hit at that high a price point just because it sounds better , but we shall see.
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Don't forget the tap that is movable w battery at $99 and the dot for $50
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First thing I though, pain to keep clean.
 
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If fabric, aka The Dust Magnet.

You should go to a Goodwill (or Value Village/Savers) & so how horribly iHome (the seperate company that makes alarm clock iPhone/iPod docks) devices, even made in 2011! Dust, fade, stains.
 
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Regarding the HomePod, I've seen people complaining it doesn't have a screen, but if you ask me the reason for this is obvious, you already have a screen in your pocket! For Amazon the Fire Phone was a total bust so Amazon needed some way to provide a UI to you, for Apple that's already taken care of in your hand, on your desk and on your wrist, it doesn't need to be on your speaker as well!
 
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The only thing I like about the new iMac Pro is the full sized with numeric pad wireless keyboard. I hope is it bluetooth and compatible with my mid 2011 iMac :)
 
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