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iMac progress since Steve Jobs died: opinions?
- Thread starter Macmamamac
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I prefer to have one built-in.
My current iMac does; it's called an All-in-One for a reason.
The iMacs for sale today would be improved by having an optical drive built-in.
That's the same line of thinking that kept serial ports, VGA ports, PS/2 mouse ports, and floppy disk drives in PCs way past the end of their useful lives. Optical discs had their day, and now we've moved on. It's called an all-in-one, not an everything-in-one.
Wow factor... It's really subjective to what you're used to. We went from a 2000 Windows XP machine with lots of wires to a 2007 iMac 20" with the single body and single wire. Most people looked at it and didn't get where the computer case was hidden and even to this day (iMac still going strong in the living room) the non-Apple users compliment it's design.
If we upgraded to the new model (especially the 27") we would all be wowed again, I'm sure. It's so thin! And fast, large etcetera. But no, not that different.
What we've seen with the Mac was the 128k design which lasted very long (some 10 years), then the next big thing in the new era was the iMac G3 (lasted 4 years) which was a revolution, the iMac G4 which I have purely for decoration because it's so beautifully weird (lasted only 2 years) and then the iMac G5 which essentially set the design for today's iMac.
Maybe the iMac reached its perfect form factor? It was under Jobs after all... I can only imagine that whatever they have on the shelf for future iMacs is going to be controversial like the first MacBook Air or MacBook 12" (meaning: initially wishing they'd stuck to the old design - 'cause old is better).
If we upgraded to the new model (especially the 27") we would all be wowed again, I'm sure. It's so thin! And fast, large etcetera. But no, not that different.
What we've seen with the Mac was the 128k design which lasted very long (some 10 years), then the next big thing in the new era was the iMac G3 (lasted 4 years) which was a revolution, the iMac G4 which I have purely for decoration because it's so beautifully weird (lasted only 2 years) and then the iMac G5 which essentially set the design for today's iMac.
Maybe the iMac reached its perfect form factor? It was under Jobs after all... I can only imagine that whatever they have on the shelf for future iMacs is going to be controversial like the first MacBook Air or MacBook 12" (meaning: initially wishing they'd stuck to the old design - 'cause old is better).
Ridiculous.
Most people own dozens, if not hundreds or thousands, of DVDs. Those aren't going to magically disappear. Therefore, it would be much more convenient to have an optical drive built-in. The only reason Apple doesn't is because it wants to encourage you to buy from iTunes instead. That's also why Siri won't search your non-iTunes content in the new Apple TV.
With Tim Cook as CEO, Apple have returned to the 90s mentality.
Ridiculous. DVD's do magically disappear because that has been the trend of the last few years. People used to also own hundreds of VHS tapes, but that didn't stop the DVD to completely take over. People switch from physical media to digital streaming and that is a valid excuse to eliminate the SuperDrive from Macs.
We have a few dozen DVD and CDs at home, but they're old and forgotten. The music was all ripped when we started using iPods in 2006 and DVD's are not the easiest nor the best option to get movies on the big screen anymore. I only have an external SuperDrive laying around to install SolidWorks every year (my school likes the CDs over downloads apparently).
Apple isn't the only to ditch those drives nowadays BTW.
The 2012 re-design including thinness for sake of appearance was stupid. Losing the optical drive was stupid. Moving the SD card slot to the back of the machine where the other ports are poorly placed was stupid. Losing the capability for wired and optical audio input was stupid. Losing the capability of removing the screen without destroying a seal was stupid. Having speakers which sound like a pair of kazoos was stupid. And having non-accessible or soldered RAM is very, very stupid.
Most recently, using 5400 RPM drives and cutting the flash size by 80+% on a fusion drive was stupid.
All of the above reduce either capability or flexibility, most just for the sake of an unneeded thinness.
Most recently, using 5400 RPM drives and cutting the flash size by 80+% on a fusion drive was stupid.
All of the above reduce either capability or flexibility, most just for the sake of an unneeded thinness.
Don't hold back, tell us how you really feel
I can't comment on the speakers because I don't own an iMac but generally speaking the points you raise are the issues I have with Apple as well.
With that said, I may be down on the direction of Apple, and the choices they made. I think the 5K machine still a nice computer and at least for me, should satisfy my needs.
For me Apple have become too much style over substance. Lighter and thinner doesn't always help me get my job done - the cMBP was a more useable machine than the rMBP, and while I like the nMP the older design was more flexible as a working tool. Anyone think the new keyboard and magic trackpad are 'better' than the old one? Twice the price for what exactly? A non-removable battery and a device that can't be used while it's charging. Thanks Apple!
Apple needs to decide whether it is in the 'pro' market at all. If not, fine keep making them lighter and thinner and aiming them at the consumer, good luck when these fickle consumers change their mind on what is cool though. If they do however want to be in the pro market, then make the product set more flexible.
Next year I will be replacing my rMBP and it will be interesting to see what Apple come up with now Skylake and Mobile Xeon have been announced. I know 'Mobile Xeon' is really a core i7, but it enables some laptops to have 64GB RAM, which for me is important - I prototype a lot in VMware and 16GB just doesn't cut it. I have a second laptop with 32GB and that is just about useable, 64GB would be great. Dell and Lenovo have already announced products that will support this and they look very good. Let's see how serious Apple are, and whether there is any update to the nMP too. If the next rMBP is just lighter and thinner (and a little bit faster), then I'm out.
Apple needs to decide whether it is in the 'pro' market at all. If not, fine keep making them lighter and thinner and aiming them at the consumer, good luck when these fickle consumers change their mind on what is cool though. If they do however want to be in the pro market, then make the product set more flexible.
Next year I will be replacing my rMBP and it will be interesting to see what Apple come up with now Skylake and Mobile Xeon have been announced. I know 'Mobile Xeon' is really a core i7, but it enables some laptops to have 64GB RAM, which for me is important - I prototype a lot in VMware and 16GB just doesn't cut it. I have a second laptop with 32GB and that is just about useable, 64GB would be great. Dell and Lenovo have already announced products that will support this and they look very good. Let's see how serious Apple are, and whether there is any update to the nMP too. If the next rMBP is just lighter and thinner (and a little bit faster), then I'm out.
I feel like that new iMac 4k is crippled straight out of the box. With 4k and anemic graphics to drive it, i dont think its anywhere near powerful. Apple's sacrificing so much for form factor over performance lately. And their drive for upselling just sucks. It was made to make you upgrade to the base 5k.
And not to mention, 5400 rpm hard drive, weak 1tb fusion drive upgrade, soldered RAM and weak igpu solutions. I know its for casual users, but this seems like a joke, and counter innovative.
And not to mention, 5400 rpm hard drive, weak 1tb fusion drive upgrade, soldered RAM and weak igpu solutions. I know its for casual users, but this seems like a joke, and counter innovative.
With the smaller new iMac, they soldered in the memory and used 5400 rpm drives. My response was "Wow!".
^^^^Substitute 'iPhone' for 'iMac' and you have the exact same threads going on in the iPhone forum here. I'm not being sarcastic.
I am actually floored you think it wasn't a big deal that Apple figured out of to get a 5k screen in the new iMac with 218 pixel density. The monitor might be the most important thing when it comes to a computer experience and some people think it's not a huge deal.
My thought exactly when reading the OP's post. Seeing a 27" Retina display in a desktop form factor was certainly a "wow" moment for me.
Meanwhile, iPhones are on 1080p/LCD. Nothing new or innovative there. Well, ok, at least there's 3D Touch.
I think you are wrong. I've happily given away or thrown all my DVDs and cd programs in the trash years ago. And I dont know any friends using the DVD to watch movies or burning/using the DVD drive in the PC anymore (I dont think I ever used the DVD drive in my office PC). Even my parents hardly use discs anymore. So, personally Im happy Apple is moving on and dont waste space inside the iMac for something thats all ready a dead media. THose few of you left should accept using an external drive. And to be honest, I agree with Benjamin Frost, keeping the DVD drive would be the same as keeping FW 800 plug or an DVI port.
I disagree. I used probably 3 or 4 DVDs since I got an iMac in 2013. If removing an optical drive means a better design and place for better stuff, I'm for it (even though the design was not great still). An external drive that sits in my drawer for when I need it, that's fine.
I need to get an external Blu-ray reader to assist in archiving disks to HDD for easy access and playback. Otherwise, I too wouldn't need an optical drive.
Well, are we going backwards to the right side again? I hope not...
(source: blog on http://meandmymac.net/2008/07/scams-lies-and-complete-chaos/)
Actually, if you see the beauty to the left, isn't your first thought how to make it even thinner?
I hope you understand that if you're sacrificing thinness for an external drive that sits in your drawer that you can easily plug in and use without much space taken, there's no problem, right?Well, are we going backwards to the right side again? I hope not...
![imac_5_20071026.jpg]()
(source: blog on http://meandmymac.net/2008/07/scams-lies-and-complete-chaos/)
Actually, if you see the beauty to the left, isn't your first thought how to make it even thinner?
(sorry for bad photoshop, I was lazy)
I hope you understand that if you're sacrificing thinness for an external drive that sits in your drawer that you can easily plug in and use without much space taken, there's no problem, right?
![E3tzBQs.png]()
Yep - Don't forget to add a thunderbolt drive or 2 also (1 for more storage, 1 for time machine) and a USB hub and a wire going to better speakers....etc
Well, are we going backwards to the right side again? I hope not...
![imac_5_20071026.jpg]()
(source: blog on http://meandmymac.net/2008/07/scams-lies-and-complete-chaos/)
Actually, if you see the beauty to the left, isn't your first thought how to make it even thinner?
That thicker iMac photo also shows how much nicer that thickness is because the ports could be on the side/top/bottom instead of the back where it's impossible to see what you're doing.
The iMac is too thin for no good reason - It doesn't need to be knife thickness at the edges, it's not a portable device.
For storage, not sure why you'd need that, for time machine you would have one even on older models, a USB hub you would have one anyway if you needed to, speakers you would have anyway because the newer ones are still better than the old ones, etc. Pointless argument.
Personally, I believe that part of the problem is that PCs are no longer a new and exciting thing; correct me if I am mistaken but the overall growth of the market is actually.... negative. I believe only Apple is selling slightly more desktops than the industry average (growth in %, obviously). Otherwise, it's a mature industry now, and companies will try to maintain this for as long as possible. Focus on new things, like smartphones or the connected home and even cars, will be new innovations.
if anyone would like to mention something great that can be added to desktops other than faster processors, memory and/or storage. I think the industry would be more than willing to listen. I imagine whatever you want would probably be subjective, like I don't think having a DVD drive is a good example at all. Eventually, we will probably see much smaller, more powerful and connected computers in the future, but society will have to catch up. Maybe we'll all be walking around with smartwatches that can monitor our bodies, homes and online presence all by itself.
if anyone would like to mention something great that can be added to desktops other than faster processors, memory and/or storage. I think the industry would be more than willing to listen. I imagine whatever you want would probably be subjective, like I don't think having a DVD drive is a good example at all. Eventually, we will probably see much smaller, more powerful and connected computers in the future, but society will have to catch up. Maybe we'll all be walking around with smartwatches that can monitor our bodies, homes and online presence all by itself.
For more storage?
Umm - TONS of people use way more than the 1TB that an SSD allows (don't even start about fusion or HDD garbage please - it's 2015)
USB hub & Speakers - The point is why make an "all in one" so thin that you right away need a bunch of crap connected to it to accomplish basic things that could be accomplished internally if the "thin obsession" was toned down?
There's no good argument to make a desktop as "thin as possible" other than pure vanity.