iMac sept 12 release?

[strangegeek]

If the (alleged) soon-ish update is a spec bump - what do you think would be bumped?

It seems that there are 2 major schools of thought when it comes to an updated iMac if it would come out soon-ish (sometime between now and October).

1st school of thought - major re-design, retina display, etc...

2nd school of thought - minor spec bump this fall, major re-redesign in 2013.

If the 2nd one is right and we do see a slight spec bump this fall what are the possible specs that would be bumped?

I ask this because I am eagerly waiting to get my first iMac and patience is not one of my virtues I've got the fully specced out 27" model in my Apple saved shopping cart just begging to be ordered and would be perfectly happy with it.

I'm just wondering what would I be missing, really, by going for it now rather than wait. FYI - I have decided that if there is no mention of a new iMac in October then I will go ahead and get the 2011 model I've been drooling over.

Good things come to those who wait VS get the computer you want now and you'll still be happy with it when the new ones come out.

Any input? I've been racking my brains for months now over this ???

 

[washburn]

It seems that there are 2 major schools of thought when it comes to an updated iMac if it would come out soon-ish (sometime between now and October).

1st school of thought - major re-design, retina display, etc...

2nd school of thought - minor spec bump this fall, major re-redesign in 2013.

I think the delay has more to do with 1st, there have been thinner/non-glossy display rumors for a while, and now screen lamination issue, this is pointing to similar rMBP non-reflective surface...also Sharp can make Retina PC monitors with their IGZO tech.


If it was just a refresh they would have it done it long time ago, whats so hard about sticking a new CPU and into the current shipping iMacs?

 

[pwaryuex]

It's a shame the iMac, the computer that basically helped get Apple back on track all those years ago is been treated this way.

Do you think they owe the iMac somehow?

We need to remember that product lines change. Consider what brought Apple money at different times and you'll realise this is true. Old things get left behind. The iPod is a thing of Apple's past because (1) much of what you want to listen to can fit onto your iPhone, and (2) you can always download it with iCloud. Smaller, niche music players (iPod Nano, Shuffle etc), for when you want to go jogging etc won't be Apple's business in the next 10 years, and neither will be anything resembling an iPod.

Would you say that Apple similarly owes the iPod line? I wouldn't. In producing quality products, you should do your thing, reassess, and move on.

I don't think desktop computers will be completely gone in 10 years, but I think Apple is moving in different directions. As Tim Cook said, if you compare tablets with PCs, then you're making a fatal error in estimating how much tablets will be a part of our lives. Portable devices are really the way of the future and it would be a shame for Apple to linger on the past. I personally think iMacs are beautiful—what more can they do aside from internal refreshes? Get rid of the chin, make the screen better and reduce the bezel? These are all minor things, really.

They're updating the OS quite well, IMO, but there's little to be done for desktops that they ought to care about.

I hope I'm wrong (I wonder if the iPhone 5's resemblance to the 4(S) reflects complacency), but I don't think I am.

I don't mean to be one of those people who say that in 20 years, we'll be walking around with some device which basically plugs into everything and is our base station. Basic issues of scalability prevent this; hardware+software requirements scale along with general technology growth, and although some things get smaller (think of screens), others really won't.

I think we need to consider how Apple is going to push forward, not what it's going to do with its current product line.

People might be cynical to its possibility, but Apple is certainly looking at making its mark along the lines of the original iPhone.

 

[washburn]

I think desktops will still be around, but it depends how powerful laptops will get in the future, I think the biggest threat to desktops is laptops connected to large displays, in the end there will be just tablets/laptops and large thin monitors.

 

[\-V-/]

Even if it's just a minor spec bump, I'm fine with that... with the inclusion of USB 3.0, etc. Just looking to upgrade from my old 2007 iMac. Still works fine, but it's showing its age.

 

[iMcLovin]

I'm fine with a minor spec bump. Usb3, ivy bridge and gt680m and I'm ok with it. I need and use the machines horsepower, so I know the current model will last me about 1 year less before I will feel like upgrading it. A redesign would be awesome of course if that would mean better screen - but not because I feel so strong for a visual design change - the machine looks great as it is.

 

[iChrist]

Do you think they owe the iMac somehow?

We need to remember that product lines change. Consider what brought Apple money at different times and you'll realise this is true. Old things get left behind. The iPod is a thing of Apple's past because (1) much of what you want to listen to can fit onto your iPhone, and (2) you can always download it with iCloud. Smaller, niche music players (iPod Nano, Shuffle etc), for when you want to go jogging etc won't be Apple's business in the next 10 years, and neither will be anything resembling an iPod.

Would you say that Apple similarly owes the iPod line? I wouldn't. In producing quality products, you should do your thing, reassess, and move on.

I don't think desktop computers will be completely gone in 10 years, but I think Apple is moving in different directions. As Tim Cook said, if you compare tablets with PCs, then you're making a fatal error in estimating how much tablets will be a part of our lives. Portable devices are really the way of the future and it would be a shame for Apple to linger on the past. I personally think iMacs are beautiful—what more can they do aside from internal refreshes? Get rid of the chin, make the screen better and reduce the bezel? These are all minor things, really.

They're updating the OS quite well, IMO, but there's little to be done for desktops that they ought to care about.

I hope I'm wrong (I wonder if the iPhone 5's resemblance to the 4(S) reflects complacency), but I don't think I am.

I don't mean to be one of those people who say that in 20 years, we'll be walking around with some device which basically plugs into everything and is our base station. Basic issues of scalability prevent this; hardware+software requirements scale along with general technology growth, and although some things get smaller (think of screens), others really won't.

I think we need to consider how Apple is going to push forward, not what it's going to do with its current product line.

People might be cynical to its possibility, but Apple is certainly looking at making its mark along the lines of the original iPhone.

Yes good long post. Is nice to be bored to write long thing that is make no sense.

But we must think of if iPhone will be of new resolution or not. And if dock will have only one icon like is shown in image.

 

[Lacos]

Personally I don't care anymore when the iMac 2012 will finally arrive..
I have bought an used Mac Mini 2011 and upgraded it with 16GB RAM.
For me, it is sufficient and I am saving a lot of money..

Maybe i will buy a Retina iMac in 2013 / 2014..

 

[iMcLovin]

Personally I don't care anymore when the iMac 2012 will finally arrive..
I have bought an used Mac Mini 2011 and upgraded it with 16GB RAM.
For me, it is sufficient and I am saving a lot of money..

Maybe i will buy a Retina iMac in 2013 / 2014..

good for you. If that's all you need then I don't see the point of waiting anyway. For those who needs some more juice that isn't exactly a good solution.

 

[jollino]

Even if it's just a minor spec bump, I'm fine with that... with the inclusion of USB 3.0, etc. Just looking to upgrade from my old 2007 iMac. Still works fine, but it's showing its age.

Same, except it's a 2006 model in my case (the last white one.)

In all honesty I'm kind of hoping for a spec bump rather than a redesign. I fear the dreaded "revision A" inevitable issues...

 

[takezo808]

Most likely a silent refresh sometime between now and October 13th 2013. Any event is only likely to be for a major redesign like Retina and I think it's too early for that.

yep they aer budling Mountain lion on the new iMACs which will have the newer i5 or i7 chips which have intel HD 4000, the GPU will be based off NVIDIA 670m GPU with 1GB of video memory. everything else is the same as last refresh.

 

[MindsEye]

I echo the thoughts of those who are saying just updated internals. Can't see a redesign or retina being introduced this year, at least in the 27" model anyway for various reasons mostly from a cost effectiveness standpoint.

For me anyway, the biggest improvement they could make aesthetically would be to introduce a matte display or utilize the same glare reduction technique which the rMBP screen uses. The glossy display and the difficulty of user upgradeability are my two biggest worries.

At anyrate i will wait till October, if its not refreshed in September, i'm guessing it will be refreshed then along side the release of the 13" rMBP. I might just go with my plan B though which was the Dell xps 8500 paired with the ultrasharp u3011 monitor and the following year buy a mac mini to sit along side it.

My goal was to reduce clutter which the AIO iMac would provide but not having to send my machine away if a fault occurs or pay for repairs if its fallen out of scope of its warranty is a huge plus.

 

[imaginary]

Errr just release them allready. I'm sick of all those pointlessly new news about new Apple ADs. Seriously does anyone actually care about those?

Additionally a laptop is never going to replace a desktop because of it 's ergonomity flaws. That is unless they find a clever way to detach the keyboard and the screen from it's body. Your stuck with the default one, and its always there no matter if you have a external one hooked up or not. Meaning, it would need serious rethinking out of the bounds of the usual (maybe a little bit like in the direction the windows 8 tablet is going - just with more quality materials and software).

Ok, back from daydreaming into starving with my old DELL M4400 workstation wanting to switch to a new 2012 iMac 27' as soon as possible.

 

[Starsky72]

Same, except it's a 2006 model in my case (the last white one.)

In all honesty I'm kind of hoping for a spec bump rather than a redesign. I fear the dreaded "revision A" inevitable issues...

exact same scenario... my white one has just died and I am trying to hold off buying a refurb model for the sake of what I hope will be a few weeks

 

[washburn]

Additionally a laptop is never going to replace a desktop because of it 's ergonomity flaws. That is unless they find a clever way to detach the keyboard and the screen from it's body. Your stuck with the default one, and its always there no matter if you have a external one hooked up or not. Meaning, it would need serious rethinking out of the bounds of the usual (maybe a little bit like in the direction the windows 8 tablet is going - just with more quality materials and software).

what about using dedicated wireless external keyboard/mouse with your laptop/monitor?

 

[Lancer]

I agree that Apple needs to keep on top of the latest trends and if that to more portable with tablets and laptops then so be it but desktop computer will always have a part to play in our world. They will evolve, towers as we know them will disappear. AIO computers will become the norm just look at the computer power in a Mini, that could easily fit into most TVs today.

Apple 'invented' the AIO computer with the original Mac, that evolved into the iMac and it deserves our respect!

 

[SpyderBite]

The new iMac was meant to come out back then according to a lot of posters on this site.

That was your first mistake. The users on this site have as much reliable knowledge about upcoming releases as you do.

Speculation is funny like that. If you guess enough, eventually you'll get the right answer. Usually, it is just before somebody was going to give you the answer anyways.

It's fun to read rumors and share speculation with fellow enthusiasts. But, be careful not to start sliding down that slippery slope which leads you to unrealistic expectations. You'll only find yourself constantly disappointed.

 

[Ifti]

Personally I'm waiting for a Mac Mini, but similar to the iMAC, I think if we were looking at a spec bump, shouldn't it have happened by now?
I mean, a CPU update to Ivy Bridge and GPU update to HD4000 shouldn't need this long to implement. Neither should USB3.0 connectivity.

I also hope it is a silent update that comes along, without a major redesign TBH, but the more I think about it, and the more time goes on, the more I think we are maybe looking at something bigger?

 

[HurryKayne]

I think the delay has more to do with 1st, there have been thinner/non-glossy display rumors for a while, and now screen lamination issue, this is pointing to similar rMBP non-reflective surface...also Sharp can make Retina PC monitors with their IGZO tech.

If it was just a refresh they would have it done it long time ago, whats so hard about sticking a new CPU and into the current shipping iMacs?

I agree,i wanna agree,but i fear our expectations are too high with Apple giving out a silent speed bump and no explanations( thats maybe why we have no leaks or maybe because nothing has changed).
I hope to see an Hdmi in but again i'm keeping my expectations low.

 

[richest]

Is the new mac expected to have usb 3 whatever time it appears?

 

[leerichards1]

Is the new mac expected to have usb 3 whatever time it appears?

I think this forum would spontaneously combust if it didn't

 

[jollino]

exact same scenario... my white one has just died and I am trying to hold off buying a refurb model for the sake of what I hope will be a few weeks

As I explained in more detail here, I am very tempted by the base refurb (the current base model would be good enough for me; 27" is too big, and the "better 21.5-inch" doesn't seem worth the price difference) as I don't plan of keeping it for as long as I kept my 2006 machine. Still, they may be just round the corner and I know I'd be bummed, even though I'd save over 100 euros on it. Very frustrating.

 

[forty2j]

And this takes to the same another question..
Does Apple needs the new 680m to release new Imacs?
No,and do you really think Apple being stopped by lamination issues?
Imo,No again.

You're welcome to believe what you want, but I believe differently on both of these. If they want use a new 28nm GPU, AND they want to use Nvidia, AND they want this year's iMac to have better graphics performance than last year's, then then absolutely need the 680M for the top model.

I personally believe they were planned for ML launch (delayed that long because of Nvidia), and then the screen problems started.

If something went wrong with the new laminated displays then they could use the 2011 ones,but they didn't ,so,maybe some kind of redesign isn't too unrealistic to happen

Whether they want to use a "Plan B" depends a lot on how long they expect the delay to take and how much shifting to Plan B would cost. Given that there's no pressing need to meet a particular launch schedule, they don't get nearly as much out of a Plan B iMac that they do out of a Plan B iPhone (4S) or iPad (Retina). A new kind of screen means changes to the chassis which means changes to how the internals are laid out (and possibly, how they are shaped and constructed). "Just" switching to the 2011 screens would be a major undertaking, so it seems likely they just decided to wait the 3 months to get it right.

I'm sure this is some kind of "redesign", but I don't know many changes will be noticeable without the benefit of a micrometer.

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I saw OEM ones but it says you need a code on your self build - but i'll have a Mac so can't do that. Also. . .I'd not be able to keep it updated with windows security and all that stuff on.

This is all I see:

Use of this OEM System Builder Channel software is subject to the terms of the Microsoft OEM System Builder License. This software is intended for pre-installation on a new personal computer for resale. This OEM System Builder Channel software requires the assembler to provide end user support for the Windows software and cannot be transferred to another computer once it is installed. To acquire Windows software with support provided by Microsoft please see our full package "Retail" product offerings.

I've bought of one these before to install on a PC, and it didn't work any differently than any other copy of Windows I'd ever used. I've never tried one in BootCamp though.

Technically you're not following the spirit of the license by installing it on a computer somebody at Foxconn built, but if you weren't calling Microsoft for support anyway (and I certainly never have), it doesn't really matter.

 

[Soundburst]

I see. Thanks for that. On the UK buying page it says "No code is supplied with this. You have to supply it"

 

[Abazigal]

I agree that Apple needs to keep on top of the latest trends and if that to more portable with tablets and laptops then so be it but desktop computer will always have a part to play in our world. They will evolve, towers as we know them will disappear. AIO computers will become the norm just look at the computer power in a Mini, that could easily fit into most TVs today.

Apple 'invented' the AIO computer with the original Mac, that evolved into the iMac and it deserves our respect!

Consider the humble scaffolding, which supports the building as it is being constructed, then gets torn down when it is no longer needed.

Apple seems to be going increasingly mobile, so I won't be surprised if they decide to drop their desktop line completely in the near future. Imacs and mac pros may have been integral to building up the apple brand once, but if their time is up, I see no point in keeping them around. It's just the price of progress.