iMac sept 12 release?

[Johnf1285]

I doubt we ever see a desktop class GPU in the iMac.

Think about how a desktop GPU installs and then think about the inside of an iMac.

First, the desktop GPU would need to be a custom design for Apple. There would be no reason to have video outputs such as HDMI, DVI, DP, etc., directly on the GPU. In addition, the GPU uses a PCIe 16x connection. Why would they want to take up so much room in an all in one with such a long connection? Second, the heatsink/cooling and mounting brakcet on a typical desktop GPU is designed as if it were to be mounted inside of a typical ATX case (and its variations, ITX, mATX, etc.)

A mobile GPU makes sense for the iMac. The MXM slot instead of a traditional PCIe slot is smaller. The video connector found on a mobile GPU makes sense to be used for a unit with a built in monitor. The list goes on.

Basically, if Apple were to use a desktop GPU in the iMac, they would have to reinvent the wheel. Which they have done for many products and features many times, but this time it doesn't make sense when Nvidia or AMD offer something that fits what they need, i.e., a mobile GPU.

 

[Swordylove]

could care less if they take out the optical drive, think about it if they take it out they will have room to put something better and more useful instead. you can buy an optical drive usb for 10$ on ebay so quit crying about an optical drive. I much much rather have better design or better perfomance by taking out the optical drive. Everyone now these days have usb drives and other sort of media, mp3 players are dirt cheap if you want to still burn cd i already pointed out you can buy one for 10 bucks.

To have room, make room. Will it kill someone if the iMac were slightly thicker than the current one? The G5 still looks totally awesome with that thickness. In fact, it looks more solid and durable to me. Does it take more space on your desk? No.

We're not crying about the price of an external drive. Even if Apple provide it for free, we still want the iMac to be all-in-one, and we hate clutters on our desk.

If the ODD is there (built-in) and you never need/use it, would it bother you? No, right? So that's why I said in earlier post that ditching the ODD now is a cocky and selfish move. It's just a way to boast "Ooohhh we're so advanced, the ODD is dead to me. Look! I can work happily without it!"

 

[glitch44]

To have room, make room. Will it kill someone if the iMac were slightly thicker than the current one? The G5 still looks totally awesome with that thickness. In fact, it looks more solid and durable to me. Does it take more space on your desk? No.

We're not crying about the price of an external drive. Even if Apple provide it for free, we still want the iMac to be all-in-one, and we hate clutters on our desk.

If the ODD is there (built-in) and you never need/use it, would it bother you? No, right? So that's why I said in earlier post that ditching the ODD now is a cocky and selfish move. It's just a way to boast "Ooohhh we're so advanced, the ODD is dead to me. Look! I can work happily without it!"

Yeah, it would bother me. The way it spins up upon reboot (at least my white iMac did). I'd rather have the space for cooling, a better GPU, etc Not sure why it's selfish of me to prefer that but not for you to prefer otherwise. In any case, it's pretty obvious they'll be eliminating it. The roadmap has been clear from the start-- they'd rather funnel people through itunes than have them purchase their media elsewhere. They don't even offer the OS on disc anymore.

 

[Imaginethe]

I doubt we ever see a desktop class GPU in the iMac.

Think about how a desktop GPU installs and then think about the inside of an iMac.

First, the desktop GPU would need to be a custom design for Apple. There would be no reason to have video outputs such as HDMI, DVI, DP, etc., directly on the GPU. In addition, the GPU uses a PCIe 16x connection. Why would they want to take up so much room in an all in one with such a long connection? Second, the heatsink/cooling and mounting brakcet on a typical desktop GPU is designed as if it were to be mounted inside of a typical ATX case (and its variations, ITX, mATX, etc.)

A mobile GPU makes sense for the iMac. The MXM slot instead of a traditional PCIe slot is smaller. The video connector found on a mobile GPU makes sense to be used for a unit with a built in monitor. The list goes on.

Basically, if Apple were to use a desktop GPU in the iMac, they would have to reinvent the wheel. Which they have done for many products and features many times, but this time it doesn't make sense when Nvidia or AMD offer something that fits what they need, i.e., a mobile GPU.

I have been thinking about that. Apple is a partner with Nvidia/AMD, depending on the model. These companies don't make cards, they make chips, then companies like MSI make square cards to fit in towers etc. So basically would buy the chip, and out it on a board which is designed specifically for the iMac, negotiating the connecting issues that way.

Only leaving the heat issue, so the chip could be based in the back of the iMac, towards the top, with a heatsync, which is connected to rear of the case using a thermal conductor (but with an electrical barrier) to create one giant heatsync, with a small quiet fan driving air through the sync through a slightly larder vent in the top? Just an idea.

A silly idea, but just a thought.

 

[Johnf1285]

I have been thinking about that. Apple is a partner with Nvidia/AMD, depending on the model. These companies don't make cards, they make chips, then companies like MSI make square cards to fit in towers etc. So basically would buy the chip, and out it on a board which is designed specifically for the iMac, negotiating the connecting issues that way.

Only leaving the heat issue, so the chip could be based in the back of the iMac, towards the top, with a heatsync, which is connected to rear of the case using a thermal conductor (but with an electrical barrier) to create one giant heatsync, with a small quiet fan driving air through the sync through a slightly larder vent in the top? Just an idea.

A silly idea, but just a thought.

Very true. I guess Foxxconn is responsible for making the PCB for the AMD/Nvidia mobile cards we have seen in the iMacs for a number of years now.

 

[handsome pete]

Nnn-no. The current iMac is not fine because if I buy it now, it's already more than 1 year ahead towards obsolesce, with the same price it was released like 15 months ago, so it's bad value for my money. But of course all these wouldn't matter if I were a rich bastard.

I get that. I was just trying to point out the liberal use of word "need" around here. I held off from buying a Mac Pro for the same reasons. But if I absolutely needed it, I would have had to make do with the current model or PC offering.

 

[iMcLovin]

Well, true.. at this point they could release a black plastic box with a monitor sticking out, and as long as it had Ivy Bridge, 680M, and OS X I'd buy it...

Hehe very true. They could pull the Mac pro stunt on the iMac now and I would be at peace.... At least then I would know there's nothing more around the corner. Apple really know how to drag things out to the point of desperation.

 

[Rebel Hedgehog]

Can I ask what makes you think that?

Nothing more than a hunch. With apple having not updated the pro for years what's to say they may extend the life of the current iMac. They have bigger fish to fry with new phone, possible mini iPad and apple tv on the horizon.

Added to that, no leaks, parts, pictures or anything! - surely there would be some concrete evidence of at least something.

 

[iMcLovin]

Added to that, no leaks, parts, pictures or anything! - surely there would be some concrete evidence of at least something.

Since when have you seen any leaks of an iMac or a MacBook air for that matter? Last time I saw a computer part leak was a Mac mini several years ago. Anything else has only been unconfirmed rumors. Even the retina MacBook, nobody REALLY knew before wwdc if this was for real or not. There hadn't been any part leaks or anything. So rumors about the next iMac has been as much as any other usual Mac rumor before a release. I think apple had planned to release the iMac before the iPhone event. But because some problems in the production it will be after....unless we are lucky.

 

[Occamsrazr]

Poor people shouldn't buy Apple products. Snobs only.

 

[vladfein]

I...So basically would buy the chip, and out it on a board which is designed specifically for the iMac, negotiating the connecting issues that way.

Only leaving the heat issue, so the chip could be based in the back of the iMac, towards the top, with a heatsync, which is connected to rear of the case using a thermal conductor (but with an electrical barrier) to create one giant heatsync...

So - plugged into the board and glued to the chassis? I would like to see how one assembles that

 

[NokiaFanatic]

Finally bit the bullet..I couldn't wait anymore

So after my MacBook pro (09 model) died in an unfortante accident - luckily within my 3 year Best Buy Accidental handeling protection - I have been holding out for a new iMac. After waiting and waiting, I finally decided to bite the bullet and ordered a new 15"Macbook pro, 8 MB, 750 GB HDD WITH a 27" thunderbolt display. A lil more than what I wante dto spend, but aleast I am getting a more powerful machine than I had, plus I can have all my external HDD's plugged in to the display when I am doing some editing of movies/photos, but have the convience to take my machine on the go.

I have a 60 day return policy if by chance the new imac/display is announced, or more rumors come to the surface - but at last - i will be at peace again with my MAC and can access all my photos and music again via my time machine.

Heres hoping I made the right move....

 

[BruceiD]

I'm about to sell my current iMac, would the 2012 model be a significant upgrade from the i3 2010 model?

 

[Johnf1285]

I'm about to sell my current iMac, would the 2012 model be a significant upgrade from the i3 2010 model?

Depends upon what you use your machine for or what you want out of it performance wise.

The biggest performance increase across the board would be some form of an SSD standard, or an SSD option thats affordable. If you upgraded to a machine with that, you would notice a huge difference.

Otherwise the CPU/GPU benefits really depends upon what you do.

 

[BruceiD]

Depends upon what you use your machine for or what you want out of it performance wise.

The biggest performance increase across the board would be some form of an SSD standard, or an SSD option thats affordable. If you upgraded to a machine with that, you would notice a huge difference.

Otherwise the CPU/GPU benefits really depends upon what you do.

Well I'm actually considering buying the base 2012 model, or the SSD option (if it's afordable).
I could also get my iMac upgraded to an SSD but that would cost the same as selling my current iMac and buying base new one (that way I have 2 year waranty again)..

 

[Johnf1285]

Well I'm actually considering buying the base 2012 model, or the SSD option (if it's afordable).
I could also get my iMac upgraded to an SSD but that would cost the same as selling my current iMac and buying base new one (that way I have 2 year waranty again)..

Yeah. I would say if you really want to get into a new machine then sell your current one before the new one releases as it may take a bit of a hit after the 2012 comes out.

I hope they put some reasonable (compared to what they were costing last year) SSD options like the ones seen with the MacBook Pros.

Would love to see a a 128gb SSD to replace the 500gb on the base model and a 256gb SSD to replace the 1TB on the other models.

 

[BruceiD]

Yeah. I would say if you really want to get into a new machine then sell your current one before the new one releases as it may take a bit of a hit after the 2012 comes out.

I hope they put some reasonable (compared to what they were costing last year) SSD options like the ones seen with the MacBook Pros.

Would love to see a 256gb SSD standard instead of the 1TB seagates/hitachis/western digitals that just get roasted and fail in a year.

Me too, I think that going from a dual core to a quad core would already be a significant upgrade since I'm into photo and video editing ;-) An SSD would be nice eventually, and hopefully Apple allows people to uograde without spending a fortune.
Do you think it's worth having USB3, Ivy Bridge, faster RAM, 2 year warranty for about 300 euro? (price difference between current iMac offer) and a base iMac?

 

[Johnf1285]

Me too, I think that going from a dual core to a quad core would already be a significant upgrade since I'm into photo and video editing ;-) An SSD would be nice eventually, and hopefully Apple allows people to uograde without spending a fortune.
Do you think it's worth having USB3, Ivy Bridge, faster RAM, 2 year warranty for about 300 euro? (price difference between current iMac offer) and a base iMac?

Yes I would probably do it. Then agani I like to upgrade frequently, about every 2 years although this time was an exception coming back to Mac from PC.

 

[Icaras]

To have room, make room. Will it kill someone if the iMac were slightly thicker than the current one? The G5 still looks totally awesome with that thickness. In fact, it looks more solid and durable to me. Does it take more space on your desk? No.

We're not crying about the price of an external drive. Even if Apple provide it for free, we still want the iMac to be all-in-one, and we hate clutters on our desk.

If the ODD is there (built-in) and you never need/use it, would it bother you? No, right? So that's why I said in earlier post that ditching the ODD now is a cocky and selfish move. It's just a way to boast "Ooohhh we're so advanced, the ODD is dead to me. Look! I can work happily without it!"

Yup, it would bother me as well. Aside from fans, I want my next iMac to have zero moving parts. More reliability and zero noise. We are advanced. Just like how how iOS never shipped with Flash. It's outdated and archaic. Get it out and leave it out.

 

[CoreyLahey]

To have room, make room. Will it kill someone if the iMac were slightly thicker than the current one? The G5 still looks totally awesome with that thickness. In fact, it looks more solid and durable to me. Does it take more space on your desk? No.

We're not crying about the price of an external drive. Even if Apple provide it for free, we still want the iMac to be all-in-one, and we hate clutters on our desk.

If the ODD is there (built-in) and you never need/use it, would it bother you? No, right? So that's why I said in earlier post that ditching the ODD now is a cocky and selfish move. It's just a way to boast "Ooohhh we're so advanced, the ODD is dead to me. Look! I can work happily without it!"

Plus, photographers for example need a drive to burn their client's dvds or CDs. I'm sure there are still many other practical uses for a disc drive in general , I don't see any good reason yet to completely omit a disc drive, especially not, as you said rightfully, from an all-in-one

 

[evilpaddy]

Plus, photographers for example need a drive to burn their client's dvds or CDs. I'm sure there are still many other practical uses for a disc drive in general , I don't see any good reason yet to completely omit a disc drive, especially not, as you said rightfully, from an all-in-one

Removing the ODD is clearly in Apple's roadmap. As long as they have a removable one I'll glady have the extra room inside the chasis for a better GPU. I have no issues using a USB3/Tbolt drive that I take out of the drawer from time to time. Removing the ODD and not replacing it with anything AND still charging you the same is a bit cheap.... but I can see them doing that...

 

[Swordylove]

Yeah, it would bother me. The way it spins up upon reboot (at least my white iMac did). I'd rather have the space for cooling, a better GPU, etc Not sure why it's selfish of me to prefer that but not for you to prefer otherwise.

Because first, the status quo is iMac has built-in ODD. Second, it generally bothers someone more to have to plug in an external stuff (extra clutter, extra effort) than to hear a reboot spinning sound for a few seconds.

Yup, it would bother me as well. Aside from fans, I want my next iMac to have zero moving parts. More reliability and zero noise. We are advanced. Just like how how iOS never shipped with Flash. It's outdated and archaic. Get it out and leave it out.

Why do you need a reliability from a part you never use? Does a rarely moving ODD (since you don't use it) affect other parts? Sorry, I'm still a noob when it comes to the internal workings of a computer. The zero noise argument is very weak here until you are ADVANCED enough to get rid of the fan as well.

 

[Icaras]

Why do you need a reliability from a part you never use? Does a rarely moving ODD (since you don't use it) affect other parts? Sorry, I'm still a noob when it comes to the internal workings of a computer. The zero noise argument is very weak here until you are ADVANCED enough to get rid of the fan as well.

I may have sounded like I contradicted myself, but I did say, "aside from the fans".

I want room for hardware that I will use. If Apple could squeeze in a desktop class GPU, I will gladly trade it for the ODD. That's something you can't just plug and play over a cable, like you can with an ODD, which doesn't require as much bandwidth.

But you know, I can easily turn this around on you and ask, "why not just buy the external supdrive"?

 

[glitch44]

Because first, the status quo is iMac has built-in ODD. Second, it generally bothers someone more to have to plug in an external stuff (extra clutter, extra effort) than to hear a reboot spinning sound for a few seconds.

Well, I won't be annoyed by having to plug in an external ODD since I won't be doing that at all, so, yeah, the reboot spinning sound would annoy me more. I'm not sure why you're debating this so fiercely. It's kind of like debating whether the tide is going to come in. Apple's eliminating disc drives. They don't believe in Blu Ray. They don't offer the OS on disc anymore. They'd rather sell you movies and apps in itunes/the app store. They'd rather you store stuff in the cloud. We can debate the merits of it, but it's still happening.

 

[iMcLovin]

Well, I won't be annoyed by having to plug in an external ODD since I won't be doing that at all, so, yeah, the reboot spinning sound would annoy me more. I'm not sure why you're debating this so fiercely. It's kind of like debating whether the tide is going to come in. Apple's eliminating disc drives. They don't believe in Blu Ray. They don't offer the OS on disc anymore. They'd rather sell you movies and apps in itunes/the app store. They'd rather you store stuff in the cloud. We can debate the merits of it, but it's still happening.

it will disappear eventually yes. And that time is coming fast. But it´s not 100% it will happen in the next imac. They still add ODD on their laptops. Is there room for it, they add it. But, I think its one of the first things that goes if they need that space for something else. in a couple of years its gone and its a natural transition to newer and better options IMO.
It´s kinda funny though how fast Apple like to adopt new and better technologies, while are you really stuck on a PC the old 3,5" floppy disc is still needed through DOS (thats rare though), while are you in trouble on a Mac now, its all fixable through wifi with a sexy simple interface. Two different universes to say the least.