iMac Supplies Becoming Constrained Ahead of Potential Refresh

[archer75]

You misunderstood me friend...I meant an HD 6950 2GB (Desktop Card)

Yes, its a pipe dream...but cant a man dream

Ah yes, well a desktop card would be nice. And the 27" does have the room when compared to the 21". They could engineer it in there if they wanted to.

But yes, I share your dream.

 

[gri]

The iMac update is likely to be a spec bump, Sandy Bridge, better Graphics, etc...plus Thunderbolt. I plan to hang on to my current model for now.

I am more excited about a potential Mac Mini Update, because I need one of those.

And what prey makes you excited about an upcoming mini update? Or are you just hoping?

 

[archer75]

desktops are slowly but surely dying out. Notebooks are becoming more and more powerful and portable so what will an iMac offer that MacBooks won't have? Larger screen?

Larger screen and still more powerful. I don't like working on notebooks. Trackpads slow me down. And the only place I use a notebook is in my house so I don't really need the portability. Desktops, depending on what we're talking about, are more upgradeable, more cutting edge.

For serious work and gaming I still go to my desktop.

If I had a macbook i'd have to connect a keyboard and mouse, monitor, desktop speakers, USB hub, etc. and then put up with a weak mobile video card. What's the point? I just don't need the portability.
If I did i'd still have a powerful desktop and then just get a weaker macbook.

 

[Eduardo1971]

Brian Tong also claims to have dated women and have friends...both statements are so obviously contradicted by his horrible fashion sense and self destructive tendency to embarrass himself with every spoken word. He looks like a Shaolin Monk merged with Amy Winehouse.

I'm glad I wasn't drinking water when I read your reply. It is flat out hilarious!

Ace!

One a separate note: who gave this article a negative? Probably someone wanting more iphone/ipad/ios rumours.

 

[protox]

Just in time. My wife's desktop PC is on it's last leg. Lasted a good 5 years and now due for an upgrade to an iMac. When does the back to school promotion normally start?

 

[regandarcy]

256 should be perfect. If you need more space I'd say invest in a NAT or just external drive.

I do a ton of iMovie editing of trips n such and with itunes + movies + TV show's i'm only pushing 150gb right now on my MBP.

Don't get me wrong, it is "doable". Heck, even 128gbs is doable. But I like to load my iTunes music catalog on my laptops which is like 50gbs. Then there's all the software I use that take up massive space like the adobe suites and final cut etc. They easily swallow up over 100gbs, leaving very little room to play with for me.

Trust me, I'm definitely a less is more kinda guy. That's why I prefer the MacBook air over the pros...just alittle more would definitely clinch it for me.

I've heard rumors that the next big redesign of the MacBook pros will do away with the optical drives too and mimic the Airs form factor. But that won't be until next January at the earliest.

 

[cbnsoul]

What are these "Macs" you speak of?

Awesome.

And please, dear God, let there be new Minis - I've been checking MacRumors multiple times per day lately hoping for any Mini rumors.

 

[toddybody]

Ah yes, well a desktop card would be nice. And the 27" does have the room when compared to the 21". They could engineer it in there if they wanted to.

But yes, I share your dream.

The vapor chambers and relatively efficient TDP of the 6950, could be combined with a much needed re-engineered iMac cooling system(the current "slit" the back is silly)...I know I complain too much about this topic...but a 2650x1440 monitor should be powered by a MUCH more substantial GPU

 

[shervieux]

Decisions, Decisions

But no money to upgrade

My 2008 macbook could use to be upgraded... It still runs great, but I need something with more storage, RAM, and a little faster for video editing. I need a quad core, 4-8gb ram and a min of 750gb hard drive. I have moved to externals for now - but that is a pain when you need to go somewhere.

I mostly use my iPad when I am out - however I still need something powerful. Since my min spec would be the 15-inch MBP, that is a little big to carry around. Thinking about an iMac; but either way I do not have the $2K for the specs I need.

Man, I wish the economy would improve so that I can find employment. Especially a type of job I am passionate about, not just one to be miserable; but pays the bills. But right now I don't have a job so beggars can't be choosers.

 

[archer75]

The vapor chambers and relatively efficient TDP of the 6950, could be combined with a much needed re-engineered iMac cooling system(the current "slit" the back is silly)...I know I complain too much about this topic...but a 2650x1440 monitor should be powered by a MUCH more substantial GPU

I agree 100%.

 

[0815]

Just in time - I just decided yesterday that it is time to replace my first generation Intel iMac. I hope they have a 500GB SSD option for the update (the current option of 256 GB SSD is too small and you cant even order them with two 256GB SSDs). Thunderbold would also be nice (no need for it right away, but I guess in a year or two I will be happy to have one)

 

[archer75]

It was rumored just prior to the macbook pro refresh that they might come with a small 16gb SSD drive just for the OS. Wouldn't surprise me to see that make it's way into an imac. Large SSD's are just too expensive and often times not big enough. And you only get a finite number of writes on them before they're garbage.

 

[zap2]

Awesome.

And please, dear God, let there be new Minis - I've been checking MacRumors multiple times per day lately hoping for any Mini rumors.

Seriously, if I were to upgrade my current Mini(which is from early 2006) with a new CPU, I wouldn't be that far behind the current Mini is CPU performance(of course the GPU would still smoke mine.

Thats not a common event in Apple's line up. Although it speaks nicely about Intel supporting sockets for a decent amount of time.

But thunderbolt, sandy bridge and the new design(which makes some stuff easier, some harder for me when it comes to upgrade, but looks so sexy!) make an upgrade to the new Mini a no brainer for me. Heck even the CPU will be a great step up from the Intel GMA 950!

 

[MacFever]

Apple will be pushing out Thunderbolt for sure....

I wonder when the cinema displays will get the thunderbolt port for daisychaining ?

Macbook Air with the iMac?

I think Professionals will be waiting to upgrade to hardware unless it thunderbolt ready like the MBP....huge advantage for Pro use with thunderbolt as opposed to current firewire 800.

 

[0815]

256 should be perfect. If you need more space I'd say invest in a NAT or just external drive.

I do a ton of iMovie editing of trips n such and with itunes + movies + TV show's i'm only pushing 150gb right now on my MBP.

Just because 256 is 'perfect' for you does not mean it is perfect for everyone else. I need 500GB SSD. External drive solutions are just way to slow compared to internal SSD. The SSD upgrade on my Laptop was the best upgrade ever, now I want an 27'' iMac with 500GB SSD and lots of memory.

 

[Joshuarocks]

I can't wait! My G5 iMac has officially died and gone to that big computer desk in the sky. It served me well for 5 years, but it's over. Darn thang won't even turn on anymore. I hear the apple start up chime, but the screen stays black and then the iMac just shuts off. But even if I could fix it, it's so old it can't run the latest OSX or even play HD movies. Yup...it's time to buy a new iMac.

I'm hoping that the next update sees i7s across the line...even the 21.5" models. I expect thunderbolt too since the MacBook pros got it. Other things on my wish list would be for them to include that rumored flash start up drive as standard....but I'm not holding my breath. It would be great if the 21.5" model got the same ability as the 27" to be used as an external monitor. That way in 5 years or more when it becomes unable to run the latest software, you can still use it as a second monitor.

I like the 27" features, it's just a tad too big. Actually the rumor about Apple adding a 24" size back to the iMac lineup would be PERFECT. But again...not gonna count on it.

How fast is your imac G5? On my G5 Quad I can play 720,1080, and yes using HTML5, 4096p! If I recall the G5 Imacs had only one processor in there? Right? You might want to check out the powerpc forums for assistance if you want to know whats wrong with your imac. I sense a broken capacitor.

 

[toddybody]

Just because 256 is 'perfect' for you does not mean it is perfect for everyone else. I need 500GB SSD. External drive solutions are just way to slow compared to internal SSD. The SSD upgrade on my Laptop was the best upgrade ever, now I want an 27'' iMac with 500GB SSD and lots of memory.

500GB of SSM ? Holey Moley Daddy Warbucks.

PS: you should check out the new PCI SSD (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227581), when they start making external PCI enclosures for "ThunderCat"...youll be golden buddy

 

[Icaras]

desktops are slowly but surely dying out. Notebooks are becoming more and more powerful and even moreso portable so what will an iMac offer that MacBooks won't have? Larger screen

Which is why desktops won't die out.

 

[Sodner]

Didn't they (Apple) say something about a more "mainstream priced" iMac? Perhaps a white 17"?

 

[sauer228]

Just in time for the back to school promo!

 

[Torrijos]

Dream config :

Desktop Sandy Bridge CPU (difference being in the PCIe channels available)
Good quality hard drive for mass storage but...
Possibility to instal SSD in the same form factor that the MBA (and giving it its own data channel)
Desktop GPUs
at least 2 Full Thunderbolt ports (again the mobile version of Sandy bridge doesn't offer enough data channel to allow this)

 

[50548]

My 24" iMac is still going strong... they'll something pretty major to get me to consider getting a new one.

Mine too, a wonderful machine...but I am definitely going for a new one if the upgrade is good enough.

 

[toddybody]

Which is why desktops won't die out.

+1

Dont get me wrong...I love my iPad 2. I just could never give up the ease and efficiency of a Dektop.

 

[Icaras]

Just in time for the back to school promo!

Which is about a month away. I wonder how many buyers on the fence for this refresh will have the patience to wait even longer for the promotion.

Oh, and that's right, Lion should also be out in about 1-2 months after that as well.

 

[toddybody]

Dream config :

Desktop Sandy Bridge CPU (difference being in the PCIe channels available)
Good quality hard drive for mass storage but...
Possibility to instal SSD in the same form factor that the MBA (and giving it its own data channel)
Desktop GPUs
at least 2 Full Thunderbolt ports (again the mobile version of Sandy bridge doesn't offer enough data channel to allow this)

Get a grip dude. That sounds way too reasonable for Apple to do it

I agree on all points (with exception of the MBA SS reference...not sure what you mean. Dual HDD bays are plenty sufficient for me. One 64GB SSD, one conventional TB HDD)