iMac Update Might Be Coming Sooner Rather Than Later

[OliOC]

For those of you who are anxiously awaiting an update of the iMac, I have a different question: why? What does it do for you that a MacBook Pro and a display would do for you?

Unless there is something I am missing here, I cannot imagine buying another iMac.

This is one silly question!!

As others have stated...PRICE!

In the UK a 15" MBP + Apple TBD is £2700. You need this spec MBP to get the speedier processor and dedicated graphics card, 8GB RAM etc.

Base spec iMac (no doubt the next gen will match the latest MBP spec) is £1400.

That's pretty much HALF the price, for the same processing power. Not to mention a larger HD.

For business it's an absolute no brainer. We run a design consultancy. We have a few MBP's MBA and iPads, don't need Mac Pro's, so an iMac is the perfect fit.

 

[scottrichardson]

Begs the question - how close (in performance) will these new iMacs be to some of the 'current' Mac Pros?

 

[Jbach67]

Different strokes

For those of you who are anxiously awaiting an update of the iMac, I have a different question: why? What does it do for you that a MacBook Pro and a display would do for you?

I don't see any features that the iMac has that the MacBook doesn't have. Please educate me.

I have a several year old iMac that had its hard disk fail. Repairing it was such a miserable task that I just decided to run off an external disk as my main disk. Grrr. With the MacBook Pro (not Air or Retina), maintenance is easy and I wouldn't have has a problem replacing the hard disk.

Unless there is something I am missing here, I cannot imagine buying another iMac.

Thats you and many others. not me. If you have just one I can see a case for either an iMac or a mbpro. But I like the big screen of the Mac for serious work and games. in that case, it's cheaper with more throughput than a Mbp without considering buying an additional large display one has to hook up before use. So your question boils down to why have an iMac and a mbpro. Or why not have just an iMac and iPad. Much cheaper to get an an ipad and an iMac with far larger storage than a new Mbp. If you're into games, the current 2011 imac has better performance than any of the 2012 mbps. And the iPad is more portable with longer battery life.

Everyone will have their own answer, but all three are still selling very well, with more voting for 13 inch MacBooks, airs, or Mbps. Probably many reasons, including yours for your original purchase of both iMac and Mbp.

A note on mbp maintenance - based on today's breakdown, good luck with an easy ssd repair on a new retina Mbp

 

[Tezcatlipoca]

For those of you who are anxiously awaiting an update of the iMac, I have a different question: why? What does it do for you that a MacBook Pro and a display would do for you?

I don't see any features that the iMac has that the MacBook doesn't have. Please educate me.

I have a several year old iMac that had its hard disk fail. Repairing it was such a miserable task that I just decided to run off an external disk as my main disk. Grrr. With the MacBook Pro (not Air or Retina), maintenance is easy and I wouldn't have has a problem replacing the hard disk.

Unless there is something I am missing here, I cannot imagine buying another iMac.

I won't be an iMac user until I get my first one this year, but...

1) Screen size. 21.5" or 27" is a lot bigger 13" or 15"... Sure, you can get a 27" Thunderbolt Display or Cinema Display, but then that leads to...

2) Cost. The iMac is a lot cheaper than buying an MBP plus an Apple display.



I don't need portability - I have an iPad for that. But I do need a new desktop...

 

[OliOC]

Can anyone list what the projected specs are on the base model of this rumored iMac?

Based on the OP, we have:

Ivy Bridge Core i7-3770 quad-core processor
4 GB of 1600 MHz RAM
USB 3.0


What about the rest?

Hard drive?
SSD comes standard or as a BTO option?
ODD?

I'm pretty certain these benchmarks are for the 21.5" model, as I'd think the 27" models will both come with 8GB RAM as standard. I'd also guess 1TB HDs across the board.

I'm gonna be surprised if we see a new design/ so called retina screen in the upcoming update - my guess is they'll be brought in line with the updated MBPs (not the retina MBP).

 

[D.T.]

Well, they did for a while

But yeah, if I could have a Mini with simply a legit GPU I'd buy that in a heartbeat.

Ahh yeah, the glorious []CUBE[] I totally forgot about it!

 

[Jbach67]

The 15" MBPs have the Keppler GPU in them. Go CUDA!

Yes, but notebook check shows generally lower frame rates for the 650m in the MacBook pros than the radeon in the 2011 iMac. I hope they go higher in the iMac refresh, not lower. The devil is in the details.

 

[Constable Odo]

I was checking the Apple refurbished iMacs and it seems there weren't any 27" i7 quad-cores available which is rather unusual. Maybe an update is right around the corner or the lack of high-end iMac refurbs is just a temporary thing.

 

[OliOC]

Likely not. Reports from iFixit show that both the Air and the Retina are unrepairable and non-upgradable bricks. Too bad. I do hope that the new iMac does not follow suit, but I wouldn't bet on it.

I keep my computers for a while and things will change by the time I am in the market again. I have owned a Macintosh since 1984, but Apple did not always do right by me. For example, they produced crap hardware though most 1990s and I bought a clone during that time.

Thank you everyone for your comments. We all use different criteria when choosing a product. I wish you all success with your choices.

I disagree. I wouldn't be suprised AT ALL if apple dropped the 13" and 15" MBPs as we know them now next year, and release std def versions of the new MBP Retina. They are testing the water with this ATM, but there are too many laptops in their current line up. Next year we'll see updated laptops that loose the optical drive (perhaps not the 2.5" HD) and a redesigned Mac Pro that is smaller. The Mac Pro will open up the doors to Prosumers that can't afford the current Mac Pro but are concerned about the obsolescence of the iMac...

 

[KonaBlend]

GPUs and DisplayPort don't support anything higher than 4K, so I wouldn't expect any pixel doubled 27" displays. Instead, well probably see both the 21" and 27" have a resolution of 3840x2160.

my guess:

the 21" iMac will stay at 1920x1080
the 27" iMac will have a "retina" variant with 3840x2160, probably also including higher-end cpu/ram/storage options. This represents an approximate bump from 109ppi to 163ppi.

 

[HurtinMinorKey]

my guess:

the 21" iMac will stay at 1920x1080
the 27" iMac will have a "retina" variant with 3840x2160, probably also including higher-end cpu/ram/storage options. This represents an approximate bump from 109ppi to 163ppi.

Then they better come with a free RED Camera, so we record something to watch on our nice new 4K screen.

 

[boto]

I'm pretty certain these benchmarks are for the 21.5" model, as I'd think the 27" models will both come with 8GB RAM as standard. I'd also guess 1TB HDs across the board.

These are 27" models and they are running 32-bit mode, so it should actually be 13000+ scores on 64-bit. It's faster than the current top of the line MBPs.

 

[pdadoc]

Larger SSD

Almost pulled the trigger myself on iMac after no announcement- now will hold off for a month to see..... Currently use MBP 2010 hooked to 24" cinema display. I typically have LOTS of apps open at same time, and am tired of the spinning beach ball. While upgraded specs will be nice, the ONE thing I'm really looking for is upgrade to 512 gb SSD drive. Expensive option, but well worth it to me to get everything on one drive.

I also have a 2011 MB Air, and the SSD drive makes all the difference in speed. Looking forward to getting rid of all the wires, and having a "top of line" iMac that will allow work to get done with no (or rare) beach balls! Given the upgrades to 512 SSD in MB Airs, would be surprised if that wasn't offered as an option.

 

[faroZ06]

And what about the Mac Pro? Still 2013?

 

[Slow Programmer]

Repairability has a direct connection with repair cost, no matter who does it.

Screen size: with a MacBook you attach whatever size display you want.

Faster: when I have looked at same generation Macs, the speeds were comparable.

Cheaper: No.

I/O: what are you referring too? The only "I/O" difference is the iMac doesn't have a SD Card slot.

iMacs have had SD Card slots for the last several years. It is just under the optical drive. Have you actually ever used a iMac? Does the new MacBook Pro have an optical drive?

 

[OliOC]

These are 27" models and they are running 32-bit mode, so it should actually be 13000+ scores on 64-bit. It's faster than the current top of the line MBPs.

Sweet! Thanks for clarifying that.

----------

iMacs have had SD Card slots for the last several years. It is just under the optical drive. Have you actually ever used a iMac? Does the new MacBook Pro have an optical drive?

Fair point. Plus it's worth mentioning the new iMacs will have twice as many USB 3.0 ports...

 

[niuniu]

I'm sick of these rumors.

Then why are you reading and posting on a site called MacRUMORS.

 

[BobCollins]

I disagree. I would be suprised AT ALL if apple dropped the 13" and 15" MBPs as we know them now next year, and release std def versions of the new MBP Retina. They are testing the water with this ATM, but there are too many laptops in their current line up. Next year we'll see updated laptops that loose the optical drive (perhaps not the 2.5" HD) and a redesigned Mac Pro that is smaller. The Mac Pro will open up the doors to Prosumers that can't afford the current Mac Pro but are concerned about the obsolescence of the iMac...

I must not have been clear, we basically agree here: I believe that Apple will consolidate their laptop line. They will lose the optical drive (I thought they would lose it this time), and I suspect that they will lose the mechanical hard disk.

What I did not predict (I should have) was Apple making the laptops as monolithic, unrepairable, non-upgradable, throw-away products. Of course, that's what they have done with the iPods, the iPhones, and the iPads, so I shouldn't have been surprised.

Thankfully, they did not completely redo the non-retina MBP: they still are modular allowing for both easy repair and upgrade. I'm sure they will "correct" this in the next year or two, making them more like the Air and Retina.

BTW, I am not sure what Apple will do with the MacPro. The form-factor can clearly provide power that is not doable in the other Mac formats, but I don't figure that it is too big of a market for Apple. I would not be surprised at all if the dumped the whole MacPro line.

 

[CycloneX]

I was checking the Apple refurbished iMacs and it seems there weren't any 27" i7 quad-cores available which is rather unusual. Maybe an update is right around the corner or the lack of high-end iMac refurbs is just a temporary thing.

I had one saved in my shopping cart last night, but didn't pull the trigger. Today, it's gone. One could interpret this as Apple clearing inventory --- seems mission accomplished today --- before an upgrade, or just biz as usual and means nothing. However, it makes no sense for Apple to have only one "up to date" line -- laptops -- for several months to a year. I can see the longer wait for the PM, as it likely will be a complete redesign, case and all, but Apple must have a desktop model that is up to spec with the MBP and Air -- at least USB 3.0, latest flavor from Intel, and new mobile GPUs on some models. My guess would be new-ish iMacs will be relased with Mountain Lion in July. So, I guess I'll wait a bit more *grumbles* before buying a new iMac.

 

[oLNutjob]

I'd be first in line for a 27" if it's screen bottom started an inch or so above my workstation desk.

("Hello Apple. You need to lose the bottom aluminum panel and logo..... Lower your screen.")

 

[BobCollins]

iMacs have had SD Card slots for the last several years. It is just under the optical drive. Have you actually ever used a iMac? Does the new MacBook Pro have an optical drive?

I have an iMac. Thank you for pointing out my miss on the SD Card slot; mine does not have one.

Yes, the new non-retina MBPs do have optical drives. Probably because they really didn't change that much from last year. I am surprised that they didn't drop them.

 

[Lynn Belvedere]

There will not be a retina imac until 2015 at the absolute earliest. The cost would be far too outrageous until that time.

2012 - Retina Macbook pro 15"
2013/2014 - Retina Macbook pro 13" and retina Macbook air 11"/13"
2015 - Retina imac

 

[faroZ06]

I'd be first in line for a 27" if it's screen bottom started an inch or so above my workstation desk.

("Hello Apple. You need to lose the bottom aluminum panel and logo..... Lower your screen.")

Remember the iMac G4 design? That was pretty good.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Let's hope this iMac allows for RAM upgrades outside of Apple.

 

[Ddyracer]

I'm sick of these rumors.

Wait, you'd rather have those tired iPad and iPhone rumors? Enjoy it. It only comes once a year for each mac lineup.