iMac Update Might Be Coming Sooner Rather Than Later

[iSayuSay]

Only thing that bug me is they still include 4GB RAM as standard .. on highest end 27" too? (See the benchmark, it's i7 3770 .. must be the high end BTO 27").

For goodness, it's 2012 and 4GB RAM should be like .. minimum? I mean high end MBP came with 8GB as standard, so why not doing the same for iMac?

Yeah RAM is super cheap, but it's nice to have 8GB as standard, means you get 2x4GB and you can add 2x8GB for heavy workload instead 2x2GB as usual.

 

[BobCollins]

Only thing that bug me is they still include 4GB RAM as standard .. on highest end 27" too? (See the benchmark, it's i7 3770 .. must be the high end BTO 27").

For goodness, it's 2012 and 4GB RAM should be like .. minimum? I mean high end MBP came with 8GB as standard, so why not doing the same for iMac?

Yeah RAM is super cheap, but it's nice to have 8GB as standard, means you get 2x4GB and you can add 2x8GB for heavy workload instead 2x2GB as usual.

Most of the new MBP do come with 8 GB standard. Although they claim differently, I suspect that they will work with 16 GB. I was happy to buy the base model with 4 GB and later upgrade directly to 16 GB when it becomes an issue. I get to avoid the Apple memory tax and (probably) run with more memory than they publish as possible.

 

[paradox00]

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.

The SSD will be upgradable, the battery is replaceable by Apple for a similar price to what they charge for the old Macbook Pros. The only non upgradable part you're losing with the retina mac is the ram. While Apple's upgrade price is definitely on the high side, it's still a reasonable enough price to max it out right away.

 

[Tinyluph]

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

Is this not the case on the current iMacs?

 

[oLNutjob]

Remember the iMac G4 design? That was pretty good.

Yup. It was fine raising the screen to use the optical drive. I really wish I could find a cheap 20" G4 to use as a digital picture frame.

Those things had looks and class.

 

[shompa]

Apple loves to save money.
Examples:
Retina Iphone4 and Retina 5,1 have the same pixel density. They can use the same "LCD panels"*, just cut different sizes.

Same with iPad 7.65 inch. its exact the same pixel density as iPhone 3Gs. They can use the same LCD and just cut larger size.

How is it with Ipad3 and Retina macbook pro? Is it the same pixel density? Do they use the same "LCD panel". Probably.

The retina panel that is used for Macbook pro / iPad. Apple is probably just cutting larger panels for 22 inch and 27 inch. It should not be impossible.





*LCD panel is the wrong technical term, but you know what I mean.

 

[iSayuSay]

Most of the new MBP do come with 8 GB standard. Although they claim differently, I suspect that they will work with 16 GB. I was happy to buy the base model with 4 GB and later upgrade directly to 16 GB when it becomes an issue. I get to avoid the Apple memory tax and (probably) run with more memory than they publish as possible.

On the second thought yes .. only 2 MBP model (base 13" and 15") came with 4GB. Means it become minority.

I hope Apple had a change of heart and include 8GB as standard, reducing the chance to upgrade, and it's nice to have 2x4GB because it's 4GB/slot so you can add RAM much further to 24GB rather than 2x2GB as standard .. it's a waste of slot .. You can't dump Apple RAM either since it's included in warranty or the AppleCare.

 

[BobCollins]

The SSD will be upgradable, the battery is replaceable by Apple for a similar price to what they charge for the old Macbook Pros. The only non upgradable part you're losing with the retina mac is the ram. While Apple's upgrade price is definitely on the high side, it's still a reasonable enough price to max it out right away.

I hope that the Retina's battery is replaceable, at least by Apple. If you read the iFixit teardown report though, they found the the battery was cemented in and they worried that it would break if they tried to remove it. This is NOT the case with the batteries in the MBPs of the past few years. They were held in with screws and easy to replace.

Also, unless money is no object, not being able to upgrade the RAM is a big deal. You have to order and pay for the maximum configuration that you will ever use right at the beginning. I prefer to upgrade items like RAM and disk over the period I own a computer, upgrading if and when it is needed. I also benefit from the lower prices of these commodity items by doing it later.

 

[mrmarts]

As my iMac 2010 works fine and I just got a macbook pro retina I am curious to see whats coming I would be tempted to buy a new one if:


1. It offers 4k resolution with retina
2. it has a complete redesign hopefully not like the macbook pro retina if a part breaks down you break if you don't have warranty.
3. it has USB 3.0 at least two ports as my current iMac don't have it
4. better graphics and more memory i.e. 8gb on base config.

 

[themcfly]

Only thing that bug me is they still include 4GB RAM as standard .. on highest end 27" too? (See the benchmark, it's i7 3770 .. must be the high end BTO 27").

For goodness, it's 2012 and 4GB RAM should be like .. minimum? I mean high end MBP came with 8GB as standard, so why not doing the same for iMac?

I don't understand it either, ram is REALLY cheap nowadays... the only explanation i can find is that Apple does NOT consider the iMac a "pro" product in their lineup...

 

[e-coli]

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.

Know what you're talking about before you drill people.

Screen size: sure, if you want to drop another $1k on a screen you can. Otherwise the iMac has a bigger screen (and as such is cheaper for what you get).

The iMac is indeed faster. The bus speed and read/seek times on the HDD's are faster. I have identical chips and memory in an iMac and MacBook Pro. The iMac is faster.

Cheaper: Yes. Try to find a MacBook pro with a screen res even close to an iMac. And a 15" MacBook Pro is still significantly more expensive than a 21" iMac.

I/O: the iMac has significantly more ports. And it even has an SD card slot.

 

[Thunderbird]

This makes sense. If the iMac were only getting a speed bump, it would have got one along with the laptops at WWDC. The fact that the iMac was conspicuously absent from WWDC announcments, seems to indicate the iMac is getting more than an Ivy Bridge speed bump. I think there's going to be a redesign, which may or may not include retina display, but more likely will involve aesthetic and form changes (e.g. the stand).

I say a new iMac will be announced together with Mountain Lion, or not too long after (by end of September).

 

[paradox00]

I hope that the Retina's battery is replaceable, at least by Apple. If you read the iFixit teardown report though, they found the the battery was cemented in and they worried that it would break if they tried to remove it. This is NOT the case with the batteries in the MBPs of the past few years. They were held in with screws and easy to replace.

Also, unless money is no object, not being able to upgrade the RAM is a big deal. You have to order and pay for the maximum configuration that you will ever use right at the beginning. I prefer to upgrade items like RAM and disk over the period I own a computer, upgrading if and when it is needed. I also benefit from the lower prices of these commodity items by doing it later.

There isn't an "I hope" about it. It is replaceable by Apple. Priced similarily to the 17" Macbook pro (there's actually more battery in these new macs than the old 15" ones).
http://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro/service/battery/

Ram is a $200 upgrade on a min $2200 computer. It's overpriced, but not by as much as past upgrades, and if $200 is going to do that much financial damage to you, you probably shouldn't be buying a $2200 computer.

I feel like you're driven more by ideology than anything else (the only good computer is an upgradable one). For instance, going back to your original point about the iMacs hard drive being tougher to replace than an old Macbook pros: Booting from an external drive on an iMac really isn't a big deal. It takes up less space (and costs less) than a monitor and a laptop, and since a desktop doesn't move, you only have to plug it in once. With Thunderbolt, there's zero performance loss as well, it's literally an extension of the PCIe bus outside of your computer. I'm not sure what external you used when your iMacs hard drive went, but maybe you didn't end up with a good one if you had problems (5400 rpm USB external?). Firewire has served as an excellent, bootable, port for years.

The only time buying a laptop makes sense is when you plan on using it as a laptop some of the time.

 

[bflowers]

Reasons to want an iMac over MBP

1. Screen size - 27 in much better for getting some serious work done with multiple windows open

2. Dependability - I've replaced my Mac laptop twice during the 10 years I have had my desktop. A good old 17" G4 iMac. Slow, but works just fine for keeping track of the finances, and the rare game that was optimized for specific processors, and thus incompatible with newer hardware.

3. Durability - Kids... do I want the little ones banging on the keyboard when that keyboard is the computer? No, but it is hard to keep the little ones away. I have a couple older extended keyboards, they can play Alpha Baby on without killing the iMac.

I almost considered a refurb of the current system, but I can sit and wait until M Lion comes out, since i haven't bought a desktop in 10 years, I can wait a bit longer.

 

[Daws001]

I was seriously considering getting a retina MBP but then my iPad looked at me, with that puppy dog retina display, whimpering. So then I says, "iMac instead?" and my iPad got giddy and started yelping.

So, now I wait for the updated iMac

 

[Jus11]

I just bought the top of the line imac. I need it badly. I dont care if they make a small specbump next month. If they release retina imacs with redesign im gonna go mad. But, I seriously doubt it...so Im without regret. If I read this before I ordered yesterday, I might reconsider and be back in the waiting game, which is not a fun place to be.

Same here. I need it now and Mac Mini as a tempoeary solution for 5 months is enough. So no more waiting for me. iMac 3,4 ghz with SSD + 2 tb + 32 gb ram will serve me well for next 2-3 years

And I could not care less for Retina. I make music.

Another reason for updating now is that there is no guarantee that the music softwares I use (theres plenty) will be Mountain Lion compatible straight away. And now we know that the new iMacs (whenever they come) will have MT... Didn't want to wait just to end up waiting for software updstes, haha!

 

[charlituna]

Imagine a retina display with those pixel numbers. that would be insane!

I'm also pleased with all these Mac rumors we have been seeing

Yep. I could go for a 30 inch Retina iMac sans ODD with some hdmi, thunderbolt etc action. Two SDDs if not more

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I have a serious question for iMac users (a.k.a. I'm not trying to troll). Why do you prefer an iMac (all-in-one) to something else such as a Mac Mini or Mac Pro?

I use an iMac at work for Final Cut (networked to a render farm). Since we are farming the heavy action and media I didn't need a Mac pro but a mini isn't strong enough. Laptops don't have the screen real estate and I dont need portability

I use an iMac at home cause I was able to buy my old one when it was replaced for dirt. I have an iPad for the little bit for portable stuff I need which is just email and movies on the plane ride to our filming locations etc

 

[Lancer]

I very much doubt the 2012 iMac will get a retina display, that would push the cost up unless like the MBP the add a new model.

21.5" iMac 2x sepc levels
21.5" iMac with Retina LCD
27" iMac 2x spec levels

I'd say right now a 27" with Retina will cost way to much for the average iMac customer.

Right now I'm hoping July/August will bring updates like the MBP got with new faster CPUs, more RAM, bigger HDD and USB3.

Matte screen option would be nice but I'm not counting on it given a new design iMac is coming in 2013.

 

[Cygnus311]

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?

Oh I don't know, saves me $1,000 and gives me better graphic performance?

 

[AndreGB]

Is there a chance that this means Apple will completely abandon the iMac? As in, no more iMacs update ever?

 

[Arcalle]

I hope iMac in next Keynote with the new iPhone!!!

 

[charlituna]

About a year ago I was looking at jobs for apple and there were some for 3D design interface engineering,

Something like that would take more than a year to develop. Especially since it could have been the end of the year before they found the right people. A year of research at least after that to figure out what tech they need, at least six months to figure out who can make it at the needed amounts and quality etc

And even then they could table it as not possible, at least at this time

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

Not free but of course they are going to put that in the new iPad 4K

 

[faroZ06]

Yup. It was fine raising the screen to use the optical drive. I really wish I could find a cheap 20" G4 to use as a digital picture frame.

Those things had looks and class.

I rarely use the optical drive anyway. I wonder what an iMac G4 would look like in aluminum... Photoshop project #2 (I just got PS)?

 

[12dylan34]

Why I straight up don't want a retina iMac this refresh:

1. I use a lot of professional apps. Autodesk and Maxon aren't going to jump on the retina bandwagon anytime soon because not only does the Mac not represent the majority of their sales, but retina displays are currently the minority within the Mac lineup. There's also been no word on whether After Effects and other Adobe apps than Photoshop will be getting retina anytime soon. I also don't have CS6 because some of my After Effects plugins won't work with it, and I'm certain that CS5 probably won't get retina support.This is all a problem because as per Engadget's review of the retina MBP, non-retina apps look terrible on the screen. I don't want blurry crap.

2.Performance. The screenshot posted here of the new retina preference pane shows that you can't simply set the resolution to half and use it as a non-retina display: https://www.macrumors.com/2012/06/12/a-closer-look-at-the-new-macbook-pros-retina-display/ I need all of the graphics horsepower that I can get for viewport performance in 3D apps, and quadrupling the amount of pixels the card has to push doesn't help that at all.

3. Even browsing the web. Engadget's review said that images look pixellated on sites that are not retina-optimized. Will companies spend the money to upgrade their sites just to suit a few models from one manufacturer out of thousands and thousands of models of computers out there?

I just think that it will be a poor experience, especially for me in the beginning. It's a great trend to have such high quality displays, but I would prefer others to be the beta testers getting the third party stuff up to speed before I make the plunge.

All of this being said, I realize that I'm in the minority of users, and people just using it for day to day stuff probably won't have a problem with retina, but I'm actually really hoping for a non-retina iMac next refresh. Not until third party stuff is more ready.

Why not buy a Mac Pro and get whatever display that I want if I use so much professional stuff? Because I'm a college student that can't afford one, plus it's old tech at this point. The iMac with the included screen is a better value to me.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Macclone]

I very much doubt the 2012 iMac will get a retina display, that would push the cost up unless like the MBP the add a new model.

21.5" iMac 2x sepc levels
21.5" iMac with Retina LCD
27" iMac 2x spec levels

I'd say right now a 27" with Retina will cost way to much for the average iMac customer.

Right now I'm hoping July/August will bring updates like the MBP got with new faster CPUs, more RAM, bigger HDD and USB3.

Matte screen option would be nice but I'm not counting on it given a new design iMac is coming in 2013.

Nobody knows if there will be a new design in 2013.