Limited iMac Availability Suggests Possible Refresh

[designgeek]

Thank god, the chipset is crap. I think the Nvidia chips will make these things ringers if that's the case. The Mini is in the worst shape, The MBA is almost a better computer and its graphics card is run slower on purpose. I'm excited. I'm all for a refresh of all desktop computers.

 

[minik]

It's their 25th anniversary and 25 years ago they had their first ad during the superbowl.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYecfV3ubP8

I understand that, but what will the ad be [if there is one]? I just don't see the reason. Sure it is a big deal for us, that's all. Sorry for OT.

 

[crisss1205]

I understand that, but what will the ad be [if there is one]? I just don't see the reason. Sure it is a big deal for us, that's all. Sorry for OT.

Maybe they will show us the new iMac in an AD!! probably not.

 

[Jonny75]

There was also a bunch of speculation about a possible Superbowl ad.

25 years since 1984 ad ....
...

Has anyone checked cable in Idaho....?

http://www.macworld.com/article/138519/2009/01/macat25_ads.html

 

[Eric S.]

Apple's ad campaign has been doing the "cool media" thing for so long now that you wonder if they'd even be capable of a revolutionary ad any more.

 

[dwl017]

I see this sort of nonsense posted so much here. If the machine is good enough for you, and you'd likely want to hold on to it for a few years, should Apple sit still until 2012? It might be fast enough for you, but you have to be less solipsistic and look at the industry at large.

It is similar to the iPhone posts: just because many are happy with the camera, not looking at the wider picture they miss the iPhone looks quite puney in spec to the competition. (We continue to have EDGE defenders too.) And this is harming the sales.

Apple has a plan for Grand Central, Snow Leopard and processor upgrades and the iMac is well behind the schedule. This has shown in sales where the upgraded notebooks flew out the depots but many are waiting for rightly expected iMac upgrades.

Yes the current iMacs are fast, but the processors are now well behind the curve and the longer term architecture for Snow Leopard and should have been revised November 2008.

I know this might upset the reality-refusing-fanboys.

Yours in asbestos clothing!

90% of the post on this web site are written by geeky drama queen fan boys, same applies to 90% of the lies and rumors that are posted here. Lets see there have been almost two years of lies and rumors about a new Mac Mini posted here none of which ever came true. There is not a single member of this site with any credible information at all.

 

[MasterNile]

I'm hoping for an update by Feb 10th cause that's when the IRS says I'll be getting my tax return

 

[AidenShaw]

90% of the post on this web site are written by geeky drama queen fan boys, same applies to 90% of the lies and rumors that are posted here. Lets see there have been almost two years of lies and rumors about a new Mac Mini posted here none of which ever came true. There is not a single member of this site with any credible information at all.

You mean we won't see the Core i7 Mini-Tower and the Apple Netbook on Tuesday?

Drat!

 

[t0mat0]

90% of the post on this web site are written by geeky drama queen fan boys, same applies to 90% of the lies and rumors that are posted here. Lets see there have been almost two years of lies and rumors about a new Mac Mini posted here none of which ever came true. There is not a single member of this site with any credible information at all.

Ergo we shouldn't see your comment as credible? ...

 

[GottaLoveApple4]

Hulu Of Course!!!

Apple is obviously masked behind Hulu's Super Bowl time slot!! With Apple and NBC being such good friends and all, this has to be the case...

 

[Xtremehkr]

If it's true, I'll seriously consider getting one the day they are available. If it's a quad core, I'll definitely be getting one.

 

[srl7741]

I luv my iMac and would also love to see any new iMac released. Quad Core, faster processor, more memory. Heaven in the shape of an iMac

 

[AnDi86]

It's their 25th anniversary and 25 years ago they had their first ad during the superbowl.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYecfV3ubP8

how awesome would it be for them to have another revolutionary advert for something as revolutionary as the macintosh in 1984 on the 25th year anniversary! It would be rather fitting

But I don't see it happening!

But hey you guys in the states keep us posted here in the UK and the rest of the world too i suppose!

 

[RichardI]

Well, I've had my iMac for two years now and I love it, BUT I'd still like to see the line continue to improve. It is already the best home PC in the world IMHO, and the thought of quad core processors combined with SnowLeopard makes me drool.
I won't be upgrading any time soon, but I keep a close eye on what Apple is doing with my baby. As long as they don't ever change the keyboard - I don't think it's possible to improve on it anyway.
Bring on the changes!!

Rich

 

[Eric S.]

how awesome would it be for them to have another revolutionary advert for something as revolutionary as the macintosh in 1984 on the 25th year anniversary! It would be rather fitting

Sure, if they had a revolutionary product to advertise. What are they going to hype now? iMac and mini refresh?

When was the last time Apple had a truly revolutionary computer product?

 

[fleshman03]

The iMac definitely does NOT need a refresh, but anyway...my 24" is simply wonderful and speedier than 95% of the PCs out there...so I am fine.

Well that made me think of something.....

When I was getting my MBP repaired (The SuperDrive kicked the bucket) the Mac-Guru for my campus computer store said something.

He thinks they are getting rid of the 20" model. He said that they haven't really be getting in 20" models to sell and he thinks Apple is going to move to 24" only.

 

[bathurstguy]

It's only delayed due to iLife 09.........

 

[Xtremehkr]

Sure, if they had a revolutionary product to advertise. What are they going to hype now? iMac and mini refresh?

When was the last time Apple had a truly revolutionary computer product?

It's arguably the iPhone, which is a move towards really usable mobile computing in very small form. We keep hearing about this tablet thing that is going to revolutionize computing, it's basically a supersized iPhone.

 

[Detlev]

I know it isn't as sexy as a rumored upgrade but it is entirely possible that the delay is actually due to an unexpected event or even expected. This economy is having major effect on supply chains.

 

[gmcalpin]

That's not a complete list because Disney has an ad and they aren't listed there.

Either they are now, or you didn't notice them at the bottom under Walt Disney Pictures.

 

[iMacmatician]

These might be how the CPUs will transition (hard to guess because of the custom 1067FSB CPUs in the iMac):

• 2.4 GHz dual » 2.33 GHz 65 W quad
• 2.67 GHz dual » 2.67 GHz 65 W quad or 2.0 GHz 45 W quad?
• 2.8 GHz dual » 2.83 GHz 65 W quad or 2.0 GHz 45 W quad
• 3.07 GHz dual » 2.27 GHz 45 W quad
• » 2.53 GHz 45 W quad

That leaves a gap above the 2.83 GHz quad-core. Apple could just have three iMacs or have one speed for two iMacs. Or, Intel will make a special 3.0 GHz quad at a premium just for Apple (mass release later). This would mean that the GHz would barely go down from the current top-end dual-core (3.07 GHz). If Apple goes for the very pricey mobile quad-cores, the top-end iMacs could almost have a Mac Pro-like configuration, with up to three CPU choices.

But I haven't seen Apple in any of the lists of advertisers, so unless they're going through someone else (Budweiser), I'm guessing they're on the sidelines. Unless it's revolutionary, though, why would they bother with an ad for what's likely to be a speed bump with some other tweaks?

That's what I'm thinking. If it's big enough for an ad like this, then quad-core and a new chipset aren't enough. There will most likely be other stuff, maybe a small design change and a new feature or two.

Or the ad could be for another product entirely.

Yes the current iMacs are fast, but the processors are now well behind the curve and the longer term architecture for Snow Leopard

That's right, the CPUs used in the iMac were (at least at launch) 800FSB Penryn CPUs overclocked. The 1067FSB Penryns pulled ahead of the iMac CPUs, not in GHz, but in GHz per W and most likely GHz per $. Then we have the small speed bump from not long ago.

and should have been revised November 2008.

I think Apple's original plan was to do a November update with 1067FSB Penryns etc. (hence the AppleInsider rumor), but they switched to quad-core 65 W CPUs some time ago and so the release was pushed back.

Ergo we shouldn't see your comment as credible? ...

Ka-pwned!

 

[WATCHDOG]

$999 3.00 Ghz Dual core
$1299 2.33 Ghz Quad Core
$1549 2.66 Ghz Quad Core
$1899 2.83 Quad Core

+++

All things being equal,
is the 'speed' of a 2.33 Quad in an iMac
roughly 2.33/2.83ths the speed of a 2.83 Quad?

How about the comparitive "speed" of the 3.00 Dual with the 2.33 Quad?

Also, are we possibly looking at 4 G's (or more) max RAM?

Any other considerations - besides price - amongst those choices?

Thanks

+++

 

[JoshJosh117]

.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Stock?

Our distributor shows:

2.4 20" Quantity 1,002 On order 401
2.66 20" Quantity 445 On order 149
2.8 24" Quantity 313 On order 218
3.06 24" Quantity 0 On order 0

They also have over 600 mac mini's and 150 on order.

This doesn't mean much though because they may have a price protection and stock swap agreement with Apple in the case of updates. They were carrying a large stock of older iPod's that 'disappeared'...

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

I wouldn't expect more RAM than 4Gig on any new iMac. They use what could be described as mobile on the desktop technology and most notebooks are limited to 4Gig RAM... (Windows 32bit is limited to 4G too)