So speaking of "what's to come," yes yes the MBP is in need of an update, that is well-known. But I am becoming increasingly concerned about the growing performance gap between the iMac and the MacPro. I hate to be "that guy," but when is Apple going to start realizing that there's a hole whole demographic of users they are missing?
While, yes, there's some debate as to whether or not multitudes of users actually want to upgrade their PCs (or even CAN), there is the perceived desire for a machine that can do this. Why do you think AIOs have entirely failed on the PC-side? Obviously there are millions of idiot-users who buy PC towers who don't need them but they think they do. Just the sheer fact that AIOs are "not PC compatible" should clue Apple in to the existence of the gigantic mid-tower market. Who cares that an xMac will eat a quarter million iMac sales and a hundred thousand Mac Pro sales? It'll open the flood gates for Apple so that their user-base will grow even more - and thereafter their stock price.
"Wah wah, but an xMac would eat into iMac sales!" Of course it would, but you all are blaming that on the xMac when the iMac would be the one to blame for the cannibalization. For far too long, Apple has been trying to fill too many roles with the iMac. If you need power, you need a Mac Pro, and there's no question about it, but the iMac's job description is not nearly as clear-cut. If you need a simple computer that's easy to set up and use, Apple gives you an iMac. If you need a computer that is lighter on power, Apple gives you an iMac. If you need a computer that has a GPU but won't break the bank, Apple gives you an iMac. If you're a prosumer, Apple gives you an iMac. This sort of identity crisis is wreaking total havok on Apple's product line-up! An "I can do anything" computer just does not exist!
Apple needs to make up their mind about the iMac. Either make it a worthy desktop PC - giving it a desktop-grade processor and a decent GPU (sacrificing *some* style for functionality, if need be [and I don't hear anyone complaining that the iMac is still too thick]) - or make it their entry-level PC, starting at $899, kill the mini and make a desktop-class xMac once and for all.
Personally, I think the latter is a better fit. While I don't know for certain, I would venture to guess that the majority of users who want an AIO have simple needs. They most likely don't need the customization ability of a tower because they perform more general tasks. And for the record, the I just asked my wife if she'd rather have an all-in-one like an iMac, or a customizable, upgradeable tower. She said, "iMac." So, no, an xMac wouldn't seriously threaten the iMac's market demographic... not any more than the Mac Mini did when Apple first released it.
If Apple thinks every desktop-user is going to be appeased by either an iMac or a MacPro - oh yeah, or the Mini - they are seriously kidding themselves, and as a prosumer, I am insulted. Certainly our numbers aren't huge, but they are definitely larger than the number of people who need eight cores of server-class processing power.
So in terms of things I'd like to see from Apple:
-- New MBPs with multi-touch trackpads.
-- Tablet/over-sized iPhone.
-- SOMETHING with a desktop-class processor, a competitive GPU, and SOME degree of upgradeability.
-- A keyboard with a multi-touch trackpad. Yes, you heard me right. I hate mice. They fricken require so much desktop space, are cumbersome, and don't even recognize gestures! The only time I like to use mice is when playing computer games, which is rarely. Please, SOMEONE! Make a gesture-sensing trackpad-featured keyboard for desktops!
-Clive
