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New iMac G5 Announced
- Thread starter MacBytes
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xsnightclub said:
Sweet. Sorry for the lameness. I guess I should have slept rather than reading through the specs bleary eyed.
While I have NO excuse to buy one, I do kinda like the idea of having a desktop machine again at home (however "consumerized" it is) while not giving up any meaningful desk (or underdesk) space.
unsigned said:
The ATI Radeon 9600 and 9700 Mobility chips are already used in the previous and current generation 15" and 17" PowerBooks respectively, which obviously have system enclosures which have more severe restrictions on heat production, power usage and cooling than the iMac G5 does. Even the Radeon 9600 Pro card in my PowerMac G5 only has a small passive heatsink, relying on air movement from the slow spinning AGP/PCI bay fan up the front of the case. Radeon 9800 cards have only moderately sized fans and heatsinks...nothing like the previous 'dustbuster' nVidia GeForce FX 5x00 series, or the new GeForce 6800.
I'd say the choice of the GeForce FX 5200 has more to do with saving money and keeping margins high, while bringing the whole system in at a reasonable price than it does to do with thermal and power considerations. Apple hasn't been a purely technically driven company since the Apple I. Economic choices play as great a role in product design, if not more so than technical contraints. For example, why is Apple still shipping these machines with only 256MB of RAM? Because it's 'optimal', or what 'most people will need?' Nope. It's cheaper to do it that way, and they can charge more for upgrades. Simple business.
more pics from Paris
have a look at:
http://www.repubblica.it/2003/e/gallerie/scienzaetecnologia/nuovoimac/nuovoimac.html
have a look at:
http://www.repubblica.it/2003/e/gallerie/scienzaetecnologia/nuovoimac/nuovoimac.html
Lancetx said:
What sort of logic is that!?
You have to spend that much on a computer and you can't even play a number of games that are on the market now! What's it going to look like in a year or two?
Apple don't even give you the option of a better graphics card.
My good friend Dirk here in Berlin would have switched to Apple years ago if there had been a 'topless' iMac with two slots.
He, like many others, are prepared to pay more for a Mac (he hates MS). But not that much more; and then have to throw away (or sell) a perfectly good monitor he's already purchased.
Apple are missing out on a huge market. There are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of disenchanted Wintel users out there.
The vast majority of them, like me, are on modest incomes.
Give them a chance to switch, Apple.
Overall not bad, but why can't they ship with 512MB? With 256, you can barely run calculator. It means every single one purchased will have to have RAM added, what a pain for schools. The graphics card is fine for the low end model but a joke for the other 2. $1899 isn't too ridiculous for the 20" screen model, and the low end price is right too given it has a 17" screen. 80Gb hard drive on the middle model is a joke. The hobbled bus is lame. Really, a single 1.8 G5 is maybe as fast as a 2.4GHz P4. In other words, about what you can get on a $300 PC. I don't think anyone will switch platforms for this. Still, it is obviously a huge jump from the previous iMac and should sell well.
Graphics Card
As previously suggested, the graphics card is very average-- at best. However, it is at the same class or better than consumer level PC's so I guess that's the status quo.
The design looks great. At first I wondered if I'd like it, but I do. However, I've never been the target market of an iMac.
MacBytes said:
As previously suggested, the graphics card is very average-- at best. However, it is at the same class or better than consumer level PC's so I guess that's the status quo.
The design looks great. At first I wondered if I'd like it, but I do. However, I've never been the target market of an iMac.
Apple : Hold Me Down Holy
::::::::::::::
HOLLA POINT
::::::::::::::
many have spoken . . .
many have seen . . .
apple continues to uphold its policy of functional minimalism .
i do agree . i do support . id lay down my life .
i was however taken aback at first by the GIRTH of this
all-in-one display tactic. after browsing through apples site
i agree that it safely succeeds in continuing the iMAC lineage,
but in all truth i feel it aesthetically offers nothing new and
OUTSTANDING.
HOLLA . one point . i really respected what apple did with the last
model iMAC by allowing for a new interface with the monitor;
giving it at last a tactile feel, inviting one to touch and manipulate.
i wish apple would have kept that as a focal point in the design
and functionality.
http://www.lluon.com/
i've seen many intersting PC designs whilst in tokyo and korea
this company manufactures an intersting model which may have provided
a reference point for apple to design this new model and interface.
ONE HOPES AND PRAYS .
the joint is DECENT but i'm feeling my DUAL G5 more
although i respect that their demographics are different.
apple just puts the pressure on itself with these releases,
the design and innovation just can't falter. but if i had a need
for a fourth computer; i'd consider the iMac.
HOLLERATIONS .
Ninja Youngster . Aerosy-Lex
EVEN JESUS HOLLERS BACK
::::::::::::::
HOLLA POINT
::::::::::::::
many have spoken . . .
many have seen . . .
apple continues to uphold its policy of functional minimalism .
i do agree . i do support . id lay down my life .
i was however taken aback at first by the GIRTH of this
all-in-one display tactic. after browsing through apples site
i agree that it safely succeeds in continuing the iMAC lineage,
but in all truth i feel it aesthetically offers nothing new and
OUTSTANDING.
HOLLA . one point . i really respected what apple did with the last
model iMAC by allowing for a new interface with the monitor;
giving it at last a tactile feel, inviting one to touch and manipulate.
i wish apple would have kept that as a focal point in the design
and functionality.
http://www.lluon.com/
i've seen many intersting PC designs whilst in tokyo and korea
this company manufactures an intersting model which may have provided
a reference point for apple to design this new model and interface.
ONE HOPES AND PRAYS .
the joint is DECENT but i'm feeling my DUAL G5 more
although i respect that their demographics are different.
apple just puts the pressure on itself with these releases,
the design and innovation just can't falter. but if i had a need
for a fourth computer; i'd consider the iMac.
HOLLERATIONS .
Ninja Youngster . Aerosy-Lex
EVEN JESUS HOLLERS BACK
The iPod "Parlay" is interesting
Apple is really stressing the visual similarity between the new G5 iMac and the iPod: the front page (www.apple.com) says "From the creators of iPod. The new iMac G5."
Then, the very first paragraph on www.apple.com/imac says "What if you could fit your whole life all your music, all your photos, all your movies, all your email in a computer as fun and useful as an iPod? Now you can."
Is apple trying to parlay (http://daringfireball.net/2004/08/parlay) their iPod's success back into their computer offerings? I think so!
Apple is really stressing the visual similarity between the new G5 iMac and the iPod: the front page (www.apple.com) says "From the creators of iPod. The new iMac G5."
Then, the very first paragraph on www.apple.com/imac says "What if you could fit your whole life all your music, all your photos, all your movies, all your email in a computer as fun and useful as an iPod? Now you can."
Is apple trying to parlay (http://daringfireball.net/2004/08/parlay) their iPod's success back into their computer offerings? I think so!
G3lime said:
Man, people can grouse all they like about the front of the machine, but the inside is drop-dead gorgeous.
http://www.repubblica.it/2003/e/gallerie/scienzaetecnologia/nuovoimac/10.html
Well, my signature 'bout says it all. I'm a huge fan. Gotta have one.
I just priced out a 20 incher on apple's website with bluetooth, airport, a gig of ram, a 250 GB drive, and a few other essential toys. Came out at around $2,500. I've been telling myself for quite some time that the day I can get a heavily loaded Mac with a G5 with a minimum 20" display for under $2,500 is the day I place an order. Unfortunately, my money tree in the backyard didn't have a good growing season up here in Minnesota...too cold, not enough rain. But someday soon.....
-Joe
I just priced out a 20 incher on apple's website with bluetooth, airport, a gig of ram, a 250 GB drive, and a few other essential toys. Came out at around $2,500. I've been telling myself for quite some time that the day I can get a heavily loaded Mac with a G5 with a minimum 20" display for under $2,500 is the day I place an order. Unfortunately, my money tree in the backyard didn't have a good growing season up here in Minnesota...too cold, not enough rain. But someday soon.....
-Joe
Lancetx said:
What sort of logic is that!?
You have to spend that much on a computer and you can't even play a number of games that are on the market now! What's it going to look like in a year or two?
Apple don't even give you the option of a better graphics card.
My good friend Dirk here in Berlin would have switched to Apple years ago if there had been a 'topless' iMac with two slots.
He, like many others, are prepared to pay more for a Mac (he hates MS). But he can't afford that much more; and then have to throw away (or sell) a perfectly good monitor he's already purchased.
Apple are missing out on a huge market. There are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of disenchanted Wintel users out there.
The vast majority of them, like me, are on modest incomes.
Give them a chance to switch, Apple.
My review on the new Imac
The design looks good.
Ram needs to be 512 but that is upgradeble
CPU is good but it is wasted because of the graphic card
Graphic card is non upgradeble and is a POS. The graphic card along moves this computer to something with promise to a worthless POS. I say still buy the Emac. Much better value and the graphic card is forgivble in it. Not in the new iMac
Gamers might as well give up on buying a mac for that. Yeah you can play Doom but all the stuff that make the graphic great has to be turned off. There UK4 test was more then likely at the setting where the CPU is the limiting factor. Lets turn up the graphic up a bit and you will see it will more than likely be only marginly better then the last G4 imac.
So overall review of the iMac is it 3 out of 10 due to the graphic card alone
The design looks good.
Ram needs to be 512 but that is upgradeble
CPU is good but it is wasted because of the graphic card
Graphic card is non upgradeble and is a POS. The graphic card along moves this computer to something with promise to a worthless POS. I say still buy the Emac. Much better value and the graphic card is forgivble in it. Not in the new iMac
Gamers might as well give up on buying a mac for that. Yeah you can play Doom but all the stuff that make the graphic great has to be turned off. There UK4 test was more then likely at the setting where the CPU is the limiting factor. Lets turn up the graphic up a bit and you will see it will more than likely be only marginly better then the last G4 imac.
So overall review of the iMac is it 3 out of 10 due to the graphic card alone
AmigoMac said:Insane ... just that!
The attack of the trolls...
How is that possibly a troll. That is an awesome idea. Bring the PowerBook home, plug it in to the iMac's 20" display with the PB DVI-out... instant 20" monitor for both computers. A DVI input would make the display on the iMac perfect.
It's funny how the best ideas always get marked as trolls...
Fix the cost!
A high end iMac for $1899? The Apple Store says $2499! Are you sure you didn't mean 1899? Then the prices would agree.
I was all set to go and buy but then I see this. 30% more expensive than quoted makes a difference you know.
A high end iMac for $1899? The Apple Store says $2499! Are you sure you didn't mean 1899? Then the prices would agree.
I was all set to go and buy but then I see this. 30% more expensive than quoted makes a difference you know.
I thought it was ugly till I saw the real world pictures.
Currently restraining myself from placing the order.
Currently restraining myself from placing the order.
G3lime said:
jayscheuerle
macrumors 68020
I remember when the last iMac was speculated to look like this, Steve derisively said that they weren't just going to stick a computer on the back of a monitor and that it was better for the drives to be horizontal instead of vertical.
Times change...
Times change...
FX 5200 Ultra 64MB?
I'm tired of always hearing the same crap over and over again.
Say it with me: CONSUMERS play games, PROFESSIONNALS don't.
No "consumer" is buying a PowerMac (intended for professionnals, priced for professionnals). And don't tell me the 5200 was chosen for its price - I bet 50$ would buy a MUCH better GPU, maybe another 50$ to have 128MB instead of 64MB.
Wouldn't impact the price of the iMac G5 that much since it's already priced way over the PC boxes. If you can't upgrade the iMac GPU, at least make it a good one by default (and by "good" I don't mean "barely acceptable for 2004", I mean "still ok for games in 2005~2006").
If anything, the iMac G5 should have the Radeon 9800XT and the PowerMac Dual 2.5 should have that 5200 (if it's good enough for CoreImage... it's good enough to work)
I also agree with the person who said Apple keeps using crappy GPUs in their non-pro machines and barely puts last year's GPUs into their high-end machines. Today's high-end GPUs are the X800, etc. Even the 9800XT is last year's monster.
I would've been ok with a Mobility Radeon 9700 128MB in the iMac G5 but a FX 5200 Ultra 64MB? If Apple really cared about gamers (and it seems they do, reading their iMac G5 pages) they'd use a better GPU in their consumer machines. They already buy a bunch of those (Mobility Radeon 9700) for some PowerBooks models anyway so the discount would've been even higher. And if it's a heat issue, I don't get how they can put them in the PowerBooks and not the iMac G5. The next iBook should get something like the 5200, not the brand-new iMac.
World of Warcraft and Doom 3 on an old GPU with only 64MB? Let me laugh. All of the iMac G5 features are amazing except the GPU (and to those who complain "the RAM is too low" well at least you can add more RAM yourself. Up to 2GB, in fact).
All in all, a nice well-priced new machine with a crappy GPU. Potential switchers are NOT gonna be impressed when they look at the GPU. And they'll stick with their PC box.
A lot of people WANT to switch. But keep forcing them to buy an LCD screen (which they don't need - they're SWITCHERS, they ALREADY have a CRT/LCD display) and keep putting crappy on-board GPUs (and low VRAM too) and they'll never switch (oh yeah, the iMac means all-in-one. Ok then, but I'm still hoping for my sMac - Switcher's Mac).
Lancetx said:
I'm tired of always hearing the same crap over and over again.
Say it with me: CONSUMERS play games, PROFESSIONNALS don't.
No "consumer" is buying a PowerMac (intended for professionnals, priced for professionnals). And don't tell me the 5200 was chosen for its price - I bet 50$ would buy a MUCH better GPU, maybe another 50$ to have 128MB instead of 64MB.
Wouldn't impact the price of the iMac G5 that much since it's already priced way over the PC boxes. If you can't upgrade the iMac GPU, at least make it a good one by default (and by "good" I don't mean "barely acceptable for 2004", I mean "still ok for games in 2005~2006").
If anything, the iMac G5 should have the Radeon 9800XT and the PowerMac Dual 2.5 should have that 5200 (if it's good enough for CoreImage... it's good enough to work)
I also agree with the person who said Apple keeps using crappy GPUs in their non-pro machines and barely puts last year's GPUs into their high-end machines. Today's high-end GPUs are the X800, etc. Even the 9800XT is last year's monster.
I would've been ok with a Mobility Radeon 9700 128MB in the iMac G5 but a FX 5200 Ultra 64MB? If Apple really cared about gamers (and it seems they do, reading their iMac G5 pages) they'd use a better GPU in their consumer machines. They already buy a bunch of those (Mobility Radeon 9700) for some PowerBooks models anyway so the discount would've been even higher. And if it's a heat issue, I don't get how they can put them in the PowerBooks and not the iMac G5. The next iBook should get something like the 5200, not the brand-new iMac.
World of Warcraft and Doom 3 on an old GPU with only 64MB? Let me laugh. All of the iMac G5 features are amazing except the GPU (and to those who complain "the RAM is too low" well at least you can add more RAM yourself. Up to 2GB, in fact).
All in all, a nice well-priced new machine with a crappy GPU. Potential switchers are NOT gonna be impressed when they look at the GPU. And they'll stick with their PC box.
A lot of people WANT to switch. But keep forcing them to buy an LCD screen (which they don't need - they're SWITCHERS, they ALREADY have a CRT/LCD display) and keep putting crappy on-board GPUs (and low VRAM too) and they'll never switch (oh yeah, the iMac means all-in-one. Ok then, but I'm still hoping for my sMac - Switcher's Mac).
I was expecting something totally more creative than this. The graphics card stinks, and since it is non-upgradeable, you're already at a loss. Offering a standard 256MB is subpar and should be changed if they intend to charge the price they currently have.
Even though the main unit is 2.x inches think, you still have a 7.4 inch footprint on your desk. I am severely let down by this lack of creativity. As I have seen posted before, it is just an eMac clone and the eMac would be a far better purchase than the iMac. If things continue like this, I guess we'll see the iMac be replaced by one unit, the eMac.
Even though the main unit is 2.x inches think, you still have a 7.4 inch footprint on your desk. I am severely let down by this lack of creativity. As I have seen posted before, it is just an eMac clone and the eMac would be a far better purchase than the iMac. If things continue like this, I guess we'll see the iMac be replaced by one unit, the eMac.
All that AND an upgradable hard drive for mortals.
http://images.apple.com/imac/images/designopenanim20040831.gif
Wow, an iMac where Apple actually wants you to be able to upgrade the hard drive easily. Hope that carries over to the iBook soon.
http://images.apple.com/imac/images/designopenanim20040831.gif
Wow, an iMac where Apple actually wants you to be able to upgrade the hard drive easily. Hope that carries over to the iBook soon.
- Status