New iMac G5 Announced

[nagromme]

does anyone know if the new iMac comes with a keyboard?

It does come with mouse and keyboard. The reason there's a popup is to choose your language--but you'll notice there's no cost 🙂 (But if you choose wireless, that does add cost.)

 

[macidiot]

Aside from new FPS games, in what way does the GPU in the latest iMac fail to perform? Seems like it will do anything the consumer would want it to do.

You have a point. Safari, mail, and word will run fine with a 5200 card. But things like screen redraw and window resizing are affected by the card. Also, your point is a bit like asking why have stereo or 5.1 sound when all the consumer will do is listen to beeps and sosumi's...

On a side note...man...its taking forever to wade through this thread! 😱

 

[alexf]

Does your 90% figure include the people who will refuse to an iMac because of the sub-par video card?

Yes, it does.

It's been said before but I'll say it again: if you're into gaming, why would you buy an iMac? I'm no gamer myself, but something tells me that there may a few better options out there, regardless of what graphics card the iMac has?

Look, it's as simple as this: most of the people who are going to buy this new iMac - which will sell like hotcakes - could care less about what graphics card is inside and will play the few games that might ship with the computer at the MOST.

 

[~Shard~]

Graphics card...damn thats going to kill sales.

Just to be picky, (and nothing personal, there are plenty of other posters I do get personal with...), but I doubt this is going to kill sales - or is it going to "kill sales" just as the $250 pricetag of the iPod minis did? 😉

Just thought I'd make the point. I actually think these things are going to sell out in a major way. And I agree with your other good points as well. 😎

 

[alexf]

i can't believe all the complaining about the graphics card. Did any of you actually think Apple never consiidered this? Jesus Christ! Do you have any clue what sort of research goes into launching a product that was in RD over a freakin year! Most people who buy this machine have no freakin use for a 128 card!! i guarantee it!! this is a desktop for people who want to use Word, Internet and listen to Music (64mb gpu in fact is overkill for this). it is for highs school kids who can't be trusted with a $3000 PM!!! Let me be clear - it is not a gd gaming machine, it isn't suppose to be close in performance to one, it will never be one!! There will never be a high end graphic card in a mac! (If you haven't learned this after six bloody years of the machines, maybe you never will) Apple has no incentive to put a more expensive card into the gd machine! Would you people either get over it or get a Powermac???

Couldn't have said it better! 🙂

 

[alexf]

Just wanted to say thanks for this. Maybe some of the people who are focusing solely on the gaming aspect will realize there's more to judging the quality of a graphics card than how fast and well it can play games. Graphics cards are key for individuals like yourself and obviously are not unusable for your needs, so let's not get too caught up in this whole thing, shall we? Ah who am I kidding, it's already too late...

Thank you for your perspective and input, it is needed in threads like this one.

And let me add to that: I am a Web / graphic designer working on a 3.5 year old Cube and a new G5. I have yet to notice ANY difference between the two graphics cards.

And people are clamoring that the Internet surfing / email writing / iLife using general public should pay extra for a 128MB graphics card so that a few gamers can have slightly smoother transitions while they play? At best, that sounds a bit selfish to me.

 

[Maxx Power]

Couldn't have said it better! 🙂

Really ? Then if that is logically true and correct, there is no need for those duties beyond a simple 486. It does all of the described duties, does it not ? Yet why is it that we have to spend top dollars for something you people describe as just being able to "e-mail", "internet", "type an essay" ?

By the way, my friend uses a toshiba laptop, 486 with 8mb of ram, and does everything from coding C to typing up research materials and have no desire to upgrade, ever. Obviously people look a little further into their computers when they empty their wallet or bank account. People never buy a computer to JUST use the keyboard to type up letters or stare vaquely at the screen for information, do you have legs JUST to walk ? No! You run, jump, prance, mince and scuttle perhaps, there is but a thousand different uses for legs we have daily, nature would've never gave us legs just so we can walk, or we would have never made it through evolution. And what about your brain ? Did you receive all that education JUST to be able to tell me "people get an iMac just to type, browse, listen and watch ?" I sincerely hope NOT. An iMac is nowhere as specific as a blender is a kitchen tool, both are tools, but even my blender can blend protein shakes, beat up eggs, crush ice, and make other refreshing drinks, there is no way i'd buy it if I expected a blender just to blend 3 or 4 of the most popular drinks.

Think clearer, not louder.

 

[macidiot]

Simply put : Apple KNOWS what they are doing.

Your joking right? I'm about as hardcore an Apple fan as there is, but come on. This is the same company that came out with the emate, the toilet seat ibook, the cube, System 7.5.3, the Pippin, etc.

Apple is a company, not a church. They make mistakes. And I'm pretty sure they thought they KNEW what they are doing even when the market tells them its a failure.

 

[~Shard~]

You speak of the "ingenious design" as if it were fact, instead of only your opinion.

A good amount of people here would disagree.

What do you call it then when Apple engineers pull off a marvel like this? Enclosing a G5 in a 2" case, putting all those guts behind the LCD, not wasting one inch of space, and making everything work? If this isn't ingenious design at its finest then I guess you might as well go to Apple and start teaching their hardware engineers how to "properly" design the layout of computers like this. So you're saying this isn't an impressive, innovative design, and instead it's a poor design? What's poor about it then, the location of the memory with respect to the front side bus? Does that not work for you or look aesthetically pleasing enough? 🙄

Maybe it's just because I'm an Engineer that I appreciate the technical issues with pulling off a design like this - I guess I can't fault you for being ignorant to these types of technical issues.

 

[nagromme]

the 5200 is not a mid-range video card, it is an entry level or ultra-cheapo-browse-internet-and-write-letters-to-grandchildren card

It may not be dead center among today's offerings by some measures, but that doesn't change the fact that I game just fine on less of a GPU than that. It's NOT just suitable for basic productivity. That's fact. Yes, faster boards exist, and we want them (myself included), and we want the iMac to cost seven dollars too 🙂

People SHOULD clamor for the features they want--preferrably in mature, detailed communications directly to Apple--but let's not exaggerate the 5200 as being just for Web and email 😛

 

[~Shard~]

I was disappointed that they didn't use the G5 Aluminum look. it would also have been a great opportunity to update the keyboard and mouse.

Yes and no - the aluminum look seems to be reserved for Pro-related products. Although it could have looked cool, I'm still happy with the pure white. 😎

 

[~Shard~]

And people are clamoring that the Internet surfing / email writing / iLife using general public should pay extra for a 128MB graphics card so that a few gamers can have slightly smoother transitions while they play? At best, that sounds a bit selfish to me.

It just goes to show you that you can't please all of the people all of the time - the problem though is that some of those people who aren't pleased seem to like complaining and whining to no end and are ignorant of this simple fact. 😉 😎

 

[echeck]

Ugh...

Well, I'm sure I'll get flamed for this but I don't care.

You people need to lighten up! If you don't like the new iMac then DON'T BUY IT!!!

Personally I think it's a great machine, and I'll bet the farm (yes, I do have one) that these babies are going to sell like hot-cakes.

But is this really worth all the whining and arguing? Sheesh...I know we can all be passionate from time-to-time but this is just ridiculous.

Go start up your own computer companies and create the "perfect machine" with all the video memory you heart desires...

🙄

 

[nagromme]

Never run a Powerbook with the lid closed. Apple explicitly warns against this due to the heat that radiates from the keyboard.

Not true. It was true in ages past--and I think still is for iBooks. But current PowerBooks CAN run lid-closed, by design. The fan will come on more, for sure.

 

[oingoboingo]

And people are clamoring that the Internet surfing / email writing / iLife using general public should pay extra for a 128MB graphics card so that a few gamers can have slightly smoother transitions while they play? At best, that sounds a bit selfish to me.

I agree entirely. Making 128MB VRAM, or a faster GPU a BTO option would have been perfect. Then people who wanted extra graphics performance could pay extra for it, without impacting the price of the base model for others. This was most recently done on the 15" PowerBook (64MB VRAM, optional BTO 128MB VRAM available), and IMHO was a great move by Apple.

It would have been nice to see a similar BTO option on the iMac G5. After all, you can custom configure the hard drive size, the Bluetooth module and the AirPort Extreme card. Why not a 64MB VRAM / 128MB VRAM option also?

Maybe the Rev B iMac G5 will bring this....

 

[kontact]

now we just have to wait for the commercial with the black eyed peas

 

[alexf]

Really ? Then if that is logically true and correct, there is no need for those duties beyond a simple 486. It does all of the described duties, does it not ? Yet why is it that we have to spend top dollars for something you people describe as just being able to "e-mail", "internet", "type an essay" ?

By the way, my friend uses a toshiba laptop, 486 with 8mb of ram, and does everything from coding C to typing up research materials and have no desire to upgrade, ever. Obviously people look a little further into their computers when they empty their wallet or bank account. People never buy a computer to JUST use the keyboard to type up letters or stare vaquely at the screen for information, do you have legs JUST to walk ? No! You run, jump, prance, mince and scuttle perhaps, there is but a thousand different uses for legs we have daily, nature would've never gave us legs just so we can walk, or we would have never made it through evolution. And what about your brain ? Did you receive all that education JUST to be able to tell me "people get an iMac just to type, browse, listen and watch ?" I sincerely hope NOT. An iMac is nowhere as specific as a blender is a kitchen tool, both are tools, but even my blender can blend protein shakes, beat up eggs, crush ice, and make other refreshing drinks, there is no way i'd buy it if I expected a blender just to blend 3 or 4 of the most popular drinks.

Think clearer, not louder.

I hate to burst your bubble Power Maxx, but most people who are potential iMac buyers do not do a whole lot more with the computer than general (meaning non-graphics-intensive) computing. Let's not forget that the "i" in iMac stands for Internet, and Internet use was was the iMac product line was originally intended for (although one could do a hell of a lot more with the fast G5 iMac if they wanted to).

You have made is clear to us all that you are quite unhappy about the new iMac. My sincere condolences. But don't you think it may be due time to give it a rest?

 

[daveg5]

Just wanted to say thanks for this. Maybe some of the people who are focusing solely on the gaming aspect will realize there's more to judging the quality of a graphics card than how fast and well it can play games. Graphics cards are key for individuals like yourself and obviously are not unusable for your needs, so let's not get too caught up in this whole thing, shall we? Ah who am I kidding, it's already too late...

Thank you for your perspective and input, it is needed in threads like this one.

2d depends more on the processor than video card, even a pci video card is sufficient, as 2d speed in video cards hit a ceiling years ago, tiger may change that with using the video card to accelerate 2d as well as 3D.
now with 3D it is a whole another story, realtime rendering and games even more. scrolling word or opening up a photoshop file and adding layers are not made faster whether you have a 9600 ultra 5200 or 68000, not much anyway, but when you get to high quality 3d textures that use gobs of memory and special fx, lighting, etc. thats where video cards have nearly doubled every year or so for years.

 

[Sir_Giggles]

Probably repeated a billion times before...

If you want to play games with the fastest video card, go buy a stinkin' PC.

I got a PM 2x1.8Ghz G5 with a Nvidia GeForce 5200 and two monitors spanning over 3200x1200 pixels and its fast. Or get a G5 tower and a 6800 and shut the hell up.

 

[oingoboingo]

Not true. It was true in ages past--and I think still is for iBooks. But current PowerBooks CAN run lid-closed, by design. The fan will come on more, for sure.

Correct. Running in lid-closed operation is explicity mentioned in my 12" PowerBook's manual as being supported (and it goes on to tell you how to do it). The myth that recent PowerBooks cannot run in lid closed mode without danger of overheating is an old one that needs to be put to rest. It's an Apple Officially Supported (TM) mode of operation.

 

[daveg5]

I agree entirely. Making 128MB VRAM, or a faster GPU a BTO option would have been perfect. Then people who wanted extra graphics performance could pay extra for it, without impacting the price of the base model for others. This was most recently done on the 15" PowerBook (64MB VRAM, optional BTO 128MB VRAM available), and IMHO was a great move by Apple.

It would have been nice to see a similar BTO option on the iMac G5. After all, you can custom configure the hard drive size, the Bluetooth module and the AirPort Extreme card. Why not a 64MB VRAM / 128MB VRAM option also?

Maybe the Rev B iMac G5 will bring this....

this is what we have been saying all along, Many want a BTO with graphics like the other items, they dont want an imac G4 card in a G5, you know?

 

[Trowaman]

and we want the iMac to cost seven dollars too 🙂

WHAT?!?!!? $7???? ARE YOU KIDDING???? $4 Max, anymore is rediculous. 😛

But no, really, I think the $300 price drops on the middle and high machines are VERY refreshing. Good call on those drops, Apple.

 

[one3]

And let me add to that: I am a Web / graphic designer working on a 3.5 year old Cube and a new G5. I have yet to notice ANY difference between the two graphics cards.

And people are clamoring that the Internet surfing / email writing / iLife using general public should pay extra for a 128MB graphics card so that a few gamers can have slightly smoother transitions while they play? At best, that sounds a bit selfish to me.

I'm so happy to see some very good and intelligent posts from a few designers about the new iMacs. I will be getting the 20" iMac as soon as it's available to replace my G4-400 Powermac. I do strictly web and print design on the computer (day and night) and have been happy with the G4. The upgrade to the G5 iMac is for 2 reasons: screen and processor speed. The graphics card from what I understand is more then enough for what I need it for. I'm glad to see some fellow designers chiming in with their views - for a while there I thought this forum was 'gamers only'. It's refreshing.

 

[alexf]

Well, I'm sure I'll get flamed for this but I don't care.

You people need to lighten up! If you don't like the new iMac then DON'T BUY IT!!!

Personally I think it's a great machine, and I'll bet the farm (yes, I do have one) that these babies are going to sell like hot-cakes.

But is this really worth all the whining and arguing? Sheesh...I know we can all be passionate from time-to-time but this is just ridiculous.

Go start up your own computer companies and create the "perfect machine" with all the video memory you heart desires...

🙄

Well said. It always amazes me how the biggest Apple fans (meaning people in these forums) get angry if a new machine is not to their liking and act as though they were obligated to buy it! Almost as though they are addicts and Apple has taken away their junk. Very strange indeed... The good news for all of you is that there happens to be hundreds of other computer manufacturers out there besides Apple, and, assuming you live in a "free" society, you can choose any of them for (probably) less money.

 

[Mustang Mac]

Stop yakin' and just get one already! You fear to look, yet you cannot turn away! 😉 Do it now!

IMAC G5 20/1.8/256/160/SD-USA M9250LL/A On or before 09/30/2004

There. I feel better, don't you?!