Is there a market for such a machine with a starting price of $3,999?
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New iMac Reportedly in Advanced Stage of Development
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Is there a market for such a machine with a starting price of $3,999?
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
As in all things that don't make sense through a consumer lens, change your lens to Apple's "maximize profits and then some" lens. iMac 27" has a long history with "starting at..." pricing below $2K. Generally, almost all Silicon releases have sought to pocket the former Intel premium... if not add some additional profit to that. How could Apple sell a new iMac 27" for traditional "bargain" (for Apple anyway) pricing?
So they "suspend" (not really kill) the 27" to address the big problem of "starting at <$2K." They launch the monitor portion only at the former "starting at" pricing and establish that a 27" monitor with an Apple logo on it can get the old iMac 27" pricing (and profit) by itself.
THEN, at some point, they insert MBpro-like Mac guts inside of that same monitor (there seems to be space for it now) and expectations should be that ADDING a whole Mac to SD should cost more than SD alone. SD + MBpro guts sans MBpro screen = new (logical?) "starting at" price of iMac "bigger" at- my guess- starting at $3499 with minimum configuration and nicely equipped north of $4K.
Since the market has generally accepted that calling something PRO naturally means it should cost more, go ahead and stick that on the name too to further justify a "starting at" about 2X the former level. If my guess is right, some might sling some pricing rationalization the other way too: "...much cheaper than the former iMac 27" PRO with nuclear furnace Intel chips inside that will make your electric bill run to infinity."
Tadah! The resurrection of iMac "Bigger" with Apple's new target profit margin "naturally" applied and seemingly justified by acceptance of former iMac 27" screen ALONE at former iMac 27" pricing.
The flaw in this logic is that I suspect a LOT of "our" attraction to iMac 27" was in that value pricing. Relative to all Mac options, it was a relative bargain. I'm not so sure how readily we will rationalize paying towards 2X that for an iMac 27" PRO. Perhaps the delay in the resurrection is to give more time to forget what an iMac 27" used to cost... and/or additional excuses like "inflation" and "supply chain" to make expectations of higher pricing even more acceptable?
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Call me old fashioned but I’d personally prefer a thicker iMac in exchange for a slim bezel. How often do you look behind the display? Hardly ever but you always see it’s front. It’s even more „in your face“ now that they removed the Apple Logo on it
I have been spoiled by Apple products. All of them were solidly made and above average reliable. I’ve never felt disappointed with my Apple purchases. And they have all felt like quality items that worked as expected.
I sell electronics and most of what I sell I wouldn’t take even a first look at because they’re largely disposable in my eyes.
That isn’t to say I don’t have criticisms of Apple products, but overall I think they’re better value and a better ownership experience than the competition.
I sell electronics and most of what I sell I wouldn’t take even a first look at because they’re largely disposable in my eyes.
That isn’t to say I don’t have criticisms of Apple products, but overall I think they’re better value and a better ownership experience than the competition.
yeah, I see this as an upgrade personally.
your setup sounds good. I would prefer to just have one comp, one monitor and one iPad.
I actually have a 32” LG curved display that I love so I would prob use that in the meantime with the MBA or MBP.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
While plausible, I doubt it. I think Mac Pro will be insanely price upgraded... and thus Studio will still have its place in the lineup as the "affordable" high-powered desktop from Apple.
I think Mac Pro will still have slots and be the only Mac with them... and that's part of how they will rationalize insane pricing. Studio will still be slot-less and thus offer the power of the same Silicon with no flexible expandability.
Or maybe the rumor that Studio will only get MAX going forward with ULTRA reserved for Pro will be reality.
We'll see.
Old-fashioned. This doesn't look any better:
Radical iMac Mod Shows How Apple Could Have Removed the Chin for an All-Screen Design
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Yes, in another universe where Apple made macOS graphic elements scale correctly to any resolution. Then a "bargain" priced 4K panel would display macOS as good as it can at any size.
Unfortunately, in this universe, Apple made macOS almost need oddball screen resolutions to display well. Since they are non-standard, they are not commoditized and thus demand much higher (relative) pricing. Just wait until our Macs step beyond 5K-6K options from Apple now. That 32" iMac will probably HAVE to come with a 6K screen... also non-commodity... and we can look to Apple's existing 6K screen to get a solid hint about relative pricing.
After long-term iMac use, I went the separates route last year. I needed to replace "boot camp" too and chose the organic approach of picking up a dedicated PC in a Mac mini-like package. Windows seems to have no trouble scaling its UI to ANY resolution. I wish macOS was as flexible.
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To improve a product, you need to kill a product. Sometimes the screen and silicon technology isn't there yet, where you need it to be to build your dream device. The 24" M1 iMac was a perfect stopgap on the way to the new large iMac everyone will love for sure.
It would be interesting if Apple could put MacBook guts into the existing Studio Display as well as include keyboard and mouse. Voila!—new 27in. iMac.
THey should at the very least make a black one. Tim needs to realize that not everyone wants a colorful desktop and wants a cool matte black.
Why not? The M3 is the “base” chip of the upcoming generation. What other chip would they put in an iMac?
I don't think they will sell vary well. Everyone who wanted a 24 inch machine bought one. The rest waiting for a 27 > incher.
I, too, would jump on a 27” model for my business.
Apple's next iMac has reached an "advanced stage of development," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his newsletter today, Gurman said the new iMac will have the same 24-inch display size and color options as the current model.
The new iMac will likely include Apple's upcoming M3 chip, internal design changes, and a new manufacturing process for the stand, according to Gurman. The M3 chip will reportedly be manufactured based on Apple chipmaking partner TSMC's latest 3nm process for additional performance and power efficiency improvements.
Apple last updated the iMac in April 2021 with the M1 chip and an ultra-thin enclosure available in seven colors, including green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue, and silver. It is currently the only iMac in Apple's lineup, as the Intel-based 27-inch iMac and iMac Pro were both discontinued within the past two years. Gurman previously claimed that a larger iMac could return, but he did not share any new info about that possibility today.
Gurman expects the new iMac to be released in the second half of 2023 at the earliest.
Article Link: New iMac Reportedly in Advanced Stage of Development
This photo should be a poster for corporate greed and eWaste. Make it in white or black instead of trying to compete with Skittles…
Yep. Actually, at least 27”. I actually want a 32”. A 24” monitor in 2023? Bish bye.
Breaking News: The next iPhone is in advanced stage of development!
I’m glad they’re keeping the color palette, if that’s true. They knocked it out of the park with the current colors. I may buy another Green one when they’re updated to M3.
[Insert "Apple, take my $$$." meme here.] Ready to replace the new M1 iMac 24” I just bought in December.
I already upgrade an iPhone and Pixel every year, so what’s a desktop.
I already upgrade an iPhone and Pixel every year, so what’s a desktop.
Apple should've never picked Lightning connector for Mac input devices, when the Mac themselves used USB-C for charging and/or connectivity.
Apple should also take this opportunity to relocate the port on the Magic Mouse from the bottom to the rear.
The apple silicon Mac book pro’s design is reminiscent of the MBP’s of the early 2000’s. Mega chunky and heavy. Annoying me that my work’s MBP Intel 16” is far more slender than my M1 MBP. 16”.