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New iMacs Shipping January 2009?
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So, when I get my iMac, I'm gonna be using Logic Pro. Now, I'm on really limited funds here, so I can only afford the $1,199 model. I'm working on an album that I planned to self-release in May. Now, having said that, does anyone think that maybe the coming iMac updates would be good enough that performance in the low-end model would be boosted enough that I should probably wait, and push back my album's release date? Otherwise I planned my trip to the Apple Store for February 8th. It seems like a tough call to me, cuz I've been waiting a long, long time for a new Mac as it is.
I don't really think the new iMac's will have something that will enable you to do something new with Logic Pro then you can already do on one of the current iMacs.
If you are in need of money and releasing an album would be a source of income, it may be wiser to buy an iMac now, although a the new iMacs may be cheaper.
If you really depend on the income from the album, I would buy an iMac now. Who cares if a new iMac comes out and you've got an "old" machine, the base iMac will do plenty.
Logic Studio on new iMac
I'm currently running Logic Studio on a White 2.16GHz 20 inch iMac with 2GB RAM and it runs fine. Sure, if you're intending on recording 30+ tracks with heaps of plugins (especially memory hungry ones like "sound designer") then you may get some lag. I frequently demo my bands songs using software instruments and audio tracks with plugins and have not had a problem so far.
I would just do it now as I know how artists are itchin' to start a project. My advice is to get RAM (2GB minimum). The current standard iMac (with a RAM upgrade) will do most intermediate users (i.e. tracking 8-12 tracks of audio at a time).
Let me know when your album comes out!
So, when I get my iMac, I'm gonna be using Logic Pro. Now, I'm on really limited funds here, so I can only afford the $1,199 model. I'm working on an album that I planned to self-release in May. Now, having said that, does anyone think that maybe the coming iMac updates would be good enough that performance in the low-end model would be boosted enough that I should probably wait, and push back my album's release date? Otherwise I planned my trip to the Apple Store for February 8th. It seems like a tough call to me, cuz I've been waiting a long, long time for a new Mac as it is.
I'm currently running Logic Studio on a White 2.16GHz 20 inch iMac with 2GB RAM and it runs fine. Sure, if you're intending on recording 30+ tracks with heaps of plugins (especially memory hungry ones like "sound designer") then you may get some lag. I frequently demo my bands songs using software instruments and audio tracks with plugins and have not had a problem so far.
I would just do it now as I know how artists are itchin' to start a project. My advice is to get RAM (2GB minimum). The current standard iMac (with a RAM upgrade) will do most intermediate users (i.e. tracking 8-12 tracks of audio at a time).
Let me know when your album comes out!
lol no iMacs in February i guess , Im still waiting but in a dilemma once again, because I just started using Windows 7 and I really like it!! its like Leopard + Vista mixed.. Either way I'lll probably end up buying something in March, if the new iMac really blows my mind then I'll def get it.. or If theres nothing much new then probably an i7 Quad Core :}
, Im still waiting but in a dilemma once again, because I just started using Windows 7 and I really like it!! its like Leopard + Vista mixed.. Either way I'lll probably end up buying something in March, if the new iMac really blows my mind then I'll def get it.. or If theres nothing much new then probably an i7 Quad Core :}
I bought an iMac in late '05 and it has been probably the best Apple purchase in my years of Apple products
It has never failed me, never given me any hardware damage, and never given me problems of any kind
Always works and has been as stable as could be since the day I bought
Maybe it doesn't have the best hardware but it sure as hell works great for me every time I use it
A lot more than I can say about my Dell/Gateway machines failing me every 4-5 months
It has never failed me, never given me any hardware damage, and never given me problems of any kind
Always works and has been as stable as could be since the day I bought
Maybe it doesn't have the best hardware but it sure as hell works great for me every time I use it
A lot more than I can say about my Dell/Gateway machines failing me every 4-5 months
In some ways I wish I'd never found this forum, I could of bought myself an iMac back in December and been happily using it.
Instead I keep reading these damn rumours and using my twice-revived Vista PC.
Trouble is, I couldn't cope with buying one now, then finding that a better spec one comes out in a few months.
Instead I keep reading these damn rumours and using my twice-revived Vista PC.
Trouble is, I couldn't cope with buying one now, then finding that a better spec one comes out in a few months.
I bought one in Demember before I knew about these forums. Then after I discovered these forums everyone told me the new iMacs were coming out at MacWorld. MacWorld rolled by and nothing happened. All the January predictions were wrong too. I know know to listen to what everyone is saying, but don't believe any of it.
I'm happily using my iMac, however when the new iMacs come out you'll probably be glad you waited.
Only if the waiting period wasn't too long.
I'm looking to buy an imac.
didn't know a new release was scheduled.
I'll def wait a few weeks to see.
I purchased the last revision of the g4 powerbook.
A month later, they announced the swtich to intel.
I could have screamed.
Yes, but you would have been waiting six months without a computer had you not purchased.
You had six months where your computer was the fastest thing on the market; that's almost* unprecedented.
Technology changes, and it's foolish to try to keep up with every revision. Snow Leopard marks the end of mainstream usability for PowerPC processors, but that doesn't mean you can't still use Leopard on them and keep them as secondary machines!
Use your fresh hardware as your primary computer until it can't manage the OS anymore, and then upgrade.
I expect to be able to use my Mac Pro as my primary machine for six years before needing to upgrade; a benefit of it being a workstation.
*I say almost because the Mac Pro gets updated every 1.5 years and the Mac Mini apparently gets updated every 1.75 years... The current iMacs are also over six months old, but back THEN it was unheard of.
I can attest to this. G3 iBook is still running panther. For daily use I don't see any problems. A G4 is going to run into hardware limitations long before it runs into the limitations of Tiger or Leopard to run programs.
I'm not desperate to buy so I'm happy to wait.
It would be like buying a new car, then finding out a month later you could have got a better model for the same money.
Except that with the current Apple line up the potential is for a much better model.
While I'm far from in a hurry the potential is for a far better or improved Mac over what we would see in a car from one model year to the next. I say potential because it is not impossible for Apple to screw up the next model releases.
For example if the Minis replacement uses Atom and Apple doesn't introduce a higher end desk top machine that would be a screw up. Same thing if they fail to deliver an i7 based machine. One has to realize that there is only a potential that the new machines will be better than the old.
What is frustrating is that hardware for a Mini replacement is already available this the frustration with not knowing what is up at Apple. The iMac is in a different situation than the Mini as one has to be more thoughtful about how to redesign that machine to be significantly better.
In any event it looks like February will pass us by without new Macs. At least the rumor mill is completely dry. I take this to mean the hold ups have little to do with chips from Intel or Nvidia, but rather point to either Snow Leopard or custom chips for Apple. I'm actually leaning towards custom chips.
Let's all hope for something before April.
Dave
While I'm far from in a hurry the potential is for a far better or improved Mac over what we would see in a car from one model year to the next. I say potential because it is not impossible for Apple to screw up the next model releases.
For example if the Minis replacement uses Atom and Apple doesn't introduce a higher end desk top machine that would be a screw up. Same thing if they fail to deliver an i7 based machine. One has to realize that there is only a potential that the new machines will be better than the old.
What is frustrating is that hardware for a Mini replacement is already available this the frustration with not knowing what is up at Apple. The iMac is in a different situation than the Mini as one has to be more thoughtful about how to redesign that machine to be significantly better.
In any event it looks like February will pass us by without new Macs. At least the rumor mill is completely dry. I take this to mean the hold ups have little to do with chips from Intel or Nvidia, but rather point to either Snow Leopard or custom chips for Apple. I'm actually leaning towards custom chips.
Let's all hope for something before April.
Dave
I'm not optimistic about seeing i7 in an Apple computer. The iMac would have to be refocused away from mobile CPUs, and Apple seems adamant about not producing a midrange desktop, where the i7 would be a natural choice.
I bet the next iMac gets a cheap Q660 or something similar.
Then Apple will be able to say "oh looks its Quad Core" and half the people on this forum will drool and the other intelligent half will laugh at them.
Then Apple will be able to say "oh looks its Quad Core" and half the people on this forum will drool and the other intelligent half will laugh at them.
still waiting for my new imac
maybe I better buy the new updated white macbook now
man, I'm getting tired of waiting
this 2ghz G5 is still going strong, but it is limited in what it can do
the delay has got me questioning whether or not to go desktop, as there are the rare occasions when I want to be portable
the new/old Whitebook is somewhat of a value buy now, also considered the last gen 2.5ghz MBP, which can be had for a few hundred more
seems like they could at least give us a hint, to keep this interest piqued. sure it might deter some current iMac sales, but those who buy iMacs / Macbooks right now, more than likely won't buy new iMacs when they come out shortly......
if they do, they're not very good consumers
Because I'm waiting from november this updates
been waiting since January '08
really want one with 10.6
I really believe that the iMac's are ready, they're just waiting to release it simultaneously with SnL
Do you mean Kentsfield (Q6600)? Even if Apple wanted to, how could it put a 95W CPU in an iMac?
I don't think that strategy would make sense. Right now Apple is seeing potential sales bleed away to Windows machines because iMacs haven't been updated. If they were ready it would make a lot more sense to introduce them as "Snow Leopard-ready" and get customers on the hook for the OS upgrade with a significant discount for the OS with a new iMac purchase. If new iMacs aren't out yet, it can only mean they aren't ready for some reason.
Actually I'm not optimistic either.
I can't say I'm extremely optimistic either but they will have to do something about the widening performance gap between iMacs and Mac Pros. That could easily be a new desktop product though. The problem is core i7 is a pretty substantial jump in performance over intels current mobile or small form factor line up.
So yeah Apple really needs something to fill that wide gap in performance. I'm not however convinced that they are dead set against it though. Rather the longer the delay in new hardware introductions the more likely we are to see new products to fill the gap. It otherwise appears that Apple is skipping the obvious processor choices.
Dave
I can't say I'm extremely optimistic either but they will have to do something about the widening performance gap between iMacs and Mac Pros. That could easily be a new desktop product though. The problem is core i7 is a pretty substantial jump in performance over intels current mobile or small form factor line up.
So yeah Apple really needs something to fill that wide gap in performance. I'm not however convinced that they are dead set against it though. Rather the longer the delay in new hardware introductions the more likely we are to see new products to fill the gap. It otherwise appears that Apple is skipping the obvious processor choices.
Dave
Simple engineering would do the job!
In the same manner people get all wound up about an i7 in an iMac because of it's thermal specs. They don't take into account the built in bridge and memory interface which drastically reduces power demand outside the chip, the use of newer spec RAM and lower power GPUs. With the right GPU most of the electronics for your PC would be on two chips and some RAM.
Beyond that there is no reason for Apple to run the chip maxed out either. Shaving a couple of hundred MHz would impact power usage substantially but still give Apple a platform with legs. Legs is an important consideration too as one does not want to invest in a motherboard and chipset with a very short lifespan.
Dave
I see references to these thermal issues all the time and really have to wonder if people are dense or forgetful. That power level is in the same ball park as a G5, you do remember G5 iMacs right?
In the same manner people get all wound up about an i7 in an iMac because of it's thermal specs. They don't take into account the built in bridge and memory interface which drastically reduces power demand outside the chip, the use of newer spec RAM and lower power GPUs. With the right GPU most of the electronics for your PC would be on two chips and some RAM.
Beyond that there is no reason for Apple to run the chip maxed out either. Shaving a couple of hundred MHz would impact power usage substantially but still give Apple a platform with legs. Legs is an important consideration too as one does not want to invest in a motherboard and chipset with a very short lifespan.
Dave
Well, I'm expecting that the upcoming iMac refresh will offer a quad-core Penryn on at least one or two models, and the next update will come when mobile Nehalems are ready. But the midrange desktop that a lot of us would like to see remains the holy grail.
Sure, but it's my impression that with the switch to mobile CPUs the cooling characteristics of the iMac have changed to where they can no longer support desktop CPUs. Not that they couldn't be redesigned again, it's just that I don't think Apple will do that.