And you have just perfectly summed up what makes Apple so awesome, and so irritating at the same time. That they march to their own step and don't care two hoots about what others think.
They wouldn't be Apple if they did.
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New 'Server-Grade' iMac With Next-Gen Xeon Processor Coming End of 2017
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And you have just perfectly summed up what makes Apple so awesome, and so irritating at the same time. That they march to their own step and don't care two hoots about what others think.
They wouldn't be Apple if they did.
Not the same design. The current Slimline body commenced in 2012.
The design you are referring to lasted from 2009 - 2011 which was superior. There was a Superdrive included. RAM was easily upgradeable on the 21.5" model. Better ventilation and you could open it up and carry out upgrades without any hassle.
I still run a Late 2009 21.5" iMac on a daily basis and its as good as the day it was new. Sure I have made upgrades upping the RAM to 12GB and upgraded the Drive to a Seagate 1TB SSHD (Hybrid Drive).
From Late 2009 - Mid 2011 was the sweet spot for the iMac. From thereon its been downhill.
It boggles my mind that Apple have not embraced the newer ultra wide displays that have been adorning every high end PC for the past 2+ years.
Instead, much like the iPhone, the Mac is sliding further and further into obsolescence by a company that seems to care more about supply chain and margins than coming out with exciting and innovative products.
[doublepost=1492651938][/doublepost]I'd love to see an 8K Thunderbolt3 Monitor Mode 32 inch iMac with options for 64GB memory swappable video cards with either gamer style cards or workstation style cards as options, 4GB SSD and top end CPU choices available. Alternately a CPU box that replaces the Mac Mini (mac Maxi) and can be mounted on an 8K Thunderbolt 3 32 inch Apple monitor that could be configured to meet the same specs.
Apple's new range of iMacs will launch in the second half of 2017 and will include a "server-grade" model to cater for the high end creative professional market, according to Taiwan-based supply chain sources.
Apple has already confirmed it is working on new iMac models for release later this year, but today's report offers another hint at what could be in store for creative pros and puts a more specific timeframe on those plans. According to the report, production of two new iMacs is said to begin next month, with a view to launching the consumer desktops between August and October and a "server-grade model" at the tail end of 2017.
The report comes from DigiTimes, which has a mixed track record when it comes to rumors, but with Apple already having taken the unusual step of confirming it is working on new iMac models for a late 2017 release, this latest information presents a reasonable timeline.
In addition, the technical details from the supply chain line up with previously leaked specs for Apple's upcoming upgrades. According to Tuesday's report, the high end iMac will feature Intel's as-yet-unreleased Xeon E3-1285 v6 processor, options for 16 to 64GB error-correcting ECC RAM, up to 2TB NVM Express PCI-e solid-state storage, and more ambiguously, a "latest discrete graphics card".
Typically, iMacs include a mobile-class GPU rather than a desktop-class card, so this last spec could refer to either, while AMD has a contract with Apple to supply the discrete graphics chips for future high-end 27-inch iMacs. The new iMacs for 2017 are said to be manufactured by Quanta Computer, which is expected to remain the largest all-in-one PC maker in 2017.
The earlier report detailing identical tech specs claimed Apple's new iMacs would be accompanied by a brand new keyboard. A previous report said Apple was exploring a standalone keyboard with a Touch Bar and Touch ID, but its release is said to depend on how well those features have been received on the latest MacBook Pro.
The original source of the iMac tech specs, Pike's Universum, also claimed Apple is working on an 8K external display, which would presumably feature as part of the company's highest end iMac offering. All iMacs are expected to ship with USB-C ports and Thunderbolt 3 connectivity.
Article Link: New 'Server-Grade' iMac With Next-Gen Xeon Processor Coming End of 2017
Well I would certainly hope they are going to redesign the iMac at this point.
With less bezels around the screen at least but also with more pro hardware in mind.
I don't disagree with the iTunes one (I'm hope-hope-hoping for a standalone Podcast/Audiobook app on the Mac/iOS/Watch). The naming convention however for the Macs are here to stay.
Exactly. While iMac originally stood for "Internet Mac", it could just as easily now refer to "Integrated Mac" (as in All-In-One).
Frankly, it's just a strong brand name at this point. The "i" doesn't even need to stand for anything.
Yep, but they did it in the early days of prosumer liquid cooling. Now it is truly trivial, cheap, and effective. Yeah, because they create their own custom enclosures they will need to design their own instead of using off-the-shelf solutions, but all the underlying technologies are now commonplace. It would be a win-win-win-win situation for all involved. Apple wins because it allows them to create computers that are both cool and quiet. Apple wins again because it doesn't cost much to implement and will bring performance and reliability to their iMac line, bolstering their brand-image. Consumers win because they get the quiet systems they expect from Apple. And consumers win again because they get increased performance and reliability at very little additional cost.
Seriously, if Apple can't build a liquid-cooled system in today's world they would be the kind of company that would do something unbelievably idiotic like, I don't know, just pulling something out of the air, designing HDD cables that routinely fail. Oh, wait...
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I disagree, its not fair to assume that the imac pro would be upgradable/modular.
Most people who work on them would probably agree with you. Certainly, the difficulty in opening the machine up & upgrading will factor into my purchasing decision. If I have to use that plastic blade roller to cut through the double-sided tape and then reapply the tape, I can't say I will be thrilled compared to the former ease of using a magnet...
Surprisingly the iFixit iMac opener is easy enough to work with along with detaching and reattaching the display using the adhesive strips also available from iFixit.
I recently had a customer with a 2013 27" model that needed a Hard Drive replacement and that was surprisingly straightforward completed in less than 2 hours.
The Slimline 21.5" iMac is very different however. The Hard Drive is easy enough to access. Most notably the modern 21.5" iMac has a 2.5" Form Factor Hard Drive. Upgrading the RAM however is very involved as the iMac literally needs to be stripped to gain access. I question Apples mentality regarding the RAM arrangement on modern iMac models. When you explore About this Mac it shows as only 2 memory slots (2x4GB) in use with an additional 2 not in use so it makes no sense at all to make them so inaccessible.
The upside though its good for me who can carry out the upgrade.
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For the models with upgradable RAM, the slots are on the bottom of the machine which should not be that hard (it certainly wasn't on the 27" with the same config). As for the 4K models, the RAM is soldered on the board so it cannot be upgraded (the RAM is only available in a soldered package).
Not all slimline 21.5" iMacs have RAM soldered to the board such as the 2012/2014 models.
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+21.5-Inch+EMC+2544+RAM+Replacement/16601
Ah. I was looking at their 2011 guide which showed the RAM slots on the bottom (like the 27" of the same year). I assumed they went soldered when they went to the slimline, but weird that they didn't offer a door like they do on the 27".
Just thinking about the I/O is busting me up. Whoever's job it is to hook that bastard up (if they make it), is gonna have A LOOOOOOOT of fun.Yeah, I spent a good amount of time in the Mac Pro forum back during the release and that wasn't even the worst rackmounting solution. This one's only a mockup, but you only need a quick glance to see how wrong it is:
Not to mention the I/O headaches involved with any rack solution.
http://www.sonnettech.com/product/rackmacpro.html
looks as if thunderbolt 2 is all but neglected. Maybe they couldn't kludge up a dock.
I think "server grade" is misleading - it's probably not even what was meant. I'll stick to "pro level". Nice and fast in CPU, memory, graphics and storage terms. It's the most we can expect - anything more is a bonus.
lhammer610 said: ↑
In 2016, we were told that new iMacs would appear in early 2017. It is April. This is not early.
You are right. Apple almost never commits to a date of a product release. But in December 2016, Tim Cook said, "great desktops in our roadmap," adding that "nobody should worry about that." Without predicting a timeline, such a statement is useless. Being on their roadmap, they could be in 2020 for all we know.
Apple is selling three year old technology in their iMacs. Worse, to me, is that the smaller iMacs are completely sealed, not even allowing a memory upgrade. This just keeps pushing me in the direction that I do not want to take: Hackintosh.
Come on Apple, bring back the Prosumer (or Pro - lite) for the home user. I miss my beige G3, my G5 and anything I can open up.
In 2016, we were told that new iMacs would appear in early 2017. It is April. This is not early.
You are right. Apple almost never commits to a date of a product release. But in December 2016, Tim Cook said, "great desktops in our roadmap," adding that "nobody should worry about that." Without predicting a timeline, such a statement is useless. Being on their roadmap, they could be in 2020 for all we know.
Apple is selling three year old technology in their iMacs. Worse, to me, is that the smaller iMacs are completely sealed, not even allowing a memory upgrade. This just keeps pushing me in the direction that I do not want to take: Hackintosh.
Come on Apple, bring back the Prosumer (or Pro - lite) for the home user. I miss my beige G3, my G5 and anything I can open up.
Because that was all there was to sell. Intel did not release a newer CPU until early this year nor did AMD release a newer GPU that was better than the R9 series in the current iMac until this year, as well.