Next-Generation iMac to Offer Two 'Compelling' New Features?

[mixel]

Great news whatever the upgrades..

Sooo.. If they add bluray support, I wonder if they'll support the increasing number of external BD drives on the market? If its just a driver/OS level thing I certainly hope it happens alongside SL. I'd love BD on my 2008 iMac, external would be fine!

 

[Shake 'n' Bake]

We still need to see evidence of Blu-Ray support in Snow Leopard. So far there is zero evidence of Blu-Ray support in the next generation OS beta loads that have been tested.

FCS supports it, so support in SL is inevitable.

You guys don't agree, that's fine, but I don't think Blu Ray is worth the investment. Dismissing HD DVDs come back is asinine, because it is fronting a challenge to Blu Ray.

HD DVD returns and kicks Blu-ray to the gutter



There is still the issue of content delivery moving entirely online, which is a much more efficient method of delivering content.

Blu Ray is just not as attractive as it used to be. I don't think it is worth it. Large numbers of consumers don't think it is worth it, the rate of adoption for Blu Ray is far behind what was hoped for.

Again, this is China, not the US. Apple won't put HD-DVD in a product just for the Chinese. I know you didn't say that, but it sounds like that's where you're going. Americans don't like to give things another go, especially with technology. They say, "I've seen this before. It failed, so why should I buy it?"

We believe it is worth it, and you don't. That's fine.

 

[Full of Win]

Like others have said - eSATA has to be one feature.

Easiest to implement and cheapest to do.

 

[Shiner]

Well, my 24" overpriced Apple branded toy runs rings around the super high end gaming Windows based PC that it replaced. It excels at running a multitude of tasks smoothly and powerfully. I can work on photos in Lightroom while listening to movies in iTunes and periodically checking blogs and email. All better than my PC could ever do.

Not to mention sitting on my desk and making no noise of any kind while I am working with it.

Something that can't be said for any PC I've owned in the past 15 years.

As others have stated, that must have been one miserable "high end gaming" machine. The iMac is a fancy case surrounding two year old laptop parts!! It is not a desktop and no where near a professional computer. I was forced into buying a MacPro to get my work accomplished. Since this purchase I have built 2 hackintoshs using the i7 processors and they don't just run "rings" around the iMac, they mac it look silly! Apple has dropped the ball on the iMac. People that websurf and check email and maybe play sims 3 will never notice the difference but then again they are not professionals. I was simply responding to your statement that the iMac is pretty close to a professional system. It is not.

 

[Eidorian]

I'm not sure if you were agreeing with me or not. The iMac is not a "professional" device, but it is still a very nice machine. Don't fool yourself. I hope you are not basing your opinion on gaming.

Regardless, I know plenty of design firms that are stocked with iMacs and colleges that use them to teach video editing/film.

It's still not a quad core iMac. Apple must feel that it's too good to ever use a quad in the iMac. Somewhat like Mini-DVI ages ago. It's just another ploy to upsell to the Mac Pro. The same with the Screen Spanning Hack for those that have been around that long.

We've had friends like the Q6600 or Q9000 for ages elsewhere.

 

[billystlyes]

I hate all-in-ones and glossy screens. You gotta do better for me to bite Apple.

 

[MattSepeta]

blu-ray...

I dont get it... Tere are SOOO many things I would rather see before stupid blu-ray on an imac.

who are these people that so desperately want to watch blu-ray on their 24" MAX screen? I would never even consider it...

GREAT, I can sit at my desk in a chair and watch some blu-ray. Sweet. Not.

What ever happened to computers doing what computers were meant to do...Compute?

If I realllllly want to watch a blu-ray, I will watch it in my living room, on my couch on my tv with 3 times as much screen real estate, and actually take advantage of the BD.

I hope to god that apple doesnt waste any of our money putting bd drives in imacs. MAYBE put it in a MP, strictly for authoring, but beyond that, I dont get it, or see it happening.

 

[munkees]

well I got $350 bucks so far in my special saving, towards the new iMac and netbook, very exciting.

 

[fef714]

I'm not sure if you were agreeing with me or not. The iMac is not a "professional" device, but it is still a very nice machine. Don't fool yourself. I hope you are not basing your opinion on gaming.

Regardless, I know plenty of design firms that are stocked with iMacs and colleges that use them to teach video editing/film.

True that, my 20 inch iMac (The latest Alu with only 2gb ram) runs FCE flawlessly.

And our studio uses all 20 inch iMacs (A mix of the old white iMacs, and the Alu iMacs) running FCP.


Now, I will admit the only 'game' I have run on them is well, I haven't

And on the old white iMacs, FCP is the only thing you can run, before it slows, but it has never crashed on me. Keep in mind they only have 1gb of RAM, so it is to b expected

 

[Shiner]

I hate all-in-ones and glossy screens. You gotta do better for me to bite Apple.

Exactly!! I have been waiting and waiting for Apple to release a real desktop and nothing has happened and to make matters worse I don't think it will ever happen. This post is a great example. 200 comments on a fake story about TWO compelling new features to an outdated piece of crap!! They better have more than two reasons if they plan to sell these things to anyone but fanboys.

 

[Target362]

What ever happened to computers doing what computers were meant to do...Compute?

Ok, then why do you edit video on computers? Why do we listen to music on computers? why do we have webcams that can take our photos with effects and such?

blu-Ray is no different then any other forum of media on the computer

If I realllllly want to watch a blu-ray, I will watch it in my living room, on my couch on my tv with 3 times as much screen real estate, and actually take advantage of the BD.

Anything can really take advantage of blu-ray, as long as the resolution is 1920x1080. You don't need a 65" TV just to watch blu-ray

I hope to god that apple doesnt waste any of our money putting bd drives in imacs. MAYBE put it in a MP, strictly for authoring, but beyond that, I dont get it, or see it happening.

Remember, its what THE CONSUMER wants. You (along with others who hate blu-ray) are not the only ones using macs.

 

[mixel]

What IS people's problem with BD?

I have a load of them. Millions of people have BD collections. Of course it'd be convenient to be able to watch them on our computers too, much like it's convenient to be able to watch DVDs. Every other manufacturer has cheap and expensive laptops with BD support. It's becoming a competitive/value advantage that Apple shouldn't just leave alone. Seriously, why does anyone get into a tizzy about this? Not everyone uses the iMac's display as their primary either. I have an excellent matte Samsung plugged into my iMac.

The idea of "pro" and "non pro" machines is completely bogus also. "the imac is just a toy!" wah! So, My Powermac g5, which ran Photoshop fine, which is probably half of the performance of my 2008 imac. When did that stop being a pro machine? Is it still a pro machine despite it's age? It cost a lot more than this iMac.. Even a mac mini has enough sheer power to do a lot of "pro" tasks. Is Photoshop not considered a pro-app anymore?

BD's a good format, it works, a lot of people need it. When I say need, I mean - would find it very beneficial. Much like every other little feature Apple could add. It doesn’t have to be useful to everyone.

Also, 24" iMac display is > 1080p resolution.. Bluray movie watching makes perfect sense on the imac .. With EyeTV and BD it'd be a perfect media centre type setup for a lot of people too.

 

[jmpage2]

Well I really like my several macs, but I have to say you must have just owned bad PC's then. iMac's, Mac Pros, whatever, they use the same (if not worse) parts that "PC's" use. And if you spent 2 grand on a PC vs. 2 grand on an iMac, not only could you get a machine that trounced the iMac, you would get one that did so to the Mac Pro as well.

Your PC honestly couldn't edit photos and "listen to movies" at the same time and do it smoothly? What were you running, a pentium III? There is no way in [heck] that it was a "super high end gaming" machine. Nope, no way.

This just seems like FUD, nothing more, nothing less.

The difference is the OS. It doesn't matter if the iMac has faster hardware, the operating system is better at multi-tasking, the way real users typically use their machines.

I must be wrong though, which is apparently why Macs keep dominating the "high end" market even though it is pack full of uber Windows based machines.

I've been building my own PCs for years and I'm an MCSE. I'll take a whisper quiet "underpowered" Mac over a top notch gaming rig running MS Windows any day of the week.

Make your own choice, if Windows makes you happy and hitches/slowdowns and other issues associated with drivers, virus scanners, spyware sweepers, etc, don't ruin your mood than by all means, have at it.

 

[Shiner]

True that, my 20 inch iMac (The latest Alu with only 2gb ram) runs FCE flawlessly.

And our studio uses all 20 inch iMacs (A mix of the old white iMacs, and the Alu iMacs) running FCP.


Now, I will admit the only 'game' I have run on them is well, I haven't

And on the old white iMacs, FCP is the only thing you can run, before it slows, but it has never crashed on me. Keep in mind they only have 1gb of RAM, so it is to b expected

I guess my only problem with these statements is the fact that you assume "professional" means running film/editing software. That is nice but there are other professions.

 

[jmpage2]

Hate to break it to you... The Mac you trumpet is no more than your typical PC in a fancy case. I bet my aging "PC" in my signature could run circles around your iMac and it cost probably half of your investment.

I hate to break it to you, but Ive been building PCs probably longer than some Mac Forums regulars have been on the planet.

OS X is far, far better at multi tasking and is more stable and responsive than Windows, regardless of the hardware being 'out of date'. It's aesthetically pleasing and it is almost completely quiet. At the end of the day, I would much rather have such a machine, that does its job exceedingly well, than have a machine that is ugly, noisy, and simply faster at certain specific tasks such as how many frames per second you get in the latest FPS game.

Popular Mechanics did an article last summer in which an iMac and a comparable PC were put through their paces. The iMac mopped the floor with the PC at things like switching between tasks, launching multiple applications, etc.

But go on running Windows, I'm sure that Steve Ballmer applauds you for it.

 

[Shake 'n' Bake]

With EyeTV and BD it'd be a perfect media centre type setup for a lot of people too.

That statement is just silly. Why would you want two screens if you're only going to use one? The Mac mini is much better for that job; It is smaller, nearly as powerful, much cheaper, and better looking.

 

[SactoGuy18]

I think the Blu-ray Disc Association not only simplified the licensing model, but may have offered Apple a very lucrative price break on licensing Blu-ray technology.

Besides, if you look at the current iMac integrated desktop, Mac Pro tower machine, the higher-end MacBook Pro laptops, and the latest Apple Cinema Displays, they have all the features necessary to enable HDCP so necessary for full-resolution Blu-ray disk playback. Indeed, a Blu-ray movie would look spectacular on a 20" or 24" iMac.

 

[Shiner]

The difference is the OS. It doesn't matter if the iMac has faster hardware, the operating system is better at multi-tasking, the way real users typically use their machines.

I must be wrong though, which is apparently why Macs keep dominating the "high end" market even though it is pack full of uber Windows based machines.

Apple has the best marketing in the world!! This post truly shows why they deserve to have the largest profit margin in the business. No joke at all. I have the same OS on my hackintosh computer and it is awesome!! This computer runs circles around your iMac and cost $1,300. Why can't apple offer up a comparable computer. Simple, there is no money in it. They can make prettier computers with slower parts and mark up the price. You guys will claim they are superior to any other PC parts and pay $600-800 more. Apple has no reason to make a powerful desktop. It will only take away from their huge profit margins on iMacs.

 

[Eidorian]

Apple has the best marketing in the world!! This post truly shows why they deserve to have the largest profit margin in the business. No joke at all. I have the same OS on my hackintosh computer and it is awesome!! This computer runs circles around your iMac and cost $1,300. Why can't apple offer up a comparable computer. Simple, there is no money in it. They can make prettier computers with slower parts and mark up the price. You guys will claim they are superior to any other PC parts and pay $600-800 more. Apple has no reason to make a powerful desktop. It will only take away from their huge profit margins on iMacs.

I'll be up for a Hackintosh soon but it'll probably be based off of a heavily overclocked E3200/3300 and a 9600GT/4850. Christmas perhaps? I have Lynnfield + P55 mATX coming soon for my main tower.

 

[MacAndy74]

Firewire is a bag of hurt. USB 3 is the future.

There is the funny I needed this morning - thanks Bubba.

FW 3200, USB3, LED Backlit, faster bus, and Quad Core processors are some of my guesses. I would hate for them to change the iMac to look like the LED display. I highly doubt Apple will offer matte screens on the iMacs, sorry folks.

I'd be happy with LED Backlit and Quad Core - BluRay would be nice but not essential for me.

Blu-Ray, hmm, maybe but I'm not interested. It would be cool as an option.

Redesign, yes. If Apple makes it look like this, I'm buying .

That's a nice design. I like it. I decided against buying the 2009 iMac - it just didn't have what I wanted. Now I'm really glad I waited.

Quad-cores.

Next-gen cooling technology.

Thinner form-factor.

So . . . two new features:

Faster. Thinner.

I just hope the 'thinner' bit means LED Backlit panel.

I hate to break it to you, but Ive been building PCs probably longer than some Mac Forums regulars have been on the planet.

OS X is far, far better at multi tasking and is more stable and responsive than Windows, regardless of the hardware being 'out of date'. It's aesthetically pleasing and it is almost completely quiet. At the end of the day, I would much rather have such a machine, that does its job exceedingly well, than have a machine that is ugly, noisy, and simply faster at certain specific tasks such as how many frames per second you get in the latest FPS game.

Popular Mechanics did an article last summer in which an iMac and a comparable PC were put through their paces. The iMac mopped the floor with the PC at things like switching between tasks, launching multiple applications, etc.

But go on running Windows, I'm sure that Steve Ballmer applauds you for it.

I would have also told him to go home to Neowin and stop posting Ballmer FUD here.

 

[jmpage2]

Apple has the best marketing in the world!! This post truly shows why they deserve to have the largest profit margin in the business. No joke at all. I have the same OS on my hackintosh computer and it is awesome!! This computer runs circles around your iMac and cost $1,300. Why can't apple offer up a comparable computer. Simple, there is no money in it. They can make prettier computers with slower parts and mark up the price. You guys will claim they are superior to any other PC parts and pay $600-800 more. Apple has no reason to make a powerful desktop. It will only take away from their huge profit margins on iMacs.

What you fail to grasp is that some of us will pay more for a more aesthetically pleasing product that is actually supported by the manufacturer, regardless of raw performance.

What I said is that my Mac, running OS X is faster than a Windows PC at multi tasking. Certainly your Hackintosh will complete a 20 step Adobe CS filter faster than my iMac, but I simply don't care. I like having a product actually supported to run the OS that I have grown to depend on for what I use a personal computer for.

I like the fact that the machine sits here making NO NOISE. I actually have hearing loss from being around noisy servers all of the time and many desktop PCs are just as obnoxious.

By your logic we should all run out right away and dump our Audis, Mercedes and BMWs because we could buy a beat up Civic, drop a super charger in it and get better 0-60 performance.

People like you are the ones who don't get it.

 

[Shiner]

I hate to break it to you, but Ive been building PCs probably longer than some Mac Forums regulars have been on the planet.

OS X is far, far better at multi tasking and is more stable and responsive than Windows, regardless of the hardware being 'out of date'. It's aesthetically pleasing and it is almost completely quiet. At the end of the day, I would much rather have such a machine, that does its job exceedingly well, than have a machine that is ugly, noisy, and simply faster at certain specific tasks such as how many frames per second you get in the latest FPS game.

Popular Mechanics did an article last summer in which an iMac and a comparable PC were put through their paces. The iMac mopped the floor with the PC at things like switching between tasks, launching multiple applications, etc.

But go on running Windows, I'm sure that Steve Ballmer applauds you for it.

Again, I am always amazed at all of the PC builders on this website that have no idea how to build a computer. It can't be that I am so good at it but maybe we have a few people fudging their true background in PC building.

Anyways, in all of your vast PC building days did you ever build a hackintosh? Try it sometime. You will see why the real PC builders in the house are so upset with apple and their hardware.

As I said earlier, there is nothing wrong with the iMac. It is a great email, internet device like a netbook. I just didn't want people getting out of hand and calling it near a professional computer.

 

[Target362]

What IS people's problem with BD?

I have a load of them. Millions of people have BD collections. Of course it'd be convenient to be able to watch them on our computers too, much like it's convenient to be able to watch DVDs. Every other manufacturer has cheap and expensive laptops with BD support. It's becoming a competitive/value advantage that Apple shouldn't just leave alone. Seriously, why does anyone get into a tizzy about this? Not everyone uses the iMac's display as their primary either. I have an excellent matte Samsung plugged into my iMac.

Not sure. It doesn;t have to be standard, it can be an option like every other manufacturer. (it should given the amount of rage people have over it) The idea of having your movies on the go is a great thing also.



Don''t say "just get an itunes account and buy the digital copy." Why would someone who already bought the physical copy for $20, buy another one just for a digital copy? Plus, many blu-ray and DVD movies come with a digital copy already, so you have the best of both worlds.

BD's a good format, it works, a lot of people need it. When I say need, I mean - would find it very beneficial. Much like every other little feature Apple could add. It doesn’t have to be useful to everyone.

Exactly, and as I said above, a simple BTO option will do just fine in this case, and perhaps offer it standard on the high end imac (or one bellow the high end)

Also, 24" iMac display is > 1080p resolution.. Bluray movie watching makes perfect sense on the imac .. With EyeTV and BD it'd be a perfect media centre type setup for a lot of people too.

1920X1200? I know its over the 1080 option, but wouldnt the picture be strched out a bit?

____________

Few of my ideas for this new imac are:

1. Blu-ray OPTION
2. LED/OLED screen
3. SSD drive option
4. New form factor. LEts face it, the current imac has had the same general look since 2005, with only minor revisions such as thickness and chassis. The last time an imac kept the same look for over 4 years was the original colored ones (1998-2002)
5. New mouse + keyboard design to match the new design of the macs. (keyboard will only see a minor change and the keys will be black instead of white)
6. higher Res webcam
7. blu-tooth standard

just to name a few

 

[jmpage2]

Again, I am always amazed at all of the PC builders on this website that have no idea how to build a computer. It can't be that I am so good at it but maybe we have a few people fudging their true background in PC building.

Anyways, in all of your vast PC building days did you ever build a hackintosh? Try it sometime. You will see why the real PC builders in the house are so upset with apple and their hardware.

As I said earlier, there is nothing wrong with the iMac. It is a great email, internet device like a netbook. I just didn't want people getting out of hand and calling it near a professional computer.

I routinely run Crysis, Adobe CS, and graphics software on my iMac, but you're right it's just a pocket calculator.

What you and the rest of the Hack crowd don't understand is that many of us are perfectly happy paying a premium for the Apple product for the reasons that have been exhaustively mentioned. Many of us use our computers FOR WORK and don't want to be one patch or update away from an unusable machine. We like the Apple hardware and we can afford it. I don't go to sleep at night tossing and turning over the *gasp* hundreds I could have saved by building my own noisy FrankenMac like you have.

You act like you are some kind of super Jedi with your PC building skills because you can put a processor in a socket and get it to run OS X.

Try compiling custom Linux kernels and running them on overclocked Toshiba laptops with hand built drivers and then maybe you will be in a position to make fun of other peoples building and installation skills. You guys think because you follow some Hackintosh advice on a website that you are geniuses.

 

[Shiner]

What you fail to grasp is that some of us will pay more for a more aesthetically pleasing product that is actually supported by the manufacturer, regardless of raw performance.

What I said is that my Mac, running OS X is faster than a Windows PC at multi tasking. Certainly your Hackintosh will complete a 20 step Adobe CS filter faster than my iMac, but I simply don't care. I like having a product actually supported to run the OS that I have grown to depend on for what I use a personal computer for.

I like the fact that the machine sits here making NO NOISE. I actually have hearing loss from being around noisy servers all of the time and many desktop PCs are just as obnoxious.

By your logic we should all run out right away and dump our Audis, Mercedes and BMWs because we could buy a beat up Civic, drop a super charger in it and get better 0-60 performance.

People like you are the ones who don't get it.

Please do not bring in the stupid car analogies that make no sense whatsoever. And please do not call an apple a Mercedes. For it to be a mercedes it would have to have a real engine in it. If we must go this route, think of the apple as a mercedes with a civic engine but the cost of a ferrari.I have been scolded before on these forums for telling people what I think of their particular idiosyncrasies but get over the stupid noise problem. As I have now stated many times, if you like your iMac thats great. Do not call it a professional machine and do not call it faster than a powerful PC.

I don't get it. Why buy inferior technology for a higher price tag. Well I guess for you it all comes down to noise.