Penryn iMacs Next Tuesday?

[edenwaith]

Tiger and current iMacs

I think he is referring to the "as yet unannounced" new iMacs. They probably will be able to as long as they don't introduce any new hardware apart from Penryn CPUs and RAM/HD bumps.

Actually, I'm referring to the current line of iMacs. I've been searching through Apple's Help forums to see if it is possible to "downgrade" from Leopard to Tiger on the current line of Aluminum iMacs. Since the iMacs originally came with Tiger when they were introduced in August 2007, it is expected that they should be able to run Tiger, still. However, Apple sometimes likes to throw in a curveball to make things more difficult. What if they tweaked some small setting in the firmware which would prevent Tiger being installed on the current iMacs? That's what I had to find out, and it seems that no one had a 100% definitive YES or NO answer to the question.

I was able to obtain the original system discs to an iMac that came with Tiger. I then properly formatted an external firewire drive, and was able to install Tiger (10.4.10) on the drive.

So, if anyone still needs an iMac that can still run Tiger and Leopard (in my case, I want to dual boot), then one better get one of these new iMacs soon, since the next revision could very likely kill off any Tiger support.

 

[FuriousD]

well i decided not to wait. Ordered a 20" 2.4ghz refurb from the apple store this morning for £779, that is a great saving. I will be getting 4gb of RAM from crucial anyway so the speed bump that "may" be offered next week does not outway what i have saved.

A lot of you guys might want the most up-to-date however, i am coming from a PC, and a very old one, it has just gone 7 years, has a 1.8ghz, 40GB HD and 384mb of RAM so this imac is going to be very very fast in comparison.

Looking forward to getting it and joining the fold.

D

 

[flopticalcube]

Actually, I'm referring to the current line of iMacs. I've been searching through Apple's Help forums to see if it is possible to "downgrade" from Leopard to Tiger on the current line of Aluminum iMacs. Since the iMacs originally came with Tiger when they were introduced in August 2007, it is expected that they should be able to run Tiger, still. However, Apple sometimes likes to throw in a curveball to make things more difficult. What if they tweaked some small setting in the firmware which would prevent Tiger being installed on the current iMacs? That's what I had to find out, and it seems that no one had a 100% definitive YES or NO answer to the question.

I was able to obtain the original system discs to an iMac that came with Tiger. I then properly formatted an external firewire drive, and was able to install Tiger (10.4.10) on the drive.

So, if anyone still needs an iMac that can still run Tiger and Leopard (in my case, I want to dual boot), then one better get one of these new iMacs soon, since the next revision could very likely kill off any Tiger support.

Ah, well in that case absolutely. There is NO WAY Apple would force people to upgrade to Leopard via a firmware "tweak". All current iMacs, even shipping Leopard ones, can run Tiger. No question about it. I thought the answer was so obvious that that couldn't be the question.

As for the next ones "very likely" to kill off Tiger, I doubt it.

 

[edenwaith]

A lot of you guys might want the most up-to-date however, i am coming from a PC, and a very old one, it has just gone 7 years, has a 1.8ghz, 40GB HD and 384mb of RAM so this imac is going to be very very fast in comparison.

Looking forward to getting it and joining the fold.

D

Congratulations. Hope you enjoy your new iMac!

 

[jfull15]

Actually, I'm referring to the current line of iMacs. I've been searching through Apple's Help forums to see if it is possible to "downgrade" from Leopard to Tiger on the current line of Aluminum iMacs. Since the iMacs originally came with Tiger when they were introduced in August 2007, it is expected that they should be able to run Tiger, still. However, Apple sometimes likes to throw in a curveball to make things more difficult. What if they tweaked some small setting in the firmware which would prevent Tiger being installed on the current iMacs? That's what I had to find out, and it seems that no one had a 100% definitive YES or NO answer to the question.

I was able to obtain the original system discs to an iMac that came with Tiger. I then properly formatted an external firewire drive, and was able to install Tiger (10.4.10) on the drive.

So, if anyone still needs an iMac that can still run Tiger and Leopard (in my case, I want to dual boot), then one better get one of these new iMacs soon,

since the next revision could very likely kill off any Tiger support.

No, Apple did not tweak Leopard's Firmware to exclude downgrading. Try erasing your hard drive an doing a fresh install of tiger with leopard off the system. If you can dual boot between Leopard and Tiger, I don't know. But it is possible to downgrade to Tiger.

 

[Digital Skunk]

No, Apple did not tweak Leopard's Firmware to exclude downgrading. Try erasing your hard drive an doing a fresh install of tiger with leopard off the system. If you can dual boot between Leopard and Tiger, I don't know. But it is possible to downgrade to Tiger.

From what I understand of how the Mac OSs work, if you have an external FW drive to boot Tiger off of you can do it with no problems. I am not sure if any firmware updates from Apple effect the hardware permanently though, but if you want to dual boot from Leopard to Tiger and they aren't on the same drive then you should be okay.

 

[edenwaith]

Tiger and Al iMacs

As for the next ones "very likely" to kill off Tiger, I doubt it.

IF the next line of iMacs can run Tiger, great. But considering that I was only able to install Tiger using the original system discs that had OS 10.4.10 on them, that might be enough to prevent Tiger from being installed on the next line of iMacs, since those discs won't match up to the newest iMacs. Plus, what if there are some new parts (video card, etc.) that don't have drivers written for Tiger? So, even if there was a way to install Tiger on these future iMacs, there could potentially be conflicts with software and hardware.

At least, for me, I'm eager to purchase one of the current iMacs since I know these can run Tiger, as well as Leopard. Reminds me of the PowerMac G4s from years ago that were the last PMs to be able to boot into OS 9.

 

[frozentoast]

At least, for me, I'm eager to purchase one of the current iMacs since I know these can run Tiger, as well as Leopard. Reminds me of the PowerMac G4s from years ago that were the last PMs to be able to boot into OS 9.

You need to skate where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.

In all seriousness though an update would be just what the doctor ordered. Still dreaming of a 3.0ghz, 30", Blu-ray enabled iMac...

 

[flopticalcube]

IF the next line of iMacs can run Tiger, great. But considering that I was only able to install Tiger using the original system discs that had OS 10.4.10 on them, that might be enough to prevent Tiger from being installed on the next line of iMacs, since those discs won't match up to the newest iMacs. Plus, what if there are some new parts (video card, etc.) that don't have drivers written for Tiger? So, even if there was a way to install Tiger on these future iMacs, there could potentially be conflicts with software and hardware.

As I said, if its only Penryns and HD/RAM bumps then there won't be a problem. Other new hardware would probably force Leopard. You had to use the original discs because only revisions of Tiger after the iMacs came out would have the drivers for the new hardware.

 

[PCNot]

I have been waiting ...

Gee I really do hope that the new IMAC comes out this Tuesday. I can not wait anymore!

 

[edenwaith]

You need to skate where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.

Like !%$@ I will! You'll have to pry my Bondi-blue iMac (with Mac OS 8.6, 160MB of RAM, and a 4GB hard drive) out of my cold, lifeless hands before I'll give it up!

Oh, sorry...senior moment...

Now let me tell you about how I fought a bear with my three-ring binder when I was walking to school one day...

 

[palmerc2]

New user to MacRumors & to Mac's

I am currently a student and I have been trying to get a grant for the past few months, after finally acquiring it I am going to get the newly updated iMac when it comes out, I have checked it out at the apple store and it is amazing, can't wait to get it!

 

[George.D]

I placed an order through my university on the 18th for an iMac and it still hasn't arrived yet. I was getting worried about the delay until I read this rumor and immediately called the campus computer store. The manager there said that there was a delay in getting iMacs and his rep at Apple couldn't say why they were holding onto orders. This would seem to confirm an upcoming product refresh for the iMacs.

Great Data. Thanks for sharing this info. I know of one additional iMac Apple will sell when they "finally" update the iMac.

 

[macjunkie4life]

What if...

Apple are churning out new models like there's no tomorrow. This is both good and bad for us consumers. It's not like we can keep up with their pace. These things don't exactly come for free.

Anyway, bad luck for those who recently bought an iMac (myself included). Good news for those who kept waiting!

 

[Nanaki]

Great Data. Thanks for sharing this info. I know of one additional iMac Apple will sell when they "finally" update the iMac.

I freaking hope this is right!

 

[Nanaki]

What if...

Apple are churning out new models like there's no tomorrow. This is both good and bad for us consumers. It's not like we can keep up with their pace. These things don't exactly come for free.

Anyway, bad luck for those who recently bought an iMac (myself included). Good news for those who kept waiting!

I stand corrected... I freaking hope for THIS!

 

[redwing]

check this out- looks pretty certain

I just checked macsupportpro website. went to their sales area. the Imacs are new specs- check out graphics cards on top three models; not too much else new but more may revealed on Tuesday. looks like time to buy!

 

[flopticalcube]

I just checked macsupportpro website. went to their sales area. the Imacs are new specs- check out graphics cards on top three models; not too much else new but more may revealed on Tuesday. looks like time to buy!

Looks like a typo.

 

[redwing]

Looks like a typo.

may be typo; may not. the 24 inch 2.4 ghz also now has 2 gb ram. look at pdf sheet just above these specs- they are all old (present) specs. I looked the other day at these specs and they were same as pdf. your guess as good as mine.

 

[flopticalcube]

Bit of an odd update if it is. I would have thought they would go for at least a newer card.

 

[smithruls]

i dont know if this has already been mentioned because i dont really want to read all 7 pages of this thread just to make sure...but anyways, i am looking at the refurbished mac page on apple.com and for the iMacs it says "Limited Time Special Price" and the refurbished price is lower than normal (i think). This could also add the the questioning of a new iMac

 

[flopticalcube]

i dont know if this has already been mentioned because i dont really want to read all 7 pages of this thread just to make sure...but anyways, i am looking at the refurbished mac page on apple.com and for the iMacs it says "Limited Time Special Price" and the refurbished price is lower than normal (i think). This could also add the the questioning of a new iMac

Its been mentioned a couple of times.

 

[dpiol]

may be typo; may not. the 24 inch 2.4 ghz also now has 2 gb ram. look at pdf sheet just above these specs- they are all old (present) specs. I looked the other day at these specs and they were same as pdf. your guess as good as mine.

hmmm... check out nvidias page http://www.nvidia.com/page/apple.html
You won't find a reference to iMacs, but have a look at the page's source. There are plenty of prepared references to the iMac.
Let's hope

 

[bodgerx]

From the page source:

<!-- <P><img src="/docs/CP/1401/imac_24.jpg" align="Right" border="0" hSpace="10" vSpace="10" alt="24-inch iMac" />
<B>24" iMac</B><BR>
The 24-inch iMac is powered by the NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT, which delivers up to 60% performance increase over the Apple 20-inch iMac. The 24" iMac comes with 128MB of GDDR3 SDRAM and offers great games performance and sensational response for video and photo editing.
</P>
<P>
If you'd like to climb to the performance peak, you can configure your 24-inch iMac with the NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT with 256MB of GDDR3 SDRAM for up to 2.3 times faster performance than the 20-inch iMac.
</P> -->
<BR Clear="All">

http://www.nvidia.com/page/apple.html

hmmm... check out nvidias page http://www.nvidia.com/page/apple.html
You won't find a reference to iMacs, but have a look at the page's source. There are plenty of prepared references to the iMac.
Let's hope

 

[WhiteNoiseMaker]

From the page source:

<!-- <P><img src="/docs/CP/1401/imac_24.jpg" align="Right" border="0" hSpace="10" vSpace="10" alt="24-inch iMac" />
<B>24" iMac</B><BR>
The 24-inch iMac is powered by the NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT, which delivers up to 60% performance increase over the Apple 20-inch iMac. The 24" iMac comes with 128MB of GDDR3 SDRAM and offers great games performance and sensational response for video and photo editing.
</P>
<P>
If you'd like to climb to the performance peak, you can configure your 24-inch iMac with the NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT with 256MB of GDDR3 SDRAM for up to 2.3 times faster performance than the 20-inch iMac.
</P> -->
<BR Clear="All">

http://www.nvidia.com/page/apple.html

Thats just a reference to the older white iMac's GPU, it's not an update waiting to happen.