Possible 27" iMac internal spec changes in December? Thoughts?

[mfsinger]

I'm not a huge user of forums so I'm not sure if this question should go here or elsewhere. Apologies in advance. I'm at a crossroads and thought I'd throw this out there. My parents have a Mac Mini that dates back to 2010. It is becoming incredibly slow so it's time to put a bullet in it. I bought myself a 27" iMac this past February so it's the late 2015 specs. What I plan on doing is giving them my iMac but here's where the questions come in. Apple is set to release the iMac Pro in December. I assume they'll make an announcement as usual because they are due to release the HomePod as well. I am wondering if they'll change the internal specs of the iMac at that time? I realize this is a speculation type question - the kind that Apple despises - but I think it's a valid concern. They released the current MacBook Pro November 2016 then changed the internal specs June 2017. I know there's also talk of the iMac being completely redesigned in 2018 but I don't care about that. This purchase needs to happen before year end for tax reasons. I'm not an entirely patient person when I decide to do something. At the same time, I can't jump head first into a purchase as I have to research the heck out of something. It's only November 6th and I have no idea when they'll make that announcement in December. My thought is that the iMacs are already on 7th generation processors so there isn't much they can do... or is there? I don't keep up with processor specs.

So... any speculation thoughts out there? If anyone is going to ask "what do you use your systems for" the answer is nothing too much anymore. I used to do video editing but left the business 6 years ago. I might do some work again since this concept of VR is intriguing. My biggest goal when I buy is longevity. Power it up now and make it last as long as it can. My current MacBook Pro is a mid 2010 and still is able to accomplish a few things, although, it will need to be replaced soon. That's a whole other topic. Thanks.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

I'm not a huge user of forums so I'm not sure if this question should go here or elsewhere. Apologies in advance. I'm at a crossroads and thought I'd throw this out there. My parents have a Mac Mini that dates back to 2010. It is becoming incredibly slow so it's time to put a bullet in it. I bought myself a 27" iMac this past February so it's the late 2015 specs. What I plan on doing is giving them my iMac but here's where the questions come in. Apple is set to release the iMac Pro in December. I assume they'll make an announcement as usual because they are due to release the HomePod as well. I am wondering if they'll change the internal specs of the iMac at that time? I realize this is a speculation type question - the kind that Apple despises - but I think it's a valid concern. They released the current MacBook Pro November 2016 then changed the internal specs June 2017. I know there's also talk of the iMac being completely redesigned in 2018 but I don't care about that. This purchase needs to happen before year end for tax reasons. I'm not an entirely patient person when I decide to do something. At the same time, I can't jump head first into a purchase as I have to research the heck out of something. It's only November 6th and I have no idea when they'll make that announcement in December. My thought is that the iMacs are already on 7th generation processors so there isn't much they can do... or is there? I don't keep up with processor specs.

So... any speculation thoughts out there? If anyone is going to ask "what do you use your systems for" the answer is nothing too much anymore. I used to do video editing but left the business 6 years ago. I might do some work again since this concept of VR is intriguing. My biggest goal when I buy is longevity. Power it up now and make it last as long as it can. My current MacBook Pro is a mid 2010 and still is able to accomplish a few things, although, it will need to be replaced soon. That's a whole other topic. Thanks.

I doubt they will make an announcement the iMac Pro and HomePod were announced already.

I think it’s unlikely we’ll get new ones mac internals until next year (apart from the Pro of course) there are some good benefits to 6 core coffee lake processors but Radeon have yet to release low TDP vega cards and I expect them to wait for those.

 

[redheeler]

Unlikely the iMac will be refreshed until next year.

 

[CWallace]

There will not be an iMac update in December both because it is only six months from the last refresh and the iMac Pro will launch then.

 

[mfsinger]

I'm mostly in agreement here but the 6 month argument doesn't work as the current MacBook Pro launched November 2016 and then got a refresh in June 2017. That's just over 7 months. Time matters not with them. And as for launch of the iMac Pro and HomePod, does Apple ever just say "OK, it's for sale now". There's ALWAYS some little launch spectacle. Especially now that they have that really nice Steve Jobs underground theater at the spaceship campus.

I appreciate the input to everyone that shared. I'm still gun-shy and just don't trust them. Nothing chaps my a** more than buying something and having newer stuff show up a few weeks later. I guess it doesn't matter much if I'm not looking for a system to dominate the universe with. Still... this stuff isn't cheap.

 

[brucewayne]

It is not often that there is a 6 month refresh with Apple - it ticks too many people off and the current iMac isn't too far behind on specs (coffee lake was just released a month ago). I would wager that we won't see a new standard iMac before next spring since they want to put focus on the iMac Pro.

That said, Best Buy/Amazon and others are on their holiday return policies now, and usually Apple is by Mid-November which would give you until January to return it if it did get updated. Also, the apple refurb store has 2017 iMacs in stock around 15% off. I just ordered the base 27" for $1529 which is a nice savings and a good incentive to buy now.

 

[EugW]

I’m too am pretty sure the iMac non-Pro won’t get a proper update until 2018. And it should be a pretty decent one, with 6-core models for the very first time.

 

[CWallace]

I'm mostly in agreement here but the 6 month argument doesn't work as the current MacBook Pro launched November 2016 and then got a refresh in June 2017. That's just over 7 months.

True, but that was also a CPU refresh from Skylake (2016) to Kaby Lake (2017).

Hex-Core Coffee Lake i5 and i7 are technically due before the end of 2017 (realistically 1H 2018), however those require Z300 motherboards and the 2017 iMac uses a Z87 motherboard so Apple cannot just drop in an 8700K or 8600K in place of the current 7700K/7600K. And I don't see Apple stocking two separate motherboards. As such, I remain of the opinion that it will be mid-2018 (WWDC) for the next update, possibly of the entire Mac line (including the launch of the new Mac Pro and hopefully of a new Mac Mini) moving to Coffee Lake and Kaby Lake Refresh.

 

[mfsinger]

Wow... yup. Makes total sense. By the way, I used to live on Capital Hill, three blocks south of Broadway. Boylston and Harrison if my memory serves me correct. The Pacific Northwest was the best place I've ever lived in the USA.

 

[ggggggmmmmm]

Ugh this is killing me. I need a computer asap. I'm trying as hard as I can to hold on until the iMac pro. A bump on the i7 5k iMac would be preferable.

 

[Fishrrman]

"Possible 27" iMac internal spec changes in December? Thoughts?"

Doubtful.

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