Yes, I seemed to have failed the thinner = better training for the iMac line.
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The New iMeh
- Thread starter One Still Sheep
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Yes, I seemed to have failed the thinner = better training for the iMac line.
I'm running a 2006 MBP that is ready to be retired. My new iPad has filled a void of fun toys for awhile, but I've been holding off on buying a new desktop for over a year - expecting that THIS computer would have been released this last May, not in December (the 27"). I'm a bit disappointed but not by much. I expected all of this EXCEPT the lack of DVD drive! I need a Bluray drive anyway, since most movies I have now are in that format.
The big question for me is whether it can hold its own in gaming. I went through hours and days of research building a custom PC, and every time I do it comes up ABOVE the cost of a loaded iMac. This takes into account the amazing screens Apple throws into their desktops, not the crap you get with any Dell. To get a competitive custom build, you have to take some slack on the visuals...
FWIW I am wanting to run games like the the Sim City and XPlane,
The big question for me is whether it can hold its own in gaming. I went through hours and days of research building a custom PC, and every time I do it comes up ABOVE the cost of a loaded iMac. This takes into account the amazing screens Apple throws into their desktops, not the crap you get with any Dell. To get a competitive custom build, you have to take some slack on the visuals...
FWIW I am wanting to run games like the the Sim City and XPlane,
One has to ask for whom the top-end iMac is intended. To be sure, the lower end iMacs are for consumers, but the $2000 iMac (the top configuration) has come to fill a niche in the professional/prosumer market. Consumers don't really need an i7, but professional users certainly do. If someone was going to buy an iMac for web-surfing and iLife I would advise not wasting money on a top-end machine, if someone is going to use an iMac for professional work I can't imagine recommending an i5. As you stated, many applications don't make use of threading, but professional applications do: CAD programs, almost all animation software, Adobe CS, some programming software, etc.
So I may be overlooking something, but what is the point in buying top-of-the-line if you aren't going to be using multi-threading? Why would you need more power than the base specs (which could run pretty much any program anyway), but not need multi-threading?
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Well, no iMac is going to have BluRay so if you want that feature on an iMac you'll have to go external; personally, I wouldn't let this bother you too much. If you use BD all the time, you can get a better external than any drive you'd ever get in an iMac; if you use it rarely, you can get a slim, USB-powered BD drive which can be neatly tucked away when not in use. This isn't a huge problem (not that this justifies Apple nixing the drive just to get that oh-so-glorious 5mm edge).
The Dell XPS One series does use PLS technology (which some actually prefer to IPS) so, I wouldn't really say that the screens are necessarily worse (but you'd need to see the two in person to decide for yourself).
I don't game at all, but from what I overhear from those who do, I believe the games you mentioned would run fine on even the base specs of the iMac. Unless you are running the latest-and-greatest in first-person-shooters, I think most games would run at decent resolution and frame-rate (perhaps not the highest settings, I don't know), on the 2012 iMac.
And one more thing: if you have never built a PC by yourself before, be forewarned that it can be a daunting task (if you know what you're doing, it isn't a big deal, but if you're newbie a motherboard can be a scary thing).
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I've built two PC's, but it was several years ago. I jumped ship after they kept dying. I HATE HATE HATE Windows. I swore I would never go back. And I don't want to eat my own words, but the appeal of building a bespoke PC to suit my needs appeals to me. But I just can't see myself keeping it for "gaming only" and never using it for anything else. The moment I do that, Windows-syndrome will kick back in the the countdown meter will begin...
Unfortunately, if you don't like Windows you are pretty much stuck buying an Apple of some kind (Linux isn't really very practical as the solitary OS for all of your computing needs). You could go down the Hackintosh path, but that way is paved with much sorrow and grief.
The way I see it you have four options:
1. Buy an iMac. Figure out your computational requirements (how much RAM you need, what sort of processor, etc) and come to terms with the amount you will have to pay to get this out of an iMac. Determine to pay this amount and to be satisfied with your choice.
2. Buy a Mac Mini. Lower your expectations a bit and pick up a Mini. If you already have a decent screen you could save a bit of money. It won't have the performance of the iMac, but it will keep you running OSX. Accept the limitations of making this choice.
3. Buy a Mac Pro. Wait until the new Mac Pros are release (most likely some time next year). This will cost you a good deal more, but also give you more power. Accept that you may have to wait a while for this machine to be released, and that you chose a very expensive computer because it best suited your needs.
4. Acclimate yourself to Windows. When is the last time you used a Windows system? What was it you didn't like about Windows? See if there are workarounds for your complaints. Determine what type of computer you want (with Windows you'll have A LOT more options): do you want an all-in-one or a tower? A mini/slim tower? Are you prepared to undertake building a PC from the motherboard up? If not, determine your needs and shop for the vendor can meet your desires at the best price point. Accept that was the best choice for you, stop worrying about what Apple is doing, and enjoy your computer.
Of course, all of these options have their own sub-options: other little choices that must be made, but first you need to pick which path you're going to go down, and accept this decision, then picking which iMac, or what type of PC will be a lot easier.
Why don't you buy the machine and actually try it out before putting it down. At least wait till MacWorld and ifixit can see what it's made of and what it can do.
The 27" for example has the ability for the GTX 680MX to be added. That's the top of the line brand new GPU. The original 680M had performance on par of a desktop 670. We could be looking at an iMac with an on par 680. I'd say that's innovation as they made the design smaller yet pushed up the level up parts that they're including in the machine.
How was I putting it down?
My point was that the changes to the iMac line were exactly what I expected; that I wasn't surprised, not that I was disappointed. The only thing I said was a minor disappointment was that the processor was not a default i7 on the top end 27" model.
You either did not read my post, or read it, but understand what it said.
Even thouhh I am stuck in my bed sickened with mono I would never read that montrosity. Apple gives the ability to upgrade. For those who go into the apple store and just buy an iMac the i5 will be more than enough. For those who need more they can go and bump up the processor on a custom iMac.
Maybe apple is trying to recoup R&D cost on the new iMac design and chose to go with a higher profit i5 rather than including an i7. Maybe Haswell will include a default i7 after R&D is paid for from this generation?
From the pictures the 2012 iMac is one of the best looking computers I have ever seen.
Why would you attack something you haven't read?
I imagine that Apple did't include the i7 by default on this iMac because Apple doesn't normally include the i7 by default on their iMacs; I'd like to seem them change this policy (for the top-end 27" model only).
Ensure that you get plenty of rest in order to combat your mono.
apple managed to fit a gtx 680mx graphic chip in this aio while maintaining the "cool" style look, it's industry leading and the only company that are able to do it.
that's what makes the new imac awesome and unique, and why i will be buying one.
the end.
that's what makes the new imac awesome and unique, and why i will be buying one.
the end.
1. It's an AIO computer not a Mac Pro. And 95% of people have no need to fiddle with the guts of their computer. Not a bad thing here.
2. External storage is cheap these days. And replacing ram I'm glad I don't have to do it. It was a real PITA to replace the ram on my 2011, 21.5 iMac. Sure looks easy, pull out ram and put in new ram. But the tab to pull out the ram was shiny, not rough. So no way to grip the tab. Kept slipping out of my fingers. And also the ram fit was so tight I had to literally tug at it for ages to get it out. And putting in the new ram was just as hard. Got a dead ram error (cause it was not inserted properly, cause so hard to do so). But on 2nd attempt it worked fine.
In short, ram insertion in 2011 iMacs was very poorly designed. If I had to do it again I'd take it to an Apple store and say "you can suffer with putting ram in this bitch of a ram slot, not me again".
As a comparison, the 2 levers on the white 2006 iMac I have for adding/removing ram was easy. Made swapping ram in that white iMac a breeze.
3. Agreed very good thing. Can't wait to see this in person.
4. Apple's unofficial motto "Always thinner and always lighter". Which is good as transporting the iMac could be better with a lighter model.
It has not been proven that they have done it yet. When a few hundred thousand of the machines hit real world usage in the next few months we will know. Just because it is there does not mean it will hold up well when people start pushing it. Seems like an awful big heat source in a very small space.
Best thing about the new iMac's is the reduction in price of last gen models. I've been saving up for an iMac and now the refurbs are <$999. Once the new ones start shipping, I expect to see those prices drop again. 
Thanks, I have been trying but senior year of college isn't helping. Please don't take my onslaught personally.
If it's a policy they've never had than why would they change it? Apple has been know to have the highest profit margins for all their devices in each market. Tim Cook is an operations kind of guy and will probably be even slightly worse than SJ in trying to maximize profit. i7 as default would eat up that profit and cut into their even higher profit high end i7 default iMac.
That's true, switching from i5s to i7s would certainly affect their profit margins (I doubt it would be a terrible blow, but it would certainly reduce their profit per unit).
My thought is simply that the top-end 27" has come to used by professional photographers, video-editors, and graphic designers; upgrading the specs to an i7 would be a subtle acknowledgement of that fact (and would possibly help soothe some disgruntled Mac Pro users who are waiting for their refresh... but no guarantees there).