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Unboxing of the Early 2009 NVIDIA iMac, Early Benchmarks

corywoolf said:
Can your PS3 burn Blu-ray discs and edit HD video?
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Blu-ray isn't the only HD video source. You're thinking about producing Blu-ray discs using a Mac. I fail to see how this has any link with a Blu-ray drive in a Mac Mini or iMac as you won't be editing HD video on those either, only playing back movies or using BD-Rs for data storage.

The BD-R part is covered by 3rd parties, the movie play back by my PS3. If it was such a killer feature, it would impact sales.

Again, are you sure it's not that you want Blu-ray support and are trying to pass it off as a "must have" feature ?

Bubba Satori said:
Not everybody, but some. Does everybody need to want something for Apple to deign to at least provide the option for it ? Some of the computers I sell have it for the price of a Macbook for heaven's sake.
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Seeing how Blu-ray is licensed and will require some product developpement, I'm guessing that before Apple provides Blu-ray options, maybe not everyone will need to want it, but there will need to be enough demand as to cover the costs associated with implementing and selling the technology.

They aren't going to lose money over a feature that some want.
 
Not Much of An Update... But What A Deal!!!!

I emailed the Apple Store yesterday afternoon, and within 3 hours I had two of the 2.8GHz 24" iMacs in my car. The best part? $1,200 each. What a deal. And I know I didn't really lose much over the updates, but i saved some money and got a great deal to boot!

As a bonus, they threw in the 17" MacBook Pro (late 2008) for $1,600.

I got carried away and bought all three!
 
KnightWRX said:
Again, what price hikes ? Apple doesn't devaluate currency.

Also, the updates were more than just RAM and HD space. The Nehalem Mac Pro's, usable GPUs in Mac Mini's, miniDisplayPort across the entire line, lower entry price for the 24" iMac, etc..

That nothing strikes you as a must buy just means these are not the updates YOU were looking for. It doesn't mean these updates aren't being welcomed by others.
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Sorry, but are you ignorant or just a little slow, I was making a direct comparison of the top end 24" iMac, which in the UK over an 11 moth period has increased in cost in GBP by £440, (still $300 dollars over the US price compared to the previous $580 over the US price, both more than most state taxes on the machines) yet has had no discernible updates in specifications. I wasn't talking about the rest of the line up.

The mac mini granted has had a bone thrown to it with a better GPU and dual display, and until I see proof that the base quad core MacPro outperforms the previous base 2.8 Octo the jury is out on that update for me.

It doesn't take a genius to see that, on the top end 24" at least, there hasn't really been an update, just more Ram and HD, so even in the US its last years iMac at the same price whilst the rest of the computing world moves onto quad cores and other nice new toys. But if you're happy with last years tech in the consumer models, then so be it.

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No matter what happens with the mac, as long as the iPhone farts people will be happy :)
 
myca said:
Sorry, but are you ignorant or just a little slow, I was making a direct comparison of the top end 24" iMac, which in the UK over an 11 moth period has increased in cost in GBP by £440, (still $300 dollars over the US price compared to the previous $580 over the US price, both more than most state taxes on the machines) yet has had no discernible updates in specifications. I wasn't talking about the rest of the line up.
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Wait wait wait. I'm ignorant or slow, so slow down here. You're saying that the 1799£ iMac 24" top end model at 1.40$ exchange rate with 15% VAT included is more expensive by 300$ than a 2199$ model + 15% VAT ?

Because it seems to me it comes to pretty much the same price. US price + 15% is 2528.85$, UK price, after currency conversion is 2518.60$.

So actually, you're getting a 10$ rebate. How is that a "hike" ? Explain it for the slow folk please.
 
KnightWRX said:
Wait wait wait. I'm ignorant or slow, so slow down here. You're saying that the 1799£ iMac 24" top end model at 1.40$ exchange rate with 15% VAT included is more expensive by 300$ than a 2199$ model + 15% VAT ?

Because it seems to me it comes to pretty much the same price. US price + 15% is 2528.85$, UK price, after currency conversion is 2518.60$.

So actually, you're getting a 10$ rebate. How is that a "hike" ? Explain it for the slow folk please.
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Which states have 15% sales tax?? just curious as most appear to have less than 10%, so it still works out cheaper in the US, but that's not really the point I'm trying to make, plus my calculator widget is getting tired now with all the math :)

Sorry, I am just being a bit of a tw*t at the moment, but the point I am trying to make is that the increase in price in the UK wouldn't seem as excessive if the machine had been upgraded, and your argument over exchange rates would be easier to swallow, but IMO the 24" iMac hasn't seen any real upgrade at all, the extra ram and HD don't kick it as an upgrade after 11 months, plus the UK didn't feel any love when the pound was worth 2 dollars, Apple still priced it at about 1.5 dollars to the pound, or there abouts.

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No matter what happens with the mac, as long as the iPhone farts people will be happy :)
 
myca said:
Which states have 15% sales tax?? just curious as most appear to have less than 10%, so it still works out cheaper in the US, but that's not really the point I'm trying to make, plus my calculator widget is getting tired now with all the math :)
Click to expand...

The UK has 15% VAT included in the price (1799 GBP includes this tax). Hence why all US prices need to have 15% added to them since none of them include any tax at all. You can't compare the base price from the sites directly, Apple isn't responsible for tax either. They don't get to keep that money, they have to give it back to the UK government.

So basically, no, the US and UK prices are the same (10$ in favor of the UK even).
 
anubis said:
Can someone help explain to me what the advantage is of having an "nvidia chipset"? How is this different from the graphics card itself? I understand that snow leopard is going to take advantage of the computational power of the grahphics card in order to speed things up... but what's the difference between using the graphics card and using "the chipset"? I have the now-previous generation iMac 24" 3.06GHz with Geforce 8800 GS graphics card. Will my computer significantly underperform a similarly equipped computer with an "nvidia chipset" with snow leopard?
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Kind of sad no one awnsered this one. The 'nvidia chipset' has one less key component.

insidemb2-081017-2.png


Essentially, the whole southbridge and video card are in one chip. Making for a more streamlined designed. Especially in snow leopard, once the video cards will be able to do tasks other than video. One of the benifit will be that the video card will be able to carry out tasks without having to wait for other parts of the southbridge.

Mind you, it's possible that I'm completely wrong.
 
Too many complainers about lack of blue ray.

If you want blu ray, buy a PS3 and hook it up to your big screen TV if you have one. It will be much better than watching blue ray films on an iMac screen. Secondly, if you want to burn these discs or something, go buy another computer -there's about 10 000 other PC models that can do this.

jbernie said:
Checking the online store it looks like the fullsize keyboard is no extra cost, they are listed as:
Apple Keyboard
Apple Wireless Keyboard (Add $30)
Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad.

The only concern I would have is the physical stores and what sort of demand they will see for mini keyboard vs full keyboard and whether the confusion will lead people to return for a full keyboard and such. Having not seen the packaging hopefully it is kind of obvious through them using different images.

Will be interesting to see how the consumer handles it, removal of floppy drives really wasn't earth shattering as in many ways their purpose was overated and other options were available.
Click to expand...

as I said - by default they should ship all iMacs with full keyboard and let the smaller one be an "online option" or something. People will be very disappointed since most do use the number pad.
 
KnightWRX said:
The UK has 15% VAT included in the price (1799 GBP includes this tax). Hence why all US prices need to have 15% added to them since none of them include any tax at all. You can't compare the base price from the sites directly, Apple isn't responsible for tax either. They don't get to keep that money, they have to give it back to the UK government.

So basically, no, the US and UK prices are the same (10$ in favor of the UK even).
Click to expand...

I'm sorry but you're working it out backwards, plus I don't need a lesson in how VAT works thanking you kindly ;)

US base price = $2199 = £1544.03

add VAT at 15% = UK retail price of £1775.64, so rather than being $10 in favour of the UK it's £23.35 in favour of the US as the UK retail price is £1799.

But again arguing the pedantics over currency an VAT isn't what I'm trying to say, it's the fact that 11 months ago some random person could have seen the iMac and thought 'Not too shabby' same person walks in an apple store today they'll see the 'New' iMac with no real new features at a higher price and think 'WTF'.

So I can't see too many being sold in the current economic climate in the UK at least, but if they'd have actually upgraded the machine the price would seem more reasonable.

And I can't understand how you don't see that even though the price has remained constant in the US, the cost of making them will have dropped, as it's using last years components :confused:

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No matter what happens with the mac, as long as the iPhone farts people will be happy :)
 
anyone else see this on the tech page?

Audio
Built-in stereo speakers
Internal 24-watt digital amplifier
Headphone/optical digital audio output (minijack)
Audio line in/optical digital audio input (minijack)
Built-in microphone
Support for Apple Stereo Headset with microphone
 
Just upgraded! Woot!

Just upgraded to the 3.06/nvidia 130 and LOOOOOOVES it!

This is big for me because this is the first time I've upgraded since 2003. That's right, 2003. No I'm not a clueless non-technical person. In fact I design/code flash for technical instruction. I've been putting off upgrading my poor little 1 ghz G4 iMac waiting for the next best thing. Sure, I've could have waited for the Corei7 iMacs NEXT YEAR, but as some one told me that if you love Macs and you need to upgrade then do it now and stop complaining.
 
what???

you call others ignorant and slow, and then come back with this response??

Those smilies don't help much with the 'fastness' you are showing.
:rolleyes:

myca said:
Which states have 15% sales tax?? just curious as most appear to have less than 10%, so it still works out cheaper in the US, but that's not really the point I'm trying to make, plus my calculator widget is getting tired now with all the math :)

Sorry, I am just being a bit of a tw*t at the moment, but the point I am trying to make is that the increase in price in the UK wouldn't seem as excessive if the machine had been upgraded, and your argument over exchange rates would be easier to swallow, but IMO the 24" iMac hasn't seen any real upgrade at all, the extra ram and HD don't kick it as an upgrade after 11 months, plus the UK didn't feel any love when the pound was worth 2 dollars, Apple still priced it at about 1.5 dollars to the pound, or there abouts.

-----------------------
No matter what happens with the mac, as long as the iPhone farts people will be happy :)
Click to expand...
 
gmanrique said:
you call others ignorant and slow, and then come back with this response??

Those smilies don't help much with the 'fastness' you are showing.
:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I think you missed the point, in fact that argument lost the point, plus I apologised and admitted I was being a tw*t.

and FYI I'm as fast as a hare (may have a little myxomatosis, but who cares)
 
grayskies said:
:(

In the context of less computer value, which a lot of people post as their feeling about the iMac updates, I'm not happy with the keyboard. Regardless of people's use, it seems like a cheap move.

I don't know other peoples habits, but I use the keypad often.
Click to expand...

Do YOUR RESEARCH FIRST!!!!!!YOU CAN STILL GET A FULL KEYBOARD WITH KEYPAD, ONLINE ONLY YOU CAN CONFIGURE FREE KEYBOARD WITH KEYPAD FOR FREE INSTEAD OF THE ONE WITHOUT KEYPAD!!!!!!!!!
 
Lesser Evets said:
I agree. It's over rated anyway. I have a PS3 and rarely watch any Blu-Ray.
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Fine. Look, this isn't rocket science. If you don't want it, you don't have to get it. But just because some luddites don't want it in a feeble attempt to rationalize Apple's failure to provide it, doesn't mean the rest who do want it, shouldn't at least have an option to get it.

Why is this so hard to understand for the apologists of all the things that Apple doesn't at least give you the option of ordering ? Jeebus. :mad:

Give customers the bloody chance to choose for themselves. Just do it.
 
Underpowered and overpriced. I'll stick to my Shuttle SG33G5 Hackintosh with a QuadCore Q6600 running at 2.7ghz, 4GB of RAM, x1950gt (will upgrade to a 9800gt soon) and 1TB of storage.

But in all fairness to Apple, if someone didn't want to go through all the trouble I had to, the Mini is perfect out of the box. It is sexier and greener than my Shuttle. Makes my Shuttle look like a tower.
 
Mr Maui said:
Maybe you should check out how the new iMac compares to some of the competitors before continuing to bash it and Apple.
Click to expand...

Those competitors haven't been updated yet.

mac.andy said:
What I like about the hardware refresh:
- Video processor upgrade ATi 4850
- DDR3 RAM, 4 GB Standard

What I don't like about the hardware refresh:
-No Quad-Core Processor

I won't be purchasing until Mid-July anyway, and I wonder if on Steve Jobs' return; Apple may do Quad-Core hardware update for iMac.
I want my new iMac to come with OS X 10.6 and a Quad Core, which is why I'm holding off - as well as there being a $1300 hole in my iMac budget. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

A short cycle for the higher end machines is not out of the realm of possibility. They use the same exact CPUs as the last revision. That being said, I don't know if the iMac could handle the extra 10w and it would but heads with the quad core MacPro in Apple's somewhat detached view of the computer world. Honestly, they're too erratic these days to have any clue what they're going to do.
 
Good Deal

I bought my new iMac 24" 2.8, exactly 3 weeks ago, I was seriously considering upgrading and paying the 10% restocking fee when the new ones arrived. (and crossed my fingers and hoped they arrived within a month) After seeing the new ones, I quickly took option #2, a $250.00 rebate from my Apple store today. I now have a great machine at a good price. I couldn't be HAPPIER!:)
 
Well, I was resady to buy an iMac assuming they went at least Core 2 Quad (like Dell's AIO has been), but I can't justify paying the high price for over 1 year old processors with mostly the same nVidia cards (renamed). I'm going to wait until this Apple event and decide what to do. There's a small chance they'll introduce a new consumer tower line (highly doubt it) or a MacBook/MBP update (doubt it). I'll probably I'll either do nothing (keeping my VAIO laptop and patiently waiting for a fix so Hackintosh can properly utilize the video card) or get a refurbished MBP. It's not the best deal if you compare it to PC laptops, but the profit margin is likely not as obscene as it is on their refreshed iMac and mini lines. The downside is no longer being able to video out to my SDTV (as I can with my VAIO which has S-Video out) and not having a monitor to serve as a TV replacement (another $400 to spend if I want a fairly decent one).:(
 
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