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Updated iMac and eMac in April?
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The iMac could get a GF6200 (bridged to AGP), but I haven't heard ikf a Mac version is being planned.
Well I hope thr prices drop a little in Aus. They say they turned good profits last year so with a strong AUssie dollar its time to capitalise on that.
A couple of points. First, the role of the iMac has changed greatly since it was first introduced back in the late 90's. It moved up the product line when the iMac G4 was introduced and the eMac tooks its place as the consumer model. The current iMac is very much a pro-sumer model meaning that it has more than enough power for 95% of the user base. Even if the iMac begins to encroach on the Powermacs specifications, you will still have the professionals who need dual processors, large amounts of fast storage, vast amounts of RAM, PCI expansion capabilities, firewire 800, and the need for the latest GPU's.crawdad62 said:
Second, it would not be cost efficient to have BTO options on the iMac for items that are soldered onto the midplane. They would have to make thousands of each model and then they are stuck with the possiblity of one selling while the other sits and gathers dust destined to be sold on Apple's refurb page. Instead, Apple will decide on one GPU that will satisfy the needs of 99% of the people who the iMac is targeted too.
My projection remains the same as what it has since January:
1.6GHz->1.8GHz
1.8GHz->2.0GHz
256MB->512MB
FX5200->ATI 9600XT
Improved SATA performance
8x superdrive on higher and highest
BT 2
I am hoping that they decide to remove the power supply from the iMac's Jay Leno chin and make it into an external brick. This would improve the overall appearance of the machine and reduce fan noise since a major heat producer is now out of the picture. I know a lot of you hate power bricks and dont want the clutter but I would just attach it to the bottom of my desk and be done with it.
New iMac's
I hope that the new machines are released before April. Like many others I have been waiting for version B of the new iMac. If the video card is upgraded as well one will be sitting in my den as soon as they can ship me one.
I hope that the new machines are released before April. Like many others I have been waiting for version B of the new iMac. If the video card is upgraded as well one will be sitting in my den as soon as they can ship me one.
This is great news as I am buying a 20" in May. Even though I am a newbie, here are my predictions.
$1199
1.6 GHz 17"
512 MB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra
64MB GPU
80GB
$1399
1.8GHz 17"
512 MB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra
64MB GPU
160GB
$1799
2.0GHz 20"
512 MB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500
128MB GPU
160GB
I am just taking a stab at it. I am new so I really don't know what to expect.
I am just mad happy!
$1199
1.6 GHz 17"
512 MB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra
64MB GPU
80GB
$1399
1.8GHz 17"
512 MB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra
64MB GPU
160GB
$1799
2.0GHz 20"
512 MB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500
128MB GPU
160GB
I am just taking a stab at it. I am new so I really don't know what to expect.
I am just mad happy! 
jadam said:
The decision was made about 5 minutes before reading your post. You're right. I'm going to stick with my iMac, get the broken Superdrive fixed next month, and wait for WWDC to see if a low-end Powermac interests me. Or if these iMac updates are appealing, maybe I'll go for another one.
[Initially, I wanted to sell mine before new iMacs (but not too long before) were announced in an effort to keep the resale value high.]
Like a lot of you, I expect small speed bumps, a 128 MB graphics card (at least on the top two), Bluetooth 2.0, and perhaps larger and/or faster hard drives.
Squire
topgunn said:
This is true and I know there's a market for the Powermacs. There always was and there always will be. There's no way an "off the shelf" computer can do what a pro might need it to do. No argument there.
That I agree with. I guess I'm talking more like something like an iMac Extreme (to use the vernacular). Basically an even more top of the line iMac. Something that may actually out perform the lower leveled Powermacs with an all in one configuration. Of course the cost point would reflect that as well. I wouldn't expect it to under cut the PM line. I'm just thinking there are some that would prefer that form over the PM and pay to have the same, if not better performance.
That I whole heartily agree with. I could certainly live with a brick.
I wonder if these updates will be related to an impending Tiger release...
Regardless, excellent news - the eMac is long overdue for an update (and I believe it still had its place and should not be discontinued) and updating the iMac is great news as well - probably a smart move too, what with the introduction of the Mac mini and all.
Regardless, excellent news - the eMac is long overdue for an update (and I believe it still had its place and should not be discontinued) and updating the iMac is great news as well - probably a smart move too, what with the introduction of the Mac mini and all.
~Shard~ said:Blatantly off-topic, how's it going Squire?
Great, man. Yourself? It's amazing how much time I can spend here on MacRumors after dropping one of my courses. I spent Christmas in NB and headed down to the Gulf Coast of Florida so the kids could spend time with their grandparents. A 2-and-a-half-month vacation (Dec. 20~March 2) does wonders, you know. Anyway, I started work the week before last.
Sorry, folks.
Umm...yeah...new graphics card would be well received, as would a price drop.
Squire
Squire said:Great, man. Yourself? It's amazing how much time I can spend here on MacRumors after dropping one of my courses. I spent Christmas in NB and headed down to the Gulf Coast of Florida so the kids could spend time with their grandparents. A 2-and-a-half-month vacation (Dec. 20~March 2) does wonders, you know. Anyway, I started work the week before last.
Sorry, folks.
Umm...yeah...new graphics card would be well received, as would a price drop.
Squire
Sounds great, vacations are excellent for the body, mind and soul. But, let's continue this over PMs, as we're already pushing our luck.
And to remain on topic, yes, a new graphics card would be nice, but I don't know if Apple sees a huge need to put a new one in the iMac - not saying that's the right philosophy of course, but this is the same company that has stuck with 256 MB RAM standard for all this time.
As for the price drop, again, would be nice, although the new iMacs came in at a lower price point than their predecessors to begin with, and I don't know if LCD prices have dropped significantly enough to allow Apple to do this without cutting into their margins.
I can't wait for these updates. I, like most of you, would welcome as many upgrades as possible. I am almost positive I'll be buying the highest iMac model as soon as they get updated. So please Apple, put a good vid card in there.
topgunn said:
That seems reasonable. I would like to see a new GPU but don't have a specific preference. I know how frustrating it is to have your Mac outdated because of its video card. My original G4 iMac is a classic example. I love the computer, but the 32 MB of GPU RAM makes it obsolete for games (and I'm not talking about DOOM 3 - just plain old Railroad Tycoon).
Can I ask what SATA performance would mean? I haven't heard of any new performance steps in SATA. Is it akin to DMA steps for EIDE?
Last question, what does anybody think about Blu-ray? Steve talked about 2005 being the year of HD. I hope PMs get Blu-ray by the end of the year with iMacs getting the drives by this time next year.
Guys don't bo foolish - there is no way they can upgrade iMac to 256 MB of VRAM.
They CAN include the BTO option on the 20 incher to 128 MB or it could come with 128 stock.
But this means that they should upgrade Dual Power Macs to come with 128 (the high end - 256) stock and Single to come with 64.
Mac mini - 32
eMac - 64 (yum!)
iMac - 64/128
Power Mac 64/256
That would be great!
They CAN include the BTO option on the 20 incher to 128 MB or it could come with 128 stock.
But this means that they should upgrade Dual Power Macs to come with 128 (the high end - 256) stock and Single to come with 64.
Mac mini - 32
eMac - 64 (yum!)
iMac - 64/128
Power Mac 64/256
That would be great!
ATM, I feel that no matter what, I will be buying the REV B 20". The price is great enough, just the speed bump, RAM bump to 512 standard (I'll be putting a GB in it anyway) and GPU to a card at about a 9600XT performance range will make it the best thing ever.
Bring on April!
Bring on April!
Upgrade the graphics card please
The graphics card is the Achilles heel of the iMac. I was going to buy one but the graphics card is just too lame and not enough RAM.
Now I am prepared to pay extra for the "iMac G5 DOOM3 Special Edition", (or even better, the iMac G5 Half-Life 2 Special Edition!) with a faster graphics chip and say 128 Meg VRAM.
The graphics card is the Achilles heel of the iMac. I was going to buy one but the graphics card is just too lame and not enough RAM.
Now I am prepared to pay extra for the "iMac G5 DOOM3 Special Edition", (or even better, the iMac G5 Half-Life 2 Special Edition!) with a faster graphics chip and say 128 Meg VRAM.
Remember guys and girls that the video solution on the iMac is part of the motherboard. This makes it more difficult and more expensive to allow a build to order option for the graphics solution. It's not impossible; they do it on the most expensive PowerBooks, but the PowerBooks have a much higher profit margin which gives room for such an option.
I hope for a modest upgrade to the graphics solution for the whole line, or maybe they will choose to go with two different graphics solutions, so that just the 20" and the faster 17" will have upgraded graphics.
I doubt there will be a build to order option for the graphics.
I hope for a modest upgrade to the graphics solution for the whole line, or maybe they will choose to go with two different graphics solutions, so that just the 20" and the faster 17" will have upgraded graphics.
I doubt there will be a build to order option for the graphics.
hamishb said:
that'd be grand....ideal situation for me.
more VRAM please...Tiger needs it surely?
128 and I'll be buying one without feeling it's been crippled, Apple aren't always right. I mean, how long did the Mac faithful scream out for a headless basic Mac? Lo and behold, once Apple swallow their pride and release the Mini it receives tons of orders and praise from PC users.
Now about that outdated idea of a 1 buttoned mouse Mr.Jobs...
The iMac G5 has notably slow SATA performance. I don't think its a problem with the technology but rather with the implementation. The iMac G5 falls behind even the eMac and iMac G4 in disk intensive tests. For example, its Xbench scores are in the low 100's while the eMac and iMac G4 are in the high 120's low 130's. Barefeats has some good tests that show this in real world applications, too. Hopefully this is fixed with the next revision as, to me, it is the second biggest problem with the iMac.Sped said: