Updates to Apple's iMac Line Reportedly 'Imminent'

[Xiroteus]

My workflow still uses DVDs, and my Imac has a DVD burner.

If the next iMac lacks Blu Ray, I can deal with it.

No Superdrive? no sale.

I'll move to this.

http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/workstations/z1_features.html

Real Computer, blows my iMac out of the water. Or ANY mac out of the water. Thats for sure.

I am kind of on the same page, I can deal with no blu-ray as long as I have a television and player, it at least has to have a dvd drive. There was a time I was looking at the Mac Mini and then they removed the drive when I wanted Blu-ray, and I looked around and saw other small computers about that size with blu-ray as they are designed for a HTPC not just a streaming or spend all your money on digital content machine.

My market these days when it comes to Apple is really with the iPhone, players and maybe the iPad.

I still wish the iPad had an SD card slot for photo transfers, I know there is an adapter, so that is something and it would only be used while out.

That looks like a nice system.

This is why I am moving away from macs.

They have gone from professional machines.

To the machines that are used for playing angry birds and surfing.

No thanks.

Really too bad, we want to like these systems and they are making it harder to use each year.

 

[MythicFrost]

That is a deal breaking for some, me included, the only exception is an ultrabook. I hear this so often and it comes down to not waiting an external drive for a desktop or laptop, it defeats the entire purpose of a streamlined all in one device. That is how it is for me and I have heard from others that it is a deal breaker, how often is a drive in a desktop machine a deal breaker? If it is then I will have to say that is rather odd. "This machine can do too much, it must do less" (yep that was a goofy thing to say)

Sometimes it feels like every thing even desktops have to be as thin and light as paper or it is bulky and too heavy, when did we all get so weak that five pounds is heavy? (Of course then a hold an Ultrabook and understand that for a portable device, small, simple and easy to carry around is nice)

It's not that it's a deal breaker, it's that without the drive it can allow for improvements -- thinner, lighter or perhaps a slightly larger battery, etc., perhaps for some it is a deal breaker, but I don't understand why.

For me, yes, it is extremely underpowered, its GPU is fail. I deal with pretty intense simulation software, and my alienware can barely handle it. ( hence the 20K workstation at work )

I have an Alienware M18X, picked it up a few months ago, I can't run as high as a rMBP, I'll admit that, but I am willing to trade lower res for a much larger screen ( 18 inches ) and better performance. ( 4.1ghz i7 overclocked, 32gb ram, 768gb SSDs in a RAID, I have dual SLI 7970 MObile GPUs ). Now that might sound stupid, but I use every bit of that performance for work, and play.

So yes, to me the rMBP is underpowered,

Yes, my laptop weighs about 12 pounds, but cmon, what is 12 pounds? If 12 pounds is alot of weight for you. Time to get the gym and loose that 300 lbs of body fat I'll take my 18 inch screen and hardware performance over underpowered tablet Laptop.

Other than the Low res, its better than a rMBP.

Less Battery Life? Wrong, I can swap my batteries out, and I carry 3 with me in the field.

Heavier and thicker? Yes. That doesn't matter to me. I'll take the performance. 12 pounds is nothing. Gym it up.

I have 3 SSD's.

These two laptops have entirely different markets, they aren't really comparable. It's not an underpowered laptop, but it is underpowered for what you need. Your laptop is also a lot more expensive than the rMBP.

I don't need a laptop, but if I did I would most definitely not purchase one that weighs that much. If you don't mind the weight then more power to you, but it would annoy me. It's obvious that if you need that level of performance though you don't have much choice.

I can't see Retina in the iMac yet, I think even with Apples buying power, to expensive.

If I were to buy a Apple laptop, it would be a refurb 17 inch. I like screen space. ( The last Apple laptop I bought new was a G4 Powerbook, before that, a Pismo that got me through college )

It may not be possible this year, but I hope it is. I don't think expense will be the issue though, if anything I think yield rates will be the big problem.

For me., it isn't Because I use my computer for work. Not play.

I also use my computer for work. What exactly do you need the optical drive for? And why isn't an external drive suitable?

Yes it is, your 100% correct on that, but in something like an IMac, space makes zero difference, even if I only used them a dozen times a year, I don't want an external drive.

I disagree, that space could be used for a second hard drive or SSD, or it could be used to expand the cooling system.

Opinion imo, Apple makes some great laptops for sure, but with the rMBP I see them mostly as toys.

But hey its all about what you need? With the rMBP I think its insane to kill the ODD, and ethernet for 3/16th of an inch.

I'll stick with my big Dell.

-snip-

I love the rMBP, and I think the majority do too. It may not be suitable for some, depending on their needs, but a lot of people just want an all rounder.

I totally agree with that, but only if there is a price drop like on the Mac Mini when it lost the Super Drive. I do use my optical drive for ripping old audio CDs, other than that, the typical things a PC user needs the DVD drive for like driver installers and the Windows installer itself, don't come in CD form for the Mac.

Nobody uses their DVD drives 3 hours a day on their laptops, that will draw more power, generate more heat, maybe certain old games that required the DVD to be in the tray for defeatist DRM, new games just need WiFi and the internet for that.

I'm not too worried about a price drop. Yeah I'd pick up an external drive anyway, but it'd stay packed away in a draw for most of the year.

 

[Xiroteus]

It's not that it's a deal breaker, it's that without the drive it can allow for improvements -- thinner, lighter or perhaps a slightly larger battery, etc., perhaps for some it is a deal breaker, but I don't understand why.

Unless it is a tablet or ultrabook I need to feel like I am getting my moneys worth plus with anything as big as a laptop or desktop a optical drive has to be a given for me to look at it. Such a drive is as important as any other feature said device may have.

Another factor is that I often use my systems for everything, there was a time I had no television just my computer and it was used for movies, shows, etc.. it was a HTPC and I would want the same from any system.

At some point I would just go to a television with blu-ray player a desktop with blu-ray drive for work, and power and then something like the Macbook Air for a portable system, or even the iPad depending what the Windows surface has to offer.

 

[LagunaSol]

I'll move to this.

http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/workstations/z1_features.html

Real Computer, blows my iMac out of the water. Or ANY mac out of the water. Thats for sure.

As the unfortunate user of a work-issued HP laptop, I can only say "good luck with that."

Oh, does this mean you won't be here whinging about Apple any more? Or will that continue?

 

[Xiroteus]

As the unfortunate user of a work-issued HP laptop, I can only say "good luck with that."

Mine Hp laptop is fine because it is new so that means.......... oh great!

I can hope it is not a ticking time bomb.

 

[nerdflower]

Well............

Take that out of context, what a jerk. Who uses the DVD drive 3 hours a day on a laptop? Nobody.

 

[Renzatic]

How much did you pay for it? HP's high end stuff is great, but their low end?

Yeah...hope you got the extended warranty.

 

[Xiroteus]

Take that out of context, what a jerk. Who uses the DVD drive 3 hours a day on a laptop? Nobody.

I was just kidding around, I know MOST people do not, I do if and when I use it for blu-rays or movies. I was not taking it out of context I was just saying for me I likely have and would do that, I am well aware that would not be the norm and I am not watching movies everyday or anything.

Three hours a day on average? Not even close, even if used as a HTPC.

How much did you pay for it? HP's high end stuff is great, but their low end?

Yeah...hope you got the extended warranty.

It is a G72 if that says anything, the reason I got it was because it had at least 1600x900 and a blu-ray drive, laptop resolutions these days can be horrible on any laptop under five hundred. (this was under four)

 

[G51989]

As the unfortunate user of a work-issued HP laptop, I can only say "good luck with that."

Oh, does this mean you won't be here whinging about Apple any more? Or will that continue?

Well, that Z1 is a great machine.

Maybe you've never had experience with higher end Pro grade HP stuff? Its pretty grate.

And no, I'll still whine. Because I've been buying Macs for 14 years now, and I hope I can keep buying them.

Just because I buy Macs doesn't mean I'll blindly worship Apple. Sorry!

 

[MythicFrost]

Unless it is a tablet or ultrabook I need to feel like I am getting my moneys worth plus with anything as big as a laptop or desktop a optical drive has to be a given for me to look at it. Such a drive is as important as any other feature said device may have.

Another factor is that I often use my systems for everything, there was a time I had no television just my computer and it was used for movies, shows, etc.. it was a HTPC and I would want the same from any system.

At some point I would just go to a television with blu-ray player a desktop with blu-ray drive for work, and power and then something like the Macbook Air for a portable system, or even the iPad depending what the Windows surface has to offer.

What would you need an optical drive for so much? I use mine probably half a dozen times a year. Half of that is installing Windows 7, and the other half is installing Battlefield 2142. That's pretty much it lol.

 

[Xiroteus]

What would you need an optical drive for so much? I use mine probably half a dozen times a year. Half of that is installing Windows 7, and the other half is installing Battlefield 2142. That's pretty much it lol.

For years I needed it for media, my computer was my dvd and blu-ray player, only place I could watch such content. At the moment I may only have to go back to just a laptop for all my media viewing and I require it to have a blu-ray, dvd drive. Now I know this is not common, using ones laptop as their main player. I did a test with a tablet pc I had to see how long I could go without requiring the optical drive, since I had my television for movies etc.. and I used a usb for software (Windows 7) it was not too bad, however music would have been an issue, it may be rare, I want to be able to install a cd if I come across one.

I have noticed this year I have only viewed about a fourteen films from my personal collection, the rest are redbox (a handfull or two) and then netflix. So maybe even with owning films it is not used a LOT yet enough to want one.

 

[captjon]

I think they should drop the ODD, but i'll buy an external one if they do. They are only £20, but that will be worth it if Apple make effective use of the space saved. I don't care about another box on my desk, it would get hidden by piles of paper/books pretty quickly.

 

[MythicFrost]

For years I needed it for media, my computer was my dvd and blu-ray player, only place I could watch such content. At the moment I may only have to go back to just a laptop for all my media viewing and I require it to have a blu-ray, dvd drive. Now I know this is not common, using ones laptop as their main player. I did a test with a tablet pc I had to see how long I could go without requiring the optical drive, since I had my television for movies etc.. and I used a usb for software (Windows 7) it was not too bad, however music would have been an issue, it may be rare, I want to be able to install a cd if I come across one.

I have noticed this year I have only viewed about a fourteen films from my personal collection, the rest are redbox (a handfull or two) and then netflix. So maybe even with owning films it is not used a LOT yet enough to want one.

I see. Wouldn't you prefer to just buy a $50-$100 external BluRay player to connect to your laptop though instead of having an internal one? That's what I want. I can shove it in a draw until I need it.

 

[Xiroteus]

I see. Wouldn't you prefer to just buy a $50-$100 external BluRay player to connect to your laptop though instead of having an internal one? That's what I want. I can shove it in a draw until I need it.

I really like it being internal, simplifies the entire look. I did have an external for my netbook (sold that thing, vista on a netbook is horrible) the reason I was okay with that is I did not use it often along with it only costing me two hundred dollars and it was a small device. So size and price point factor it to what I am comfortable with, Macbook Air? Ultrabook? I can understand, laptop or desktop I just cannot accept there being no optical drive.

Now I am curious to keep take of how often I use a disc, even once a month would mean it is still required. I do understand that others needs are different and an extra hard drive could be handy or better graphics, that is another reason I believe in options (referring to laptops at the moment) Apple could still have at least one laptop with an optical drive.

If I use my computer as a HTPC then it is used often enough, if I have a regular tv then it really just comes down to music if I so happen to find it and I really have no software on disc aside from restore discs. (I would prefer a flash drive for that, one drive and not four discs) However the discs are likely cheaper.

 

[Adonnan]

My build to order late 2009 iMac is being replaced under AppleCare warranty. If a new iMac is coming out on the 12th, I hope they'll wait to place the order until then. I know I won't see it, but a cf card slot vs sd slot would be nice.

For what it's worth an apple store employee said their return policy is in officially 30 days.

 

[MythicFrost]

I really like it being internal, simplifies the entire look. I did have an external for my netbook (sold that thing, vista on a netbook is horrible) the reason I was okay with that is I did not use it often along with it only costing me two hundred dollars and it was a small device. So size and price point factor it to what I am comfortable with, Macbook Air? Ultrabook? I can understand, laptop or desktop I just cannot accept there being no optical drive.

Now I am curious to keep take of how often I use a disc, even once a month would mean it is still required. I do understand that others needs are different and an extra hard drive could be handy or better graphics, that is another reason I believe in options (referring to laptops at the moment) Apple could still have at least one laptop with an optical drive.

If I use my computer as a HTPC then it is used often enough, if I have a regular tv then it really just comes down to music if I so happen to find it and I really have no software on disc aside from restore discs. (I would prefer a flash drive for that, one drive and not four discs) However the discs are likely cheaper.

Yeah that's fair enough. I don't think I've used my optical drive once in four months, it just kind of sits there

 

[Xiroteus]

Yeah that's fair enough. I don't think I've used my optical drive once in four months, it just kind of sits there

Not surprised that it does sit there for many people these days, most have home theaters for movies and software is almost all digital these days, overall I prefer software to be digital unless it was costly and has possible resale value. (things can change) I am odd when it comes to media. Each month there is food, insurance, rent, power, cable, internet etc.. and there are no possible returns on those yet I am very picky with media it has to be cheap and I like a lot of control over it even when it is cheap. Even my blu-rays have to be under ten dollars.

And that is basing on even wanting to sell it at some point, and by the time someone may want to it likely is not even worth the trouble.

 

[MythicFrost]

Not surprised that it does sit there for many people these days, most have home theaters for movies and software is almost all digital these days, overall I prefer software to be digital unless it was costly and has possible resale value. (things can change) I am odd when it comes to media. Each month there is food, insurance, rent, power, cable, internet etc.. and there are no possible returns on those yet I am very picky with media it has to be cheap and I like a lot of control over it even when it is cheap. Even my blu-rays have to be under ten dollars.

And that is basing on even wanting to sell it at some point, and by the time someone may want to it likely is not even worth the trouble.

Yeah, my movies either come from iTunes or the video store. I'm considering picking up some BluRay TV shows and burning them to my computer (via an external BluRay burner) to watch later. Almost always watch stuff over the Apple TV.

 

[Xiroteus]

Yeah, my movies either come from iTunes or the video store. I'm considering picking up some BluRay TV shows and burning them to my computer (via an external BluRay burner) to watch later. Almost always watch stuff over the Apple TV.

The idea of having full HD (from blu-rays) on a home theater PC is rather appealing, it may be lazy, yet being able to click anything you want quickly is nice. Even more so with episodes, entire seasons and you can jump to whatever you want instead of finding the correct disc, not like it is hard, we all like simple and easy these days.

I doubt there will be a time when I am ever comfortable with digital movies, just too costly, of course I will not even buy the blu-rays for that much, I need to make my entertainment dollars stretch a lot.

I did purchase a Doctor Who season once in HD, not as good as blu-ray yet it was ten dollars while the seasons were forty dollars plus, so that was the right pricing, at ten dollars I really do not care there is no resale value, I do wish it did not have that annoying DRM on it.

 

[freddiecable]

why these temper tantrums?

apple is moving away from "the old". they will earn more and faster on making us download software from app-store rather than buying cd's. that is one factor that drives apple away from optical media.

when it comes to the usability of optical. obviously it is usable for some of us - that are still using optical media. but as with floppy disc and parallel ports - that vanished with the iMac - you surely dont use that anymore. my old sampler has scsi - know what i mean

i dont use that sampler anymore...internal software kicked it out of the water

but i had an even older sampler casio fz-1 - it was semianalogue and had great sound. 2 mb sample memory.

an a serious note. if you work on a stationary - what is the big deal of ditching the optical? you can have external things for that no? and how many really need xeon? if you're into 3D-rendering, serious sound or video - but other than that?

 

[JForestZ34]

Image

And let me just go on the record and say that people like this are freaking idiots. Buy a laptop and leave the iMac alone. That is a Starbucks just in case you needed clarification.

I hate people that bring their laptops into a starbucks. All these people try to do is show off their new computers.

Except it does. It takes up space inside my iMac. It makes my iMac run hotter. It makes the iMac bigger. It means less options to install additional HDD/SDD.

Let's just add a Floppy drive while were at it. Maybe a Cassette? I mean, who cares, some people use those.

So sorry, you are being selfish. If Apple is going to redesign the iMac, I hope they drop it. They don't want to be saddled with a dying media for the next 4+ years.



What in the world is a "directionals"?

It's a desktop for heavens sake. It's not going to run like touching a piece of ice. It's an electronic piece of equipment. If they do take out the ODD and make it thinner what do you think it will do to the heat of the machine? Make it cooler? Wait for it...... Ding ding ding we have a winner, that's right you guessed it, the machine will run hotter... These machines can only be so thin while being able to manage heat. I mean really people how thin do you want these as thin as a magazine......

Some drivers manuals still call them directionals.

Yes.

A big screen that dumps ancient technology. USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt is cool though.

YOu do know that almost every law firm still backs everything up on DVD and the court system right? They wouldn't dare take a chance on a external HDD failing. What would they do have backup of the back up of the back up. Pretty silly. Alot of investigations are on DVD, reports, pics EVERYTHING....

 

[GizmoDVD]

YOu do know that almost every law firm still backs everything up on DVD and the court system right? They wouldn't dare take a chance on a external HDD failing. What would they do have backup of the back up of the back up. Pretty silly. Alot of investigations are on DVD, reports, pics EVERYTHING....

That is actually very incorrect. Nearly everything they do is digital with some exceptions (getting provided old materials from 10/20/30+ years before - that includes Floppies and VHS). All work is scanned in and saved digitally. They have very little room in their offices to store "DVDs" or anything like that. Those can be lost - stuff on a remote server can not.

Some are very old school. but most of the younger generation run around with iPads with everything on it.

 

[G51989]

That is actually very incorrect. Nearly everything they do is digital with some exceptions (getting provided old materials from 10/20/30+ years before - that includes Floppies and VHS). All work is scanned in and saved digitally. They have very little room in their offices to store "DVDs" or anything like that. Those can be lost - stuff on a remote server can not.

Some are very old school. but most of the younger generation run around with iPads with everything on it.

He is actually pretty correct, lots of companies like things like DVDs,Blu Ray or Tape Drives for long term safe backup. Tape Drives seem to be the best choice for massive long term storage.

Guess what! Tape Drives/DVDs/Blu Rays are digital!

Our company backs up really important stuff on Tape Drives and ships them off to Iron Mountain ( google it ). Thats WAY more secure and private than a remote server.

That kind of storage is not just tape drives, you see DVDs, piles of external drives. And things actually on paper.

Remote servers are far less reliable and secure than a bunch of optical and tape media buried in a mountain.

 

[GizmoDVD]

He is actually pretty correct, lots of companies like things like DVDs,Blu Ray or Tape Drives for long term safe backup. Tape Drives seem to be the best choice for massive long term storage.

Guess what! Tape Drives/DVDs/Blu Rays are digital!

Our company backs up really important stuff on Tape Drives and ships them off to Iron Mountain ( google it ). Thats WAY more secure and private than a remote server.

That kind of storage is not just tape drives, you see DVDs, piles of external drives. And things actually on paper.

Remote servers are far less reliable and secure than a bunch of optical and tape media buried in a mountain.

Sure, if you say so. Surprised you're not hanging out at the HP boards with your super-cool HP! Macs really are not for you.

 

[hleewell]

While I would prefer Apple to keep the Optical Disk Drive in iMac, nobody can stop Apple from doing what Apple wants to do. Apple is still serious about its digital download business. It wants to be a serious rival to Bezos' amazon.com.

If having an ODD or BluRay player is very, very important to you, you should look at Sony or HP all-in-one solutions. Their units are FF, fat & f-ugly, but they make almost everybody happy.