Updates to Apple's iMac Line Reportedly 'Imminent'

[G51989]

A maid? Woah!!!!!!!!!!

Real work = requires Disc drive

Got it.

I'll go back to playing PUZZLE CRAFT (Angry Birds is so June 2011) and you can go back to making REALZ MONIES.

Yep. I like making easy backups, that are secure, easy to send to my clients, easy to store, easy to re create, and cheap.

Show me 1 type of storage that is as reliable, cheap, and secure as ODD and Blu Ray backups. And as far as movies and TV shows go, show me a format thats just as good for the same money, and I'll jump ship.

And I'll go right to it.

 

[GizmoDVD]

Try over 150,000 dollars worth of data. Some of us actually care about backups, and do more with our machines than backup pictures of some ****** family reunion.

150K worth of data? Sure. Ok.

Buy an external. It'll work just fine.

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Yep. I like making easy backups, that are secure, easy to send to my clients, easy to store, easy to re create, and cheap.

Show me 1 type of storage that is as reliable, cheap, and secure as ODD and Blu Ray backups. And as far as movies and TV shows go, show me a format thats just as good for the same money, and I'll jump ship.

And I'll go right to it.

Buy an external. It'll backup whatever you want faster than an internal drive. You're rich so that shouldn't be a problem.

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When it comes to Apple it seems they have to change the design a lot more then other companies.

Apple switched to the aluminum design in 2007 and changed it (slightly) in late 2009. So either we go with at least 3 years or as much as 5.5 years. That's not really that often IMO.

 

[Xiroteus]

150K worth of data? Sure. Ok.

Buy an external. It'll work just fine.

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Buy an external. It'll backup whatever you want faster than an internal drive. You're rich so that shouldn't be a problem.

All of us optical drive supporters have stated that defeats the purpose, it is a no go, it feels ridiculous and goofy to use an external on a desktop or laptop (mostly desktop)

Apple switched to the aluminum design in 2007 and changed it (slightly) in late 2009. So either we go with at least 3 years or as much as 5.5 years. That's not really that often IMO.

Not too bad, there are only so many laptop designs, some people want a completely different design and I am not sure what they are suppose to do. It is a laptop, the one thing they keep doing is making it thinner and thinner, and that is fine as long as said system can do everything I need it to.

 

[GizmoDVD]

Stop being a jackass. Your acting like a spoiled little kid that didn't get what he wanted for christmas.

Or course anything can happen but the chances are greater that a server gets hacked than my house burning down. I don't have millions and millions of people accessing my house like they do a server. There a great chance of a hacker gaining access to a server than my house burning down. I've been in this house 20+ years and haven't had a worry. How long has apple servers been up? Not 20+ years but I do remember some iCloud accounts being hacked a couple moths ago. Guess what my stuff is still safe. Can you say the same for the people's info that got stolen? Can you say indenity theft? A lot easier to steal online then grab my DVDs.


Get real and grow up


James

Me being a jackass? I have several people acting like children because of the thought that Apple might remove an outdated piece of technology from a product that isn't selling as well as it used to. Just buy an external if you need to watch/rip DVDs so bad. Many consumers don't want it.

Best part? If Apple removes it I bet you'll still buy the iMac.

 

[shulerg]

You mean the same business model that went like this:
Snow Leopard - DVD Only
Lion - Download and USB Flash Drives (they caved)
Mountain Lion - Download Only

As you can see, Apples business model is digital. How will buying the program on disc where they get 0% of help them when they can nab 30% from the App store?

Guess you don't know their business model that well?

No, no, I was responding to his comment about not wanting to keep his personal stuff or secure company property in the cloud at this point. I totally agree with you about the distribution, I never liked having to buy the DVD for $30-$120. App Store=much easier.

 

[G51989]

150K worth of data? Sure. Ok.

Well, between my college portfolio, my work simulations ( I make simulations for tons of stuff in case you didn't catch on yet ), stuff I make freelance for clients, and some special projects I've done for big blue ( HINT HINT ), so yes, I would EASILY value that data at 150K.

Buy an external. It'll work just fine.

I get what your saying, no offense intended.

But if I get an external, whats the point of buying an all in one?

Buy an external. It'll backup whatever you want faster than an internal drive. You're rich so that shouldn't be a problem.

Again, no personal offense intended. But why would I want an optical drive thats external? Does that not defeat the purpose of having an all in one computer?

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Me being a jackass? I have several people acting like children because of the thought that Apple might remove an outdated piece of technology from a product that isn't selling as well as it used to. Just buy an external if you need to watch/rip DVDs so bad. Many consumers don't want it.

Best part? If Apple removes it I bet you'll still buy the iMac.

Heres the thing dude.

Optical media is NOT dead, and its still the standard. The floppy argument won't hold up here.

And no, I bought my iMac because I wanted a sexy all in one for my living room, if it becomes useless for my work without externals, I'll go to Dell or HP.

 

[GizmoDVD]

All of us optical drive supporters have stated that defeats the purpose, it is a no go, it feels ridiculous and goofy to use an external on a desktop or laptop (mostly desktop)

If you require an ODD every day...sure. But most consumers don't. They use it to rip CDs or maybe burn a DVD on occasion. So it will sit in a drawer where it won't be 'clutter'. If you are so called "power user", you can enjoy a 2011 iMac, buy an External, buy a Mac Pro or leave Apple behind.

Not too bad, there are only so many laptop designs, some people want a completely different design and I am not sure what they are suppose to do.

Laptops tend to get redesigned a bit more often, but desktops typically hold the same design pretty long (in Apple land). Even the Air still hs the same design since Rev B (Rev A was a bit more clunkier). Pro's havn't really been updated since 2008 IIRC.

 

[Adonnan]

This thread is beaming with brilliance.

Give the optical drive discussion a rest.

 

[GizmoDVD]

Well, between my college portfolio, my work simulations ( I make simulations for tons of stuff in case you didn't catch on yet ), stuff I make freelance for clients, and some special projects I've done for big blue ( HINT HINT ), so yes, I would EASILY value that data at 150K.

Again, no personal offense intended. But why would I want an optical drive thats external? Does that not defeat the purpose of having an all in one computer?

AIO does not have to require an outdated piece of technology. It's pretty much going to be a Cinema Display and a Mac Mini (remember, no ODD) combined. Less clutter.

Heres the thing dude.

Optical media is NOT dead, and its still the standard. The floppy argument won't hold up here.

And no, I bought my iMac because I wanted a sexy all in one for my living room, if it becomes useless for my work without externals, I'll go to Dell or HP.

Here's the thing dude, Optical media IS dead. I follow it on a weekly basis. DVD will down billions again this year, and Blu-ray can't even reach 2 billion in sales a year without adding in rental revenue. Retailers have shrunk space devoted to DVDs and Blu-rays. CDs are pretty much non-existant at places like Best Buy. Space is now being devoted to Tablets and cell phones - things that don't use Discs.

 

[Xiroteus]

This thread is beaming with brilliance.

Give the optical drive discussion a rest.

It is a whirlpool of repetitive fun!

Me being a jackass? I have several people acting like children because of the thought that Apple might remove an outdated piece of technology from a product that isn't selling as well as it used to. Just buy an external if you need to watch/rip DVDs so bad. Many consumers don't want it.

Best part? If Apple removes it I bet you'll still buy the iMac.

If Apple leaves it alone it will still still as well.

If you require an ODD every day...sure. But most consumers don't. They use it to rip CDs or maybe burn a DVD on occasion. So it will sit in a drawer where it won't be 'clutter'. If you are so called "power user", you can enjoy a 2011 iMac, buy an External, buy a Mac Pro or leave Apple behind.

That does mean possible lost sales because of Apples attitude, it is not that hard to mean costumers needs yet they have to keep living so far in the future.

Laptops tend to get redesigned a bit more often, but desktops typically hold the same design pretty long (in Apple land). Even the Air still hs the same design since Rev B (Rev A was a bit more clunkier). Pro's havn't really been updated since 2008 IIRC.

Not sure how much they will be able to change the air over time, it looks good as is. Not sure why desktops have to get insanely thin, they are desktops overall.

Here's the thing dude, Optical media IS dead. I follow it on a weekly basis. DVD will down billions again this year, and Blu-ray can't even reach 2 billion in sales a year without adding in rental revenue. Retailers have shrunk space devoted to DVDs and Blu-rays. CDs are pretty much non-existant at places like Best Buy. Space is now being devoted to Tablets and cell phones - things that don't use Discs.

Declining sales is not dead though. For me dead means millions of people are no longer using it and the format is basically phased out.

 

[JForestZ34]

So you are more concerned with $500 worth of Blu-rays and DVDs over your house? You need a firesafe to protect maybe a couple hundred dollars worth of discs?

Wow.

Really, you should invest in some robots and unicorns cause you're so rich.

Me being a jackass? I have several people acting like children because of the thought that Apple might remove an outdated piece of technology from a product that isn't selling as well as it used to. Just buy an external if you need to watch/rip DVDs so bad. Many consumers don't want it.

Best part? If Apple removes it I bet you'll still buy the iMac.

The part you don't understand is this..... I've said many times. It works for you but not for others. Your answer everytime is still " get an external it will be fine". You fail to grasp that doesn't work for everybody. That is why apple won't drop the ODD drive in a DESKTOP. The only reason why they got rid of it in the laptops is to make room for a bigger battery.

I wonder how many people lost data using external media cause of a drive failure or the like. Sure a disc can get damaged but more common for a external HD to fail.


James

 

[GizmoDVD]

That does mean possible lost sales because of Apples attitude, it is not that hard to mean costumers needs yet they have to keep living so far in the future.

Apple somehow survived removing the floppy, remember? I'm sure they will live to fight another day. The iMac isn't even a big seller for Apple, so the lost sales will be minimal (if many at all). They will make it up selling Superdrives and getting 100% profit on their Software through the Appstore.

Not sure how much they will be able to change the air over time, it looks good as is. Not sure why desktops have to get insanely thin, they are desktops overall.

Air can't really change much IMO. It's pretty damn thin.

Desktops can get skinnier. Why not? Saves on materials, shipping weight etc. Maybe we might get a lower price? Maybe they will add user-removable second storage drives? More RAM slots? Who knows.

 

[G51989]

AIO does not have to require an outdated piece of technology. It's pretty much going to be a Cinema Display and a Mac Mini (remember, no ODD) combined. Less clutter.

I'm gonna call you out.

Why dose this matter in a desktop? Why does the current iMac need to be thinner? I would love to keep the ODD or maybe Add a blu ray drive, make it thicker ( think G5 iMacs ), add a full sized GPU and better cooling. I think that would make it a better desktop.

Here's the thing dude, Optical media IS dead. I follow it on a weekly basis. DVD will down billions again this year, and Blu-ray can't even reach 2 billion in sales a year without adding in rental revenue. Retailers have shrunk space devoted to DVDs and Blu-rays. CDs are pretty much non-existant at places like Best Buy. Space is now being devoted to Tablets and cell phones - things that don't use Discs.

Will optial media die off for consumers eventually? Yes. Right now? Not yet.

Blu Ray will still almost sell 2 billion copies, thats still tons of profit for those who make it

Right now, online movies cannot compare to Blu ray.

And there are no other hard copy ways to be as good as DVD/Blu Ray backup/

Optical media getting smaller? Yes. I can see it.

However, until steaming/online content can compete, and until there is a good way to do hard copies. I'm sticking with optical.

The cloud is good for some things. But sensitive data? I think not.

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Desktops can get skinnier. Why not? Saves on materials, shipping weight etc. Maybe we might get a lower price? Maybe they will add user-removable second storage drives? More RAM slots? Who knows.

Let me ask you this, why do they need to get thinner?

And look at Apples history, this is Apple. If they remove the ODD, they won't give us more ram, they won't cut the price, and they most likely won't add more storage drives. They'll take the money they save via no ODD and pocket the cashs.

 

[GizmoDVD]

I'm gonna call you out.

Why dose this matter in a desktop? Why does the current iMac need to be thinner? I would love to keep the ODD or maybe Add a blu ray drive, make it thicker ( think G5 iMacs ), add a full sized GPU and better cooling. I think that would make it a better desktop.

Thinner = better in the consumer eye. Making it thicker....no. No way. TVs often advertise 'pencil thin' and that's something we don't need to carry with us either. What if Apple intends on making the next iMac hangable (like a TV?). It would want t be thinner.

Blu Ray will still almost sell 2 billion copies, thats still tons of profit for those who make it

No, it's really not. 2 billion split between 7 big studios and many smallers ones is nothing. Many big studios have farmed out their catalog to smaller studios as they can't turn a profit on them. It's why you see 4 movies on 1 disc from crappy studios like Echo Bridge where Disney technically owns the rights to them. This is really the 'final year' for Blu-ray in a sense where every major catalog title has been released. After this year there is nothing "big left". It's all over.

Right now, online movies cannot compare to Blu ray.

Agreed. Except sales have proved that most consumers don't care about quality. A 480p streamed movie from netflix is "good enough".

 

[JForestZ34]

AIO does not have to require an outdated piece of technology. It's pretty much going to be a Cinema Display and a Mac Mini (remember, no ODD) combined. Less clutter.



Here's the thing dude, Optical media IS dead. I follow it on a weekly basis. DVD will down billions again this year, and Blu-ray can't even reach 2 billion in sales a year without adding in rental revenue. Retailers have shrunk space devoted to DVDs and Blu-rays. CDs are pretty much non-existant at places like Best Buy. Space is now being devoted to Tablets and cell phones - things that don't use Discs.

Last time I walked in best buy they still had blu ray, DVD and music cd's with people buying them. Sure iTunes is convenient but it still doesn't sound as good as a cd.


James

 

[GizmoDVD]

And look at Apples history, this is Apple. If they remove the ODD, they won't give us more ram, they won't cut the price, and they most likely won't add more storage drives. They'll take the money they save via no ODD and pocket the cashs.

They won't? Thunderbolt is a new thing, did they tack anything on to the price?

Just a few months ago, Apple lowered the price of the 13" Air by $100 and essentially double the RAM.

The included random access memory allowance has doubled from 2 to 4 GB (configurable to 8 GB), and has been upgraded to lower voltage 1600-MHz DDR3L SDRAM. Flash storage remains at 64 GB and 128 GB in the entry-level 11- and 13-inch models respectively, though this is now configurable up to 512 GB.

Though the 11-inch Air still starts at US$999, the 13-inch has dropped $100 to $1199, making it all the more compelling to laptop-hunters on the prowl for an ultrabook.

So it IS possible we will see a reduction in price. Apple just did it for the Air and they removed NOTHING from it.

 

[JForestZ34]

They won't? Thunderbolt is a new thing, did they tack anything on to the price?

Just a few months ago, Apple lowered the price of the 13" Air by $100 and essentially double the RAM.





So it IS possible we will see a reduction in price. Apple just did it for the Air and they removed NOTHING from it.

They lowered the price because other companies started competing with their own thin laptops. They had to lower prices. Just like all the other tablets coming out. Once apple starts seeing sales going down they will lower their price.

I said I was done earlier. I said what I had to say. ODD works for some and doesnt work for others.


James

 

[G51989]

They won't? Thunderbolt is a new thing, did they tack anything on to the price?
.

A thunderbolt port most likely costs far less than an ODD.

Just a few months ago, Apple lowered the price of the 13" Air by $100 and essentially double the RAM.

I bet slowing sales did that, not just being nice. Or PC laptops of the same spec and price and form factor blasting past them might have done it.

So it IS possible we will see a reduction in price. Apple just did it for the Air and they removed NOTHING from it.

I think that was more to sell more of them, not save you money.

The mac is a very niche product, it needs to stay competitive, or it will be gone pretty quickly.

 

[GizmoDVD]

Last time I walked in best buy they still had blu ray, DVD and music cd's with people buying them. Sure iTunes is convenient but it still doesn't sound as good as a cd.


James

The section has been greatly reduced. That is a fact that no one can deny. Reduced space for items that are no longer selling as well as they used to. Space that can be used towards more profitable items.

No one cares that CDs sound better than iTunes MP3s except, at best, 1% of consumers. Audiophiles? Sure. But 99% of consumers can't tell the difference and happily enjoy MP3s on their supplied Apple earbuds. That's just being silly.

 

[Xiroteus]

Apple somehow survived removing the floppy, remember?

True, personally I did not even start using a floppy drive until a year later, was always behind on tech in those days.

I'm sure they will live to fight another day. The iMac isn't even a big seller for Apple, so the lost sales will be minimal (if many at all). They will make it up selling Superdrives and getting 100% profit on their Software through the Appstore.

I just have trouble taking a desktop seriously that requires an add on drive.

Air can't really change much IMO. It's pretty damn thin.

Not that I can see, it still needs ports so it is likely about as thin as it can be for now. And there is nothing wrong with that, we will hit a point where phones, computers can only get so thin, there is a limit to such things, power, memory and hard drive space, no.

Desktops can get skinnier. Why not? Saves on materials, shipping weight etc. Maybe we might get a lower price? Maybe they will add user-removable second storage drives? More RAM slots? Who knows.

If you can without it harming the system, why not, not just because yet if it can be thinner there is no reason not to do so.

Agreed. Except sales have proved that most consumers don't care about quality. A 480p streamed movie from netflix is "good enough".

Sometimes that is true when paying nine dollars a month, it is like meh, good enough. When paying for something it better be worth it. Just depends how important media it is to someone, I know a lot of people that hardly care about owning films or shows and whatever they show it in is good enough.

 

[GizmoDVD]

A thunderbolt port most likely costs far less than an ODD.

Who knows. I've heard ODDs are only "dollars". They had to invest in Thunderbolt...right? That has to cost money over a 15 year old standard.

The mac is a very niche product, it needs to stay competitive, or it will be gone pretty quickly.

Disc is niche.

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They lowered the price because other companies started competing with their own thin laptops. They had to lower prices. Just like all the other tablets coming out. Once apple starts seeing sales going down they will lower their price.

I said I was done earlier. I said what I had to say. ODD works for some and doesnt work for others.


James

So when other AIOs sell at a lower price Apple will have to compete?

ODD is old technology. I hope Apple dumps it.

 

[redirector]

In contrast I think some people here sound like complete luddites, hold on to yer steam engines folks, it was better in the olden times.

Count me among the Luddites who earns a living as a photo-videographer with clients who request output on Photo CD and commercials on DVD, recorded live music CDs. I just bought a 100ct DVD with printable labels, and a tray for my Pixma printer so they will get a custom logo for their own project output.

I'm a caveman and your ways are strange to me. Except that I use a Nikon 800,, a canon XA-10, Rode mics, and Aperture and Final Cut Pro. Some clients want it on USB, some via link upload/download, and some on Disc. My answer in each case is, "of course".

Ship my new iMac with USB3 so I can offload the 50gB per job quickly, give me SSD and a nice GPU for processing speed, a new Drobo 5d as the media server. And I will handle the output per the needs of the business. And That includes ODD.

 

[wizzerandchips]

Had my iMac now for 6 years and nothing has broken. Much better than my PCs that ended up in the trash after 3.

Ditto..in fact I've never had a failure on any of my apple/macs over the past 20 years..hence why I'm a fan...and will continue to be...

 

[zivilist]

Hoping that every new iMac has min 1 TB HDD (the 27 inch models: 2 TB) and 1 GB VRAM and Bluetooth 4.0 and finally USB 3.0.

 

[CWallace]

I still don't see how removing a 12.5mm ODD from the iMac would allow a thinner iMac design if it is still using a 12.5mm (or taller) SSD and/or HDD.

To get an appreciably thinner iMac will require not just removing the ODD, but also not having an HDD option and moving to the "stick" type SSD used in the MBA (and rMBP?) as well as moving to soldered RAM onto the mainboard.

People have been carping for years about how difficult an iMac is to upgrade, but at least you can upgrade it with the current thickness.