What to expect from iMac 2012 - Discussion

[HurryKayne]

I just found this(maybe its just for me and you knew it already),
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zorro-Macsk/315104841900839
Its described as a way to have an Imac touch ,beside the Leap motion,without waiting for 2013(?) or more.
Don't know if its really useful in terms of accuracy and reaction times.

 

[rizzle16]

So, when I read the article regarding Apple pulling their products from the EPEAT registry it made me think what that means in terms of new iMac's. My understanding is that part of the reason Apple has to go away from building products fitting the criteria layed out by the EPEAT is due to the way the retina display is built. So if the iMac doesn't have a retina display why pull them, why not just pull the other products???

I previously posted my theory that Apple will go with a slimmer design on the iMac, like the MBP, utilizing soldered memory(that we can't upgrade on our own and will be forced to fork over more money to Apple). However, up until now I bought into the very valid point that there aren't GPU's available to handle a 27" retina display. However, let's assume for a minute that Apple has one up their sleeve and they're developing their own. If that were the case a new iMac completely redesigned could look something like this:

Ultra Slim Design
27" Retina Display
GPU - Apple 1.0 w/4 GB?
Processors: Intel's latest and greatest
32 GB RAM (Soldered)
xxx GB SSD standard(required to prevent overheating in tight quarters)
USB 3.0
Bells
Whistles


Feel free to poke holes in my theory(ies)

 

[Jay9495]

So, when I read the article regarding Apple pulling their products from the EPEAT registry it made me think what that means in terms of new iMac's. My understanding is that part of the reason Apple has to go away from building products fitting the criteria layed out by the EPEAT is due to the way the retina display is built. So if the iMac doesn't have a retina display why pull them, why not just pull the other products???

I previously posted my theory that Apple will go with a slimmer design on the iMac, like the MBP, utilizing soldered memory(that we can't upgrade on our own and will be forced to fork over more money to Apple). However, up until now I bought into the very valid point that there aren't GPU's available to handle a 27" retina display. However, let's assume for a minute that Apple has one up their sleeve and they're developing their own. If that were the case a new iMac completely redesigned could look something like this:

Ultra Slim Design
27" Retina Display
GPU - Apple 1.0 w/4 GB?
Processors: Intel's latest and greatest
32 GB RAM (Soldered)
xxx GB SSD standard(required to prevent overheating in tight quarters)
USB 3.0
Bells
Whistles


Feel free to poke holes in my theory(ies)

Yay a $5000 iMac

 

[iEdd]

At this point, I'd have to agree that something is changing with the screen, otherwise they'd have updated the damned things by now. I can't see how they can quadruple the pixels on the 27" though. I'm thinking a new higher resolution (e.g. 25-50% more pixels in each direction), and a new way to handle UI elements, so that everything isn't ridiculously tiny (esp. cursor, menu bar)?

I don't think RAM will be soldered for an iMac. That'd be so cruel. It's understandable on the iToys and MacBook Airs, but that's about it.

 

[Quash]

At this point, I'd have to agree that something is changing with the screen, otherwise they'd have updated the damned things by now. I can't see how they can quadruple the pixels on the 27" though. I'm thinking a new higher resolution (e.g. 25-50% more pixels in each direction), and a new way to handle UI elements, so that everything isn't ridiculously tiny (esp. cursor, menu bar)?

I don't think RAM will be soldered for an iMac. That'd be so cruel. It's understandable on the iToys and MacBook Airs, but that's about it.

They could also just be waiting to release mountain lion because they don't want to support the iMac's new GPU & Other hardware on lion and mountain lion.

Although it is a good time to update the design as sandy bridge -> ivy bridge not much changes in the motherboard design. But i think they would only change the design if they are gonna remove the 3.5 hard drive and the optical drive. Which is too soon for the iMac, at least all iMacs. They could build a 21.5 next gen iMac with a 4xFull HD retina display, and also keep the old format alive. Like they did with the MBP. But my guess would be they are waiting on Mountain Lion because they don't wanna support the hardware on 2 versions of OS X.

 

[santaseve]

Happy and unhappy

I've waited 2 weeks and have to wait 3 more before the new iMac. I bet there will be no more optical disc drive, which is sad for me, because I need one.
I think it will have Ivy Bridge with USB 3.0.
Maybe up to 512GB of SSD storage?
Maybe 8GB RAM on the 27" models, which brings me to my next part.
I hope (and think) that there will be 24" and 30" models instead of what we have know.
I hope i7 will be standard aswell.
Maybe hex-core processors with hyper threading? But I highly doubt it.
Can anybody quote me and tell me some more things that might happen, I especially want to know about the higher end 21" iMac? That's what I'm getting. It's the most I can afford and my computer know is 8 years old (PowerPc G5 white iMac) and starting to get lines one pixel thick (it has a red and green now).
Also, anyone have an estimated release date for iMac or mountain lion (will be the same)?

 

[cooky560]

I think it'll be exactly like this

 

[Lancer]

I don't think RAM will be soldered for an iMac. That'd be so cruel. It's understandable on the iToys and MacBook Airs, but that's about it.

I agree, the reason it's done in the MBPr and iPad is to save space, even in the thinest iMac it will not be needed in the next model. That said they could solder in some RAM (8Gb) and reduce the free slots from 4 to 2, to allow for future upgrades.

 

[AppleDApp]

I've waited 2 weeks and have to wait 3 more before the new iMac.

Lots of user's have been waiting for a few months now. If you absolutely need an iMac, by all means, get one now.

 

[Razorhog]

Now Digitimes piping up saying October refresh with retina. If it wasn't that old pile of BS at Digitimes, I'd be getting concerned but it has been picked up by some legit media outlets like business insider that are running with the story

Please not 3 more months!!!

 

[wheelie15man]

Surprised no leaks yet,I'm starting to doubt the July release...as its July now....
It's killing me waiting but wait I will.... :-(

It cannot just be a spec bump....

Maybe something will be worth the wait....

Built in apple tv...

 

[sukai]

i think its been said no to this, but am not 100% sure.

Is the 2011 iMac graphics card upgradeable? either by myself or taking it to an apple store?

and i do agree thoug, its been quiet this month but it's just the first week.

 

[ihuman:D]

i think its been said no to this, but am not 100% sure.

Is the 2011 iMac graphics card upgradeable? either by myself or taking it to an apple store?

and i do agree thoug, its been quiet this month but it's just the first week.

Yes the graphics can be upgraded.Look here(link).

Go to step 16 and look at the yellow bulletin.It says (or is it say's?) that the GPU and CPU can be replaced but you would have to get the right one e.g. you could probably upgrade the 2011 model Sandy Bridge CPU with the 2012 model Ivy bridge.You may be able to do the same with the GPU,though it would be expensive.

 

[Hakone]

So, when I read the article regarding Apple pulling their products from the EPEAT registry it made me think what that means in terms of new iMac's. My understanding is that part of the reason Apple has to go away from building products fitting the criteria layed out by the EPEAT is due to the way the retina display is built. So if the iMac doesn't have a retina display why pull them, why not just pull the other products???

I previously posted my theory that Apple will go with a slimmer design on the iMac, like the MBP, utilizing soldered memory(that we can't upgrade on our own and will be forced to fork over more money to Apple). However, up until now I bought into the very valid point that there aren't GPU's available to handle a 27" retina display. However, let's assume for a minute that Apple has one up their sleeve and they're developing their own. If that were the case a new iMac completely redesigned could look something like this:

Ultra Slim Design
27" Retina Display
GPU - Apple 1.0 w/4 GB?
Processors: Intel's latest and greatest
32 GB RAM (Soldered)
xxx GB SSD standard(required to prevent overheating in tight quarters)
USB 3.0
Bells
Whistles


Feel free to poke holes in my theory(ies)

I'm all for being a minimalist but are people really in need of more desk space that the iMac needs to be 'ultra slim'?

 

[jonofuf]

I'm all for being a minimalist but are people really in need of more desk space that the iMac needs to be 'ultra slim'?

I completely agree, what's up with that? Laptops I can understand, for the purposes of fitting into a backpack/briefcase, but the iMac? Seriously... and all this junk I hear about dropping the optical drive, and soldering the RAM to the board. If that kind of thing is what's in store for the iMac, then instead of waiting to buy a new one, I'll instead just take advantage of a price drop for a 3.4 GHz Sandy Bridge!

The iMac doesn't need a new look; just bump up the specs (CPU, GPU and USB3) and I'm happy as a clam!

 

[JohnDory]

Don't buy 2011 iMac

I bought my Macbook Air toward its end of its refresh. During October 2008, so that is like just 4 years ago. Now I can't upgrade it to Mac OS Mountain Lion.

... and that is why you'd be a moron to buy a 2011 iMac right now.

 

[Hakone]

I completely agree, what's up with that? Laptops I can understand, for the purposes of fitting into a backpack/briefcase, but the iMac? Seriously... and all this junk I hear about dropping the optical drive, and soldering the RAM to the board. If that kind of thing is what's in store for the iMac, then instead of waiting to buy a new one, I'll instead just take advantage of a price drop for a 3.4 GHz Sandy Bridge!

The iMac doesn't need a new look; just bump up the specs (CPU, GPU and USB3) and I'm happy as a clam!

I completely concur regarding the look. I'm in the market for USB 3.0-equipped iMac so whenever that arrives, i'm all in.

 

[mojothemonkey]

SHowever, up until now I bought into the very valid point that there aren't GPU's available to handle a 27" retina display. However, let's assume for a minute that Apple has one up their sleeve and they're developing their own.

You're completely wrong on this. Cards can drive a much higher resolution that you think, with even low-end cards that came out years ago being able to drive dual 30" monitors without breaking a sweat.

The issue is that of drivers. Apple would have to get Nvidia to AMD/ATI to write the drivers to support the native resolutions. After that, it's OS optimization and power constraints.

The whole thing about the card being able to handle it comes more into play with the laptops, where the smaller (size and memory) GPUs need to work harder all the time (putting out more heat and draining more power). Pushing that many pixels for each frame per second takes serious watts.

There is no question that the current 6770 and 6790 could handle the full 4x 27" resolution if they released it.

 

[NTurner42]

I don't see the point in making the iMac and slimmer, make that sucker a power house. Hell, make it half an inch thicker and slap a 7970m crossfire in it! Then Apple can have all my monies.

Leave all the legacy hardware there too. Getting rid of it in a laptop? Sure, makes sense, but why take it away from a desktop?

And I totally want that 'chin' gone, and the same height as a TBD... Come on Apple, really?

 

[ihuman:D]

I don't see the point in making the iMac and slimmer, make that sucker a power house. Hell, make it half an inch thicker and slap a 7970m crossfire in it! Then Apple can have all my monies.

Leave all the legacy hardware there too. Getting rid of it in a laptop? Sure, makes sense, but why take it away from a desktop?

And I totally want that 'chin' gone, and the same height as a TBD... Come on Apple, really?

I agree except put a desktop card in and keep the chin.

 

[mojothemonkey]

I agree except put a desktop card in and keep the chin.

They cant control the cooling on the desktop cards to current imac noise standards. You need a lot of air vent intake and output area for those suckers, even if fan speed/noise wasnt a concern.

Crossfiring the 7970m would be the best option for desktop-level performance, assuming they stuck the cards on opposite sides. But after seeing instructions on a recent iMac dissassembly to get at the cards, its just not reasonable without a total overhaul. That card is buried in the busy-bits, not just sitting on the periphery.

 

[huggy55]

I'm an internet thief lol

I want to make one thing clear. I am NOT an Apple fan. For the same hardware the price is way higher. But....... No companies other than Apple make an all in one pc that competes with desktop pcs. I am going to patiently wait for this refresh because I want to be able to play games at high frame rates AND high resolution. Dell just came out with an all in one that has the same 2560x1440 screen as the Apple 27 inch. They ,however, are using an Nvidia GT640m piece of crap video card that won't play a lot of games at higher than 1280x720 resolution at decent frame rates. What a complete waste of that excellent screen. I would buy the Dell in a heart beat if they offered the Radeon 7970m or the Nvidia GTX680m video cards as an option. At least Dell comes with an internal TV tuner and remote control.

So I am patiently waiting for the new iMac. If it still doesn't have an internal TV tuner and remote standard, and doesn't come with at least the Radeon 7970m video card I will just have to build my own desktop I guess. The only other option would be to buy an Alienware 17x or 18x with the Radeon 7970m.

Also, many here have stated they want the retina display. Just keep in mind that these all in one pcs use mobile video cards for heat reasons. Also, they don't offer dual video card configurations probably also for heat considerations. So is retina display on a 27 inch reasonable?

 

[Nova Sensei]

More than anything, I want a reasonably priced SSD option. Here in Australia right now it costs $600 to take away the 1tb HDD and replace it with a 256gb SSD. That is just insane. It's not that I can't afford it, it's that I can't justify it.

Price it reasonably Apple and I'll buy it, but right now you are just taking the p....

Further, I don't need massive storage. Aren't we being pushed cloud-wards? Give me a 128gb SSD option. Stock standard. In 2012 no OS should be booting from a spinning HDD.

 

[Major.Robto]

So I am patiently waiting for the new iMac. If it still doesn't have an internal TV tuner and remote standard, and doesn't come with at least the Radeon 7970m video card I will just have to build my own desktop I guess. The only other option would be to buy an Alienware 17x or 18x with the Radeon 7970m.

Your about 20 years to late for a tv tuner in a mac, Apple wont include one. You know why, because they beleve cable is dead.

you can buy a usb one, or buy your dell,
It sucks apple no longer has them but its not a big deal I torrent my media

 

[tsugaru]

We all know USB3 is going to be on the new 2012 iMac. Here's other stuff I would like with it:

- optional retina display on the high end 27" (or whatever larger size they go for)
- removal of internal speakers to allow for more GPU/CPU cooling
- more USB ports (and more spaced out as well, >=2 USB3 and >=4 USB2 would be nice)
- much better GPU (GTX 680M, around equal to a tad faster than the 7970M, but cooler running)
- removal of the optical drive and have an easy access slot to drop in a SATA 6.0Gb/s SSD (or two)
- minimum 2TB hard drive standard
- SDXC slot that isn't based on the USB2 line (ie UHS cards could go more than 30MB/s)
- optional matte display (lol, this won't happen)
- 2 Firewire ports (2 800s or 1 800 and 1 400)
- 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0