What to expect from iMac 2012 - Discussion

[bawbac]

Am looking at moving from Windows to my first imac. I found a 2011 iMac 27-inch 2.7GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 factory refurbished for $1180 otd. Even though everything says to wait, I think that this price may be too good to pass up. Thoughts?

If that price includes a year of apple warranty and the ability to get apple care, I would jump on it if the computer specs meet your needs.
apple is selling that specific 2011 refurb model iMac for $1419
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/imac/27

If you look at the refurb price trends, they don't go down much when a new model is released so $1180 otd is a great deal if it's being backed with apple with warranty.

Also, this years model will most likely only drop down about a $100 in price if you are looking at new stock.

 

[EntropyQ3]

iMacs are not pro machines. They are computers for everyone, and they usually get components from laptops. The average imac user don't need latest high end processor that needs lots of energy. Look, design, and easy to use software is far more important.

Nonsense.
A desktop machine is typically chosen because it overall offers more in the way of processing power/options than portables. I use my iMac. I'll use my iPad for when I want to pose with sexy design, thank you very much.

Besides - the top desktop processors (which have found their way into iMacs before) will draw less power than before with the upcoming 22nm generation, not more. And there's quite a bit of difference in performance and price between the lowest end and the highest end of the iMac range.

Besides 2: pros use whatever tool works for them. Is my wife a less professional graphical designer because she uses a MacBook rather than a Mac Pro? Your entire way of thinking is strange.

 

[bawbac]

Inferiority complex, I detect.

 

[NextGenApple]

Hacks working for CPU-World*have been given a briefing by the suits at Chipzilla about the performance of its latest Ivy Bridge CPU.

Apparently it is all down to something that Intel has worked out called the Tick Tock regime, which appears to have been developed by the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. In Oxford. It is a cadence. It is also the clock ticking and tocking in the belly of the pirate, Captain Hook, in Peter Pan.

Traditionally, on a tick, Intel brings in a new process which will give a small performance boost, and use less power. A Tock introduces a new architecture, effectively new circuitry, using the now established manufacturing process and a cup of tea with the Mad Hatter.

This year we are at a tick, and Ivy Bridge is largely a die shrink of Sandy Bridge of a smaller process. Unlike a normal tick, Intel has also improved the integrated graphic core, which sounds suspiciously like a tock carried out behind a tick of the main processor core.

According to tests performed with an i7-3770K at stock settings, it has been possible to set the thing from 2600K to a 3770K at 4.5 GHz. In Sysmark 2012, the i7-3770K showed an overall performance boost of 7.5 per cent. Sysmark 2007 indicated an overall performance boost of 10 per cent. Across a selection of eight CPU tasks, Ivy Bridge shows an improvement of between five percent and 15 percent, averaging out at 10 percent.

But in the graphics performance things were much better. The GPU showed a boost between 20 percent and 50 percent averaging out at 33.8 per cent. A single GPU compute test shows an improvement of around 225 per cent thanks to DirectX 11 support introduced with this generation.

On the power side, the voltage that Ivy Bridge needed to reach 4.8GHz, and the core temp when fully loaded. When it was idling, having a fag outside the building, at 4.8GHz, the voltage required was 0.94V, and under load it only jumped to 1.31V.

But the problem which might slow the chip down is the temperature. CPUID Hardware Monitor indicated the CPU reached over 100C when running Linpack, and around 90C when running Prime 95. This means that it is possible to make a cup of tea on top of Ivy Bridge and still run your favourite game. It also means that people with standard cooling systems may not be able to easily hit the same clock as Sandy Bridge. At least they will not need so much juice.

Ivy Bridge looks like it responds well to extreme cooling systems. Anyway we will see for ourselves soon. Ivy Bridge will hit the retail market from the beginning of next month and we will know if our Tick has Tocked.

 

[mrmarts]

I have a 2010 model so the differences i will come to see when i upgrade next year will be substantial first i have no light speed, my video card is a mere 512mb and i'am running dual core. to add to this i heard rumours that the new iMac will have usb 3.0, than there is the little things like bluetooth 4.0, a rumoured retina display, however i am worried of the rumour that apple will remove the optical drive from the iMac in the coming update.

 

[Rob564]

iMacs are not pro machines. They are computers for everyone, and they usually get components from laptops. The average imac user don't need latest high end processor that needs lots of energy. Look, design, and easy to use software is far more important.

Mac pros were not Mac pros until they became Mac pros. What I'm saying is I have noticed a shift, where editors are using iMacs more often to edit and do graphics and since this is already happening I believe apple will release a iMac pro version of the iMac since it has been 2 years since the last Mac pro update. To me it seems they are ready moving in this direction.

 

[Rob564]

iMacs are not pro machines. They are computers for everyone, and they usually get components from laptops. The average imac user don't need latest high end processor that needs lots of energy. Look, design, and easy to use software is far more important.

Mac pros were not Mac pros until they became Mac pros. What I'm saying is I have noticed a shift, where editors are using iMacs more often to edit and do graphics and since this is already happening I believe apple will release a iMac pro version of the iMac since it has been 2 years since the last Mac pro update. To me it seems they are ready moving in this direction.

 

[OliverOSX93]

Common sense says.

Better GPU and CPU, same ram, same config options and same price while apple coddles its iOS babies.

 

[jcm1234]

Nonsense.
A desktop machine is typically chosen because it overall offers more in the way of processing power/options than portables. I use my iMac. I'll use my iPad for when I want to pose with sexy design, thank you very much.

Besides - the top desktop processors (which have found their way into iMacs before) will draw less power than before with the upcoming 22nm generation, not more. And there's quite a bit of difference in performance and price between the lowest end and the highest end of the iMac range.

Besides 2: pros use whatever tool works for them. Is my wife a less professional graphical designer because she uses a MacBook rather than a Mac Pro? Your entire way of thinking is strange.

Well I agree with you, pro use whatever tool works for them, but that means also apple is not building imacs for pro. Pro takes them because today the average machine has enough power for almost everything.

Apple is doing consumer devices. and the average consumer does not need the latest intel processor that cost 3 times more for 10% more performances

 

[aComicBookFan]

I know it may have been mentioned here but my prediction for what the new iMac will have is:

1) A touch screen interface. The stand will be such that the monitor can tilt down into a comfortable position for tablet use.

2) Gestures. Wave your hands to do one thing. Circle them for another. All this is done without touching the screen. Think of a theremin machine.

3) We'll start to see voice control and response. Dictation, commands, etc.

Bottom line is that Apple wants to kill the conventional keyboard and mouse if they can. Think about it from this perspective. Apple is doing whatever it can to bring iOS to the iMac. They want everything to be a tablet now I bet.

-- Boris

 

[aComicBookFan]

Oh, and I forgot to mention that we will probably see lots more carbon fiber in the materials and design of the machine..

-- Boris

 

[thekev]

I have a 2010 model so the differences i will come to see when i upgrade next year will be substantial first i have no light speed, my video card is a mere 512mb and i'am running dual core. to add to this i heard rumours that the new iMac will have usb 3.0, than there is the little things like bluetooth 4.0, a rumoured retina display, however i am worried of the rumour that apple will remove the optical drive from the iMac in the coming update.

The retina thing comes up frequently. No one had any real information to suggest it. As soon as the iphone got one, it became a thing of maybe everything will receive it. Apple doesn't really build or design panels, especially not in the imac. The imac in itself probably does not have enough volume to really hasten the engineering on next generation panels. It seems like they're applying what they learn and just gradually scaling them upwards, much like what we saw with early desktop lcd displays. They started small where the potential for extremely expensive defects was lower. It would surprise me less to see it in a macbook air this year as they currently only go to 13" and a 15" version is unconfirmed. I wouldn't expect to see something they could label "retina" in a 27" display for quite a long time. The displayport standard would need to be updated for one thing (yes this affects the imac too). Samsung mentioned a 10" high res panel last year. I am not really expecting that to make it to laptop size before at least next year. High res ips panels would look amazing in the laptops, especially if they used 10 bit panels and some form of panel blocking (which costs you just a bit of your black levels) to even out backlight bleed assuming adequate time and equipment to do that kind of testing at the assembly level. You could have a lot of potential there. Even in desktop displays, I'd gladly sacrifice some display size for tighter pixels. I just don't see it getting into a 27" display for at least 5 years as they perfect the manufacturing process to a level of tolerance where this is actually feasible.

There are a few high res 20-30" panels made for the medical industry. They're not what you'd call retina, and they still start around $5k for a 21" display. I can't remember who makes the panels for them, but NEC and Barco both use extremely high resolution panels for displays made for that field.

 

[Leemado]

What I would like:

Desktop GPU!
It is possible. The ODD could be removed, hard disk could be replaced by SSD and, as another user said, the Power supply could be switched by and external one, like in notebooks. I wouldn't even mind if they made it a little thicker if it was necessary, it's not like I'm moving the damn thing all around.
I even agree with the posibility of having 2 different iMacs, the 21" could remain being the iMac and the 27" could turn into the iMac Pro.

What I expect they'll give us:

Ivy Bridge
USB 3
AMD 7000M series
Design refresh to make it look like the current cinema display.

 

[Ddyracer]

What I would like:

Desktop GPU!
It is possible. The ODD could be removed, hard disk could be replaced by SSD and, as another user said, the Power supply could be switched by and external one, like in notebooks. I wouldn't even mind if they made it a little thicker if it was necessary, it's not like I'm moving the damn thing all around.
I even agree with the posibility of having 2 different iMacs, the 21" could remain being the iMac and the 27" could turn into the iMac Pro.

What I expect they'll give us:

Ivy Bridge
USB 3
AMD 7000M series
Design refresh to make it look like the current cinema display.

You forgot the potential redesign. It would be cool to see new screen sizes as well, with up to a 30 inch screen.

 

[Logos327]

What I would like:

Desktop GPU!
It is possible. The ODD could be removed, hard disk could be replaced by SSD and, as another user said, the Power supply could be switched by and external one, like in notebooks. I wouldn't even mind if they made it a little thicker if it was necessary, it's not like I'm moving the damn thing all around.
I even agree with the posibility of having 2 different iMacs, the 21" could remain being the iMac and the 27" could turn into the iMac Pro.

What I expect they'll give us:

Ivy Bridge
USB 3
AMD 7000M series
Design refresh to make it look like the current cinema display.

The biggest problem with desktop class GPUs is the heat. You probably could fit one inside an iMac (though just barely) but the heat they produce is just too much for something that thin (especially for extended use). I'm not even sure having a second fan built into the case directly next to the GPU heat sink would be enough. If people are currently having overheating problems right now, I'm not sure this would be the best direction to go in.

 

[Moonjumper]

The retina thing comes up frequently. No one had any real information to suggest it. As soon as the iphone got one, it became a thing of maybe everything will receive it. Apple doesn't really build or design panels, especially not in the imac. The imac in itself probably does not have enough volume to really hasten the engineering on next generation panels. It seems like they're applying what they learn and just gradually scaling them upwards, much like what we saw with early desktop lcd displays. They started small where the potential for extremely expensive defects was lower. It would surprise me less to see it in a macbook air this year as they currently only go to 13" and a 15" version is unconfirmed. I wouldn't expect to see something they could label "retina" in a 27" display for quite a long time. The displayport standard would need to be updated for one thing (yes this affects the imac too). Samsung mentioned a 10" high res panel last year. I am not really expecting that to make it to laptop size before at least next year. High res ips panels would look amazing in the laptops, especially if they used 10 bit panels and some form of panel blocking (which costs you just a bit of your black levels) to even out backlight bleed assuming adequate time and equipment to do that kind of testing at the assembly level. You could have a lot of potential there. Even in desktop displays, I'd gladly sacrifice some display size for tighter pixels. I just don't see it getting into a 27" display for at least 5 years as they perfect the manufacturing process to a level of tolerance where this is actually feasible.

There are a few high res 20-30" panels made for the medical industry. They're not what you'd call retina, and they still start around $5k for a 21" display. I can't remember who makes the panels for them, but NEC and Barco both use extremely high resolution panels for displays made for that field.

The HiDPI modes are a good clue that Retina Macs might be on the way.

And the technology is definitely possible. We have higher resolutions at both smaller and larger sizes. On the smaller size there is the new iPad, and on the larger is the 4K TV from Toshiba with their 55" ZL2 model.

 

[cocky jeremy]

You forgot the potential redesign. It would be cool to see new screen sizes as well, with up to a 30 inch screen.

I'd give anything for a 30 inch. I want that so bad.

 

[Ddyracer]

I'd give anything for a 30 inch. I want that so bad.

especially for movies. mmmmmmmmmmmm.

 

[thekev]

The HiDPI modes are a good clue that Retina Macs might be on the way.

And the technology is definitely possible. We have higher resolutions at both smaller and larger sizes. On the smaller size there is the new iPad, and on the larger is the 4K TV from Toshiba with their 55" ZL2 model.

Heh.. I seriously don't see it happening soon in spite of them having drivers ready. HiDPI is a cheap way of doing it. It's basically double or nothing rather than a resolution independent vector based ui. Note that laptop displays have been pulling ahead for several years now. LG and Samsung will most likely use what they've learned in smaller displays to push bigger ones, but I don't see it happening immediately. Without support from those guys, you won't see it in an imac. It doesn't move in the numbers of something like an ipad to where Apple can push for a custom part. Samsung actually did something like this with a 10" display last year. I'm still a bit surprised to see LG and their IPS displays dropped from the equation there.

 

[gathart]

bit disappointed with the responses on this forum

basically the majority wants more and better of the same: more memory, faster processors,, bigger screens.

I want for £2.5K a better experience which adds to the usual possibilities of a computor:
- touch screen. After experiencing it on an iPad this is the way forward. Ok for mouse or trackpad to continue bu certainly as an extra option

-icloud much more integrated.

-able to use your iMac remotely via ipad or iphone

-better communication between imac and mbp

Yvibridge or bigger memory.graphic cards etc is all nice but it would be nice to have something truely new

 

[AuRe]

- touch screen. After experiencing it on an iPad this is the way forward. Ok for mouse or trackpad to continue bu certainly as an extra option

-able to use your iMac remotely via ipad or iphone

Touch screen: I hate it, I cannot see a finger on my screen, I couldnt have that screen. I have ipad with screen protector and Im cleaning it each time I finish use it
Use remotely: I do it, teamviwer, is free and full. I have full access from ipad and iphone, try it

 

[Icaras]

basically the majority wants more and better of the same: more memory, faster processors,, bigger screens.

I never saw a survey saying the majority wanted any of these.

- touch screen. After experiencing it on an iPad this is the way forward. Ok for mouse or trackpad to continue bu certainly as an extra option

No, it is not the way forward. Not for a desktop machine. It's the way forward for arm fatigue, yes.

-icloud much more integrated.

This really has nothing to do with hardware...

-able to use your iMac remotely via ipad or iphone

Old news. You could do this like 2 years ago. However, an Apple 1st party solution/app would be nice too.

-better communication between imac and mbp

Such as?

Yvibridge or bigger memory.graphic cards etc is all nice but it would be nice to have something truely new

I agree! A redesign please!

 

[MacOG728893]

I think if there are not any type of new part leaks, a redesign will not be possible, but I am hope I am wrong.

 

[Flood123]

just as long as the new iMac's make Safari "snappier" I think we will be solid.
**sarcasm** for anyone wondering.

On a serious note, we won't know till the new iMac arrives. Until photos of parts start leaking, there is no away of telling. Apple is more secretive than the Stasi. They will let ya know when they want you to know. As unfortunate as that may be.

On a purely speculative note, I would put money on a redesign.
I am hoping that whatever redesign happens it will make it sit more level with an external monitor. as it is the 27 inch iMac will not sit even with the 27 inch thunderbolt display. Kinda a bummer but not a deal breaker.

 

[mrmarts]

I think it's time to integrate blu ray, USB 3.0 and even to go as far to add a HDMI port into the Mac lineup blu ray is maturing in fact Samsung claimed it will be with us untill 2015 however with sonys recent 4k blu ray release we might see blu ray on the shelves longer. Also there is a chace that apple might implement this with a marketed retana screen to boast the resolution.

A design change is looming but still we might not see it in this launch now the MacBook is a different story!

What I don't expect to see anytime soon is a oled display with the technology fairly new and sony venturing in other waters crystilised lcd nor larger sizes than 27 but there is always a chance of a 30 inch in the future.