Why the new iMac sucks so much!

[MoreAwesomeDanU]

I think one of the points that the iMacs, iPads and Retina MBPs make is that Apple is rapidly converting their line to non-upgradeable, buy 'em and use 'em computers for a specialized market.

That specialized market happens to be a ton of people who have never plugged anything other than an iPhone or an SD card in to a computer. Most people don't know, or care, what "FireWire" or "7200RPM" or "upgradeable RAM" mean. For them it's an Apple, it looks really great and it's as faster than they'll ever need.

The problem lies with those of us who really want to do something with our machines. There are not very many Apple computers left in that category and, like the mini, most of them legacy products. Windows boxes, commercially built or self-built, are about all that is left for 'nuts and bolts' computer users.

There are plenty of things that i can do with my current iMac... Seriously, what do you do with ur other super hexacore machines that a i7 with SSD, with 27" IPS panel, and with top of the line mobile graphic card can't do??? Please enlighten me.

this is starting to get ridiculous.

 

[theSeb]

Is not a thing of wanting it. FW800 is almost as fast as USB 3.0 in real world apps. Most professional Audio Interfaces use it as standard, many external hard drives as well, what do we do with the gear? buy a freaking 50$ cable..along with the 80$ "Super-Drive". People in here just loves to throw away money and let the apparences rule out the essence of things, then you complain about the economy and mess up entire countries as consequence of rendering products useless before its deadline.

This is getting ridiculous. The worst part is that some impressionable, younger readers will actually believe what you're spewing. FW 800 is not almost as fast as USB 3.0 in real world apps. In real world use the only time FW 800 will be as fast as USB 3 is if you're using it to connect an external 2.5" 5400 RPM hard drive or any other device that requires less than 80 MB/s bandwidth.

Your ranting is like listening to some old man that is complaining about the new freeways that have just been built

"My trabant can reach 90 km/h on the old road and it can only reach 90 km/h on the new highway! These highways are pointless! What a stupid idea!"

*double facepalm*

If you spent less time ranting on the internet, you probably could have made the cash to afford that $29 Thunderbolt to Firewire adaptor.

What have people been mainly complaining about for the last 6 months? No USB 3, glare, "outdated" CPU and GPU options. All of that has been fixed. Is it good enough? Waah waah waah is all I am hearing for the last two days. My requirements have not been met!!! Why did Apple not consult with me? For goodness sake, grow up. You can have 16 GBs of RAM on the 21.5". Judging by the prices that I paid for this upgrade on the rMBP, it will not cost too much. If you think that you need more, than the 21.5" is not the right computer for you in the first place, or you are mistaken about your needs.

 

[Jiten]

Im getting really tired of mentioning this to people who dont know simple engineering and materials.

The aluminium on the back of the iMac is supposed to be hot. Why? Because it function as a large heatsink for the internals. Alumnium is perfect for drawing heat from components inside the iMac.

So the alu on the back will be hot. But isnt that better then the internals getting hot? God, im so tired of saying this over and over again.

And why would you reach back on the back of the iMac to see if its hot?

And I'm tired of random posters on the internet with no people skills. I'm a lawyer by trade and barely have the time to acquire the knowledge that you have about engineering. How hard is it to state your facts without being a condescending jerk?

 

[bigcat318]

And I'm tired of random posters on the internet with no people skills. I'm a lawyer by trade and barely have the time to acquire the knowledge that you have about engineering. How hard is it to state your facts without being a condescending jerk?

Engineers aren't good at dealing with people! Don't you understand that?!

/OfficeSpace

 

[Backing]

Engineers aren't good at dealing with people! Don't you understand that?!

/OfficeSpace

Haha I hear you, but hey, I'm an engineer and I have lots of friends. We are a really nice bunch, honest. Just don't mistake us with basement dwellers who reads stuff online and thinks they are experts and lord it over online forums.

Now back to topic. Its kinda funny that we have the most fantastic hardware that that people can only dream about 15 years ago and yet people are still not happy. Lewis C.K was totally spot on.

 

[utcoug]

The new Mac Mini will support up to 16GB Ram

Ebay

If I can buy 16GB of RAM and stick 'em myself into the MINI I'll pull the trigger right now, could you confirm this please?

Yes, the new models do.

 

[forty2j]

I don't know if they realized this but they(among others) turned me into a screen toucher.

If your iMac is at the proper distance for your eyes, you won't even be able to reach the screen.

 

[davidcmc]

Seriously, what do you do with ur other super hexacore machines that a i7 with SSD, with 27" IPS panel, and with top of the line mobile graphic card can't do??? Please enlighten me.

this is starting to get ridiculous.

What gets ridiculous is that you accept the absurd price for such hardware.

Do you understand that you're paying ~2.500 dollars for a machine that has an i7 and a mobile GPU?
Have you ever researched the cost of more powerful parts around retailers?

It's dumb. Curent iMacs are expensive because they've had to put smaller parts inside it. Smaller parts are more expansive than usual parts that have better performance (hence laptops are more expensive and have less performance than desktops).

We didn't need a ****ing thinner desktop. Desktops aren't supposed to sacrifice performance in favor of form and expensive smaller parts.

 

[forty2j]

What gets ridiculous is that you accept the absurd price for such hardware.

Do you understand that you're paying ~2.500 dollars for a machine that has an i7 and a mobile GPU?
Have you ever researched the cost of more powerful parts around retailers?

It's dumb. Curent iMacs are expensive because they've had to put smaller parts inside it. Smaller parts are more expansive than usual parts that have better performance (hence laptops are more expensive and have less performance than desktops).

We didn't need a ****ing thinner desktop. Desktops aren't supposed to sacrifice performance in favor of form and expensive smaller parts.

It's a desktop i7, and the equivalent performance of a desktop GTX 670. Price it out including a high-quality 27" 2560x1440 IPS monitor and tell me what you find.

 

[CBJammin103]

I'm an audio producer and many professional audio interfaces use FW800, others use it for storage etc. Now one is supposed to buy a converter and lose a TB port, not only that but (5400 rpm) Hard drives... are you freaking kidding me? @#$=)(#$. No optical drive when I expected at least a bump to Blue-ray, today I'm being forced to pay for like 80 bucks just to be able to burn my music sacrificing an USB port as well. No eSATA, Fewer USB ports. All in all no improvements on this field but a major step back.

You're an "audio producer" and you care about these things? Um... the 27" iMac destroys the minimum spec you would need to process even relatively heavy audio. Why does it matter if you're losing a TB port? Put your FW interface on one and daisy chain your secondary monitors to the other. If you legitimately have other needs then obviously you wouldn't be even considering an iMac as your primary computer but would be using a more integrated hardware solution on a MacPro.

And what "audio producer" uses a built-in superdrive to burn music? Or can't buy a $4 USB hub?

Sorry, but sounds like the "professionals" who want their MBP to play SC2 on ultra - your reported use of the computer vs. your complaints against it don't add up.

 

[masp84]

You're right I should've said that new iMacs are no longer a choice for poor people, or in any case a very unfriendly one. What I find funny is most of the people saying iMac CANNOT perform well as a workstation (I believe they can though really overpriced) on the other hand, that's ultra fast even for heavy producing. So who's right?

Why is Apple important for the music industry? because it's the standard. I could've bought a 21" apple with only a CPU BTO without breaking the bank and still have a decent computer, now I'm pushed to buy drives, adapters and such, and the thing is priced higher.. come on man you know this release was overdue and the hardware bump was expected a long time ago, Gear pricing has gone down as it's reaching the cycle deadline, like RAM only costing 40$ and hashwell coming out soon. I can't justify apple on this one either, taking flexibility away when it wasn't time. Trust me, most of users will be forced somehow to buy super-drive and fusion-drive and this is OLD tech at a really high entry cost!

 

[Nighty7056]

I agree, i can't believe i waited around 5 months to wait for the new iMac release and the release wasn't even nothing special. Alright, its smaller and has a few new great features, not worth my extra cash. Not only that, the cheek to even say the 27" version would be released in December, Wow really? - I've already been waiting 5 months or more.

I purchased a Brand new Mid 2011 27" iMac after waiting for around 5 months, the 2012 design is nothing special either, who cares if its slimmer, doesn't have an optical drive, the previous 2011 edition was slim enough, who's going to see it on my desk anyways enough to even care. I must say, the 2011 performance is fantastic and doesn't look anything different to the new release (apple.com/imac).

I regret not purchasing a 2011 edition when i had the chance too 5 months ago, instead of listening and waiting for the new iMac 2011 edition and hoping for so much with a complete re-design. I'm glad im not waiting another 2 months just for a slimmer design and a few other updates, doesn't even have a retina display.

I'm sorry, i managed to purchase a Brand new Mid 2011 27" this week for £900.00. Yes, what a fantastic price, now i can spend the extra £600.00 i saved purchasing the new 13" Retina Macbook PRO with the money i saved purchasing a 2011 iMac which in my thoughts is amazing anyways and pretty much does everything i throw at it. Ridiculous, so glad i didn't waste my money on something that isn't really needed for the extra money.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/imac-2011-vs-imac-2012-vs-dell-xps-one-27-spec-showdown/

 

[masp84]

I agree, i can't believe i waited around 5 months to wait for the new iMac release and the release wasn't even nothing special. Alright, its smaller and has a few new great features, not worth my extra cash. Not only that, the cheek to even say the 27" version would be released in December, Wow really? - I've already been waiting 5 months or more.

I purchased a Brand new Mid 2011 27" iMac after waiting for around 5 months, the 2012 design is nothing special either, who cares if its slimmer, doesn't have an optical drive, the previous 2011 edition was slim enough, who's going to see it on my desk anyways enough to even care. I must say, the 2011 performance is fantastic and doesn't look anything different to the new release (apple.com/imac).

I regret not purchasing a 2011 edition when i had the chance too 5 months ago, instead of listening and waiting for the new iMac 2011 edition and hoping for so much with a complete re-design. I'm glad im not waiting another 2 months just for a slimmer design and a few other updates, doesn't even have a retina display.

I'm sorry, i managed to purchase a Brand new Mid 2011 27" this week for £900.00. Yes, what a fantastic price, now i can spend the extra £600.00 i saved purchasing the new 13" Retina Macbook PRO with the money i saved purchasing a 2011 iMac which in my thoughts is amazing anyways and pretty much does everything i throw at it. Ridiculous, so glad i didn't waste my money on something that isn't really needed for the extra money.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/imac-2011-vs-imac-2012-vs-dell-xps-one-27-spec-showdown/

That added to the fact that previous iMacs lasted years of heavy use, I wonder how much "lifespan" is really packed in this one. Coz having haswell coming out in Q1 2013.. makes me thinks this models are just a preview of an important upcoming refresh due next year. They could've give us Ivy bridge for today's work long time ago but why not toy with the customers instead?

Apple is evil! although pretty lol, so I'll look forward for the next iMac refresh to see if they got it right again. I'm up to amazon now to build a monster PC

 

[JayJayAbels]

The TS is delusional. And wrong.

That is all.

ANY of the new iMac's would be just FINE for audio production... even the base model. Now if you're going to have 80+ tracks running at the same time then yeah... you want the faster processor with the BTO's.

No "audio producer" I know would stream their samples/ plug ins from a HDD either.

Put your main audio programs on your HDD and everything you need streamed on an SSD.

 

[bflowers]

I agree with OP but not surprised and sadly I've accepted it because I'm a Mac user for life and will never, even though I tried going back to Windows.

At the end it's business.

Actually, you're only a Mac user until Apple realizes that they make much more on the iOS side than the MacOS margins. We already have iOS bleeding into MacOS. Give it a few years, and your only options will be what size iPad do you want, because we'll sell you a bluetooth keyboard to go with your 15" iPad Pro and you can run iWork apps on it. We don't feel like spending R&D on computers in this 'post-PC' world.

 

[kevsun92]

If my memory serve me well, just a week ago, we are all still complaining iMac is still not out. Back then most people dont even care if the iMac gets a re-design this year, they just want a iMac with 2012 hardware, the basic stuff, ivy bride and usb 3.0.

Now new Imac is out, it has all the things you asked for and with more. People are still complaining. Its funny how we forget the past so easily and never satisfied with what we have.

There are people starving in the world and your complaining the computer you want to buy doesn't have a optical drive, what a joke. BTW if i remember correctly, most people wanted the drive gone anyways according to this poll.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1283464/

 

[MoreAwesomeDanU]

People are still at this? Really?

You people just went from a bunch of cry babies to a bunch of little girls.

Get over it. The cd drive is gone for good. You can get a $30 external one if you want. I don't know why people still insist on getting the apple super drive WHILE crying about how expensive apple hardware is...

I've said this in the other thread, but the reason the iMac is so expensive is NOT because of the "apple tax", its because the screen. I love how people pretend to know everything and pretend to be hardware "gurus" and laugh about how mac users "overpay" for everything when they haven't got a single clue about both the Windows PC and Macs.

$70+ for a decent case
$250-300 for CPU
$150 for a good video card
$80 for a good silent PSU
$50 for memory
$100 for 128gb ssd
$100 for HDD
$150 for a decent mobo

thats $940 already, and a 27" IPS that uses the same panel as the iMac is $799. this is 1740 total.

For the people who don't need a color accurate display of any sort, sure, go for a windows PC or mac mini and throw on any 22" lcd for $100. But remember, apple is not ripping you off on the iMac, you are ripping yourself off by paying for a high quality display that you don't need.

It's like buying a $499 top of the line video card when you don't game.

masp84 you need to get a clue. One minute you're complaining that its not powerful enough, the next minute you are claiming it as a very capable workstation.

By workstation, I meant powerful machines that can be ran all day long rendering out complex 3D scenes. Besides that, I don't see the iMac not being able to handle anything you throw at it. For design related works I do, a i5 is more than enough. For your audio whatever, get a i7. If you're gonna cry about it being $100 more than last year, maybe you should stoping doing your audio crap because its obviously not paying you enough.I mean you can't spend $100 more on a machine that you will be using all day for your professional career.

 

[Purant]

The majority of you don't need an i7 CPU. I don't think you guys realise how powerful desktop CPUs are these days, even the i5 variants. Soldered RAM is only on the 21.5" model. Apple has never been keen on having user-serviceable computers so there is nothing new there.

And of course apple designs for the lowest common denominator, right?

 

[Lankyman]

I see a lot of people on this thread keep talking about the IPS screen being the highest value part of the iMac. Whilst I would agree, what no one seems to pick up on is that the prices of LCD screens have collapsed over the last twelve to eighteen months. However, whether it be a Cinema display or the iMac itself the price of these items still remains high - why isn't the consumer seeing the benefits of the price collapse?

 

[Tankmaze]

I agree, i can't believe i waited around 5 months to wait for the new iMac release and the release wasn't even nothing special. Alright, its smaller and has a few new great features, not worth my extra cash. Not only that, the cheek to even say the 27" version would be released in December, Wow really? - I've already been waiting 5 months or more.

I purchased a Brand new Mid 2011 27" iMac after waiting for around 5 months, the 2012 design is nothing special either, who cares if its slimmer, doesn't have an optical drive, the previous 2011 edition was slim enough, who's going to see it on my desk anyways enough to even care. I must say, the 2011 performance is fantastic and doesn't look anything different to the new release (apple.com/imac).

I regret not purchasing a 2011 edition when i had the chance too 5 months ago, instead of listening and waiting for the new iMac 2011 edition and hoping for so much with a complete re-design. I'm glad im not waiting another 2 months just for a slimmer design and a few other updates, doesn't even have a retina display.

I'm sorry, i managed to purchase a Brand new Mid 2011 27" this week for £900.00. Yes, what a fantastic price, now i can spend the extra £600.00 i saved purchasing the new 13" Retina Macbook PRO with the money i saved purchasing a 2011 iMac which in my thoughts is amazing anyways and pretty much does everything i throw at it. Ridiculous, so glad i didn't waste my money on something that isn't really needed for the extra money.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/imac-2011-vs-imac-2012-vs-dell-xps-one-27-spec-showdown/

I agree the 2011 is still a great computer, but you still have problem with the lcd. In the coming months there will be dust coming behind the lcd which will cause black spots or streak. It happen on my 2011 27 imac bought in june.

http://www.google.com/search?sclien...urce=hp&q=black+brown+imac+screen&btnG=Search

There is a reason for this redesign I guess, with the laminated screen on the 2012 maybe apple has fix one issue the imac have.

 

[turtlez]

Engineers aren't good at dealing with people! Don't you understand that?!

/OfficeSpace

hahahahahhahaha!!

 

[thleeal]

i5: I grant it for the base model, but the remaining 3 should have i7 BTOs, why Apple doesn't get it? it's unethical to make profit from HT benefits when the processors costs about the same and there's no customization due from their part in any way. We're talking about desktop PC's not an iToy. We already know many sacrifices are made to keep the all-in-one box concept alive, why making even more? the "space" issue was already taken care of IMO and current iMacs still look superb compared to the new ones. So wtf is doing a tablet on a stick with already old technology at such a high price?

Why stinging on power and sacrificing flexibility? I don't really get it, Apple's failing to deliver the processing power that makes the difference between mobile devices and PC's, Some might say they're more light consumer oriented, so what are the iPads and laptops for? Give me a break. I'm an audio producer and many professional audio interfaces use FW800, others use it for storage etc. Now one is supposed to buy a converter and lose a TB port, not only that but (5400 rpm) Hard drives... are you freaking kidding me? @#$=)(#$. No optical drive when I expected at least a bump to Blue-ray, today I'm being forced to pay for like 80 bucks just to be able to burn my music sacrificing an USB port as well. No eSATA, Fewer USB ports. All in all no improvements on this field but a major step back.

Why limiting customization and maintenance even more? Soldered RAM, not serviceable hard drive... We yelled at Apple about it!!! even an Xbox is more efficient in this matter and that's ridiculous if we're talking about a personal computer. The overall design of the product and its concept was defused by this refresh, iMacs are even farther from being "all in one" now, the price to performance ratio is also outrageous, denying entry to professional users who can't afford a Mac Pro and won't spend 3k on a 27" maxed out model.

Screw Apple, they're evil.

Perhaps then apple is not for you?
enjoy win 8. i hear it has tiles...

 

[thleeal]

And I'm tired of random posters on the internet with no people skills. I'm a lawyer by trade and barely have the time to acquire the knowledge that you have about engineering. How hard is it to state your facts without being a condescending jerk?

not exactly engineering... more basic sciences... if you weren't taught about heat conduction as a child.... your education system failed you.

if you forgot something as simple as why pans are made of metal....
sorry but you deserve to be spoken down to.

 

[jms969]

Perhaps then apple is not for you?
enjoy win 8. i hear it has tiles...

When you actually use Win 8 and understand the desktop-tablet-phone integration you will come to realize that OSX-iOS is in serious trouble.

When you compare (IMHO) Win 8 to Mountain Lion, ML comes off as antiquated.

It is time to do a computer refresh at my business and we are going to bite the bullet and move back to the Win world. There is no way that Apple can provide what we need (particularly with the disaster of the new iMac)...

 

[Lankyman]

Tankmaze writes ....I agree the 2011 is still a great computer, but you still have problem with the lcd. In the coming months there will be dust coming behind the lcd which will cause black spots or streak. It happen on my 2011 27 imac bought in june.

Surely this depends on ones geographical location? Dust isn't really an issue for most of Western Europe or certainly the UK - dust might be nice instead of the wet for a change. I would also surmise dust not be such an issue for large parts of the USA either.