Wow disappointing!

[pmiles]

The new iMac is not a very good deal. You can get an M1 mac mini with a bigger monitor for cheaper. They basically stuck a mac mini in a thin case and are charging you $600 for a 24 inch monitor.

Actually this is not quite true... the speakers in the iMac are superior to that in the M1 Mac Mini (Mini's have always had awful speakers).

What is true is that the M1 Air, Macbook, Mini, and iMac all share the same SoC. So no performance difference CPU/GPU wise. Other things vary depending on which Mac you get, but overall they are just different packaging of the same noggin'.

 

[mdgm]

I have been running 8GB RAM in 2011 21.5” iMacs for about 8 or 9 years now (I upgraded from 4GB a year or so after getting the machines) and those can easily be upgraded to 32GB RAM should I wish to, but I’m not sure the expense is worth it for such old machines.

I fully expect to go to at least 32GB RAM with the replacements for those old machines. 8GB isn’t what it used to be.

If Apple releases new iMacs with 32GB+ RAM and if Microsoft allows BootCamp to return I’d be very interested.

 

[johannnn]

Everybody said it would be a giant iPad with small bezels.

No that's not what everyone said. Stop believe in silly photoshop renders that random people upload.

 

[DanTSX]

Amen. Did you see the image a fellow forum member made with the new iMac and a black bezel? It looks terrific. So much easier on your eyes than a distracting white bezel.

I did

looks terrible and out of date

My expectations were some rebirth of the G4 lampshade. So I too am let down a bit with the actual design of the AS iMac. But I’m not throwing it (or it’s potential users) under the bus.

 

[blairh]

I did

looks terrible and out of date

My expectations were some rebirth of the G4 lampshade. So I too am let down a bit with the actual design of the AS iMac. But I’m not throwing it (or it’s potential users) under the bus.

I completely disagree that it looks out of date.

Where am I throwing their potential users under the bus??

 

[DanTSX]

I completely disagree that it looks out of date.

Where am I throwing their potential users under the bus??

Why do you assume that I am talking about you specifically?

 

[blairh]

Why do you assume that I am talking about you specifically?

Because you were replying directly to me. Why wouldn't I?

 

[DanTSX]

Because you were replying directly to me. Why wouldn't I?

Partially. This is a group discussion. No need to take things personally regardless. Cheers m8

 

[jdclifford]

I agree: nice internals but you have to look at it!

Apple made a big mistake with its new iMacs | CNN Business

Apple's new iMac is awesome: a technical marvel and a culmination of Apple's stunning engineering achievements over the past several years. It's also ugly as sin.

www.cnn.com

What to Know About Apple’s New iPad Pro, M1 iMac, AirTags and Apple TV

Apple announced a hodgepodge of updates to many existing product lines, and revealed a new product as well. Here’s the rundown, along with our expert take.

www.wsj.com

 

[Ethosik]

"The only problem is you have to look at your new iMac when you're using it."

Do people really sit and stare at their computer all day instead of using it? I don't even notice the mess of my parent's iMac that has sticky notes all over. When I am looking at the screen, I do not see any of that other stuff.

 

[DanTSX]

I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that part of the reason that Apple kept the chin was to keep the iMac from looking like a monitor.

The reason to avoid looking like a monitor is because they probably have a more consumer oriented monitor on the roadmap (or for “pros” that can’t justify a $5000 “pro” monitor).

So I’m expecting a $1000-1500 class “sorta pro” apple branded monitor at some point. Likely after (or during) the release of iMac 34”. And that it will look like an iMac except no bezel.

 

[Ethosik]

I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that part of the reason that Apple kept the chin was to keep the iMac from looking like a monitor.

The reason to avoid looking like a monitor is because they probably have a more consumer oriented monitor on the roadmap (or for “pros” that can’t justify a $5000 “pro” monitor.)

Well the chin also makes sense to put the actual components. Plus the very good speakers. Putting the components right behind the display is not good, that would compound the heating issues.

 

[DanTSX]

Well the chin also makes sense to put the actual components. Plus the very good speakers. Putting the components right behind the display is not good, that would compound the heating issues.

Agreed. But I am saying that Apple had probably considered several designs and weighed pros and cons, as well as comparison to intended future product roadmap, and saw that a no chin iMac would look too much like a monitor also on the roadmap.

I’m only spitballing guesses here. But it also seems like a possible simple explanation. Especially given my own participation in product development processes in the corporate world. And I’m certainly not trying to be right. But I wanted to get the idea on paper, to come back to it in the future to look back at once we have seen a bit more of what Apple has in mind for their next few years of rollouts.

 

[Silverstring]

Because folks are looking at their screen rather than looking at the external components. Which is why black bezels are so nice. Hello?

Hello! Any chance you have a car? Or a bike? Or a painted/sided/stuccoed/brick house with an exterior color? Or clothes? You're not looking at any of that when you're using any of those things either...but if you have any of those things—I'd confidently bet you care(d) about the(ir) external color, regardless.

You like black bezels? Great. I like them too. I'm using a black-bezeled screen now.

I don't consider white bezels bad, though—even when doing video/photo/design work. Apple has done it before and it was fine—on iMacs, MacBooks, iPhones and Cinema Displays. A grey bezel was on their laptops for years, and people weren't so worked up about it then, and the usability wasn't such a disaster that they didn't sell millions of machines over years and years, coinciding with the company's return to popularity and prominence. White bezels are a design choice made by people with more combined education, training and experience than probably every person on this forum put together, not a lack of talent or skill or a display of incompetence. Does that mean that everything that Apple puts out is beyond reproach? Of course not.

...but it does mean that there were thousands of inputs/factors/constraints that went into the choice that the armchair designers here have zero insight into, so to make such strong proclamations about "failure" are disingenuous.

I appreciate that they zag-ed when everyone—especially the Chicken Littles who claim that most everything that comes out of Apple is some design failure—expected them to zig. Especially knowing that that all-in-one Dell and thousands of other options are out coated in black and silver and nothing else for people who like their possessions boring and unremarkable.

I don't always agree with their choices, but a big part of why I like Apple is that their design choices are strongly opinionated. To me, putting up with a misstep here and there is infinitely preferable to the company falling into the crowdsourced trap that Henry Ford warned about:

“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”

 

[Silverstring]

Seriously? This is 2021 not 1995.

True, but have we been living in the same world? Because I don't know what you've been looking at, but the overwhelming trend as the years go on is toward more personalization, not less.

If that is what Apple wants to do then their markietng dept. needs to get a grip. GenX, Millenials, Gen Z are their target market. And that group grew up using a computer. Not to mention internet use(Millenials; GenZ).

Yeah, what a clueless marketing department, coming out with fun colors so people have more differentiation and provide more opportunity for people to feel like their choice more accurately reflects them.

Wherever could they have gotten such a bad idea for a strategy?!?!?

• Customers Want Customization, and Companies Are Giving It to Them
• 26 Essential Personalization Stats for B2C Marketers
• 50 Stats Showing The Power Of Personalization
• The future of personalization—and how to get ready for it
• How Do Colors Affect User Choices and Purchases?

Get a grip, Apple Marketing!

 

[Silverstring]

I don't even notice the mess of my parent's iMac that has sticky notes all over.

Where would your parents—and other people like them—put those sticky notes on an all screen, minimally-bezeled computer, though?!?

You noticed enough to notice an important and common use case.

Personally, I never put post-it notes on my screens/computers. Seeing others do it makes me itch a little. That said, I can accept that design decisions are not made with only my preferences in mind.

 

[JMacHack]

I just had an epiphany about why Apple puts their logo on the backs of iMacs.

you know how some people have mirrors above their bed for... uh, reasons I won’t get into here?

What if Apple expects us to do that, but with mirrors on our wall behind the computer so that we can see the back of it.

Well, except less exciting.

 

[Maconplasma]

I just had an epiphany about why Apple puts their logo on the backs of iMacs.

you know how some people have mirrors above their bed for... uh, reasons I won’t get into here?

What if Apple expects us to do that, but with mirrors on our wall behind the computer so that we can see the back of it.

Well, except less exciting.

Agreed, except the rest of your post should've been included with that notion as well. 😂

 

[Racineur]

I'm not sure why anyone would get this. I got a 512 GB 8 GPU M1 MacBook Air last month. I use it half of a time connected to a Samsung monitor, with a magic keyboard and bluetooth mouse. Same functionality, with the ability. One of the iMac's is $2100 CAD, vs $1650 for the Air. If you are looking for a desktop only set up, you could get a similar spec Mac Mini for $1150.

Not everybody want a box there (Mini) a screen here some wires here and there. All-in-one is a fantastic solution for someone who browse the Net, emails and do a little touch up of selfies in Photos. This new iMac fits the bill 100%. But know who is Apple: never gonna give in to your personal choices like Colors or very very last tech. If you're into this (last tech) buy yourself a Windows computer from the scratch and you'll be happy and don't forget to change the memory every 6 months for speed to die for and every 8 months for the video card to zillions of colours and manipulating 100 T images and movies. As if everybody in life is a pro this and that. What's the need of an iMac Pro to retouch a selfie which is most people will do with they iMac or even their Mac Book and iPad or iPhone? I'm rather upset with Apple to sticking to thinness for an iMac this is a thing of the past as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Slartibart]

Please tell me I am wrong.

you are wrong.

 

[hans1972]

Everybody said it would be a giant iPad with small bezels. Now it still has that nasty big chin sans the Apple logo. WTF

What a disappointment and lost opportunity to create a beautiful iMac.

This is so ugly

Why don't you get angry at the rumour mongers for failing miserably?

 

[hans1972]

We all wanted this. SIGH

That isn't an iMac. It is just a screen.

 

[hans1972]

Touch ID keyboard not included with base version 👎👎👎👎👎

Just add it for $30.

 

[hans1972]

This announcement confirmed I am not getting rid of my 2019 27" iMac anytime soon. Might also stick with Catalina for a few more months.

Apple will have to figure out a better way to delineate M1/SOC between all their product lines at some point if they're all going to be named exactly the same. At least Intel chips had an i3/i5/i7/i9 naming mechanism to somewhat navigate the entry/good/better/best path.

The M1 beats the i3 - i9 in many respects.

 

[hans1972]

These iMacs are geared for those who like and prefer flowers next to their computers instead of speakers, efficient port or hub or a headphone amp-port. there are designed for those who need a computer that matches their fancy iPad cover and iphone as their graphics depicts on the  website today. this is not a derogatory comment, just a observation on this particular computer many other PC manufactures are not designing, which s good original step for .

And those people with flowers have understood more about what is meant with an "all-in-one" computer: It includes everything you need, therefor you don't need to connect anything to it.

Those people you are describing with hub and amps seems to have bought the wrong kind of computer. They should have bought a desktop PC.