2011 iMac speculation

[kfscoll]

first off its dual core not bi core........ and second, you have any speculated prices? nice predictions

Apple's put desktop processors in the last two (three?) generations of iMacs so I can't imagine them going back to notebook processors. Search for Hellhammer's predictions -- I bet his are right on the money (I'd expect nothing less than the i7-2600 in the top-of-the-line iMac).

 

[kfscoll]

I just returned my iMac 27 Ultimate and would have ordered the upcoming iMac 27 SB Ultimate if not for all the problems I've read about recently with the iMacs - blurry smokey screen from overheating and dust inside the cabinet, clicking noisy HDD's (I ordered mine with a 256 SSD + 2 TB HDD internal) and also problems with dust in the fans - so if I was to buy an iMac I would of had to void the Apple Seal and remove the 27" glass and LED panel at least once a year - and since I pay a premium for an iMac compared to other alternatives I really don't think you should design a home based computer unit where changing the HDD and dusting off the interior is more complicated than in a MacBook pro laptop

But I know ; I know - 95% of all the iMac users don't even know what a HDD is and Apple sell lots and lots of iMacs to these kind of folks

But I know for sure, that the average iMac owner after a year would like to be able to dust the interior in the iMac clean from dust and also would like to be able to change the HDD if it has started to produce clicking noises - instead of having to lug a 27" monster to and from their home

I just purchased a 17" MacBook Pro Ultimate instead and an external ACD 27" along with a wireless Mac keyboard, a Magical Dusted TrackPad and the Magic Mouse - finally bought the Adobe Premium Package for Mac with a GREAT student discount (1/4 of the original price) - so I hope this will run well

Nice laptop! You'll be happy with that.

Too bad you let the bad experiences of some scare you off of an iMac, though. I've had my 27" iMac since November 2009 (it's literally been powered on since then) and I don't have any blurry, smoky screen issues and my hard drive is essentially silent. I suspect that the vast majority of iMac owners have had no problems with their computers.

 

[JoeDK]

Apple's put desktop processors in the last two (three?) generations of iMacs so I can't imagine them going back to notebook processors. Search for Hellhammer's predictions -- I bet his are right on the money (I'd expect nothing less than the i7-2600 in the top-of-the-line iMac).

Awesome post by Hellhammer, and yea that seems to be right on the money, still hoping for a SSD bootdisk build into the motherboard.. Oh such sweet dreams..

 

[Hellhammer]

Awesome post by Hellhammer, and yea that seems to be right on the money, still hoping for a SSD bootdisk build into the motherboard.. Oh such sweet dreams..

SSD+HD combo is not impossible but like I explained in the the post, I don't want to create too much hype. It's always better to be positively surprised than disappointed. MBPs didn't get SSDs as standard so that made me think that iMacs won't either. However, it is likely that Apple will offer more SSD+HD combos with cheaper prices of course. Thunderbolt will also allow you to use an SSD externally, at full speed, so there are plenty of options now.

 

[kb24mj23]

iMac 21.5" (2011 refresh speculation)

Hey guys, anyone think that the baseline 21.5" ($1199) model will receive Quad-Core Sandy Bridge chips in the upcoming update? Maybe i5 or i7? I need a quad core iMac and I can't shell out over $1199 for an iMac. Also, will they upgrade the baseline ram from 4 to 8GB?

Thanks

 

[kb24mj23]

Apple's put desktop processors in the last two (three?) generations of iMacs so I can't imagine them going back to notebook processors. Search for Hellhammer's predictions -- I bet his are right on the money (I'd expect nothing less than the i7-2600 in the top-of-the-line iMac).

Why the HELL would they use notebook components in a huge, powerful, iMac? It needs desktop CPU's to handle rendering HD videos, photoshopping, etc. Notebook components in the mini? Yeah sure, but in the big daddy? Hell no.

 

[flopticalcube]

Why the HELL would they use notebook components in a huge, powerful, iMac? It needs desktop CPU's to handle rendering HD videos, photoshopping, etc. Notebook components in the mini? Yeah sure, but in the big daddy? Hell no.

Heat, space, power. Notebook parts use less power and give off less heat allowing the computer to be thinner, which is design priority #1.

 

[Sirmausalot]

Hey guys, anyone think that the baseline 21.5" ($1199) model will receive Quad-Core Sandy Bridge chips in the upcoming update? Maybe i5 or i7? I need a quad core iMac and I can't shell out over $1199 for an iMac. Also, will they upgrade the baseline ram from 4 to 8GB?

Thanks

Prediction: Dual Core i5 for the low end with 4GB RAM. Can you get the student promotion (starts end of May) and sell the Touch to afford the quad i7 which will likely be the next price point? So yes, if you want a Quad core, start saving more pennies. My .02

 

[pcguru83]

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I don't think this has been pointed out yet, but Apple seems to now be on an approximate two week cycle. Check this out:

February 24 - MacBook Pro refresh
March 11 - US iPad 2 launch
March 25 - International iPad 2 launch
April 7, 8 - ???

April 7th is a Thursday, the same day of the week the MacBooks were refreshed. The 8th would obviously be exactly 2 weeks.

Perhaps it means nothing, but I thought it interesting speculation.

 

[Benz63amg]

thats interesting pcguru so we're looking at april 8, lets not hold our breath so we wont be disappointed but i guess we'll see

 

[dr Dunkel]

Heat, space, power. Notebook parts use less power and give off less heat allowing the computer to be thinner, which is design priority #1.

Form over function. I just hope they don't turn the iMac into an iPad+...

 

[pcguru83]

I don't think this has been pointed out yet, but Apple seems to now be on an approximate two week cycle. Check this out:

February 24 - MacBook Pro refresh
March 11 - US iPad 2 launch
March 25 - International iPad 2 launch
April 7, 8 - ???

April 7th is a Thursday, the same day of the week the MacBooks were refreshed. The 8th would obviously be exactly 2 weeks.

Perhaps it means nothing, but I thought it interesting speculation.

Well, looks like my theory on an approximate two week cycle is going to hold true, only it appears the iMacs aren't next, but Final Cut Studio. So we're looking at a timeline like this now:

February 24 - MacBook Pro refresh
March 11 - US iPad 2 launch
March 25 - International iPad 2 launch
April 12 - Final Cut Pro introduction at NAB
April 26 - 28 - iMac refresh??

Those dates line up almost precisely with the rumor from the guy at CNet a few weeks back. Sadly, it sure does appear we're going to be waiting until the end of this month. I hope I'm wrong though! No way I see it going into May IMO--it will be this month.

 

[Sirmausalot]

An iMac refresh WITH Final Cut Studio makes the most sense. They will use the most powerful machine they can to show off the new features -- including an SSD storage array via Thunderbolt driving several monitors. That group wil upgrade computer with Final Cut Studio. It all times out perfectly.

 

[pcguru83]

An iMac refresh WITH Final Cut Studio makes the most sense. They will use the most powerful machine they can to show off the new features -- including an SSD storage array via Thunderbolt driving several monitors. That group wil upgrade computer with Final Cut Studio. It all times out perfectly.

I suppose that's possible. At first I was thinking they'd use a Mac Pro, but I could kind of see your point of using some kind of crazy fast storage connected via Thunderbolt on an iMac.

<Crazy speculation>
For the last few years, Wednesdays have been the day Apple typically introduces refreshes. However, the last MBP refresh was on a Thursday, which broke the approximate 2 year trend of using Wednesdays. Perhaps there is hope yet.

Plus, the Apple Store went down last night. Maybe they were "getting things ready".
</Crazy speculation>

 

[Hellhammer]

An iMac refresh WITH Final Cut Studio makes the most sense. They will use the most powerful machine they can to show off the new features -- including an SSD storage array via Thunderbolt driving several monitors. That group wil upgrade computer with Final Cut Studio. It all times out perfectly.

Final Cut won't receive a media event, nor will iMac. MBPs didn't receive a media event even though they got Thunderbolt. If Apple wanted to demo it live, they would have done it already.

FCS and iMac updates will be normal, silent updates.

 

[basesloaded190]

Final Cut won't receive a media event, nor will iMac. MBPs didn't receive a media event even though they got Thunderbolt. If Apple wanted to demo it live, they would have done it already.

FCS and iMac updates will be normal, silent updates.

Agreed- But FC sounds like it will be introduced at the SuperMeet. That makes sense, along with a silent upgrade to the Imacs shortly there after (a few weeks)

 

[Sirmausalot]

Hellhammer,

Your insights are generally right on. However, I think you missed this McCrumors cover story https://www.macrumors.com/2011/04/05/apple-to-introduce-new-final-cut-pro-on-april-12th/

And Steve stoked the rumor mill a few months ago with the 'Buckle up' e-mail. They are planning something major and are going for media attention. It's an unofficial Apple event, but made up of their dedicated users next to NAB.

They'll get the attention of the NAB attendees as intended as well.

I for one want to upgrade my iMac and Final Cut immediately as both are aging in many ways. The store went down, and I doubt it's because of a Final Cut Pro refresh.

Final Cut won't receive a media event, nor will iMac. MBPs didn't receive a media event even though they got Thunderbolt. If Apple wanted to demo it live, they would have done it already.

FCS and iMac updates will be normal, silent updates.

 

[Hellhammer]

Hellhammer,

Your insights are generally right on. However, I think you missed this McCrumors cover story https://www.macrumors.com/2011/04/05/apple-to-introduce-new-final-cut-pro-on-april-12th/

And Steve stoked the rumor mill a few months ago with the 'Buckle up' e-mail. They are planning something major and are going for media attention. It's an unofficial Apple event, but made up of their dedicated users next to NAB.

They'll get the attention of the NAB attendees as intended as well.

I for one want to upgrade my iMac and Final Cut immediately as both are aging in many ways. The store went down, and I doubt it's because of a Final Cut Pro refresh.

Yeah, I only read the title of that article. I admit that I may be wrong this time

 

[Spyriadon]

I'm sure we will get some more news within the next few weeks. But i doubt apple will introduce the imac alongside FCP (as much as id love them to).

Personally im more bothered about the imac itself as i use it for audio work.
But apple would be insane not to release all the macs BEFORE they release lion.

Doing it before lion will force us to pay for the upgrade if they do it soon.
Just a thought

 

[Sirmausalot]

Well, what will they demo it on? A 17" Macbook Pro driving an external display? No.
An outdated Mac Pro? No.
iMac 2011. Certainly.

I'm sure we will get some more news within the next few weeks. But i doubt apple will introduce the imac alongside FCP (as much as id love them to).

Personally im more bothered about the imac itself as i use it for audio work.
But apple would be insane not to release all the macs BEFORE they release lion.

Doing it before lion will force us to pay for the upgrade if they do it soon.
Just a thought

 

[aiqw9182]

Well, what will they demo it on? A 17" Macbook Pro driving an external display? No.
An outdated Mac Pro? No.
iMac 2011. Certainly.

An 'outdated' Mac Pro that is still going to be more powerful than whatever the next iMac refresh can entail? Yeah, that's what I'm putting my bets on for what they'll use.

 

[onthecouchagain]

What was that rumor a while back that said Apple would start using AMD Fusion instead of Intel Sandy Bridge in their new comps? Was that just fluff? Obviously so with the MBPs, but I'm wondering if the iMacs will see Fusion.

I'm not really familiar with these things... I'm assuming one's better than the other? Or does Apple have a "contract" of sorts with Intel?

 

[dr Dunkel]

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It is outdated compared to the rest of the world. But that isn't really something to bother with...

 

[Chris5488]

What was that rumor a while back that said Apple would start using AMD Fusion instead of Intel Sandy Bridge in their new comps? Was that just fluff? Obviously so with the MBPs, but I'm wondering if the iMacs will see Fusion.

Probably not, since Thunderbolt WILL be used and is Intel's, Intel chipset and therefore Intel CPU's (Sandy Bridge) will be used

 

[JeepGuy]

What was that rumor a while back that said Apple would start using AMD Fusion instead of Intel Sandy Bridge in their new comps? Was that just fluff? Obviously so with the MBPs, but I'm wondering if the iMacs will see Fusion.

I'm not really familiar with these things... I'm assuming one's better than the other? Or does Apple have a "contract" of sorts with Intel?

As much as I like AMD, they really haven't been able to match Intel, from what I've seen so far, maybe in a lower end iMac. What I would really like to see is a FireGL option for CAD, since they make a mobile chip as well.