2011 iMac speculation

[asfoorh]

New to Apple, shall I wait?

Hey guys, I know everyone should personally decide on this one, but I would like to hear your opinion. Given the fact that I am completely new to Apple and very interested in buying an iMac, would you say I should wait for the new ones coming out sometime soon or shall I go for the ones that are available at the moment? What benefit would I have from fetching the new device other than having something new? I saw that the MBP's got the new thunderbolt port, I guess we can bet on the iMac's getting that too, but whats the use of it? Is it true, that there are no devices in the wild such as hard drives which support thunderbolt? Of course no one can say, but do you guys believe the iMac will get a major update and will we see them some time before Lion comes out? Thanks for now!

 

[OS X Dude]

Hey guys, I know everyone should personally decide on this one, but I would like to hear your opinion. Given the fact that I am completely new to Apple and very interested in buying an iMac, would you say I should wait for the new ones coming out sometime soon or shall I go for the ones that are available at the moment? What benefit would I have from fetching the new device other than having something new? I saw that the MBP's got the new thunderbolt port, I guess we can bet on the iMac's getting that too, but whats the use of it? Is it true, that there are no devices in the wild such as hard drives which support thunderbolt? Of course no one can say, but do you guys believe the iMac will get a major update and will we see them some time before Lion comes out? Thanks for now!

LaCie are bringing external hard drives that will support Thunderbolt. It's basically about twice as fast as USB 3.0 (it will be when it hits it's maximum transfer rate anyway) and it can power displays and external devices. Imagine HDMI that can sync your iPhone, to be crude about it. More and more Thunderbolt devices will appear, it is a new standard after all.

Basically, waiting will mean you get the latest technology in your iMac and potentially a bigger hard drive and more RAM as standard (so you don't have to pay for more as an option should you need it). If you're using your iMac for high-end stuff like gaming or video-editing - or simply want the latest thing - I would wait.

In fact, I'd wait even if you want the ones that are currently available now I think about it. The prices for the current gen iMac will fall when the new ones are released, and they will still be fantastic machines.

As to what's on the new iMac? Your guess is as good as ours mate

 

[Hexley]

Hey guys, I know everyone should personally decide on this one, but I would like to hear your opinion. Given the fact that I am completely new to Apple and very interested in buying an iMac, would you say I should wait for the new ones coming out sometime soon or shall I go for the ones that are available at the moment? What benefit would I have from fetching the new device other than having something new? I saw that the MBP's got the new thunderbolt port, I guess we can bet on the iMac's getting that too, but whats the use of it? Is it true, that there are no devices in the wild such as hard drives which support thunderbolt? Of course no one can say, but do you guys believe the iMac will get a major update and will we see them some time before Lion comes out? Thanks for now!

According to Intel if you want Thunderbolt you must buy a mainboard that has one built-in.

So if you buy the current iMac and desire to use Thunderbolt in the future you must buy a whole new iMac.

As for device availability are you planning to keep your iMac for less than 12 months, 3 years or until it breaks down?

Are you happy with the speed of USB2.0? Have you experienced using FireWire800? Though FireWire800 is faster than the more common USB2.0 both these things are much much slower than that of Intel's Thunderbolt.

I would hazard a guess that the iMac or Mac Pro will debut at the same time as OS X Lion that is expected to ship by this summer.

My guess as to when the next iMac will be released would be as late as August.

If you can wait, I'd wait but if you have the need to get one now then buy now.

I have a 2008-model unibody Macbook Pro and I am planning to use it as a mobile & presentation machine and buy the next iMac as a video & photo processing machine.

As per MacRumor's Buying Guide the iMac will reach it's "average" end of life in 6 days. Today's iMac started selling in July 27, 2010. So from today until August is the window in which Apple will debut it.

As for Thunderbolt devices it is a new I/O port so it will take time for manufacturers to offer devices with it. I would guess 2012 will have the bulk of new devices from external HDD, external SSD, external RAIDs, memory card readers, etc.

 

[OS X Dude]

Quick question of my own, are they still using laptop parts in the iMac? I remember they stopped using them in a recent revision and moved to desktop parts, but apparently they still use laptop GPUs?

 

[MacHamster68]

Quick question of my own, are they still using laptop parts in the iMac? I remember they stopped using them in a recent revision and moved to desktop parts, but apparently they still use laptop GPUs?

yes you will not see desktop GPU in the iMac , there is first of all no room to fit one and second no room to cool a desktop GPU and the powersupply is to weak to power a desktop GPU , after all the iMac is no matter how big just a all in one computer and therefor basically a big iPad that just happens to be immobile

 

[OS X Dude]

yes you will not see desktop GPU in the iMac , there is first of all no room to fit one and second no room to cool a desktop GPU and the powersupply is to weak to power a desktop GPU , after all the iMac is no matter how big just a all in one computer and therefor basically a big iPad that just happens to be immobile

I disagree with your "big iPad that's immobile" similarity, but thanks for the info.

 

[asfoorh]

According to Intel if you want Thunderbolt you must buy a mainboard that has one built-in.

So if you buy the current iMac and desire to use Thunderbolt in the future you must buy a whole new iMac.

As for device availability are you planning to keep your iMac for less than 12 months, 3 years or until it breaks down?

Are you happy with the speed of USB2.0? Have you experienced using FireWire800? Though FireWire800 is faster than the more common USB2.0 both these things are much much slower than that of Intel's Thunderbolt.

I would hazard a guess that the iMac or Mac Pro will debut at the same time as OS X Lion that is expected to ship by this summer.

My guess as to when the next iMac will be released would be as late as August.

If you can wait, I'd wait but if you have the need to get one now then buy now.

I have a 2008-model unibody Macbook Pro and I am planning to use it as a mobile & presentation machine and buy the next iMac as a video & photo processing machine.

As per MacRumor's Buying Guide the iMac will reach it's "average" end of life in 6 days. Today's iMac started selling in July 27, 2010. So from today until August is the window in which Apple will debut it.

As for Thunderbolt devices it is a new I/O port so it will take time for manufacturers to offer devices with it. I would guess 2012 will have the bulk of new devices from external HDD, external SSD, external RAIDs, memory card readers, etc.

@OS X Dude First I want to thank you for your opinion, I guess waiting for the new iMac isn't a bad idea after all. I really don't need a new computer right away, since I am switching from my self built PC to the iMac.

@Hexley I for sure am not planing on exchanging my new iMac within a few months or a year, I guess I will use it until it falls apart or until something significantly new will come out where I can say it's worth switching.

I actually never tried a FireWire connection, but I guess speed is the future. Did I get this right, is it true, that you can connect more than one device with a single Thunderbolt connection? If so, would it mean I actually could connect my Mac with a hard drive and lets say a external display with a single cable and I/O port? So, if I caught that right, then I will deferentially wait for the new iMacs to come out...

 

[Hexley]

Wish Apple would bulk up the iMac a bit to allow for all desktop parts.

Like say DIMMs rather than SODIMMs.

 

[Hexley]

@OS X Dude First I want to thank you for your opinion, I guess waiting for the new iMac isn't a bad idea after all. I really don't need a new computer right away, since I am switching from my self built PC to the iMac.

@Hexley I for sure am not planing on exchanging my new iMac within a few months or a year, I guess I will use it until it falls apart or until something significantly new will come out where I can say it's worth switching.

I actually never tried a FireWire connection, but I guess speed is the future. Did I get this right, is it true, that you can connect more than one device with a single Thunderbolt connection? If so, would it mean I actually could connect my Mac with a hard drive and lets say a external display with a single cable and I/O port? So, if I caught that right, then I will deferentially wait for the new iMacs to come out...

Watch the video on Thunderbolt and how it is connected. https://www.macrumors.com/2011/02/25/notes-of-interest-on-thunderbolt-and-macbook-pro/

Chart below is the top end speed of each port. Firewire can maintain that speed while USB 2.0 can 'peak' at that speed so long as the gadgets connected to each other do not serve as a bottleneck.

Just wish Apple integrated Thunderbolt into the iPad2 and all future Apple products like the iPhone. I still remember a time that I did not have to wait for my iPod to sync because of FireWire400. But now you have to wait because of USB2.0.

 

[asfoorh]

Watch the video on Thunderbolt and how it is connected. https://www.macrumors.com/2011/02/25/notes-of-interest-on-thunderbolt-and-macbook-pro/

Chart below is the top end speed of each port. Firewire can maintain that speed while USB 2.0 can 'peak' at that speed so long as the gadgets connected to each other do not serve as a bottleneck.

Just wish Apple integrated Thunderbolt into the iPad2 and all future Apple products like the iPhone. I still remember a time that I did not have to wait for my iPod to sync because of FireWire400. But now you have to wait because of USB2.0.

Thanks man, now the whole thing makes sense to me, in fact I was quite stupid to suggest you can connect more then one device with a single cable How

Yeah, seeing Thunderbolt in the iPad would have been pretty nice, who knows, maybe the new iPhone will get that update....

 

[Hexley]

Thanks man, now the whole thing makes sense to me, in fact I was quite stupid to suggest you can connect more then one device with a single cable How

Yeah, seeing Thunderbolt in the iPad would have been pretty nice, who knows, maybe the new iPhone will get that update....

One can hope Apple will stick chips to enable Thunderbolt in an iPhone.

I do not associate actual data in 'bits' so here is a chart that shows the more conventional 'bytes'.

With Intel at the helm I hope more PC makers will include Thunderbolt so that peripherals will not be charged a premium as compared to say USB devices.

I am also hoping Apple will not abandon Firewire all together as I have a lot of DV cams that uses this technology as its main means of data transfer.

 

[asfoorh]

One can hope Apple will stick chips to enable Thunderbolt in an iPhone.

I do not associate actual data in 'bits' so here is a chart that shows the more conventional 'bytes'.

With Intel at the helm I hope more PC makers will include Thunderbolt so that peripherals will not be charged a premium as compared to say USB devices.

I am also hoping Apple will not abandon Firewire all together as I have a lot of DV cams that uses this technology as its main means of data transfer.

They didn't abandon Firewire on the new MBP, so they probably wont do so with the new iMac, I guess....

 

[Hexley]

They didn't abandon Firewire on the new MBP, so they probably wont do so with the new iMac, I guess....

Until when though? Apple ditched FW in the iPod & MBA. It is not present in the iPhone or iPad.

The whole purpose of Thunderbolt is to have 1 I/O port for any and all applications. Whether it be used for a display, input device, storage or output.

 

[nlenz]

Until when though? Apple ditched FW in the iPod & MBA. It is not present in the iPhone or iPad.

The whole purpose of Thunderbolt is to have 1 I/O port for any and all applications. Whether it be used for a display, input device, storage or output.

Yes, you can still have Firewire on the Thunderbolt connection, you just need the right adaptor.

 

[Hellhammer]

Apple could wait until the next-gen of gpus in the fall. Nvidia is focused on much better performance per watt. Making them good candidates for laptops. And ...iMacs since they use laptop gpus....

28nm GPUs won't be out until very late 2011 at the earliest, most likely early 2012.

 

[Hexley]

Yes, you can still have Firewire on the Thunderbolt connection, you just need the right adaptor.

Has one been announced? Please point to a link to give me peace of mind... though I know it will take about 2-3 years before Apple does abandon FW all together.

 

[Hellhammer]

Has one been announced? Please point to a link to give me peace of mind... though I know it will take about 2-3 years before Apple does abandon FW all together.

Thunderbolt operates through PCIe, meaning that you can connect nearly anything to it. FireWire PCIe cards exist already. I have't seen any announcements of TB to FW adapters yet but technically it's possible and most likely someone will do it sooner than later.

 

[MacHamster68]

hmm the chart looks nice , but whenever i hear a manufacturer talk about peak performance i get near a nervous breakdown , as its only fooling people and the idea of having to buy various adapters to make any use of thunderbold puts me right off , as for me whenever i need a adapter to get something to work at all it is a compromise and not something meant to work together perfectly , i understand apples point of doing it , one port for all devices is cheaper in production , let the customers find the right adapters and let them get on with it if it doesn't work like its supposed to ...we offer the port its you fault if you cant find the right adapter or device working with that port

 

[nlenz]

Thunderbolt operates through PCIe, meaning that you can connect nearly anything to it. FireWire PCIe cards exist already. I have't seen any announcements of TB to FW adapters yet but technically it's possible and most likely someone will do it sooner than later.

Thanks for answering for me.

BTW - Hellhammer is a really cool name.

 

[MacHamster68]

Thanks for answering for me.

BTW - Hellhammer is a really cool name.

hellhammer made really great metal too ..the swiss metal band from the 80's
not to talk of hellhammer the drummer from norway who is great too
sorry i am a metal fan

but back to the iMac , i would wish that apple would focus really on improving the existing iMac ,and i dont mean just adding a port and give 0.2 ghz more ,i mean real improvements
maybe instead of having to destroy the display and isight camera which happens all to often when people upgrade hdd's/ssd's , there would be a all to easy solution , not getting rid of the chin , but make it a removable chin that just lifts up after releasing 2 or 3 screws , the chin is at least wide enough to accommodate 2 hdd's and a ssd even in the 21.5 , another good thing about that would then be the hdd's would be at the coolest point in the iMac
and another room for improvement would be to avoid the dust trap under the glass by making it airtight , so no more dust can get behind

i think most of us would like to see the perfect iMac and that does not necessary mean highest performance , but more durability, reliability and upgrade ability , ok i am some sort of perfectionist and if i would be ceo of apple i would only be satisfied if i could get a product on the market with less then a 3% failing rate in the first 5 years and not just be satisfied to be as good as the competition , and apple care should not be a option it should be included and extended to 5 years , car makers offer up to 7 year warranties too ,some even give free annual service where parts get replaced before they fail

 

[nlenz]

hellhammer made really great metal too ..the swiss metal band from the 80's
not to talk of hellhammer the drummer from norway who is great too
sorry i am a metal fan

but back to the iMac , i would wish that apple would focus really on improving the existing iMac , i mean enough space is there if arranged wisely and why not make the new one easier accessible inside ,
maybe instead of having to destroy the display and isight camera which happens all to often when people upgrade hdd's/ssd's , there would be a all to easy solution , not getting rid of the chin , but make it a removable chin that just lifts up after releasing 2 or 3 screws , the chin is at least wide enough to accommodate 2 hdd's and a ssd even in the 21.5 , another good thing about that would then be the hdd's would be at the coolest point in the iMac
and another room for improvement would be to avoid the dust trap under the glass by making it airtight , so no more dust can get behind

i think most of us would like to see the perfect iMac and that does not necessary mean highest performance , but more durability, reliability and upgrade ability , ok i am some sort of perfectionist and if i would be ceo of apple i would only be satisfied if i could get a product on the market with less then a 3% failing rate in the first 5 years and not just be satisfied to be as good as the competition , and apple care should not be a option it should be included and extended to 5 years , car makers offer up to 7 year warranties too ,some even give free annual service where parts get replaced before they fail

Thanks, I like heavy metal, too - it's one of my favorite music types.
I googled Hellhammer and heard their music on youtube - it's pretty cool.
Haven't checked the drummer yet, though.

Your ideas sound good. I especially agree with you about having apple care included and maybe extended, too. I also would like seeing Apple exchanging your old computer when you buy a new one, and giving for it a much bigger refund - what it's actually worth on the market, so I don't have to sell it every time I buy a new one.

 

[mrsir2009]

why have one at all. External or internal?

CDs are 90s technology, DVDs are 2000s technology... We're in the 2010s now people!

 

[asfoorh]

CDs are 90s technology, DVDs are 2000s technology... We're in the 2010s now people!

Yeah, I think I use my CD-Drive once every few months, but still I believe leaving them complete away aint gonna work for now...

 

[iMaccore2]

yes you will not see desktop GPU in the iMac , there is first of all no room to fit one and second no room to cool a desktop GPU and the powersupply is to weak to power a desktop GPU , after all the iMac is no matter how big just a all in one computer and therefor basically a big iPad that just happens to be immobile

I would say more MacBook Pro on a stand than immobile iPad.

 

[MacHamster68]

I would say more MacBook Pro on a stand than immobile iPad.

ok a immobile MacBookPro on a stand ..actually that is not a bad idea at all
the ideal Mac actually , think about it a 17" MacBookPro with a reversible display like the dell inspirion duo that could be mounted onto a normal iMac stand at home

you could use it as a laptop with keyboard , as a tablet with touchscreen functions of a iPad, but with the performance of the MacBookPro , and as all in one desktop when mounted onto a stand looking just like a shrunken iMac 21.5
..the perfect all in one computer totally flexible to use