2017 iMac refresh wish list [merged]

[t0mat0]

Thanks for mentioning the MS Surface Studio. I had almost forgotten about it. That alone is a strong reason right there to release a redesigned iMac.

http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2010/08/the-mother-lode-welcome-to-the-imac-touch.html

Back in 2010. Seems some TVs from CES have gone further, with the screen alone at the top, power/data cable to a bottom unit with speakers etc like an iMac G4.

 

[Sirmausalot]

Thanks for mentioning the MS Surface Studio. I had almost forgotten about it. That alone is a strong reason right there to release a redesigned iMac.

Considering when the Surface was announced, a redesigned iMac 'in response' could not happen in response for a long time. If there is a redesign in the works, it has probably been in development for 2+ years and Apple, for better and worse, is less likely to respond to competition in the same way as PC manufacturers. Though they clearly got the message with the Macbook Pro and seem to be fast tracking something actually for Pros later this year with price cuts for the current models likely to be made permanent. However going back on the stupid SD card slot removal is unlikely.

The real holdup has been waiting for the 7700K which was just released this month. So then it's just a matter of marketing/timing with many thinking March will be the release. Also rumors point to the updated iPads being pushed away from that timeframe.

 

[fokmik]

Seems that every new mac that will be release will have default i think fusion drive, if not only SSD since APFS is already in beta for iOS and im thinking it will come in macOS soon...and lets not forget APFS is only for SSD, so no more 5400/7200rpm(fusion drive?!) on the new imacs or mac mini

 

[t0mat0]

Seems that every new mac that will be release will have default i think fusion drive, if not only SSD since APFS is already in beta for iOS and im thinking it will come in macOS soon...and lets not forget APFS is only for SSD, so no more 5400/7200rpm(fusion drive?!) on the new imacs or mac mini

Apple File System is optimized for Flash/SSD storage, but can also be used with traditional hard disk drives (HDD) and external, direct-attached storage.
https://developer.apple.com/library...Management/Conceptual/APFS_Guide/FAQ/FAQ.html

 

[Icaras]

http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2010/08/the-mother-lode-welcome-to-the-imac-touch.html

Back in 2010. Seems some TVs from CES have gone further, with the screen alone at the top, power/data cable to a bottom unit with speakers etc like an iMac G4.

And people blame only Apple for the quest for absolute thinness

I know of that patent, but my question is, must MS pay for any licensing fees since Apple owns it?
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Considering when the Surface was announced, a redesigned iMac 'in response' could not happen in response for a long time. If there is a redesign in the works, it has probably been in development for 2+ years and Apple, for better and worse, is less likely to respond to competition in the same way as PC manufacturers. Though they clearly got the message with the Macbook Pro and seem to be fast tracking something actually for Pros later this year with price cuts for the current models likely to be made permanent. However going back on the stupid SD card slot removal is unlikely.

The real holdup has been waiting for the 7700K which was just released this month. So then it's just a matter of marketing/timing with many thinking March will be the release. Also rumors point to the updated iPads being pushed away from that timeframe.

Yes, I do hope it's no later than March. Pushing iPads off the time table makes sense, especially to make way for a bigger than normal iMac announcement. I really do hope we it soon.

 

[t0mat0]

Some TV screens at CES got so thin they had to be wall mounted! The patent is about transitioning between modes of input (mouse based <-> touch-based) - they do separate design patents if they had something for an iMac.
(more like http://www.patentlyapple.com/patent...mac-pro-detailed-in-six-in-depth-patents.html or Apple iMac Design Patent D766,909 and more I guess for the mechanism).

 

[svendobbelaere]

My wish list will not happen, but I'm giving it anyway:

- keep the RAM upgradeable via the door/latch on the 27", and add the feature on the 21"
- base storage should be SSD (512 GB minimum), and also upgradable via a door / latch, just like the RAM
- redesign the iMac to go back to the previous design with thicker sides, which would allow more thermal headroom for silent operation. I never never ever look at the side of my iMac and wish it was thinner (2015 Retina)
- at least 4 Thunderbolt3/USB-C ports, with the same configuration as the 15" 2016 MacBook Pro, so with two controllers so all ports are full speed (unlike the 13" 2016 Touch Bar MacBook Pro).
- keep the ethernet
- make the magic trackpad standard instead of the awful mouse
- no price hikes, please...
- a height-adjustable stand would be great also

 

[CWallace]

My wish list will not happen, but I'm giving it anyway:
- base storage should be SSD (512 GB minimum), and also upgradable via a door / latch, just like the RAM
- no price hikes, please...

- keep the RAM upgradeable via the door/latch on the 27", and add the feature on the 21"
- at least 4 Thunderbolt3/USB-C ports, with the same configuration as the 15" 2016 MacBook Pro, so with two controllers so all ports are full speed (unlike the 13" 2016 Touch Bar MacBook Pro).
- keep the ethernet

The 21" motherboard design requires soldiered on CPU/iGPU and RAM, but I believe the 27" will remain upgradeable.

I am sure they will replace the four USB-A ports and two TB-2 ports with four combined TB3/USB-C ports. And I believe they will keep Ethernet (and probably SD).

- redesign the iMac to go back to the previous design with thicker sides, which would allow more thermal headroom for silent operation. I never never ever look at the side of my iMac and wish it was thinner (2015 Retina)

That is only going to happen if the Mac Pro is dead and Apple therefore offers 6 and 8-core i7s and workstation GPU options to allow the iMac to move into that space.

- make the magic trackpad standard instead of the awful mouse
- a height-adjustable stand would be great also

I prefer the mouse so I am okay with Apple just offering your choice of normal or wireless keyboard and mouse or trackpad for BTO orders at no additional charge.

 

[curmudgeonette]

The 21" motherboard design from Intel requires soldiered on RAM, but I believe the 27" will remain upgradeable.

Why do you keep claiming an Intel motherboard for the 21"? It is clearly an Apple designed board. At best, the main part of the board may mostly follow an Intel reference design.

The RAM is soldered because it is LPDDR3, which isn't available in a plug in (SO-DIMM or otherwise) form.

 

[CWallace]

Why do you keep claiming an Intel motherboard for the 21"? It is clearly an Apple designed board. At best, the main part of the board may mostly follow an Intel reference design.

The RAM is soldered because it is LPDDR3, which isn't available in a plug in (SO-DIMM or otherwise) form.

Because the 21.5" iMac uses Intel embedded CPUs which my research says are soldered as opposed to socketed. Intel's marketing pitches them with reference motherboard designs to OEMs to allow rapid prototyping and production of new systems so that is where I came to believe it was an Intel design (either direct or based on their reference). And that explains why they also use soldered LPDDR3 RAM. Thank you for that.

 

[curmudgeonette]

Intel's marketing pitches them with reference motherboard designs ...

Take a look at: https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iMac+Intel+21.5-Inch+Retina+4K+Display+Teardown/51098

Not only is it fitted exactly to the iMac, it has an SMC chip which is an Apple thing.

 

[Macmamamac]

New iMac will have oled screen. Ultra slim. Components in a wide, ultra slim box underneath that will hardly be noticeable.

 

[btrach144]

New iMac will have oled screen. Ultra slim. Components in a wide, ultra slim box underneath that will hardly be noticeable.

Like the surface studio? LOL

 

[Macmamamac]

Like the surface studio? LOL

Not really, OLED screens are now absurdly thin. No point ruining the aesthetic with components stuck on the back. Apple has had the components on the bottom before, with the lamp iMac.

I suspect the box at the bottom will look a lot better than the Surface Studio, if they go that way. Theres only really two places component can go, behind the screen or underneath. So it's not like putting components underneth is a big innovation.

The lowering of the screen into drawing position is revolutionary, though. Hopefully Apple copy that innovation ( I suspect they will). No point denying that aspect of the Surface Studio.

 

[fokmik]

No OLED for laptops/all in one etc...think about it, these you use a lot more time than smartphones...so the blue and red colours will fade a lot quicker than on smartphone. Maybe micro-Led sometime in the future

 

[xflashx]

Please no price hike ( I'm looking at you MacBook Pro) because the current generation is already expensive enough (when you want a ssd - which I think is a Must in 2017)

 

[Macmamamac]

No OLED for laptops/all in one etc...think about it, these you use a lot more time than smartphones...so the blue and red colours will fade a lot quicker than on smartphone. Maybe micro-Led sometime in the future

Yes, but do you use them more than TV's? OLED lifespans are significantly longer than previous generations. 100,000 hours according to LG. That's was last years models, so it might have even improved.

 

[fokmik]

like i said no oled on the monitors/tv etc for those long stand on displays....OLED lifespans is still low...i have oled lg tv and in dark room i already see the blue not being the same as it was as new. And i had it for 9 months now
[doublepost=1485693607][/doublepost]and pc/laptops/tv we expect most of us to keep them for 3-4-5 years and maybe more in tv segment...so no,i expect the micro-led take this segment

 

[dboris]

I need leaks.
I have a MSI Desktop with a GTX 1060 that is waiting to be sold for those new iMac.
I will go with the cheaper model, internal SSD, hopefully the RAM will not be as expensive &/or upgradable.
And I will use a eGPU thanks to thunderbolt 3.

 

[Sirmausalot]

I need leaks.
I have a MSI Desktop with a GTX 1060 that is waiting to be sold for those new iMac.
I will go with the cheaper model, internal SSD, hopefully the RAM will not be as expensive &/or upgradable.
And I will use a eGPU thanks to thunderbolt 3.

I do hope the eGPU option will work well for this iMac. Even better, I'd like to see one of the new Nvidia mobile 1080s in these things. But alas, probably all iGPU except the highest end -- and that will get an AMD 495x.... And I do predict soldered RAM. I would hope after the outcry over the higher prices on the MBPs, the prices will not jump. Good luck. My 2015 iMac is still running strong.

 

[dboris]

I do hope the eGPU option will work well for this iMac. Even better, I'd like to see one of the new Nvidia mobile 1080s in these things. But alas, probably all iGPU except the highest end -- and that will get an AMD 495x.... And I do predict soldered RAM. I would hope after the outcry over the higher prices on the MBPs, the prices will not jump. Good luck. My 2015 iMac is still running strong.

I want iGpu to boost FCPX performance, however I ll have to stick to compatible AMD cards I guess.
I've read that Nvidia aren't well supported.

Also, if I get the lower end one, I think the eGPU will be throttled bye the CPU for video editing.
But I don't wana pay 1000$ more "for nothing".
Anyway, we'll see. Can't wait for leaks :/

Everyday I'm regretting that I dropped FCPX for Premiere.

 

[Sirmausalot]

I want iGpu to boost FCPX performance, however I ll have to stick to compatible AMD cards I guess.
I've read that Nvidia aren't well supported.

Also, if I get the lower end one, I think the eGPU will be throttled bye the CPU for video editing.
But I don't wana pay 1000$ more "for nothing".
Anyway, we'll see. Can't wait for leaks :/

Everyday I'm regretting that I dropped FCPX for Premiere.

I dunno. Premiere has worked well for me for several films while FCP X matured. Not sure I'll go back, but it is supposed to be much, much better now. Premiere reminds me of Windows: so much old code that often peaks through, all frankensteined together with errors that have existed for decades. But it really does do everything including OMF export and encoding without having to purchase extra software.

 

[hurtmemore]

Question - anyone considering switching to PC if the new iMac refresh doesn't offer what you're hoping for? I'm a fairly loyal Mac guy but now that Mac Pro is no longer viable (and way beyond my budget), iMac is kinda my last hope to stay with Apple.

There's a few things I want to see, cheaper/competitive SSD storage options, considerably better GPU, and no bump in overall price. Smaller consideration is ram, if they change specs I worry 3rd party ram won't be as available or as cheap as it is now. And the one thing that would totally kill it for me is a redesign without user upgradable memory.

So I'm excited for this refresh, but nervous it may not be for me.

What's your breaking point? For me the iMac is really the last option to stick with Apple, and I'd like to, but if isn't priced well I think I've decided I'd actually switch.

 

[richinaus]

Question - anyone considering switching to PC if the new iMac refresh doesn't offer what you're hoping for? I'm a fairly loyal Mac guy but now that Mac Pro is no longer viable (and way beyond my budget), iMac is kinda my last hope to stay with Apple.

There's a few things I want to see, cheaper/competitive SSD storage options, considerably better GPU, and no bump in overall price. Smaller consideration is ram, if they change specs I worry 3rd party ram won't be as available or as cheap as it is now. And the one thing that would totally kill it for me is a redesign without user upgradable memory.

So I'm excited for this refresh, but nervous it may not be for me.

What's your breaking point? For me the iMac is really the last option to stick with Apple, and I'd like to, but if isn't priced well I think I've decided I'd actually switch.

yep, if this iMac is not for me I will be getting a PC, without hesitation. Would have really preferred a Mac Pro but gave up on that a long time ago.

I just need decent CPU and GPU combination and upgradable ram. I will be fine with the design staying as it is but certainly welcome something radical.

But yes, this is the last computer Apple can put out for me for my pro work before I need to make the important decision whether to jump ship or not. I use windows on bootcamp a bit so not really that drastic for me overall and I will keep Macs for personal use as that seems to be the way they are heading.

 

[Appleaker]

Apple doesn't care about their desktop line the iMac is not their money milker, I expect soon:

iMac to lose half of the USB A ports replaced with C, ditch ethernet and the sd card slot, while still stubbornly using the ****** AMD gpus, and costing 4 grand still for the BTO maxed verison.

All of the USB A ports will be replaced by USB-C (Thunderbolt 3). That, along with dropping other I/O really doesn't matter on a desktop unless you travel with your iMac. In fact its great due to the high bandwidth and flexibility, you're able to choose what ports you want.

There were rumors of a switch to Nvidia (there are every year, but this was from job listings), but the AMD ones will be around the performance of last gen Nvidia cards which is a better improvement than we saw last year. Furthermore, you can use an external GPU in the future.

I hope they don't get rid of user-upgradeable RAM but it wouldn't be surprising.
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i wonder if the imac will come with 4xx series amd or 5xx series?
http://wccftech.com/amd-radeon-500-mobility-rebrand-rx-570/

AMD are known for rebranding cards, but this is a record - rebranding before they are actually released!
Like a lot of people, I hope they go to Nvidia (this has been rumored as there was an Nvidia Mac job posting), but if they go with AMD it could be either, since they are basically the same series of cards.