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2017 iMac refresh wish list [merged]

Depends on what sort of Pro you are I guess. For an Audio professional, even built in graphics does the job. But VST instrument and FX plugins require live realtime processing. In that instance a 6 core i7 would be a huge increase. Graphics could remain as it is, because for Audio its already well exceeding whats required...

richinaus said:
My thoughts are the iMac should stay at a similar level it is at now with maybe a better GPU [maybe the 6 core I7 with an VR ready GPU], and the Mac Pro is the machine to buy when you need a Workstation [Xeon, Quadro etc]. I need the latter.

Just an increase in the GPU is all that is needed on the iMac really for it to be more 'pro' [plus the E3 xeon if same speed / TDP]. Be whisper quiet at higher loads would be great [so enlarged casing but not vastly increased specs].

Anything above this is mac pro territory.

Problem is for me is what to do in the meanwhile for the biz...... haven't got a clue. For 3D modelling, minor rendering, graphic design and photography. Plus I want to dip my toe into VR for future work. Not a single mac works for all this - probably only a maxed iMac and mac pro [6 core with D700]
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lowkey said:
Depends on what sort of Pro you are I guess. For an Audio professional, even built in graphics does the job. But VST instrument and FX plugins require live realtime processing. In that instance a 6 core i7 would be a huge increase. Graphics could remain as it is, because for Audio its already well exceeding whats required...
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Of course. I was just suggesting the CPU is good and the GPU is lacking. Anything more and I think you are in workstation territory and beyond a AIO [without changing the form factor massively].
 
My wish list is pretty easy aside from the typical faster CPU and video card...

Give me one access panel that houses 2 user upgradable PCIe flash drive slots, as well as 4 user upgradeable ram slots.

Seriously, this doesn't have to be overly complicated. Give us easy user-upgradability on the storage and ram, and most us will be wildly happy.
 
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Wounded veteran of the Waiting for Skylake thread here. Sorry to be negative, but is anybody honestly kidding themselves that the new design won't just be a thinner, more gimmicky version with meh specs and zero upgradeability? That will cost an insulting amount of money. I'm not trolling, I promise - I just remember the optimism and the despair.
 
fatboyhouston said:
Wounded veteran of the Waiting for Skylake thread here. Sorry to be negative, but is anybody honestly kidding themselves that the new design won't just be a thinner, more gimmicky version with meh specs and zero upgradeability? That will cost an insulting amount of money. I'm not trolling, I promise - I just remember the optimism and the despair.
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This is what I was expecting (an iMac equivalent of the 2016 MBP) until that press release where they specifically said an iMac "geared toward pros" was coming out later this year. So I think I actually have reason to get my hopes up.
 
ThisBougieLife said:
This is what I was expecting (an iMac equivalent of the 2016 MBP) until that press release where they specifically said an iMac "geared toward pros" was coming out later this year. So I think I actually have reason to get my hopes up.
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They will probably release a new iMac later this year along with higher spec'd configurations, i wouldn't expect anything like a new design just for Pro it will probably be all about the specs. There is also talk of it releasing along with a new keyboard, which may have the Touch Bar on it, personally i'm hoping they do just that.
 
I don't care too much about the Touch Bar itself, but I really want TouchID. I find that the most useful new feature on the 2016 MBP; they have to find some way to include it on the iMac (even if it means having a--*gasp*--corded keyboard). I also hope the new keyboard isn't the same zero-travel butterfly keyboard as on the MBP, but I know how they like to unify their devices design-wise, so I won't be surprised if it is.
 
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ThisBougieLife said:
I don't care too much about the Touch Bar itself, but I really want TouchID. I find that the most useful new feature on the 2016 MBP; they have to find some way to include it on the iMac (even if it means having a--*gasp*--corded keyboard). I also hope the new keyboard isn't the same zero-travel butterfly keyboard as on the MBP, but I know how they like to unify their devices design-wise, so I won't be surprised if it is.
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I took the cheap entry route to Mac: refurb Mac mini 2012, and a used 13" 2015 MBP from eBay. Absolutely love them both*, and it got me a desktop and laptop with two 24" monitors for around GBP 1200. I was holding out for ages on Skylake, until I realised I had no real need of it.

Hopefully when my machines finally die there will still be good value on the used market. I checked eBay this morning and used 2015 MBPs seem to be more expensive now than last summer. Maybe due to the nasty price spike on new models.

*although I have to say the wifi is **** - constantly dropping connection, even when iPhones & iPads are holding it fine.
 
Ok, change of priorities.

Dell just released a 30" 4K OLED display.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/11272/dells-ultrasharp-30inch-4k-oled-now-on-sale-up3017q-for-3500

OLED is now #1 on my wish list (I don't care even care if they have to drop resolution, although I highly doubt they'd be willing to make that compromise...)

Better GPUs and >4 Cores are still a close second and third, but.... damn... an OLED desktop display would be like the first time I booted up my Retina iMac all over again :)
 
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ThisBougieLife said:
What if the iMac isn't OLED, but Apple releases a standalone OLED monitor for the new MacPro? That would bum me out...
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Depends on the price, but at this point, Apple doesn't have any headless desktop macs that are attractive to me, so unless its amazingly cheap (and great), I don't see myself getting one.

That said. The iMac tends to be Apple's showcase for new display technology and I think it would make a lot more sense to lead with an OLED iMac then it would a stand alone OLED display.
 
koyoot said:
Have you read some stuff from Sebbbi, from Beyond3D forum? What are your thoughts on this arch, jean?
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Nothing particular. It looks like a decent improvement over the previous architecture and should bring AMD closer to nVidia.
I'd be fine with Pascal GPUs in iMacs as well.
 
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Please, no large OLED display on the new iMacs. Apple already has too many expensive eggs in that unserviceable basket.

OLEDs are just now becoming feasible cost-wise on cell phones. Way too expensive for anything other than a dedicated very high-end application in iMac sizes.

In fact, I'd be quite happy with a 4K 24 inch option ;>)
 
I use my iMac for both work and flight simulation. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the new iMac doubles my current
AMD Radeon R9 M395X 4096 MB
_______________________________________________________

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015)
Processor 4 GHz Intel Core i7
Memory 32 GB 1867 MHz DDR3
Graphics AMD Radeon R9 M395X 4096 MB
500GB of Flash Storage
 
I definitely wouldn't mind a high-end iMac option. I think it'd be great to have something comparable to the lower-end 6 core Mac Pro option in an iMac format. I'm sure Apple will quite obviously continue to sell lower specced iMacs at appropriately lower price points; but it should definitely have the actual "pro" users of Macs happy with better options.

I think of course, they will be forced to look at upgrading and overhauling the cooling and component layout design of the iMac completely to accommodate higher heat-signatures of beefier components, which would also work its way down the line for all of the iMacs. Win win for everyone.

The only thing I would be disappointed in is if they called the iMac a Pro machine, and stripped out all the ports. That includes some legacy USB ports, an ethernet port and an SD card reader. Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C is great however, and will continue to shine a little later in it's lifecycle. For one thing, it's nice to have high-res display options running with a single cable.

I really hope Apple puts out a really nice replacement for the Thunderbolt Display. Same concept and features, but with an updated design and of course a 5K 27" monitor. It wouldn't hurt to ALSO have a 32" 8K display, but the 27" is a sweet spot for a lot of people and I doubt they would put out a massive 32" display on an iMac.
 
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