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Would love for the same kind of thin bezel OLED front like the iPhone X on the iMac. Someone needs to make a mock up.
Rounded corners on my desktop? No thanks. The bezels are really fine the way they are, and I fear what sacrifices Apple would be willing to make to shrink them without making the edges thicker.

OLED would be great, but I think mass production of high-density panels at 5K or 8K resolution, size suitable for the iMac, is still two or three years off yet. Can always hope for its inclusion in 2019 iMacs.
 
i wonder whats the difference between
Intel Core i7-8700 Intel Core i7-8700K
i mean for just a 100mh lower you get a cooler cpu 65W, i think Apple should offer 8700 i7 65W at the highest config now
i really dont get it who would prefer now the K version ?!
http://wccftech.com/intel-8th-gen-coffee-lake-desktop-processors-official/

I think you were looking at the turbo speeds - the base clock is 3.2Ghz and 3.7Ghz between the non-K and K series which is still sizeable but it's what is listed by Apple on their website. It's the inevitable trade-off for the extra cores. The ability to stay boosted to the higher listed frequencies for longer will be dictated by the wattage of each CPU. For those two reasons Apple wouldn't try to short-change users with a non-K CPU unless they had decided to go for a different form factor or mitigate with a VEGA GPU but then you'll get the Geekbench folks endlessly comparing specs.

For what it's worth, seeing points made earlier in this thread it seems sensible that FaceID will see off any questions about TouchID but if we take the iMac Pro as a pointer towards where the iMac will go in the future you have to fear for the RAM slots if there's an intention to put seriously powerful GPUs into the case.

If OEM systems are available in Q4 2017 it's feasible that the entire iMac range could see a speed bump simultaneous with the iMac Pro in December and that could be the point where a new design for the standard iMac comes in with the extra cores being the obvious marketing point.

I'd say it's more likely that these machines will arrive in Q1 2018 along with the MacBook and MacBook Pro refreshes though not least to give some breathing space for iMac Pro sales.

It might also make sense, if the entire iMac range is about to seal in RAM as well as everything else, that the modular Mac Pro makes an appearance at the same time so pro users don't whinge about the loss of upgradability too much.
 
i wonder whats the difference between Intel Core i7-8700 Intel Core i7-8700K. i mean for just a 100mh lower you get a cooler cpu 65W, i think Apple should offer 8700 i7 65W at the highest config now i really dont get it who would prefer now the K version ?!

The "K" models are multiplier unlocked so they can be overclocked (hence the higher TDP) using high-end air cooling or liquid cooling. While Apple does not run them faster than "stock", I expect Apple chooses the "K" models due to their higher base clock speed.
 
I believe it's due for a refresh. I really like the Retina iMacs, but the unibody design, however classic it looks, probably could benefit from a redesign and some new ports and configurations.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if the iMac takes on some of the design cues from the iMac Pro. Different colors, better internal design for better cooling, etc.

As far as the overall design appearance. I don't know. To me personally the current iMac looks so much better than other AIO's its not even comparable. The only thing that is remotely close (again IMO) is the Asus AIO but that looks like a iMac rip off.

I think Apple did a great job making a design that still looks modern despite its age.

A slightly different design that looks nice is the Surface Studio. However its design also has limitation to performance, like speakers and proximity of the fan (noise source) to the user. Plus Apple has already done that.

You speak the obvious truth, a superb design.
 
I think Apple did a great job making a design that still looks modern despite its age.
I've posted this before, but I thought it may be appropriate here. ;)

DualiMac_combined_1008_noGPS.jpg


2010 Core i7 870 on left, and 2017 Core i5 7600 on right. The left one is being used just as a matching monitor.
 
I've posted this before, but I thought it may be appropriate here. ;)

View attachment 721334

2010 Core i7 870 on left, and 2017 Core i5 7600 on right. The left one is being used just as a matching monitor.

I'm not exactly sure if you are implying you agree or disagree. Regardless my opinion is subjective, I can understand if you have been looking at an iMac for 7+ years the design could be considered dated. I feel it still is the best looking AIO on the market, but I'm not saying there is no room for improvement.
 
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I'm not exactly sure if you are implying you agree or disagree. Regardless my opinion is subjective, I can understand if you have been looking at an iMac for 7+ years the design could be considered dated. I feel it still is the best looking AIO on the market, but I'm not saying there is no room for improvement.
I mostly agree, as I think it still looks good after all this time However, aethetically from the front it actually hasn't changed at all. It looks absolutely identical. For me it works out since it matches my new iMac perfectly, but others may argue it's stale.

And one thing I've always said is that the chin is not very ergonomic. Even though it doesn't look bad, it has got to go.
 
I mostly agree, as I think it still looks good after all this time However, aethetically from the front it actually hasn't changed at all. It looks absolutely identical. For me it works out since it matches my new iMac perfectly, but others may argue it's stale.

And one thing I've always said is that the chin is not very ergonomic. Even though it doesn't look bad, it has got to go.

I'm fearful of Apple redesigns. They have a bad tendency (IMO) of prioritizing form over function. I'm all for a bezel-less, chin-less, whatever-less design but not if it adds cooling issues and/or throttling.

I wouldn't mind a normal iMac in a space gray color. Which is another annoyance for me, currently the iPhone's new space gray is just black. I'm fine with that but come on....consistency?
 
  • Get rid of the chin and nearly everything else, making the display as light and thin as possible.
  • Connect it to a G4 style arm.
  • Connect the arm to a base with front facing USB A/C and SD card ports, more ports on the back, access ports for RAM, SSD, HD.
The new Mac Pro? New modular interconnecting bases with more of everything.

What could be simpler? ;)

I've been thinking along similar lines. In my head the base looks similar to a closed MacBook Pro (possibly a bit thicker to fit desktop components) with the iMac G4 style arm sprouting out the middle to connect to a thin monitor. Even the speakers would be in the base, so the monitor is as light as possible. No clunky aluminium foot required to carry the entire computer.
 
i am running a mid 2011 21" imac and was just about to upgrade to the new 27" base level mac with 512 ssd and discovered this thread so i'm now pondering waiting another year with this slow, but working mac for the new imac (if it happens next year).... thoughts please or is this current imac still a sound investment ?
 
i am running a mid 2011 21" imac and was just about to upgrade to the new 27" base level mac with 512 ssd and discovered this thread so i'm now pondering waiting another year with this slow, but working mac for the new imac (if it happens next year).... thoughts please or is this current imac still a sound investment ?

I doubt you'll have to wait a year. The Coffee Lake (Kaby Lake Refresh) CPUs with 6 core options are due for general release by Intel before the end of the year. I would reckon on a new iMac with 6 core option in the first half of next year - probably around March time but certainly before June which is when the current ones got released.

The only question you'll have is how much Apple will price the iMacs at. It's widely believed the i5 CPUs will get hyper threading like the current i7 CPUs have now. And the i7 CPUs next year will be 6 core, 12 threads. This means that i3 CPUs could be 4 genuine cores but no hyperthreading if Apple wanted to introduce i3 CPUs back into the iMac range.

It's a good time for Apple to introduce a new form factor - especially if the iMac Pro provides the visual template. Speaking of which, any delay in release could be down to the iMac Pro getting early adopters to buy. A refreshed iMac range before that comes out would be an odd choice.

And given that the iMac Pro looks like a completely sealed down unit, it might well be that the current 2017 27" models are the last ones you can replace the RAM in as the entire iMac range goes sealed unit like the 21.5" currently is now.
 
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I doubt you'll have to wait a year. The Coffee Lake (Kaby Lake Refresh) CPUs with 6 core options are due for general release by Intel before the end of the year. I would reckon on a new iMac with 6 core option in the first half of next year - probably around March time but certainly before June which is when the current ones got released.

The only question you'll have is how much Apple will price the iMacs at. It's widely believed the i5 CPUs will get hyper threading like the current i7 CPUs have now. And the i7 CPUs next year will be 6 core, 12 threads. This means that i3 CPUs could be 4 genuine cores but no hyperthreading if Apple wanted to introduce i3 CPUs back into the iMac range.

It's a good time for Apple to introduce a new form factor - especially if the iMac Pro provides the visual template. Speaking of which, any delay in release could be down to the iMac Pro getting early adopters to buy. A refreshed iMac range before that comes out would be an odd choice.

And given that the iMac Pro looks like a completely sealed down unit, it might well be that the current 2017 27" models are the last ones you can replace the RAM in as the entire iMac range goes sealed unit like the 21.5" currently is now.

You actually made that sound like a new imac could be a step backwards if i couldn't add my own CHEAPER RAM and pricing going up......... i guess i could wait and see what happens as a new unit will cause a price drop on current models. I would be surprised if they made new 27 imacs sealed as this is a step backwards from where consumers wishes lie. thanks for your post
 
The iMac Pro prototype had "sealed" RAM due to the fan exhaust vents being where the RAM modules and access door are on the 5K model. So unless Apple needs to adopt the iMac Pro's cooling system to handle the 6-core i7 CPUs and Vega RX GPUs that the 2018 model will likely use, they should be able to keep the current system and, consequently, the RAM user-accessible.

And while Apple has said that the iMac Pro RAM will not be (easily) user accessible, that could be due to how it's packaged around the CPU module (two DIMM slots above it and two DIMM slots below it) so the access door would either need to be quite large or they would need two (one above and one below the CPU).
 
Here's an article describing Kaby Lake vs Coffee Lake. I believe the new processors are coming out this week, so probably more firm answers will be coming very soon.
 
The iMac Pro prototype had "sealed" RAM due to the fan exhaust vents being where the RAM modules and access door are on the 5K model. So unless Apple needs to adopt the iMac Pro's cooling system to handle the 6-core i7 CPUs and Vega RX GPUs that the 2018 model will likely use, they should be able to keep the current system and, consequently, the RAM user-accessible.

And while Apple has said that the iMac Pro RAM will not be (easily) user accessible, that could be due to how it's packaged around the CPU module (two DIMM slots above it and two DIMM slots below it) so the access door would either need to be quite large or they would need two (one above and one below the CPU).

I'd imagine they'd have to ultimately cater for the maximum custom build specification in the end, and future iMacs could see a trickle down effect over successive generations as the current iMac range did when 5k screens came in for the 27" range. The 6-core i7 modules probably won't be the purveyors of additional heat - they'll be limited to the 95w TDP that Intel specify - but as mentioned any VEGA GPU modules may well require enhanced cooling and it'd be silly not to use the iMac Pro design.

The 21.5" model still has a single non-retina machine in the range at entry level and the trajectory of the 27" and 21.5" models over time suggests that it'll be gone at the time of the next iteration which is the perfect time to make the entire iMac range retina.

I can't see 2 access doors being an elegant solution for memory so that's why I have a feeling the RAM expandability will be gone by the time of the 2018 update.

Apple may be waiting until APFS is suitable for Fusion drives using High Sierra before releasing 2018 iMacs - and I'm assuming that the non-Pro iMac form factor may have to accommodate hard drives too.
 
Here's an article describing Kaby Lake vs Coffee Lake. I believe the new processors are coming out this week, so probably more firm answers will be coming very soon.
Interesting comparison. Looks like Apple will need to improve the cooling system for the next round of iMacs, although as we've seen with the iMac Pro it doesn't necessarily mean an external case redesign.
 
Interesting comparison. Looks like Apple will need to improve the cooling system for the next round of iMacs, although as we've seen with the iMac Pro it doesn't necessarily mean an external case redesign.

I would expect for 4W they can use the current cooling and just run the fans faster as needed.

The Skylake-W Xeons going into the iMac Pro have TDPs 15-45W higher, plus the heat the Vega Reference GPUs will be putting out, hence the significantly boosted cooling.
 
I think the redesign imac was hold for 2018 to introduce first faceId into the iphone,and next year i think it would make sense to put it into imacs, and why not,into the ipads as well
 
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