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iMac Redesign for 2018?
- Thread starter Solo2392
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I wonder if the next iMac's will support HDR, with Apple now having HDR and 4K content on iTunes it's probably going to happen at some point, this years iPad Pro's have displays that support HDR (it's great) so it's possible the next set of iMac's will also have support.
macOS does support the 10-bit color depth necessary for HDR content, however 10-bit 4K/5L LCD panels are very expensive so Apple continues to use 8-bit displays and macOS then uses dithering to display the full range of colors (said dithering is so fast the human eye can't detect it). As such, I expect HDR content would look great on a current 5K iMac and I do not expect Apple to adopt true 10-bit panels until the price drops to levels currently charged by the OEMs for 8-bit panels.
I wonder why Apple would redesign the iMac in 2018. For two reasons: (1) it has just upgraded the screen of the iMac to feature the same 500 nits of the MacBook Pro (this kind of upgrade could have easily waited for the redesign, just like Apple did with the laptops; and (ii) it is releasing the powerful iMac Pro in December, which could mean that its high-end desktop could have an outdated design right after its lauch.
There is just one scenario in which I think Apple could redesign the iMac. Apple could use the same improved thermal management and sound system of the iMac Pro in the iMac. Perhaps it could also make the iMac even thinner by making thermal management better. That would mean that the iMac would be on par with the iMac Pro in terms of design.
There is just one scenario in which I think Apple could redesign the iMac. Apple could use the same improved thermal management and sound system of the iMac Pro in the iMac. Perhaps it could also make the iMac even thinner by making thermal management better. That would mean that the iMac would be on par with the iMac Pro in terms of design.
It will be interesting how this will play out. Will the next iMac be centerred around 65W CPU and have slimmer design to differentiate it against the iMac Pro? The 8700 looks good but why wait until probably spring next year? Cannon lake is expected late 2018 and coffee lake spring release will put it in the middle of a cycle and close to the cannon lake availability (unless Intel is late again).
The lesson learned from the MBP waiting game was that using “old” chips for too long is not good for sales.
The lesson learned from the MBP waiting game was that using “old” chips for too long is not good for sales.
(Also, they upgraded to TB3/USB-C which was a not-insignificant re-design, probably more than changing the display panel)
I'd have thought 2019 was more likely. Also, gives Apple time to run the iMac Pro up the flagpole and see who salutes - will the target market accept a non-expandable all-in-one system at Xeon/ECC workstation prices?
...that's my bet. If new processors will give adequate oomph for a lower power consumption, and if Apple continue to think that you can never be too thin or have too few expansion options, I suspect that the top-end configs will be for the chop (to avoid competition with iMac Pro & Mac Pro) and we'll get a chinless wonder.
If so, they can just as well release a slim line iMac together with iMac Pro but all rumours point to next year.
That would make 2017-2018 for a busy time for Apple, Mac-wise - Mac Pro (all new + new display), iMac Pro (completely new innards), "classic" iMac (non-trivial changes in 2017), new iMac... Seems like an uncharacteristic acceleration in the pace of Mac development c.f. the last 5 years.
(oh, and don't forget that the new Mac Mini* is almost certainly coming
) A realisation that the future might not be entirely iPad-shaped?
*Codename "Godot".
So there will be 100-120w vega gpu for normal imacs too? And 70wfor the little imacs?
I wonder how much w has the gpu from the imac pro
The iMacs always use mobile versions of GPUs - there's no reason to suggest why they should stop now. The cooling system for the iMac Pro seems to be what wipes out the upgradable RAM slots so I would not be too unhappy if they decided to stick with less ambitious GPUs in the next iMacs to retain the upgradable RAM slots.
There's the prospect of HomePod and iMac Pro pre-order date being announced but with iPad Pros slated for FaceID next year it makes sense for the 2018 iMac to get it too.
The 2018 iMacs would certainly look a decent value proposition with up to 6 cores and uprated GPUs plus possible FaceID cameras. It makes you wonder what Apple could do with what appears to be a limp October 2017 refresh coming up unless AMD are making VEGA mobile GPUs available for a October refresh.
There certainly seems to be movement towards using Intel mobile chips with AMD VEGA graphics onboard as Iris Pro is being phased out but that's likely to be something for Macbook Pros or perhaps a Mac Mini(!).
October 2016 saw European iMac prices (as with all Mac gear) get increased with no spec bump thanks to delays in getting Kaby Lake launched while the controversial 2016 Macbook Pro with Touchbar machines also saw prices rise to incredible levels. Perhaps we could see small price cuts after October in Europe?
I've noticed third party resellers like B&H regularly putting out big deals on these Macs all year so far - more regularly than previously - and perhaps the exchange rate is at a level where prices can become a little more reasonable in Europe this October but of course that could mean nothing changes in the US.
I really don’t need an all-in-one computer exclusively for home use that is not modular and hasn’t any significant difference in processing power than what we can currently get in a MBP with an external monitor or two attached. Most people don’t and there just isn’t enough market demand out there as incentive for Apple to produce one. What they should do is just shut down the iMac completely and, if anything, just offer a less capable, less capable version of the Mac Pro to fill the gap that is left.
Why would they do that. iMacs do well for apple. That is why they introduce the Pro version
The iMac is a loved desktop all in one for Apple it has been for many years. Apple themselves have said this and it’s part of the reason why they are doing the iMac Pro, because people love the iMac form factor so a pro version is a great idea.
Oh really?
Well, if there is any chance that Apple continue to sell desktop computers, it will be using the iMac business model (or some other similar all-in-one). Apple does not like allowing users to upgrade their machines or to use custom parts. Perhaps the opposite of what you want.
And let me tell you something. I am glad the iMac exists. I am planning to buy one to be my next desktop computer. And here are the reasons why.
First, I do not want my desk to become a mess with cables and everything. I had that in the past and I did not bother. Now I do. I just want a compact desktop computer.
In the past, I did not care about configuring my own computer from scratch. I would spend hours choosing each component, and then buying it, and changing it if it did not work with the rest. I am done with that. Now I am busy, very busy, and I just want to buy some high-end configuration which works well and flawlessly. I do not care spending more money, but I do care a lot spending more time.
And finally now I think we live in a very different world that we lived some fifteen years ago. Now most computers are laptops, and I have difficulty finding spare parts to build my own. Let me give you an example. Three years ago, I bought a 27-inch 2560x1440 monitor to go along with my 15-inch retina MacBook Pro. I had to buy some 5 different cables before figuring out which one would allow me using the 2560x1440 resolution under OS X, since it would only support HDMI up to 1920x1200. Now, I decided to buy a new desktop computer to use with the monitor, and this thing came with a DisplayPort only. I have just visited twelve stores in three different shopping malls, and spent over USD 100 in the process, just to find a cable that would allow me to use the monitor at its full resolution on the new desktop. I live in Brazil and 2560x1440 monitors are very rare things (since they are expensive here), so nobody cares about selling cables that will fit them.
I guess I would not have such sort of problems with an iMac.
I just hope that they include a headphone jack and at least a few regular 3.0 USB ports... Absolutely no excuse to have the dongle setup on a large desktop computer like they've been trying to pursue with their laptops.
They arguably had the option to go all USB-C with the mid-2017 model, though I expect they are using the same back shell as the earlier iMacs models and just reshaped the 2 TB2 ports to 2 USB-C ports (which is why we only have 2 on the mid-2017 model). However, the back shell on the 2018 iMac Pro will be completely new and it also has four USB-A in addition to four USB-C ports. So I see no reason why the mid-2018 iMac will also not have a mix of USB-C and USB-A ports.
Here's a different thought. The preview of the iMac Pro we saw was just a preview. What if they release that with a new case design in December and a new iMac follows. Or the new iMac could be released at the same time as new intel chips have just been released.
All I read from that is that the iMac is for people that can't figure out how to plug a monitor into a computer.
Seriously, they could just release the monitor as a Cinema display and give people the option of what module they want to run with, be it a Mac Mini or a Mac Pro... or even just an Apple TV.
For a desktop buy cables, not dongles.
USB-C to MicroUSB/MiniUSB/whatever cable.
Cables like that are currently around 5 bucks each. And they will probably be 2-3 bucks by the time the 2018 iMac releases.
While that is somewhat of an annoyance you get ports that are infinitely more powerful and well worth the price of updating a couple cables. I don't feel they even need to try to make an excuse when replacing a standard with a newer standard that is capable of doing what the old can do but better plus so much more.
All I want changed in the current iMac is Target Display Mode to come back. I don't know whether it is Apple or Intel holding this up, but I'd like to see the issues that prevent it resolved. Otherwise it's a waste of a 5K display when you use both an iMac and MacBook Pro.
I have a VESA-mounted version of the iMac and now I have a mess of cables hanging from my monitor (which happens to have a computer built in) instead of tucked away somewhere out of sight (not on the desk) like I would have with a Mac Pro or Mac Mini and an external display. I've got most of the cables tied up and routed, but it's still a mess compared to the simple two cables I'd have with an external display (maybe even a single cable with USB-C power delivery, though I don't currently own a monitor like that yet).
I know I'm in the minority by using a monitor arm, but if we're talking about uncluttering, using a monitor arm means no monitor stand to clutter up your desk and more clean, usable desk space.
I have a VESA-mounted version of the iMac and now I have a mess of cables hanging from my monitor (which happens to have a computer built in) instead of tucked away somewhere out of sight (not on the desk) like I would have with a Mac Pro or Mac Mini and an external display. I've got most of the cables tied up and routed, but it's still a mess compared to the simple two cables I'd have with an external display (maybe even a single cable with USB-C power delivery, though I don't currently own a monitor like that yet).
I know I'm in the minority by using a monitor arm, but if we're talking about uncluttering, using a monitor arm means no monitor stand to clutter up your desk and more clean, usable desk space.